Sword Emperor, Becoming the Young Lady of a Viscount House

Chapter 52: The Sword Emperor's Training Method (1)

"Do you want to learn combat?"

Beatrice blinked.

Out of nowhere, someone asked her to teach them combat.

Moreover, it was a fellow noble who said this.

Even though Beatrice was a transmigrator, she knew how unusual this request was.

After all, weren't nobles all about their pride?

Even more surprising was that the one bowing in front of her was Argos.

His father was a marquis.

“…Actually, I overheard Reiser talking.”

"During the meeting?"

"He was discussing the next training session."

"What did he say?"

Beatrice's eyes sparkled with interest.

"He said the next training session would involve combat with the Royal Faction heirs."

It wasn’t just the Aristocratic Faction heirs being trained in the capital.

Naturally, the Royal Faction heirs were also there.

However, the difference between the two was...

The Aristocratic Faction sent expendable forces to minimize losses to their territories.

The Royal Faction, on the other hand, sent their heirs as 'reinforcements.'

This also meant that their family heads were participating in the war.

Naturally, the Royal Faction’s choice was correct.

This was a battle that would determine the kingdom’s fate.

Hiding in their territories to protect themselves was an act bordering on rebellion.

Many of the Aristocratic Faction nobles who abandoned the fight were out of their minds.

"We can't lose. No, we don’t want to lose, Beatrice."

"We won’t lose. Don’t you trust me?"

The Royal Faction heirs participating in the war.

They sent their first-in-line successors.

They needed to achieve the greatest merits possible.

However, those standing in front of her were outcasts from their families.

They were abandoned children whom no one would mourn if they disappeared.

In short, the base combat capability was worlds apart.

If they fought like this, they would lose.

"...I trust you. But we can’t trust ourselves. Because..."

At that moment, Gareth interrupted.

He stepped forward and spoke seriously.

"We’re pathetic. The difference between the successors of each family and those of us who are pushed aside is like heaven and earth. …If things stay like this, Beatrice, no matter how exceptional you are, we’ll lose."

‘So they’re nothing but small fry.’

When it came to combat, Beatrice was a veteran.

Even with her wrist not in the best condition, she could toy with these young ones using just her left hand.

However.

-A twitch.

‘At least they know how to assess the situation.’

She suddenly felt pleased.

Not because of simple flattery.

The kids who had only known how to take advantage of her so far.

Were now asking her to teach them how to pack their own bags instead of carrying theirs.

How endearing.

[…Young Beatrice, you sometimes forget that you are the youngest among them.]

"Alright. Since you’re showing determination, I’ll cooperate to the best of my ability."

Beatrice readily agreed.

**

‘Hmm, but where should I start?’

When she thought about it, there were more than a few ambiguous points.

For those who used swords, she could just hand over a decent swordsmanship technique.

Beatrice had been the Sword Emperor in her past life.

Her mind contained dozens of swordsmanship techniques optimized by modern 21st-century science.

But magic?

Beatrice was clueless when it came to magic.

That was the problem.

Teaching only swordsmanship felt unfair.

Should she even teach them a mana cultivation technique?

That was a no-go.

It wouldn’t yield quick results in a short time, and...

It was her trade secret.

"Mm. Mm."

Uncharacteristically, she mulled over it for a long time.

She paced around, biting her lips.

-Gulp.

The cadets stood in one spot, waiting for her decision.

Beatrice Cenci.

Her past actions had earned her the cadets’ complete trust.

Her strength, capable of single-handedly handling all the cadets.

Her decisiveness and courage, as shown when she easily subdued Miya, who had seemed like an ordinary girl.

She was on another level, like the reincarnation of Solid himself.

The cadets’ trust in her was at its peak.

-A halt.

After pacing for a long time, Beatrice finally stopped.

The cadets watched her intently, their expressions tense with anticipation.

Beatrice spoke.

"Lie down."

"…?"

The cadets froze, momentarily unable to comprehend her words.

Beatrice smiled brightly and repeated herself.

"I said, lie down."

"……."

How many people would immediately obey such an order?

Especially nobles who valued honor more than life itself.

Even these outcasts had been born and raised with a sense of nobility.

So, Beatrice's command to lie down was not something they could accept right away.

No, more than that, it was so sudden that most of them didn’t understand what she meant.

"Tsk. Not listening, are you?"

"Be-Beatrice, what do you mean by ‘lie down’..."

"If you don’t understand, I’ll have to show you."

With the most excited expression in the world, she approached Argos.

And then—

-Thud!

"Urk!"

She tripped him with a kick to his leg.

The one most surprised by the sudden action was the cadets.

They stared at Beatrice in astonishment.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

With a sly smile, Beatrice said.

"You asked for training, didn’t you?"

There seemed to be no mercy in her actions.

‘As expected, this is the best way.’

In a short time.

What would be the most efficient training method?

After a brief moment of deliberation, Beatrice found the answer.

‘These kids have no mental fortitude.’

It was mental strength.

Building up their physical abilities was out of the question.

Especially in a world where strange beings like Spirits existed.

It wasn’t just swordsmen; training cadets who included magicians was nearly impossible.

Even if it were possible, it would take a lot of time.

Certainly not something that could be resolved in just a few days.

However, mental fortitude could be developed rapidly in a short period.

‘At the very least, they shouldn’t wet themselves in front of monsters, right?’

Exactly.

She had been quietly dissatisfied.

That’s why, on that night, she had summoned the top five cadets and given them instructions to train harshly.

To push them mercilessly.

But well…

How much could fellow nobles push each other anyway?

Beatrice had watched the situation briefly, but the best they could do was something petty, like picking beans out of meat.

How could anyone wake up to reality with such weak methods?

