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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: 2. Discipline (1)
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"Hoo, hoo..."
Yuri lay collapsed on the training ground, catching his breath.
"It's about time you learned the Mana Circulation Method."
Bernard said.
The Mana Circulation Method was typically taught after the onset of puberty.
Infusing mana too early could shatter the body.
"Will you teach me?"
"I could teach you my own Mana Circulation Method, but it would be too basic for a prince of Brioll."
"Didn't you get strong with that Mana Circulation Method?"
"It's because I'm exceptional, not because the method is superior."
Bernard habitually swung his sword through the empty air, true to his Sword Demon moniker. He never let the blade rest.
"Learn the Brioll Mana Method."
It was the name of the Mana Circulation Method passed down in the Brioll royal family.
"Why?"
"It's an excellent Mana Circulation Method. If we had to rank it, it'd be top-tier. The energy is pure, and the efficiency is outstanding."
Yuri had mastered the Brioll Mana Method in his previous life.
After becoming a mercenary, he'd modified it slightly to hide his identity, but he'd reached a considerable level nonetheless.
"Hmm..."
Brioll was a kingdom of knights, and the royal family had produced Swordmasters for generations.
When the continent's strongest swordsmen were named, King Fiore was always mentioned.
But Yuri somehow felt the royal family's Mana Circulation Method didn't suit him.
"Planning to learn something else?"
"Thinking about it."
Yuri recalled something.
It wasn't a fond memory, but there was definitely another option.
"Bernard."
"Yes."
"Recommend someone good from the Royal Guard."
"You mean in terms of skill?"
"No."
"Personality, then?"
"No..."
How could he ask about personality from someone as sword-obsessed as Bernard?
"Talent."
"Talent, not skill. That's a tough one."
"Skill is sufficient for Royal Guard level. We need to look at future potential."
"Hmm..."
In his previous life, Yuri hadn't paid much attention to the knights, so he lacked detailed info.
Bernard, on the other hand, had crossed swords with most of the palace knights.
There was a reason the Royal Guard started avoiding him on sight.
"Jared stands out."
"That guy?"
Yuri bolted up, clutching his side where he'd taken a hit during sparring.
"Urgh... Jared has talent?"
"Yes."
"That bastard..."
Yuri reflected on his past life.
The man had stayed until the end, guarding the kingdom's final moments. But he wasn't a standout in skill.
"He's about on par with you, Your Highness."
"With me?"
"Lazy."
"I train hard."
"The old you, that is."
If Bernard was right, he was a truly ambiguous fellow.
Lazy ones were unnecessary, but reaching Royal Guard level despite that showed remarkable talent.
Come to think of it, he'd had a conversation like this with Jared back then.
'It's frustrating, Your Highness.'
'What is?'
'If I could turn back time, I'd train until I drop...'
'Cut the crap.'
When was that?
After clashing with the empire's army in close combat, maybe.
Countless knights had lost their lives.
Jared died in the next battle.
He was a pro at fleeing, so he probably hadn't sought death voluntarily.
The war's latter half was just wandering in search of a place to die.
Only Yuri had survived, breaking Brioll's oath.
"..."
As Yuri silently ground his teeth, Bernard continued.
"Others include..."
Familiar names and unfamiliar ones came up.
Yuri decided to see and judge for himself.
"Good info. Thanks, Bernard."
"I've taught you for years, but this is the first 'thanks' I've heard."
"Was it?"
Yuri shrugged.
"Guess you haven't done anything worth thanks until now."
"It works that way, huh."
"Shape up, Bernard."
"Appreciate the advice."
"For what?"
"Now I can beat you tomorrow without guilt."
"Hey."
"That's it for today."
After tidying up post-training, Yuri headed to the Royal Guard's parade ground.
A place he'd rarely visited in his past life.
A knight spotted him and saluted.
"Your Highness! What brings you here?"
Yuri clasped his hands behind his back.
"Inspection."
"Pardon?"
"Here to check the Royal Guard's discipline."
"Ah, I see. Loyalty! All clear on duty!"
Even in the past, the Royal Guard had indulged Yuri's pranks. A child couldn't harm them.
It was the leisure born of skill.
"Are the Royal Guard members training?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Training hard, I assume?"
"Of course. As hard as Your Highness."
Word of his change had reached the Royal Guard.
"To claim they're training as hard as me, they'd need one-on-one spars with Bernard."
"That's terrifying. Let me correct: a bit less than Your Highness."
"Quick to admit—knightly. Lead the way, Sir Rosso."
"Oh, you remember me."
"You sat at the card table and lost everything right away."
"Yes, that's right..."
"Lead on."
"Yes..."
Heading to the parade ground, the clash of steel echoed from beyond the wall.
Rosso opened the door.
"Oh..."
Yuri was impressed.
Men shirtless, blades flashing in fierce bouts.
Every one of them was exceptional.
"Impressive."
"Not as much as Your Highness, but they're working hard."
Yuri crossed his arms, scanning the knights sharply.
"Where's Jared?"
"Who was that again..."
"The newbie."
This was shortly after Jared had joined the Royal Guard.
