Many people misunderstand Ivan - he doesn't have a particular obsession with axes.
(His direct subordinate Dmitri would disagree with this statement.)
However, in Ivan's opinion, axes had many advantages as tools.
When splitting or cutting something, the center of gravity is stronger than with a sword.
The back can be used as a blunt weapon, and the curved edge of the axe blade can entangle an opponent's weapon like a hook.
Besides its advantages as a weapon, it has many other uses. Ivan once compiled a list of the various applications for an axe.
Bottle opener, can opener, door opener, head opener, and useful for opening all other objects that can be opened.
-Shing.
The reason Ivan was thinking about this was simple.
He was now drawing his sword. Personally, he didn't particularly like swords, but it was necessary.
He intended to respond to the field training ambush with his best effort. The fact that he had demoted the axe to a secondary weapon showed just how serious he was.
'Beolgrin.'
His teeth gritted every time he thought of that arrogant elf. Preparing all sorts of attack spells in advance and then calling it a test?
Meanwhile, he had been out for what felt like a casual stroll, not even bringing most of his weapons! At most, he had only a pistol and an axe!
If he had to make excuses, that was it. Ivan knew it was just an excuse, but he had learned an important lesson.
-Always be armed for the possibility of encountering and being confronted by Hero Party-level forces.
Basically, he wasn't particular about the type of weapon as long as he could wield it. While he might be more comfortable with certain weapons, there was no weapon he wasn't proficient with.
Of course, he'd spent 20 years on the front lines. Since standard-issue weapons often broke, you had to use whatever you could get your hands on at the front.
Ivan secured daggers at his waist and sleeves, slung a sword across his body, hung an axe on his back, and tucked a pistol, ammunition, and a few explosive charges into his inner pockets.
"Isn't this year's class quite remarkable, Lady Enrique?"
"Ah, yes."
"I have high expectations. A test personally overseen by you, Lady Enrique! All the nobles of Pritzenkaya wanted to watch."
"Do you mean they want to turn the students into a spectacle?"
"Oh, no! That's not what I meant!"
Enrique shook her head with an expressionless face. The man babbling beside her was a second-year professor in the Knight Department. His name... she couldn't remember.
She had fundamentally lived a long time. (Though she wouldn't admit it.) This meant she had met and bid farewell to many people throughout her years.
Long-lived beings view the world in this way: they make an effort not to remember those not worth remembering. If you didn't want to spend your entire life mourning all the acquaintances you would eventually part with, you had to do this.
This man wasn't worth the effort. Enrique deliberately chose not to memorize the name of this "professor."
"Oskar de Satieon's skills stand out, I hear. I'm quite looking forward to it."
"Ah, from Tilles, aren't you?"
"Yes, you remembered!"
She seemed to vaguely recall something. He was from some royal guard unit in Tilles....
Enrique shook her head.
"Isabelle is also an outstanding talent. Yuri Franck, that child is excellent too."
"Isabelle is one thing, but Yuri Franck... I've seen his file, but well... he's decent enough for a commoner."
"A commoner... you say?"
Enrique laughed with a "hmph." Being a war orphan, yes, he could be called a commoner.
Did this handsome fellow even know? That half of the Hero Party had been commoners.
Maximillian, Einarr, and her. Enrique.
But what could she do? If the noble gentlemen wanted to think that way. Enrique, now devoid of youthful passion, simply shrugged her shoulders.
"Enrique."
At that moment, Ivan came walking over from the distance. Enrique ignored the babbling professor and raised her hand high.
"Oh, Ivan! What brings you here?"
"May I observe?"
"Today's test? I don't mind, but why?"
"There's something I want to confirm."
"Confirm...?"
Enrique stood beside Ivan with a grin. The expression of the professor standing nearby turned noticeably cold.
What was with this differential treatment? To his eyes, the man who had just arrived looked like nothing more than a shabby gardener.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Robert Seignar de Mondrain, full professor of the Knight Department. And your name?"
"Ivan Petrovich."
The name alone told him everything. Seeing the Krasilov-specific patronymic without a family name, he was clearly a commoner without a surname.
Robert's eyes grew colder. He frowned.
"A commoner. Know your place. There must be plenty of trees to tend to at the university, so why come all the way here?"
"...?"
What was he saying? Ivan tilted his head.
It was strange. It had been so long since he'd encountered someone who provoked him like this that he found it difficult to give an appropriate response.
Usually in such cases, Ivan would bring his axe down on the person's head. There were many troublesome issues when one started to be looked down upon in the military.
But this was a university. How should one act in society? Ivan took a moment to gather his thoughts.
Fortunately, Ivan didn't need to intervene directly.
"Hey, professor."
"Yes, Lady Enrique!"
"Do you want to die?"
"...Pardon?"
Enrique was glaring at Robert with blazing eyes.
"Ivan is my guest. On a small scale, he's my friend, and on a larger scale, my colleague. How dare you insult my guest in front of me. Is this the etiquette of Tilles?"
"That's...."
"Shut your mouth. I have a good nose, and your stench was already irritating me. If this were four years ago, I would have killed you just for that. The world has certainly improved."
