Ch.136King Maker #6

How much can one’s skills improve in less than a month?

Unless you’re a genius like Helena, expecting eye-opening changes was the problem.

Although I had never taught anyone before, I thought that much was obvious.

However, there were occasionally people who transformed dramatically even without exceptional talent.

Those who gave off an unmistakably intense impression were exactly like that.

“Huff, huff…!”

People often use the expression “through sheer grit and determination,” and these Western Tribe members fit that description perfectly.

Some would even collapse from exhaustion after training day and night without rest.

What was even more chilling was that they would immediately resume honing their skills after regaining consciousness.

Sometimes they would swing their swords alone, and other times they would spar in pairs or groups.

Skevin also naturally blended in among them, swinging his blade like a madman. All of them with bloodshot eyes.

Although it was the result of aligned interests, their explosive dedication was almost worthy of respect.

However, on the other hand, I wondered if they were pushing themselves too hard.

There’s no solution if they collapse from overexertion.

I stared blankly at the scene that was difficult to describe, then made my way to the room where Eve would be settled.

The underground facility was quite large, with many spacious rooms.

“Ah, Duke. Is the training going well?”

“It’s going too well, that’s the problem.”

I sat down beside Eve, whose eyes sparkled with delight.

She was in the middle of engraving magic circles onto wooden statues, and sawdust was scattered across the dark brick floor.

The wooden statue was modeled after guardian figures, and it was unbelievably perfect considering she had made it based only on my inadequate description.

“What do you mean it’s a problem that they’re doing well?”

Eve tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

It was understandable, since I had said there was a problem despite things going smoothly.

“As you might know, they’re training without sleep, which is problematic. They do take appropriate breaks, but they’re so driven that they won’t listen when I try to stop them. Yet forcibly stopping them would disrupt their flow, which would cause other problems.”

“Ah… I think I understand. By the way, the magic is almost complete. As you requested, I’ve reinforced the durability from the base of the statue and incorporated lightning…”

Perhaps because Eve herself tends to work day and night once she becomes absorbed in research, she nodded quite vigorously.

Though their fields were different, they seemed to have something in common.

Just watching her enthusiastically explain magical theories that were half-incomprehensible while clearly excited made me think so.

I clutched my confused head while pretending not to be overwhelmed, even though I was letting her words go in one ear and out the other.

Thinking of how Eve might become dejected if I showed disinterest, I had no choice but to endure.

“Yes. You’re working so hard.”

“Ah, Duke…”

Still, there are limits to human endurance, so I pulled Eve into my arms, somewhat forcibly cutting off the conversation.

A brief worry crossed my mind that she might continue talking even while being embraced, but fortunately, that didn’t happen. She was too busy nuzzling her cheek against me with her face buried in my chest.

Sitting on the cold floor while embracing her naturally made me tighten my arms, and Eve, as if she had been waiting for this, burrowed deeper into my embrace.

Before I knew it, we were in a somewhat embarrassing position—face-to-face sitting—that would be awkward for others to see.

Thankfully, no one was watching; otherwise, I would have been at a loss for words in many ways.

“Eve.”

“Yes.”

When I called her name in a low voice, I heard a voice clearly tinged with shyness.

It wasn’t just shyness but also carried a vague sense of anticipation.

Understandably so, as we had been living in such urgent circumstances that there hadn’t been time for intimacy.

Now I could finally breathe enough to realize how little leisure we’d had, but until then, we’d been too tense to think about anything else.

Feeling the inside of my head growing increasingly hot, I stood up while still holding Eve.

Surprised by this, she let out a soft moan, but soon her eyes sparkled as her cheeks turned red.

“Um… let’s go to the room first.”

“…Yes.”

Since the desire that had been dormant until now had awakened in both of us, there was no hesitation in asking and answering about what was to come.

.

Just as there are different types of geniuses, there are different ways in which people can be clever.

Some might be good at business, others at cunning schemes, or some might excel at learning combat techniques.

The Western Tribe tended to be good at cunning and spatial perception. This was why they were all skilled at sculpture.

However, sadly, they lacked the most important combat skills.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t fight at all, as they knew how to utilize their agility to some extent, but they lacked the depth of knights or veteran mercenaries, showing clear limitations.

“You all have small builds and lack strength. So you should avoid direct confrontations as much as possible. It’s better to deflect, dodge, and chip away to find openings to strike.”

However, once they began receiving proper guidance, their skills improved remarkably.

Not because the Western Tribe had exceptional combat talent, but because of their fierce determination to keep going until they completely mastered what they were taught.

Both Zion and the Western Tribe knew this, so they didn’t push each other too hard.

They were already breathless as it was. Pushing any further might literally cut off their breath.

That’s what they thought.

The journey from Western Tribe territory to the capital takes just under three days.

