Chapter 16
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Neokalitz Unit
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How should I put it? It felt like my heart was trembling.
An encounter with someone completely unexpected.
And if that person was the one who had the greatest impact on my past life, there was nothing more to say.
Demian looked at Leonhard.
‘He hasn't changed much, then or now.’
The only slight differences were the wrinkles on his face and hands.
“Is your name Demian?”
“Yes, sir.”
At Demian's reply, he silently gave him a quick once-over.
A physique that was unremarkable, save for being a bit tall for his age.
The wounds on his palms were impressive, but something else caught Leonhard's eye.
‘He's practicing a rather decent mana cultivation method.’
Though the amount was minuscule, it was an absurd level considering his age.
Demian headed to the reception room with Head Instructor Raymond.
Leonhard, seated, looked at Demian and asked.
“That uptight Raymond praised you until he was blue in the face, so I came to see what the fuss was about. Looks like those eyeballs of yours aren't just for show.”
“Haha, I'm not dead yet.”
His personality, praising people in that manner, hadn't changed.
Demian simply offered a faint smile as he looked at Leonhard.
He took a sip of the coffee before him and asked Demian.
“Where did you learn the spear?”
“I learned from my late father.”
Before Demian could even finish his answer.
“His father was formerly a soldier in the kingdom's army.”
Raymond chimed in.
Leonhard nodded.
“You had a fine father. Seeing your skill, his must have been excellent as well.”
“...Yes.”
This side of Leonhard was a little unfamiliar to Demian.
After all, he was a man who lived and breathed curses and violence.
But he knew.
He knew that beneath that rough exterior was a desire for his men to somehow survive the era of war.
‘He was pretty soft back then.’
It seemed the times had changed the man.
Of course, he must have had that disposition to begin with to change in such a way.
Demian chuckled inwardly.
But then.
“Is there a unit you hope to join after graduation? With your skills, you could probably apply anywhere but the Knight Orders.”
The Knight Orders were, for all intents and purposes, the exclusive domain of the nobility.
That's why most soldiers graduating from the training center aimed to become royal administrative soldiers.
It was the safest and most comfortable position, with many opportunities to interact with high-ranking nobles, which often led to perks beyond their salary.
In other words, a classic cushy job.
Therefore, most of the trainees with good grades went into the royal administration.
Was that why?
“Are you also aiming for a position in the royal administration?”
Leonhard asked.
Demian shook his head.
“My personality isn't suited for a place like the royal administration. I'd get too restless.”
“Huhu, is that so? Then where are you hoping to go?”
“I intend to go to the Neokalitz Unit.”
“...?”
“Yes, the Neokalitz!”
Leonhard's eyes wavered.
Raymond, who was beside him, was so startled he nearly jumped out of his seat.
It was a natural reaction.
The Neokalitz Unit was, after all, the most dangerous and rugged unit in the entire 3rd Division.
The Neokalitz Unit had only one job.
In the west of the Kaldeson Mountains, which cut through the center of the Baroque Kingdom.
Their role was to suppress the monsters emerging from the Bronserian Forest.
It was a unit of about a hundred men, but it was so dangerous that more than a dozen died every year.
Leonhard set down the cup he was holding.
“...Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“May I ask why?”
“Because I'll be able to get stronger.”
An answer without a hint of hesitation.
Leonhard was curious.
In such peaceful times, what had created this obsession in the young boy to become stronger?
If this were twenty years ago, a time when wars between nations broke out easily, he could understand.
Back then, if you were weak, you could die or become a slave.
But these were different times.
“...If you want to train your body and become stronger, I could write you a letter of recommendation to the Knight Training Academy, where they train the kingdom's knights.”
“The, the Knight Training Academy?”
At Leonhard's words, Raymond jumped again.
The Knight Training Academy was the exclusive domain of nobles.
A place commoners wouldn't dare set foot in.
But with a recommendation from Leonhard, the situation would change.
