The Commander's Personal Training Grounds
From now on, use this location.
……
Arteon arrived at the training ground guided by Claw. He found the facilities far better than he had imagined.
The area lay isolated behind the unit, yet it offered even more.
More space too... the scale of the training grounds is quite substantial.
He had never imagined such a place existed at all.
As Arteon stared at the training ground in astonishment, Claw spoke up.
“This is the commander’s personal training ground. I never expected you, a mere soldier, to be assigned such a spot.”
“Over there... what is that place?”
“Oh, that spot...”
At Arteon’s question, Claw turned his gaze.
A peculiar magic circle had been drawn on the floor in one corner of the training ground.
Claw answered.
“A location that raises mana concentration. But... there’s no need for you to worry about it, as you won’t be using the area.”
“Ah...”
Arteon’s eyes sparkled as he nodded.
It was unbelievable, but there really was a spot to amplify mana concentration?
Soon Claw continued.
“I’ve already informed you about your rations. You’ll eat well. However...”
Claw paused mid-sentence and scanned Arteon from head to toe.
His eyes held an expression of utter incomprehension.
“The commander vowed to grant any request he could under his authority. But all you receive is a training ground and two weeks of free time? You’re truly a special case.”
Claw had once thought the young soldier might request discharge, yet the commander’s words had never been broken.
But Arteon shook his head at Claw’s remark.
“I have simply completed the duties assigned to me. The reward is more than enough.”
“...I see.”
Claw chuckled in astonishment and immediately turned around.
“If you require anything during free time, let me know. The commander has ordered active support.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Steelheart!”
“Carry on.”
After Claw departed, Arteon lightly examined the training grounds.
Various training weapons were displayed, allowing practice of all types.
Of course, as a private training ground for the commander, no other officers or soldiers ever came.
And then...
“A magic circle that raises mana concentration.”
Having already experienced it once in a cave, Arteon knew exactly how valuable it was.
The Vargas Northern Spearmanship grows only when backed by mana.
That was why training the Mana Cultivation Method was so vital for him now.
“Hoo...”
Arteon sat on the magic circle and exhaled deeply.
The training ground. Rest areas. Meals. And Vargas’s legacy.
How could there be a more perfect condition to grow stronger?
Arteon quietly closed his eyes and sorted through the Vargas Northern Spearmanship in his mind.
The northern ruler.
The Vargas Northern Spearmanship used by Vargas Wolfhart possessed clear realms.
From 1-star to 9-star.
Mastering 1-star granted power far surpassing ordinary soldiers. At 3-star, one reached the level of a knight skilled in mana.
Further beyond...
At 5-star, one could fight generals on equal terms.
Vargas Wolfhart. After reaching 7-star, he had completely dominated the north.
“...What realm lies beyond?”
According to Vargas’s definition, 8-star allowed splitting a mountain. At 9-star...
“...one could slice the sky.”
It felt like entering the divine realm.
Already having accumulated mana through the cultivation method, Arteon had reached 1-star.
But he had no intention of stopping there.
More... more...
The first new world he had ever discovered.
Arteon practiced the Mana Cultivation Method while constantly thinking about the spear technique.
And how much time had passed?
At last the mana in the hall had grown faintly larger.
“Hoo...”
Arteon exhaled deeply and opened his eyes.
Long practice was not always the best. Because the time was short, he focused on maximum efficiency.
And during that time, he had not yet finished sorting the Vargas Northern Spearmanship.
Thunk.
Arteon picked up the training spear from the rack.
Its weight balance was surprisingly good for a standard item.
The Vargas Northern Spearmanship...
Was not simply thrusting or swinging from a distance.
It allowed use in both close and medium range.
A spear technique specialized for war.
Arteon’s eyes flashed as he swung the spear.
Whick!
The sharp sound of slicing air shattered the night’s silence.
The training spear crossed the air in a circle, and dirt and dust rose everywhere in the following motion.
“Hah.”
Arteon planted his feet firmly and exhaled.
This was his first time practicing the spear technique.
His past life.
It was completely different from the spear he had learned before.
Imagine the enemy.
Arteon imagined the fierce warriors of the Kar tribe he had fought countless times.
Their savage nature combined with low, aggressive charges.
Imagining that.
Thud!
He swung the spear and immediately drove it into their embrace.
Here...
That was exactly the special feature of the Vargas Northern Spearmanship shining.
A flexible spear technique that freely utilized the body by switching between long and close range.
The first goal was to master the basics of the Vargas Northern Spearmanship and move naturally.
“Hah!”
Arteon, spear slung over his shoulder, thrust into the enemy’s embrace and struck the opponent’s chest with his shoulder.
But the moment his shoulder hit the chest...
Staggered.
“Ugh!”
His leg twisted and his center collapsed.
Thud!
Arteon rolled clumsily across the ground, furrowed his brows, and rose from his seat.
