Chapter 14. Training Ground

The commotion at the noble couple's castle did not subside until dawn. As a result, the next morning, only Chel and Ian appeared in the dining room. Chel, entering with a tired body, hesitated and rolled his eyes.

"Brother. Good morning."

"......"

Ian greeted first, but there was no response. It was unclear why Father and Mother were absent.

"The two of you are unusually late today. We'll start eating first. Please sit down."

Even facing each other was uncomfortable, and now he was being asked to eat? Was there something to choke on this morning? As Chel tried to sneak away, Ian caught him with a low voice.

"Should I pull out your chair for you?"

"No, no. It's not that."

Chel, fumbling for an excuse, resignedly sat down. Just last week, it was Ian who was the one groveling. It was unclear how the situation had reversed so dramatically.

'Then, those golden eyes... what were they...?'

Could it be a curse? Did Father plant a curse in Ian's body to destroy the Tianli clan and send him off? All sorts of wild imaginations stemming from ignorance swirled in Chel's mind.

Ian looked at him steadily while eating salad.

"Brother."

"......Hmm?"

"From what I saw yesterday, you seem to be quite weak. Do you have any special training?"

Training? Chel often feigned illness to skip the physical training at school. There was no way he would move on his own.

Ian suggested with a seemingly worried tone.

"From what I saw yesterday, both you and I are in poor shape. Since we are the only children of the Derga family, I'm very concerned about what the Tianli clan might think."

Perhaps sensing something ominous, Chel slowly put down his knife. Ian, smiling, tidied up his utensils.

"So, how about we go to the training ground together?"

Chel gasped in shock.

The training ground? The place where soldiers swing swords and spears?

"Father would be pleased if you suggested it. He would surely praise it as fitting for the next viscount."

In fact, Derga was very worried. Given the quasi-war state with the Tianli clan, it was important for the heirs to show strength, but Chel, as the first son, was far from that.

Therefore, the viscount's chosen method was to enhance the authority of the captain. Deo was one of the beneficiaries of this.

"That... that might be so..."

Chel, who hated running as much as he hated wielding a sword, was thinking about how to refuse. But Ian quickly seized the opportunity.

"Alright. Then let's go see the training ground after breakfast. I heard it's right outside the back gate of the mansion."

"After breakfast, right away?"

"Why? Are you going to skip it?"

Eat something first or go on an empty stomach? It was a choice. Chel, clenching his mouth, glanced resentfully at the empty seats of his parents.

Ian, as always, ate his portion of food. There would be quite a bit left over today.

* * *

The training ground, visible right after exiting the back gate of the mansion.

It was an old building, used by ancestors long ago, but the gray walls, which still exuded the might of the army, were impressive. The flags of the Barial Kingdom and the Bratz family flapped proudly in the wind.

"Deo."

"Master Chel?"

Upon entering the training ground, they found Deo half-lying on a bench. He was clearly still using his injury as an excuse to skip training.

Surprised by the unexpected visit of the two boys, Deo got up.

"What brings you here?"

"We're here to take a look at the training ground."

"Master? Why?"

In response to Deo's question, Ian, standing behind, stepped forward. His attitude was not just disrespectful but also insolent.

"Why is it so unusual for the young viscount to come to the training ground?"

"It's the first time."

"Feeling the lack of stamina from yesterday's outing, I wish to train together from now on. I think I should be able to protect myself even if the guard gets drunk and passes out."

It was a scolding for Deo, who had collapsed after drinking wine at the mansion. For Ian, it was fortunate, but Deo was still negligent in his duties.

The man chuckled and ran his tongue over his black teeth.

'What's gotten into him all of a sudden?'

For Deo, this was not a welcome change.

There was a small chance, but if Chel showed interest and talent in martial arts, some of the captain's authority would surely be limited.

Well, given his young age and plump build, it didn't seem like there was much to worry about...

"Yes. Then follow me. It's not that difficult to look around."

Deo walked leisurely in front. Inside the spacious area, soldiers were training freely. Most were shirtless, swinging swords or carrying cart wheels, exuding a raw and rugged feel.

"Uaaaaah!"

"One more time!"

"Push! Harder!"

"Uaaaaah!"

They were gathered for individual training. The atmosphere was intense, with shouts breaking out everywhere. Chel tried to maintain his composure but looked very uncomfortable.

"This is the largest training ground. Over there is the warehouse, and behind it is the lounge. When training overnight, you can stay in the lounge. Hmm. And..."

While listening to Deo's explanation, which clearly showed his annoyance, Ian looked around the inside. In a corner, young men were lying down with their heads on the ground.

"What are they doing over there?"

Unlike the mostly adult soldiers, they looked young. They couldn't be older than eighteen. Deo replied indifferently.

"They are orphans."

"Orphans?"

The Bratz family, struggling to pay taxes, could not possibly run an orphanage. The only way for orphans without guardians to survive on the streets was to become soldiers of Derga. The army provided food and a place to sleep.

Deo chuckled.

"If you had been unlucky, you would have seen me here, Lord Ian."

Rude, but not wrong.

This body, a bastard with a commoner mother, was of a background that wouldn't be surprising if abandoned. If that were the case, Ian would have ended up here as well.

"What do you think, Brother? How do you feel about it?"

At Ian's question, Chel's face stiffened.

"Deo, don't say such things."

Please, stop saying such disrespectful things to Ian.

What would happen if those golden eyes appeared again? It was a scolding based on fear, but Deo frowned as if surprised.

At that moment, a commotion broke out in the middle of the training ground under the scorching sun.

"Get your head down properly!"

Swish!

A thin whip was swung mercilessly by a man who seemed to be an instructor. Red marks were clearly visible on the children's arms, backs, and thighs.

'Child soldiers and abuse. He's completely mad.'

What was wrong with Derga? This was something Ian couldn't even imagine. In the Barial Kingdom, where he had been emperor, child soldiers only appeared when the country was on the brink of collapse.

Ian, wanting to alleviate the children's suffering even for a moment, called out to Deo.

"Deo, if you had been unlucky, they would have been your comrades. Let's call them over to the shade for a bit, at least to encourage them."

"Really? Are you serious?"

"Do I have to say it twice?"

"That's not possible. Even if the viscount comes, training cannot be stopped. It's a policy for discipline, understand?"

Discipline, my ass. Ian, instead of answering, sat on a nearby bench and watched. He intended to call them over and check on them as soon as the damned training ended. Chel, hesitantly, sat at the edge.

"Uaaaaah!"

"Can't do it properly? Do you want to starve?"

"No! I can do it!"

"Raise your arms straight!"

"Ahahaha!"

The screams were heart-wrenching. They were loud enough to be heard over the surrounding training sounds. One by one, the bodies, supported only by their heads with their arms behind them, began to fall to the side.

"Hold on!"

One child, in particular, caught Ian's eye.

His red hair was tied up loosely, and the eyes visible between the strands were far from ordinary. They were filled with pure malice, as if he was seeing the world through that malice.

"That child..."

Ian spoke without realizing it.

Red hair and eyes. He was lean, and despite his body trembling, he was holding on until the end.

Following Ian's gaze, Deo replied with a bored tone.

"Berick."

He didn't have any particularly outstanding physical abilities. But he was so tenacious that even the instructors would shake their heads in amazement. In a selection battle, he faced an opponent nearly twice his size and won by biting off his ear. Of course, he was punished with