The opportunity to become a knight would open up. But...
“Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. I've already made my decision.”
“What?”
It felt like the situation was going crazy.
Raymond couldn't hide his bewilderment as he spoke to Demian.
“Do you have any idea what kind of opportunity this is? This is a chance to join a Knight Order!”
If that happened, the 3rd Training Center could become a prestigious institution that produced a knight.
“And do you know what kind of place the Neokalitz Unit is? It's an extremely dangerous place. It's mostly filled with soldiers on the verge of being discharged for disciplinary reasons.”
Raymond laid out the stark reality.
It was so dangerous that ordinary soldiers were reluctant to go. No, they would rather be discharged than go there.
Thus, most of the soldiers there had chosen it as an alternative to a prison sentence.
“Let him be.”
“Instructor!”
“It's not my place to stop this trainee's decision. One must take responsibility for their own choices.”
Leonhard said with a stern expression.
“Sorry for taking up your time. Do well in your remaining training. As for the Neokalitz Unit, you'll be able to go regardless of your grades.”
Leonhard left the reception room.
Raymond couldn't hide his confusion at Leonhard's abrupt departure.
Raymond said to Demian.
“Haa... You've truly missed the opportunity of a lifetime!”
With those words, Raymond chased after Leonhard. And...
“Instructor. I think he's still young and doesn't understand the situation. I'll try to persuade him again.”
Raymond, having followed Leonhard, began trying to persuade him. But.
“Do you really think that boy is incapable of judging the situation?”
“...Pardon?”
Leonhard glanced back toward the reception room.
The look in Demian's eyes from before.
That expression.
Leonhard once again recalled Demian's face. And then.
“Kukukukukukuk, I don't know where a kid like that rolled in from.”
Leonhard had been in the military for nearly 30 years.
In that time, he had seen his fair share of elites on the fast track and unruly troublemakers.
But.
‘I've never seen anyone like him before.’
Eyes with a firm resolve.
An unshakeable spirit.
The more he thought about his age—thirteen—the more unbelievable it all seemed.
Leonhard said.
“Leave him be. As long as he's in the 3rd Division... we'll meet again someday.”
*Provided he's still alive, that is.*
Leonhard swallowed the rest of his thought, let out another laugh, and walked away.
***
“Whoa! Demian!”
“Come on, tell us what happened! Hurry!”
“What'd he say? They say he's a legend among the instructors. Did he say anything good?”
When Demian returned to the barracks, all hell broke loose.
Demian looked at the platoon members surrounding him and let out a short laugh.
“It was nothing, so give me some space.”
“No way, that can't be true.”
“Shit, are you telling me three guys just sat around drinking coffee and chatting?”
“Get lost, you stink!”
Demian shouted, waving his hand dismissively at them.
“Let's get some rest and prepare for the next mock battle. Platoon 3 doesn't look like a pushover.”
At Demian's words, the platoon members grumbled, deflated, and returned to their bunks.
But at the mention of the mock battle with Platoon 3, their eyes sharpened.
‘Platoon 3, with Apel...’
I don't know if it's his influence or not.
But Platoon 3 was skilled enough to be clearly different from the other two platoons.
‘I'll know once we face them.’
What their secret is.
But whether they're skilled or not doesn't matter.
“We will win, no matter what.”
He had no intention of losing from the start.
***
When night fell and everyone was asleep, Demian snuck out of the barracks.
An isolated area behind the training center.
Since he came here almost every day, it had started to feel like a secret hideout.
“Hoo...”
Demian sat in his usual spot, took a deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes.
As he closed his eyes, the face of Leonhard, whom he had met that afternoon, came to mind.
*—If you want to train your body and become stronger, I could write you a letter of recommendation to the Knight Training Academy, where they train the kingdom's knights.*
Leonhard's words.
The Knight Training Academy.
Perhaps, as the head instructor had said, he had kicked away the opportunity of a lifetime.
‘I have no regrets.’
