The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel

*        *        *

“How long does the magic last?”

“About an hour.”

“Can it be used repeatedly?”

“It is possible.”

“I like that.”

Arthur, having left the Sparring Arena, nodded with satisfaction and once again climbed the stairs of the castle wall.

He was one to train without a moment’s rest.

Millerf had thought he would stop once he became strong enough.

But after watching Arthur from the side, he realized his judgment had been wrong.

And today, watching him answer Skevin's question, he felt a sense of pride.

At first, he had been flustered by Arthur's Supreme King-like disposition, but now, thinking of him as the lord he would serve in the future, his heart swelled with emotion.

He shone so majestically that even Skevin, a man with immense pride as a knight who had once scorned Arthur as a scoundrel, declared he would serve him as his lord.

If Arthur continued to grow like this and properly displayed his disposition, Millerf had no doubt that the count's family would enjoy a second golden age.

In truth, though he hadn't shown it outwardly, a thrill had run through his entire body when Arthur defeated Skevin.

Although Skevin hadn't given his all, was he not still a highest-level Sword Expert?

Just defeating such a man was an incredible result in itself.

Above all, it was an achievement made in such a short time…

Also, seeing that he intended to control the training ground, it seemed he planned to personally guide the Knight Order and the Trainees.

It was the first time Millerf's heart had pounded like this.

He watched Arthur's back as he climbed the stairs in the distance and gave a broad smile.

“I hope this feeling of anticipation continues.”

***

Around the time the crimson sunset spread wide across the sky.

As Arthur finished his training and entered the castle, Andrew, who was waiting at the entrance, quickly approached.

“You’ve worked hard. I'll go ahead and prepare your bath.”

Just as he was about to turn, Arthur spoke.

“Before that, let's go to Leusanna.”

“Yes.”

Andrew led the way.

Leusanna, who was organizing laundry in the laundry room, was startled when Andrew appeared with Arthur.

She quickly bowed and greeted him.

“Y-Young Master, what brings you here…”

“Give me some paper and a pen.”

“Just a moment.”

Leusanna quickly brought paper and a pen and handed them to Arthur.

Arthur began to draw something on the paper.

Leusanna and Andrew watched what was being drawn on the paper.

It was a strange, hexagonal shape with a long brim sticking out.

“It's a hat I'll be wearing. Can you make it like this?”

Leusanna tilted her head as she took the paper from Arthur.

“I've never seen a hat like this before.”

“Make it red, and the part with the brim is the front. Put a skull design in the center.”

“Pardon?”

Leusanna's eyes widened.

Andrew was also flustered and asked cautiously.

“Aren't you the one who will be wearing it, Young Master?”

“That's right.”

“But a skull? Absolutely not.”

“Make it by this evening and bring it to my room.”

Arthur drew a firm line and went outside.

Leusanna looked at Andrew with worried eyes.

“What should I do?”

“He was quiet for a while…”

“I have to make it, don't I?”

“Make it for now. In the meantime, I'll try to talk to the Young Master.”

Andrew quickly chased after Arthur.

Arthur looked around as he walked down the long corridor.

It seemed the sadness from Wesley's death had not yet faded, as everyone's faces were clearly filled with sorrow.

He could feel what kind of presence Wesley had been to them.

He had no words to offer them, but he just hoped they would overcome it as soon as possible.

For the sake of the survivors.

And for the war that was to come.

It was a lesson he had learned while traversing many battlefields.

As Arthur entered his room, Andrew soon followed.

“Young Master.”

“What?”

“You know that a skull is a symbol of the devil, don't you?”

Arthur asked as he took off his sweat-soaked clothes.

“So?”

“I was just wondering if you really need to put something like that on a hat…”

“Don't worry about it and just go prepare my bath.”

“Young Master…!”

Andrew's eyes widened as the sunset light coming through the window illuminated Arthur's body.

His physique was transforming into a muscular one by the day, and his bronze-colored body, illuminated by the sunset, looked as if he were wearing leather armor forged from muscle.

He had seen the bodies of knights countless times, but he had never seen such a perfect physique.

“It's magnificent.”

“What is?”

“It's the first time I've felt that a person's body is beautiful.”

“You see it every day, so why the sudden comment?”

“That's true, but…”

“Aren't you going to prepare the bath?”

“Ah, yes.”

Andrew walked towards the bathtub, his gaze still fixed on Arthur.

***

An hour later.

After finishing his bath, Arthur, wearing a white robe, looked out the window.

Countless stars and a large moon shone in the sky.

The moon, about three times larger than Earth's, had been so fascinating for a while, but now that he was used to it, it felt like nothing special.

Staring at the large moon, he contemplated how he would command the training ground starting tomorrow.

To maximize the abilities of the Knight Order and the Trainees in a short time, there was no other way than to make them surpass their own limits.

He wondered just how many would endure.

The Knight Order had a basic level of physical fitness, but the problem was the Trainees who were struggling even with the current training.

“Hmm…”

Just as Arthur's face was filling with worry.

Knock, knock.

A knocking sound was heard and the door opened.

Leusanna was startled to see Arthur wearing only a white robe.

“Oh my! I'll come back later.”

Just as she was about to turn quickly, Arthur spoke.

“It's fine.”

“But…”

“It's not like I'm naked.”

Arthur's eyes fell on the red, hexagonal hat in her hands.

“Did you finish it?”

“I made it as you said, but…”

Leusanna trailed off, approaching with her head bowed, and handed him the hat.

Arthur examined the hat she made from all angles, then his lips curled up.

“You've made it just as I wanted.”

