Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Morning Drill
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The next day, 6:00 AM.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, and the chirping of birds reached Beonald's ears as he slept, announcing the morning, but he lay still with his eyes closed.
Soon, the sound of the door opening and someone entering, along with the movement of Alterio, could be sensed, but he still didn't move.
Piiit!
"Are you awake? Alterio. Here, eat this."
Piiiiit!
Thanks to the rapport built by feeding him up until yesterday, Alterio, who was guarding Beonald, was well-behaved.
And the presence that came right up to Beonald then announced the morning directly into his ear with a clear voice.
"It's time to wake up, Young Master Beonald. Young Master?"
'This is really nice. I'd like to hold out a bit longer to make things difficult, but... I should get up soon.'
He couldn't create a bad impression from the very first day as an adopted son, so Beonald stopped enjoying Sein's voice around this point and abruptly sat up.
"Mmm~ Good morning."
"Were you already awake?"
"No, I was deep in the abyss of sleep~ but then I heard the voice of a goddess. That's why I was able to get up right away."
He smoothly packaged Sein as a goddess while giving lip service, but she seemed unaccustomed to this kind of conversation, flustered as she took a slight step back.
Of course, it was a line that could have felt cheesy, but looks provide plausibility. Thanks to his mother's genes, this life's body, toned through training, had a handsome appearance coupled with an absurdly dignified air, so it didn't feel strange at all.
"Anyway, is that the training uniform?"
"Y-yes."
"I should get dressed and go out quickly. Ah~ By any chance, will Sein help me dress? I've heard that happens in high noble mansions."
"For that sort of work, I would need several exclusive attendants, not just me."
"That's truly a shame. Alright. Give it here."
Beonald took the training uniform from Sein and changed into it right away.
Then, guided by Sein, he descended through the mansion and arrived at the training grounds, where about 1,000 other knights and soldiers were already gathered for morning training.
Beonald discreetly went to the very back row among them and took his place.
'A rolling stone must watch its step. That said, the regular military force is too small for an Earldom. Knights are hard to find, so that's understandable, but...'
Perhaps because he himself had been the family head of an Earldom in his past life, he couldn't help but compare it to his own household. Even when he first became the family head of an Earldom 500 years ago, he commanded 95 knights, 1,000 cavalry, and 3,000 infantry as the territory's direct forces.
'...Well, it's a troubled age, so many people might have died, or maybe this is just the right number. Numbers can be filled with mercenaries or militia, after all.'
Furthermore, if all the families within the Callermain Earldom's sphere of influence pooled their forces, it would snowball, allowing them all to fight under the Callermain name.
'The key point is simply being stronger than the surrounding families, so they must have directed their surplus capacity elsewhere.'
Beonald nodded, convinced about the Earldom's troop numbers.
Military expenses are, after all, a cost that only consumes without any productivity, so having too many also places a great burden on the territory's finances.
"Is that person Young Master Beonald?"
"They say he's the same age as Young Master Ralt... He doesn't look like it at all? I thought he was a knight dispatched from somewhere at first."
"But he certainly resembles Sir Callen. That black hair and blue eyes... He's definitely Sir Callen's son."
Listening to the voices of soldiers and knights gossiping about him, the new figure, Beonald stood still, managing his expression as if he heard but didn't hear.
And a short while later, Sir Maldrev, who had removed his upper garment, revealed himself. Though nearing old age, his resilient and massive muscles still bulged as if about to burst.
'I can't possibly believe he's an old man. Of course, a high-ranking knight is no ordinary monster.'
Standing on the platform of the training grounds, he looked over the soldiers and knights, then noticed Ralt's absence.
"Is Young Master Ralt not here yet? Young Master Beonald is already in place."
"S-sorry. He'll be here soon."
"Fine. When has he ever been on time? Let's begin right...-"
"W-wait! Hold on! I'm here! I said I'm here!"
At that moment, a frantic voice from afar filled the training grounds.
Everyone's gaze focused in the direction of the sound, where they saw Young Master Ralt, dressed in his training uniform, having forgotten all dignity as he rushed out in a hurry.
And then, despite being late, he boldly took his place in front of the knights' formation as if he were their captain.
"...Phew~ Barely made it. I can't lose to that half-baked bastard. But where is he? Still sleeping thinking he's in the mountains? Hahahah!"
"Young Master Beonald is back there, Young Master Ralt."
"What? He came before me?"
"Yes. And quite some time ago, at that. And Young Master Ralt, that's the knights' training formation, so it'll be difficult for you to keep up. So please go to the very back row with the soldiers, like Young Master Beonald over there."
"Ugh! ...Ah, fine."
Sir Maldrev was this Earldom's chief knight and its only high-ranking knight. Moreover, he held a title, so even Ralt, as the heir's son, couldn't ignore him.
Still, perhaps feeling uncomfortable, he grumbled as he went to stand beside Beonald.
And under Sir Maldrev's direction, the morning training began in earnest, starting with calisthenics to warm up, followed immediately by a run.
The soldiers and Beonald simply started running, while the knights, at Sir Maldrev's signal, began running while still wearing their armor and weapons as if they were heading straight to the battlefield.
'...The knights' training menu is indeed different.'
"Can't you move faster? You are knights! That is! The sword and shield of this Earldom! A weak sword and shield are useless. Understood? Sharper! And harder! That is our duty and! The knight's way! Move! Lancer! You've been promoted to mid-rank knight, yet you're going at the same pace as the low-rank knights—doesn't that seem odd? Are you already trying to conserve your strength?"
