Chapter 75: The Great Fortress Being Built (1)

The Kanas Territory was developing day by day.

Its military strength was no exception.

Most of the adventurers and mercenaries who had been isolated within the territory joined the army, increasing the total number.

From an initial 500, the number had now surpassed 5,200.

Despite the busier circumstances, Raion was still spending his days leisurely.

“Ahh……! Another day begins, huh?”

Morning had long since passed.

Yet Raion still hadn’t stepped outside.

Knock knock!

The door was tapped, and Patrick entered cautiously.

“Huh? Weren’t you planning to stay away from the mansion for a while because of Fordman?”

A few days earlier, Patrick had quietly left the mansion to avoid Fordman.

Moreover, Fordman was still residing there.

Naturally, Raion thought Patrick wouldn’t return because of him.

“How could I stay away from my master for long? But, are you not going out today?”

“That’s exactly what I’m debating.”

“Because you have nothing to do?”

“No. Because I have too much to do. I don’t even know where to start…….”

“How about inspecting the troops first?”

Given how much the forces had recently increased, Raion thought it might be time to check on them again.

“Hmm…… should I?”

“I will guide you.”

Raion went outside with Patrick.

“Hup! Hup! Hup!”

Outside the eastern gate, the soldiers newly integrated into the army were undergoing tough training.

The regular soldiers were being trained under the Byungnongilche (unity of soldier and farmer) method and were assigned to till the fields.

Afterward, most of them received basic weapons training.

Though each day was grueling, there were almost no complaints since they were now salaried soldiers.

When the break time during weapons training arrived, the soldiers gathered in small groups to rest.

Just then, a few soldiers moved past others to get some water, brushing roughly by them.

“Who the hell’s getting in the way?”

The voice was harsh, almost as if looking to pick a fight.

One of the passing soldiers, Deran, turned and asked,

“Are you talking to us?”

“Who else would I be talking to?”

The provoked Deran and his group were originally from the territory.

“Don’t you think that’s a bit much?”

“Too much? You were in the way, weren’t you?”

Though they were all technically part of the same army, their origins differed.

The one speaking was Scop—a former mercenary who had joined as a soldier.

Along with his fellow mercenaries, Scop carried an odd sense of superiority over the regular soldiers.

He looked at Deran and the others with a sharp, disdainful glare.

“Phew…… forget it.”

The regular soldiers, likewise, didn’t want to converse with the mercenary types.

Deran tried to continue walking in the direction he’d been heading.

But Scop suddenly grabbed his shoulder and shoved him aside.

Deran was the most senior among the regular soldiers.

Because of that, whenever conflicts arose between soldiers and mercenaries, he was usually the one to mediate.

Scop had always found Deran unpleasant for that reason.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Who do you think you are? You’re just a low-ranking soldier—trying to act equal to me?”

The training instructor, Knight Baron, was away at the time.

Scop then grabbed Deran by the collar.

At once, the other regular soldiers shot to their feet.

The troops quickly divided—mercenary-born soldiers on one side, regulars on the other.

At that moment, Danilov, who had been sitting nearby, stepped in.

“Stop it! What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Though Danilov’s large frame and intimidating presence made them flinch slightly, no one backed down.

“You guys, stay out of it!”

The adventurer-born soldiers didn’t particularly want to get involved.

However, Danilov, Klein, and Edna owed a debt to Raion, the one who had formed the current battalion.

They couldn’t just sit by and watch the structure fall into chaos.

“A knight will be here any minute! You still want to keep fighting?”

“So what if he does!”

Scop suddenly kicked Deran hard in the abdomen.

Thud―!

That was the spark. The regular soldiers, unable to hold back any longer, charged at the mercenaries.

Thud! Thwack! Crack―!

A full-blown brawl erupted.

Dozens of soldiers tangled together, making it impossible even for the adventurers to intervene effectively.

The atmosphere quickly grew violent.

Moments later, the instructor, Baron, returned.

Even he couldn’t immediately calm the situation, only furrowing his brow deeply.

“What foolishness is this……”

Then, from one side, a powerful voice roared out.

“Enough―!”

It was Raion who shouted.

Beside him stood his butler, Patrick.

Baron was startled by his sudden appearance and immediately bowed.

The soldiers, who had been brawling moments ago, froze in place at Raion’s voice, stunned.

“Didn’t get enough fighting in? Shall I join in to make it fair?”

Raion drew the sword hanging at his waist as he spoke.

At that, the regular and adventurer-born soldiers quickly moved to form orderly lines.

The mercenary-born soldiers, however, moved sluggishly.

Raion’s brows furrowed slightly.

‘Those ones are ex-mercenaries, huh.’

He could easily tell from their behavior and attire.

Mercenaries and adventurers, by nature, prioritized their guilds over kingdoms.

Even if they had volunteered to become soldiers, such habits weren’t easily changed.

“Your Highness, allow me to—”

“Be quiet, Sir Baron. I’ll handle this myself.”