"Ah, the newbie. Come to see fresh faces, eh? Didn't know Your Highness cared so much for us."
"I'm always watching."
"An honor. That's Jared over there."
In the direction Rosso pointed, a young-faced Jared was sword-fighting.
"Thought he skipped training, but no..."
Yuri trailed off.
He quickly grasped what Bernard meant.
"That guy..."
Yuri furrowed his brow.
It wasn't training.
True training required intent to improve one's skill—and that was absent.
Yuri muttered.
"He'll rust like that."
The very ability to fake training like that proved Jared's superior talent.
No wonder he survived so many unfavorable battles.
"Something wrong?"
Rosso tilted his head.
He seemed oblivious to anything off.
"Nah."
Jared fooled the senior knights perfectly. But Yuri's eyes, honed by mercenary life, weren't deceived.
Yuri shifted gaze from Jared to the others.
Bernard's assessment was accurate, yet wrong.
He'd judged purely on physical potential, ignoring mentality.
Most he named stagnated later. Those he overlooked advanced further.
The talented ones squandered their potential.
And Yuri had too.
"Got the measure of the Royal Guard's level."
"Impressive, right?"
"Boring enough to lie down."
"Pardon?"
Yuri lifted his chin.
"Give me a sword."
"Ah, want to get hit and lie down?"
Royals training with the Royal Guard wasn't uncommon.
Cedric, whom Yuri admired, had trained with them before.
Rosso perked up.
"Who do you want? Who's the easiest? Who looks weakest? Just say!"
Yuri pointed at Jared.
"That slippery one."
"Oho. With a newbie here, Your Highness must enforce discipline personally."
Rosso quickly set things up.
Wooden swords were placed in Yuri and Jared's hands.
Senior knights whispered to the flustered Jared—probably to go easy.
"Good."
This was a prince's privilege.
The opponent had to hold back, but Yuri could strike freely.
Jared looked rattled by the sudden challenge.
"Jared."
"Sir Jared."
"Yes."
"I've heard the rumors about you, Sir Jared."
"Pardon? Rumors?"
"They say your talent is exceptional. That's how you joined the Royal Guard so young."
"Th-thank you for the undeserved praise."
Yuri raised his wooden sword.
"Sir Jared. Will you show me what kind of knight you are?"
"Yes."
"I expect great things."
The moment he finished speaking, Yuri advanced.
The knights cheered.
"Your Highness, go get 'em!"
"Newbie! Handle it well!"
"His thigh's open!"
But he couldn't close in.
Jared's distancing was tenacious.
He seemed intent on maintaining range and ending it moderately.
Plenty of ways to do that.
Yuri suddenly looked behind Jared in mock surprise.
"Father?"
Jared reflexively turned.
The watching knights' eyes also snapped to the entrance.
In that instant everyone looked away.
Too late when Jared realized.
Yuri's wooden sword flew toward his side.
Clang!
But Jared blocked it.
Even Yuri was a bit surprised this time.
Beast-like reflexes.
Jared retreated, swinging his sword.
Distance opened again.
"What?"
"Your Highness?"
"Fooled you."
"Whoa..."
The knights chuckled ruefully.
Their headache prince was more willful and competitive than expected.
"Good."
Rosso, who'd brought Yuri, smiled warmly.
A boy in his spirited youth needed that much fire, right?
He clapped and shouted.
"Your Highness, go get 'em!"
Yuri ignored Jared's guard and pressed forward again.
Knights murmured.
No Mana Circulation Method, yet the bout was even.
"His Highness is better than I thought."
"Right?"
Yuri always traced optimal paths. A habit from rolling on battlefields.
"No wasted moves."
"Bernard taught him well."
"Back in my day at that age..."
Unlike the knights watching casually, Jared felt unease.
Not from Yuri's superior talent or pressure.
"Why the face?"
"N-no, it's nothing."
The distance was too consistent.
Evasion or advance, sword-to-body, attack-to-attack—it never varied.
Jared maintained gaps for the prince's safety, sure.
But the prince's range was closer, yet equally steady.
Which meant.
"Fun?"
Yuri asked.
As Jared blankly met his eyes, swords clashed again.
Fierce from the sidelines, but not for them.
Even without Mana Circulation Method, they reacted like beasts, gauged distance precisely.
This duel was theater.
Pretend-fighting, flailing blades in air.
"Boring, right?"
Jared was a genius.
His senses sharper than average, distance sense ruler-precise.
He grew strong effortlessly.
So no one noticed his half-hearted training.
Others' senses differed from his.
But this prince was different.
Pierced his slacking instantly.
A genius like him—no, greater.
"Seen enough."
"Pardon?"
"What kind of knight you are."
"I..."
Jared tried to make excuses.
But the prince waited no longer.
"My turn now?"
Yuri raised his sword high.
Jared knew just from that.
The steady gap between them began contracting.
Shrinking.
Shrinking again.
As he stepped back one, Yuri advanced two.
A hair's breadth now?
That thought furrowed Jared's brow.
Zero.
No—less.
Yuri lunged.
They were already clashing.
"Now I'll show you what kind of guy I am."