episode_0015

The day after arriving at the Messiah Viscount’s estate.

It was an early morning before even having breakfast.

At that time, I was summoned by the Messiah Viscount.

“I am going to give you the first test.”

The reason the Messiah Viscount called me.

It was because of the test mentioned yesterday.

“But what is the first test?”

Could there possibly be a second or third test?

If so, how many more tests are there?

I had a creepy feeling that something would never end.

Well, even so, it would be a good thing.

“If the tests continue, I should be able to endure until five years from now.”

And the old man who returned to the family will save me from the Messiah Viscount.

Perfect.

“Why is that…?”

“No! So, what is the first test?”

“The Messiah family is originally a martial family.”

I know.

That’s why I was expelled from the martial arts.

“In a martial family, the man who enters as a fiancé… in other words, as a son-in-law, must not be weak.”

That’s a valid point.

Thinking of a scholar entering the martial family and just talking big made me angry.

“So, this is the first test. Participate in the hellish training of the Messiah family and show your uniqueness.”

“Understood.”

***

Hellish training of the Messiah family.

Twice a year.

In the training of the Messiah Viscount, there was something called hellish training.

Training where all three knights who protect the Messiah family participate.

The end of the training that challenges the limits of a person.

At the end, only one man stood alone.

“Is it easier than I thought?”

That man’s name was Asuras, who was in the midst of the first test.

***

Hellish training.

Honestly, I was a little nervous.

But it wasn’t.

“…This is nothing special, right?”

Although it was called hellish training, it felt like an everyday thing to me.

I had been trained by the old man, so this was really easy.

As I was enjoying my leisure, Sune, a knight, approached me.

“Ha, well, you look fine?”

“Well, it’s not that difficult for me.”

Contrary to me, Tosar was panting heavily as if he was in extreme distress.

He looked very tired.

“Oh, I see. I forgot about that. You, you are the… Uweeek!”

Tosar suddenly vomited.

I couldn’t help but frown.

But…

“Uweeek!”

“Uwook!!”

“Eeek!!!”

“Kek!!!”

Starting with Tosar, everyone began to boast about what they had eaten.

I couldn’t help but feel a little pathetic watching them.

“Why is this kind of training called hellish training?”

Tosar, who vomited everything, answered this question.

“This, this training challenges the limits of human beings, created by Master Gomseong.”

“Hmm… That sounds…”

When I was trained by the old man, I thought it was a bit extreme, but I thought it was normal.

But it seemed like hellish training was a daily routine for me.

“This training was created by Master Gomseong for the Messiah Viscount who is watching over us.”

“For the Messiah Viscount… I see…”

I glanced at the Messiah Viscount who was watching us.

Still, his muscles were robust.

How many trainings did he have to go through to get to that point?

Suddenly, an old memory came to mind.

“I have a son who is not talented but quite tenacious. So, I trained him with the determination to kill him. Then, he realized the limits of human beings.”

Gomseong realized the limits of human beings.

That’s why exaggeration was impossible.

“Then the first victim of that hellish training was the Messiah Viscount.”

Thinking about that, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the Messiah Viscount.

At that time, not knowing the limits of human beings meant that the Messiah Viscount was pushed beyond his limits.

“The Messiah Viscount’s muscles were the result of that hellish training.”

.

And so, the final training that was simpler than I thought was completed, leaving only the last training.

The following training was a duel.

It was a duel known as ‘Knight Killing’ by nickname.

They would duel until only one victor remained.

To be more specific, it was conducted in a tournament format.

Of course, the duels continued without any rest.

This was the Knight Killing training.

“If we roughly calculate it…”

The people present here were three knight orders.

So, around 60 people.

That meant they only had to duel six times.

‘Was it really that difficult to duel six times in a row?’

Suddenly, the memory of dueling thirty times in a row with the old man came to mind.

“Hahaha, I thought I was going to die back then.”

I really thought I was going to die.

Without eating, without sleeping.

I dueled for two days.

My record was 30 wins and 0 losses.

Of course, the old man had 30 wins.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Charles of the Eunrang Knight Order.”

As I reminisced, the first opponent for the duel appeared.

And so, the Knight Killing began.

***

“It’s already the final opponent.”

It goes without saying, a complete victory.

