"You are the next generation of the Hero Party."
No one objected. Everyone had anticipated this. Even if they considered it an overwhelming honor, none were surprised by the fact they had been selected.
In Ivan's opinion, this was due to the customs of this primitive pre-modern era. They were accustomed to the aristocratic culture where positions were inherited along with family succession.
In a culture where inheritance was the norm, it seemed natural that a hero's daughter would become a hero, and a knight's son would become a knight. Therefore, these children of the Hero Party members were accepting it as a matter of course.
"It is not a matter of course."
Ivan declared firmly, scanning the now somewhat chilled audience.
"Everything you've obtained without effort is not a given. Isabelle, just because you're Maximillian's daughter doesn't mean you can be compared to Maximillian when he was your age."
Though he singled out Isabelle, it wasn't just her problem. Unlike the wartime era, the current age could be considered relatively peaceful.
The heroes of that era had to constantly struggle to survive. That's not the case now. Society has become one where merely riding on the glory of one's parents grants privileges without needing to prove oneself.
That's not to say it's wrong. Civilization should naturally be this way. But now, they were facing extinction.
The Hero Party shouldn't exist simply because their parents were heroes; they should become heroes through their own strength.
After all, the need for a Hero Party meant that trials of that magnitude would soon arrive.
"My parents... 'this body's' parents were tenant farmers. I was conscripted into the militia and sent to the front lines, and I've survived 30 years on the battlefield to be here today."
Ivan continued with sunken eyes. The group no longer focused on his changed appearance. They were listening intently to his words.
"From now on, this will be a long story. This is about your parents and..."
Ivan spoke while making eye contact with each member of the group. Behind them, the Hero Party from their youth seemed to shimmer into view.
All scattered now, some never to return, others unable to move. Never again able to gather together as they once did, sharing food and drinks, laughing and reminiscing.
And then he saw not their images, but those of the current generation. Immature and lacking, but full of hope, laughing and chattering.
Yes, the era wasn't collapsing. It was just the darkest moment before dawn.
That's how it had to be, he thought.
"And those present here."
His gaze shifted to another group. The transmigrators. Those looking at him tensely.
They were drifters from another world. Flowing in by some law or intention of the world, these young displaced persons were unfolding their own stories.
Their identities should only be revealed here. Fortunately, everyone present could be trusted.
Though they were swept in, this world is fundamentally not friendly to humans. They too must prepare in their own way.
"This will be everyone's story. Let me start with the story of myself, Maximillian, and the Demon King."
A long story began.
Both Maximillian and the Demon King were transmigrators. Just like Ivan in this place, and several others.
Excluding Ivan and the students, the birth of Maximillian and the Demon King isn't particularly surprising. Heroes are said to have descended from the heavens, and the Demon King is known to have appeared one day and subjugated the demon race.
Considering the strangely vague early periods of these two, calling them transmigrators provides some explanation. The fact that such people rarely existed in history is something high nobles would know.
However, transmigrators, like the Demon King and the Hero, invariably leave their mark in history. As if the world had prepared arrangements for such achievements.
So it was inevitable that the group's attention turned to the transmigrators.
"Uncle..."
Isabelle murmured quietly. For the other students, well, even if they were transmigrators, they hadn't shown anything particularly impressive, so it didn't really sink in...
"Well, I'm the top student in the Knight Department..."
"I'm on direct speaking terms with the Lord, we're quite close."
"I'm an elf. I live a long time."
Even if they were transmigrators, they hadn't shown anything particularly impressive, so it didn't really sink in.
Isabelle ignored the transmigrators who were spouting nonsense and turned her attention to Ivan.
That man was different. So different that it needed no explanation.
Didn't he say superiority isn't passed down through bloodlines? No. Almost clearly, almost certainly, it is passed down.
Noble children are born with an innate ability to modulate magical power. Only such people became nobles, and they maintained their positions by passing on these genetic traits.
With that foundation, they receive better education and eat better food. When they have children through intermarriage with other nobles, their offspring grow up superior to the previous generation.
In noble society, stagnation means regression. If you don't improve with each generation, you'll be eliminated. All nobles who couldn't keep up with this growth disappeared into history.
This is common sense. Just look at the Hero Party. None of them were born ordinary or lowly.
'But Uncle is from a tenant farmer background.'
If that's true, it also makes sense that Ivan is a transmigrator. For a conscripted tenant farmer to become a man like him, such an origin would be understandable.
How many people know this fact? She probably wasn't the first. But...
'No one is like me.'
If her father, Maximillian, was also a transmigrator, then this... couldn't they be considered from the same hometown? Strictly speaking, she's a hybrid of the other world and this one.
Isabelle clenched her fist as she thought.
"And the United Kingdom will definitely fall within five years."
"Huh?"
The group, who had been quietly observing Ivan with understanding, stiffened again and put down their utensils.
Yu-jin smiled at the sight. They're going to choke. Brother came fully prepared.
"As I said during the last Tilles civil war, Yu-jin can 'quantitatively' confirm certain matters. This has been cross-verified, so I won't accept any objections."
"That, the Lord directly tells you...?"
"Yes. Five years. That's how long the United Kingdom can possibly remain."
At Ivan's words, the atmosphere in the room grew cold. Suddenly being told your country will fall in five years, and that this information came in the name of God.
