Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 168

Chapter 168

Episode 168

“Pant. Pant.”

“Crazy…”

“This is madness.”

Amidst the trainees, groans of agony emerged.

At the training ground, when the dawn jog that started around the large MacLaine Town for ten laps took place, everyone seemed to have some breath to spare.

But when it came to horseback riding training, which was so daunting just from the name – carrying one’s own weight while riding – over half of the knights let out strained screams.

And when it was time to start rock climbing with boulders strapped to them, almost every knight began to groan.

‘Are they seriously considering cutting us down?’

That thought crossed my mind momentarily.

Even Horhe, a top-tier knight who had focused solely on swordsmanship for the past decade or so, was bathed in sweat by this brutal physical training.

Still, he silently took part in it.

Partly because he was determined to settle down in MacLaine.

“Commander, sir. Could you please step in and say something…”

“Quiet, Denmil. Keep your eyes front. What am I to say in this situation?”

“Urgh. Though it’s tough…”

Despite their roles as instructors, the MacLaine knights themselves were undergoing the same training.

They were not simply giving orders; they too participated. How could they consider giving up first?

Above all, even the regular knights were maintaining a calm expression throughout this hellish training.

“This is it, the usual training for the MacLaine Knights Order. This insane training. No wonder they’re strong.”

Hearing that, Denmil’s complaints simmered down, and other knights who were eavesdropping nodded in agreement.

The evaluation of MacLaine immediately after the civil war had been over had mostly been about rumors surrounding Logan MacLaine and their weapons.

But the knights who faced them directly on the battlefield added another reason:

– The MacLaine knights are stronger than other knights of the same level. They easily overpower those of the same caliber and can trouble even higher-ranked knights.

Today, Horhe seemed to have glimpsed the source of that strength.

Unknown to them, their conversation had brought a smile to Logan, who was far ahead and had heard their voices.

Several hours later…

“Alright everyone, rest!”

“Woohoo! We survived!”

“Shh, quiet. It’s deafening.”

The training ended abruptly as more than ten regular knights fell behind, unable to cope with the unexpected intensity.

‘Brutal…’

It was a training session that made Horhe cluck his tongue.

Especially after they finished with the cliffside and were headed back to the training ground.

It was then, with that devilish final training, carrying the horses back, that took everyone by surprise.

Just when they thought they could ride back feeling reassured, they took a hit from behind.

Most of the stragglers had fallen there.

“These knights… Damn it. All they do is, huh, carry these… How is this reasonable?”

“There must be a reason behind it.”

“Indeed. To torment us.”

When everyone was collapsing from exhaustion, never having experienced such intense training in their lives.

“From now on, I will impart to you the Iron Blood Sword, a symbol of the MacLaine Knights Order. It is one of the intermediate sword techniques we have, and I dare say it is amongst the best of them. Stand up in your places!”

“Oof!”

“Intermediate sword technique?”

A mix of groans and questions filled the air.

“One instructor for every two trainees, meaning one of the existing MacLaine knights will teach a pair. Those who are learning should regard their teachers with respect, if only during the learning period. And those teachers, barring any serious issues, will become the senior knights for their temporary apprentices, taking on the responsibility of imparting MacLaine’s culture.”

The MacLaine knights’ faces brightened.

‘The Duke must truly be favoring us.’

However, the newly recruited knights’ faces turned pale.

They thought the past several days of kind treatment were merely groundwork laid for this torturous training.

‘Cruel bastards.’

And now to wield a sword in training? To treat them like teachers?

‘I might actually die.’

The fallen knights’ gazes all turned in one direction.

Feeling their stares, Horhe sighed softly and then got up.

He, too, thought this was a bit much.

Though for other reasons.

“Duke. I apologize, but the knights from the Kalia Order are already proficient in an intermediate technique named Wind Breaker. To learn something new at this point…”

“Do you not wish to learn?”

“That’s not it, but…”

“Sir Horhe. How about you give it a try yourself?”

Grin.

Overwhelmed by Logan’s confident words and the amusement in his red eyes, Horhe felt a chill run down his spine.

“I stick to Iron Blood Sword. But feel free to use all the techniques at your disposal.”

That one confident statement didn’t matter to him.

Horhe very well knew that Logan was stronger than him.

But still.

Thud.

“Draw your sword. Oh, you can use your beloved sword.”

“Excuse me?”

Horhe’s pride was struck when Logan, picking up a wooden sword, made that remark.

“My beloved sword is a class 3 artifact…”

“It doesn’t matter. Show me everything you’ve got.”

“…”

Horhe’s face hardened with anger and pride.

‘Even with those swords and artifacts, you could fight against supers. But with a wooden sword? Against me? Horhe?’

A surge of anger arose.

“If that’s what you desire…”

Swoosh.

“As you command.”

His beloved sword, Fortitudo, burst into a red hue at its tip.

And yet…

“Ranking comes down to…”

Whack!

“Understanding one’s place is of the utmost importance for a knight.”

Thump!

“What, with this level of swordsmanship?!”

Thud!

“Cough, cough…”

Horhe was struck down with a ferocious blow, one after another, without landing a single hit on his peer, and ultimately crumpled to the ground.

The onlookers, with eyes twice their normal size, watched the pitiful figure of Horhe churn on the ground.

The very person in question, instead of feeling embarrassed, was filled only with amazement as he looked toward Logan.

Cough.

“How can there be such a gap? Could it be…?”

“Swordsmanship makes all the difference.”

Understanding the unspoken words, Logan smirked and tossed the wooden sword aside.

It landed squarely on Horhe’s forehead.