Harsh Training
The next morning, at Liona's training grounds.
The crisp air carried the early sunlight that sliced across the floor in long, golden beams.
I stood there gripping a wooden sword, slowly steadying my breathing.
Whoosh—
The blade cut through the air as it came down.
Once more.
Up, then down.
Thud.
My toes planted firmly against the ground, anchoring my center.
Liona's words kept echoing in my head.
"Don't put strength into your arms."
"Move with the flow."
Those instructions wouldn't leave me alone.
I continued the motions exactly as she'd said.
Hup. Hup—
My breathing grew ragged, but I didn't stop.
I raised the sword again and swung it cleanly.
That was when I felt it.
A gaze piercing into me from the side.
Arin stood there with her arms crossed, watching me with a relaxed posture.
"Oh."
The corner of her mouth twitched upward.
"That's a little better than yesterday."
I lowered the sword and rolled my shoulders.
"A little…?"
Arin shrugged.
"It's not like you've improved that much."
"Still, you don't look like you're about to die from the stance anymore."
Agh…
This little…
I almost let a curse fly but swallowed it back down.
I let out a short breath and slung the wooden sword over my shoulder.
"Anyway."
Arin tilted her head.
"Yes?"
I turned my gaze toward the outside of the training grounds.
"You said it yesterday."
"That once you step outside the castle gates, the place is crawling with monsters."
Arin nodded like it was no big deal.
"I did."
I narrowed my eyes.
"What kind of things are we talking about?"
Arin's eyes sparkled.
"Ah, that?"
She spun the wooden sword in her hand as if she'd been waiting for the question.
"Monsters have ranks."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Ranks?"
Arin held up her fingers.
"It starts from Monster Rank 5."
"Then 4, 3, 2…"
One finger remained.
Arin grinned mischievously.
"…and Monster Rank 1."
I rested my chin on my hand.
"What's Rank 5?"
Arin answered immediately.
"They're basically just beasts."
"Wolves, boars, things like that."
She gestured roughly with her hands to indicate their size.
"They've absorbed mana for a long time and mutated, so they're stronger than normal and can be dangerous sometimes."
Arin looked me up and down.
"If you fought one right now, Jun…"
"Would you win? Or lose?"
I let out a small snort and nodded.
"Then what about Rank 4?"
Arin's expression grew a bit more serious.
"This one's different."
"I've only seen one myself…"
Her pupils trembled slightly.
"They're big, and they have a bit of intelligence."
I asked naturally.
"Rank 4?"
Arin nodded.
"Yes."
"The royal knights usually handle up to this level."
I followed up.
"One-on-one?"
"Yes. It's possible."
"Even you?"
She tilted her head from side to side as if thinking.
"Maybe now I could?"
I pressed on immediately.
"Then what about Rank 3?"
Arin flinched slightly.
"That's dangerous. They're incredibly strong."
"You need to move in legion strength."
"Either with mages supporting…"
She took a breath before continuing.
"Or someone on the level of Commander Liona has to face them."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Liona's that strong?"
Arin looked at me with a sigh.
"Haa…"
She shook her head and muttered.
"Even after seeing it, you still don't get it… what an idiot…"
"Hey!"
Arin lifted her chin slightly and slowly twirled her wooden sword.
"What?"
Ugh…
I'd probably lose if we fought…
"Haa…"
"And Rank 2?"
Completely ignoring my reaction, Arin kept going.
"Two full legions, including the commander…"
Her face turned grave for a moment before she flashed an innocent smile again.
"But those ones are fine."
"They're smart, so they avoid people."
"Otherwise they'd become the kingdom's hunting targets."
"That's why they're mostly only recorded in history."
Then she raised one finger.
"And finally, Monster Rank 1."
The corner of her mouth curled up.
"Dun dun~"
I chuckled and asked.
"What's that one?"
Arin tilted her head back and looked up at the sky.
She squinted slightly as the sunlight hit her eyes.
"Legendary beings."
She lowered her head again.
"Dragons."
The air in the training grounds suddenly grew heavy.
Arin shrugged.
"They're only in the records."
"Ancient texts say one could wipe out an entire kingdom."
She laughed briefly before adding.
"But apparently none have appeared in hundreds of years."