Enrique's killing intent was oozing out viscously. Ivan reached out his hand to calm this ill-mannered, hysterical pre-modern old woman.
"Enrique. It's fine."
"No, this bastard is pissing me off!"
"The test needs to start. The students are waiting."
"Ugh, really."
Enrique cracked her neck and turned to walk away. Robert, who had been directly exposed to her killing intent, was still trembling.
Ignoring him, Ivan followed Enrique. Students had gathered in a clearing in the forest.
The first major test for the first-year Knight Department students, [Ambush Response], had begun.
There were a total of 52 first-year Knight Department students. They were all armed with the university's standard-issue equipment, looking at Enrique who stood on the platform.
Enrique raised her hand and spread it wide. A small orb was held in her hand.
"This test is about responding to ambushes. Children I've personally trained are scattered throughout this forest. They will ambush you."
Despite Enrique's words, the students remained calm. This was within the expected range.
"But that wouldn't provide enough differentiation. Some students might just be lucky and not be targeted for ambush. So, if you manage to defeat the attackers who ambush you, you'll receive bonus points. And one more thing."
She shook the orb as she spoke.
"I'll give each of you one of these orbs. It's a simple magical item with a location tracking spell. If you reach the other side of the forest while protecting this orb, you pass. Additionally, if you have more than one orb, you'll receive extra points."
Her words caused a commotion among the students.
The best way to respond to an ambush is to form a group. Basically, if several people are together, they can eliminate blind spots.
But what about under those conditions? The best strategy would be to form small groups, hold out while the attackers and other students wear each other down, then collect orbs and escape.
"Not everyone can pass. The first five to escape the forest will receive the highest scores, with points deducted based on exit timing. You have a total of four hours. Within that time, protect your orb and pass through the forest. Understood?"
Ivan nodded as he listened to Enrique's words. It was almost identical to the curriculum used to train Annihilation Squad recruits.
While the test was familiar enough on its own, this method was also "familiar" in another sense.
'This is an environment too perfect for external hostile forces to intervene.'
This forest is included in the Pritzenkaya area. Additionally, if you go a little beyond the outskirts of the forest, there's a military base stationed there.
In other words, it's a perfectly safe space. That must be why the university approved such an intense test despite its aggressive nature.
But this is an academy field exercise. Therefore, an external ambush will definitely occur.
If so, let's think about "how" rather than "why."
'They can't be hiding in the forest. Enrique's subordinates would have already searched it.'
So where will the ambush begin?
It won't be from the sky either. After the elven airship incident, Krasilov has been serious about aerial defense.
A ground attack is nearly impossible. Even if there was a way to reach here ignoring the military base, the counterintelligence command would be extremely sensitive right now due to the recent train terrorist attack in this area.
Then...
'Underground.'
By process of elimination, underground is the only place attackers could appear from.
This assumption only works if you're certain an attack will occur, but Ivan was a sensible person, so he didn't doubt it.
'Those averagists.'
If we assume attackers coming through underground tunnels, the only race that comes to mind is dwarves.
Those communist dwarves. Their underground attacks are almost impossible to respond to in advance. It's impossible to predict where they'll emerge.
But considering their tactical objectives, deduction was possible. Assuming dwarves are attacking, if the demon army specifically targets an academy freshman midterm exam, the target would be fixed.
'Isabelle, or Oskar.'
The children of the Hero Party are, in themselves, objects of terrible hatred for the demon army.
The Hero Party, who slaughtered most of the Seven Dragon Generals and even killed the Demon King. While the members themselves have now integrated into various levels of society and are difficult to strike directly, their children are not.
If you see those who drove the entire demon race into the abyss now happily raising children, from the demons' perspective, it would be enough to make their eyes roll back in their heads.
From that perspective, in Ivan's view, this incident is very transparent.
The motive for terrorism, the method of terrorism, and even the target of terrorism are specified. This is no longer terrorism. It's just a riot.
Ivan watched Isabelle holding the orb from a distance. She was grinning, lost in her own thoughts.
-Click.
Ivan placed his hand on the sword at his waist.
He had drawn a sword to deal with dwarves. Dwarves were a race difficult to handle with an axe.
So, preparations were perfect.
"What... this old man, really."
Isabelle grinned as she looked at Ivan standing in the corner of the platform. It was quite reassuring to see him standing proudly with a sword that didn't suit him, wearing it like a knight.
Ivan is a gardener. Strictly speaking, he's a national secret agent, but on the surface, he's a gardener.
If such an Ivan specifically, really specifically came to observe this test, what would be the reason?
"He worries too much. Really."
Isabelle deliberately managed her expression and turned her gaze away. That deeply caring old man was worried about her. And probably wanted to confirm the training he had given her.
Yes, let's show him.
Isabelle loosened her shoulders and firmly gripped her sword hilt.
Let's show the results of these past few days of terrible training right before his eyes, and proudly take the top position.
And then naturally thank him for helping with the training over a meal, hmm. At least coffee. Umm... or maybe a play.
Krasilov is a country renowned for its culture and arts.
Isabelle imagined Ivan watching an opera, thought it terribly unsuitable, and laughed.
"..."
At that moment,
Ivan, being an extremely efficient person, was preparing to shave some dwarves.