NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53
Chapter 53: The Sword Emperor’s Training Method (2)
“Move faster, faster!”
“Ack!”
“You there! Even a slug could do better than you. Aren’t you going to lift your head?!”
“Ack!!”
“Do you want to lose to the Royal Faction’s cadets? If you don’t want that, then move faster, faster!”
“Ack!!!”
‘What… is this?’
Reiser stared at the cadets with a bewildered expression.
They were letting out strange cries as they rolled around on the ground.
He was at a loss for words at the unfamiliar sight.
“C-Cadets?”
It was their first free time.
Luel had said that one must rest properly when resting and had generously given them some downtime.
As a bonus, he had even handed out mana hearts as rewards for successfully completing the recent subjugation mission.
Contrary to what had been announced earlier, every cadet without exception was to receive one.
Reiser had come to deliver this good news, but what on earth was going on?
“Ah, Reiser.”
Beatrice waved her hand at Reiser with a refreshed expression.
“W-What in the world is happening here?”
“I was training them.”
“…This is training?”
“Yes. They were doing exercises that are good for both body and mind. Would you like to try?”
“…….”
At that moment, Reiser locked eyes with a cadet.
The cadet’s gaze clearly conveyed the message, ‘Save me.’
“…Are you sure this isn’t something that shortens their lifespan?”
“It’s not. You don’t know anything. So, would you like to try it?”
Reiser shook his head frantically, horrified.
Even for someone who was at the brink of becoming a master, rolling on the ground in such bizarre positions was too much.
“I’ll pass.”
**
“Are you busy? I have something important to discuss.”
“Wait just a moment.”
‘This is perfect.’
It had been a rather troubling situation anyway.
The cadets who had experienced the hellish Korean-style guerrilla gymnastics were starting to exude a murderous aura.
…To be honest, the role of a drill instructor wasn’t exactly a prestigious one.
While it was enjoyable to relieve stress during training, the problem was dealing with the resentment afterward.
Beatrice, who wanted to have an easier time in future wars, didn’t want to become a necessary evil to her allies.
Thus, passing this burden onto someone else was the best course of action.
“The top five cadets, step forward. You know who you are, right?”
Familiar faces turned toward Beatrice at her call.
Their rather stylish uniforms were smeared with dirt.
“I assume you’ve fully understood all the commands I gave.”
“…Of course. After being put through that, how could we forget?”
Argos’s gaze was filled with sharp intensity.
Crossing her arms, she spoke.
“Do the same to the other cadets.”
“…W-What?”
“You’re the drill instructors now. Here, take this.”
The cadets looked flustered.
Unfazed, Beatrice casually loosened her uniform’s necktie.
She then tied it around Argos’s right arm.
“Even among the five of you, there should be a hierarchy. In my opinion, you’re the strongest, so wear this armband and lead the training.”
“…….”
“Hmm, having a title would be nice too.”
Beatrice decided to apply her knowledge from her previous life.
Creating something new was too bothersome.
“You’re the training commander of the Torze Company. The other four are drill instructors. Understood? Take responsibility and train them hard.”
Beatrice’s build was on the smaller side.
She didn’t even reach Argos’s chest level.
While her actions as if commanding a subordinate seemed amusing to him…
…he didn’t find it unpleasant.
No, rather, he felt proud.
Even the shoddy armband tied with a necktie felt like an honor.
‘…If you’re going to tie it, at least do it properly.’
Since Beatrice was short, the armband had slipped far down.
He adjusted it to rest closer to his shoulder and quietly smiled.
**
“So, what is it?”
Beatrice suppressed a grin.
‘I smell something good. This is… a mana heart.’
[…You’re like a bloodhound.]
Beatrice, who had yet to form a contract with a spirit, valued the total amount of mana above all else.
She had been eagerly waiting for it, and now was the perfect time.
She knew the Crown Prince was a superior who kept his promises.
Thus, there was only one reason she had been summoned at this timing: the mana heart.
“I’ve submitted the report to His Highness.”
Upon entering the mansion’s office, Beatrice naturally sat on the sofa.
Reiser prepared tea. It was a task fit for a maid or servant, but there were none in the Torze Mansion.
As he brewed the tea, Reiser continued speaking.
“His Highness might be upset. While the Crown Prince has a gentle nature, he becomes strict if he believes the line has been crossed.”
“Do you think the report crossed that line?”
“…Yes. We submitted an unverified theory in a serious report about an assassination attempt on His Highness. Leaving out that part would have been the right choice. While I haven’t heard anything specific yet, I believe he’s quite disappointed.”
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
Gaining the Crown Prince’s trust was important.
However, Beatrice was confident.
Once the war broke out, regaining lost trust wouldn’t take more than two weeks.
If he wasn’t a foolish leader, being drawn to an outstanding commander was only natural.
“Time will prove everything. Now then, …ahem.”
Beatrice extended her hand with an embarrassed expression.
Reiser, who had been staring at her white hand for a while, finally spoke.
“…What is it?”
“That. Give me that.”
