Chapter 9

3. Enlistment (2)

Perhaps because he had rolled around enthusiastically when he first entered the training camp, there were no more foolish kids around.

Since he would immediately roll around the moment he relaxed even a little, he was always on edge when training began.

Would they let him relax once the training was over?

No, they didn’t. To prevent the discipline from slipping, they pushed the kids relentlessly, leaving no time for rest, and the children's expressions gradually soured.

"Stand at attention!"

"You're slouching. Do it again!"

"Get up! You brat!"

Because of the instructors who came to beat them up from morning till night, they always fell asleep tense and had to quickly straighten their bedding when they woke up.

This was an important element that reminded them every day that they were in the military.

However, it wasn't just about pushing them relentlessly.

The instructors were cunning and sometimes used the sweet reward of rest to boost the children's enthusiasm.

"If you capture the flag from the occupying force, you get a day off tomorrow."

"Yaaaaah!"

"Kill them!"

"Get the flag first!"

"Block them, and you get a day off tomorrow! Block them! Block them at all costs!"

Dividing them into occupying and opposing forces, they made them fight to capture the flag, teaching them basic combat skills while also improving their understanding of mountainous terrain.

While doing all this training, Jaden was impressed by how well-organized the training methods of the Northern Army were, which were more systematic than modern training in some aspects. They seemed to have set the children's limits well and adjusted the difficulty of the training accordingly.

"The occupying force has captured the flag, so the trainees of the occupying force get a day off tomorrow."

"Yaaaaah!"

"We get a day off tomorrow!"

"I'm going to sleep all day."

"Me too!"

The children talked about what they would do the next day, each with a smile on their face. Jaden, too, was genuinely happy about the day off and seriously pondered his schedule for the next day.

"1223!"

"Why?"

"What are you going to do tomorrow?"

"I don't know... I haven't decided yet. Maybe play chess?"

"Can you play?"

"Of course."

When Jaden nodded as if it were obvious, the child next to him lit up and said:

"Teach me too."

"Me too!"

Hearing this, the children nearby who wanted to play chess came to Jaden and asked him to teach them.

There were very limited activities they could do in the training camp.

Someone had crudely made a chessboard and pieces from wood, and they played chess with it.

The instructors knew about the old chess pieces passed down among the trainees but didn't particularly restrict them, as these small things were necessary to keep the children from getting too tired.

The next day, except for being woken up early by the instructor and meal times, they were left alone. Jaden taught chess to his team members and took a comfortable rest.

'It's a bit disappointing that I can't do sword training.'

In a communal life where everyone did everything together, it wasn't possible for him to do sword training alone.

Actually, for Jaden, who was at the second stage, the training camp's training wasn't very helpful.

Even the occasional intense training that was hard for a child's body wasn't particularly difficult for Jaden, who had awakened his magic.

The instructors must have known this, but they didn't single him out for special training. The reason was to instill a sense of community.

If they gave special treatment to magic awakeners from the start, it could create a divide among the trainees and make the magic awakeners feel entitled.

Therefore, at least during the basic training, they were forced to do the same training and act the same way.

After about a month of rigorous training in military common sense, drill training, and physical training, they also trained in night watch and basic night surveillance methods.

'Seeing that there's no camping or marching, they must have considered the children's needs.'

To avoid the 30km march or unreasonable camping in the mountains, they seemed to have replaced it with training on the parade ground as much as possible.

Of course, it wasn't easy.

Although they made sure the children slept regularly and ate regularly to grow normally, the training itself was quite intense.

Because the training was so intense, when they judged that the children had built up a certain level of physical strength, the physical training gradually decreased, and they were given a full day off.

The next morning, they gathered all the children on the parade ground.

With over a thousand trainees gathered, the parade ground was packed.

"Today is the day to determine whether you have awakened your magic. Those who have awakened their magic, raise your hands and come forward."

Among the nearly 1,500 children, fewer than fifty had awakened their magic by the age of nine.

Awakening magic at such a young age was a kind of talent.

Even if a family supported a child after identifying their magic talent, it was common for children to awaken their magic in 2nd or 3rd grade at the academy, and even then, it depended on luck.

Moreover, out of ten people, only about two had magic talent, so magic awakening was considered a talent.

"Follow me."

One of the instructors led Jaden and the other magic awakeners to a special building.

