Chapter 83: Why is this happening?

The knights responsible for training the imperial officials are drafted from the capital’s order of knights.

Naturally, since they were forcibly conscripted, these knights had no motivation whatsoever.

Dissatisfied officials and unmotivated knights.

They were a match made in heaven, like bread and jam or chocolate and peanuts.

This is typically how military training proceeded.

“Oh, Sir Randeon. Seeing you again. You must be working hard today.”

“Isn’t it Mr. Verios? Good to see you.”

“By the way, my back isn’t doing well today, this is really...”

“Oh dear, a noble body serving the Empire shouldn’t get hurt in a place like this. It would be a loss for the country.”

A knight brings a makeshift bed.

“Here, please rest here. Let’s just say the training is done.”

“How grateful I am, this is my small token of appreciation for those who always safeguard the Empire.”

Then the official hands over valuables like chocolates or expensive spices to the knight.

The knight clears his throat and responds with the first message saved in his macro— “Why, you shouldn’t have, but I’ll accept it gratefully.”

The knight’s face beams with satisfaction as he examines the valuables. They just completed a satisfactory deal.

This is how to survive wisely in the Empire.

*****

“Sir Randeon! Seeing you again!”

“Cadet number 23, you shouldn’t speak recklessly.”

“Are you in a bad mood today? Here, I have something that might cheer you up. It’s the root of the Huasang plant, just one bite will give you great strength…”

“How dare you offer a bribe in this sacred training ground! Insolent! Take this cadet away immediately!”

“Sir Randeon, why are you acting like this all of a sudden? Sir Randeon! Was our relationship not this close?”

Verios was dragged away by the guards, looking extremely wronged.

Until last time, this method worked, so why now?

If he had a fault, it was not reading the patch notes diligently.

<Imperial Military Training 12.1 Patch Notes>

The method of bribing the knights in charge of training was excessively effective in the previous version.

However, in this patch, the third princess has joined as a special instructor in the military training.

Of course, those who were diligently training won’t be much affected, but cadets who relied on bribes will now face a ‘difficult choice.’

That’s right.

Whenever high-ranking individuals observe, even the most chaotic streets are cleaned up in a day, and sloppy training becomes disciplined like a miracle.

Especially for the vigorous knights, the third princess’ presence was like rain on a dry land.

‘Please see my excellent self, Princess Your Highness.’

‘My lifelong dream was always to be the Princess’s guard. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’

‘Could there be a chance for a marriage beyond my status?’

Knights, who would normally be bored to death, now had faces full of strictness, dignity, and seriousness.

Thanks to this, the cadets were having a hard time.

If they slacked off even a bit, they would immediately be scolded harshly.

“Cadet number 17, hold your sword properly. Isn’t your posture a mess?”

‘Wow, I was seriously cool just now.’

Randeon glanced back.

The third princess of the Empire, Yulia Barba, was looking at the cadets with a benevolent gaze.

-Gulp.

Randeon swallowed hard.

The third princess was a recluse.

Although rumors of her beauty were widespread, it was extremely rare to see her unless at official events.

‘Seeing her in person, she’s a goddess.’

Like many young men, Randeon’s mind began to run wild like a panorama.

Yulia, falling for Randeon’s impressive appearance, begs him to be her guard, and Randeon reluctantly accepts the offer.

One day, Yulia’s life is threatened by an assassin, and Randeon sacrifices himself to protect her.

After that, they start to become aware of each other. A love story transcending status begins from there—

“Sir. Do you know where cadet number 27 is?”

Randeon snapped out of his fantasy.

Yulia had approached him by then.

Suppressing his wildly beating heart, Randeon checked the roster.

“Cadet number 27 should be at the west training ground by now. May I ask why you are looking for him?”

“Hmm. I was thinking of giving him a little punishment.”

“How could he have wronged you, Your Highness! Unbelievable!”

“He committed a very serious offense.”

Yulia smiled.

She decided not to say, ‘He stole my heart.’

​

​****

“Unit! Charge forward!!! We are the proud warriors of the Empire!!!”

Ascal had become the squad leader.

After spending every day just processing paperwork, it felt invigorating to finally move his body.

Perhaps this was his true calling.

“Your proactive attitude sets a great example for the other trainees. There’s a very high chance your squad will be selected as the outstanding squad.”

Ascal’s anxiety sensor kicked in.

“If your squad is chosen, you can finish the 10-day training in just 5 days! Do your best!”

Upon hearing this, Ascal shouted,

“Squad!!! Everyone, right face!!! Charge forward!!!”

“Squad leader!!! That’s a river!!!”

“Everyone, charge!!!!!!”

“Oh, to hell with it!!!!”

-Splash!

It was quite a sight. Ascal, leading the charge, plunged into the river, followed by the rest of the squad like a group of lemmings.