“Agh... this is harder than I thought...?”
Or had the air pressure pushed him?
Arteon noticed a wooden dummy the size of a person beside the training ground.
He had thought direct strikes would be easier on balance, yet...
Tick!
“Waaah!”
Thud!
Again he fell clumsily.
But...
“...Until it works.”
He had no intention of giving up after just a few failures.
Two weeks from now.
...Reach 2-star.
That day, until sunrise the sound of swinging spears continued in the training ground.
* * *
Days passed.
“What is he doing?”
“Just... seems to be training the whole day.”
Claw answered Velkain’s question.
But soon Claw spoke to Velkain.
“You seem quite interested in that soldier, Commander.”
Claw had never seen Velkain show interest in soldiers.
How often had he not even remembered the name of an officer who had served over a year?
This unfamiliar side of Velkain was slightly strange.
Tap.
Velkain set down the pen he held and looked at Claw.
“How many years have you been in the north?”
“Fifth year.”
“Quite a long time. But during that period, have you ever seen such a man?”
“That... is... no.”
Velkain would swear it had never happened even once.
His actions were too unconventional to call him merely an oddity, yet too diligent to call him mad.
“What choice would you make?”
“I would have asked to receive as much gold as possible and request discharge.”
“Kkrrkrrkrk, honest as always, good.”
But that young soldier did not do so.
“...I cannot fathom his intentions.”
Claw wore a complicated expression.
Just surviving day to day was already difficult on this northern front. What was he planning?
Velkain said, “I’ll watch. To see what he intends. Of course... if he dies, it will be meaningless.”
He had no great expectations.
He had simply become curious about the peculiar actions.
At Velkain’s words, Claw nodded.
“Then if any unusual matters arise, I will report them again. Steelheart!”
As he watched Claw turn to leave, Velkain murmured quietly.
“The days are getting colder.”
He gazed outside the tent and only that.
* * *
“...Moldrek has died?”
“Yes, the recruit... he suddenly rushed in and stabbed the commander through the neck.”
“What?”
The middle-aged man paused while lifting his teacup and looked at the subordinate standing before him.
Was this some kind of nonsense?
But the subordinate also seemed bewildered, and continued with a troubled expression.
“R, according to the report, that is so. Therefore, a request has been made to organize a new platoon leader in place of Moldrek. And... they requested support from someone not of noble birth.”
“Hah, Velkain has finally snapped after being confined in the north. He truly thinks he’s the king.”
The middle-aged man frowned in displeasure. But soon...
“Conveniently, a suitable man has surfaced.”
“Which one?”
“The one who caused the incident this time. He was definitely commoner-born?”
“Which...?”
“The troublesome one from the Sertaron Officer’s Academy. You know that guy.”
“Ah! I remember.”
The middle-aged man smiled thinly.
Finally, he could eliminate one headache. Wasn’t it convenient?
“Assign him to the north. If he refuses, I’ll make sure he never sets foot in the military again.”
This way two troublesome matters could be handled at once.
It was regrettable not to have planted someone from our side in the north, but...
It will die anyway. No matter.
The man laughed happily, shoulders shaking at what lay ahead.
* * *
“Hah...”
Arteon inhaled deeply and moved his body again.
The spear in his hand stretched long.
Swish!
It was a basic thrust, but its power was extraordinary.
Speed unlike anything before.
The destructive force of the training spear exploded in the air beyond what could be believed.
But Arteon did not stop there.
He twisted his waist and swung the spear to the opposite side.
His legs moved with the rotation.
Lowering his center of gravity, he planted one hand on the spear and the other on the ground, and the next motion followed naturally.
“Hah!”
Bam!
He kicked off the ground with his foot and leaped.
At the same time, the spear swept through the air like an extension of his body and cut the enemy.
The Kar tribe.
Arteon had been imagining the Kar tribe warriors as he fought them.
At first he had barely fought one, but now he imagined several.
Thud!
“Hah!”
The moment he landed, using the recoil of the spear, he lowered his waist and sprang forward again.
Continuous movement, rough yet smooth like dancing, explosive spear technique.
However...
Thud!
Arteon’s body momentarily lost balance.
The body without center swayed greatly.
Thud!
He fell on his backside on the ground.
“...Damn, almost there.”
After swinging the spear from a distance and mixing spear grip with body technique when close, it looked simple, yet connecting them naturally was extremely difficult.
At least because mana supported him, he had managed somehow.
“...Again.”
Arteon rose from his seat.
Sweat ran down his forehead.
Training far harder than expected.
Sense of whole-body balance and strength were essential.
Until it works.
Until it becomes familiar, until it is engraved in the body, there was nothing left but to repeat.
Arteon gripped the spear again and slowly set his posture.
Conscious of balance, following the flow of power, waiting for the moment the spear became part of his body.
And...
Thud!
Again the spear began to dance.
Another day passed like an arrow.