Chapter 11

[Strength increased by 2 points.]

[Agility increased by 1 point.]

[Stamina increased by 1 point.]

"Huh…"

A sigh escaped Raon's lips.

'This is real.'

The trembling that started in his forearms spread throughout his body. When he clenched his fist, he felt a slightly stronger grip.

Thud.

He tried a light jump on the spot. His body felt lighter, as if a small piece of metal had been removed.

'Does an increase in stats actually change the physical body?'

-Did you think the system I created was fake?

'You're crazy.'

Raon clicked his tongue. To boost physical abilities by training beyond limits was an absurd reward.

Just as he was about to say it was too overpowered, a second set of messages appeared.

[Withstood the interference of <Rage>.]

[Additional stat increase.]

[Agility increased by 1 point.]

[Stamina increased by 1 point.]

[Vitality increased by 1 point.]

The message said that his stats would be further increased for withstanding Las's interference.

-What is this?

'…'

Raon's eyes sparkled with the thrill coursing through his body, without a word.

-What, what is this? To give additional stats for overcoming my interference!

'You didn't know either?'

-Of course! This system has never fallen into anyone else's hands, and I have never failed to take over a human body!

Las turned into a blue flame and buzzed around in front of him, moving like a bee. He seemed flustered too.

'Sure, that makes sense.'

As Raon nodded, a thud came from the dais.

"Everyone, well done."

Rimer clapped his hands with a smirk.

"Ugh…"

"Oof…"

"Damn it!"

The children who had given up and fallen off his back scowled and bowed their heads at his cheerful smile.

"Phew…"

"Hardly made it."

"I thought I was going to die."

In contrast, the faces of those who held on until the end were tired but proud.

"Don't worry. I don't plan to dismiss you right away."

"Eh?"

"Really?"

Rimer's light-hearted voice made the children's eyes widen.

"I said I was testing you, not that I would decide today."

"Oh…"

"Really, sir?"

"Yep. But if we train like today, most of you will be dismissed."

"Huh?"

"What, what do you mean…"

The children looked at Rimer with perplexed expressions. Since over 50 children had made it to the end, it was hard to accept that most would be dismissed.

"I clearly told you to run at full speed, but you all held back. Out of 160, only one ran at full speed from start to finish."

Rimer's gaze briefly rested on Raon.

"Everyone else managed their stamina. Some even gave up halfway."

"Ugh…"

"That, that's…"

The children who were caught out blushed with embarrassment.

"Those who used aura to boost their stamina to avoid falling behind should be ashamed."

"Ugh."

As Rimer finished speaking, Barran and a few other trainees bit their lips.

"Actually, it doesn't matter what you do. The test is for you, not me."

Rimer grinned, a strange mix of slyness and seriousness.

"From now on, you are 'temporary trainees.' If you pass the test in six months, I'll remove the 'temporary' label."

"Wh-What kind of test is it?"

A green-haired child who had tried to give out snacks earlier raised his hand with a confused look.

"That would be no fun. I won't rank you, but I will choose a top trainee, so work hard."

"How do we work hard?"

"I'll give you a very simple and direct hint."

Rimer cracked his neck and looked down at the children. Both those who had given up quickly and those who had held on until the end were eager.

"Follow my training instructions exactly for the next six months. Don't add your own thoughts; just follow my orders, and you will definitely pass the test."

"Oh!"

"Really, sir?"

"That's too simple, isn't it?"

The children's faces brightened like they were facing the sun.

"I don't lie. If you follow my instructions, you will pass. However…"

Rimer's lips curled into a smirk.

"It won't be easy. I'll give the instructions, but I'll let you act as you please. If you move on your own like today, everyone except one will be dismissed."

"Ugh…"

"Such…"

The faces of the 12- to 13-year-old children now showed a sense of urgency, knowing they couldn't just go back.

In contrast, some remained calm, as if it didn't concern them. Raon and Lunan were among them.

They didn't react to Rimer's words at all.

"Damn…"

Barran, who had finished the training in first place today, didn't look happy.

Though Rimer didn't name him, he felt reprimanded, and Raon was praised. Despite being the fastest, he felt he had lost to that lowly collateral branch.

'Arrogant brat!'

Barran glared at the back of Raon's head, not at Rimer who was talking about the test.

"You will stay in the dormitory attached to the 5th training ground from now on. The facilities and treatment are top-notch, so enjoy the next six months."

Rimer pointed to the dormitory behind the training ground.

"Ugh…"

"That's the dormitory…"

Even with the promise of top-notch treatment, the children's faces didn't brighten, knowing it was temporary.

"Since it's the first day, we'll stop here. You can go rest or do any training you want here. There's also an indoor training room on the left, so feel free to use it."

With that, Rimer descended from the dais. He turned halfway down the stairs with a smirk.

"Oh, one more thing. There are no ranks here. Kings, commoners, and slaves are all equal. Be friendly with your peers."

He waved and left the training ground, half the instructors following him, the rest leaning against the walls, watching the children.

-That arrogant pointy-eared brat…

'What's bothering you?'

Raon looked at Las with a puzzled face.

-It's annoying to see everything in my control. How dare he look down on me. He deserves to be frozen in ice for ten thousand years.

'…'

Even after hearing the reason, Raon couldn't understand. Las seemed to be a complete personality disorder.

'Ignore him.'

Shaking his head slightly, he manipulated the ring of fire to relax his tired body and mind.

'I should go to the training room.'

Ignoring Las's chatter, Raon entered the indoor training room Rimer had mentioned.

