Before the Engagement

Michel took the initiative to cut off the communication. There was no need for any more threats.

He would keep his promise. If the situation truly deteriorated beyond expectations, he would die fighting in the stars.

Then he shut down communications and began making orderly arrangements. "Everyone may leave a message for your families, then shut down communications. I don't want to see any deserters."

Though these knights had not followed him for long, he trusted his father's knights.

The Monastery Knights, legendary knights comparable to the Northland Knights, would never disgrace their title.

Honor outweighed life.

Knight Burdett directly shut down his communications and said calmly, "I have nothing to say. Everything at home has already been arranged."

When he devoted himself to the cause of the New Church, he had long since settled his affairs.

Michel said nothing more. He merely looked apologetically at Mark and said, "It seems our conversation will have to end early this time. I'll also need to trouble you to send these students back to school."

He calmly arranged everything.

Before Mark could speak, Hadige excitedly declared, "Your Holiness, we want to fight too. We are part of the New Church as well."

The students' faces showed panic and hesitation.

That was perfectly normal. Michel believed they certainly had the courage to go to war. If the elites raised by the Empire lacked even that much courage, it would be ridiculous.

"Students, I believe none of you lack the courage to fight, but this is not your battlefield yet," Michel said passionately, delivering an impromptu speech. "If the front-line situation goes badly, you will be among the first to withdraw. Why? Because you are the future.

Returning to school now is not cowardice, but the courage to take responsibility.

If we fall, the