Chapter 76: The Great Fortress Under Construction (2)

“On the battlefield… no matter who the opponent is or how skilled they may be, you charge forward. That is what it means to be a soldier.”

At some point, the aura flickering around Raion’s sword faded away as if a flame had been extinguished.

Even so, the atmosphere grew heavier, more solemn.

“Those who must fight together as soldiers may not be satisfied with their current place. Then prove your worth and rise higher!”

Raion slowly turned his gaze, looking over both the common soldiers and the adventurers among them.

“You are my soldiers. Of course, I will not send only you ahead. I will stand at your front and lead you myself. But if you cannot follow me, then leave now.”

It was a declaration of unshakable resolve.

At that, the murmuring soldiers fell silent.

“That silence—does it mean agreement? If no one steps forward, then this ends here.”

Clack—!

Raion sheathed the sword in his hand and turned back toward Patrick.

“You’ve worked hard, Master.”

“Troublesome business.”

“But I believe they have now decided who it is they will serve as their master.”

The doubts and complaints that had rained down only moments ago had vanished.

The soldiers’ eyes now shone brightly with respect.

Having witnessed firsthand the realm of a Sword Master they had only heard about in rumors, they were filled with both awe and reverence.

“Then that’s good.”

“I’ll also make sure to minimize confusion among the soldiers moving forward.”

“I’ll count on you.”

Saying that, Raion turned and made his way toward the mountain where the knights were training.

On the mountain, the knights were undergoing training under Jade’s instruction.

Tap! Tatatat!

The knights darted between the trees of the mountain, scrambling to escape from Jade’s pursuit.

But as the days went by, though they managed to delay the inevitable a bit longer, the result was always the same—they got caught.

Even today, though it was only the third round and barely thirty minutes had passed, two had already been caught.

“Already tired? You can’t be this weak already!”

Jade shouted loud enough to make the forest ring.

The remaining knights scattered quickly, leaping across branches to flee.

Sasasasak! Sasasak!

“Got you!”

Jade suddenly leapt out, sweeping his leg behind Pavilian’s ankle, who let out a startled cry.

Pavilian, who had been about to land on a branch, tumbled down and crashed to the ground.

Thud—!

“Gah!”

Fortunately, Pavilian had managed to perform a safe fall onto a bed of piled leaves, narrowly avoiding injury.

Of course, Jade had ensured the landing area was safe before he struck.

“Be careful not to break your neck! Now then, where’s the next one hiding?”

He shouted deliberately loud, his voice echoing through the woods.

He seemed to be enjoying himself now.

But then, from another direction, a scream pierced the forest.

“Kyaaaaaah—!”

It was the voice of the knight, Nesia.

Startled, Jade turned his head sharply.

“What? A monster?”

It hadn’t even been half a year since the extermination of monsters around the lord’s castle.

It was far too soon for monsters to appear again.

At that moment, a chilling murderous aura began to spread through the forest like mist.

“What the hell is this!”

Feeling an ominous dread, Jade quickly brought two fingers to his lips and whistled sharply.

Pheeeeeet!

It was the signal calling all knights to regroup at the training assembly point.

At once, the knights who had been running outward turned and sprinted toward the center to escape the suffocating aura.

But the source of the killing intent was fast—so fast that cries of pain echoed intermittently.

“Aaaargh!”

“Help me—!”

Sensing something was terribly wrong, Jade, who was nearing the assembly area, suddenly realized something.

“N-no way…”

A chill ran down his spine, and he threw himself forward in a roll.

Whooong—!

A heavy kick brushed past the back of his head by a hair’s breadth.

Standing quickly, Jade finally recognized the source of the murderous aura.

“Master!”

“To think you’d dodge my kick… Seems you’ve improved your reflexes since last time.”

The killing intent that had filled the forest began to fade away as if it had never existed.

“My head almost flew off, you know!”

“I would’ve stopped before that happened.”

Rustle! Sasasak! Thud—!

Patrick followed behind Raion, jumping down from the trees and landing gracefully on the ground.

“You’re working hard, Sir Jade.”

“Ah, Patrick. You could’ve stopped the Master, you know.”

“Would he have listened if I did?”

Jade sighed deeply at his response.

“The knights who were attacked—are they all right?”

“I only knocked them out. I was careful—they’ll wake up soon enough.”

“Phew~! Then why exactly did you come here? To interrupt training?”

At Jade’s reproachful tone, Raion shrugged casually.

“Training inspection?”

“Inspection? That was an ambush!”

“Their skills aren’t bad, but their tension and reactions are still lacking. You were the only one who managed to dodge my attack.”

It truly had been a surprise assault.

If Jade hadn’t reacted instantly and rolled forward, he would’ve ended up unconscious like the others.

“I really almost died, you know.”

“By the way, I don’t see Calsios or Alkas around.”

Calsios had once been a member of the Red Sand Mercenary Corps before joining Raion’s ranks as a knight to seek revenge.

And though Alkas was the Knight Commander, he was participating in the same training regimen as the other knights.

Yet, during Raion’s “inspection,” neither of them were present.

