Chapter 7

Reincarnated as the Sword Emperor in the Sword Family (7)

The training ground fell silent for a moment.

It was because the atmosphere between Leonard, who stood straight and looked at the senior instructor, and the senior instructor who met his gaze was peculiar.

It seemed like the senior instructor was about to shout, "Arrogant brat!" However, the senior instructor was one of the top three strongest in this training camp. His experience was incomparable to that of the young ones.

His keen insight, honed from training thousands of blood relatives, pierced through Leonard to some extent.

'This child is neither arrogant nor overly confident...'

Despite the attention of the senior instructor, other instructors, and hundreds of students, there was not a hint of wavering.

He was as calm as a mirror or still water.

It felt similar to when he saw the leaders of the Cardenas military groups, who had reached the pinnacle of strength and became ordinary.

However, even the senior instructor couldn't fully trust his intuition.

'No, that's going too far. Still, it's clear that this child is on a different level from the blood relatives he has encountered so far.'

Senior instructor Bruno stroked his mustache and thought.

'If I assign an instructor to protect him, there won't be much danger, and I can see his potential. It will also be a stimulus for the other students. As a variable, he's excellent.'

A strong person can't be raised in a greenhouse.

Even with formidable physical abilities and vast aura, collapsing in front of weaker opponents is what real combat and a proper battlefield are like.

The ability to control variables that can be advantageous or disadvantageous to oneself is essential. This outdoor training was also designed to break the mold of students who had only mastered textbook basics.

Bruno, having reached a final conclusion, spoke.

"Alright!"

The instructors and trainees were surprised and looked at him.

Only Leonard seemed to have expected this.

"If you were arrogant, I would have injured you and made you join a random team. If you were overly confident, I would have dropped you deep in the forest. But you are neither!"

It was natural.

Surviving in a simulated forest with no real threats, where the only dangerous creatures were minor, was nothing compared to the real world.

The Northern Sea, a hundred miles of barren snowy plains; the Poison Mountain in the Southern Barbarian region, where even the Tangmen of Sichuan couldn't survive without antidotes; the Superhot Desert, a fortress-like barrier.

Sword Emperor Lian Wuxie had broken through all these without faltering.

There was no room for arrogance.

'Just because his body is a bit weaker, it doesn't mean he can't handle it.'

Leonard ended up being the sole member of Team 6, drawing all the attention of the trainees as they moved into the forest.

Number 1 was visibly irritated by the attention, while Number 2 watched with a smile. Numbers 3 and 4, who were commanding the formation, kept glancing at him.

Leonard, with his sensitive senses, felt all these gazes and sighed deeply.

'I hope they don't bother me too much in the forest.'

It was a truly modest hope.

* * *

"From here is the entrance to the forest!"

The trainees had marched for almost an hour before reaching the forest where the outdoor training would take place.

Leonard, feeling the vastness of the Cardenas estate, was rarely impressed. On this scale, even the imperial palace of the Central Continent would be considered a wealthy neighborhood compared to Cardenas.

The number of buildings and people he had seen on the way was staggering, and among them were several strong individuals that even the former Sword Emperor Lian Wuxie couldn't ignore.

'They truly deserve to be called the strongest sword family on the continent.'

His competitive spirit kept boiling, disrupting his calm.

A fierce determination burned in his breath.

However, the thoughts of the people who saw this were different.

"...He only wavered a little after facing the forest. Is he still just a child?"

"He has lived in the mansion all his life. He might have gained knowledge from books or stories, but applying it in real combat is another matter."

The senior instructor and instructor, Bruno and Gerard, exchanged words.

"But he's still bold. Some instructors might not have noticed his waver."

"He's a completely different person after visiting the infirmary. The Owls seem to have even checked if he's a spy."

Bruno's eyes narrowed slightly at this.

"What was the result?"

"White. Not a single stain."

"Good. I won't have to cut down a child with my own hands."

"Since five years ago, the checks have been even more thorough."

Five years ago, a few distant relatives of the Cardenas family, who had been overlooked, were recruited by a foreign country and sent their children as spies.

Naturally, the result was not good.

It was impossible for the Cardenas, a den of dragons and tigers, to miss them. The knights discovered the parents and their backers through the children and mercilessly shed blood.

The children involved in the treason-like situation couldn't escape the responsibility.

"I don't want to talk about that day anymore."

Bruno shook his head a few times and turned his gaze.

He looked at the distant sky and gave instructions.

"The sun will set in three hours. Let's get all the children inside before then."

"Understood."

Gerard gave a light nod and jumped onto the platform in front of where the children were gathered.

"Attention!"

His booming voice focused the trainees.

"From now on, each team will receive camping supplies and instructions from their team leader, and enter the forest in the order of the smallest team size! The smallest team, Team 6, will enter 15 minutes from now! Understood?"

"““Yes, Instructor!””"

The reason for entering in the order of the smallest team size was simple.

The more people there are, the more resources and territory they can claim. So, giving the smaller teams a head start helps them secure resources.

However, this head start wasn't absolute.

"In the forest, you are allowed to fight with trainees from other teams and take their resources or badges! If you submit these badges to the instructors stationed at designated locations, you will receive points that can be exchanged for food or tools! Naturally, the higher the badge number, the more points you receive!"

The rules that encouraged the trainees to compete.

Upon hearing this, the team leaders' expressions changed.

On the surface, the larger Team 1 seemed to have an advantage, but it also meant they had more badges and points to lose.

There were no rules prohibiting alliances or cooperation between teams.

