Chapter 74: Rewards and Punishments (3)

Huff, huff…

In the early dawn, before even the sun had risen, rough breaths echoed across the training grounds attached to the Bayern dormitory.

Maximilian, the earliest riser among the cadets staying in the dormitory, had jumped into an intense workout the moment he awoke, his whole body drenched in sweat.

Creak, creak.

The heavily loaded equipment moved up and down in a steady rhythm.

Ever since returning from the Erendal Forest subjugation mission, Maximilian had greatly increased the intensity of his training.

“…”

He gritted his teeth as he forced his limbs to move.

Only after pushing his body to the point of trembling exhaustion did he feel like some of the sluggishness in his condition had begun to fade.

“Hoo…”

Finishing his workout, Maximilian sat against the wall and let out a long sigh.

The sun was slowly rising, and he could sense the cadets who had been asleep beginning to wake one by one.

Even though he wanted nothing more than to collapse and sleep—his body too drained to so much as move a finger—he clenched his jaw and got to his feet.

—Krrrk.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he could hear the sound of that monster mocking him in his ears.

Its shape looked like something a child had made by mashing clay, yet the power it displayed was overwhelming.

To be honest, when the Erendal mission had begun, he had been confident.

He had undergone grueling training under Brother Darius and kept up his own personal regimen without a single break.

With so many strong cadets participating, winning first place was difficult, but he believed he could at least rank among the top.

But the moment he encountered the monster, all of that confidence had been shattered.

“…”

Maximilian pressed his fingers hard into his brow, his face twisting.

Ever since returning from the forest, he had kept having nightmares of that monster.

Brother Darius was brutally slaughtered, and the others were scattered in every direction.

The ending was always so horrific that it was no wonder he would wake up drenched in cold sweat each time.

‘Even if I try not to think about it…’

How could he stop it from coming to mind again and again?

Time would eventually make the memory fade, and the problem would resolve itself naturally.

So for now, he had chosen the method of pushing his body to the limit until those stray thoughts were driven out.

After sweating until he felt like he might vomit, he would at least feel a little lighter.

“Come to think of it, he’s returning today.”

He had heard yesterday that he was discharged from the infirmary.

Maximilian had thought about visiting after class, but it felt like disturbing his rest, so he decided against it.

Carl had to be exhausted in his own way, after all.

‘Since he fought that monster alone.’

In Maximilian’s case, Brother Darius had been there, so they had at least managed to hold the line.

But Carl had drawn that terrifying monster away alone to save them, forcing himself to flee.

Thinking back to the state Carl had been in when he was carried out of the forest on a stretcher, it was honestly a miracle he was still alive.

No doubt he was suffering more than Maximilian himself.

Swaaah—

Showering in hot water, Maximilian washed away his sweat and his troubled thoughts, then changed into his uniform.

No one knew that he trained alone at dawn.

It was a time when everyone was still asleep, after all.

But perhaps the fatigue showed on his face, because Gale, who was waiting in front of the cafeteria, tilted his head and asked,

“Maxim, have you been sleeping poorly lately?”

“…Hm?”

“It just seems like you’ve lost some weight and your face looks more worn out these past few days.”

His eyes seemed sunken, and he did look a little thinner.

At Gale’s words, Maximilian scratched his head with forced nonchalance and replied,

“I guess it’s because I’ve been training harder lately. Erendal gave me a lot to think about.”

“True.”

Gale nodded.

He, too, had been struck and sent flying by the monster, breaking a rib in the process.

There was probably no one who hadn’t felt their helplessness in the face of that creature.

“Still, take care of your health. You can’t just get strong overnight. Brother Darius said not to rush things either.”

“I’m taking it slow, so don’t worry.”

Maximilian patted Gale on the back, feigning composure.

After a short wait, Pozers and Carl came down together and arrived at the cafeteria.

“Hey, how dare you keep your elders waiting like this?”

It had been five days since Maximilian last saw Carl outside of the infirmary, yet he looked no different from before.

Since he had visited every day, the sight wasn’t all that unfamiliar.

“Carl, are you completely healed now?”

“I’ve recovered fully. I can attend lectures starting today.”

“That’s a relief.”

Maximilian smiled.

It seemed, thankfully, that Carl hadn’t been left with any kind of trauma from the monster’s presence.

‘…Well, of course.’

Carl had always been like that.

Calm and steady, like a deep, unmoving lake.

His emotional ups and downs were so slight it was almost as if they didn’t exist.

At first, that had felt strange at times, but now Maximilian was used to it, knowing this was simply Carl’s way.

‘Probably because of his family background too.’

The Leipzig Count’s Household of the north—

It was said to be a particularly harsh place, as it guarded the Empire’s borders.

For someone as gentle-looking as Carl to adapt, he must have forged a core of steel within himself.

It meant he had established his own way of surviving.

“Come on, let’s go. I’m starving.”

Maximilian pushed Carl’s back and went into the cafeteria with his friends.

For now, this was enough.

—We ask all invited guests, cadets, and related parties to please take their seats.

The day Carl returned to the Academy.

The moment lectures ended, the knights of the Raging Flame Order came to Bayern as if they had been waiting.

—Then, we will now proceed with the medal ceremony.