A reward she was entitled to, but asking for it felt embarrassing.
She felt like she had become a materialistic person.
“Ah, are you referring to the mana heart?”
-Nod, nod.
Beatrice quickly nodded her head twice.
Reiser smiled warmly and said,
“Of course. It’s already prepared, and tomorrow, it will be distributed to all the cadets.”
“…All the cadets?”
“Oh dear, it seems Beatrice didn’t know. His Highness was pleased with the results of this subjugation and has ordered that it be distributed without discrimination.”
Beatrice’s eyes widened.
Wasn’t the Crown Prince being overly generous?
[This is rather surprising.]
Even Solid was shocked by the idea of distributing mana hearts so freely.
‘…Should I siphon some off?’
For a moment, the thought crossed her mind.
[…Not a bad idea.]
‘You devil. We went through this together, and now you think of such a thing?’
[You were the one who thought of it first!]
Even Solid seemed tempted.
“Where are they?”
“They are stored in the mansion’s vault. I expected the cadets to disperse since they were given free time today.”
However, the cadets had given up their free time and were struggling instead.
“…Since they seem busy, I was planning to distribute them all at once tomorrow.”
[This time, savor it slowly.]
‘I plan to do that.’
Last time, she had eaten it immediately because of the urgency.
This time, she planned to savor it slowly.
There was still plenty of time before the war.
“Thank you for the good news, Reiser. Anyway, is that all you had to say?”
“Do you think I’d summon you just for such a simple matter? The main topic starts now. It’s a very important issue.”
‘…What troublesome task are they going to assign me this time?’
When it came to mana hearts, Beatrice wagged her tail like a cat.
But sensing the conversation was heading toward a less interesting topic, her enthusiasm waned.
Surprisingly, however, Reiser brought up something intriguing.
“The Duke of Arvanceco will be visiting. Not for an official schedule, but specifically to meet with you.”
**
‘Arvanceco. Is he visiting to express gratitude for the last incident?’
Originally, Krapos had two dukes.
But after the head of the Aristocratic Faction who led a rebellion lost his head, Krapos was left with only one duke.
That was Arvanceco.
It was the family of Airy, whom Beatrice had met before.
Beatrice had saved Airy’s life once.
She concluded that it must be why her father was coming to visit.
Otherwise, what other reason could there be to meet her?
“That’s all for now. I don’t know what it’s about, but since today is free time, you can do whatever you want after the meeting.”
Reiser stopped in front of the reception room and explained.
The Duke had specifically requested a private meeting with Beatrice.
‘I should check how he’s doing.’
Thinking of Argos’s face, she nodded.
The satisfaction of giving advice would be too good to pass up.
After meeting the Duke, she decided she would head there.
“This is Beatrice Cenci. I’ll be coming in.”
Standing at the door, she calmly announced and turned the handle.
The second-most powerful person after the Crown Prince.
Beatrice was curious.
What kind of person was he?
“…Take a seat.”
-Bow.
She bowed slightly and sat on the sofa.
She subtly glanced at the Duke’s appearance.
A man with the same snowy-white hair as Airy.
Perhaps because of his sharp jawline or his unnervingly stoic expression,
his demeanor felt quite cold.
More than anything, what surprised Beatrice was a particular fact.
‘…He’s young?’
He looked far too young to be the father of an 18-year-old daughter.
At most, he seemed to be in his late twenties.
His youthful appearance was almost unnaturally fresh.
[Judging a master by their appearance is the height of folly, especially if they are a Grand Mage.]
‘Is this person also a master? I don’t sense anything.’
[He is someone who dominates mana. A young Beatrice like you wouldn’t be able to detect it.]
In other words, she was too weak to comprehend his level.
Beatrice felt her pride take a hit.
‘…He looks delicate. If I fought him, I feel like I’d win. Are masters so common now? That elf was a master too, wasn’t he?’
[If masters were so common, the Duke of Arvanceco wouldn’t be so powerful. Beatrice, if you fought him, you’d die within three seconds. This Solid of the God of War guarantees it.]
‘You never let me win an argument. This is why I won’t make a contract with you.’
[…!]
Ignoring the stunned Solid, Beatrice opened her mouth.
“What is it you wish to discuss?”
Perhaps because she had been arguing fiercely with Solid internally,
Beatrice’s first words weren’t very polite.
“You seem to quarrel loudly with your spirit.”
“I quarrel because it’s noisy. If it were quiet, I wouldn’t quarrel at all……”
-Stop.
Beatrice froze mid-sentence.
[No way… Hey! Arvanceco! Can you hear me?]
“…….”
The Duke of Arvanceco said nothing, calmly taking a sip of tea.
Without a sound, he set down his cup and spoke in a soft voice.
“…And. Calling masters ‘common’ is quite a bold statement to make to your uncle upon first meeting.”
The Duke of Arvanceco, who dropped such a shocking revelation,
had the faintest, truly faintest smile at the corner of his lips.
“You’re certainly bold, just like Elizabeth’s daughter. You’re her spitting image.”