Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Unforgettable Training Camp (3)
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The destination for the training camp was the Northern Region.
To be precise, it was somewhere around the border between the central region and the Northern Region. Normally, Citadel Academy's training camps were held near the border, but ever since the Northern Region fell, the new border that had been established on what used to be its territory became a regular spot for these events.
Even on horseback, it would take at least ten days to get there, but the academy wasn't about to let them take it easy. Thanks to that, the trainees had no choice but to stick out their tongues in exhaustion from the relentless forced marches every single day.
"......I'm gonna...... die."
Yeoryeong grumbled through heavy breaths. At least the weather wasn't hot, which was a small mercy. If it had been, they wouldn't even have the energy left to complain like this.
Ban was just as drained. But even in the midst of it, he felt a strange sense of dissonance. Days spent mostly marching should have worn him out, yet his body felt strangely resilient.
'Is it thanks to all that daily running practice?'
Not to the point where he could vanish in the blink of an eye like the professors.
But he could run a bit longer, a bit faster now.
That this march was more manageable than expected wasn't all that surprising, considering. However......
'The professors...... they're on another level.'
Second-years. And most of the professors in charge of first- and second-years had joined this training camp. And they were proving why they were professors with their very bodies.
Their stamina was so robust it was hard to believe they had retired long ago. No one had seen them catch their breath, nor fall behind in pace.
So Ban pushed himself harder out of sheer stubbornness. He wouldn't collapse from this. If anything was on the verge of breaking, it was his mind, not his body. He repeated that to himself.
Ban wasn't the only one like that. The freshmen walking at the front with the professors were mostly those who were already acknowledged for their skills. Like Jeo, or...... Shade.
"........."
Shade glanced at Ban before silently resuming his steps. They hadn't had a proper conversation since the tournament. Ban still disliked him, and Shade felt the same.
And if anyone was going to talk to either of them...... it was these two.
"Hah, hah, hah! This kind of march, scares, the crap, out of, you, weak, lit-tle, mush-rooms......"
"......Macdead. If you're gonna bluff, at least catch your breath first."
"When did, I, ever, run, out...... Hah, hah......"
Macdead trailed off and dropped his head. He'd gotten a bit more fit since coming to the academy compared to before, but he was still ridiculously huge. Even walking the same distance would consume more stamina for him.
Abid chuckled at the sight of him.
"Hey, Macdead. They say warriors of the Black Mountains are so brave and all, but what's with all the groaning? You're not flirting or anything."
"Shut, up, Abid! I......"
"Yeah, yeah, got it. Here, drink some water. You're about to keel over."
Macdead put on a tough front and got mad for a moment before snatching the canteen Abid offered.
And five minutes later, he face-planted onto the ground.
"........."
"........."
Ban and Shade supported him from either side, while Abid held up the rear from behind, and they kept marching. Ban ground his teeth and muttered.
"Macdead, you bastard...... even if I have to, the stink is too much."
"......If he's too heavy and you wanna ditch him, just do it. Don't make excuses about the smell."
"Shade, maybe your nose is clogged so you don't notice, but mine's fine. And stop pretending to be nice in front of me. You don't even have friends."
"It's not that I don't have friends. I just prefer being alone."
"Of course you do."
It was a fragrant, brotherly march like that.
If they stopped in a city or village for lodging, it was a lucky day. But usually, luck wasn't on their side. Under a sloppily pitched tent, Raku peered at his reflection in his sword and asked.
"Ban, do you know anything about the Northern Region?"
"Not much. Just that it fell about twenty years ago......"
"It was a splendid place. Annoyingly so. Full of pretentious types acting like sages who knew the truths of the world. One wrong greeting, and they'd corner you for hours."
Raku fiddled with his white-streaked beard as he spoke. Ban's gaze drifted to his empty right sleeve. Feeling the look, Raku grinned, baring his teeth.
"Yeah. I left my right arm up there in the Northern Region."
"Were you there...... for its final moments?"