“What are you all doing?”

The bewildered instructor approached the river where Ascal’s squad had fallen in.

In his many years of instructing, it was the first time he had witnessed an entire squad seemingly attempt mass suicide.

“Blurp, blurp!”

A squad member who couldn’t swim flailed his arms wildly, grabbing hold of something.

Luckily, the water wasn’t too deep, and the squad members, regaining their senses, started climbing out of the river one by one.

Each holding something in their hands.

“Cadet number 27. If this were a real battle situation, you would all be dead. I am very disappointed. What on earth were you thinking, entering the river... what’s that in your hand?”

Ascal looked naturally at the rectangular stone in his hand. It had a grotesque creature’s shape etched into it.

“Yikes!”

Startled, Ascal threw the stone to the ground.

Crack—

The stone split open, and the creature was perfectly restored.

A trainee, soaking wet, rushed towards the fallen stone.

He was a curator from the Archaeological Department.

“This looks like the legendary ancient creature, Regalos! Everyone, show me the stones you’re holding!”

The trainees one by one showed their stones to the curator. They were all fossils.

“This is incredible! We must thoroughly explore this river immediately! This is definitely an ancient archaeological site!”

The curator exclaimed excitedly.

The instructor, with a look of utter bewilderment, observed the scene and then approached Ascal.

Ascal hurriedly spoke,

“I apologize, instructor. My foolish mistake put the squad in danger. I will make amends with ten days of diligent training.”

The instructor shook his head and patted Ascal’s shoulder.

“An excellent squad follows orders, but a superior squad sometimes defies orders for a greater cause. You understood this well.”

“Wha-what do you mean? Wait, instructor!”

The instructor used the super pass, which could be used only once during training.

And Ascal’s squad became the outstanding squad.

​

****

​“Attention all trainees. The western river is now off-limits for an unspecified reason. However, military training will continue as scheduled.”

It was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

If military training had been suspended due to the discovery of the archaeological site, Ascal would have wept bitterly.

After a discussion among the knights, it was concluded that training must proceed regardless, even if a meteorite fell on the training ground.

Naturally, this was because of Yulia’s presence.

“Cadet number 27. You seem to be in a good mood.”

“I greet Her Highness, Princess Yulia.”

Yulia approached Ascal with a stern expression.

“So, how is it, ignoring your usual duties to participate in training? Are you enjoying yourself?”

Translation: Were you planning not to see me for ten days?

Ascal tried to make an insight check but failed miserably.

“Yes.”

Yulia’s eyebrow twitched.

“Ten push-ups.”

“...Pardon? Yes.”

Although Ascal wondered why he was being suddenly punished, ten push-ups were nothing.

He got into position.

Suddenly, he felt a weight on his back.

Yulia had sat on Ascal’s back.

“What are you waiting for? Begin.”

Ascal had no choice but to start doing push-ups. He could feel a soft sensation on his back. It was distracting.

“Add ten more.”

But Yulia, in her annoyed state, showed no mercy.

“Add ten more.”

There was no leniency from Yulia, who was clearly upset.

Ascal collapsed to the ground after barely completing a hundred push-ups.

Yulia looked down at Ascal with a satisfied smile.

“Cadet number 27, is that all you can do? It seems you need strict personal guidance.”

Yulia lifted the exhausted Ascal effortlessly.

And whispered in his ear.

“Last time, we went to the sea, so how about the mountains this time?”

​****

​

Breathing in the fresh mountain air, Ascal slowly started to regain his energy.

“Your Highness, please put me down.”

“No.”

He couldn’t just let her have her way. Ascal pulled out a headband that had become a regular item in his pocket.

While Yulia was focused on climbing the mountain, he tied her hair up with it.

“Put me down. Lia.”

“Since when... You’ve become quite cunning.”

Lia obediently set Ascal down.

They had reached the mountain peak.

“The air is nice, isn’t it? When I felt stifled as a child, I used to come up here alone.”

“Indeed.”

The view from the mountain peak was breathtaking. It cleared Ascal’s mind, weary from work.

But Ascal’s expression grew strange as he gazed at a particular rock.

“Is this mountain called Mount Iota, by any chance?”

“Yes, it is.”

Ascal walked towards the rock. On its less visible back side, there was indeed a handle embedded.

‘Of course, it’s Caliburn...’

The legendary sword, Lightbane. Only one recognized as a hero could pull it out.

In the future, Sirius, pursued by the imperial army, would flee to this mountain and draw this sword.

Without thinking, Ascal pulled on the handle.

Swoosh—

The sword slid out effortlessly.

「Oh, after hundreds of years, I see the light again. My name is Lightbane, and you, my master, are――」

Ascal promptly reinserted the sword.

The sword fell silent.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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