Training for the Contamination Purification Practice
"The reason I asked you all to gather today is..."
"Like I said, Hound is already my man, okay?"
"What does it matter if you're second or third? He's a man with a bright future who's bound for greatness."
"I'm second. I reserved that spot first, so please leave the second position to me."
"Then am I fourth?"
"..."
It was a complete mess. No, perhaps 'pandemonium' was a better word for it.
Was it my own greed? Wanting to have all these women...
I used to talk so much trash about the harem protagonists in those light novels from our neighboring country, but from now on, I will respect you guys. This is seriously exhausting.
As I massaged the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on, Mikaris shouted at me.
"So, what is your choice?"
"Pardon?"
"Is it me, or these three?"
"..."
My eyes closed shut. A cold sweat dripped from my temple and splashed onto the floor.
"This isn't what's important right now. The reason I asked you all to gather today is..."
When I tried to change the subject, they erupted in fierce protest.
"If this isn't important, then what is?!"
"Exactly! We need Lord Hound's decision!"
"Why don't you just become our exclusive knight?"
Yeah, this was definitely beyond my capabilities. A solo-since-birth guy trying to manage a harem?
But isn't science fiction always more exciting and fun than actual science? I won't give up.
"Everyone, please calm down. This is preparation for the upcoming Contamination Purification Practice. Lady Line, you'll be stationed at the supply route, so you won't be participating directly, but..."
"I know. I just tagged along."
Line nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"..."
This lady, seriously. Haha.
Acting as if nothing had happened, I laid out the plan.
"Ahem. I will explain the plan now. Here is how we will move: I will stand in the vanguard to defend the front. Mika and Ronya in the midline will provide support, and Aileen in the rear guard will deploy barriers."
Me in the vanguard, Mikaris and Ronia in the midline, and Aileen in the rear guard. It was a simple formation. This kind of tactic is basic when moving as a team.
"Positioning ourselves like this will make it easier to support one another. In essence, I protect the midline, the midline protects the rear guard, and the rear guard protects the vanguard."
"That's a decent strategy."
"With Lord Hound, the Sword Saint, in the vanguard, we have nothing to fear!"
Fortunately, I succeeded in steering the conversation toward our serious plans.
Just then, Aileen timidly raised her hand.
"But... I'm still only at the 3-Circle. Is that really okay?"
"Yes, it's perfectly fine. You will become a 4-Circle mage soon anyway."
"How do you know that?"
"I can tell by looking with the eyes of a Sword Saint."
I wasn't lying. When I looked through my Eye of Clairvoyance, I could see her mana fluctuating wildly.
"So even that is possible..."
"There's no need to worry. You all know that you must absolutely never come into contact with the blood of a contaminated beast, right?"
"Of course we do. The blood of a contaminated beast is Contamination itself."
"And that is why we need the holy attribute."
Ronia and Mikaris nodded.
"Since this is just a practice session, we won't be going anywhere too dangerous, but it's best to be prepared for any contingency. We will begin training now."
"Training?"
Night Parade of a Hundred Demons
Beneath my feet, the Kim Geun-daes, cloaked in writhing black shadows, began to awaken.
The Kim Geun-daes rose, making bizarre, grotesque noises.
I deactivated the mana in my body and coated the ghosts with Aura.
"Clack. Clack. *Creak*."
But seriously, did they have to make those noises with my old face? Hmm...
"From now on, consider these ghosts to be contaminated beasts and let's begin the training."
"Ugh. I couldn't tell from a distance, but why do they look like that?"
"I don't want to judge by appearances, but they look incredibly rugged and terrifying. It's scary."
"...They aren't called 'demons' for nothing."
"..."
Hearing it directly from them made the emotional damage even worse.
"Ahem. Anyway, let's move according to the tactics I mentioned earlier."
With me at the very front, Mikaris and Ronia took their positions diagonally behind me, and Aileen stood at the very back.
"We will focus on defeating the beasts with ranged attacks. I will deflect any beast that tries to close the distance."
"Since Hound can also perform ranged attacks with sword energy..."
"Exactly. Aileen, you just need to keep the barriers up on us."
"Understood. O great Elmut, grant me your divine power..."
Aileen's divine barrier enveloped us.
"Good. Now, let the training begin. Ghosts, move."
"Clack, clack. *Creak*."
The ghosts began to charge. But damn, those muscles. It was nice to see them after so long. Their forearms were so thick they looked like wild boar legs. Anyway, I felt a swell of pride.
"Lightning!"
"Flare!"
Boom! Ronia and Mikaris's magic easily destroyed a ghost. As expected of lightning and fire, their synergy was excellent. However, there were ten ghosts left in total. Could they handle ten Geun-daes?
I only deflected the ghosts that drew too close, testing their capabilities.
"Lightning Edge!"
"Flame Area!"
Oh, they were fighting surprisingly well. To think they could hold their own when my ghosts were coated in 5-Star Aura adjusted to their level.
"Alright, let's go again. Ghosts, rise."
"*Creak*, *creak*. Clack."
After a total of three rounds of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons...
"Lightning...!"
"Flare!"
"Are you out of mana?"
"I can't move another inch."
"Me neither..."
Thud. Mikaris and Ronia collapsed to the ground. Aileen watched them, hesitating.
"Aileen? What's wrong?"
"Well... I can't use divine spells that restore mana..."
"No one's going to blame you for that. You'd need to be at the level of a High Priest to cast something like that anyway, wouldn't you?"
"I suppose that's true..."