So, timing it well, they trained day and night as much as time allowed.

After all, they were still weak and in a vulnerable position.

“Rest well tomorrow and get your bodies in peak condition!”

“Yes, sir!”

When Skevin shouted with fierce determination in his eyes, the other Western Tribe members protecting him responded with equal intensity.

As the son of the Western Tribe’s chief and a candidate participating in the selection ceremony, no one objected to his attitude.

After the Western Tribe warriors dispersed throughout the maze-like underground facility, Skevin collapsed to the ground.

His face and body were covered with sword cuts, and he reeked from being soaked in sweat.

Yet his expression was full of joy.

Because he, who had only survived through sheer grit until now, could finally see proper hope.

“Tsk. You should take breaks now and then.”

Shortly after, Zion, the source of that hope, approached the seated man with a furrowed brow.

While the stench did make him grimace, his main concern was seeing the man overexert himself.

“As a representative… I can’t afford to play alone.”

“I can’t play alone.”

Zion sensed a strong sense of responsibility in Skevin’s casual remark and in his attitude thus far.

He could also glimpse a certain steadfastness that seemed uncharacteristic of the Western Tribe.

Do people with responsibility show similar traits regardless of their race? Thinking this, Zion sat down on the floor.

“Do you feel responsible?”

“How could I not? Before even mentioning my position, the lives lost because of me are too many to count on both hands.”

“…Yes. Come to think of it, that’s true.”

The more people around him died, the more hardened he became, but that only led to more deaths.

Skevin clenched his fist as he recalled those who had protected him by building walls with their blood and bodies.

Even now, the vivid, pungent blood seemed to float before his eyes.

As if reading his thoughts, Zion answered glumly and then fell silent.

He felt sorry for unintentionally bringing up painful memories.

“I heard on my way here. You’re leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes. If we delay any longer, we won’t reach the capital, which would automatically signal our intention to withdraw.”

The rule of visiting the capital once a month—if not followed, the royal family would assume he had no intention of continuing the selection and revoke his right to become king.

Therefore, it was a rule that had to be followed if one wished to continue in the selection.

Zion recalled this rule anew and slowly spoke.

“I’ve heard you face many threats on the way to the capital or from the capital to your base. What about inside the capital?”

“The capital is safe. At least, bloodshed within the capital is not tolerated. If someone were to commit the same acts they do outside, they would not only be disqualified but might also lose their life.”

The capital is safe.

This rule was fortunate for other representatives as well.

While they couldn’t completely let their guard down, they could lower it somewhat and catch their breath within the capital.

“Is there no risk of poisoning?”

“Poisoning is strictly prohibited in principle. Direct assassination is allowed, but poison is strictly forbidden. So there’s no need to check for suspicious substances when eating in the capital. However, for this reason, staying in the capital for more than a day is also not permitted.”

“I suppose that’s to prevent people from simply hiding in a safe place.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Zion nodded, understanding that this made sense.

If someone were to stay in the capital for days on end, the selection ceremony, which emphasized survival of the fittest, would not function properly.

In other words, the selection process itself would not progress.

“Um… may I ask you something? I might not have another chance to ask.”

“Me? Go ahead.”

As Zion tilted his head and subtly urged him on, Skevin swallowed hard before speaking.

“Did your Duke… did the Grand Duke permit you to move about like this? I’ve heard he’s extremely devoted to you…”

Helena’s eccentric reputation had spread not only throughout the country but across borders, so Skevin couldn’t help but know of her.

If Helena had been an ordinary noble, the rumors might have remained confined to certain circles between kingdoms or among some nobles in other countries, but…

Zion recalled Helena’s tear-filled face just before his departure and gave a wry smile.

“Yes. It’s embarrassing to say myself, but… she’s someone who gives unwavering affection, then and now. I’m truly grateful. So I had no choice but to persuade her sincerely, using the justification that we needed to protect our territory.”

“Protect our territory… Do you really believe the Empire will start a war, Grand Duke? I still find it hard to believe.”

“The possibility can’t be dismissed. What I’m doing might ultimately turn out to be nothing more than an overreaction. But I can’t just sit idly by and watch either.”

Had he learned of it by mere chance, it might have been different, but Caliwood Duke had provided information with the warning that the situation was serious.

That alone was enough for the three dukes of the kingdom to consider the current situation grave.

Zion firmly believed that this conclusion alone was sufficient reason for him to take action.

While Skevin was unaware of these circumstances, he fully understood that Zion had come to a distant land out of a sense of responsibility.

He too was in a position where he had to look after others and was a man aspiring to a higher position.

“…You really have it tough.”

“Indeed. If I had my way, I’d like to spend my life leisurely within my domain.”

I wonder why Helena’s face keeps coming to mind today. With mixed feelings of worry and longing, Zion raised his gaze upward.