WTPB - Chapter 55




As soon as Belen’s order was given, the somewhat chaotic parade ground was quickly cleaned up.

The space in the middle was widened, and the soldiers sat in a circle far apart.

It reminded them of children sitting in a circle to watch a circus performance, but no one was smiling.

‘It’s freezing. But there must be some among them that are worth raising.’

Erdene sat down in a place where she could look down on the parade ground and examine the faces of the soldiers and knight commanders one by one.

The Vetor soldiers couldn’t hide their bewildered expressions at the sight of Erdene sitting with her knees wide open like a man, and then they whispered among themselves and turned their gazes away.

‘It would be fun to select suitable guys and train them.’

When Erdene nodded, Belen called forward one of Vetor’s knight commanders named Raedd.

Compared to his sturdy physique, his gaze was rather weak, and Erdene clicked his tongue in a low voice when he saw the way he held the wooden sword.

“A guy who can’t even do the basics properly is the captain.”

Ayman, who was facing Raedd, must have had similar thoughts and turned to Erdene.

“If I do something wrong, he’ll die, what should I do?”

Erdene shrugged, reading Ayman’s intentions with just her gaze.

“He won’t die, so take it easy.”

Ayman ​​tilted his large head. He seemed to have no idea how to take it easy.

“Get in position!”

Belen shouted, holding up the sparring flag. When Ayman ​​took his stance, Raedd also bent his knees awkwardly and looked straight ahead.

“Start!”

Raedd was the first to move. His spirit was so-so, but the speed at which he swung his wooden sword was quite fast.

However, when Ayman ​​turned one arm diagonally to block the attack, he couldn’t keep up with the speed and his feet slipped.

“Tsk.”

Erdene clicked her tongue with a displeased expression. Raedd also seemed flustered and quickly regained his bearings.

Sophia whispered softly.

“The son of Baron Nickneven is really scared.”

Erdene glanced up at her.

“Are you talking about that guy who is Ayman’s opponent?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I heard that his father, Baron Nickneven, was quite a great military officer, but he retired early due to a chronic illness. Raedd Nickneven is the Baron’s only son and originally wanted to become a diplomat, but he joined the Knights Templar because of his father.”

“With those skills, it’s incredible to be a captain.”

“I heard that he moved quickly, but he lacked courage.”

It was just as Sophia had said.

Raedd’s attacks were so powerful that even Belen, who was watching, frowned, but he was good at escaping whenever Ayman struck.

“This brat...!”

When he couldn’t catch up with Raedd, Ayman’s face turned red and blue.

Since Erdene had been telling him to ‘take it easy,’ his movements had become quite slow and weak, and he was annoyed by his impatient nature.

“Hiya..!”

The moment Ayman let his guard down, Raedd suddenly attacked him.

The moment he twisted his body and swung his wooden sword, Thelma and Merton, who had been watching, as well as Erdene, were startled and opened their eyes wide.

“This guy!”

However, Ayman was not one to be easily defeated by such a life-threatening attack. He took Raedd’s attack almost as if he were on a battlefield. A “bang!” sound was heard, and Raedd’s body floated halfway into the air before falling and sliding down.

The moment a faint cloud of dust rose, Ayman glanced at Erdene with a look of surprise.

‘Well, he probably wouldn’t have died like that.’

When Erdene nodded, Ayman rubbed his bumpy head with his palm and approached Raedd...

“Hey, are you okay?”

“Ugh... What strength?”

Raedd, frowning, got up. He groaned as he fell, twisting his shoulder.

“Victory for Captain Ayman of Hirschsten!”

Belen belatedly raised the flag. Ayman spat on his palm, adjusted his grip on his wooden sword, and went back to the center of the parade ground.

As was his custom in the empire, he thought of this as a winner’s match.

Erdene said,

“Ayman, you go in. Merton, you come out this time.”

At this, Ayman grumbled like a disgruntled boy.

“I haven’t even warmed up yet!”

“I’ll let you warm up later, so go in quietly.”

Erdene glared.

The soldiers of Vetor were surprised once more when they saw Ayman, who resembled a giant black bear, return to his place like a docile lamb at her words.

The only one who was not surprised was Belen Wiziard, who had already been beaten once by Erdene.

