Following our discussion of the battle plan, Nero assigned camp duties to those who were not severely injured.
Anastasia and her sharpshooters were assigned to the night guard duty, while Amelia was tasked with preparing food.
Those who possessed the ability to use healing magic worked diligently to treat the wounded.
Additionally, a new reconnaissance squad, led by William, was established to monitor the enemy's movements closely.
Originally our plan was to loot the Shopping District and seize as many resources as possible.
Subsequently, we planned to blow up the entire area to prevent Alberto and his class from obtaining any of the resources.
Needless to say, our plan failed. Alberto led us straight to a trap and we failed to achieve our objective.
That means after our troops made their escape, their class must've also taken necessary supplies from the Shopping District.
Furthermore, our forces sustained a greater number of casualties and injuries than their class. While our situation was not dire, it was far from ideal.
However, this did not pose a problem for me.
Even if I were to lead only half the number of troops that their class possesses, I am confident that I could outwit them any day and emerge victorious.
I'm not being overconfident here. But you have to understand there's no one in this Academy who could defeat me in strategies and tactics.
And while I do agree that there's more to winning a war than only out-strategizing your enemy, the essence of all warfare is deception.
It is as Sun Tzu, the master of warfare, said:
We are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
And what is deception if not manipulating your target?
Tomorrow, we will win. I'll end the Mock War, an event that was supposed to drag on for six days in four.
"Hey," right when I was lost in my thoughts, a soothing yet irritated voice reached out to me from my left. "Pass me the bread crumbs and stop dozing off."
It was Amelia. We had set up a campfire behind the half-demolished building that we were using as our base.
Here, we were preparing food—just the two of us. Since my additional subject was cooking, I was asked to help her.
Yes, for reference, it was awkward as hell between us.
"I'm not dozing off. You are dozing off!"
"...Sure, whatever. Just pass me the bread crumbs."
I was dozing off. It's been two days (well, two virtual days) since I had a good night's rest. I had to sleep on a hard, cracked and dusty concrete floor since the next best option was sleeping on a chair or sleeping outside.
Many cadets brought sleeping bags with them but I forgot to pack one.
Sigh, sometimes I think, am I really intelligent or dumb?
"Thank you. Pass me that knife too."
After I handed her what she asked for, Amelia demanded a knife. Sighing, I passed it to her too.
"Huaaa," out of boredom and exhaustion, a yawn escaped my mouth.
"...."
"...."
Tak, Tak, Tak—!
As I said, the silence between us was awkward. To pass the time, I looked up and started gazing at the night sky full of stars.
Even in this virtual world, the starry sky that was illuminated by the dim light of the moon felt so real.
"Hmmm," as I was looking up, I noticed Amelia sneaking glances at me. She had been doing this for a while.
What is her problem? If she has anything to say, then shouldn't she just say it outright?
"What is it?" after finally being done with her, I asked.
"H-Huh?"
"If you have something on your mind, just say it."
"...I don't."
"Fine."
I understand why she was acting this way.
The Lucas Morningstar whom she has deemed the worst scum in human history, the good-for-nothing waste of space, not only saved her during the Unit test but also selflessly helped their class from suffering a crucial defeat.
It's hard to believe that people change, especially someone as far gone as Lucas was.
"Actually I do have something to say."
There it is. I know what she will ask. She'll ask how did I change this much or what I am planning by doing all the things I'm doing and stuff like that.
"What is it?" I asked, playing cool.
"You… never apologized," she said in a low voice, gritting her teeth and clenching the knife in her hand.
Despite her actions, her expressions weren't that of anger or rage. No, she looked sad if anything.
I see. So this is what she wants?
If she's asking this, then I assume she's conflicted about forgiving me. It would be very easy to just apologize and slowly turn her into my pawn.
However…
"It's because I won't."
Amelia looked at me, a hint of anger present in her eyes this time.
