30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 39

The cadets from the Swordsmanship Department, those of commoner birth.

Currently referred to as the "saplings" or the "sapling squad," they were different from the noble cadets who had been rebellious from the start. From the first encounter, they showed little resistance toward Ihan. This was partly because he came from a lower background than theirs, but also because they were drawn to his "strength."

The image of him overwhelming the vice-commander of a renowned sword-fighting family, who had insulted him, was burned into their minds. He was strong. That he could become so powerful despite his lower status than theirs was astonishing.

And later, when they got to know him more formally, they discovered that he had never learned the "Toughening Technique." In some ways, this was obvious. They’d heard that starting the Toughening Technique at the age of five was considered late.

Naturally, it was something out of reach for those of the lower classes. To begin learning the Toughening Technique, which involves acquiring life force, or combat power, one needs a master to guide them and the help of a priest to protect their young body from damage. It’s an expense that commoners can never afford.

...Some say it’s possible to train in the Toughening Technique safely as an adult, but how realistic is that?

Maybe for a genius or someone with a heroic fate, but, unfortunately, most people are neither. They’re simply struggling day by day to survive.

That’s why they respect their instructor. He became a knight without learning the Toughening Technique, born into a harsher environment than theirs. And he’s strong.

Strength—he achieved this treasure, one that everyone covets, through sheer effort. Who wouldn’t admire that?

So they resolved to follow their instructor’s orders to the best of their abilities, enduring any harsh regimen.

“–Trainee number two, fall out.”

...Or so they thought.

“Y-yes, fall out!!”

“Your voice is too soft! Are you trying to make the others work harder to wake up?”

“N-no, sir!!”

“Your response should be ‘Yes, sir!’ Does my command sound like a joke to you?”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“Why aren’t you answering? Do you find my commands amusing?”

“...Yes, sir!”

“You answered two beats late. All trainees will now do thirty repetitions of PT exercise number 8!”

–Th-thirty repetitions!!

“Your voice is too soft! Make it one hundred!”

–One hundred!!!

“Good. Now fifty body twists.”

The instructor—or rather, the demon—blew his whistle and began issuing orders. If they failed to move in sync with the whistle’s rhythm, that too would be grounds for punishment.

“Aaaaaargh!!”

“Guuuuh-!”

“M-mother...!”

Screams echoed all around. The moves were undoubtedly painful, but it was strange for cadets who never neglected physical training to be in such agony. Yet today, they weren’t in their usual condition.

After all,

“We’ve only been at this for seven hours! Keep pushing!”

–Aaaaagh!!

...Seven hours. They’d been doing this for seven hours already, and they were starting to lose their minds.

Two days prior, at dawn.

The training field was cloaked in darkness, untouched by the morning sun, with the cadets of the Swordsmanship Department gathered. Not all of them were present.

The day before, Ihan had only summoned the saplings.

...Though he hadn’t called for them, they still showed up.

“Kunta, this seems like it’ll be fun.”

“...No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem that way.”

“Yet here you are, young master, full of ambition, like the rest.”

“You wretch! Show some respect for your lord...!”

“Call me Roen, not ‘you.’”

“!!?”

The four Ihan considered different from others had appeared, along with one who seemed more fitting for an assassin than a knight. And then...

“W-why am I...?”

The cadet, who had just finished paperwork and was relishing a sweet sleep, was now resentfully dragged here against his will.

“Well, everyone’s here.”

Ihan finally appeared, gathering them all.

“Hmm, doesn’t seem like anyone ran off. Huh? You guys came too?”

The young masters and the chicks had been told they didn’t have to come, so why were they here?

Garand provided the answer.

“You said you’d teach us the [Techniques] properly during this ‘Special Intensive Training,’ so of course, we had to come.”

“...You could have learned it later, though.”

With their talents, they could learn whenever they wanted, so why now? Ihan looked puzzled, but they were serious.

“We could learn it later, but we don’t want to be treated as exceptions.”

They didn’t wish to slack off, despite their talents. If that were the case, they would have returned to their families or masters back home.

Seeing their determination, Ihan scratched his head.

“...Hmm, well, I did need extra hands, so this is convenient.”

If the extra hands fall right into his lap, he’ll make use of them thoroughly. As Ihan was inwardly pleased,

“Wait, we’re here too!”

“...Ah, hello, Instructor.”

“......Why are you here?”

Why were more people coming when he’d told them not to?

Irene Windler and Cadet No. 1, also known as Levi Folt, blended in with the other cadets in their light workout clothes, and Ihan blinked.

“Hmm, let me ask you first, Cadet No. 2, why did you come?”

“Well, this is somewhat my responsibility, so I thought I should take some of it.”

“Hmm, admirable.”

Irene Windler’s statement was reasonable. She wasn’t directly to blame, but her presence was indeed a factor in the events unfolding. Typical of a heroine in a romance fantasy.

She’d overcome Ihan’s ominous warning that “If you come, you might end up needing a year of recuperation.”

Irene Windler faced him with a determined look...!

“So, what’s your real reason?”

“I don’t want to end up like the professor who insists he’s twenty-eight. I thought I’d try some exercise, but doing it alone doesn’t motivate me, so, hehe...”

“...I appreciate the honesty.”

She wasn’t entirely admirable, it seemed.

[Irene, I can’t say I’m even embarrassed by your persistence anymore.]

‘...I’m starting to find my shamelessness terrifying too.’ freёwebnovel.com