How much could they trust Yu-jin's information? It didn't matter. Yu-jin was a priest, and if he sold lies in the name of the Lord, he would be stripped of his position and divine power. Not by the church, but by the Lord directly.
If that wasn't the case, it meant this was truly a divine revelation. Since there's nothing more foolish than questioning under God's name, the group quietly waited for Ivan's next words.
"We can't predict what will happen in five years. Whether the Demon King will appear, or if war with the demon race will break out again. However, you should know that at this point, the Union is by no means in a peaceful state."
The Hero has disappeared. It can't be said that he truly fell. It's difficult to accurately understand his circumstances, but at least we can't be certain that it resulted in complete corruption.
If he had truly lost himself, Tilles would have already fallen during the last civil war. His mere appearance denying the royal family would have divided public opinion against the already fractured royal house.
Gil Ber is dead. This means more than just the death of an individual. Gil Ber was the strongest "mobile individual force" the United Kingdom currently possessed.
Among those who killed the Seven Dragon Generals, he was the only one who could move freely and demonstrate military might publicly.
Einarr cannot leave Droan. Droan is a nation maintained solely by the authority of that one person. His absence would mean the division of Droan. It's just a matter of time.
Alexandr attempted to extend his reach to Droan several months ago during Asidis's attempted kidnapping. He even used Huskarls to attack Asidis. Considering he might have more such tricks up his sleeve, Einarr cannot leave his country.
'Excluding Beolgrin, the military strength of the Hero Party can no longer move.'
Meanwhile, Beolgrin himself is moving so busily that he's rarely seen even in Kalion. Considering the conversation on the airship last time, he's probably searching for Alexandr now.
This means the United Kingdom no longer has military power comparable to the Seven Dragon Generals. The only question is how well the demon race understands this.
As it happens, the demon race is also scattered without a central figure, so this strange balance is maintained. But the breaking of this balance is inevitable.
The Status Window says it will be five years.
'Gil Ber. You alone could have bought humanity five years.'
Ivan thought bitterly.
The initial reward given in the Status Window was 10 years of existence for the United Kingdom. It was shortened to five years with Gil Ber's death.
This means that Gil Ber's survival—regardless of his condition, just being "alive"—could extend the United Kingdom's lifespan by another five years.
"The division between Krasilov and Tilles could be prevented before collapse. Droan was prevented once, but the situation isn't completely resolved. Kalion is unpredictable."
Assuming every country has "arrangements to kill the Hero Party," Einarr of Droan would also have one such trial.
So the current problem is one of two.
"Kalion and Droan. We need to examine the political situation of one of them. It will be our next destination."
"Let's go to Kalion!"
"Let's go to Droan!!"
Ignoring the two, Ivan quietly closed his mouth.
Now was the time to gather information. If they moved rashly and one side collapsed, just dealing with that would threaten the Union's existence.
Droan or Kalion?
Einarr's survival or Beolgrin's survival?
And who could possibly harm them?
'In Gil Ber's case, enemies we couldn't even predict appeared.'
Who could have predicted the dozens of dragons sealed underground? The problem was that this scenario's plan would likely continue to work in the same way.
Means to assassinate the heroes of the Hero Party are lurking somewhere, and those who use them will raise armies to divide nations.
In the Dwarf civil war, if Ivan hadn't been there, Enrique would have had to stand alone. Enrique would probably have had difficulty responding to Aviditas, so the assassination means prepared for her was likely the Dwarf civil war scenario itself.
'No, the god buried under St. Yansk University.'
If Ivan hadn't broken the seal in advance and dealt with it directly, the god, having accumulated power over time, would have directly descended upon Pritzenkaya.
The capital of this country, having barely resolved the civil war with the Crown Prince, wouldn't have had the strength to stop such a situation, so Enrique would have had to step in directly.
And if the Dwarf civil war had been resolved then, and they had gathered forces with Aviditas to attack... Krasilov would have fallen.
Although those two incidents were resolved separately, the "story" originally arranged in the world would have flowed that way.
'If similar events occur in Droan and Kalion, we cannot respond in advance.'
That was the problem. The absence of information. While Krasilov's situation could be detected in advance through internal intelligence, they lost Gil Ber and failed to prevent the civil war in Tilles due to lack of information.
But one failure is enough.
Ivan opened his closed eyes. His deep blue eyes gleamed ominously.
'There will be no more such situations. Absolutely.'
Ivan stood up, tapping the table.
"We'll end today's meeting here."
"What? But we haven't decided anything yet?"
"That's not what we need to do right now."
"Huh?"
Ivan gave a brief answer to the confused group.
"Finish preparing for your final exams. Whatever we do will proceed after the vacation."
Only one major incident occurs per semester. This is in the realm of "common sense." Academies typically progress episodes divided by semesters and vacations.
Having prevented the Tilles civil war in the second semester, it's only common sense that the next episode would progress during the upcoming winter vacation.
Ivan glanced at the students staring blankly at him and left.
"Wait, after all this talk, the conclusion is final exams?"
"How are we supposed to focus on finals after this..."
"Oh, but can we speak informally with our brother now?"
"What nonsense is that?"
"Why, we agreed to speak informally within our party."
At Yu-jin's words, Isabelle sighed and tidied up the dishes.
"Try it and tell me. If you come back alive, I'll speak informally too."