They're Not the Only Ones With Information
"Why do you think you lost?"
At Raon's low, quiet question, the trainees couldn't find a word to say.
"Strength? Numbers? Judgment? None of those. It's true they had more people, but we had the edge in power and combat experience. We never should have been pushed back one-sidedly — so why did we lose?"
"...Information?"
Burren spoke up slowly.
"You already know."
Raon nodded, looking at him.
"The Sixth Training Ground mapped out every one of our personalities, our power levels, and the terrain of Bukmang Mountain, then built a strategy tailored to each opponent. We, on the other hand, prepared nothing. We just assumed we'd win."
"B-but we didn't have time..."
"Time was short, but it was just as short for them. Honestly, a single day is enough to gather the minimum information you need. Instructor Rimer told us a day in advance on purpose — so we'd develop that ability."
Raon swept his gaze across the trainees one by one and let out a snort of laughter.
"And you didn't give up because you ran out of time. You let your guard down because you thought you'd win easily. Time is no excuse."
"Ugh!"
"Th-that's..."
The trainees bit their lips, unable to form a single word even with their mouths hanging open.
"Even if every trainee of the Fifth Training Ground is strong, the gap between us and them isn't overwhelming. Losing to the Sixth after they prepared a strategy in advance was only natural."
"Then what are we supposed to do? It's already over..."
"Over, my ass! Shut your mouth."
"Hik!"
Marta's face twisted, and Dorian — who'd been trembling with his hand still raised — snapped his mouth shut.
"Some of us actually got taken out, and we've burned through a lot of stamina and aura. We're at a disadvantage, that's a fact. However..."
Raon's eyes gleamed as he looked toward where the Sixth Training Ground trainees would be preparing their next assault.
"You knew something, didn't you?"
"Kane Zieghart, the top trainee of the Sixth Training Ground, has been giving every order so far. Matching you against opponents you were weak against — that was his work too."
"Kane Zieghart? How the hell did that bastard...?"
Marta ground her teeth.
"Kane Zieghart has exceptional vision and senses. He read your movement directions from a distance, then sent trainees with the right matchups against you."
"Kh... Kane Zieghart..."
Burren let out a groan, his pride thoroughly crumpled.
"For Marta, whose fighting style is straightforward and whose strength and durability are excellent, he sent swordsmen who could tank her attacks and drain her aura. For Burren, who uses honest, systematic swordsmanship, he sent swordsmen trained in sensory swordsmanship so you couldn't even get your hands on them."
Raon laid out, with perfect precision, exactly why the Fifth Training Ground had been forced onto the back foot.
"So how do we win? Simple. Switch opponents. If Burren and Marta swap targets, you'll take them down without much trouble."
"No way! If I win like that I'll get so pissed I won't be able to stand it!"
"...Sorry, but I'm the same. A victory I get by running away doesn't mean a damn thing."
Marta, Burren, and the collateral-line trainees all clamped their mouths shut.
"Fine. Then here's the second option."
Raon nodded as if he'd expected exactly that.
"Change the way you attack."
"The way we attack?"
"The swordsmen you faced, Marta, are solid, no question — but their aura circulation is incomplete. Open your senses and strike the spots where the aura hasn't finished moving. You'll punch through without much trouble."
He turned from Marta to look at Burren.
"A sword that pursues perfection and structure like yours makes excellent prey for a sensory sword that's just swung on instinct, without a thought."
"Mm..."
Burren frowned and nodded.
"Sensory swordsmanship relies on instinct, so it falls for fake techniques a lot. Watch for the moment they bite on a feint you throw as bait. You can do it."
The trainees stared at Raon with their eyes so wide they looked ready to pop out of their heads.
"Wh-what?"
"You were sitting right here."
"How did you know all of that?"
"Just what the hell..."
The sight of him sitting here without moving a muscle, yet somehow reading every battlefield, was more shocking than losing to the Sixth Training Ground.
"What the hell even are you?"
"What kind of senses..."
Marta and Burren were just as stunned, their mouths hanging open.
"But what if they change their strategy?"
Dorian raised his hand to ask. Being as timid as he was, he seemed to have no shortage of things to worry about.
"You've got a point, but their strategy isn't going to change."
"Why not?"
"Because they've already tasted success once. Once they know how sweet it is, they'll repeat the same strategy for an even more perfect victory."
The conviction in Raon's eyes made the trainees' hair stand on end.
"But you said Kane's senses are good. What if he reacts fast and sends support to the center or the upper path?"
"It's fine. My senses are better than Kane's."
Raon smiled faintly, feeling Kane's presence at the center.
After surveying the Sixth Training Ground trainees, Metoon arrived at the Fifth Training Ground's base and frowned.
"Arrogant little brat."
He'd been a little worried after hearing that Raon Zieghart was calm and cold-blooded, but it seemed there was no need.
Better senses than Kane? That's ridiculous.
Kane Zieghart's greatest strength wasn't his swordsmanship or his vast reserves of aura.
It was his senses.
His ability to read an opponent's presence and condition, and his field of vision, were extraordinary. He could even pinpoint the locations of hidden instructors. Calling his senses beyond the level of a trainee was no exaggeration.
And Raon had claimed his own senses were better than Kane's. Metoon couldn't help but snort.
"This'll be over soon."
Judging by Raon and the Fifth Training Ground's attitude, it looked like they'd take the win far more easily than expected.
I should get a meal ready for the kids.
Victory deserved a proper reward. Metoon was just about to head back, already planning a feast for the Sixth Training Ground trainees, when—
"Aren't you the arrogant one?"
A light, breezy voice drifted from behind him, as if riding the wind.