"This is where we determine whether you have awakened your magic. If anyone has lied, I will forgive you if you come forward now. Raise your hands honestly."

When no one raised their hands, the instructor nodded and headed to the device that detected magic.

"Go in there."

The children went in one by one into a small glass tube.

If the magic awakening was false, a red light would turn on; if the awakening was real but didn't meet the military's standards, a yellow light would turn on; if the awakening was normal, a blue light would turn on.

Fortunately, no one's red light turned on, but the problem was that the yellow light turned on for about a dozen children.

"Even if the yellow light turns on, there's no need to be disappointed. You are still talented."

The instructor, encouraging the children, said to Jaden and the others whose blue lights turned on:

"You need additional tests. Follow me."

About thirty children followed the instructor to a special training room.

"There are more than I expected."

"Yes, please do the tests well."

"Sure."

After the knight and the instructor bowed to each other, the knight lifted a heavy iron sword.

"From now on, you will come out one by one and fight with this iron sword. The one at the front, come out."

The child at the front, tense, picked up the iron sword modified for children and came out. At the knight's command to attack, he swung the sword with all his might, using the speed and strength that seemed impossible for a child, thanks to the swordsmanship he had learned and the increased physical strength from magic awakening. However, the knight easily deflected it.

"Huff... huff..."

"Good job. You're a 4th rank."

"How many ranks are there?"

"4th rank."

Disappointed, the child bowed his head. The knight, who didn't pay much attention to the child's expression, called the next one.

"4th rank."

"3rd rank."

"4th rank."

"3rd rank."

The evaluations continued, and everyone was only 3rd or 4th rank. However, the knight didn't seem particularly disappointed, as this was normal.

Jaden was almost the last, and from what he observed, those who had just awakened their magic were 4th rank, and those who could use their magic for a moment were 3rd rank.

'Is 2nd rank someone who can integrate swordsmanship with magic? I wonder what 1st rank is.'

While watching the children being thoroughly toyed with by the knight, Jaden pondered. Finally, it was his turn.

"Attack with all your might."

"Yes."

The moment Jaden took a stance with the iron sword, the knight was impressed.

His stance looked quite good, and the knight wanted to give him extra points for his basic swordsmanship.

So far, the children had used the swordsmanship they learned from their families or teachers, but Jaden's seemed to be based on the basics.

This was a plus because the first swordsmanship they would learn here was the basics. All the trainees would have to discard what they had learned and focus on the basics for a while. In that case, Jaden would be the one who progressed the most.

"I'll come in."

"Sure."

Jaden charged at explosive speed.

Bang!

"Whoa!"

The knight, pushed back by the unexpectedly strong blow, resisted and pushed back. Jaden, who was pushed back, then aimed for the lower part and charged.

The knight, who had to step back reflexively from the fierce attack, straightened his stance.

Jaden, on the other hand, gathered all the magic in his body. His physical abilities, at the second stage, had long surpassed those of an ordinary human.

"2nd stage? No... still a bit lacking? Still, excellent."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

There were a few spots that seemed empty, but the faint light indicated that it was just a matter of time. Moreover, what was impressive about Jaden was his experienced swordsmanship, which didn't match his age.

Clearly, it was a basic sword technique, but he applied it skillfully, attacking with precision, like someone who had experienced real combat.

"Ah..."

While Jaden's movements exploited the gaps, the knight quickly swung his sword.

So far, only a few trainees had made him move his feet, but Jaden surpassed them, showing a level of skill that left the knight bewildered.

While the knight was impressed by Jaden's relentless attacks, a senior knight signaled to end it quickly.

Seeing this, the knight pushed Jaden back strongly and said:

"Stop."

" Huff... huff... "

For the first time, the knight stopped the training midway, and Jaden, panting, caught his breath.

"Excellent. Did you plan to join the military from a young age?"

"Yes."

"Good attitude. I'll give you 2nd rank. I'd like to give you 1st rank, but you're a bit lacking."

"That's fine."

Satisfied with Jaden's response, the knight nodded and called the next one.

Jaden, who didn't seem disappointed, went down, and the knight gave him a good score for his attitude.

Not getting 1st rank was disappointing, but in fact, 1st rank was a level that only a few 'geniuses' had ever achieved since the training camp was established, so not getting it was normal.

"I've found one."

The knight, saying this, called the next trainee to attack.

The Duke's Eldest Son Runs Away to the Military (9)