Chapter 49

Becoming the leader of the Annihilation Squad didn't change his daily routine.

It was just that the number of training grounds he visited increased from one to two.

The Blue Knight Order, which Killian visited belatedly, had finished their physical training and was in the middle of sparring.

“You're here?”

“I'm late.”

“It's alright. More importantly, the new Centurion is adapting quickly.”

Julian, his gaze fixed on the sparring taking place in the training ground, continued in a solemn voice.

“Now that the recruitment restriction has been lifted, the strength of the Blue Knight Order will rise rapidly. There are quite a few who want to join after hearing of your fame.”

The recruitment restriction, which had been issued by the Head's order to replenish the forces lost after the subjugation, had been lifted.

Julian was praising Killian while reminding him of that fact.

“We'll have to pick a new Decurion.”

Killian said, looking at the roughly 400 squad members lined up in the training ground.

Perhaps because of the three Centurions' origins, a particularly large number of mercenaries were joining the Blue Knight Order.

The new Centurion, Vasago, who had joined with a mercenary group of 50, was no exception.

He was not even 170 cm tall, but his appearance, clad in heavy armor and fiercely swinging an axe, was like that of a small giant.

Clang!

Sparks flew as the double-bladed axe swung by Vasago clashed with Huan's sword.

Like Huan, Vasago was also one who had mastered the 3rd star.

Huan, who was panting from the continuous axe blows, began to be pushed back, and before long, the duel concluded with Vasago's axe sending his sword flying.

“What do you think?”

“Not bad.”

“I plan to embrace the mercenary forces more in the future. So, the new knight commander position I mentioned before, you should…”

“I think we can take that a little more slowly.”

Killian cut off the proposal with a single stroke and scanned Vasago.

‘A proper one has come in.’

It was obvious at a glance that his skill in handling weapons was a level above the existing Centurions.

‘Currently, the only one in the Blue Knight Order who can face him is Xenon.’

Xenon, who had gained enlightenment in the subjugation, had stabilized his 4th star.

Whether in terms of Mana usage or pure swordsmanship, he would be able to subdue Vasago without difficulty.

“We'll need to make some adjustments.”

Half of the hundred new squad members assigned under Vasago were mercenaries he had originally led.

For a smooth integration, it was necessary to break their spirit at least once.

It was the moment Killian was about to call the Vice-commander who was mediating the spar.

Fwoong.

Vasago suddenly pointed his axe at Julian, who was watching from the platform.

“Centurion Vasago!! I would like to request a lesson from the Commander!!”

‘This ungrateful bastard.’

Julian's face hardened at the rude behavior.

His achievement was at the mid-3rd star, but thanks to Killian's special training and the Head Apothecary's spiritual medicine, he was already not lacking when compared to a 3-star master.

No, he was confident that he possessed skills comparable to the 4th star.

‘But, just in case…’

What if a mere Centurion and the commander showed equal skill in front of hundreds of squad members?

The commander's honor would fall, and insubordination would soon follow.

‘A beating is the best medicine for a dog that bites its master.’

It was just as Julian was trying to put on a relaxed expression and call Xenon.

“Come to think of it, it's been a while since you've had real combat experience after the subjugation, hasn't it?”

“What…?”

“Go out and show them the commander's skill.”

Grin.

Killian said with a gentle smile.

“Wait a minute! There's no need to…”

“Commander Julian will personally give you a lesson! Consider it an honor!”

Before Julian could finish his words, Killian's voice, imbued with Mana, echoed in the training ground.

Vasago's eyes glinted.

The reason he had provoked Julian was to draw out Xenon.

He had intended to strengthen his position by showing a battle on par with the Vice-commander, but unexpectedly, the commander had taken the bait.

‘This is a chance.’

It was said that the real power in the Blue Knight Order was Killian Eurasia.

‘They say the commander, Julian Eurasia's skill is below that of the Centurions. Hehe… this is going to be easy.’

