MBSE Chapter 16

There was a slightly awkward atmosphere in the training grounds. On the surface, the passion surged as if no different from yesterday, but knowingly or unknowingly, everyone’s attention was focused on one place.

That was none other than the young masters of the household they served.

“You have to properly stretch your body. Otherwise, the risk of injury increases.”

“Ugh, like this?”

The task of training the young masters’ physical strength fell to Deo. He was the only one still using his injury as an excuse to slack off, and above all, regardless of his temperament, he was a highly skilled individual, so Derga had entrusted him with confidence. His duties likely included monitoring Ian and immediately disposing of him if there was a problem.

“Brother, extend your arms further back.”

“Ah, I can’t. It hurts too much.”

However, Ian appeared to be diligently assisting Chel. As long as Deo was there, wouldn’t all his actions reach Derga’s ears? It was foolish to invite misunderstandings and wise to induce carelessness.

“We’ll start with basic physical training, and you can’t give up halfway. After running for about an hour, I’ll check your wooden sword posture.”

Chel, whose nose bridge was moist, pursed his lips with a deathly expression. As time passed, the sun would surely become even hotter. Deo checked his watch and observed the expressions of the two children.

‘If I handle them roughly, they’ll only do this for a few days.’

It was bothersome, but in the long run, the two of them shouldn’t even set foot in the training grounds. Ian was being sold to the Cheonrye tribe, so that could be overlooked, but especially Chel. Wouldn’t that child increasingly follow Marquis Bratz and raise his hand as the years went by? If the command of the private army were to be handed over, it would be like having his rice bowl taken away.

“By the way, what about the knights?”

Ian asked while slowly stretching his body. He had thought about it yesterday as well, but most of the trainees gave off a rough and unsophisticated impression. There was no one with the refined aura unique to knights.

‘It’s only natural since even that fellow Deo isn’t a knight.’

Deo didn’t seem to have a title. That’s because all the household staff addressed him differently. Among the numerous titles, he had never heard the word “knight,” nor had he seen him wearing the family’s coat of arms.

“Those bastards are of noble bodies, so they stay in a separate training ground. Over here, it’s all just a bunch of guys who picked up a sword after holding a pickaxe. Why? Do you want to learn from a knight?”

Deo laughed while tapping the ground with a stick. His teeth were particularly black today. His casual tone was like a person hoping to find fault.

“Enough. Doesn’t each person have a suitable teacher?”

It was a roundabout way of saying that Deo was just the right level for beginners. However, perhaps not understanding that far, he just scratched his ear indifferently and turned his back.

“Alright then. Let’s run.”

There is no territory without knights. In every territory, knights were the elite among the elite. It was the same for the Bratz territory. They were surely carrying out escort and commands in secret.

Thud!

‘Considering it’s a frontier, at most, there would be about ten.’

Due to the central government’s check on the local nobility, the number of knights that nobles could retain was fixed. This was because what was commonly recognized as a knight were those certified by their skills and experience. Battles against magical beasts, large and small, wars with other countries, and so on. They were a force incomparable to a ragtag group of peasant-born swordsmen.

‘Their skills must be quite good.’

In the frontier, and even confronting the Cheonrye tribe. And above all, despite staying here for nearly a fortnight, he had never sensed their presence even once. It meant they were thoroughly Derga’s shadows.

“Keep running!”

“Huff… huff…”

Chel dragged his feet, drooling. It happened only on the second lap. Ian was lightly catching his breath and running ahead of him.

Deo, walking with heavy steps, glanced at Ian.

‘For his appearance, he even knows how to control his breathing.’

His physical strength couldn’t be said to be good, but he knew how to move his body cleverly. Unlike Chel, who was falling behind more and more, Ian consistently kept up with Deo.

And on the opposite side.

Two children sparring with swords.

“Aaaagh!”

“Beric, you crazy bastard, no!”

Clang! Clang!

