Chapter 113: Hell Training

The next day.

When morning came, Raion took his sword and headed to the training ground behind the mansion.

From early hours, the knights of the territory were already busy training.

“Hm…….”

As he quietly observed them, Raion felt a faint sense of dissatisfaction.

His gaze was so sharp that some of the knights swinging their swords shivered in unease.

‘Considering Cayman and the timing… I should start special training too.’

At that very moment, those same knights trembled like aspen leaves.

His idle thoughts lasted only briefly.

Soon, Shtefan Palvin, the Lord of Kanas, stepped out into the backyard and approached him.

“You came out early.”

“I didn’t have much to do. More importantly, when will the people who went to Mistel return?”

“I was told they’ll be back within seven days at the latest.”

“That’s slower than I expected.”

“It seems that making Sir Caldein’s staff took quite some time.”

“Got it.”

“By the way, it’s about time to send the regular report to the royal capital. Shall we proceed as usual?”

The Kanas Territory was exempt from taxes due to its geographical disadvantages.

Because of that, it hadn’t been a problem even when the territory’s profits were low.

But the situation had changed now.

Thanks to the goods produced in the Theron production district, the profits had grown immensely.

Naturally, the income flowing into the territory had also increased.

Following Raion’s instructions, a portion of that profit was omitted in the reports sent to the royal capital.

“Keep doing that.”

“Understood.”

By now, Shtefan Palvin had completely become Raion’s man.

So, he obeyed without a hint of objection.

“And about the knights.”

“Is there some problem, Your Highness?”

“Their training seems too relaxed.”

“Too relaxed, you say?”

Right now, the knights were sweating profusely as they swung their swords.

The sweat was dripping enough to soak the ground—hardly an easygoing sight.

“They look way too comfortable. Don’t you think so?”

“Do you have a particular kind of training in mind?”

Shtefan recalled the forest training the knights occasionally did.

Every time, some nearly died from it—so he grew worried.

Meanwhile, Raion rubbed his chin in thought.

“Something like actual combat training.”

“……Actual combat, Your Highness?”

“Yeah. Real combat. Ah! I just thought of a good idea.”

“Pardon? What kind of idea do you have in mind?”

At his question, a faint smile appeared on Raion’s lips.

A few days later.

The knights gathered at the foot of the Clamen Mountains, northeast of the Kanas Territory.

All of them had traveled for a day to gather here under the Lord’s command.

“He said it’s training… Don’t tell me we’re actually going into the mountains?”

“No way… surely not…….”

Currently, the inner region of the Clamen Mountains was surrounded by a concrete wall that Raion himself had built.

Thanks to that, the inside of the territory was safely protected.

However, since the monsters could no longer enter inward, those within the mountains had grown even more ferocious.

The knights had heard about that from the nearby Clamen village.

As murmurs spread among the knights, Alkas Derion, the Commander of the Kanas Knights, stepped forward and shouted.

“Everyone, silence!”

The noise instantly died down as the ranks straightened.

Seeing this, Alkas continued.

“From today onward, you will form teams of five and enter the Clamen Mountains!”

“We’re really training in the mountains?”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Was this order from the Commander himself?”

Because of the dangerous reputation of the mountains, even the knights—who usually obeyed orders without hesitation—became restless.

Then, Raion, who had been standing at the rear, stepped forward.

“Think of it as survival training! The duration will be thirty days. Anyone who comes out before that will be permanently stripped of their title as a knight!”

His voice, infused with mana, thundered through the air.

The knights could hardly breathe, swallowing hard.

Raion glanced over them before speaking again.

“Permanent expulsion is too much, Your Highness!”

“That’s right! Even if you’re a prince, that’s too harsh!”

They were all people who had struggled to earn the title of knight.

Some had once been mercenaries or adventurers, but all were filled with discontent.

Of course, Raion had already expected this reaction.

“Then die here.”

At that instant, Raion drew his sword.

A blue aura flared up along the blade, burning like fire.

Seeing it, the knights once again swallowed nervously.

All the protests that had filled the air vanished in an instant.

“However…… if you return safely after thirty days, I’ll tell you how to become a Sword Master.”

At those words, murmurs broke out among the knights.

The Sword Master—an ideal, a dream, the pinnacle that every knight and swordsman aspired to reach.

Naturally, no one could remain unmoved by Raion’s offer.

“Is that true?”

“There’s actually a way to become a Sword Master?”

“We’ve never heard of such a method before!”

“Please tell us!”

If such a way had truly existed, every nation would have been mass-producing Sword Masters by now.

It was hard to believe, so the doubts and murmuring continued.

“Believe it or don’t—it’s up to you. But remember this: my direct subordinate wasn’t a Sword Master just a few years ago.”

“Surely… you’re talking about Sir Jade?”

Sword Master Jade.

As Raion’s direct knight and someone known for his easygoing personality, he was well-known among the others.

Of course, his strength was equally well recognized.

Until the sea route escort mission, he had even been in charge of the knights’ training—there was hardly a knight who didn’t know his skill.

“ I’ll leave the choice to you. Well… that is, if you don’t want to die.”