A moment later, Julian, Vasago, and Xenon, who was acting as the referee, took their places in the center of the spacious training ground.

“New Centurion. You've overreached, trusting in your axe skills.”

“It is an honor to receive a lesson from the Commander!”

Vasago raised his double-bladed axe and performed a clumsy salute.

“You don't look very honored.”

Julian clicked his tongue with a sullen expression.

Vasago's lips twitched at the continuous taunts.

“How could that be? To cross swords with one of the heroes of the subjugation is a family honor for this Vasago.”

“Do you even have a family to be proud of?”

“……”

The knights who knew that Julian's reaction stemmed from his original personality, not from a deliberate provocation, burst into laughter.

But for Vasago, who was accustomed to his status as a mercenary leader, it was an unfamiliar treatment.

‘This young punk… he's quite good with his mouth.’

Unlike his smiling face, a fighting spirit was welling up.

The strangely condescending expression and the way he spoke were not much different from how he himself had provoked Huan.

‘So he's the commander, huh.’

He realized that he was trying to establish discipline over him.

‘My Mana and stamina haven't recovered yet.’

Even if Julian Eurasia's skill was as rumored, there was no harm in being careful.

‘I'll have to lose appropriately.’

To do that, his Mana would have to be recovered for a decent picture to emerge.

“Bring me a recovery potion.”

Julian's face contorted at Vasago's attitude of ordering a Decurion.

His blood as a merchant, not a knight, was telling him. He had to push him now.

“There's no need to waste any unnecessary time on a lesson. Raise your axe.”

Vasago could not hide his bewilderment at Julian's sudden attitude.

Weren't knights guys who went through unnecessary formalities out of consideration and respect for their opponents? Moreover, unlike the Centurions, Julian Eurasia was a Young Master from a sword family.

Sufficient rest before a series of spars was a basic…

“Vice-commander, begin.”

At the commander's order, Xenon immediately announced the start of the spar.

Clang!

Julian thrust his sword with lightning speed.

“……!!”

Vasago, who had twisted his axe to block it, staggered back.

‘F-fast.’

Fwoong. Fwoong. Fwooong.

Vasago closed the distance and swung his axe, but Julian, who was clad in Mana, dodged the attack with just his movements, without any particular response.

It was a hair's breadth evasion, so close that the expression ‘a paper's width’ was fitting.

The commander was showing movements a level above the Centurion Huan he had just faced.

‘Don't tell me the rumors were wrong.’

Vasago, trying to hide his bewilderment, swung his axe low.

If it had hit, it would have been an attack that could have cut off a leg.

But Julian dodged it in one go.

And immediately followed up with a kick to Vasago.

Crack.

His arm, which he had not had time to strengthen with Mana, was shaken by the impact. It was because the weight of the axe he had just swung was added to it.

“Keuk…”

Vasago groaned and stepped back.

“Oh dear, is it broken? You should have clad yourself in Mana from the beginning.”

“……”

“Ah, or perhaps you were tired from your battle with Centurion Huan.”

Vasago's face contorted.

He could feel the commander's intention to break him for good.

Thump.

He took out a new axe from his waist.

A one-handed axe.

A secondary weapon he carried in case of a situation like this.

“You're certainly well-prepared for a mercenary. I'll give you that.”

“……!!”

Fwoong. Fwooong. Fwoong.

It was the moment Vasago, who had been swinging his axe threateningly, closed the distance once again.

Fwoosh.

A Red Flame erupted from Julian's sword.

The flames that flowed out from the sword as a medium obscured his vision.

“What…”

It was the moment the bewildered Vasago was about to create distance.

Julian's sword, which had appeared through the Red Flame, aimed for Vasago's shoulder.

He hastily raised his axe to defend, but his posture was not good.

Crack.

His shoulder was dislocated and the arm holding the axe dangled.

In this state, he couldn't even lift his arm.

“Keuk…”

Vasago groaned.