The child swinging his sword like a barrage was Beric. The opponent retreated, but this wasn’t a push from an overwhelming difference in strength, but rather a reaction that came from being rushed.

Beric’s expression looked unpleasant knowing that.

“Damn it!”

It was strange. Wasn’t his body as light as if it would fly away just last night? After sleeping and waking up, it felt like the effect of a drug he hadn’t even taken had worn off. Beric desperately thrust his sword, trying to hold onto the strange sensation that was gradually disappearing.

“Hey! Take it easy!”

Clang!

The comrade who had been accommodating shouted, unable to hold back his irritation. At the same time, the colliding swords flew in a circle. Only then did Beric stop and catch his breath, while his comrade spat, feeling unlucky.

“That’s why I said I didn’t want to do it!”

“You’re the one who lost the bet in the morning, Maerial.”

No one wanted to spar with Beric. It was because he never took it easy. There were also a few trainees who got injured by Beric’s spirit that was reminiscent of actual combat.

The comrades snickered and teased Maerial, and he muttered curses and entered the break room. Left alone, Beric picked up the fallen wooden sword.

“Beric.”

The voice was familiar now. He looked at Ian with his red eyes. The sweat-soaked boy was smiling brightly.

“What is it?”

“You’re not telling me to get lost now.”

“…When did I say that?”

“You definitely lost your senses back then. You don’t even know what I said.”

In fact, he had found out earlier. That the one who had poured water on him that day was the illegitimate child, Ian. As the scions of the family head were coming to the training grounds, it was mentioned everywhere, so he had unknowingly heard it.

Ian smiled brightly and patted his shoulder.

“Well, it’s fine. Under the scorching sun, everyone’s eyes get blurred.”

Beric had no intention of responding. His attitude was like, beat me if you want. In fact, what could a young illegitimate child do? He slowly dragged his sword and moved to the shade, with Ian following behind.

Beric turned around with a frown.

“It seems like it will take some time for Brother Chel to come. I’m planning to walk slowly and rest.”

Behind them, Deo was roughly dragging Chel. He was preoccupied with Chel collapsing, saying he couldn’t go any further, then getting up and falling again.

“Want a snack?”

Ian took out a well-dried jerky from his pocket. The servants had prepared it so he wouldn’t starve while training. People’s affection came from such fundamental things. Satisfying their desires was the starting point, and the more basic it was, the better the effect.

However.

“No, thanks.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s no reason to eat it.”

Beric refused without hesitation.

It was unexpected. No matter how much Derga was focusing on expanding the private army, there was no way that soldiers from orphan backgrounds could live affluently. At most, they would have a slightly better meal than when they were outside.

“Move aside, bastard.”

“Your way of speaking is really strange. If you’re going to use honorifics, do it properly.”

“…”

Still, the fellow was adamant. Even though he knew that Ian was an illegitimate child, there was no change in his behavior. It was an attitude of thoroughly rejecting kindness and goodwill.

Although thinking it was fastidious, Ian soon realized that this was rather fortunate.

‘Right. Because I need a limb rather than a confidant.’

If he had no interest in personal matters, there was a high probability that he had his own beliefs. If those were satisfied, a clean contract without any frills could be made.

Of course, the proper way was to establish a master-servant relationship based on trust and faith, but…

Rattle.

Beric wrapped his right hand and the wooden sword tightly with bandages. Then, without hesitation, he opened the break room door and called out to his comrade. Specifically, the one named Maerial, who had been sparring with him until a moment ago.

“Maerial, come out.”

“Did you lose your mind in the heat? Calling my name…”

“The match hasn’t been decided.”

Is he really crazy? When the child named Maerial frowned, a giant man across from him stood up instead. His physique seemed to be twice that of Beric’s.

“…You’ve been acting up since yesterday, huh?”

“Get lost. I have no business with you.”

“Maerial has no business with you either!”

Bam!

The man grabbed Beric’s head and slammed it against the wall. It happened in an instant. As if he was used to it, Beric didn’t flinch and came out swinging, wielding his wooden sword.

