Chapter 11

Reincarnated as a Sword Emperor in the Sword Clan (11)

Number 3 woke up without realizing how much time had passed, and when she realized she was in a different place from where she had collapsed, she furrowed her brows. She was aware of how vulnerable she had been.

Compared to other trainees, her senses were quite sharp, yet she had not woken up even once during the move.

Number 3 clicked her tongue and then felt a strange sensation in her left arm.

“Huh?”

Her left arm was wrapped in white bandages, and inside was the touch of a wooden stick. Although she had never received such first aid before, she knew it was some form of treatment.

It must have been Number 25 who did it, but where had he gone?

“Are you awake?”

“Ah!”

Number 3 was startled by the voice from behind her.

“Why don't you make any noise when you move!”

“Isn't it strange to make noise in this situation?”

“...Is that so?”

Upon reflection, Number 25 was right.

Number 3 became curious about where he had gone, but then she noticed something in her hand and asked.

“Did you go to prepare something?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn't you do it here?”

Leonard answered, thinking she was still a child.

“Blood and the smell of entrails would attract animals or insects. It would also increase the likelihood of others discovering this place.”

“Oh.”

Number 3 realized how foolish her question had been. She buried her face between her knees, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. It took quite a while for the color to return to her face.

Squish.

Regardless, Leonard skewered the well-prepared rabbit meat on a sharpened stick and placed it around the campfire at regular intervals.

It was their dinner for the night.

At the sight of it, Number 3's stomach growled.

‘I'm hungry... Come to think of it, I haven't eaten for over a day.’

She had to abandon everything that would weigh her down while fleeing from Number 1. Thinking about the food she had left at the campsite, which would now be eaten by someone from Team 1, made her feel dejected.

Although they had only been living in the forest for a week, she had come to deeply understand the value of food and water.

Being defeated and having her arm treated, asking for food as well—.

“Eat.”

Leonard handed her two well-cooked skewers.

Number 3's hesitation was completely ignored, and there was no sense that he was trying to make her feel indebted.

For a girl who had always seen everyone as an enemy, this indifferent care was unfamiliar.

Of course, Leonard was just giving food to a hungry child.

“Is it okay...?”

“Yeah.”

Number 3, with a face flushed from the campfire, took a bite of the rabbit meat.

Munch.

Compared to the food she had eaten in the mansion's dining room, it was quite rough, but her empty stomach greedily accepted it. Before she knew it, the two skewers were left with only the bare sticks.

“If you're still hungry, you can have more.”

Without further hesitation, Number 3 picked up another skewer.

She could feel her stomach, which had felt like it was stuck to her back, starting to fill up.

With her hunger satisfied, things she hadn't noticed before came into view.

“Is this your living place?”

“Yeah.”

Leonard took a sip of water from his canteen and spat it out to remove the smell and oil from his mouth. He then patted the wolf lying at his feet and said,

“It was this guy's home before I came.”

The wolf, realizing it was being talked about, barked briefly.

Bang!

Number 3 still had many questions, but she realized she hadn't said a word about herself.

Number 25 had defeated her in their fight.

He had treated her arm and given her food.

Continuing to receive such care was not to her liking in many ways.

“Our Team 3 was ambushed by Team 1 and almost completely wiped out.”

She blurted out the story without any context, but Leonard only nodded.

Feeling relieved by his reaction, Number 3 continued.

“I managed to subdue a few scouts who approached the campsite, but before we could prepare for Team 1, Number 1 brought the whole team and attacked. We were too complacent.”

As a team leader, the bitter defeat stung, and her words were self-critical.

However, Leonard didn't think it was entirely Number 3's fault.

‘They are all beginners, inexperienced in both group combat and real battles. In such a situation, the side that takes the initiative and controls the situation has a clear advantage.’

Even in a fistfight between people who know nothing, the one who decides to attack first has the advantage. Striking first puts one in a superior position.

Especially when ambushed by a force twice their size, even a great commander would suffer significant losses.

‘The best response for Number 3 in that situation would have been to retreat as quickly as possible with all of Team 3.’