As the watching Blue Knight Order cheered, a confident smile appeared on Julian's face.

“Centurion Vasago, do you want to go on?”

“No… sir. I express my gratitude for the commander's lesson.”

Vasago, who had readily admitted defeat, was helped away.

Clap, clap, clap.

The knights paid their respects to Julian's improved skill with thunderous applause.

‘Not bad, Julian.’

Killian, who had been watching, raised his voice, looking at the stiff new squad members.

“Now that we've seen the Centurion's skill, we'll have to check the Decurions too, right? Xenon.”

“Yes! Tactician!!”

“Summon the new recruits under Vasago and have the Decurions step forward. Whether it's a sword or an axe, I'll face them myself.”

“Understood!!”

At Xenon's command, the knights came out to the training ground one by one and picked up their weapons.

Most of them picked up swords, but there were quite a few who handled axes or spears like Vasago.

“Hehe… it's finally starting.”

Huan grinned, looking at Vasago being helped out of the training ground.

“You seem happy, Lord Loser Huan?”

“Shut up, Hector. You don't know how monstrous that guy's strength is, do you? He's like a small Troll.”

“Yeah, yeah. You must be proud to have lost to a Troll and not a human.”

“What? You son of a…”

“Shh, quiet down, you guys. We might get caught in the crossfire. Don't you know Tactician Killian's personality?”

Jesse, Hector, and Huan suppressed their rising smiles and maintained a solemn expression.

A moment later.

Familiar groans erupted in the training ground.

***

It was around the time he had faced about half of the new squad members.

A guard who had approached cautiously opened his mouth.

“Young Master Demian has visited. He wishes to see Tactician Killian.”

It was not an unexpected visit.

“Understood. I'll be there shortly.”

After finishing the spar and stopping by the reception room, a lightly dressed Demian was drinking tea alone.

Demian, who put down his teacup, smiled and continued.

“How is the Annihilation Squad?”

Killian read the emotions in Demian's eyes.

Curiosity, acknowledgment, anticipation. Various emotions were complexly mixed.

“They're all treating me well.”

“Treating you well, huh. That's an interesting answer.”

“What brings you here?”

“I thought you might choose me. I heard you've been in contact with the Black Knight Order as well.”

“I've decided to observe their training and give them lessons from time to time.”

“You're making things interesting. Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've seen Lord Bastian.”

It was a question with many meanings.

‘Is he throwing a bait?’

There was no reason to avoid it.

“I have taken Lord Bastian's place.”

“I see.”

After a moment of repeatedly filling and emptying his teacup with an ambiguous expression.

Demian, who had finished his judgment, nodded.

“Stop by the White Knight Order sometime. Just facing you would be of great help to the knights. I'll compensate you as much as you want.”

“I will.”

Demian was a genius comparable to Edan.

He would grow the knight order on his own even if left alone.

It was while he was thinking that.

“I came to find you because I have something to ask.”

He revealed the real reason he had come to find Killian.

“Please speak.”

“There was a request from the Cornelia family.”

Cornelia.

At the sound of that name, the face of Sharle, whom he had met at the banquet, naturally came to mind.

‘So they were in contact with Demian separately.’

Demian Eurasia and Arles Cornelia.

It was not strange for them, the first young masters of their respective families and influential future heads, to maintain a private friendship.

“A request?”

“We have agreed to cooperate in dealing with a knight of the Empire who has infiltrated as a spy.”

At those words, Killian felt that something was unusual.

A family of the caliber of Cornelia would not ask for cooperation in dealing with a single ordinary imperial knight.

As expected.

“The opponent is a knight who has reached the realm of a Superhuman. A fellow named Mainz.”

“……”

Killian's smile disappeared at the familiar name that was mentioned next.

And for good reason.

‘The 7-star knight, Mainz Kimbel.’

He was the Sword Master of the Empire who had brought the previous leader of the Annihilation Squad to his death.

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