Aileen was still overly conscious of others' opinions. She was probably terrified of losing the first friends she had ever made. This was something only time could heal. Trust isn't built overnight, after all.
Anyway, about three rounds, huh? At this rate, they won't be able to fight for long. Will we have to rely on the potions provided at the supply route?
I looked down at the collapsed Mikaris and Ronia and spoke.
"First of all, since it seems you're out of mana, we'll stop here. Good work—"
"Wait!"
Line, who had disappeared for a moment, came marching back.
"I have mana recovery potions. Use these to continue training."
"..."
"..."
The expressions on Mikaris and Ronia's faces said it all: Ugh, I seriously don't want to do this.
Well, I did feel like their training was a bit lacking, so this was perfect. This would help increase their circles and mana capacity. I gladly accepted Line's potions.
"Great. Now we can keep training. Right?"
"..."
"..."
Their faces remained crumpled. If you give up, it's easier. If you can't avoid it, enjoy it...
Night Parade of a Hundred Demons
"*Creak*, clack."
If there were twenty ghosts just a moment ago, forty rose up this time. Since we had potions, there was no need to conserve mana.
"Um, the numbers just doubled...?"
"Twenty was already so exhausting, isn't forty impossible? Besides, they all have the exact same face, which makes it kind of creepy."
Unlike the dazed duo, Aileen was silent. She was simply traumatized by the sight of so many Kim Geun-daes...
Seriously, do I look that terrifying?
For some reason, I suffered emotional damage every time I used Night Parade of a Hundred Demons. Normally, shouldn't cool black knights or undead summonings be the default? Why did it have to be me... I couldn't help but resent the heavens.
"Ahem. Stop whining and let's start again. Ghosts, move."
"*Creak*, clack!"
Unlike before, the ghosts began to move tactically. This was because I was controlling them.
Contaminated beasts, like cunning goblins, kobolds, or orcs, often employed tactical movements. Therefore, I needed to present them with this kind of challenge.
"Lightning Genocide!"
"Flare Wall!"
The synergy between lightning and fire was indeed outstanding. Mikaris's lightning grew even more powerful as it passed through Ronia's fire wall.
"Keep moving! The more you use your mana, the more it grows! Just like muscles!"
"What kind of logic is that?!"
"I want to rest..."
Night Parade of a Hundred Demons
And so, the harsh and brutal training continued, accompanied by the harmonious chorus of Mikaris and Ronia's groans of despair.
When I returned to the dormitory after training, something felt off.
"What the..."
Aside from the basic furniture, all of my belongings had vanished. I looked around in confusion.
"Sojeon?"
I called out for Sojeon, but there was no response. Was today the day I was supposed to move rooms? I went down to the first floor to ask the dormitory supervisor.
"Excuse me, but all the belongings in my room, Room 302, are gone."
"Ah, about that..."
The supervisor rummaged under the desk and handed me a piece of paper.
"A letter arrived from Marquis Merian requesting a room change, so we have relocated your quarters."
"Where is the new room?"
"It is Room 501."
That was the same floor as Aileen. I'd have more opportunities to interact with her.
"I see. Thank you, I'll be on my way."
"Have a good evening, Viscount Johannes."
When I went up to the fifth floor, Sojeon was waiting for me politely at the entrance of Room 501.
"You have arrived."
"Why did you move the room without telling me first? You startled me."
"It is a surprise."
"...What on earth."
Sojeon curled up one corner of her mouth and smirked. Did she find this funny? Contrary to my first impression of her, she was a rather peculiar young lady.
"Anyway, I need to rest immediately. Today was exhausting. Lectures, training..."
"I shall prepare your bath immediately."
"...Please do."
Sojeon headed straight to the bathroom and began filling the tub using a pre-installed magic tool. But wait, a bathtub? Am I actually allowed to indulge in such luxury now? Why does it feel like my life in this medieval fantasy world is better than my past life in modern times... I felt a bit bitter.
I sat on the plush sofa, leaning my head back as I fell into thought.
I wonder what will happen during our first Contamination Purification Practice.
Anxiety filled me. A massive Contamination that will blanket the world. That single line from the original novel plagued my mind. I had to protect them. But it wasn't like I could throw a tantrum and say, "I'm not going to the Contamination Purification Practice!" either.
In the end, my only option is to become stronger.
I was strong enough now, but I needed to become far stronger. Strong enough to be called the absolute strongest in this world. Only then could I achieve my dreams and protect my hopes.
As I closed my eyes and meditated, Sojeon called out to me.
"Your bath is ready."
"Ah, thank you."
As I entered the bathroom and prepared to undress, Sojeon followed me inside.
"Why are you following me?"
"Attending to your bath is a basic duty."
"..."
A poor or commoner heroine entering the male lead's noble household and immediately receiving... bath service. This was practically the eighth movement of the romance fantasy classics.
"I'm fine on my own, so you can step out."
"No. This is one thing I cannot compromise on."
...? What was this woman talking about?
"Sojeon?"
"...I cannot."
And so, a clash of opinions ensued with Sojeon over the bath...
When night fell and I prepared to sleep, Sojeon still didn't leave.
"Don't you need to return to your room?"
"The guest room over there is more than enough for me. I must attend to Master's night service."
What the hell was 'night service'? Where did she even learn that? This was driving me crazy.
"It's really fine, you can go to sleep."
"I see. I must lack charm..."
"It's not that you lack charm, Sojeon. It's because I'm an engaged man. I can't betray Mika, can I?"
"...I see. My thoughts were shallow."
Sojeon nodded and finally left. Fortunately, she seemed convinced.
Today was seriously exhausting.