Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Damian felt his heart flutter, a sensation akin to nervous excitement.

It was an unexpected encounter, and considering that this person had the greatest impact on his past life, it was even more significant.

Damian looked at Leonhark.

‘He hasn’t changed much since then.’

The only difference, perhaps, was the increased wrinkles on his face and hands.

“Is your name Damian?” Leonhark asked again.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Leonhark silently observed Damian, his gaze briefly scanning him.

Aside from his slightly above-average height for his age, there wasn’t much that stood out about his physique.

The scars on his palms were notable, but what truly caught Leonhark’s attention was something else.

‘He’s practicing a rather decent mana cultivation method.’

Though the amount of mana was minimal, considering his age, it was an extraordinary level.

Damian, accompanied by the head instructor, Raymon, headed to the reception room.

Once seated, Leonhark looked at Damian and asked, “Raymon, who usually has such high standards, praised you so much that I came to see you myself. And I must say, your eyes look just fine where they are.”

“Haha, I’m still alive, sir,” Damian replied, his response carrying a hint of familiarity.

Leonhark’s way of giving compliments was as blunt as ever.

Damian just smiled faintly as he looked at Leonhark.

Leonhark took a sip of the coffee in front of him and then asked, “Where did you learn spear techniques?”

“My late father taught me,” Damian answered promptly.

Before Damian could say more, Raymon added, “His father was a former soldier of the kingdom.”

Leonhark nodded in approval. “You had an excellent father. Judging by your skills, your father must have been quite capable.”

“...Yes.”

This version of Leonhark felt a bit unfamiliar to Damian.

In his memories, Leonhark was always swearing and resorting to violence.

But Damian knew the truth.

Behind that harsh exterior was a man who desperately wanted to survive the chaotic times of war.

‘He was much softer back then.’

Time had clearly changed him.

Of course, such traits must have existed within him to begin with, which is why he changed as he did.

Damian chuckled inwardly.

But then, Leonhark asked, “Do you have any specific unit you’d like to join after graduation? You seem like someone who could apply to any unit except for the knights.”

The knights were essentially an exclusive domain for the nobility.

Therefore, most soldiers graduating from training aimed for positions as royal administrative soldiers.

It was the safest, most comfortable position, offering frequent interactions with high-ranking nobles and plenty of perks beyond the basic salary.

It was the quintessential cushy job.

As such, most trainees who performed well chose to join the royal administrative unit.

“Are you aiming to become a royal administrative soldier?” Leonhark inquired.

Damian shook his head.

“Given my personality, I don’t think I could handle being a royal administrative soldier. I’d get too restless.”

“Haha, is that so? Then where do you intend to go?”

“I’m aiming for the Neokalitz unit.”

“...?”

“Yes, Neokalitz.”

Leonhark’s eyes wavered slightly.

Raymon, who was sitting beside him, nearly jumped out of his seat in shock and immediately asked Damian,

“Are you serious?”

It was a natural reaction.

The Neokalitz unit was the most dangerous and roughest among all the units under the 3rd Division.

The sole purpose of the Neokalitz unit was to suppress the monsters emerging from the Bronselian Forest in the western part of the Kaldeson Mountain Range, which runs through the heart of the Baroque Kingdom.

The unit was comprised of about a hundred soldiers, but every year, more than ten of them would die in action. It was a perilous assignment.

Leonhark put down his cup and asked, “...Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because it’s a place where I can become stronger.”

Damian’s answer was immediate, without a hint of hesitation.

Leonhark was curious.

What drove this young boy, in such a peaceful era, to become obsessed with getting stronger?

If it were twenty years ago, during the times when wars between nations broke out frequently, it would be understandable.

Back then, if you were weak, you either died or became a slave.

But now, the times had changed.

“...If you want to train your body and grow stronger, I could write you a recommendation for the knights’ training academy.”

“The knights’ training academy?” Raymon nearly jumped again at Leonhark’s words.

The knights’ academy was an exclusive domain for nobles, a place where commoners could scarcely set foot.

But with Leonhark’s recommendation, the situation would change.

It would open up the opportunity to become a knight. However...

“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline. I’ve already made up my mind.”

“What?”

Raymon looked completely bewildered.

He couldn’t hide his shock as he spoke to Damian.

“Do you understand what kind of opportunity this is? You could join the knights!”

If Damian did so, the 3rd Training Camp would gain the prestige of producing a knight.

“And do you know what the Neokalitz unit is like? It’s an extremely dangerous place. Most soldiers sent there are on the brink of being expelled from the army.”

Raymon spoke plainly.

The Neokalitz unit was so dangerous that most soldiers avoided it at all costs. Some would rather retire than be assigned there.

As a result, the unit was mostly populated by soldiers who chose it over military prison.

“Let him be,” Leonhark said with a stern expression.

“But, sir!”

“I can’t override this trainee’s decision. He must bear the responsibility for his choices.”

Leonhark spoke with a resolute tone.

“Sorry to take up your time. Best of luck with your remaining training. As for the Neokalitz unit, you’ll be able to join regardless of your grades.”

Leonhark abruptly left the reception room.

His sudden departure left Raymon visibly flustered.

Raymon turned to Damian and said,

“...You’ve just missed the opportunity of a lifetime!”

With that, Raymon rushed after Leonhark. When he caught up to him, he said,

“Sir, I think he’s too young to fully understand the situation. Let me try to convince him again.”

Raymon began to plead with Leonhark, but Leonhark simply asked,

“Do you truly believe that boy doesn’t understand the situation?”

“...What?”

Leonhark glanced back towards the reception room.

He recalled the look in Damian’s eyes, his expression.

Leonhark thought back to Damian’s demeanor and then...

“Hahaha... I don’t know where a boy like that came from.”

