173 The recruitment of female soldiers in the Hwamaekline territory continued for as long as three weeks.
However, at some point, the number of applicants stopped increasing, which caused anxiety in those who applied first.
Applicants with different circumstances gathered together and were busy talking about the situation.
“They feed me well… but it’s not going to end like this, is it?”
When Cassandra spoke with an anxious expression, everyone around her glared at her as if to stop her from saying something unlucky.
But no one was hasty in coming forward.
This was because most of the applicants learned that, despite her pretty appearance, Cassandra had tremendous strength during her three weeks at the training camp.
None of them wanted a muscular merchant who could lift a rock half the size of his own body to use his strength against them.
However, the only girl who gave a cute impression with her round features clinging to her side stomped her foot and hit Cassandra.
“Sister, if you say things like that, I can’t use it! What if that really happens? I’ve already received my monthly salary in advance!”
“Ah, Evelyn. I’m sorry. I’m just anxious…” “
Anyway, I won’t go even if you tell me to. I’ll stay here no matter what. I’ll eat well… Don’t pull the ball! I’m not that kid!”
The sight of Evelyn crossing her arms in excitement was so cute that a smile appeared on Cassandra’s lips without her knowing.
The wait wasn’t boring at least because the child reminded me of the younger brother I left behind in my hometown.
“…Yes. Well, he is a nobleman in name and appearance, but he will keep his word. I heard he is a famous nobleman.”
I use the words I say to myself to soothe my anxiety.
“Everyone gather at the parade ground! Sir Eileen Floyd has arrived.”
A voice was heard that caught everyone’s attention.
* * *
“Nice to meet you all. I am Eileen Floyd, the person who will be your leader and instructor from now on.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the applicants who had been in awe began to chatter here and there.
“Awesome! She’s that pretty, but she’s a knight?”
“Is it true?”
“Nonsense!”
The general applicants whispered so, but Cassandra felt a creepy feeling from the pretty woman, who was a head shorter than her.
I felt even more nervous than when I saw a hungry bear wandering far away on the mountain behind me.
‘It’s clear. A real knight.’
Even the driver who visited the village a few years ago didn’t feel that kind of intimidation.
She is alone and nervous, looking up at the podium.
“I think everyone probably doesn’t know much about me or has only heard vague rumors. That might make them anxious. So, I’ll show you in person.”
Grumbling.
A spark of force rose from the unusual blue sword held out by a female knight named Eilen.
Forcefire.
A technique where the force goes beyond strengthening the weapon and shows off its overflowing power to those around it.
Because of its low efficiency, it was rarely used on the battlefield, but it was an appropriate method to demonstrate one’s skills as it is now.
It was a skill that only a senior knight could use, but there was no one here who could recognize it.
just.
“wow…!”
Like Cassandra, I just let out an exclamation without realizing it.
“I believe that anxiety will be gone at this moment. If you don’t know what it is.”
Skag.
Ugh.
A sword that splits a platform made of hard stone with a single blow.
“Wow!”
“Believe what you see with your own eyes. That I am here to make you strong.”
The 232 people gathered in the training hall brightened their eyes at the confident voice of the female knight.
‘It seems like it worked.’
Eilen massaged the hands behind her back and smiled proudly.
Even before I got used to the new level, the sword I swung with all my might put a bit of a strain on my body.
However, looking at the changes in the eyes of the applicants as a result, I could see that the strategy had worked.
‘It’s a good start.’
The burden I felt when I realized that what I had proposed as a good idea turned into a mission, and that mission was ultimately an important task to create a new wave in this country.
The burden changed her perspective and changed her thinking.
And at that moment, she crossed over the wall of stagnation and stepped into the realm of superiority.
Knights who had been stuck in one place for years or even decades would be so unfair that they would vomit blood, but Eileen took even that as a kind of revelation.
That I can do this.
Therefore, it was necessary to instill confidence in these trainees.
“You will be the pride of our territory. Our territory’s secret weapon that does not exist in other territories. We will receive that much support and we will achieve even greater results. Is there anyone who is not confident?”
“doesn’t exist!”
“No, no!”
“Okay. Then, we will begin our first training immediately. To the instructor.”
“from now on!”
“run!”
A brief instruction was given in a suddenly changed tone, followed by a repetition, and the instructors standing under the podium began running in unison.
“What? Suddenly?”
There were some people who were embarrassed.
“Run after me!”
The trainees, led by Cassandra who immediately caught up, started running all at once, following the urging instructors.