“I said get lost!”

Thud! Thwack!

Ian watched the scene while chewing on the jerky.

Indeed, Beric’s personality was not normal. Not only did he act as if he had no fear of violence, but he also had a strong obsession with power and winning.

Thud! Thwack!

Crack!

The unfortunate thing was that reality was cold despite his spirit. No matter how much Beric struggled, he couldn’t win against a man who was twice his size.

“You crazy bastard! Take it easy!”

Thwack! Thwack!

Bam!

The man kicked Beric’s abdomen like kicking a ball.

Hmm, that must have hurt. Just as Ian was worrying inwardly, Beric collapsed on the ground. The man dusted off his hands and snickered as if it were nothing.

“If you keep acting up, you won’t live long. I’d be grateful if you died early, hahaha!”

“Ugh…”

Beric lay flat on his back, only gasping for breath. Ian squatted down near his face. From Beric’s point of view, golden hair flowed down.

“Shall I teach that guy a lesson?”

At Ian’s whisper, Beric closed his eyes.

“…Get lost, damn it.”

“Why? Don’t you want to win? There are various ways to win in this world.”

Even if he was an illegitimate child, with a single word from Ian, he could easily handle a trainee like that.

But Beric raised his middle finger.

“Because that’s meaningless.”

Strong power. That was the only criterion for living in this world. When his father’s violence made his entire family kneel and beg, when the ruthless slashing of robbers dyed the house in blood, Beric could do nothing. He could only watch.

Although he didn’t know the circumstances to this extent, Ian understood the meaning.

“Right. That’s your meaning.”

At that moment, Chel collapsed backward in the distance. Deo, looking troubled, and the surrounding men gathered in groups of three or five and shook Chel’s body. Beric, still with his eyes closed, replied.

“If you talk to me one more time, I’ll kill you.”

“But you’re in this state… Tsk tsk.”

“Damn it-“

Ian placed his hand on Beric’s eyes. Squatting down and lowering his head, his face wouldn’t be visible to others. Above all, with Chel collapsing backward, everyone’s attention was focused in that direction.

“I have a really good method for you.”

Beric’s gaze was felt beneath his palm. A spirit that was not just hot, but fiercely burning. It seemed his pupils weren’t red for no reason.

“That strong power you desire. I can give it to you.”

“Talking nonsense. You crazy bastard.”

“If I give you what you need, you must also give me what I need.”

His voice was quite serious. When Beric remained silent, Ian laughed softly. It was unexpected that he couldn’t answer. Judging by how he couldn’t easily say even a passing remark, despite his frivolous tone, he seemed to have a sincere personality.

Zing.

Ian flowed mana into him without hesitation. A little more than yesterday. But it was still insufficient for an awakening. Since the period for a mage knight to have a master was at least a year, he would also have to devote that much time.

“…!”

Beric’s fingertips twitched. It felt like the pain that had consumed his body was instantly washed away by water. It was so refreshing that it was cold, awakening his senses. Beric abruptly sat up, listening to the pounding sound of his heart.

“Oh my.”

Ian, startled, removed his hand. In that moment, the child’s golden eyes and his gaze met. The intertwining was brief.

Beric slowly turned his head. It was as if his dead nerves were coming back to life, making everything sensitive. The man who had knocked him down was standing with his arms crossed, watching Chel.

“Tsk tsk. If he’s like this from the start…”

“This is why Marquis Bratz…”

The voices lingered in his ears as if stretching. Beric’s eyes sparkled as he instinctively leaped. Like a beast receiving a signal and pouncing. Even the wooden sword seemed cumbersome, so he threw it away and reached out with his fist.

Thud!

“Aaaagh!”

“…?”

The man turned his head at the shout. What he faced was Beric, covered in blood, charging at him. For some reason, even though there wasn’t a single breeze, his hair fluttered.

Only Ian knew that it was the flow of mana.