It only made her angrier.

“This is the training you chose.”

She had been planning to give them proper mental training anyway.

She had just been delayed because she was writing a report to present to the Crown Prince.

And then, the prey came walking into her trap.

How could she not be thrilled?

“Endure it with grit and guts.”

‘This is my specialty.’

On this, she could guarantee.

Beatrice was a veteran who had completed her military service.

Before the world turned into an apocalyptic setting.

She had been a ‘Ranger Instructor.’

“If you don’t lie down, all of your shares of mana hearts will be mine. Of course, I’ll take them by force.”

At those words, all the cadets immediately lay down.

**

The most pressing issue is not that Central’s spies are targeting the Crown Prince’s life.

Central is highly likely to possess a ‘Control Device.’ They likely already have the capability to mass-produce it.

If this issue is not resolved, Krapos is highly likely to lose the war.

“Bring this person here immediately—!”

The royal palace conference room.

At the Crown Prince’s order, an emergency meeting was convened, gathering both Royal and Aristocratic Faction nobles in the capital.

Among them, the Marquis of Ardeltaine, a high-ranking noble of the Royal Faction, burst out in fury.

“I have never in my life seen such nonsense. How could a mere noble lady produce such an outrageous report?”

“Calm yourself, Marquis Ardeltaine.”

The emergency meeting had been called because of Beatrice’s report.

‘The feasibility is low.’

Mass-producing Control Devices, which had been internationally banned during the Age of Magic?

If it were true, Krapos had zero chance of winning the war.

However, the Empire wouldn’t stand idly by either.

Even if Central won the war, they wouldn’t be able to withstand the Empire’s wrath.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that humanity of this era relied almost entirely on Spirits.

A device that not only restricted Spirits but even rendered mana unusable?

No nation could accept its existence.

However, Luel thought.

‘It does make sense.’

Beatrice’s report was four pages long.

The detailed evidence and reasoning presented within were solid.

For this reason, Luel had sought others’ opinions rather than judging it alone.

“…So, it’s the claim of the Cenci Family’s young lady. A lady from such a materialistic family would naturally make such ridiculous arguments. Your Highness, this report isn’t even worth reconsidering. The logic within it is pathetic, and beyond that, it’s downright offensive!”

Marquis Ardeltaine criticized it sharply.

“I agree. I ask Your Highness to judge calmly and thoroughly punish the young lady for such blasphemous thoughts.”

“She is quite an exceptional talent.”

“…Am I mistaken? I’ve heard that the young lady of the Cenci Family is nothing more than a pretty face, without any real ability.”

“That’s what I thought too. But I’ve seen her myself. She is a very different person from the rumors.”

“…I was hasty.”

The noble who had supported the Marquis’s argument immediately apologized.

The Crown Prince himself had called her a talent.

Pressing further would be a grave offense.

However, his expression remained sour.

A mere daughter of a viscount.

A family known for its wealth but nothing more.

How exceptional could she possibly be?

“What does the Duke of Arvanceco think?”

Regardless, Luel turned his curious gaze to the duke.

Carde Arvanceco.

The undisputed highest-ranking noble in Krapos and a loyal servant to the kingdom.

Luel was curious about his thoughts.

“…It doesn’t seem to be an entirely unreliable report.”

The duke, whose eyes seemed half-dead, replied.

Though over fifty, he appeared youthful.

That was because he was a Master.

One of the few individuals in the world to earn the title of Master through magic.

He was also called a Grand Mage.

The mysterious mana he possessed even slowed aging.

Though he looked young, his snow-white hair, a symbol of the Arvanceco Family, made it impossible for anyone to underestimate him.

At least, not in Krapos.

“…Your Grace! How could you say such a thing…”

“The issue of the Control Device requires more consideration.

However, the idea that an ‘unknown force’ currently destabilizing Krapos is targeting His Highness seems plausible.

No, it’s highly likely.”

“Hmm, I share the same opinion.”

Though the Duke of Arvanceco spoke softly, his words carried more weight than any other noble’s claims.

“Therefore, for the time being, I will personally protect His Highness.”

“…You will?”

“Yes.”

“B-But Your Grace. The enemy possesses the Control Device.”

The Control Device restricted not only Spirits but also mana.

Though the Duke was a Master, he was still a magician.

Unlike Sword Masters who surpassed even their physical limitations, magicians weakened significantly when mana was restricted.

“…I may not be able to use my full power, but I have enough strength to protect His Highness.”

“…!”

That was a surprising statement.

To be able to use mana even with the Control Device?

Luel smiled quietly.

“There’s no need to go that far.

Having the Duke personally serve as my guard feels excessive.

How could I even eat comfortably with such pressure?”

The Duke of Arvanceco was a mysterious figure.

No one had ever seen him angry or smiling.

He rarely attended social events, let alone meetings like this.

In a word, he was a quiet man.

So much so that rumors of his death circulated at least once every two years.

For such a man to declare that he would personally protect him, Luel already felt reassured.

“However…”

The Duke of Arvanceco spoke softly.

“There is one request I have.”

“A request? Speak. Though I didn’t think you were the type to make one.”

Luel looked at him curiously.

For such a stoic man to make a request was unexpected.

Unlike the Marquis of Ardeltaine, who always watched the room’s mood, this was surprising.

“…The young lady. Did you say her name was Beatrice Cenci?”

“That’s correct.”

“I would like to meet her.”

“You, Duke? Now that’s unexpected.”

“…The contents of this report are somewhat intriguing.”

But the Duke’s expression did not match someone who found something intriguing.

It was a chillingly blank face.

However, the few close aides who had known him for a long time recognized it.

‘The Duke is showing interest.’

And that, very much so.