Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.12 – The Knight Wore a Black Octagonal Hat (2)
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Cadets from commoner backgrounds in the Swordsmanship Department.
Now called sprouts or sprout groups, they were unlike the noble cadets who had been united in rebellion from the start. They hadn't harbored much resentment toward Lee Han right from their first encounter.
This was partly because he came from a lower class than them, but also because they were captivated by his 'strength'.
The image of him overwhelmingly defeating the vice knight commander of that sword-fighting noble family who had insulted him was especially etched into their minds.
Strong.
It's awe-inspiring that someone from an even worse background could become that strong.
And later, after meeting him properly, they learned he had never learned Fighting Technique.
In a way, it made sense.
They'd heard that even starting at age five was considered late for Fighting Technique.
Of course, it was a luxury that lower-class folk could never afford.
When first learning Fighting Technique, you needed a master to guide your life force—or battle ki, as it's also called. Plus, priests to heal the damage to your young body, which cost a fortune.
Something no lower-class person could ever bear, even if they wanted to train.
...Some say you can train stably as an adult, but who could believe such nonsense?
Maybe for once-in-a-generation geniuses or those born with heroic destinies, but sadly, most people aren't geniuses or heroes.
They're just scraping by, day to day.
That's why they respected their instructor.
He became a knight without learning Fighting Technique, born into an even worse environment than theirs.
And he's strong.
Who wouldn't admire someone who built that coveted treasure of strength purely through effort!
So they were fully committed to carrying out their instructor's orders to the best of their ability, vowing to endure any harsh schedule.
"-Trainee No. 2, dismissed."
......That had been the plan.
"D-Dismissed!!"
"Your voice is too quiet! Do you want the other trainees to suffer more before you snap out of it?"
"N-No, sir!!"
"I said respond with 'yes' only. Do you think the instructor's words are a joke, trainee?"
"Y-Yes!!"
"Why aren't you responding? Do you think the instructor's words are a joke?"
"......Yes!"
"Two beats late on the response. All trainees, 30 sets of PT No. 8!"
-3, 30 sets!!
"Voice too quiet! 100 sets of PT No. 8!"
-100 sets!!!
"Good. Now, 50 full-body twists."
The instructor—no, the devil—issued commands and blew his whistle.
Failing to match the rhythm of that whistle would give him another excuse to nitpick.
"Uwaaaah!!"
"Kuhhh...!"
"M-Mommy...!"
Screams filled the air.
These were certainly painful exercises, but it was odd for cadets who hadn't neglected their physical training to be hurting like this.
However, this wasn't their usual condition.
And for good reason.
"It's only been '7 hours'! Everyone, push harder!"
-A-Aaah!!
......Seven hours. They'd been at this torment for seven hours already and felt like they were going insane.
Two days earlier, at dawn.
The training ground was shrouded in darkness before the morning sun had risen, and Swordsmanship Department cadets had gathered there.
Not everyone, though.
Lee Han had only summoned the sprouts the day before.
......They'd come without being told.
"Kunta, this'll be fun."
"...No matter how I think about it, it won't."
"Yet you came anyway, so you're pretty greedy too, young master. Same as you."
"You bastard! How dare you be rude to our lord...!"
"Call me Roan, not you."
"!!?"
Lee Han deemed those four a cut above the rest, plus one who suited being an assassin more than a knight.
And...
"Wh-Why am I here...?"
The assistant instructor, who had finished paperwork and been enjoying sweet sleep, looked deeply aggrieved at being dragged here forcibly, his face crumpled in a pout.
"Everyone's here."
In the midst of this, the one who had gathered them all finally appeared.
"Hm, no deserters, huh? Oh? You guys came too?"
Roan and the others.
He'd told the young masters and chicks they didn't need to come, so why were they here?
The answer came from Garand.
"You said Instructor would teach us [Advanced] stuff properly in this 'special intensive training,' so we had to come."
"...You could just learn it later?"
With their talent, they could pick it up anytime. Why go this far?
His expression mixed confusion and doubt, but they were dead serious.
"Sure, we could learn it. But we have zero desire for special treatment."
They weren't the type to slack off just because they had talent.
If they were, they'd have gone back to their families or masters.
They had solid resolve, and Lee Han scratched his head.
"...Hm, I needed extra hands anyway. Lucky."
You had to make full use of volunteer labor that fell into your lap.
As Lee Han felt quietly satisfied,
"W-Wait! We, we're here too!"
"...H-Hello, Instructor."
"......Why are you here?"
Why were even more uninvited people showing up?
Irene Windler and Chick No. 1—no, Levi Polt—had mixed in among the cadets, dressed in light training clothes. Lee Han blinked.
"Hm, first question for Chick No. 2: why'd you come?"
"...Well, this happened because of me, so I felt I should take some responsibility."
"Hm, commendable."
Irene Windler's reasoning was sound.