Reckless, clumsy movements without any formation.
That was the beginning of Lady McLane, who would later become famous in the world.
* * *
“Whoa….”
Running after the instructor wasn’t that difficult of a workout for Cassandra.
Because I was confident in my strength and stamina.
As such, while I was running, my thoughts were elsewhere.
‘If I were a noble, would I have been able to do that if I had learned swordsmanship properly?’
I was so jealous of the female knight who had already achieved the utopia she dreamed of at a similar age.
And I wanted to be like that too.
‘I can do it too!’
Isn’t that why you came here?
The majesty shown by the female knight gave her confidence.
Although it was a little late, I had found the right path.
If you can defeat all the men in your class with your strength, your talent won’t be too far behind.
‘You just have to try. ‘You just have to try.’
With that promise, I keep running.
“Have you done any training or anything like that?”
“Huh?!”
“Ah, I’m sorry for startling you. Slowly and slowly, controlling your breathing. Yes. Yes, that’s right.”
Huh. Huh.
Cassandra looked at the female knight who suddenly approached her side with startled eyes.
“Is it all training?”
“Yes. Looking at your body shape and muscles, it looks like you’ve trained quite well. You seem talented.”
“Oh no. Huh. I’ve only been doing farming…”
Cassandra blushed at the female knight’s words.
I felt sincerity in the female knight’s words.
I have always been the target of teasing for my height of 180cm, broad shoulders for a woman, and tight muscles…
“Do I really have the talent to do it?”
“Of course. Even if you haven’t trained it specifically, a body like this is truly overflowing with talent. I look forward to it in the future. What’s your name?”
“It’s Cassandra. Huh.”
“Okay Cassandra. It won’t be long before we have another female knight in our territory. Work hard.”
“Yes yes!”
Cassandra screamed so loudly that her breathing became difficult again without her knowledge.
Seeing her like that, the female knight gave her a pat on the shoulder and immediately ran to talk to the other person.
The sight of him carrying on a long conversation while breathing comfortably while wearing heavy armor during a frantic sprint was truly the stamina of a senior knight.
Cassandra’s eyes were shining much brighter than before.
‘I will definitely end up like that too.’
While Cassandra was at the front of the line, closely following the instructor, there were others at the back of the line who barely managed to catch up without falling behind.
One of them, Evelyn, was forcing herself to move her legs while barely letting out her breath that was welling up to her chin.
It felt like she reached her limit less than 30 minutes after she started running, but Evelyn didn’t stop for a long time after that.
‘I can’t fall down.’
Still, I applied here and ate three meals a day for the past few weeks.
So your body will endure.
You must endure unconditionally.
If you fail and collapse here, you may have to cough up the monthly salary you have already received in advance.
That can’t be possible.
‘I am the hope of my family.’
Eilen didn’t want to be a soldier or live here.
He just grabbed it because it was the only chance for him and his remaining family to make a living.
But even more so.
‘I can never fall!’
It was my first time running for such a long time.
I never thought of myself as having particularly good athletic ability.
That’s why you have to learn.
Evelin adjusted her posture little by little as she watched the instructors ahead and the leader of the line.
Of course, even so, limitations came at every moment.
Then at some point.
Suddenly running became easier.
Breathing became easier and strength returned to my limbs as if it were a lie.
‘You can just do it. Hehe’
I like it so much.
“Already at this level?! Be conscious of your breathing, take long inhales and exhale slowly! Move your limbs regularly.”
Breathe?!
Yes, it’s the pretty knight.
Evelin was startled and looked to the side to see the female knight.
“Don’t look at me, but focus on your breathing! You’re already over high at this level of running. Exercise your arms and legs regularly! Don’t put more effort into it! If you want to continue training, listen to me!”
Evelin didn’t understand what the female knight was saying, but she instinctively followed what she said.
Breathe long and move your limbs regularly.
I can’t believe I’m following the ranks so slowly.
“I’m only going to do physical training for a while. This phenomenon may repeat itself every time, so remember what I just said. That way, I can complete the training without any aftereffects.”
The words thank you did not come out of my mouth.
No matter how much easier it became, I still felt short of breath.
However, he clearly remembered the back of the female knight who took such good care of him.
‘A person who takes care of even those who fall behind. Someone who believes in me. ‘You must not give up your faith.’
Thinking about that made me feel a little stronger.
With faith for faith.
Reflecting on the only belief of her sixteen-year-old life, Evelyn worked hard with her arms and legs again.
And I tried to focus on my breathing as the female doctor taught me.