As Raion swung his hand, an aura streaked outward in a long arc.

At that instant, a massive tree nearby was sliced diagonally in half and toppled sideways.

Boom……!

The knights’ faces turned pale the moment they witnessed the scene.

Naturally, not a single one chose the options of expulsion or death that Raion had presented.

In the end, the knights followed the initial order—forming teams of five and heading into the mountains.

They were each provided with basic rations and camping gear.

Watching them, Raion spoke to Alkas with a satisfied smile.

“How many do you think will succeed?”

“I believe all of them will, Your Highness.”

“You trust your knights that much?”

“They’re the ones I’ve trained myself. It took time to earn their trust, but I have complete faith in them.”

“Oh…… quite the confidence you have.”

“But, Your Highness… do you truly know how to become a Sword Master?”

“For now, yes.”

Raion had achieved a remarkable level not only in swordsmanship but also in magic.

Through that process, he had mastered the flow and control of mana more delicately than anyone else.

Naturally, he also came to deeply understand the Sword Master, whose realm was closely tied to mana manipulation.

Of course, explaining it all right now wasn’t something he intended to do.

“I’ll participate in the training as well.”

“You’re doing this because you want to become a Sword Master?”

Raion had evaluated Alkas’s swordsmanship at Level 8.

With more effort, he could likely reach the Sword Master realm sooner than anyone else.

It might have looked like greed at first glance.

But Alkas’s intention was different.

“I won’t deny that, but… I can’t let my men undergo training that I myself would avoid.”

“You’re quite the upright one.”

“I’m only doing what’s proper.”

That steadfast nature was precisely why Alkas served as Commander of the Kanas Knights.

Raion knew that well—and kept him in position for that very reason.

“Do as you wish. Begin the entry!”

The massive concrete gates connected to the mountain range opened.

Those equipped with limited supplies and camping tools slowly entered the mountains.

Every one of them wore tense expressions.

Kraaaa!

A deafening roar echoed through the forest.

Until just a while ago, they had been fighting off packs of wolves, bears, and goblins—and had barely managed to rest.

Naturally, everyone froze at the monstrous roar that broke the silence.

Cayman, who had been setting up a tent, stopped what he was doing and approached Alkas.

“Commander, what do you think it is this time?”

“Judging by the sound…… I’d guess an ogre.”

At that answer, the atmosphere grew uneasy.

An ogre was not a foe one could take lightly.

Even a Sword Master would struggle to handle one alone.

Of course, they could try to overpower it with numbers—but if the ogre commanded other monsters, the knights would be doomed.

“Have the sentries from the first watch take up perimeter positions.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then, Cayman—you’ll patrol with me right after.”

“J-just the two of us, sir?”

Night had already fallen.

The thick canopy of trees blotted out the sky, leaving the surroundings pitch-black.

Thud! Thud!

Then, heavy footsteps rumbled from within the forest.

They hardly needed to patrol—every knight froze, drawing their swords.

At that same moment, a shout rang out.

“It’s a troll!”

Kraaaaaa!

The cry was distinctly different from before.

A troll burst through the trees, shoving aside thick trunks and swinging its club.

Boom―!

The creature stood over three meters tall.

Even the club in its massive hand was the height of a man.

The knights barely dodged the swing and stumbled back in shock.

“Form ranks! Only senior knights to the front!”

Though a troll wasn’t as powerful as an ogre, its strength and regeneration made it no less terrifying.

Following Alkas’s command, the knights quickly took their positions.

Clang! Clang―!

“I’ll block its attacks—counter when you see an opening!”

Raising his sword, Alkas charged.

His sharp blade avoided the troll’s club and slashed deep into its inner arm.

But foam bubbled up, and the wound began to heal almost immediately.

“We’ll have to strike faster.”

The assault continued.

Because Alkas was leading the charge, the troll’s attention focused entirely on him.

Kraaa! Aaaargh!

Thud! Thud―! Crash!

Its club smashed trees and tore into the ground with terrifying force.

Several knights were injured before they could evade.

Alkas himself wasn’t unscathed.

It was impossible to dodge such relentless blows forever.

Still, the troll, too, was gradually weakening.

Under the knights’ combined attacks, its wounds accumulated faster than it could regenerate.

Then, at one moment, Alkas kicked off a tree, leaping high into the air and swung his sword down.

Shwaaaak!

Kraaaaargh! Kraaaah!

His blade pierced the troll’s neck, slicing downward in a long, brutal cut.

“We did it!”

“It’s down!”

The troll staggered, the long wound gaping open.

Thud! Thump……!

Unable to heal, it finally collapsed backward.

Kuuuuuuung!

The ground quaked as the knights exhaled in relief.

Alkas did the same.

“Well fought, everyone!”

“Make sure it’s dead. Check for the wounded as well.”

Cayman, who had received the order, didn’t look well himself.

Still, he immediately began to move and carry out the commands.

‘That Cayman… after returning from training with Master, his movements have really improved.’

The fierce attacks Cayman had shown earlier remained vivid in Alkas’s mind.

Of course, his skill wasn’t extraordinary yet—

But compared to before, his growth was undeniable.

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