"Not just me. Dalton, Sandel, Sala, Gin...... Every professor over fifty went through that war."
"......What was it like? The war?"
Seizing the moment, Ban asked. The professors generally avoided details about the day the Northern Region vanished. It must have left deep scars, but from Ban's perspective, he couldn't help being curious.
And that's when it happened. A familiar voice came from the tent entrance.
"War is war. Brutal. Whether it's humans against humans or humans against monsters."
"Good evening, Professor Dalton."
"Ban. A bit late to say this, but do you know whose sword that is at your waist?"
Ban flinched at the words. He carried two swords now. One was the longsword he'd received upon enrolling at the academy. The other was...... Yuri's huandao greatsword.
It was obvious which one Dalton meant.
"......I believe it's Senior Yuri's sword."
"Why pick Yuri's sword of all things for your training?"
"I just...... heard stories like that. That a sword used for a long time holds its former owner's power. I wanted to feel a bit of her presence."
"You're the sentimental type. Unexpectedly."
"Yeah. A little."
Ban played dumb outright. No point in letting on about his ability. Fortunately, Dalton didn't seem to be pressing for that. He gazed at Ban's huandao greatsword as if reminiscing about old times.
"......Use it well and return it. Any other sword, maybe. But you must never lose that one."
"Were you...... acquainted with that Yuri person?"
"She was my junior."
Dalton answered curtly. He continued staring at the huandao greatsword as he spoke.
"So don't die. Not until you return it to the training hall."
Ban nodded confidently.
"I won't die even after returning it."
§
"......That's a lighthouse?"
Hazelrek's jaw dropped. Ban was just as shocked. The new lighthouse at the new border. It was called a lighthouse, but really, it looked like a wall connecting countless lighthouses.
Anya, usually so quiet, wore a proud smile now. She chuckled and said.
"See that light in the lighthouse? That's all White Flame made by our Nahar Clan. It keeps most night scum from even entering the kingdom. You all get to live peacefully because of us."
"Wow, doesn't suit you at all. I thought all Nahars were just lazy freeloaders who only ate."
"......By that logic, you guys are just dumb muscleheads who brag about strength all day!"
"What? Bragging about strength? Wanna see what real strength-bragging is?"
"Eek, let, let go......! I warned you......!"
Yeoryeong and Anya bickered as usual. A fine display of the Nine Great Clans' dignity. Urong watched them before turning to Ban.
"......They always like this?"
"Uh...... pretty much?"
"Can't rein them in."
Urong clicked his tongue and shook his head.
It had been over a fortnight of forced marches. It was grueling at the time, but now that they'd arrived at the famous 'lighthouse,' Ban felt all the hardship melt away.
'......Beautiful.'
The White Flame of the lighthouse illuminated a world steeped in night. A sight unlike any other. Villages dotted one side, making it hard to believe this was monster territory devoid of human life.
They got just one day of rest. After sleeping in a proper bed for the first time in ages and washing up, they were summoned to the training grounds at dawn the next day. The border soldiers' envious gazes fixed on the academy emblem on their cloaks.
"Those are academy students?"
"Didn't you see? They arrived yesterday."
"The fate of this nation rests on their shoulders......"
"Seeing the white-haired ones, looks like Nahar Clan lords are with them too."
Only then did Ban realize he attended this kingdom's top academy. His classmates, who seemed ordinary or even unimpressive at times, were actually the kingdom's most talented.
Of course, looking at Macdead sometimes blurred that thought. Still.
"You all will now form teams as I call them out. At minimum, one second-year with two first-years, so if you're scared, stick to your senior's leg or something."
"Today's goal is simple."
"All first-years must catch at least one 'Seed of the Night' each."
"No need to be scared. You're still pathetic, but as long as the lighthouse light reaches, the Seeds of the Night are even more pathetic than you."
That was the gist. Honestly, no complaints. If anything, Ban was looking forward to it. Until the teams were announced.
"Heh heh...... Enemies meet on a single log bridge, huh? Perfect. Ban! I'll show you my real skills today!"