Intentional or not, she was the reason for this mess.
Typical romance-fantasy possessor.
A person of interest who attracts incidents just by existing.
Yet her sense of responsibility had pushed her to show up despite Lee Han's brutal warning: 'Those who want to come may, but you might need a year to recover if it goes wrong, so don't if you can help it.'
Irene Windler steeled her face with resolve...!
"So, what's the real reason?"
"I don't want to end up like that mage professor who claims to be 28. Figured I'd exercise a bit, but it's hard to stay motivated alone... hehe."
"...Honesty's a virtue."
So not entirely commendable.
[Arin, I used to not even be embarrassed by your consistent shamelessness anymore.]
'...Even I'm scared of my own audacity these days.'
Lee Han shifted his gaze from Irene's enigmatic expression to the girl with wavy, sea-colored hair—Levi Polt.
"Why's Chick No. 1 here? Dragged by Chick No. 2?"
Irene showing up wasn't too surprising, but why had this girl come all the way here?
"I-I can't deny Lady Irene's invitation played a part... but I was interested too...!"
"...Hm."
Come to think of it, Levi Polt seemed to have more passion than most noble ladies.
Passion for growth, that is.
'This type exists too.'
Lee Han wondered if Levi Polt might have some connection to Irene Windler.
If this world really was a romance fantasy or regression story, there'd be supporting leads besides the protagonist.
And supporting characters always had their own distinct personalities, circumstances, and goals.
Maybe she was one of them...
'...Overthinking it.'
Lee Han shook his head.
Unnecessary thoughts, a misunderstanding.
If a cadet—no, a prospective student—wanted to learn from him, it was a teacher's duty to teach.
Whether she was a supporting character or not didn't matter.
To him, she was just a disciple eager to learn.
Others might disagree, but to him, this world was 'reality,' and there were no side characters.
So.
"This instructor always welcomes those who seek growth. Chick No. 1—no, Levi Polt."
"Ah!"
"But no special treatment. Steel yourself."
"Y-Yes!"
Levi Polt nodded vigorously with a joyful face, and Lee Han smiled warmly.
"-Pack your gear."
"...Pardon?"
"Marching first. Light one: 30km."
"......"
"Full kit, by the way. Gear at least 10kg. Yours is low stamina, so 8kg."
"......"
...It took Levi Polt less than a minute to realize something was wrong.
Marching.
Simply put, soldiers moving in formation. But a soldier's definition is different.
'Walking while maintaining combat readiness.'
-That was more accurate.
Thus, marching troops carry heavy loads: rations, weapons, clothes, supplies.
Soldiers must move fluidly under all that weight.
So.
"Everyone's too slow! Switching from quick march to double time! Got it? No crawling like slugs—move fast!!"
...Hellish forced march.
"Hah, haaah! Hngh...!"
All the cadets were gasping for breath.
Not just heavy iron swords—they were armored too.
Plus extra gear, rations, sleeping bags. Pure agony.
At least cadet armor was light, or they'd have collapsed already.
It had been pitch black when they started walking, but now the sun was rising, heat building.
They truly felt the misery of marching 30km loaded with dozens of kilos.
It was hell.
"Tired? Kunta carry?"
"N-No! I'm fine, Kunta!"
"Look exhausted?"
"...We are. B-But how are you okay, Kunta? Your load's heavier."
"Still light. Sweating a bit."
"......Haha."
Kunta carried more than them, yet stayed unfazed.
Two massive crates stacked on his pack, filled with bulk rations—legs trembled just thinking about it.
Mysterious barbarian race.
Their [mystery] was said to be indomitable stamina and willpower.
Witnessing it firsthand left them stunned.
And inspired respect.
'M-Me too...!'
Yet Kunta never slacked despite that gift.
The sprout cadet psyched himself up...
Thud thud!!
"Cadet, you okay? Poor breathing control."
"......"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"...Instructor, what's that you're dragging?"
"Hm? Cornmeal and potato sacks?"
"Wh-Why...?"
"Gotta have rations for cadets' month-long training. Kunta's load isn't enough."
"......"
...That's not what I meant.
The cadet was dumbfounded.
Dozens of kilos in packs was bad enough, but seeing the instructor single-handedly haul a cart piled with dozens of cornmeal and potato sacks was dizzying.
What is that?
...Scary.
"...Instructor, random question, but are you really human?"
"Haha, I get what you're thinking—don't worry. Perfectly ordinary human. And cadets, after this field training—no, special intensive—you'll be like me."
"......"
......Doubt it.
The cadet swallowed his true thoughts.
Then.
"Ah, there it is."
"Pardon?"
"Once we crest that, training ground's next."
"Where...?"
"There. See that peak with lingering snow? Up that."
"......Pardon?"
"Haha, think of it as a light hike. Been a while."
"......"
The instructor pointed to a 1,384m mountain, and they fell silent.
...Seriously considering quitting while they could.