While a larger force means more combat power, it also means more burden.

The marching speed decreases, and more resources are consumed.

If Team 3 had retreated to a distant location or dispersed and regrouped elsewhere after dealing with Team 1's scouts, Number 1's bold decision would have been in vain.

‘If they could have done that in their first battle without any strategic training, even Han Xin would have to admit defeat.’

If they were properly trained soldiers, they could have set traps or moved to advantageous terrain to set up defensive formations.

But for mid-teenagers who had only received physical training and swordsmanship, it was not possible.

“Was your left arm injured by Number 1?”

“...Yeah.”

Number 3 looked down at her splinted left arm and said,

“I was overwhelmed even when fighting with Number 6 and Number 7. That guy is on a different level compared to Number 2.”

Despite this, the determination in her eyes did not waver.

As a distant relative, she had climbed to Number 3, and if she had been willing to give up just because her opponent was strong, she wouldn't have made it this far.

‘A fine warrior indeed.’

Leonard smiled faintly, satisfied with her resolve.

In the martial world, there were many geniuses like Sword Emperor Lian Wuhuo, and many who had extraordinary luck. But except for the Demon Horse Duan Mu Jin, no one had ever truly defeated the Sword Emperor.

Never forget your competitive spirit, no matter who you face, and never lose your drive for improvement, no matter where you are.

This was the principle he had followed all his life, learned from the only person he could call a teacher.

‘However, the situation for Team 1 has become a bit troublesome. If things continue like this, the other two teams won't be able to inflict significant damage on Team 1 and will be swept away.’

In his past life, Lian Wuhuo was the descendant of a great general who once ruled a country. Even after the family's decline, there were many books passed down that covered not only martial arts but also strategy and governance.

He knew that anything that could be a source of power was worth studying, and that knowledge would find its use.

The same applied now.

‘Teams 2 and 4 would have formed an alliance upon hearing this news. With a reduced number due to the conflict with Team 3, they would have a slight advantage or at least be on equal footing with Team 1.’

However, Team 1, having experienced a victory and boosted morale, would be a formidable opponent in a direct confrontation.

For Teams 2 and 4 to have a chance, they would need to use the terrain and tactical formations to ambush Team 1. In a fight between beginners, the side that takes the initiative has a higher chance of winning.

The problem was that Number 1, being the strongest among the direct descendants, would not be unaware of this.

With his superior senses and cognitive abilities, he would see through any low-level traps or ambushes.

‘If they drag it out, Team 1, having stolen a large number of badges from Team 3, would have a significant advantage. Teams 2 and 4 would need to attack Team 1 before that happens.’

The only option left for the combined forces of Teams 2 and 4 was to eliminate the leader, Number 1, who was both the strength and the weakness of Team 1. Led by Number 2 and Number 4, they would need to take advantage of the chaos to focus their attack on Number 1.

Team 1, relying on the charisma of one person, would collapse as soon as he was eliminated.

‘If all three teams end up in a state of disarray, I could take them all down by myself. But that's too good to be true. The winning side would remain strong and continue to eliminate the remaining trainees in the forest.’

Even with Leonard's skills, it would be difficult to take down that many people without any inner strength.

He could subdue them with fear by causing serious injuries or deaths, but that wouldn't be appropriate for children and would certainly result in punishment from the instructors.

Is there a way to turn the tables while following the rules of the outdoor training?

The answer came quickly.

Yes.

“—It's troublesome, but better than losing to those kids.”

“Huh? What did you just say?”

Number 3 perked up her ears at the faint voice.

Leonard looked her straight in the eyes and asked,

“Number 3, do you want to get back at Number 1?”

“Of course! But...”

Knowing her own limitations, she barely managed to swallow the words that were about to come out.

Leonard nodded once, understanding her.

“I'm not saying you should fight him one-on-one. I mean, let's give Number 1, who destroyed your team, the same treatment.”

“Destroy Team 1? How?”

With the strongest numbers and resources, how could just two of them take on Team 1?