– Ugh. He’s such a good kid, but how can I leave something this simple…
– You should trust the person who trusts you, not the person who gives you food. If you keep that faith, people around you will care more about you. got it?
I am following your words, father.
When I get my next monthly salary, I will buy some good medicine, so hold on tight.
I threw away the gloomy thoughts that suddenly occurred to me.
Evelyn laughed again like she always did.
I felt like I had a little more strength.
* * *
“I received a call from Clayton that the Magic Tower has added 12 disciples.”
“It was so crowded, but there were only twelve people? Isn’t there a problem with that talent test magic circle? I invested as much money as I could…”
Logan made a puzzled expression as he remembered the magic tower, which was always crowded with several times more people than when recruiting administrators.
Then Dwayne shook his head.
“The wizard’s talent . It means that there are very few people who have it. Moreover, Mr. Clayton says that personality is also important, so he filters out a small number of successful applicants.”
“Hmm. Well, that’s worth it. Anyway, you keep getting more?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Yes. It’s a bit disappointing to see the numbers right now, but I don’t think it’s anything to do with me. Are there any other reports?”
Logan’s voice was filled with subtle anticipation, and Dwayne immediately knew what he was talking about.
“Yes? Oh, you mean that experiment? You didn’t say anything about that.”
“Hmm… I guess I’ll have to go and see. By the way, are the top preparations going well?”
“Yes. We are preparing as you said, but are you really going to build the top?”
“Uh. That’s why I prepared it.”
Logan’s answer was firm, but Dwayne still looked uneasy.
“Philip, I admit he’s smart, but he still has this amount of capital…” ”
I’ve also thought of a supplementary plan, so don’t worry too much. .”
“A supplement?”
“There is such a thing.”
Logan smiled meaningfully as he looked at Dwayne’s puzzled expression, but did not explain further.
And at that moment.
“Logan, I suddenly had a question…”
No knocking. The door opened and Padric came in.
“Father?”
“What’s going on, my lord?”
“Is there a problem with the knights’ training?”
“Oh, no. Now they are doing well on their own. I thought of a more important issue than that.”
“…A more important issue?”
It’s more important to Padric McLane than knight training.
At those words, Logan and Dwayne’s faces hardened for an instant.
“Dwayne, what about you? Could you please come out? This is something that should be said between father and son.”
“Yes? Ah, I understand, my lord. Confucius, then I am.”
“Okay, go in. Dad, what’s going on?”
“That’s it…”
As soon as he was about to open his mouth, Padrick saw Dwayne’s movements as he was about to leave the door slowing down, and he burst out laughing.
“Dwayne. Aren’t you busy?”
“Yes, yes. I’m going, I’m going. Still, if it’s such an important issue…. Ugh. There may be some problems that I don’t have to know about. Yes, I will disappear.”
As soon as Dwayne closed the door and left the door at Padrick’s glare.
“Prince Logan!”
The door opened again and Eileen with a bright complexion appeared.
“Ah. Your father was there too.”
At the word “father,” a smile appeared on Padrick’s face for an instant.
“I have something to report to you regarding training. “I’ll wait a bit.”
“No, no. Come in. After all, both of them had business to attend to.”
Both?
Questions appeared on Logan and Eilen’s faces for a moment, but Padric gestured with his hand and took a step back.
“Ah, yes. But I’m just going to report on the progress…”
“Tell me, Eilen. Is it because of training? Is there a problem?”
“No. I just want to let you know that there is no problem. Everyone is either talented or full of will. Rather, the problem is that it is excessive. Even though my physical strength is a bit low, no one wants to give up, and I think I will be able to finish my physical training in a few months and begin full-scale military training.” ”
… That’s a good thing.”
“Of course. Of course!”
Eilen’s flushed face made Logan smile.
‘It’s amazing that he has reached such a level in such a short period of time.’
It is something that must be done. However, I was worried because the beginning was weak, but when the person involved showed such motivation, those worries seemed to disappear.
“If the results are as good as this, it will be a great help to the family.”
“Of course.” I will believe it.”
The crossed gazes conveyed firm belief and gave confidence that everything would work out well.
But then.
“Okay. This was the problem.”
“Yes?”
Logan and Eilen’s heads turned to the side at the voice suddenly interjecting.
“How come you guys only talk about work when there are two of you?”
“…?”
“Family growth is good, but I I want to see my grandchildren more. “Are you guys dating recently? When are you going to get married?”
The two people froze in response to Padric’s barrage of questions.
