Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Prodigal's Training Method
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Four days had passed since Wesley's death.
The count's family and the territory's people spent each day mourning him.
The knight order and trainees, burned by thoughts of revenge, threw themselves even harder into training.
As dawn broke.
Arthur, as always, climbed up to the ramparts to train.
After finishing his stamina training in plate armor, he climbed onto the rampart stones and swung his dagger.
Each time the fierce wind blew, sweat droplets flew, and his body swayed.
Millerph, watching from the side, tensed up every time.
He was fully prepared to cast 'Feather Fall' immediately if Arthur ever fell, but fortunately, no such accident occurred.
Swish- Swish-.
Each time Arthur thrust and swung his dagger, the sound of cutting wind rang out.
Sweat beaded on his forehead scattered in all directions.
Through this endless repetition, the sky soon brightened fully.
Arthur sheathed his dagger at his back waist and landed on the ground. Millerph approached.
"You've worked hard."
Arthur nodded and headed toward the stairs.
"Where are you going?"
"It's been a week."
"I see."
Millerph smiled faintly and followed Arthur.
The training grounds.
Mock battles between knights and trainees were in full swing.
"Hup!"
"Faster, thrust with all your strength!"
"Hup!"
"This won't cut it! You'll just die to the enemy like this!"
Skevin parried Jonathan's sword and kicked him hard.
Thud!
Jonathan flew backward.
"Ugh..."
He grimaced, clutching his stomach tightly as he stood.
Skevin scanned the fallen trainees around him sharply, then shouted.
"Next group!"
As the waiting group stepped into the training grounds.
Arthur and Millerph entering caught Skevin's eye.
He held the trainees back and approached Arthur, offering a formal salute with his sword.
"Loyalty!"
Arthur nodded and looked around.
Since Wesley's death, Skevin had intensified training for the knight order and trainees.
As a result, one-third of the trainees had dropped out.
The remaining trainees showed resolve on their faces, but by Arthur's standards, it was far from enough.
They needed to be much harsher to survive.
"Still a long way to go."
Arthur muttered meaningfully to himself, then looked at Skevin.
"Shall we spar again?"
"Do you think a week would change the results? I know your training volume has been substantial thanks to Millerph's help, but you'd best not expect too much."
"You're talking nonsense again."
"It's advice for your own good, Young Master."
Skevin looked at Arthur with sincere eyes.
The day Wesley died.
He had failed to uphold Count Malcolm's dying wish to protect the family, and it tore at his heart.
From that day, he resolved himself.
To protect the Madam and the two young masters with his life.
Thus, he had no desire whatsoever to see the Young Master get hurt.
"Can't you just watch?"
Arthur snorted.
"Prove you have the skill for that. Do so, and I'll do as you wish."
"Hmm..."
Skevin's face hardened.
If Arthur wouldn't back down, he had no choice.
This time, he'd make him clearly understand his own level.
"Understood."
Skevin sheathed his sword and took a sparring stance.
He still wouldn't use his sword, it seemed.
But seeing him intend a proper fight from the start, Arthur curled his lip.
"This should be interesting."
"I'll make you realize your own level, Young Master."
"You'll need to give it your all."
The moment Arthur spoke, he kicked off the ground and charged.
"......!"
Skevin's face stiffened.
Charging in plate armor, yet the speed surpassed expectations.
Skevin twisted aside to dodge the incoming fist, but Arthur twisted his body and launched an elbow strike.
Skevin raised both arms to block.
Thud!
It was fast and heavy.
Definitely stronger than a week ago.
Arthur pulled back distance and asked.
"How is it?"
"You've improved a bit."
Even as Skevin answered, he charged at Arthur.
Incredibly fast despite his massive frame.
But Arthur was no slouch in speed either.
He swiftly retreated, dodging Skevin's thrust fist and counterattacking.
'Coming at me offensively?'
Skevin's lip curled slightly.
For now, to gauge Arthur's growth, he'd meet the attack.
Arthur noticed Skevin halt his offense and brace defensively.
'Perfect.'
He unleashed bold attacks.
Mixing punches and kicks appropriately, he pressed forward.
Now, his body moved as he thought.
Compared to his past skill, he was only at 80% yet.
Still, reaching this level in such short time was encouraging.
Moreover, Skevin blocking his attacks so casually was impressive.
The strikes weren't perfect, but far from easy to defend.
"Not bad."
"That's my line."
Skevin blocked Arthur's kick and shoved hard.
Arthur flew back but landed lightly.
Neither's breathing was disrupted as they silently stared.
Skevin spoke first.
"I'll take back what I said earlier."
"Quite surprised, huh?"
"What on earth did you do? Even with Millerph's help beside you, it's hard to believe."
"You might be surprised more later."
Arthur removed his plate armor.
Clang.
With the heavy sound, the eyes of the knight order and trainees in the grounds widened.
"Ah! The armor..."
'The prodigal was that strong?'
'Was he hiding his power all along?'
Everyone looked baffled.
Skevin, meanwhile, grinned deeply.
His heart pounded with anticipation.
"It's been a while. Feeling like this."
"Get serious."
Arthur charged at Skevin.
Incredibly fast.
But who was Skevin?