I mulled over her words.
Then I slowly opened my mouth.
"But earlier."
Arin tilted her head.
"Yes?"
I pointed toward the mountains in the distance.
The mountain where I'd first fallen into this world.
"That mountain. What did you say was there?"
Arin answered casually.
"Monster Rank 4 creatures."
I froze on the spot.
"What…?"
Arin blinked.
"Yes?"
I pointed at the mountain again.
"There are monsters up there?"
Arin nodded as if it were obvious.
"Of course."
She nodded again, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"That's why regular people can't go in."
"The knight orders occasionally clear them out."
The moment she finished speaking, my head slowly turned.
"Then…?"
My mouth moved on its own.
"I… fell there, didn't I?"
Arin blinked and fell into thought for a moment.
"Oh… yeah, I guess you did?"
I laughed weakly.
"I almost died, didn't I?"
That was when a calm voice came from the side.
"That's correct."
My head snapped around reflexively.
Liona stood there in her teal armor, as if she'd been there the whole time.
She continued with a composed expression.
"If I hadn't found you, the chances that you were already dead would have been very high."
Holy shit…
A brief silence fell over the training grounds.
I slowly turned my head and stared at the distant mountain.
It looked peaceful, as if nothing had ever happened there.
Arin scratched her head.
"Huh… now that I think about it, that's actually true."
"…"
She shifted her gaze to the mountain and muttered.
"That's a Rank 4 zone."
She looked back at me.
"You really were found there, right?"
Liona nodded.
"Correct."
Arin's eyes sparkled.
"Jun, you're incredibly lucky."
I narrowed my eyes and shook my head.
"Wait a second."
Arin tilted her head again.
"Yes?"
I looked back and forth between the mountain and Liona.
"While we were coming down, we didn't see a single monster."
Arin opened her mouth, then stopped.
She paused for a second before nodding.
"Ah, that's probably because…"
She turned to look at Liona.
"It's because of the commander."
I blinked.
"Liona?"
Arin waved her hand lightly and answered right away.
"Yes."
"The commander naturally radiates mana around her."
She made a sweeping motion through the air with her fingertips.
"So lower-ranked monsters tend to stay away."
I stared at Liona for a moment.
She stood perfectly straight as always, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Arin grinned.
"That's why even monsters usually know."
"Like, 'Oh, that one's dangerous.'"
She mimed an animal running away.
"And they avoid her like this."
Laughter briefly filled the training grounds.
But Liona didn't react.
She looked at me for a moment before quietly speaking.
"Which is exactly why training is even more necessary."
I narrowed my eyes.
"Suddenly?"
Liona raised her wooden sword.
"Jun."
Her voice was unwavering.
"You and Arin will, within one month."
The tip of the sword tilted slightly.
"Hunt a Monster Rank 4."
I froze solid.
"What…?"
I turned to look at Arin.
She was smiling brightly.
I looked back at Liona.
I pointed at Arin.
"With her?"
Then pointed at my own chest.
"And me?"
Arin immediately turned to Liona and exclaimed.
"Yes! Hunting!"
Liona's face remained unchanged.
Arin leaned toward me with a grin.
"Jun, you can do it, right?"
I muttered weakly.
"These girls are seriously trying to kill me…"
Liona lightly dragged the tip of her wooden sword across the ground.
Then she said calmly.
"Therefore, we will train even harder."
She turned and walked to one side.
Sandbags were piled up in the corner.
Thud. One.
Thud. Two.
Three… four…
She threw them toward me one after another.
I caught them reflexively.
"Huh…?"
My hands immediately dropped.
They were much heavier than I expected.
"What the hell is this…?"
Liona answered shortly.
"You tie them to your arms and legs."
"…?"
"From now on, you will train while wearing these."
My mind went blank.
"What…?"
Arin chuckled beside me.
"Oh, Jun's done for."
Liona added casually.
"This is basic."
I immediately shouted.
"Aaaagh!!"
Arin burst out laughing.
"Jun, we haven't even started yet."
I glared at Liona while holding the sandbags.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Liona raised her wooden sword.
Her expression didn't change at all.
"Begin."
I tied the sandbags to my arms.
As soon as I fastened one to each leg, my body felt crushed downward.
