The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel

‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

Just as Skevin's face hardened, Arthur shouted.

“First one hundred to arrive! Touch the East Castle Wall and come back.”

‘Damn it!’

Skevin kicked off the ground and dashed toward the East Castle Wall.

Following him, Hellot, the rest of the Knight Order, and the Trainees chased after in that order.

Arthur, watching them, said to Millerf.

“I'm going to need your help.”

“There really is a lot to do.”

Millerf smiled and cast Fly Magic.

Suddenly, a wind blew and Millerf floated up into the air, flying towards the East Castle Wall.

Once the Sparring Arena was empty, Arthur squatted down and slowly got into a handstand. Then, he began training his body, shifting through various positions.

After about 10 minutes had passed, people started arriving one by one in front of the platform.

Skevin was the fastest, followed by the Knights who arrived one after another.

Another 10 minutes or so passed.

Hellot entered the Sparring Arena with Millerf, panting for breath.

Millerf approached the platform.

“That's one hundred people so far.”

Arthur, who had been in a handstand, sprang to his feet like a coiled spring.

Sweat poured from his entire body like rain.

He looked over the group gathered before the platform with cold eyes.

As expected, they were all from the Knight Order.

“Who's moving? Single out anyone who moves in the slightest or even pants. They'll be dismissed from the Knight Order.”

“Understood.”

Millerf's eyes glinted sharply as he watched them.

They clenched their mouths shut and held their breath.

Their hearts felt like they would burst, and their bodies trembled.

Everyone gritted their teeth and endured, but a few couldn't hold on and either staggered or let out their held breath.

At that, as if he had been waiting, Arthur shouted fiercely.

“Everyone, push-up position!”

They all dropped to the ground in unison.

But because they were packed so tightly, their bodies bumped into each other and they fell over.

“Ugh.”

“Move.”

“Hey! Move your foot.”

Sounds of bickering could be heard from all over.

“It seems there are still some who don't grasp the situation.”

Arthur's brow furrowed as he shouted.

“First fifty! Touch the East Castle Wall and get back.”

“This is insane.”

Skevin shot up and dashed toward the East Castle Wall.

Following him, the rest of the group scrambled to their feet and followed.

But they collided with the Trainees returning from touching the wall, creating a scene of utter chaos.

“Get out of the way!”

“Aargh!”

“Don't block the path!”

The Knights were busy shoving the Trainees aside as they ran, and the Trainees who were pushed around were sent flying and rolled on the ground.

There was no trace of camaraderie.

It seemed the only thought in their minds was to survive.

It made one wonder if these were truly men who held Chivalry in their hearts.

Millerf also frowned at the Knights' actions.

‘I'm witnessing a sight I never expected.’

The Trainees who had fallen to the ground quickly got up and scrambled to gather before the platform.

Pant, pant, pant.

Everyone wore a deathly expression as they gasped for breath.

Even in that state, more people kept arriving, and the line grew longer.

“Sit.”

The moment Arthur's word fell, the Trainees sat down like a crashing wave.

“Stand.”

The Trainees quickly stood up.

Again, it was a chaotic wave.

“Sit.”

From that point, an endless repetition began.

Signs of exhaustion were clearly visible on the Trainees' faces, and one by one, people started collapsing to the ground with a thud.

In the meantime, the Knights entered the Sparring Arena.

This time too, Skevin was the fastest, and though his breathing was a little rough, there was no sign of exhaustion.

“Millerf.”

“Yes.”

“Cast Weight Magic on number 1.”

“Understood.”

Millerf cast the spell on Skevin. At that, Skevin's face contorted.

“What is this?”

“Isn't it unfair to receive the same training when you're so much better than the others?”

“I will consider it an honor.”

Skevin gritted his teeth.

Until all the Knights arrived, the Trainees next to them continued to repeat the cycle of standing up and sitting down.

A short while later, all the Knights had entered the Sparring Arena.

To avoid a repeat of the previous situation, they suppressed their ragged breaths and stood perfectly still, like statues.

On the other hand, the Trainees continued to drop out.

Arthur watched silently without stopping it.

After about 10 more minutes passed, more than half of the Trainees had dropped out.

Only then did Arthur open his mouth.

“Everyone, form up.”

Shfl, shfl, shfl-.

The Trainees lined up next to the Knights.

They all had deathly expressions, and their leg muscles were so cramped they staggered, but they instinctively knew they must not make a sound or move.

They did their best to endure, overcoming the pain.

A tense atmosphere hung in the heated air of the Sparring Arena.

Arthur spoke as coldly as ice.

“Keep your wits about you. If you don't, you'll be crawling out of this training ground.”

A heavy silence fell.

“The answer to this officer's questions will be unified as 'Ack!'. Understood?”

“……”

“Still haven't come to your senses. This time, it's the south castle wall. First one hundred!”

As soon as his words fell, the Knights took off running.

But the Trainees' legs were cramped, and they limped, unable to even walk properly.

Millerf, watching the scene, asked cautiously.

“At this rate, it doesn't seem like the training will work...”

In the midst of that, a few gritted their teeth and ran towards the south castle wall, limping.

Arthur replied with a smile on his lips.

“It's going well.”

***

The training, which began at dawn, continued until the golden sunset began to glow.

Heated air rose from the Sparring Arena.

Skevin, too, breathed heavily and looked at Arthur with disappointed eyes.

‘This wasn't what I wanted.’