The guardian deity of the Julius Count family, a top-class Sword Expert knight!
He reacted instantly to Arthur's movements.
Dodging the incoming fist, he counterattacked.
Arthur dodged Skevin's heavy fist and launched a kick.
Thud!
It hit the side, but his monstrous muscles acted like armor, unmoved.
"Shall I ramp up the speed then?"
Arthur poured full power into speed.
Matching his overwhelmingly superior physique with raw power was foolish.
He'd overwhelm with speed.
Arthur's attacks grew faster and sharper.
Thud! Thud thud!
"Hm."
Skevin's face gradually hardened.
He could feel real power behind the strikes. Each fist or kick landing felt like a dagger piercing.
Damage was accumulating bit by bit.
'Can't just take hits defenselessly now.'
To offset Arthur's attack, he thrust his fist at the incoming one.
In the instant their fists met, Arthur vanished.
"What?"
As Skevin's eyes widened.
Arthur had already burrowed into his guard.
"Shall I land one good hit?"
Grinning, he drew up mana and thrust his fist.
Thud-!
"......!"
Skevin, struck in the gut, involuntarily bent forward.
Arthur kicked off the ground, rising to knee Skevin's chin.
Crack!
Skevin's upper body snapped back, stepping one foot behind.
"Last one!"
Arthur spun like lightning, unleashing a roundhouse kick.
Boom!
Skevin, hit by the sudden combo, floated briefly before crashing backward.
Thud-!
"C-Captain..."
"Huh!"
"The prodigal..."
Everyone in the training grounds gaped.
Skevin lay sprawled, staring blankly at the sky.
'...How long has it been?'
First time since his last bout with his master, over ten years ago.
Though without mana, using only half strength, and no carelessness.
Full power would change the outcome, but the fact he downed him mattered.
Staring blankly at the sky, Skevin spoke.
"Why the sudden surge in strength?"
"To protect what's mine. And I don't want anyone interfering while I live."
"......!"
Skevin's eyes wavered.
Madly ambitious.
Words worthy of an 'absolute being.'
Gulping, he asked cautiously.
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing like that. If anything, just Wesley's dying words."
'Dying words!'
Skevin's eyes flashed, and he smiled meaningfully.
"...Understood."
"Gonna lie there forever?"
Arthur had approached, offering a hand.
Skevin grabbed it, stood, and bowed politely.
"Were you fooling me all this time?"
"Fooling you how?"
"That last attack couldn't come from short-term training."
"Thanks to the mana cultivation method."
"What mana cultivation method did you learn?"
"Teheran Julius."
"......!"
Skevin's eyes widened.
The hero who led the Julius Count family in its era as the Empire's 'Spear'!
Doubting why Arthur mentioned him suddenly, his eyes widened further.
"No way!"
Skevin quickly looked at Millerph.
Millerph met his gaze, smiled, and nodded.
Skevin's eyes shook violently.
"The blood of the tyrant..."
His past words and actions matched.
'So that's it...'
Inheriting Teheran’s mana method explained the mysteries.
Expectations for Arthur soared, filling his chest.
With him here!
The count's family rising again was just a matter of time.
Like when the family banner flew high as the Empire's 'Spear.'
As his heart pounded uncontrollably, Arthur asked.
"You tested me again this time."
Skevin quickly calmed himself and replied.
"I'm sorry."
"What if we'd fought properly?"
Skevin pondered briefly, then shook his head.
"You'd last less than three minutes."
"One strike, as always."
"Yes."
Skevin showed no hesitation.
"I see."
As Arthur smiled bitterly and turned.
"Young Master."
"......?"
Arthur looked at Skevin.
Skevin knelt on one knee, placed a hand over his right chest, and bowed his head.
"......!"
Everyone gasped.
What Skevin just did was the oath of knighthood to one's lord.
Arthur frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"Knight Skevin Maximus pledges to serve Arthur Julius as my lord."
"Huh!"
Everyone gaped.
An enormous event.
Indeed, Arthur downing Skevin was astonishingly impressive.
Just recently the 'Grada's Prodigal,' felling not just any knight but the count's family guardian deity—any man admiring strength would understand.
All watched breathlessly for Arthur's decision.
As heavy silence fell over the grounds.
Arthur refused flatly.
"I don't want weaklings."
"......!"
The unexpected reply left Skevin and everyone stunned.
'Weak?'
Not just anyone—the Julius Count family's guardian deity.
No one would call a top-class Sword Expert weak.
Arthur turned away without regret and approached Millerph.
"Can you use magic to weigh down my body?"
"Yes."
"Do it now."
"Alright."
Millerph promptly cast 'Weight.'
"Urk."
Sudden heaviness pressed his shoulders.
Like carrying a 60mm mortar.
Having adapted to plate armor's weight, this was perfect.
"Good."
As Arthur's lip curled.
"I'll get stronger."
"......?"
Arthur turned.
Skevin continued with intense eyes.
"Let us join your training, Young Master."
"You're serious?"
"Dead serious."
He'd been worried their methods wouldn't strengthen them fast enough, needing alternatives.
His timely request made refusal unnecessary.
"Fine."
"Thank you."
"But."
Arthur smiled meaningfully and continued.
"From tomorrow, I control the training grounds."