“Wiziard.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The commander of Ayman that you just saw is the strongest in Hirschsten. He doesn’t normally use wooden swords. He doesn’t even use a greatsword very often. He fights mainly using blunt weapons, and the knights commanded by Ayman are also armed with morning stars or two-handed axes. Is there such a knight order in Vetor?”

Belen slightly lowered his gaze and honestly shook his head.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“I thought so.”

Erdene leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment.

The knights of this peaceful country were probably formed without any consideration of the individual talents or special strengths of each soldier. As is usually the case with countries that do not boast about their military power.

'That guy named Raedd would have been much better with a spear than a sword. He's big, but he's flexible and quick, so he can make full use of his movements with a spear. I think it would be good to create a knight order that's mainly made up of spearmen.'

Erdene looked down at Belen again.

"Captain Merton's main weapons are the heavy two-hander and the Flamberge. He's also skilled in shield fighting, but since we're dueling with wooden swords, it'll be difficult for him to show them this time. Choose someone who can fight him."

Belen's knees were trembling as he listened to her.

No matter how much Vetor didn't put much emphasis on military training, those who were naturally warriors were different.

He was excited at the thought of fighting Merton himself.

However, there had to be a reason why Erdene went out of her way to explain the special skills of the warriors under his command.

Belen, who realized that this was not just a showdown for the show, pointed to one of the knight commanders.

“Sislan, you come out.”

The eyes of the people gathered in the parade ground were focused on the man who had risen from his seat.

He was thinner than Raedd, but his upper arms were well-trained.

Perhaps his pride was hurt because he had seen Raedd fall to Ayman’s defensive attack earlier, but his sunken eyes were quite serious.

“Hmm, this guy could be useful too.”

Since Erdene had always thought that a military officer, whether a soldier or a commander, should have a competitive spirit, Sislan had passed the first test with flying colors. Unlike Ayman, Merton did not need Erdene to give him a hint. He was the most cautious of all the military officers in Hirschsten.

Those who roll around on the battlefield usually move their bodies before their minds, but Merton tended to think more.

'That's why I had Thelma as my adjutant. Even though she's a bit reckless, she's quick-witted. Merton is likely to miss the right moment to strike because he's always considering and keeping in mind even the smallest details.'

Merton held his wooden sword with both hands and stared at his opponent carefully.

The young captain named Sislan didn't move recklessly either. Even though the flag was raised, the two spent some time exploring each other.

"Aren't you thinking of coming in?"

Sislan provoked first. Merton moved his lips covered with his beard and smiled faintly.

"I'm waiting for you to move, a young soldier of Vetor."

"You shouldn't confront me while thinking of Captain Raedd."

"I don't overthink my opponent."

Sislan's eyebrows wiggled.

He was young and energetic, and above all, he was confident because he had little experience in actual combat. In other words, he was a frog in a well with a strong sense of pride.

"I think you're trying to show off your experience, so I won't decline."

Blam! 

With that sound, Sislan’s foot slanted and kicked the ground. Erdene, who had been watching, had a rare, interested smile on her lips.

‘He’s definitely worth raising.’

Sislan’s wooden sword, tilting his body, rushed toward Merton’s shoulder.

***

“Why is it so noisy outside?”

Pelarhar, who had been lying on his bed until the sun was high in the sky, suddenly sat up and said.

It sounded like someone was breaking a tree branch, but it didn’t seem to stop. In addition, he occasionally heard cheers of unknown origin.

“Has a circus come? Find out what this noise is.”

The servant who had received the order ran out in a hurry.

Pelarhar perked up his ears to the sound outside that continued as if it would break as if it would break. He had a feeling that something interesting was going to happen.

“Your Excellency Pelarhar, the knight commanders of the Empire and the knight commanders of Vetor are currently sparring in the parade grounds.”

“What? Is that true?”

The attendant nodded.

“And Her Majesty the Queen is here.”

I knew it. Pelarhar thought.

The moment he heard the word parade ground, he had already thought of Erdene’s face.

He put on his jacket that he had thrown away and strode out of the room, and the servant quickly followed him.

“Your Excellency, where are you going? Could it be that you are going to the parade ground...?”

“Yes, if anyone comes looking for me, tell them that I went there.”


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