Chapter 26

In a day, including the prologue, I wrote about 15,000 characters. I wrote for about nine hours straight. The bottom part was written around 11:00... I'm about done.

Also, as always, I'm really grateful for the typo corrections. I think a significant portion of the text evaluation points are thanks to the correction tool.

“...pant, pant... a, ...thank you, sir.”

Breathless, Node, having completed a series of sword exercises, expressed his gratitude to his instructor. Immediately after joining the unit, he could barely run without gasping for breath, but the "super" long-distance runs from before the snow melted until the end of spring, which he did almost every day, significantly improved his basic physical strength and cardio. Now, even the endless running on the training ground is just a warm-up for Node. Still, by the time the practical training with the instructor, a dragon knight, ends, Node is so exhausted that he feels like he's about to vomit.

Historically, dragon knights were chosen from those who could subdue dragons by force due to the difficulty of handling them. Node's achievement—hatching a dragon and imprinting it as a parent—might bring changes to their breeding methods. However, there's still a possibility that a young dragon could grow up to be as fierce and rebellious as before. Moreover, the results required of dragon knights as a military unit—enough to cover the enormous cost of raising a dragon—are significant, and sometimes they must charge into a large army with just a few members. Therefore, only those with exceptional skills can become dragon knights. The level of skill and martial arts that Node must master is comparable to that of a silver-ranked adventurer, capable of slaying monsters far beyond the level of a typical monster, like a dragon.

Stealing a dragon egg from a dragon's nest and returning alive is a feat even for an adventurer, and Node, who accomplished this, was welcomed with a certain level of respect and admiration by the members of the Iron Dragon Knights, especially the dragon knights. However, that's one thing, and this is another. Node's current skill level, if compared to an adventurer, is at the crystal rank, which is below the average standard for a knight in the Hamil Kingdom. Naturally, in the Iron Dragon Knights, where elite training is required, this is considered a failure. Normally, he would be sent back to a regular knight unit, but unfortunately, due to his unique situation—already possessing a dragon and the valuable observational data he provides for the Iron Dragon Knights and the Hamil Kingdom—Node could only belong to the Iron Dragon Knights. Therefore, Node's only path is to endure the harsh training and become as strong as a dragon knight, and with the generous budget and welfare benefits, death is not an option. In other words, Node's skills improved day by day.

At first, he couldn't even see the trajectory of the instructor's sword, and he was kicked, punched, broken bones, cut, and knocked down, feeling pain all over his body except for vital areas like the brain and heart, which could cause lasting damage even with healing magic. However, Node endured this treatment (which he is certain would be called "torture" by the general public). He learned to predict, block, evade, and counter the invisible sword strikes, and the pain he felt gradually decreased, little by little.

Now, he can avoid fatal injuries and survive the scheduled training time without healing magic (though he is covered in bruises). Node's skills have improved significantly since he joined the unit.

Node's hunched figure, barely alive, in the training ground is witnessed by other dragon knights, and his growth inspires other members to work even harder. However, Node, who has no time to look around, is unaware of this.

Unusually, when his instructor praised him for his growth with a "Well done," Node's face, drenched in sweat, broke into a smile. However, this smile turned to despair when the instructor, with a smile, added, "We'll raise the level from tomorrow." In response to the instructor's merciless question, "Got it?" Node could only answer, "......Yes."

Would this endless hell of training ever end? Node, with his vision blurred by sweat, saw the clouds flowing in from the distance. They were dark and gray, thick layers of rain clouds. It was about to rain in the capital.

§

After the physical training in the morning, which includes running and sword exercises, the afternoon is dedicated to classroom instruction. The classroom instruction, which initially covered the basic courses taught in military schools, has since shifted to more advanced courses after the "accelerated" completion of the basics upon joining the unit.

The role of a knight in the knight unit is to wear heavy armor, wield polished combat skills, and destroy enemy targets, serving as the core combat force of the knight unit. However, more importantly, it is to act as a "commander" who organically connects a large group of people and makes them function as a living collective.

Especially for commanders of squadrons and above, there are no non-knight promotions from the ranks. The combat effectiveness of a group depends more on the commander's skills than the strength of the individual soldiers. As the saying goes, "A pack of wolves led by a sheep is less formidable than a flock of sheep led by a wolf." Indeed, the military history of the Ilva continent, taught in the classroom, includes many examples of armies, once considered weak, defeating powerful nations under the leadership of excellent commanders.

"Whether a combat group of soldiers and knights becomes a flock of sheep or a pack of wolves depends on you, the commander."

These words, quietly spoken by the instructor at the beginning of the classroom instruction, deeply resonated with Node and changed his attitude towards the classroom instruction to be even more serious.

Currently, Node is learning command from the perspective of a dragon knight. The knowledge required of a dragon knight is extensive. Beyond the general education of a typical knight, due to their unique ability to fly, they must also learn roles such as reconnaissance, deep penetration into enemy territory for forced reconnaissance, and the rescue of important figures or the assault on key enemy locations. They must not only understand tactical value but also view the battlefield from a strategic perspective. However, this cannot be learned overnight. Therefore, Node is first trained as a junior commander and then as a mid-level commander who makes tactical-level decisions. His instructor is a man in his late middle age, around the same age as Node's father or older.

The instructor, with rich practical experience as a dragon knight, generously shares valuable combat lessons learned from real battles with Node.

One day, while the instructor was explaining dragon tactics using a map with pieces representing forces, a question came to Node's mind, and he asked:

"Yes, Instructor, I have a question."

