Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Episode 007 (2)
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"Ah."
As he stepped out of the training ground, Kuhn let out an involuntary sigh.
The overwhelming flood of light pouring through the gaps was nothing like the faint rays that had trickled in before. The sandy ground underfoot after so long, the faint traces of late winter snow—it all finally drove home the fact that his seclusion training was over.
He drew in a breath, and crisp late-winter air filled his lungs.
A half-beat behind him, the other trainees emerged from the training ground, raising cheers and shouts of their own as they took in the same sensations.
"Woooah!"
"We're outside!"
Some had managed to keep a relatively clean appearance, but plenty more bore serious wounds.
Their training uniforms were stained with blood from blade cuts, or marked with glancing arrow wounds here and there.
Not content with that, some had multiple arrows lodged in their bodies.
"Ugh..."
"Ow, it hurts—."
These were injuries that made it a miracle they were still alive.
They were barely clinging to life now, but without prompt treatment, every one of them was at death's door.
'Even so, the fact that they're still breathing means they've avoided the absolute worst outcome.'
Kuhn murmured to himself as he stared at the training ground entrance. Even with the door open, no people emerged—just pools of blood trickling out.
That was when the regular instructors, who had been watching the scene unfold, finally stepped in. They had been waiting in front of the training ground and now bustled among the trainees, shouting orders.
"Anyone too injured to move properly, over here!"
"You're out—eliminated!"
"If you want treatment, get moving now!"
Their movements were precise and disciplined.
It was as if there was an ironclad rule: any trainee emerging with injuries beyond a certain threshold was automatically disqualified.
"N-No way..."
"Th-There was never any mention of that from the start—?"
A few tried to grab the instructors' sleeves in protest as they passed,
but it was all in vain.
"Oh? So you're saying you'll take on the second test in that condition?"
"The second test starts ten days from now. If you don't think you'll recover in time, bow out immediately."
"It's your choice if you die, but don't make us clean up the corpses."
The trainees who had clutched at the instructors' clothes went pale and let go.
"No way..."
"Y-You're saying... we're eliminated?"
They looked like they were struggling to accept reality, but even so, none seemed to value the test over their lives.
'If there was any guarantee of passing, a few might have pushed on despite the risk...'
It just wasn't easy to admit.
They vaguely sensed it was impossible to pass the second test in their current state.
The instructors' declarations hammered that vague notion into harsh reality.
As the regular instructors sorted the trainees, the senior instructors from the third and fourth dens began to move.
"...?"
Their footsteps headed straight for Kuhn. They stopped in front of the relatively unscathed group and spoke.
"Congratulations. You've passed."
"As you heard, the second test is ten days from now. You'll rest for those ten days, then head to the test site. So—"
The two senior instructors exchanged a glance, and the one from the third den added the final words.
"—relax until then."
2.
Despite those words, the trainees scattered around taking their rest didn't look particularly relaxed.
They knew the second test loomed just ten days away.
And their fellow passers—rivals, really—were sitting right there beside them.
How could anyone truly unwind?
"Arrrgh!"
Unable to bear the tension, a few trainees shot to their feet with yells.
They grabbed wooden swords and marched into the woods, apparently eager to swing them around and blow off steam.
'Or maybe they're trying to squeeze in a bit more training before the second test begins.'
That sparked others. A few more trainees rose stealthily from their spots.
"Sh-Should I go too?"
While some headed into the woods, others took different approaches.
They huddled in small groups, shooting sidelong glances at the rest.
Every one of them had narrowed eyes, like hyenas scouting for prey.
'Hunting for targets, are they?'
The Lion’s Den instructors rarely intervened in squabbles between trainees. Eliminating a rival or two beforehand could only help.
Kuhn let out a dry chuckle as he felt many of those predatory stares turn his way.
'Ha—.'
It was closer to cynicism than anger or annoyance.
They didn't know it yet, but the gap between them and Kuhn was already wider than they could imagine.