"Ugh…"
I tried to lift the wooden sword, but my arms wouldn't listen.
"Damn it…"
Whoosh—
The sword fell slowly.
Arin's voice flew in from the side.
"Jun! Posture!"
Liona's voice followed.
"Raise your arms."
"Lower your center."
I gritted my teeth.
"You bastards…"
I lifted the sword again.
The sandbags shook.
My body staggered, but I swung through it anyway.
Whoosh.
That evening.
The training that had begun at dawn continued until the sun had completely set.
The crystal orbs above the training grounds were beginning to glow one by one.
Liona set down her wooden sword.
"You've worked hard."
"Today's training ends here."
Arin immediately stretched her arms out wide and yawned.
"Ugh—"
She smiled lightly and bowed her head.
"See you tomorrow, Commander."
She bowed to Liona.
Then she lightly poked my side.
"Jun, survive."
I barely managed to nod.
"Yeah…"
Fuck…
I have to survive…
Arin left the training grounds with light steps.
I remained standing right where I was.
My legs were shaking and my arms were trembling uncontrollably.
Thud.
Thud.
I dropped the sandbags onto the floor one by one.
The wooden sword in my hand felt like it would slip from my grasp at any moment.
"Haa…"
My breath came out rough and heavy.
I lifted my head and looked at Liona.
She was calmly organizing the equipment as if none of this affected her.
I muttered to myself.
This bitch…
Look at those muscles…
How the hell do I get revenge?
I racked my brain.
I thought for a moment.
Then something suddenly came to me.
"Ah!"
That's it.
I turned around.
"Hey."
Liona lifted her head.
"Yes?"
I rolled my shoulders as I spoke.
"I'm getting tired of eating palace food every day."
Liona listened quietly.
"What do you guys usually eat?"
"Don't you have normal food?"
Liona thought for a moment before answering.
"We do."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"Ironclad Boar Stew."
I blinked.
Liona continued explaining.
"It's made by boiling the meat of boars from the northern forest with mountain mushrooms."
"Then adding root vegetables and simmering it for a long time."
She paused to catch her breath.
"It's a dish that combat knights eat often."
She added calmly.
"It gives you a lot of energy."
I nodded.
"Oh, that sounds good."
Liona said.
"I sometimes make it at home too."
I smiled immediately.
"Really? Perfect."
Liona tilted her head slightly.
"Yes?"
I pointed at her.
"Let's go to your house."
Liona's movements stopped completely.
"Pardon?"
I smirked.
"Make that for me."
Liona lowered her head shyly.
"…Understood…"
We left the palace and walked along a quiet alleyway.
The night air was cool.
The soft glow of crystal orbs lined the path.
I hobbled along.
My legs wouldn't move properly.
"Ah…"
A groan slipped out before I could stop it.
Liona grabbed my arm from the side and supported me, matching my slow pace.
"Jun."
Her voice was gentle.
Completely different from the tone she used in the training grounds.
"Is it very difficult?"
I let out a long sigh.
"Yeah, it's tough, you idiot."
I dragged my legs as I spoke.
"Can't you see?"
Liona remained silent for a moment.
Then she spoke very quietly.
"It's for your sake…"
Liona kept walking while looking straight ahead.
"You need to get stronger quickly so the danger decreases…"
I glanced at her for a moment.
Instead of her usual stern face, her expression was a little softer.
Before long, not far from the palace, small residential complexes came into view.
The district where knights and officials lived.
Liona stopped walking.
"This is it."
I looked up.
It was a much nicer house than I'd expected.
Not too big, not too small.
Stone walls harmonized with wood, and a small crystal lamp glowed softly in front of the window.
In the yard stood training posts and wooden pillars.
I chuckled.
"It really is a knight's house."
Liona opened the door.
Warm light spilled out from inside.
The interior was cozier than I'd imagined.
Two neatly arranged swords hung on the wall.
Beside them were a shield and a small armor stand.
But next to those were small potted plants.
Flowers by the window.
A sofa covered in soft fabric.
It was a knight's home, yet it carried a gentle, warm atmosphere.
Liona stood at the doorway, hesitating.
"Inviting someone as a guest…"
Her head lowered slightly.
"This is my first time…"
Her cheeks were faintly flushed.