Leonhark had spent nearly 30 years in the military.

He had encountered plenty of elite soldiers and countless rogues.

But...

‘I’ve never seen anyone quite like him.’

A boy with steely determination in his eyes and unwavering resolve.

Considering he was only thirteen, it was hard to believe.

Leonhark spoke.

“Let him be. If he’s part of the 3rd Division... we’ll meet again someday.”

If he survives, that is.

Leonhark kept his thoughts to himself as he walked away, laughing quietly.

“Hey, Damian!”

“Come on, tell us what happened! Hurry!”

“What did they say? That instructor is a legend among the others, so didn’t you hear anything interesting?”

As soon as Damian returned to the barracks, his comrades swarmed him.

Damian chuckled at the sight of them crowding around him.

“There’s nothing to tell, so back off.”

“No way, that can’t be true.”

“Seriously? So you’re saying three guys just sat down, drank coffee, and chatted?”

“Get lost, you stink!”

Damian waved his hands dismissively and shouted at them.

“Let’s just rest up and prepare for the next match. The 3rd platoon doesn’t look like an easy opponent.”

At Damian’s words, the platoon members grumbled but eventually returned to their spots, albeit with sharp, determined looks in their eyes at the mention of the 3rd platoon.

‘The 3rd platoon with Apel...’

Whether it was because of Apel’s influence or not, the 3rd platoon was definitely a cut above the other two platoons.

‘We’ll find out when we face them.’

Whatever their secret might be, it didn’t matter.

“We’ll win, no matter what.”

Losing was never an option.

* * *

Later that night, when everyone else was asleep, Damian quietly slipped out of the barracks.

He headed to a secluded spot behind the training camp.

Having come here almost every night, it had practically become his secret hideout.

“Hoo...”

Damian sat down in his usual spot and took a deep breath, closing his eyes slowly.

As he did, Leonhark’s face from earlier in the day came to mind.

“If you want to train your body and grow stronger, I could write you a recommendation for the knights’ training academy.”

Leonhark’s offer echoed in his thoughts.

The knights’ training academy.

Perhaps, as the head instructor had said, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that he had turned down.

‘No regrets.

After all, I’ll rise on my own strength.

The knights?

Even in the past, those guys couldn’t stand tall in front of Damian.

They may walk around with their chests puffed out in these peaceful times, but...

‘When the age of war comes...’

Everything would change in an instant.

‘That’s when the real and fake knights will be exposed.’

Those who had trained for true knighthood versus those who simply bore the title of a knight.

There was no need to risk his life to join such an order.

Of course, if Leonhark himself were to teach him, that might have changed things.

But even that wasn’t necessary for Damian right now.

‘I’ve already learned plenty.’

At least once he reached his former level.

‘Then I’ll learn the secret spear techniques I couldn’t before...’

The secret techniques that he couldn’t learn because he couldn’t use mana back then.

But more importantly, there was a bigger reason Damian had to join the Neokalitz unit.

‘If I join the knights, I won’t be able to meet him.’

He had come to the 3rd Training Camp just to meet that person.

His mind was a swirl of thoughts, but Damian eventually cleared his head and focused solely on the Delft mana cultivation technique.

‘Once this night passes...’

I’ll be stronger again.

Right now, all he could do was keep moving forward.

* * *

The morning sun rose, filled with anticipation.

The instructors were bustling about from early morning.

The reason was the upcoming formation battle between the 1st and 3rd platoons.

“Haha, have you ever seen this much interest in a trainee platoon battle?”

“I’ve been stationed at the 3rd Training Camp for about six years, and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“That’s right. Sure, a few talented trainees have stood out before, but I’ve never seen a platoon battle that everyone looked forward to like this.”

The instructors moved quickly to prepare for the match, among them Leonhark.

“It’s quite an interesting atmosphere.”

“It’s an unusual situation. Honestly, both the 1st and 3rd platoons have shown such impressive formation skills that it’s hard to believe they’re just trainees.”

“Isn’t that because they’ve been well taught by their instructors?”

“...Haha.”

Raymon chuckled awkwardly at Leonhark’s remark.

If that were true, how great would that be?

But strangely, the trainees were accomplishing things beyond what they had been taught.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Leonhark and Raymon headed to the training grounds where the battle would take place.

At the same time...

“As you all know, the legend among the instructors met with Damian from the 1st platoon yesterday.”

Gerard, the leader of the 3rd platoon, spoke to his comrades.

“Honestly, I believe our Apel is far superior to Damian. It’s just that Damian is getting a lot of attention for some reason.”

The other platoon members nodded in agreement.

It was thanks to Apel that they were able to perform so well.

Everyone in the 3rd platoon acknowledged this.

“So I want to win this battle against the 1st platoon and prove that we are the true champions.”

Gerard made a fist and placed it on the shoulders of the platoon members beside him, pulling them into a circle.

“We must win.”

“Hyaaaaah!”

The 3rd platoon members shouted out in unison, raising their spirits.

Meanwhile, on the other side...

“As we’ve seen before, the 3rd platoon won’t be easy,” Damian said.

His comrades nodded seriously, their eyes reflecting their agreement.

“But I guarantee, there isn’t a single training platoon out there that can beat us. We’re... damn strong.”

“Haha, that’s right. We are pretty tough.”

Even though they were chuckling and shaking their shoulders, the 1st platoon members’ eyes were sharper than ever.

Damian spoke again, “Let’s go crush them.”

“Hyaaaaah!”

At Damian’s command, the 1st platoon members roared, their fighting spirit ignited.

Damian then glanced in the direction of the 3rd platoon.

The battle was progressing quickly.

Soon, both platoons had formed their respective formations and were facing each other.

And at that moment...

“Begin!”

With the instructor’s shout, the formation battle between the 1st and 3rd platoons began.