“Calsios is serving as the officer in charge of guarding the southern gate, and Alkas had some administrative work to handle at the order.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But really, Master—did you actually come here for an inspection?”

Jade still didn’t believe it.

“I’m serious. I just came from the eastern gate after giving the soldiers a little lecture.”

“A lecture, you say?”

At that, Patrick briefly explained what had happened there.

As he listened, Jade’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Those damned bastards! We feed them, give them a place to sleep, even train them, and that’s how they act?”

To Jade, the mercenaries and adventurers from Kanas Territory were, with only a few exceptions, pitifully weak.

Of course, part of that was due to the territory’s remote location, which made attracting skilled people difficult—but still, too few were willing to prove their worth despite the odds.

“Sir Jade, please calm yourself. The Master made his stance perfectly clear, so things should be fine for a while.”

“Even so, we should inform Sir Alkas. He must not remain unaware of what’s happened among the soldiers.”

“Let’s simply report it.”

The three continued their conversation as they made their way slowly to the training assembly area.

Before long, the knights who had regained consciousness stood to attention upon seeing Raion’s arrival.

The senior knight, Vice-Captain Pavilian, stepped forward.

“We pay our respects to the Prince.”

At that, Raion scratched the back of his head.

“I’ve told you before—no need for that kind of greeting.”

“But it’s only proper etiquette toward Your Highness.”

“Empty formalities won’t put food on your table, will they? So skip it.”

“Ah… understood.”

As he listened, Raion’s eyes swept over the gathered knights.

Aside from their instructor, Jade, none had managed to react to his earlier attack—they had all been knocked unconscious.

“Do you know why you were all defeated so easily?”

“……”

No one answered.

Raion then turned his gaze to Jade.

“Do you know?”

“A difference in skill, perhaps?”

“No.”

Raion shook his head and explained.

“It’s because you all assumed there was only one enemy, without knowing anything about who—or what—you were facing.”

In truth, the one who had knocked the knights unconscious was Patrick.

Of course, it had only been possible because Raion had distracted them with his killing intent.

“……”

“In any situation, the enemy will never hold back. Whether it’s soldiers from another nation or monsters—it’s all the same.”

Raion looked each knight in the eye as he spoke earnestly.

“If you know nothing about your opponent, then run. No matter what it takes, get away.”

At his unexpected words, Nesia—the first to have been taken out—asked hesitantly,

“Excuse me? Shouldn’t we fight back?”

“How do you fight something you don’t understand?”

“Well… by trying really hard?”

“……”

“I told you before—charging recklessly at a dangerous foe is the most foolish thing you can do. As knights, think of your duty, yes—but value your lives above all else.”

As the knights listened, they couldn’t help but recall how much Kanas had developed recently under Raion’s leadership.

The territory’s well-structured systems and growing prosperity—all of it had been built by him.

Naturally, as knights, they were ready to pledge their very lives to him.

So when he told them to prioritize survival over duty, they couldn’t quite comprehend it.

“You don’t understand?”

At his question, the knights remained silent.

“……”

Finally, Pavilian spoke cautiously.

“May we ask… why you say that, Your Highness?”

Raion turned around and answered.

“Because I want to see the ever-growing Kanas together with all of you. Ahem! Patrick, let’s return.”

Raion quickened his pace.

Patrick gave the knights a polite nod before following after him.

The knights, left standing in silence, felt a faint sting in their chests.

Meanwhile, Raion kept walking forward.

Patrick, trailing quietly behind, looked at Raion’s back with a pleased expression.

“You’ve learned to move people’s hearts, I see.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Feeling embarrassed, Raion didn’t look back.

“I think the knights will become even more loyal now.”

“I just said what I felt. We’ll need capable people for Kanas’s sake, after all.”

Back in the future Raion had once lived through, when he was exiled to Kanas, no one had welcomed him.

Naturally, the knights had been cold toward him.

And yet, at the very end, those same knights had stood by their prince and protected him.

The enemy invasion back then had been merciless.

They trampled everything and everyone—leaving no one behind.

“Anyway, it’s about time we prepare for trade with other nations.”

“Trade, Master?”

Patrick looked surprised at Raion’s words.

“Yes, trade.”

“But even if you destroy the Sea Serpent Nest, the sea route will still be difficult to secure.”

For now, the Sellios Dungeon had been roughly dealt with.

However, the true obstacle to foreign trade wasn’t the Sellios Dungeon—it was the Sea Serpent Nest.

The islands forming the nest created chaotic currents, making passage by ship nearly impossible.

“There’s a way around that too.”

“How so? If trade with foreign nations becomes possible, Kanas will grow far stronger than it is now.”

Indeed, the greatest reason Kanas had long suffered was its inability to trade because of the monsters blocking the routes.

Of course, Raion could use the secret passage he had discovered in the Clamen Mountains.

But that place could easily become a route for enemy invasions.

It was far too crucial a location to expose.

“For now, let’s summon the Lord and Dike for a discussion.”

“I’ll call them as soon as we return to the castle.”

The two quickened their steps.

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