Eliminating the most dangerous opponents first and then deciding the winner was a possibility.

"Hmph! Let the weaklings try to band together. I will win!"

Absolute confidence, even against three opponents!

Number 1 glared at Numbers 2, 3, and 4 without flinching. The three team leaders met his gaze without fear.

Only Team 5 held their breath, afraid to offend them.

Without a strong leader, they were destined to be prey.

'They're giving more supplies than usual for survival training. Survival in the wild is secondary; the main focus is on the competition among the trainees.'

Regardless, Leonard was sorting through the camping supplies he received, separating what he would use from what he wouldn't.

A one-person tent was unnecessary.

"Number 25, you're not using a tent?"

"Yes."

"...You'll have to bear the consequences of your decision."

"Of course."

The instructor, seeing his sorting, tried to interfere but backed off due to Leonard's firm attitude.

Leonard stopped only after removing nearly half the contents of the backpack he initially received. Essential items like emergency medicine and flint were kept, while perishable food and heavy tools were mostly discarded.

'This should be manageable to carry.'

He had considered the items he could carry, given his current physique.

Even with the Cardenas bloodline, being greedy with this body would be problematic. Moderation is key. What he needed most was to find a way to survive in the forest.

At that moment,

"Can I have a word with you?"

A boy, Number 4, who had been making obvious movements behind him, approached with a smile.

Unlike Numbers 1 and 2, he had an ordinary appearance.

Neither handsome nor ugly, with thin glasses framing his eyes and a gentle smile that seemed to hang like a still life. His polite formal speech made him seem even more mild-mannered.

Leonard nodded slightly, inviting him to speak.

"Hehe, thank you. You're quite reserved, aren't you? Then, the proposal I have will surely appeal to you."

"If you're asking me to join your side..."

"No, not exactly. Well, not entirely."

Number 4, cutting off Leonard's rejection, continued with an awkward smile.

"Number 25 dislikes being disturbed, right? If you just put your name on my faction, I'll prevent other factions from interfering with you. You don't even need to help me or fight with me."

Leonard inwardly smirked at this.

It felt familiar, like the eels he had seen in the Zhuge family.

They would lower your guard with their smiling faces and weak appearance, then stab you in the back. Compared to those snake-like individuals, this boy's disguise was lacking.

'You're trying to use me to boost your value and join the winning faction. Then, when I leave, you'll deny everything and blame it on me.'

His experience in the martial world allowed him to easily see through Number 4's schemes, but he had no intention of exposing the details. It would only raise the other's guard.

So, Leonard, like the Sword Emperor Lian Wuxie, responded with a straightforward and brutal approach.

"Get lost."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't trust someone with just a silver tongue. If you deny it, let's have a match here."

The trainees, who had been eavesdropping, were shocked.

Who would challenge a direct descendant to a match, especially right before the outdoor training began!

Yet, they felt their blood boil for some reason.

It was the warrior's instinct they had never consciously recognized.

"You are...arrogant."

And for the first time, a crack appeared in Number 4's gentle face.

"I understand why Number 1 dislikes you. It's a kind of kinship hatred. But you're not as strong as Number 1."

"Don't pretend to know everything. You lack confidence, judging by how you only use your tongue."

"You'll regret this."

"Make me regret it."

Number 4, grinding his teeth, drew his wooden sword.

The instructors watched without intervening.

Under the gaze of hundreds, Number 4 swung his wooden sword at Leonard's neck.

A straightforward horizontal slash.

Clang!

Leonard's wooden sword, drawn at some point, blocked it.

Attack and defense.

It was a single exchange, but Number 4's eyes widened as he muttered.

"H...How?"

Most trainees were confused, but some trainees and instructors were recalling the sense of unease they had just felt.

Leonard, who had been the first to recognize the source of the unease, smiled happily.

The abilities of the direct blood relatives were all fascinating.

'This guy's ability is interesting. It didn't interfere with my cognitive abilities; it seemed to ride the natural flow.'

Like water flowing or wind passing by.

A truly natural attack.

'Number 2 might be able to counter it, but if you let your guard down, you could be hit hard once.'

A force that makes you stand still and take the hit, even when a sword is drawn in front of you, undetectable by the opponent's cognitive abilities.

A legend in the killing industry, akin to the realm of Wu Sha (無殺), where one kills without killing intent or murderous aura. The seemingly non-threatening appearance might also be a derivative of this power.

I want to face it after proper growth.

Leonard thought this and sheathed his wooden sword. He then whispered to the demoralized Number 4.

"Don't rely too much on that ability."

"...What?"

"If you focus more on swordsmanship instead of relying on tactics, you have a good chance against Numbers 1 and 2."

Number 4's eyes widened at this sincere advice.

"Wait, just a moment...!"

But Leonard, already shouldering his backpack, had started to enter the forest.

Fifteen minutes had passed.

"Team 6, enter! And Team 5 will enter 15 minutes later!"

Leonard disappeared into the forest without looking back.

Number 4, watching his back, felt something small burning inside him for the first time.

Inferiority? No.

Defeat? No.

It was different from what he felt from Numbers 1 and 2.

'I don't know what it is.'

But it wasn't a bad feeling.

Even though his sword was blocked by a distant relative, Number 4 turned with a slightly clearer expression.

The wooden sword in his hand didn't want to fall.

As if supporting a once-broken heart.

'I will meet you again in the forest, Number 25.'

By then, he would know what this burning feeling in his chest was.

Number 4 thought this.