The reason it didn't show was probably his unbulked muscles and the unique traits of Monstrous Strength and Chaotic Spirits' mana, keeping the disparity hidden.
But even so.
'Still...'
The stares were growing blatant. Just as Kuhn's cynicism edged toward irritation,
"As expected. You passed, didn't you?"
A blue-eyed boy plopped down in front of him. He greeted Kuhn warmly, like an old acquaintance.
'This guy's...'
His blond hair was neatly combed, somehow. Even in a training uniform, his noble bearing outshone most aristocrats.
'Taylor Rosetta.'
As Kuhn recalled the name, the boy kept talking.
"Heh heh. I figured big bro would make it out of seclusion training just fine."
"Big bro?"
"Huh? You just seem more mature than me, so I went with it. Did I overstep?"
Gone was the merchant-like schemer from yesterday's alliance pitch.
Now, it felt like a friendly little brother had plunked down in front of him.
Not that Kuhn had any real siblings to compare to—the Black Foxes had been family enough.
'Come to think of it, he's the second son.'
Was this his true personality? Or just another calculated move to build rapport?
Pondering that, Kuhn nodded agreeably anyway.
"Guess I am the big brother here..."
By the age of this body in his memories and the rumors about Taylor Rosetta, the title fit.
"Right? So can I call you big bro from now on?"
Taylor beamed at Kuhn's reply. Even if it was all an act, he had talent for it.
Kuhn played along as the predatory stares vanished, thanks to Taylor's arrival.
'Can't trust him blindly, but—'
At least the annoying eyes were gone. If Taylor tried to exploit him later, Kuhn could deal with it then.
'A first-rate aura practitioner.'
Taylor's visible skill rivaled the regular instructors', but Kuhn was confident he could handle it now.
Mid-thought, Kuhn turned his head.
He tilted it at the sight of two figures approaching, murmuring to himself.
'More importantly.'
Subtly fidgeting hips while seated, eyes darting this way repeatedly.
'What's with those two? They've been acting weird for a while.'
The Silver siblings.
The silver-haired, violet-eyed pair was inching closer while seated.
"Ahem, ahem."
...Anyone could see they were dying to join the conversation.
3.
Thanks to Taylor Rosetta and the Silver siblings joining him, Kuhn passed the next ten days without incident.
Not that he'd intended it that way, but that's how it shook out.
And since they were around the same age,
surprisingly, the younger brother Lui Silver hit it off well with Taylor Rosetta.
"So what you're saying is—...!!"
"Calm down and hear me out first. Alright, let's start from the beginning."
Truth be told, Taylor's affability and level-headedness drove their dynamic.
And five days after that.
"Whoa, whoa—."
Clatter, clatter—.
Several large wagons ground to a halt, and children poured out from inside.
About sixty in total, all wearing identical training uniforms.
Naturally, they were the trainees from the Lion’s third and fourth dens.
After their scheduled ten-day rest, followed by five more days rattling around in wagons, they had finally arrived at the second test site.
—Thud.
Kuhn hopped down amid them and slowly scanned his surroundings.
'...Where's this?'
A wind carrying sand skimmed over crimson cliffs.
Every rock and grain of sand pulsed with red hue, as if soaked long ago in blood and flesh across the entire region.
Twisted crags pierced through, with clusters of trees forming small forests along the mountainside.
Kuhn had heard of the place before, but this was his first time seeing it.
'...No way.'
A half-beat later, recognizing the location, he nearly voiced the name of the massive range before him.
The senior instructor from the third den confirmed all the children were off the wagons, then leaped down from the back and spoke.
"Welcome to the Red Bone Mountains.
赤骨山脈
"
"Th-The Red Bone Mountains?"
The ominous name made a few trainees fidget anxiously, murmuring.
"This very range..."
Undeterred, the senior instructor gazed at the vast mountainside stretching before them and slowly moved his lips.
"—will be the site of your second test."