"Yeah."
"What? Lost your confidence? Your voice has no oomph!"
*Because you're my teammate.*
Facing Macdead, who brimmed with energy today of all days, Ban sighed. At least there was one silver lining......
"Been a while. Ban."
"......Senior."
"Got stronger in the meantime?"
It was Hay, the second-year leading them. No doubts about his strength. He was recognized as a powerhouse among second-years, on par with the Nine Great Clans.
'How far now......?'
Ban touched Yuri's huandao greatsword. Back then, he couldn't even see a single strike. But now? Maybe. At least, he could see them now......
And Hay smiled.
That instant. Ban felt his whole body tingle as he gripped the huandao greatsword tight. He realized it. As his skill grew, the gap between him and Hay felt even clearer.
'......And he's not even the strongest second-year?'
Not a single blind spot. Cold sweat beaded, but Ban grinned wider. The bigger the prey, the tastier. The stronger the swordsman, the more worth overcoming.
"You're still strong, Senior."
"Me? Nah. I'm still way short."
"Being short doesn't mean you're not strong."
"Hey, hey. That stings. I'm not fighting you today anyway. It's those quiet ones hiding in the woods. You know roughly what's in the Seeds of the Night, right?"
"About divided into wraiths and monsters, I guess..."
"Well, around here, wraiths at most. Actually, too many wraiths. So many people died...... Can't be helped, maybe."
Hay's eyes held some indescribable emotion as he said it. Was he from the Northern Region? Even if so, it fell before he was born, probably......
Swallowing his questions, Ban crossed the lighthouse wall into the night realm. Even with the lighthouse light still brightening the sky, the forest shadows deepened the darkness.
"If a wraith shows, strike without hesitation."
"Told you? No hesitation."
"You really can't doubt. It'll get rough otherwise."
Hay emphasized 'hesitation' several times as they walked. Ban wondered why at first, but soon found out.
They encountered the wraith at a cabin in a forest corner. Someone peeked through the half-open door, then a man with half his scalp peeled back stuck his head out.
[ Who...... are...... you? ]
"......Here it comes."
Hay signaled them. At a glance, it looked like an ordinary person. The difference? Unlike a human...... it was composed solely of black and white. Hay said in a low,沉 voice.
"Best to end it in one go. Like I said earlier, no hesitation......"
"Warrior of the Black Mountains-----Macdead!!"
"......tion."
Before Hay could finish, Macdead charged. He thundered forward and swung his axe without a moment's pause.
A clean strike. The man blinked...... then his head should have been severed by Macdead's axe.
......Should have.
"..Huh?"
Macdead blinked dumbly. The neck was clearly cut, yet the wraith's eyes still stared at him. The wraith rolled its eyes back in what seemed like ecstatic joy.
[ My...... love......? ]
"M-My love? Why would I be your love! I'm Macdead, warrior like the flames of the Black Mountains! You filthy wraith!"
[ My...... love...... come, come, at last, at last...... waited so, so long. ]
"......Trouble."
Hay sighed and shook his head. The wraith approached Macdead step by step, neck severed. Macdead's initial momentum faded; he backed away hesitantly, swinging his axe visibly frightened now.
"U-Ugh, stay back! Ban! Baaaaan! Help me! Help!"
"......Should I?"
Hay glanced at Ban. Ban shook his head with a sigh. He knew why Macdead's strike failed. *No hesitation.*
That meant certainty.
Ban drew Yuri's huandao greatsword. He already knew the mindset Yuri had when fighting wraiths. He knew the sword's tip held more than just physical force.
Hands don't lie.
The training accumulated over long years.
The anguish felt peering into countless swordsmen's times.
When he believed he could cut rock, he could cut rock.
Then, could he cut a wraith?
'......No reason he couldn't.'
Ban twisted his lips.
He was a swordsman who cut mountains, moons, and seas.
What he recalled was his old master's Overhead Slash.
Hand from sky to ground.
Eyes along the sword path.
Like a streak of lightning, Ban's sword fell.