The others also glared at Arthur, their faces full of dissatisfaction.

So far, the so-called training had been nothing but running to touch the castle wall and repeatedly sitting and standing.

The Trainees, their stamina depleted, were on the verge of crawling out of the training ground.

The Knights, on the other hand, were enduring thanks to their basic physical fitness.

But, thinking they were being played by the Scoundrel's training-that-wasn't-training, they were on the verge of exploding.

They wanted to run to the platform right then and there and rip Arthur's mouth apart, but they couldn't because Skevin was silently following his orders.

But now, their dissatisfaction had turned to anger, and they were like time bombs about to go off.

‘That son of a bitch…’

Hellot glared at Arthur, his eyes filled with venom.

But his eyes were hidden by the brim of his hat, so it was impossible to know what he was thinking.

Everyone, seething with anger, listened intently for what Arthur would say next.

Arthur scanned them briefly and then opened his mouth.

“That's all for today's training. Any Recruit who is late tomorrow will be automatically expelled. Understood?”

Ack!

Everyone shouted as if their throats would burst. They were so angry that palpable fury could be felt along with their 'Ack!'.

‘Good, it's having an effect.’

Arthur, satisfied, calmly left the Sparring Arena with Millerf.

As his figure disappeared from sight, Skevin turned and spoke to the Recruits.

“Good work, everyone. Rest well today, and tomorrow, everyone gathers without a single person missing. Dismissed!”

Aaaack-!

        *        *        *

“Where is the Young Master?”

Skevin asked Andrew.

Andrew, who was waiting at the castle entrance, looked toward the East Castle Wall and answered.

“He is training.”

“Training?”

Skevin tilted his head and moved towards the East Castle Wall.

In the distance, he saw Arthur quickly descending the stairs and then climbing back up.

“Hmm…”

It seemed he was now doing the training he couldn't do today.

‘He's really relentless.’

Hah, hah, hah.

Arthur came up, breathing heavily.

“I think you can double the weight.”

“Understood.”

Millerf cast Weight Magic.

“Ugh.”

A low groan escaped Arthur's lips.

It was a burdensome weight, but since his stamina had been preserved, it was manageable.

Just as he was about to go back down, Skevin came up, panting.

“Ughh…”

His thighs and calves had hardened like stone, feeling as if logs were attached to them.

“Damn it.”

Skevin's face contorted.

Arthur looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“I have something to ask you, Young Master.”

Arthur nodded as if to tell him to speak.

“What was today's training for?”

“Didn't you say you wanted to become stronger?”

“At this rate, everyone is going to drop out.”

“The weak are bound to be culled. I have no intention of carrying everyone.”

“Young Master!”

As Skevin raised his voice, Arthur frowned and said.

“What do you plan to do on the battlefield with such a lax mentality? How many do you think will return alive?”

“...!”

“It's a place where not everyone can return alive, even if you march out at full strength.”

“But the training method is not just reckless, it's...”

“Enough.”

Arthur raised a hand to stop him.

He looked at him with eyes that had grown as cold as ice.

“If you trusted me and left it to me, then follow. You'll understand when this training is over.”

“Can we really become stronger?”

Arthur descended the stairs as if it wasn't worth answering anymore.

Skevin watched his retreating back and shouted.

“Please answer me!”

Millerf came to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Try to believe in the Young Master.”

“I want to. But didn't you see today as well, Sir Millerf? Everyone is full of complaints. If tomorrow is like today, something is going to happen.”

“Wouldn't you be able to handle it at your level?”

“That's true, but...”

Skevin's worries did not easily disappear.

“Your faith in the Young Master is lacking. Then, let me show you one simple thing.”

Millerf cast the same Weight Magic on Skevin that he had cast on Arthur a moment ago.

“Ugh!”

Skevin's face contorted from the pressure crushing his shoulders.

“What is this?”

“This is the weight the Young Master is currently enduring. And that's purely with his physical ability, excluding Mana.”

“This much?”

Skevin was shocked.

“The Young Master is growing stronger and stronger. And the training you all received today is nothing more than baby steps compared to the Young Master's training.”

“Hmm…”

“And watching from the side, it seems he's thinking of something more than just becoming strong.”

“Something more...”

Skevin's gaze deepened.

After a long while had passed.

From down below, Arthur could be seen coming up, panting for breath.

Skevin looked at Millerf with a resolute face.

“I too, starting tomorrow—no, right now, please give me the same weight as the Young Master.”

“Are you sure?”

Skevin nodded resolutely.

Millerf raised his staff and cast Weight Magic on him.

“Umpf!”

Skevin's face twisted grotesquely as one of his knees slammed onto the ground with a ‘thud!’.

“Damn it!”

“It's harder because your stamina is depleted.”

“If I can just become stronger...”

Skevin gritted his teeth and stood up.

Arthur, who had just come up, saw Skevin's face flushed bright red and tilted his head.

“What's wrong?”

“He asked me to give him the same weight as you, Young Master, so I did.”

Millerf answered for him.

“I will become stronger.”

Skevin's eyes burned fiercely.

“That passion will make you strong.”

“Thank you.”

“Go down and rest, then gather at the Sparring Arena by 9 o'clock with the Knight Order, dressed in Trainee uniforms.”

“What?”

Skevin's eyes widened.

Arthur tossed out a final remark as he started down the stairs again.

“Were you planning on training on equal terms with the Trainees?”