They had snatched Carl, who had been heading to the library to catch up on his studies, and dragged him straight to Bayern’s grand auditorium, placing him on the podium.

Somehow, word had spread instantly, and the auditorium, which had been empty, quickly filled with cadets and various other people who came to watch the ceremony.

Cadets he knew, instructors, professors, and others besides.

‘I didn’t think they’d give it to me this quickly.’

Why the rush?

Carl gave a wry smile as he glanced at the faces of those standing with him on the podium.

Only Instructor Andreas had told them, just Darius and himself, yet it seemed Nerian and Louis were also on the list.

‘Well, I heard they did quite well too, so it’s not strange.’

A knight wearing the emblem of the Raging Flame Order on his chest stepped out and stood before them.

—Cadets, step to the front of the podium.

Starting with the most senior, Darius stepped forward to stand before the knight. The announcer, another knight, addressed the audience.

—This medal is awarded for outstanding and steadfast chivalry during the Erendal incident, for dedicating oneself to others without regard for personal safety…

It was the usual tedious string of flowery phrases.

Carl’s attention, however, was on the solidly built man standing before Darius.

‘Who is that?’

Judging from the aura he gave off, he was no ordinary knight.

At least a high-ranking Expert—perhaps even beyond that.

Fortunately, the question was answered right away.

—The medal will be presented by Sir Brandon, the Vice-Commander of the Order.

The Order’s medal ceremony was traditionally a prestigious event.

On rare occasions when cadets received medals, it was accompanied by a party in a bright and lively atmosphere.

But now, with a mourning period for the cadets who died in the Erendal incident, it seemed they intended to keep the ceremony as simple and brief as possible.

“…”

When Brandon approached, Darius straightened his posture.

This man was his elder brother’s superior, not in some middling position, but one of the heads of the Order.

If things went well, he himself might join the Raging Flame Order, so he wanted to leave the best impression possible.

“Thanks to your efforts, the damage to others was minimized. That was conduct worthy of a knight’s example.”

“Thank you.”

Darius replied in a low, precise voice, taking Brandon’s offered hand.

“As for the medal, ordinarily I would pin it on myself, but there’s someone more fitting, so I’ll yield the honor.”

“…Pardon?”

Tilting his head for a moment, Darius caught sight of a figure stepping onto the podium and gave a wry smile.

When Brandon moved on to award another cadet, Darius found himself face-to-face with his eldest brother and whispered quietly,

“I thought you’d be under punishment.”

“I was, right up until I came here. But they acknowledged my merit enough to let me award my younger brothers a medal.”

“You could’ve taken your time coming. What was so urgent that you deserted the Order?”

“I’ll take it slow from now on, you ungrateful brat.”

“Stop poking me with that pin.”

“Enough. I should go see my lovely youngest. I have no business with a rude brat like you.”

Pinning the medal on Darius’s chest, Carius immediately moved on toward Carl.

“How’s your health?”

“I’m fine. Fully recovered.”

“Good.”

Carius smiled in satisfaction as he pinned the medal to his youngest brother’s chest.

From the moment Carl was about to enroll at Bayern, Carius had worried endlessly. Who would have thought he’d grow enough to be awarded a medal from the Order?

Though the process had been full of twists and turns, Carius was proud of how well his younger brothers had grown.

“What about you, Brother? I heard that if it weren’t for your desertion, you would have received a medal as well.”

“…Well, you know.”

At Carl’s words, Carius trailed off.

He had been disciplined for breaking the Order’s discipline.

For more than three days, he hadn’t been allowed to sleep, and he’d been pushed nearly to the brink during training.

It was unavoidable—deserting the Order and acting on one’s own accord, even as a probationary knight, was a grave crime.

‘But I have no regrets.’

It had been a matter of his family’s life.

Even if the same situation repeated, Carius would have acted exactly the same without hesitation.

“Still, it’s settled well enough that I won’t be expelled. I’m to be officially knighted next month.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried you’d be dismissed from the Order because of me.”

“Well then, I’d just go back to the family and prepare to inherit the Count’s title.”

At Carius’s lighthearted words, Carl returned a smile.

The medal ceremony concluded without incident.

The cadets gathered in the auditorium dispersed back to their respective places.

Carl, too, was making his way out after receiving congratulations from many friends.

He reached up to touch the medal of the Raging Flame Order pinned to his chest.

‘A medal, huh.’

It felt somewhat awkward, given his past life as an assassin.

Receiving a medal for demonstrating knightly spirit and saving others…

Back then, the only things he’d ever received from others were poisoned food or murderous intent dripping with blood.

“Carl.”

“Ah, Brother Darius.”

“How’s your health?”

“That’s the fifty-third time I’ve heard that question today.”

“No, it’s the first. It’s the first time this noble elder brother has asked it, so don’t lump me in with those other ignorants.”

Clack.

Darius reached out one thick hand toward Carl’s head.

Carl twisted and ducked to avoid it, but Darius’s hand was far quicker.

“You did well.”

“…”

Carl gave a faint laugh inwardly.

Who was congratulating whom here?

Crossing his arms, Carl pushed aside Darius’s thick arm and nodded in return.

“You too, Brother.”

And in the future, he’d better keep working hard for him.

Surely he could do at least that much for his lovely youngest brother.

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