The Messiah Viscount seemed interested as he watched over me.

And the last remaining final match.

The eagerly awaited final match opponent was…

“Huh?”

It was Asia, looking quite exhausted.

But why was Asia here?

“Why is Lady Asia here?”

“I-I’m also a kn-knight… I-I can’t skip the training!”

Nevertheless, Asia had enough skill to make it to the final match.

Well, I had a feeling I knew the reason.

‘The leader and vice-leader didn’t participate in this training.’

So, there was no member capable of facing Asia, an Intermediate Sword Expert.

‘But what should I do?’

It was a dilemma.

I didn’t expect the opponent to be Asia.

Asia was a knight with quite a lot of perseverance.

‘It doesn’t seem easy to defeat her easily…’

I glanced at the Messiah Viscount.

‘I might end up getting killed by the Viscount…? No, the old man was definitely trying to kill me.’

But it didn’t feel right to just accept defeat.

So, there was only one choice I could make.

In order to do that, first…!

“Lady Asia, how about a duel without using mana?”

Asia was taken aback by my words.

“W-What are you saying…! Are you disrespecting me!!!”

A duel without using mana.

It had the advantage of being safe, but it was far from a proper duel.

That’s why Asia got angry.

‘Well, I didn’t really expect this when I brought it up.’

After all, when making a proposal, it’s customary to make a grandiose statement before getting to the point.

“Then let’s add one more condition to the victory.”

“What do you mean?”

“The one whose sword breaks loses… How about that?”

“…You’re planning to break my sword.”

“It’s better than using mana, isn’t it?”

“Alright.”

Fortunately, she accepted this proposal.

Honestly, it would have been difficult if she hadn’t.

And so, the final match between Asia and me began.

Leading her tired body, Asia rushed towards me.

The powerful mana of an Intermediate Expert surrounded Asia’s sword.

“The fact that you’re aiming only for my sword means you have no chance of winning!!!”

The mana of an Intermediate Expert.

That mana surrounded her sword.

To break through this mana and shatter the sword, precision was needed.

But precision was a power that only Sword Masters or those close to Sword Masters could wield.

I had no intention of using that power right now.

And there was one exception.

Special mana.

Asia swung her sword towards me.

“Why aren’t you using mana!”

At the right moment, I aimed for Asia’s sword as well.

At the moment our swords clashed.

‘Now!’

I surrounded my sword with mana.

Simultaneously, with a ‘clang’ sound, cracks appeared on both Asia’s and my swords.

‘Just in case the shards fly towards Asia…!’

Raising the broken wooden sword, I struck it.

As a result of the recoil, both Asia’s wooden sword and mine broke simultaneously, scattering into the air.

I smiled at Asia, who was standing dumbfounded as always.

“Clearly, the side whose sword breaks first loses… So, I guess this is a draw.”

Fortunately, the duel with Asia went as I had intended.

Although Asia was a bit angry at being outplayed by me.

“…If you try something like this again next time, I won’t forgive you.”

It seemed that Asia was unforgiving when it came to swords.

Just as I thought I had completed the test conditions.

“Amazing!”

The Messiah Viscount began to applaud me.

“It seems that Asia’s fiancé candidate is incredibly skilled. A draw with Asia!”

“You flatter me.”

I showed a humble attitude, as I couldn’t be arrogant even in front of the Messiah Viscount.

However…

“It’s a bit disappointing. A draw…”

The Messiah Viscount, who realized that I had deliberately led to a draw, seemed clueless.

I couldn’t understand why he suddenly brought this up.

Disappointed with the result.

‘Didn’t I fail the test?’

“So, I’ve planned something fun.”

“Fun plan?”

“Yes. I understand your skills to some extent. So, you should receive training that suits your level.”

The Messiah Viscount pointed to the commanders and vice-commanders who were observing the training on the outskirts of the training ground.

“You’ll have to face the commanders and vice-commanders.”

“…Understood.”

I had no choice but to agree.

“Oh, of course, you’ll be fighting them one by one.”

“Understood.”

Three commanders and three vice-commanders.

In other words, I had to engage in six duels just like before.

The only difference this time was that the six opponents were at a higher level and had overflowing stamina.

‘Well, it’s not that difficult.’

Compared to the thirty consecutive duels with the old man, it was nothing.