With Sir Maldrev's bellowing commands, the knights began running in their full heavy armor.
They were all using Aura to move quickly, but Sir Maldrev drove them mercilessly, leading them out of the mansion grounds.
"Instead of staring at the knights, worry about yourselves! They're stronger than us, so they receive stronger training!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Since the young masters are participating in this training, I won't go easy on you. Clench your teeth and keep up. The run ending doesn't mean it's all over. If you fall behind, we'll leave you."
The commander leading the soldiers approached Beonald and Ralt, issuing a warning as if telling them to be prepared.
Ralt made a troubled face, but Beonald nodded leisurely and began following the soldiers' run.
'Hmm~ This is too light.'
"Hah... hah... haaah... Wait... wait! How far are we going with this? Hah..."
'...Ah, this friend is clearly out of shape.'
"Hah... hah..."
As soldiers responsible for maintaining the territory's peace at all times and preparing for war, it was perhaps natural that their running, though inferior to the knights, involved more physical exertion than ordinary people.
Of course, thanks to the mana breathing techniques, swordsmanship training, and hunting he had practiced since birth, Beonald had no trouble keeping up with that level of exertion. However, Young Master Ralt, who had neglected his studies and only played and ate all this time, quickly became drenched in sweat, panting heavily as his speed gradually slowed.
"Wait... wait! Damn it! I said wait... ugh... hah... why am I... why am I doing this... hah... kuhak!"
'Has he finally hit his limit? Well, if he's someone who never exercised, the difficulty should be adjusted... It's strange they had him participate in the first place...'
"Damn it... why am I doing this... damn it!"
'Hmm, what should I do here? Should I put on a clumsy act of friendship? Or should I leave him behind and go? Hmmm~ I should stop for now.'
Beonald first went over to Ralt, who had collapsed exhausted.
Ignoring him wasn't an option, as he was in the position of a rival for training purposes and, as an adopted son, would now become brothers.
Every action, every thought had to be cautious for him, and he pondered briefly what to do now, but the answer was one.
"Are you alright, Brother?"
"Eek... sssss..."
"Let me help you up. The beginning can be tough."
"Let go! I don't need help from the likes of you!"
'Oh, good reaction~ That's right. A noble whose pride is broken is a corpse. Yes, this is it. This is how it should be~'
Internally pleased, Beonald stepped back at his gesture.
But perhaps because all his strength was drained, Ralt struggled to get up, and since he was being looked down upon by Beonald, the sense of humiliation only grew.
To the point where he felt the labored breathing, the heaviness of his entire body, and the sticky, annoying sweat were all because of Beonald.
'Damn it! Damn it! It's all because of this bastard! Because of this bastard!'
'But without ability, you're just a pathetic guy. Of course, he's only 14 years old and has just started something, so it's too early to judge his talent.'
"Eek... eeeeek! Look away!"
'Ah, being looked down upon must be unpleasant.'
Ralt's irritation surged from the rising humiliation, but he couldn't get up, and he couldn't deal with that bastard right away, making him feel even more powerless.
Swearing through gritted teeth that he would somehow beat that guy, feeling this emotion for the first time in his life. However, unlike Beonald, who had trained thoroughly for 14 years based on past-life experience, Ralt, who had only played and eaten all this time, had nothing that could surpass Beonald.
And after several more training sessions, Ralt, who had already collapsed from the run, didn't participate further and just sat resting, watching the training.
Of course, Beonald digested the soldiers' rough training effortlessly, without shedding a drop of sweat.
"Then, dismissed! Everyone, wash up, get ready, and proceed to your respective duties!"
"Thank you for your hard work!"
After sweating profusely since morning, the loud shout of the soldiers and knights echoed, marking the end of morning training.
As they were about to head back, Ralt, now somewhat recovered, approached Beonald and growled.
"Damn it... damn it, just you wait! Today went like this, but later...-"
"Is that so. Do your best, Brother! You're the one who will become the true heir, so you must strive! Then I'll see you at mealtime."
"Dammiiiiit!"
Beonald, who replied with a smile, left Ralt behind and went up with Sein.
And Ralt, whose muscles were in chaos from the sudden exercise, felt like skipping breakfast and just wanting to wash and sleep, but fearing that missing the family breakfast where everyone gathered would feel like having his seat taken away, he gritted his teeth and headed to wash up.
Meanwhile, in the mansion, Acting Family Head Rengel Callermain and Ralt's mother, Lady Meira, were watching this together.
"Hmm, it seems to be having an effect already. My Lady? Am I not right?"
"Wasn't it too much for a child who just started? That thing with lowly blood mixed in is like a wild dog that ran around in the countryside!"
"Correct. It was deliberately meant to provoke Ralt's pride. That child is also a noble family's child; he must realize that what he was born with isn't simply protected. As you know, My Lady, it's a troubled age now, isn't it? An era where if you have power, you seize even a speck of land, and if you lack power, yours is taken. Anyway, I hope that child realizes today."
Acting Family Head Rengel watched Ralt, hoping he would realize his intentions, but Lady Meira behind him was different.
While she held back for now because her husband's words were correct, she felt the humiliation her son suffered as if it were her own, and she burned with anger, thinking she would definitely return this humiliation to that Beonald.