Raion brushed past Baron and walked between the two opposing groups of soldiers.

“Now, tell me. What’s making you all so dissatisfied?”

“……”

Everyone fell silent.

Of course, Raion had no intention of simply letting it go at that.

“You there. Speak. What’s your complaint?”

He pointed directly at Scop.

In truth, Raion and Patrick had arrived nearby even before the quarrel broke out and had been watching everything.

Naturally, they knew very well who had started the trouble.

A brief silence followed.

Then Scop finally opened his mouth, his expression full of discontent.

“We mercenary-born soldiers do not wish to be treated the same as regular soldiers.”

The moment he voiced such defiance toward the prince, murmurs spread among the ranks.

“Quiet, everyone! Keep talking.”

Raion silenced the others again and waited for Scop’s answer.

“We’ve lived day by day as mercenaries, wagering our lives in battle. But to be treated the same as soldiers who only guarded the lord’s castle—it’s infuriating.”

Previously, at the request of Zen, a C-rank mercenary and adventurer who had become a centurion, Raion had promoted several C-rank mercenaries and adventurers to the same position.

That was likely the reason behind the current resentment among the mercenary-born soldiers.

“Is that really something worth being so angry about?”

“We’re confident that we’re stronger than the regular soldiers! Of course, we’re not as good as those who became centurions, but we shouldn’t be treated as equals!”

The other mercenary-born soldiers nodded in agreement.

“Then let’s see if your skills match your words.”

“……What?”

“From now on, I’ll face you myself. If you can so much as land a punch or a strike on me—be it fist or sword—I’ll promote you to centurion, or if you prefer, even to knight.”

The atmosphere buzzed again at his words.

But none of them dared to recklessly attack a prince.

“How can we trust that? And besides, none of us wish to offend royalty.”

“Do I look like the kind to go back on my word? Patrick, you heard what I said just now, didn’t you?”

“Yes, Master. Whatever happens, I’ll carry it out exactly as promised.”

“You all heard that, right?”

Raion gestured behind him with his thumb toward Patrick, confirming his statement.

“Is that true?”

The mercenaries, including Scop, were originally from the villages near the mountain range, not the lord’s castle.

They had come to the castle only to enlist and had no idea what had occurred during the subjugation battle.

“Why can’t you believe me? And don’t worry—I’ll only use my sword. Ah, you others can join in too, if you like.”

Raion’s gaze shifted to the adventurer-born and regular soldiers.

But unlike the mercenaries, they clearly remembered the feats Raion had shown during the subjugation.

“N-no, we’re fine.”

“Yes, we’ll pass as well.”

Danilov spoke on behalf of the others and quickly shuffled backward.

Of course, the mercenaries had heard various rumors about that battle.

Yet, the old tales about the frail prince had been spread much longer, so they didn’t really believe any of it.

“You truly won’t hold us responsible for this?”

“I already said I wouldn’t.”

The mercenary-born soldiers exchanged uneasy glances.

Then, Scop and a few others charged forward.

Tadadadadadak―!

Swash―!

At that very instant, Raion swung his sword sideways in a wide arc.

The blade’s trajectory burst forth with a razor-sharp aura that tore across the ground.

Chaaaaaak!

It was a fierce sword wind imbued with aura.

The soldiers who had been rushing toward him froze the moment they saw the ground split open before their eyes.

“……”

“What’s wrong? Why’d you stop? Weren’t you going to attack?”

After witnessing such a terrifying display, who among them could still dare to approach?

Neither Scop nor the other mercenary-born soldiers could move a single step.

Even now, Raion’s sword was still rippling with formless aura.

“……”

None of them could utter a word.

They had just witnessed the realm of a Sword Master with their own eyes—it was only natural they were speechless.

“Lost your will to fight already?”

Who would dare to challenge a Sword Master?

Just moments ago, the sword wind had scraped the ground; had it been even a step closer, they would’ve been cleaved apart.

“Are you truly a Sword Master?”

“You can’t tell even after seeing it? Or did I not show enough aura for you?”

Wooooom! Wooooom!

Raion released an even stronger surge of aura.

It was so clear that no one could possibly deny what they were seeing.

“So then, does this mean you admit defeat?”

“……”

No one answered.

“Then I take it you have no more complaints?”

“Th-that’s unfair!”

“What’s unfair about it?”

“With that kind of power, asking us to fight is pointless. Who could possibly stand a chance?”

“Stand a chance?”

Raion rested his sword on his shoulder and strolled casually in front of them.

Scop still frowned deeply.

“That’s right. We have no chance of winning.”

“You people fight only when there’s a chance of winning? Is that why you’ve become soldiers—to collect your pay each month without risk?”

At that, Scop and the others fell silent again, like mutes who had swallowed their tongues.

“Answer me. Do you think I made you soldiers so you could live comfortably off the land forever?”

“……”

Raion didn’t stop there and continued speaking.

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