"Um, I allow questions. What is it, trainee?"

Node's question was as follows:

"Yes, Instructor. It seems that many senior dragon knights, including you, are proficient in various martial arts. Among them, are there any who excel in archery? If so, I think that a dragon knight, who can take a high position, could effectively use a sniper tactic by shooting arrows from above..."

In archery, the position is crucial, especially the height difference. If you are at a higher position, your chances of winning in a bow battle increase significantly. This is because when shooting from a higher position, the force of gravity adds to the arrow, making it stronger and travel farther. Conversely, from a lower position, the opposite happens. Therefore, in ground tactics, if there are archers, they typically take positions on mountains or hills to reduce the enemy's numbers with arrows. Additionally, the subsequent charge is easier from a higher position because the momentum gained from descending makes it easier to break through the enemy—this is called a "reverse drop."

Node, who learned this tactic, wondered why there was no such tactic from a dragon, which can take a position higher than a mountain. Moreover, considering that dragon knights are skilled in various martial arts, there should be no shortage of archery experts. However, he had never seen archery training in the training ground.

After listening to Node's question, the instructor nodded as if digesting it and answered comprehensively.

"First, there's the issue of distance. Even a master archer has a limited range. Hitting an enemy at the foot of a mountain from the top is already a difficult feat, let alone from a dragon flying higher than a mountain. Additionally, the air currents—wind—will have a stronger effect from the air.

"Secondly, there's the issue of height. Generally, an arrow, once released, falls towards the ground. You already know that it follows a parabolic curve. A master archer, who can hit every shot, calculates this 'fall' when releasing the arrow. If the target is moving, they also calculate the movement. The 'fall' prediction becomes less significant as the angle to the target approaches a right angle. When flying at a high altitude, the position relative to the target changes rapidly. Trying to hit a single point while making these complex calculations... well, it's difficult."

With a wry smile, the instructor added, "You could probably shoot roughly, but that's not the point." Node nodded in understanding. Indeed, it would be impossible for an average master. He recalled Almina, a female adventurer and archer he once adventured with. She was a skilled hunter, but hitting a fast-moving dragon from above would be beyond the skill of an average master. Such a person would be hailed as a "Magical Marksman."

Considering this, the instructor added, "But this is the most important point," before explaining the third issue.

"Once you actually ride a dragon, you'll realize that the wings get in the way when shooting downward."

Upon hearing this, Node imagined it. He looked at the deep green dragon, Nute, curled up on his folded coat on the table, where he had been accompanying Node's training (playing) and had fallen asleep after a satisfying lunch. If he were to ride this dragon, where would he sit? He stared at Nute's deep green scales and imagined it.

Indeed, stability is crucial when riding a dragon. Riding on the moving neck or tail would be extremely unstable and tiring for the dragon. The natural place to ride would be the back, around the area equivalent to the shoulder blades in a human. In this position, the wings, which spread wide and flap for flight, would be a significant obstacle when trying to shoot. If he tried to shoot, he would either fall off, pierce the wing membrane with an arrow, or hit his face on the wing. If he raised his arm, he could shoot upwards in a parabolic arc or secure himself with leather straps to the dragon saddle and instruct the dragon to dive or hang upside down to aim. However, this would be more like acrobatics than sniping.

"Your observation is not bad. It was a good question, Node."

The instructor, who usually refers to Node as a trainee or a rookie, called him by his name that day. Node still remembers how incredibly happy he felt, as it felt like his growth was recognized.

§

Nute, who had fallen asleep after a full meal, yawned as he woke up from his nap. It was about time for the lecture to end. After that, Node would write and submit a daily report, which included a breeding diary detailing any subtle interactions with Nute, and get the instructor's approval to finish the training. Additionally, once a week, on a fixed day, Node would take Nute to a research facility near the castle at the foot of the mountain, as part of his duties as a trainee dragon knight. At the facility, researchers who read the daily reports would observe Nute. Sometimes, they would come to observe Nute during training or at the Felis household.

According to the dragon specialists, Node's records were very valuable, and if things went well, there could be a revolutionary development in dragon breeding methods.

That's good, Node thought. He wasn't particularly interested in the expansion of the Iron Dragon Knights, but if he and Nute could show results, it would be recognized as an achievement. This would eventually lead to his official appointment as a dragon knight and a high salary.

It had been over a year since he started his adventuring career. There were various encounters and partings, and many exciting and valuable experiences, but the most important thing was whether he could earn money for the Felis family. His sister, Hanna, had managed to get married after some twists and turns, but his younger siblings were still young. His younger sister, Lilia, had turned 14 and started attending a girls' school in the capital. Soon, she would need money for tea parties and social gatherings.

The family still had debts to pay off, and Node needed to earn money to repay them.

Thinking about this, Node felt grateful to Nute, the young dragon that had grown heavier on his shoulder recently. He looked at the city of the capital, dyed red by the setting sun, and gently stroked Nute's nose. Nute's scales, which should be deep green, were illuminated red by the sunset and felt cool and cold. Nute, who was looking at the same view from inside the gray hood, seemed ticklish and nuzzled Node's hand. Nute's happy chirping echoed in the mountains northeast of the capital.

This is Node's daily routine. He works six days a week. It's black! By the way, the flag of the Iron Dragon Knights is a color that evokes black iron. Black!

The part about archery has an original source. I wonder if anyone can figure it out...