-1380- The real goal

This country's entry into the league wasn't particularly smooth.

After World War II, to follow the international peace route, this country joined the league, becoming one of its member states.

However, not everyone was in favor of this decision at the time.

In fact, the opposition voices were particularly strong.

This action was akin to voluntarily giving up its great power status.

Without the league's permission, it couldn't cultivate or punish Blazers. Such a situation was unacceptable for a victorious nation.

In a world where the strength of a Blazer could determine the outcome of a war, and each Blazer's power equated to a country's military strength, it was inconceivable for this country to rely on another's system for training and managing its Blazers.

Unfortunately, joining the league had become a trend. Failing to keep pace with others would make the country a sacrificial pawn in the Union and Alliance's struggle for world dominance, much like Estonia. Thus, this country had no choice but to join the league.

Yet, discontent and anger simmered, continuing to this day.

This wasn't a secret.

Rozen, who had wandered the world and met Kurogane Ryoma in the past, learned about the country's situation from him.

At the time, Rozen believed:

"Perhaps this country will sooner or later resist the league."

Therefore, when Rozen learned that there was a plan to disrupt the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival and infiltrate various knight academies with Rebellion members, he had a suspicion.

"This country wants to establish new knight academies and reclaim the training and management rights for Blazers without the league's permission."

However, this wasn't something that could be done easily.

The league would never agree to this, leading to an inevitable confrontation.

Thus, strong measures had to be taken.

First, the country hired elite members of the Rebellion to infiltrate the seven knight academies, gain representative qualifications, and secure the right to participate in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

Because the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival is a nationwide competition, showcasing impressive strength on this stage would not only bring fame to the country's academy but also prove that the Blazers trained there were far superior to those from the league's academies. This would attract students and gain public support, forcing the Union to concede.

If the league's academies couldn't produce Blazers as strong as those from the country's academy, they would have no reason to continue monopolizing the training and management of Blazers.

Eventually, public opinion and reality would pressure the league to relinquish these rights.

But first, the country's students had to secure the right to participate in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival.

If the country established academies and requested participation without the league's approval, the league would likely find ways to deny their eligibility, preventing their students from competing.

Therefore, the country had these elite Rebellion members infiltrate the other seven knight academies to secure participation rights before announcing the establishment of their own academy.

Once their students had secured participation rights, it would prove that they had the qualifications to compete on this stage.

Next, the country just needed to create a sensation.

By staging a significant event, they could promote their academy and students, declaring their presence and superiority over the league's academies.

The attack on Hagun Academy was this significant event.

With just a few students capable of destroying a league-established academy, the country's citizens would feel proud and support the establishment of their own academy, paving the way to reclaim the training and management rights for Blazers.

At that point, the league would have no choice but to recognize the participation rights of the country's academy students.

In that scenario, they had to prove their Blazers were superior to those trained by the country, or else other nations would follow suit, reclaiming their training rights and rendering the league's monopoly obsolete.

The Seven Stars Sword Art Festival would be the only stage to prove this.

The country needed to demonstrate that its students were superior to the league's, so they had to defeat the representatives of the seven knight academies in the festival.

The league, on the other hand, needed to prove its students were superior to those from the country's academy, so they had to defeat the country's representatives.

As a result, this year's Seven Stars Sword Art Festival would become a battleground for the league and this country.

This was the country's goal.

In other words, Hagun Academy was attacked simply as a political pawn.

"You intend to use Hagun Academy as a stepping stone, right?"

Rozen concluded his explanation, causing the students of Hagun Academy to tremble with anger.

Even the opposition hadn't expected their plan to be seen through to this extent.

Led by Kurogane Ouma, Tatara Yui, Kazamatsuri Rinna, Shinomiya Amane, and Sara Bloodlily all looked at Rozen with either solemn or astonished expressions.

As for Wallenstein...

"...As expected of you, to have seen through this far?"

Wallenstein looked at Rozen with a complex expression, filled with both seriousness and a deep sense of dread.

Perhaps noticing Wallenstein's fear, many were shocked.

But for Wallenstein, this was unavoidable.

How could it be avoided?

"Who would have thought that the world's strongest Blazer, who once fought against the world alone and won, would be hiding in a mere knight academy? This is probably our only mistake in this operation."

Wallenstein's words struck like a thunderbolt, shocking everyone present.

"Tenkai...!?"

Everyone was stunned, looking at Rozen with unprecedented shock.

"Rozen is...Tenkai...?"

The students of Hagun Academy were completely moved.

"He...he's Tenkai...!?"

The opposition was equally astonished.

"Tenkai...!"

Kurogane Ouma trembled, staring at Rozen with intense fervor.

In front of everyone, Rozen smirked.

"So you knew my identity, yet you dare come out and act all high and mighty, Sword Saint?"

Having fought against the Rebellion before and having faced and defeated them, Rozen said this.

A terrifying magical power began to rise from him.