Simulated War Game

Confused, Benjamin followed Grant into the castle. During this process, the chronically lazy system finally deigned to speak up and explain the current situation.

"Seven or eight years ago, the situation on this continent was quite tense. Another country was competing with the Hori Kingdom, and war was on the brink of breaking out. Therefore, you young nobles received quite a bit of military education during your childhood. Unfortunately, not long after, that country split apart due to internal strife, the war never happened, and your military education ended right there."

The system paused, then continued:

"However, you restless kids had learned a bellyful of war tactics and were looking forward to a real fight. When it didn't happen, you all felt your military talents were being wasted. So, I don't know whose idea it was, but this regular activity was born. A bunch of people gather at this castle to play a simulated war game. Of course, none of you think of it as just a game; you treat it like a real war, and every single one of you is incredibly serious."

After hearing the system's words, Benjamin felt speechless.

"These people are really childish."

He had no interest in this boring war game. Wasn't it just a bunch of kids having a group brawl? Rather than wasting time here, he would rather go back and sleep a bit more, or "meditate" for a while longer.

"You say that as if you're so mature. Do you dare say you didn't play similar games in elementary school?" the system started its habitual bickering.

"...I did."

Benjamin choked for a second, then immediately said righteously, "But that was back in elementary school. These people are old enough for high school; if that's not childish, what is?"

"That's because you had a computer," the system continued. "I have records here. Even after you became an adult, the time you spent on 'online war games' was definitely more than what these people spend on 'offline war games,' and you even spent quite a bit of money on microtransactions."

"..."

Benjamin was left speechless.

In reality, he had already followed Grant into a dilapidated little room. There was nothing in the room. Grant led him to hide behind the door, keeping it slightly ajar and holding his breath, as if they were truly setting an ambush.

Although Benjamin complied obediently, he really didn't want to participate in this game.

"Um, can I..."

"Shh, don't talk." Grant immediately interrupted him, whispering, "Just follow me. Don't worry, we'll win easily."

"..."

It seemed his application for early retirement would never be approved.

Forget it, he would just tag along and treat it as a trip down memory lane. He had observed the terrain when entering the castle; it wasn't very complex, so this game shouldn't drag on into a war of attrition.

Sure enough, less than two minutes later, two idiots arrived at the door of the room, wanting to push it open to investigate. Suddenly, Grant flashed out from behind the door, holding two small balls he had pulled from somewhere, and shouted, "Holy Light Bomb!" as he threw them at the two.

The two were clearly startled. After coming to their senses, they glanced at Grant, touched the spots where the balls had hit them, and suddenly collapsed to the ground in an exaggerated manner, "sacrificing" themselves gloriously.

"...That is so damn chuunibyou." Although he had mentally prepared himself, Benjamin couldn't help but complain silently.

Using small balls to replace Holy Light Bombs and the dramatic sacrifices were one thing, but what was the point of shouting "Holy Light Bomb" before throwing them? Would the Church's highest philosophy eventually turn into "Protect Athena"?

"Actually, there is a logic to it," the system popped up again to explain. "The Holy Light Bomb is a very eye-catching divine spell. To simulate this effect, the war game rules dictate that when using a ball to represent a Holy Light Bomb, you must shout it out loud to expose your position so everyone else can hear."

"..." Benjamin was once again speechless.

The system took on an earnest tone and said, "Don't look down on them. They have all received formal training and are very serious about this game."

Just as the system said, after "taking out" two enemies, Grant immediately led Benjamin to relocate their position. His movements—dropping to the ground every five steps and checking behind him every three—were as professional as a special forces soldier.

However, the others were not as well-trained as Grant; in every gesture, they couldn't shake off their pampered noble aura. Just like that, during their guerrilla maneuvers, Grant eliminated several more pairs of enemies, and the "corpses" wandering the castle gradually increased.

Benjamin followed behind, lying his way to victory with a sense of helplessness.

However, through his performance along the way, he gained a more intuitive understanding of his genius younger brother.

"Are you sure this is the genius you were talking about? The one who was glowing and ringing bells the moment he was born?" he asked in his heart, feeling somewhat helpless.

"Did you think every genius is as arrogant as they are in books, looking down on people through their nostrils?" the system reminded him. "Don't underestimate him. If he used a real Holy Light Bomb, he could wipe out everyone in this castle. Meanwhile, if you used a Water Bomb Spell, it wouldn't even be enough to wash everyone's hands."

"..."

Ignoring the system's sarcasm, Benjamin still didn't quite believe it: "Is he really that strong? Then why did Michelle dare to kidnap him?"

The system explained again: "Michelle has been dealing with the Church for so long; she must have her own ways of countering divine spells. Taking a step back, why would she play a fair one-on-one fight with Grant? With this kid's schemes and experience, ten of him wouldn't be enough for her to toy with."

Benjamin thought about it after hearing this and finally accepted the explanation:

"That's true."

He was suddenly concerned about this not because he cared about his cheap brother, but because he suddenly thought: since Grant's divine spell ability was so strong, why didn't he ask him for help to resolve the curse on his body?