He especially liked that the skull design was made more intensely and better than he had imagined.

“Are you really going to wear this? The Lady is already so distressed…”

Arthur stood in front of the mirror and put on the hat.

Remembering his time as a UDT and Navy SEAL training instructor, a smile naturally formed on his lips.

‘To think I'd be wearing this again.’

He was lost in old memories.

In contrast, the moment Leusanna saw that smile, a sudden chill ran down her spine.

‘Y-Young Master…’

        *        *        *

“Hoo-.”

Arthur, who had been swinging his dagger on the castle wall stones since dawn, let out a long, deep breath and came down.

Then he sheathed the dagger on his back and said to Millerf.

“Starting today, you're going to have a lot more to do.”

“I am always ready.”

As Millerf smiled, Andrew came up, panting for breath.

“The preparations are complete.”

“Then shall we go?”

Arthur held out his hand to Millerf.

Millerf handed over the red hat he was holding and asked.

“Are you perhaps trying to imbue this hat with some symbolic meaning?”

“Yes.”

“If you tell me what you desire, I can cast a spell on it for you.”

“It's fine. They'll feel it instinctively when the time comes.”

“What do you mean by that…”

“You'll find out in due time.”

Arthur put on the hat with a meaningful smile.

In that moment, the skull embroidered on the center of the hexagonal hat glinted in the sunlight.

The Sparring Arena.

The Knight Order and the Trainees had gathered and were waiting for Arthur.

A man with a physique so massive he was reminiscent of a bear approached Skevin's side.

It was the Vice-Commander, Hellot.

“Commander, are you really going to hand over command to the youngest Young Master?”

“What are you saying? Are you telling me to go back on my word?”

As Skevin glared sharply, Hellot quickly lowered his gaze and said.

“Honestly, since he was the Scoundrel until just a short while ago…”

“If you call the Young Master a scoundrel one more time, I will cut off your head without mercy.”

At the chilling words, Hellot bowed his head respectfully.

“I-I apologize.”

Just then, a murmur started from the rear.

‘What is it?’

Skevin looked back.

Arthur and Millerf appeared at the Sparring Arena. A skull was visible in the center of the bright red hat Arthur wore.

‘A skull…’

Skevin stared at Arthur with a hardened expression.

Arthur stepped onto the platform, receiving the gazes of everyone.

Then, he slowly looked around the Sparring Arena.

Numerous people were staring at him, and most of them were frowning.

Dissatisfaction was particularly evident on the faces of the Knight Order, and the large man standing next to Skevin was openly glaring at him.

Skevin came forward and gave a sharp Sword Salutation.

“Chung!”

“How many?”

“One hundred from the Knight Order, 150 Trainees.”

“From now on, regardless of whether you are a Knight or a Trainee, you will all be unified as Recruits.”

“Even the Knights?”

“I said everyone.”

His voice was incomparably cold.

Furthermore, his eyes were hidden by the brim of his hat, making it impossible to read his inner thoughts.

The aura emanating from him was also cold, a completely different person from before.

It felt as if he had come prepared.

Since he had decided to hand over command, Skevin decided to follow the orders.

“Understood.”

Arthur asked Millerf while staring straight ahead.

“Can you use magic to engrave a number on everyone's chest?”

“Of course.”

Millerf raised his staff and chanted in the Runic language, and the head of the staff glowed.

Simultaneously, numbers were engraved on the chests of everyone gathered in the Sparring Arena.

“Huh?”

“A number appeared on my chest.”

“What does this mean?”

As everyone was bewildered, Arthur shouted loudly.

“Attention!”

“...!”

In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on Arthur.

“From now on, you will be called by the number engraved on your chest instead of your name.”

“What?”

“Why numbers when we have names?”

“Is this training a joke?”

Complaints erupted from all over.

Arthur paid no mind to such reactions and continued to speak calmly.

“From now on, anyone who disobeys an order will be mercilessly expelled.”

“...!”

A glint appeared in Skevin's eyes.

“I'll give you one minute to get in formation. Begin.”

The moment his words fell, Skevin shouted.

“Form ranks and files!”

The crooked lines straightened out, and tension filled the Sparring Arena.

A moment later.

“Stop.”

Arthur's voice was heard.

“Get over there.”

“This is my spot.”

“Ah, seriously!”

In the back, it was still a chaotic mess as they scrambled to get in line.

“What a complete mess.”

Arthur, who was watching them, spat out a cold word to Millerf.

“Single out the ones who are moving.”

“Yes.”

Millerf cast a petrification spell on the moving people with a faint smile on his lips.

Then, their legs hardened like stone.

“Gasp!”

“What is this?”

“M-my legs…”

Frightened sounds were heard from all over.

Arthur continued to give instructions to Millerf while observing the situation.

“Single out every last one of them, even those showing their teeth or twitching a finger.”

“Understood.”

Millerf's eyes glinted sharply, and his staff moved busily.

After several minutes passed like that, the Sparring Arena became deathly quiet.

“Seems like things have settled down a bit.”

Arthur looked around, satisfied.

The number of people caught by the petrification spell was about 30, and all of them were Trainees.

“This is the only warning. From now on, anyone singled out will be expelled from the training ground. Knights should know they will be dismissed from the Knight Order.”

“...!”

The eyes of Skevin and the other members of the Knight Order went wide.

‘What?’

‘That scoundrel…’

‘I knew this would happen.’

Hellot's face contorted.

Skevin looked at Arthur with a worried expression.

‘What are you planning to do?’

Arthur looked at their faces full of dissatisfaction and his lips curled up slightly.

‘I'll whip them into shape, alright.’