Ch.313313. Because it’s hard to beat two hundred people all at once.

“Hah… Even if Lord Selden Alphonse’s magic is impressive, he’s going to teach us swordsmanship?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I came to the training ground by His Imperial Majesty’s order, but what a waste of time this seems to be.”

“But I heard from the butler at the Imperial Palace that his swordsmanship skills are quite remarkable.”

“Haha! Even so, how could they be better than our Imperial Knights’ skills?”

“And why call us to the underground training hall of all places? It’s so damp here that we hardly ever use it.”

“Come on, let’s quiet down now. Look, Lord Selden Alphonse is coming.”

As I stepped into the underground training hall, the murmuring voices of the Imperial Knights reached my ears first. Though they were all trying to maintain composed expressions, anyone could see they were displeased.

By the way.

I had told His Imperial Majesty that I would teach training in an enclosed space, and upon arrival, I found this underground training hall to be quite suitable. It seemed like even screams wouldn’t leak outside.

With a satisfied expression, I crossed my arms and stood proudly before the Imperial Knights.

“Though it’s only for a week, I have received orders from His Imperial Majesty to train you all. Please follow along diligently.”

At that, one of the Imperial Knights raised his hand.

“Lord Selden Alphonse, I have a question.”

Turning my head, I saw it was the man who had led the Imperial Knights when the rebels appeared in the mountains. From what His Imperial Majesty had already told me, he was Herold, the vice-captain of the Imperial Knights and the most likely candidate for the currently vacant captain position.

“Yes, speak.”

“I heard from His Imperial Majesty that you would be teaching exactly two hundred members of the Imperial Knights.”

“That’s right.”

“But currently, we are only fifty people. Is there a special reason for dividing us into groups?”

“It’s hard to beat two hundred people at once.”

“…Pardon?”

“Ah! That’s not what I meant. It’s burdensome to teach two hundred people simultaneously, so I divided them into four groups. One group per hour… so each group will receive training from me exactly three times a day.”

At my words, Herold’s eyes widened.

“Then, does that mean you will oversee our training for twelve hours every day, Lord Selden Alphonse?”

“It’s only for a week, so don’t worry about physical limitations.”

“When will you eat…?”

“I plan to eat simply while teaching the training.”

Already, the Imperial Knights’ dissatisfied expressions were plainly visible. Though it was just three hours of training each, with rest and waiting time included, it would be nine hours. Especially for the last group, it was essentially being held captive for twelve hours.

Herold, seeing the expressions of the Imperial Knights, let out a short sigh.

“Wouldn’t it be better if all two hundred trained at once? And perhaps it would be better to do three hours straight without breaks.”

“Why?”

“Due to the recent war, the Imperial Knights are quite fatigued. While training is good, rest is also necessary.”

I tilted my head at Herold.

“Is that a suggestion? Or an order?”

“…Pardon?”

“I clearly explained to His Imperial Majesty the reasons for the training hours and dividing into groups.”

“Still, as the vice-captain of the Imperial Knights, wouldn’t I understand the feelings of the members better?”

“Then you should speak directly to His Imperial Majesty.”

“…Pardon?”

I let out a short sigh toward Herold, who was blinking in confusion.

“I’ve already reported to His Imperial Majesty about what kind of training I’ll be conducting. I can’t change the training based solely on your opinion, can I?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“So if you have complaints, you should speak directly to His Imperial Majesty.”

As I shrugged my shoulders, Herold’s face stiffened slightly.

“Come to think of it, Lord Selden Alphonse, aren’t you from the Eastern Continent? Aren’t you intervening too much for someone who’s not even from the Western Continent!?”

“You can mention that to His Imperial Majesty as well. It wasn’t my idea to teach you all; it was His Imperial Majesty’s order.”

“Hah…”

With my hands on my hips, I approached Herold, who was sighing deeply, and spoke in a low voice.

“Hey, have you forgotten that you’ve saved your life twice because of me?”

“Twice…?”

“First, I saved you from the rebels, and second, I saved you from His Imperial Majesty, didn’t I?”

“…Pardon?”

“Didn’t you hear what His Imperial Majesty said? That if you had pursued the rebels when Princess Joanna was present, you all would have died.”