After all, Grant was just a teenager. If Benjamin came up with a reason to fool him, he should be able to trick him into helping. While deceiving such a chuunibyou teenager might bring a bit of guilt, when weighed against his own life, his life was obviously more important.

Besides, once the curse was lifted, wouldn't Benjamin be free as a bird? As for Michelle and the Church, they could fight all they wanted; it was none of his business.

Brilliant! Simply brilliant!

Thinking this way, Benjamin suddenly felt his future brighten up.

Michelle was truly clever for a lifetime but confused for a moment. She probably never dreamed that this point had been overlooked, right? She must not have expected that Benjamin's genius brother could save him at a critical moment.

Eh...

Wait!

Would Michelle... really not think of this?

Benjamin's mood was like riding a roller coaster; he sobered up from his excitement instantly. Perhaps the psychological trauma Michelle had inflicted on him was too great, but he always felt that she wasn't the type to overlook such a detail.

Sure enough, after asking the system, he received this answer:

"Not sure. Perhaps the curse she set is more obscure, and even Grant can't remove it. But a more likely reason is that she is utilizing the Church's regulations on divine spells."

Benjamin felt his hope being extinguished quite a bit, but he still pressed, "What regulations?"

"Novice priests are not allowed to use divine spells at will," the system replied. "Although Grant is already more powerful than many official priests, he hasn't officially graduated from the Church yet. Therefore, he doesn't have the right to use divine spells outside of the Church's permission. And under the Church's nose... the Church people probably wouldn't let him help you, as you've experienced yourself. Michelle must know this, which is why she is so confident."

Damn it...

Benjamin felt he had been toyed with again in an invisible way.

But fortunately, having gone through the battle of wits with Michelle, his mentality had been tempered. He hadn't counted on others to begin with; seeking Grant's help was just a heat-of-the-moment idea. If it worked, it would be a pleasant surprise; if not, it was normal. It wasn't the first time he had felt the malice of the god of fate.

It was just as well; he didn't have to rack his brains on how to fool Grant. Relying on himself was easier.

Just like that, while Benjamin was calculating in his heart, he followed Grant, "killing gods if gods block, killing Buddhas if Buddhas block," witnessing a series of Grant's professional military maneuvers—from ambushes and sneak attacks to frontal assaults. Few opponents could last more than a minute against him.

This still surprised Benjamin a little—even though he didn't take the game seriously.

However, he could also see that the defeated young nobles were clearly not as serious as Grant. Grant truly treated this game as a war, while for the others, the "game" aspect was heavier.

Benjamin couldn't help but suspect that the person who first proposed this war simulation was none other than Grant himself.

If he were in the modern world, he would definitely be the most fanatical gamer, the type who would go into battle in full cosplay.

Under the guidance of the "veteran," Benjamin, the newbie, also fought his way through, experiencing what felt like a rather long hour to him. Finally, with the increase in the number of "corpses," the game reached its final stage.

After checking the numbers with the system, Benjamin confirmed that there were only two enemies left in the castle who hadn't been "killed."

"Finally, it's ending," he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

"You should enjoy the fun of the game. Look at them, how focused they are. They are both enjoying themselves and exercising their skills. What a great experience. A good player that even Yang Yongxin wouldn't have the heart to deal with." The system was actually able to say this with such emotion that it was quite impressive.

"You can't put it that way. I also want to take this opportunity to relax, but I can't," Benjamin said quietly. "It's like someone used to playing 3D real-time masterpieces; if you ask him to play a 2D turn-based nostalgic game, he just can't do it. That's my situation, you can't blame me."

The system was silent for a while, then suddenly said, "Do you know that if you say this, many fans of 2D turn-based games will bash you? You're being very bad."

Benjamin was silent for a moment after hearing this, then replied, "I know, but this isn't writing a novel where you can delete and rewrite if you make a mistake. The words are out; even if I regret it, it's useless."

The system stopped talking, and Benjamin also went quiet. After a mysterious silence between the two, Benjamin suddenly shuddered as if he had finished being possessed, and even let out a hiccup.

Then, he asked the system, "Did we just say something strange?"

The system replied blankly, "We didn't say anything just now."

Benjamin nodded with a straight face:

"That's what I thought too."

Soon, their attention returned to reality. The game in reality had reached the late stages. Grant was still searching for the remaining two people. Seeing this, Benjamin could only yawn out of boredom and wait patiently for the game to end.

However, he suddenly thought of something, gave a start, and revealed an uneasy expression.

"Hey, among those who were taken out just now, was that kid from the Fool Family?" After much deliberation, he asked the system.

The system replied, "No."

Benjamin: "Are you sure?"

System: "Are you questioning my ability? No means no. I am 800 percent sure."

Hearing this, Benjamin couldn't help but take a deep breath.

He looked at the end of the corridor ahead, at the only remaining room that hadn't been searched, and a very ominous premonition suddenly rose in his heart.

Sorry, this chapter is an hour late today (I won't tell you that I just woke up).