Chapter 15

Reincarnated as a Sword Emperor in the Sword Clan (15)

As the one-on-one duel between the two individuals concluded with Leonard's victory, the outdoor training in the forest also came to an end. No one had anticipated this outcome. The 5th group, which had been treated like outcasts and belonged to no faction, had staged a shocking comeback. Even with some assistance from Leonard and No. 3, it would have been impossible for them to win if their skills had been subpar. Even the instructors wondered if they had been too focused on the numbers, and the trainees' surprise was bound to be even greater.

"Wow, you guys are really something!"

"Tch! If I hadn't been so exhausted..."

"Would you say that in a real battle? You have to admit it."

"Right. Even No. 25, we shouldn't judge by numbers alone."

The reactions of the children varied. Some were amazed by the 5th group's performance, others grumbled about their own defeat, and a few had their preconceptions shattered.

'...Although it deviated from our plan, it seems to have turned out even better.'

Ultimately, the purpose of this training was achieved excellently. Bruno, the senior instructor, stroked his mustache and looked at the children with a satisfied expression. The 5th group, who had been stagnant and lacked confidence, had regained their self-assurance, and the children who had become complacent due to a false sense of superiority had regained their drive, exceeding expectations.

'No. 1, William, seems to have learned something as well.'

William, who had been fixated on the top position as if possessed, smiled with a sense of relief after losing to No. 25. Those who do not know failure are more likely to be devastated. Even if they possess exceptional talent, they are more likely to be devastated because they believed their path was smooth. When that path suddenly collapses, it is as if the ground has given way beneath them. If this happens during training, there is still a chance to rise again, but in a real battle, such failure and despair can lead to death.

'This is all thanks to No. 25.'

As the primary contributor to this training, Bruno looked for No. 25, Leonard, but soon tilted his head in confusion. He couldn't find him among the children who were laughing and chatting loudly. There was no reason for them to be enjoying themselves without the main protagonist, No. 25.

Reading his expression, the instructor Colin whispered, "No. 25 went to meet the wolf."

"Oh, I see."

Although it was a short period, No. 25 had followed him so closely that he must have grown attached to the wolf like a pet. Despite his incredible sword skills, he still seemed like a child.

Thinking about it, this was a good opportunity. He had something to discuss with Leonard, the new No. 1, before returning to the mansion.

"Instructor Colin, once the children calm down, prepare to return. I've already called for the carriage."

"Understood."

"I'll be back after a short conversation with No. 25."

After delegating the remaining tasks to the instructors, Bruno walked into the forest with his hands behind his back. Despite not walking quickly, he covered several meters in one step and soon found the presence of No. 25.

"Oh."

Bruno couldn't help but be impressed when he found No. 25. Although No. 25 hadn't deliberately hidden himself, he had already turned to face Bruno, even though Bruno had tried to approach quietly. The report's claim that No. 25 "likely possesses heightened senses" was not exaggerated. His ability to withstand continuous attacks from No. 1, who used special abilities, also fit this context.

"No. 25, or should I call you No. 1 now?"

"Whatever you prefer."

"Then I'll call you No. 25. It's just that I'm used to calling William, or No. 1, and it doesn't come naturally."

Leonard nodded indifferently.

'He still has a mature personality for a child.'

Despite securing the position of No. 1, which signifies the strongest in this batch, he showed no interest in the title. His calm eyes and steady breathing did not match those of someone who had just been in a fierce battle.

"Hmm."

Bruno knew people like this. They had accumulated so much combat experience that they could build mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and they remained unperturbed in any situation. The first time he met the Red Dragon Knights of Cardenas, he felt as if he had entered the eye of a storm, a world of silence.

"Move, kid."

The smell of blood and the dense aura of death were so vivid that he had forgotten he was blocking their path. After that day, Bruno realized that the true power of Cardenas existed in a different realm, forged by blood and beyond the reach of talent, effort, and resources.

This made it even harder to understand.

'No. 25, is this child one of them? He has never wielded a real sword or stood on a battlefield. Is that even possible?'

Bruno was caught in a futile worry due to a misguided sense of goodness. However, Leonard did not wait for his silence.

"Senior Instructor?"

"Ah, sorry. I was distracted for a moment. Is this the wolf you tamed?"

Bruno, regaining his composure, feigned a different topic. He pretended to be looking at the wolf hiding behind Leonard, which trembled at his gaze.

'He's smart.'

The wolf had immediately hidden behind Leonard, realizing it couldn't win against Bruno.

After petting the wolf a few times on the nose,

"Yes, that's correct."

"Using the wolf to search for the scattered members of the 5th group and recruit them into the 6th group was excellent. You and No. 3 wouldn't have found half of them if you had searched on foot."

Leonard did not deny this, as it was the truth.

"Promise not to use the wolf to attack or threaten other trainees or use it as a bargaining chip. That was the agreement."

"I wasn't going to criticize that. I wanted to praise you. If you had exploited the rules, it would have been the instructors' fault for not foreseeing it."

"Thank you."

Bruno, having nothing else to say, chuckled.

"Where did you get the potion you gave to No. 3?"

"When I left the infirmary, the healer gave me a few bottles in case I got sick."

"You brought them with you. You are well-prepared."

Even for someone of Cardenas blood, a fracture doesn't heal in a few days. Without proper nutrition and potions, No. 3 would still be on crutches.

Bruno then asked a few more questions about things he didn't know or had doubts about, and listened to the answers. After hearing the whole story, he said,

"Are you not curious why I'm asking such detailed questions?"