I'll just rise to the top with my own strength.
The Knight Orders?
They were the types who couldn't even stand tall in front of him in the past.
In peaceful times like these, they strutted around with their shoulders squared, calling themselves knights, but.
‘When the era of war came...’
...everything would change in an instant.
‘The true knights and the fakes among them would be clearly exposed.’
Those who trained for the sake of true chivalry, and those who simply carried the title of knight like a business card.
There was no reason to risk his life to join such an order.
Of course, if Leonhard himself were to train him, it might be a different story.
But even that was unnecessary for the current Demian.
‘I've already learned a great deal.’
At the very least, once I reach my previous level, then.
‘The secret spear techniques I couldn't learn before...’
The secret arts he couldn't learn because he couldn't use mana.
And more important than any of that, there was a bigger reason why Demian had to go to the Neokalitz Unit.
‘If I go to the Knight Orders, I won't be able to meet him.’
I came all the way to the 3rd Training Center just to meet him.
Various thoughts tangled in his mind. But Demian soon cleared his head and focused solely on the Delft Mana Cultivation Method.
‘When this night is over...’
I will become stronger again.
For now, all I can do is look forward and charge ahead.
***
The morning sun rose, full of anticipation.
The instructors were bustling about from early in the morning.
It was because of the formation mock battle between Platoon 1 and Platoon 3.
“Kukukuk, has a trainee platoon mock battle ever drawn this much attention?”
“I've been assigned to the 3rd Training Grounds for about six years, and I've never seen anything like it.”
“Right. We've had some decent talents stand out once or twice, but this is the first time I've ever looked forward to a platoon mock battle this much.”
The instructors moved quickly, preparing for the battle. And among them was Leonhard.
“Quite an interesting atmosphere.”
“It's an unprecedented situation. Honestly, both Platoon 1 and Platoon 3, who are competing today, are displaying formation tactics so advanced it's hard to believe they're just trainees.”
“Must be because they have such good instructors, eh?”
“...Hahaha.”
At Leonhard's words, Raymond let out an awkward laugh.
If only that were true.
But strangely, the trainees were accomplishing things far beyond what they had been taught.
“Then let's go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Leonhard and Raymond headed toward the training grounds where the mock battle would be held.
And at the same time...
“As you all know, the man they call a legend among the instructors met with Demian from Platoon 1 yesterday.”
Gerard, the platoon leader of Platoon 3, said, looking at his platoon members.
“Frankly, I think Apel from our platoon is far more skilled than Demian. That guy is just getting an unusual amount of attention.”
At his words, the other platoon members all nodded in agreement.
It was because of Apel that they had been able to perform so well.
That was something everyone in Platoon 3 acknowledged.
“So I want to win this mock battle against Platoon 1 and prove that we're the real deal.”
Gerard, who had been in the center of their circle, put his arms around the shoulders of the members next to him and leaned in.
“We will win.”
“Huuuuuaaaaaaah!”
At Gerard's words, the members of Platoon 3 let out a huge roar, psyching themselves up.
Meanwhile, in the opposing Platoon 1...
“As we've seen, Platoon 3 won't be easy.”
Demian said.
Everyone nodded with serious expressions, acknowledging his point.
“But I guarantee you, right now, no training platoon from any training center could beat us. Because we're... fucking strong.”
“Kukukukukukuk.”
“Hehehe, that's right. We are pretty damn strong.”
Even as they laughed, their shoulders shaking, the eyes of the Platoon 1 members were sharper than ever.
Demian then said.
“Let's go crush them.”
“Huuuuuaaaaaaah!”
At Demian's words, the members of Platoon 1 let out a great roar, firing themselves up.
At that, Demian looked toward Platoon 3's position.
Preparations for the mock battle proceeded quickly.
Before long, the two platoons, having formed up, faced each other.
And in that moment.
“Beeegiiiiiiin!”
With the instructor's shout, the formation mock battle between Platoon 1 and Platoon 3 began.