As I whispered in his ear, Herold bowed his head deeply.

“…I am grateful to Lord Selden Alphonse for that.”

“If you’re grateful, it would be best to keep your mouth shut throughout the training. Be mindful of how the vice-captain’s influence affects the Imperial Knights.”

“I understand.”

After gently patting Herold’s shoulder, who seemed to have regained his senses somewhat, I turned my attention to the Imperial Knights standing blankly. Then, with a wooden sword in hand, I curled up the corners of my mouth.

“Now, since everything seems to be resolved, shall we properly enjoy the training?”

*

“Aaaaargh!”

“Crazy! W-wait a moment! Urrrgh!”

“*Cough*! Please, really stop now…”

The underground training hall resembled a battlefield. The air was tense with tension, and the faces of the members, exhausted from sweat and fatigue, wore expressions of disbelief.

“Vice-Captain…”

At the voice of an Imperial Knight, Herold turned his head while clutching his aching side.

“W-what is it?”

“Is it true that not even an hour has passed yet…?”

Herold squeezed his eyes shut.

When the training began, Selden Alphonse had pointed his wooden sword at the entire Imperial Knights. Until then, some members had laughed, thinking it was a joke.

However, it didn’t take long for their laughter to fade.

“L-Lord Selden Alphonse! Why do you keep hitting only me—Aaack!!”

“Please wait a moment! My wooden sword broke—Urgh!”

The Imperial Knights were already the finest knights in the Western Continent.

No one had expected them to struggle so much against just one person.

Herold opened his eyes and laughed dejectedly.

‘He’s simply a monster…’

Even excluding magic, his swordsmanship alone was at a level that even Herold, the vice-captain, couldn’t approach.

A person who could face fifty Imperial Knights with just a wooden sword… if he hadn’t experienced it firsthand, he would never have believed it.

The Imperial Knights were busy rolling on the floor, groaning in pain.

“Really, and you call yourselves Imperial Knights? How did such unskilled people win a war with such a numerical advantage? Surely you didn’t all become arrogant after winning?”

Selden Alphonse’s provocations continued.

At first, his taunts were enough to rouse the Imperial Knights who had fallen to the floor.

But now, it seemed none of them had the will or energy left.

When there was no response, Selden Alphonse wore an expression full of disappointment.

“To think that the great Imperial Knights of the Western Continent would cower before a single Eastern Continent nobleman. Haha!! My subordinates in Lake Territory would be better! Unlike you, they at least knew how to get back up and charge again!”

Herold struggled to his feet, steadying his hand that trembled from physical exhaustion, and gripped his wooden sword.

“…Lord Selden Alphonse, please give me one more lesson!”

“Sure, come at me.”

CRASH!

Selden Alphonse briefly exchanged blows with Herold, then stared at him as he tumbled back against the wall.

“At least the vice-captain shows some will. But what about the rest? Are they just parasites clinging to the vice-captain? Hahaha!!”

Herold, still with a tired face, leaned against the wall and gave a bitter smile.

How could his mouth never rest even once…?

And he kept provoking the Imperial Knights with remarks that perfectly stabbed at their hearts.

“Aaaaargh!”

“Don’t disgrace our Western Continent Imperial Knights! Urrrgh!”

“W-wait! I didn’t get up, why are you hitting me!?”

Once again, the Imperial Knights who fell for Selden Alphonse’s provocations were thrown to the floor.

The terror of having to do this two more times today, even if the current training ended now, crept into their hearts.

‘He truly is remarkable.’

Herold laughed dejectedly once more.

He was deeply ashamed of his past remarks about Selden being from the Eastern Continent.

Who else would so passionately help the Imperial Knights achieve victory against the rebels?

Even sacrificing his meal times.

‘His Imperial Majesty didn’t make this request without reason.’

He admired the Emperor’s foresight.

Though it was only for a week, Herold knew well that sparring with such a strong opponent would quickly help them surpass their limits.

“Wahahahaha! Die!! Die!! All of you, die!! Kyahaha!!!”

With no knights rising from the floor, Selden Alphonse now rampaged through the training hall like an unbridled colt.

Herold, watching his figure intently, momentarily set aside his admiring gaze and tilted his head.

“…Is he just insane?”