"If there's a reason I need to know, you will tell me."

"Tsk, you're no fun."

Bruno clicked his tongue at Leonard's mature attitude but had no intention of hiding or dragging out his words.

"No. 25, I'm telling you this because you are the new No. 1 and need to know the information that comes with that number."

"Is No. 1 that important?"

"It is. Why do we assign numbers to the children in the training camp and encourage competition through differential treatment? Because there are benefits that come with higher numbers."

This didn't surprise Leonard much. The direct descendants, like No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4, knew about the outdoor training in advance. There were reasons for maintaining a high number despite the inconvenience.

Bruno continued,

"After this training, the children will be classified into several groups and enter the formal training program of Cardenas. The regions they can go to and the distribution of training resources will vary greatly based on their performance here. As the new No. 1, you will receive the best treatment."

"I see."

"Hmm, don't you think it's unfair? The direct descendants knew everything in advance and prepared, but the other trainees knew nothing."

It was obviously unfair.

Leonard, however, was not particularly affected by this. Life is rarely fair from start to finish, and most people who promise fairness are liars. Parents want their children to have a smoother future, and it's not strange to provide benefits to direct descendants with several times the potential of other trainees.

'It's a much healthier system than letting incompetent and deceitful scoundrels rise through connections.'

At least, he needed to prove his worth.

Leonard thought this.

"...You're mature. If you hear my explanation, you'll understand it even better."

Bruno, impressed by his perspective, added,

Even in the great and orderly house of Cardenas, it's impossible to completely eliminate favoritism and selfish desires. Therefore, the house established several rules to prohibit unauthorized assistance.

In other words, "authorized assistance" was not prohibited.

For example, informing the trainees of the training schedule a few days in advance.

Teaching them the significance of their assigned numbers.

Providing minor but helpful information.

This was a way to maintain a degree of fairness without completely blocking all assistance.

"There are also cases in the house's rules where a trainee, like you, who received no assistance, achieved a high number."

"...That's what you were asking about earlier?"

"Yes, I was trying to confirm if you had received any assistance. I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable."

"No, it's fine."

Bruno smiled and said,

"Since you're a collateral descendant and achieved No. 1 without any help, you will receive more than three times the training resources of the previous No. 1. Congratulations in advance."

"Thank you."

Leonard was slightly surprised by this.

Three times the training resources!

It meant that even the medicinal herbs would be three times the quantity or quality. It was a reward that could satisfy even the children who were discontent with the benefits of the direct descendants.

Bruno, adding a few more explanations, turned to leave,

"Senior Instructor?"

"Hmm?"

"What about the wolf?"

At Leonard's question, Bruno, who had just started to see him as a child, laughed.

"Hahaha! Did you grow attached to it?"

"Well, it was cute. And I owe it a lot."

"Don't worry. It will stay here as a guardian of the forest. It won't be disposed of."

Relieved by this answer, Leonard asked,

"Can you give me a little more time before we leave the forest?"

Bruno readily agreed.

"Don't take too long. It wouldn't do to dampen the mood of today's hero."

"I understand."

Nodding at Leonard's words, Bruno left at a faster pace than when he arrived.

Leonard watched him disappear from view and turned around. The wolf, which had been cowering, stood up and wagged its tail. However, its eyes were moist.

"Do you not want to part ways?"

The wolf barked in response.

Although it had not been a long time, the wolf had come to think of Leonard as family in just a few days.

The pure affection of an animal, more so than a human.

Even Leonard, usually stoic, was momentarily moved by the wolf's pitiful gaze.

"I'm sorry. I can't take you with me now."

Leonard ruffled the wolf's fur as it bowed its head.

"I will become stronger. If you want to meet me again and travel with me, you must become stronger too."

One day, he would leave this house and venture into the world. By then, Leonard would be much stronger, and the journey would be one that the wolf, raised for the purpose of training, could not follow.

So this promise had almost no chance of being kept.

"If you become strong enough to follow me on that journey, I will give you a name myself."

Leonard placed his hand on the wolf's forehead and closed his eyes.

Ling Shou Chu Yang Zhen Jue (灵兽畜养真诀)

The secret technique of the Southern Beast Palace, a cultivation method to imprint on the body of a spirit beast.

It required channeling inner energy into the wolf's body, which was a significant burden, especially for someone who had not yet accumulated inner energy.

"..."

Swallowing the blood rising in his throat, Leonard imprinted the flow of the Ling Shou Chu Yang Zhen Jue into the wolf's body.

He repeated the flow of energy several times until the wolf could guide the energy on its own.

The Southern Beast Palace was not foolish and did not use this method on all animals. It was meaningless unless the animal had the intelligence of a spirit beast.

And then,

"Success."

Surprisingly, the wolf, after five small cycles, perfectly remembered the flow and continued to circulate energy smoothly even after Leonard removed his hand. The wolf's intelligence was superior to that of most spirit beasts.

Woof! Woof!

Feeling the power surging through its body, the wolf leaped and bounded in place. Its jumping ability had nearly doubled.

Considering it had just begun, the wolf's combat ability would soon reach the level of a low-grade spirit beast, capable of killing one alone.

"Do not become lazy or arrogant. Train diligently. If you become tainted by your wild nature or the taste of blood, I will kill you myself."

Woof!

The wolf barked strongly, as if to say, "Don't worry."

Leonard smiled and turned away.

The wolf watched him leave, and when he was out of sight, it raised its head and howled long and loud.

Auuuuuuu——…!

The two "human wolves" parted ways, hoping for a reunion that might never come.