"So you don't feel guilty for what you did?!"
"That's not the point. People change, Amelia. I won't apologize for something that I have done in the past because I'm not that person anymore. But I will say this; I am not that person anymore."
I won't lie. I do feel guilty sometimes when I look at her and I don't know the reason for it. However, I am not going to apologize for it.
After all, why would I have to apologize for something I never did in the first place?
And I really am not that Lucas of the past. I really am a different person.
Tak—!!
She slammed the knife against the flat stone she was using as a chopping board and spun around to look me in the eyes.
With a visible look of sorrow and fury, she yelled, "People change, yes! But not without owning up to their past! Even if you have changed, your past won't disappear! You broke my trust!"
"....?!"
I broke her trust? What is she talking about? What trust?
As far as I can remember, both in the novel and in Lucas' memories, Amelia was just in the same school and same class as Lucas.
They had no relationship or bond or anything else like that. In fact, Lucas didn't even know of her existence until a few weeks before the 'incident.'
So what trust was she talking about?
"Amelia–"
But before I could ask her about it, she stomped her feet on the ground and turned around, resuming her work.
"Leave it! Don't know what I was expecting from someone like you!"
"...."
Oh naw. I wasn't going to let this matter go this easily.
I could see pressing this matter right now would result in her beating the crap out of me, so I wouldn't do that right now.
But I will dig into this matter again.
….
After thirty or so minutes after that, the food was done and served. Amelia really managed to cook for 60 people alone with me helping her from the sidelines.
Even though I took cooking as my additional subject, aside from boiling water, the cost of me doing anything in the kitchen would result in burning down everything.
I'm kidding. I know how to cook, you peasants.
Anyway, as the food was being served, I took out the paper pouch that Kent gave me. I opened it up and took a look inside.
It was filled with white powder to the brim. Nodding in satisfaction, I sneakily poured some of its content into the soup that was served on one of the food plates.
The first phase of my plan was done.
†
The night passed and the morning came. Since everyone got to eat proper food after two whole days last night, no one had any complaints today.
But of course, the war wasn't over yet.
A round table meeting was held one last time today to reconfirm our plan.
"Huaa," I was currently making my way there while yawning. I was still feeling sleepy. "Oh?"
On my way to the main hall, I saw a girl with long strands of black hair cascading down her back, elegantly making her way toward where I was headed.
"Good morning," I greeted while catching up to her. It was Amelia.
"...."
She, of course, ignored me. She has been doing that since last night after our talk.
Well, fine. I just want her to listen to what I have to say, anyway.
"Okay, I know you're still angry at me, rightfully so, but I have a question. You were part of the reconnaissance squad on the first day, right?"
A frown wrinkled Amelia's face as she heard my question. She was probably wondering why I was asking her that.
After a brief moment, she replied with a nod, "Yes, I was. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you see," I touched my chin. "I was thinking about how that map of the Shopping District was tempered."
"What are you suggesting?" she asked, her interest piqued.
"Who was in charge of scouting the Northern area?"
"It was Quinn. Are you saying he's the traitor?"
"I don't think so," I confidently shook my head.
The reconnaissance squad was divided to scout the North, East, West, South, and Center area separately. After that, they were tasked to work together and create a map.
It wouldn't take a genius to figure out that the traitor was someone who was in the reconnaissance squad.
However, that was not possible since I knew who the traitor was. It was Grace and she was not part of the squad.
So that means she must've tempered with the map after it was made. But when?
"Was anyone supervising the reconnaissance squad when they were crafting the map?"
"Yes," Amelia responded. "That bitch, Grace, was there keeping an eye on us. She said she would help, but she did not lend– wait! Are you saying…"
I knew it. That is when she must've messed up with the map.
Well, not like I care about that. I already have enough proof that she's the traitor.
"Let's go." without answering her question, I picked up the pace and walked past her.
Let's complete the first task at hand. Eliminating the traitor.