"Ugh…"

"Raon Ziegfried."

"How did he manage to run like that?"

The collateral branch and Fengxin family children couldn't take their eyes off Raon's back as he entered the indoor training room.

There was a huge difference between the Raon they knew and the one they saw today.

It was hard to believe he had lasted longer than they had, despite their consistent training to build stamina.

"It must be because of the elixir."

Crayn Ziegfried, who had picked a fight with Raon earlier, wrinkled his nose.

"Elixir?"

"The ones in the annex were rejected by the main branch."

"Right. They're at the bottom of the collateral branches. How could they have elixirs?"

"Even if they did, it wouldn't be a good one."

"They say the Saint of Rags gave it to him."

Crayn explained the situation to the curious collateral branch children.

"Ah!"

"The Saint of Rags!"

"So, he ran not because of his own ability but because of the elixir."

"Yet he acts so superior!"

The children's faces hardened at the mention of the elixir given by the Saint of Rags.

"Tsk!"

"Lucky brat!"

"Collateral branch brat, using luck to get elixirs, I don't like it."

Crayn smiled at the envious looks from the collateral branch children.

"So, what do you think?"

"Hmm?"

"Shouldn't we teach that arrogant brat a lesson?"

"Indeed, he even challenged Barran-sama."

"We need to set the tone."

"Then, when he goes to the dormitory today…"

"Stop it."

Just as the collateral branch children were planning to attack Raon, a low voice came from the side.

"B-Barran-sama?"

"An act that disgraces the noble name of Ziegfried."

Barran scanned the collateral branches with a cold gaze.

'Pathetic.'

He didn't like Raon Ziegfried either, but using mob violence was despicable.

As a Ziegfried, he couldn't stand by and let such a plan be made.

"He'll be dismissed soon anyway. Ignore him and focus on training."

He left the training ground with a disdainful look.

"Ah, um…"

"He said not to do it."

"Um."

"Are you really that stupid?"

Crayn clicked his tongue at the disappointed collateral branch children.

"What?"

"He didn't say not to do it; he meant to do it."

"Huh?"

"He doesn't want to disgrace his name. He's telling us to handle it. Can't you understand that?"

"Ah?"

"Right?"

"Of course. Hurry up and prepare. If we teach Raon a lesson, Barran-sama will be satisfied."

The four trainees huddled together to plan how to discipline Raon that day.

Meanwhile, Lunan Slieron, who had been sitting without looking at anyone, turned her gaze to one person.

It wasn't Barran, the top runner, or the collateral branch and Fengxin family children, or even Rimer, known as the Ziegfried's Sword.

It was Raon Ziegfried.

Her gaze was fixed on Raon's back, who had been in the lower-middle ranks until the end. She muttered to herself.

"Strange."

* * *

Rimer left the training ground and climbed up North Mountain behind the main hall. He stopped at a tiger-shaped rock halfway up and looked up.

"Someone's on my nap rock."

Speaking to the rock, he saw a golden-haired old man, Glen Ziegfried, lower his head.

"What's going on?"

"Why ask me?"

Rimer leaned against the rock and chuckled.

"As you know, my eyes are good, but I couldn't see Raon. I can't properly assess his condition."

"…"

"Clearly, he was at rock bottom. He was like a dry rag, yet I don't understand how he managed to run to the end."

Curiosity and surprise were evident in Rimer's eyes, despite his smile.

"Barran and Lunan have the best talent, and the other children are not bad. They can become pillars of the family in the future. However…"

"Raon is hard to judge, right?"

Glen's gaze shifted to the 5th training ground beyond Rimer.

"Exactly. I can't see his talent, potential, future, or inclination. This is the first time since I saw you that someone is this opaque."

Rimer chuckled.

"Days were boring after my dantian was ruined, but now it's interesting again."

"Your role is not to smell but to raise the children to be warriors worthy of the Ziegfried name."

"Of course, I know that. I am the Ziegfried's most loyal servant, after all!"

Rimer nodded with a sly grin.

"If you weren't a patient and a comrade, your head would have been on the line."

"Wow, being injured in the dantian has its uses."

"…"

Glen looked at Rimer's dantian and heart area before turning away.

"Being a trainee instructor was your choice. Don't be distracted by strange things and focus on your role."

"Of course. I have a feeling that this batch will produce someone I can entrust my future to."

Rimer turned his gaze to the training ground, following Glen.

"Are you talking about Barran or Lunan?"

"Could be. It could be among the recommended students, a commoner with only talent, or a child rejected by the family."

"It's just a coincidence. That child will find it hard to become a warrior."

Glen said this and descended North Mountain. Rimer watched the back of the warrior he most respected and smiled.

"You know it's not."

* * *

After checking the various equipment in the indoor training room, Raon came out.

'Not bad.'

The training equipment and facilities were indeed the best and the latest, as Rimer had said. The training ground clearly showed the intention to nurture them properly if they followed.

Since the training itself started in the afternoon, the sky was already dark. As he was about to leave the training ground and head to the dormitory, a low voice called out from the right alley.

"Hey."

Raon turned his head. The four collateral branch children who had picked a fight with him in the morning were looking at him with menacing expressions.

"You ate an elixir before the test, right?"

"Then you were acting superior."

"If I had that much elixir, I would have surpassed you long ago and caught up to Barran-sama."

The four approached, pretending to have weight they didn't.

-Even these brats look down on me. I want to bite my tongue and die.

'Don't worry.'

Raon's eyes burned like the flames of a furnace.

'This time, the scene you want to see will happen.'