Metoon didn't panic. He turned around. A red-haired elf was wearing a sly grin.
"So you finally show up."
"Nah, I've been here watching for a while."
"Still making excuses after showing up late, I see."
"I told you, that's not it."
Metoon's face twisted at Rimer's flippant tone.
"What did you mean by what you just said?"
"What I just said?"
"You called me arrogant."
"Ah, that."
Rimer scratched his neck and chuckled.
"Our side hasn't even drawn their swords yet, and you're already saying the fight's over. How am I supposed to not call that arrogant?"
"Haven't drawn their swords? You clashed head-on and already got broken. Your stamina and aura consumption are far worse than ours. There's no chance."
"That's just what you think."
"You and that kid — both of you putting on the same bluff."
Metoon shook his head, looking from Raon, who was issuing tactical instructions to the trainees, to Rimer.
"Kane's senses are sharp enough to pick up even the instructors' presence. There's not a single trainee on this little battlefield who can offer a better strategy than him. Forget reading anyone's presence — this is going to end just like this."
"Picks up an instructor's presence, huh..."
Rimer grinned, drawing the words out.
"Raon didn't just pick up an instructor. He's found my presence before."
"What?"
"That Raon Zieghart you dismissed as arrogant once found the place I was hiding."
"Th-that's a lie!"
For the first time, Metoon's eyes wavered.
That doesn't make sense.
Even with his aura core damaged, Rimer was an elf. When he hid his presence, even Metoon himself would struggle to find him. The idea that a child trainee had detected him was unbelievable.
"I don't lie."
"Don't give me that crap. Finding something that isn't a lie in what you say is the hard part."
"Ah, then let me correct that. I don't lie about those kids."
Rimer nodded and grinned.
"Mm..."
Metoon swallowed a low hum and looked down.
"Even if Raon Zieghart's senses really are better than Kane's, like you say, it's already too late. The match is already decided."
"Well, it's definitely going to be hard. Four of them are out, and most of them are drained. But Raon has never disappointed me. Not once."
Rimer looked at Raon giving instructions to the trainees and let out a quiet chuckle.
"If your disciples let their guard down the way you have, they're going to get eaten alive in an instant."
Having tasted victory once, the Sixth Training Ground trainees had gathered in a circle just as they had that morning. At the center sat a map of Bukmang Mountain — and Kane.
"The Fifth Training Ground's flag is here."
Kane pointed to the western edge with his finger.
"Hit that and it's over."
"We can actually beat the Fifth Training Ground. All that effort paid off."
"Once this is over, everyone's going to look at us differently."
The trainees were already smiling as if the duel were already over.
"I told you it's not time to celebrate yet."
Kane stamped his foot, pulling the excited trainees' eyes back to him.
"Raon Zieghart and Runaan Sullion are still standing. Raon especially is the strongest one in the Fifth Training Ground. Let your guard down and you'll get wrecked."
"But Burren and Marta have burned through a lot of their strength, and four of their trainees are already out."
"We have the advantage, that's true. I'm telling you not to get cocky."
"If you read their movements and give orders like last time, Kane, we'll win easily."
"That's right. We believe in you!"
"Mm, that's true, but..."
Kane gave a slight nod at the trainees' words. He was trying to look composed, but the immaturity still showed through.
"Either way, no letting your guard down. Fight at full strength until the end."
"Yes, sir!"
The trainees answered in a roar and rose to their feet.
"Then there are two ways they might move... Hm?"
Kane, who had been pointing at the map, snapped his eyes toward the west.
"They're coming."
"What?"
"The Fifth Training Ground trainees have started moving again."
"How?"
Kane closed his eyes without answering. He opened his senses, felt the approaching trainees' energy, and smiled faintly.
"Same as before. Marta in the center, Burren up top, the rest down below."
"They still haven't learned."
"If they're begging to lose, we ought to oblige."
"So even Raon can't keep Burren and Marta in line?"
"It's over."
The trainees sneered at the Fifth Training Ground trainees charging in like moths to a flame.
"We go with the original plan. Burren Zieghart and the collaterals — Decal with Squads Two and Three. Marta — Dunn and Squad One. Below — Puyon. Karin and I will be ready for Raon and Runaan."
"Yes, sir!"
The Sixth Training Ground trainees answered in a roar, then sprinted off to crush their assigned opponents.
"Let's get ready to finish this on our end too."
Kane stood and glanced behind him. Karin nodded and drew her sword.
"Then which side will finish first... Hm?"
He frowned, looking downward.
Runaan moved too.
A presence of cold energy was coming from below. It was Runaan Sullion.
"Karin."
"Leave it to me."
Karin nodded and ran down in the direction Runaan had moved.
Karin should be able to hold her.
Karin was the heir of a high-ranking vassal house, just like Runaan. She knew Runaan better than anyone, so she wouldn't be pushed back easily.
Boom! Kwaang!
From the center came a sound like heavy boulders colliding. Marta and Dunn had clashed again.
Kuaaaang!
Not long after, a sharp crash rang out from above as well — Burren and Decal colliding.
"Now then. Let's see."
Kane posted two escorts, then closed his eyes and spread his sensory perception wide.
If any front started losing ground, he'd have to send support, so he scattered his aura across the upper path, the center, and below, reading every fight.
Huh?
After checking all three directions, Kane's eyes flew open.
"Wh-what?! Why are we losing everywhere?!"
Upper path, center, below — without exception, every front had started being pushed back by the Fifth Training Ground.
"How is this possible?"
They were fighting the exact same opponents as this morning, and they were getting crushed one-sidedly. He couldn't believe it.
Raon Zieghart.