Looking at her with a doubtful eye, Leonard said calmly,

“Whether you believe me or not is up to you. If you accept my proposal, you will be part of Team 6 from today.”

Changing teams during the outdoor training was not impossible.

Recruiting or causing members of other teams to defect was a strategic variable.

Number 3 closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and answered,

“Can I call you team leader from now on?”

Her intuition, which had never betrayed her since childhood, pointed unwaveringly to him.

* * *

A few more days passed.

“Indeed, the marching speed is slow.”

Number 1 looked at the cautious formation advancing according to his orders with a dissatisfied expression.

Having become the strongest force in the forest after a decisive victory, Team 1 could not be defeated in a frontal battle. Teams 2 and 4 would know this and try their best to catch them off guard.

To prevent this, they had to advance like this.

“After all, time is on our side. As long as we maintain this state, victory is certain.”

“I know. That's why I'm not saying much.”

As Number 5 said, they avoided unfavorable terrain and gradually encroached on the areas where Teams 2 and 4 were likely to be active.

The reconnaissance range of Team 1, which had even created a crude map of the forest, was gradually expanding. It wouldn't take long to find and stop the other teams if they stayed in their bases.

“Huh.”

At that moment, the bored expression vanished, and a fierce smile appeared on Number 1's face.

Seeing this change, Number 5 raised his wooden sword high and halted the advance of Team 1.

“Stop! Stop!”

“““Stop!”””

The order was immediately relayed to over a hundred children, and Team 1 immediately entered a combat-ready state.

The swift response was due to Number 1's intense charisma, which made them truly believe that following his orders would lead to victory!

“Lowering your body to recognize superiority is good, but—”

Number 1 took a step forward from his spot and glared into the shaded forest, as if someone was hiding beyond it.

“Why don't you declare your surrender first?”

Number 1's voice echoed, and the forest, which had momentarily fallen silent, was soon filled with rustling sounds.

Dozens, perhaps even over a hundred, people emerged, breaking through leaves, branches, and piles of dirt.

On the left and right.

The two groups of trainees were clearly from Teams 2 and 4.

“Caught us. You have a good nose for a lion, don't you?”

Number 2, as always, stepped forward with a carefree air.

“Hmph! If you're at the top, looking down is easy. If you don't know that, you don't deserve to stand before me.”

“Can you say that even if I push your face into the ground?”

“Don't talk big if you can't back it up. It makes you look cheap.”

“I don't know when being cocky became the same as having class.”

Number 1, unfazed by Number 2's taunts, smiled and drew his wooden sword.

“I'll praise you for ending the tedious waiting. This is the battle to decide who will stand at the peak of this training. Come at me with all your strength, without holding back!”

Number 2, similarly raising her wooden sword, said,

“I was going to do that anyway. Attack!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the trainees from Teams 2 and 4 charged forward amidst a cloud of dust.

Team 1 members responded in unison.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, Number 1 was focused only on Number 2, who was approaching him.

“5, I'll leave the command to you.”

“Understood.”

Number 1 took a few steps toward her.

The two team leaders met quickly.

“You're still as talented. To weave through the gaps in this number so skillfully.”

Number 2 had not fought anyone on her way to Number 1.

She moved leisurely, as if on a stroll, passing through the blind spots of everyone.

Her target had always been one person.

“Shall we begin?”

“Let's.”

In response to Number 2's words, Number 1 raised his wooden sword to the upper position.

His already intense presence swelled several times over, causing even the children fighting nearby to pause.

If Leonard had seen this, he would have highly praised the ability to do this without any inner strength.

However, Number 2 was no pushover.

“Do you like showing off in front of others? A peacock suits you better than a lion.”

“Call it authority, not showmanship.”

Number 2's wooden sword, in contrast to Number 1's, was lowered to the lower position.

A defensive stance, but one that was ready to counterattack.

The two stood in completely opposite stances, each taking a step to find a slightly advantageous position.

And then.

Crack!

Number 1, before Number 2, kicked off the ground and charged.