1.
Step, step.
The sound of two pairs of footsteps echoed through a long, endless corridor. The noise rebounded heavily from the walls — not in the wing where the trainees were quartered, but in the very heart of the citadel, the main corridor of the inner castle.
One of those walking was, of course, Kun.
It was the second day since he had passed the exam and was recovering in the infirmary. After receiving word that the Head of General Administration himself had summoned him, Kun left his cot and set out. Ahead of him, acting as guide, strode the familiar senior instructor.
Whether because of the swarm of questions in his head or the skill of the old medic, walking felt surprisingly easy. Muscle pain and the burning of his wounds still lingered, but it was tolerable.
Soon the long corridor ended, and a massive staircase rising upward loomed before them. Kun began to climb, unconsciously flexing his fingers.
Why does the Head of Administration need me?
He had tried to pry the reason from the instructor, but the man merely answered dryly that Kun would learn upon arrival. Apparently, no one intended to confide in him. Remembering that moment, Kun narrowed his eyes in displeasure.
Hm.
In truth, he had his suspicions.
Most likely, it was connected to the first stage of the Lion Trial.
No matter how one looked at it, he had passed with an outstanding result. It was logical that the Head would personally present a reward to a distinguished trainee. Though for a mere trainee, such an audience still seemed excessive.
But...
If one assumed the Head knew who truly resided in this body, everything fell into place. Kun had long noticed that the gazes of the senior instructors toward him differed from those directed at others.
Sharper. More cautious. Deeper.
Even considering his rapid growth, an ordinary instructor would not look at a rootless upstart that way unless he knew the truth. And if they knew, then so did the Head. Kun smirked inwardly.
Decided to personally verify how the “young master” has changed?
And this after sending him to Lion’s Moat to die? For Kun, who occupied the position of that very youngest son, the situation was ironic and absurd. Meanwhile, they reached the doors of the upper level, where the Head’s office was located.
“We’ve arrived.”
The office occupied the highest level of the central tower. From here, through the windows, a panoramic view of all Lion’s Moat unfolded.
Over there is the Third Moat training ground, and those buildings...
While Kun surveyed the surroundings, the instructor carefully reached toward the massive wooden door adorned with intricate carvings.
“Enter.”
Creeeak.
The heavy door opened, revealing the figure of a man. A black half-mask. Long hair like a lion’s mane cascading over his shoulders. A dark brown coat permeated with the scent of strong tobacco.
The appearance was impressive, though not supernatural. Yet the instant Kun met his gaze, something inside him turned cold. His palms grew damp, and his heart felt gripped by an invisible hand.
This was not fear of physical strength or Aura.
It was instinct.
The instinct of someone who had once stepped beyond the limits of humanity. Kun’s soul, which had once reached the pinnacle of mastery, rang an alarm.
Such crushing pressure from mere presence alone...
There was only one type of person capable of that. Kun carefully formed the title in his thoughts.
...Solo-master. A Sword Master.
A superhuman capable of cleaving not only stone but fortress walls as if slicing soft cheese with a single swing. It was said that famed knights and even commanders of entire orders were mere commoners before such a being. Depending on the situation, one such individual could replace an entire army.
A true “Army in One.”
Kun had already suspected Lion’s Moat was serious business, given that Experts served as senior instructors. But he had not expected the position of Head of Administration to be held by a Master. Either they were insane, or House Zoldic invested far more resources here than appeared.
Kun felt his estimation of House Zoldic rise sharply. Subtly but swiftly, he examined Vail once more.
A Sword Master. And clearly not one who had only just crossed the threshold.
Even among Masters there was an abyss. Some could fight five equals at once. And judging by instinct alone, the Head of Lion’s Moat was someone against whom Kun, even in his prime as the Calamity-Class Hound, could not guarantee victory.
If I used every means and fought to the end... six chances out of ten in my favor?
And that only if victory left him crippled. At best, missing an arm. At worst, bedridden for life. Such an opponent could not be underestimated. Even House Zoldic could not possess many fighters at that level.
At minimum, he ranked within the top fifty combatants on the continent. Then who was he...?
Kun’s thoughts spun rapidly. He sorted through names and positions that could match such strength.
The head of a powerful vassal house? A member of the Council of Elders? Or...
Perhaps one of the legendary commanders bearing the title “Lion,” of whom House Zoldic was so proud. Rumor had it each was a Sword Master or on the verge of that realm. Any of them would be a fitting head for this place.
Most likely the latter.
Even for House Zoldic, it would be difficult to seat a vassal lord or elder in administrative duty.
If one excluded the Red Lions, famed as a magical corps...
As Kun tried to deduce the Head’s identity, the guiding instructor’s voice rang out:
“By your command, I have brought the trainee Ethan.”
The Head nodded, gestured invitingly, and, looking at Kun, spoke:
“Pleased to meet you. So you are Ethan.”
At first glance, an ordinary greeting. But Kun caught confirmation of his suspicion within it: this man knew who he was.
So I was not mistaken about those strange looks.
Otherwise, there would not have been that tiny, nearly imperceptible hesitation before the name “Ethan.” An ordinary trainee would never have noticed. Concealing his thoughts, Kun respectfully lowered his head.
“I greet the Head of Administration.”
He behaved completely naturally, as if suspecting nothing. Vail continued:
“Under normal circumstances, I would not intervene personally, but I chose to summon you upon hearing that a trainee had passed the first stage alone.”
It was pure truth. Since the founding of this cohort, Kun was the first to accomplish such a feat. Even those illustrious graduates who in the past overthrew old houses and founded their own dynasties had not achieved such at the first stage. Upon hearing of the “young master’s” deed, Vail could not refrain from seeing it himself.
And I will see how much he has changed since the day he arrived.
Kun answered evenly:
“I was merely fortunate.”
“Fortunate, you say...” Vail smiled faintly, the corner of his lips lifting.
At that instant, such a sharp thirst for battle emanated from him that goosebumps rose along Kun’s skin. Yet ignoring the effect, the Head continued:
“No matter how great one’s luck, an unprepared person cannot seize it.”
He murmured that fortune favored only those with strength and will, then settled more comfortably into his chair.
“I nearly forgot that I must reward you for passing the stage. Accept my... congratulations.”
With deliberately casual expression, he went on:
“In five days, all trainees who passed the first stage will enter closed training. Counting the time that has passed, you have two days to prepare.”
“Closed training?”
“Indeed. One year, beginning from the completion of the first stage for all groups.”
That meant...
Those who failed the first test lose nearly two months of precious time for accelerated growth?
Apparently such differentiation was also part of Lion’s Moat’s reward system. But Vail was not finished.
“And furthermore...”
He opened a drawer and retrieved an object. It seemed this was what he had reached for earlier.
...An elixir?
It was a sphere the size of a finger segment, gleaming deep indigo like the night sky before dawn.
“This is a special elixir produced by the main branch of House Zoldic. It is granted to all who overcome the first barrier. It significantly increases the body’s mana capacity.”
Kun had been correct. An alchemical pill crafted according to House Zoldic’s secret formulas. Of course, as a reward for the very first stage, it could not be some legendary artifact — yet even so, an elixir created by the secret methods of such a great house was beyond comparison to the trash brewed by marketplace alchemists.
And they distribute such value merely to trainees?
As the Calamity-Class Hound, he could not have dreamed of such a thing.
Vail, watching Kun carefully conceal his surprise, parted his lips once more:
“And lastly...”
The rewards were not yet finished.