The trainee knights were worn down day by day, tormented by the excruciating pain of having their mana pathways forcibly opened.
Through this ordeal, they came to understand why their lord was unconcerned about the technique being leaked.
'How could anyone teach this to someone else?'
'I've never heard of anyone teaching it like this.'
'Even if someone knew how, they'd risk killing the other person outright.'
Since their mana pathways were forcibly created, they couldn't even grasp the theory behind it.
It was, quite literally, something they had learned with their bodies rather than their minds.
As the trainee knights became more haggard, Ghislain's complexion also darkened. He was no less strained than they were.
'This really isn't easy to handle all at once.'
Despite the seemingly rough method, Ghislain was meticulously controlling the mana to ensure the trainees didn't die.
Compared to his past life, his mana reserves were significantly smaller, and managing so many people while avoiding waste was mentally and physically taxing.
Performing this draining process every day until his mana was exhausted was bound to take its toll.
'Should I stretch out the schedule? At this rate, I might die first.'
There were moments when Ghislain seriously considered giving up halfway.
But in those moments, he steeled himself by recalling his regrets from his previous life.
'There's nothing to gain from stalling. Every day is borrowed time.'
He clenched his teeth and focused entirely on opening the trainees' mana pathways.
Even without words, his intense resolve radiated from his demeanor.
The trainee knights, influenced by Ghislain's unyielding determination, gritted their teeth and endured alongside him.
After a week of this, their gazes became as sharp as finely honed blades. Some even began to faintly sense mana.
The very basics were finally complete.
Wearing a look of relief, Ghislain announced the end of their torment.
"You've all endured well. The worst of the pain is over. From now on, you'll use the mana concentration circles to accumulate mana and learn how to control it."
"Yeeeeeaaaaahhh!"
The trainee knights erupted into cheers.
No matter how many times they went through it, the pain of having their bodies torn apart from the inside never became bearable.
They had endured with sheer grit, but every day had felt like hell.
Now, knowing that such suffering was behind them, they couldn't help but rejoice.
The trainee knights began training in earnest within the mana concentration circles.
"Wow, I'm finally stepping into one of these circles."
"You can really feel the mana coursing around, can't you?"
Even with newly opened mana pathways, it's difficult for a novice to absorb mana.
But the immense power of the mana concentration circles made it possible for the trainees to absorb mana simply by breathing.
"It's real. My body is actually absorbing mana!"
"The hard part's over! This is the beginning of happiness!"
Seated in the circles, they couldn't stop themselves from smiling. Even if they tried, the joy was too overwhelming.
"I mean, come on, I've become a knight who can wield mana. How could I not smile?"
Under Ghislain's guidance, they began learning how to control and release mana step by step.
Although controlling mana was still challenging, they slowly practiced following the pathways Ghislain had engraved into their bodies.
Compared to the pain they endured just a week ago, this process felt like paradise.
'See? I told you I trusted the lord. He had a plan all along.'
'Ugh, I should've had more faith.'
As if they'd never cursed him before, they now sang Ghislain's praises.
Memory works that way—no matter how painful the experience, if the reward afterward is sweet enough, the pain fades into the background.
Everyone believed that this happiness would last.
Another week passed, and the trainees finally entered the phase where they could actively use mana.
"Now, this is where things get real," Ghislain declared. "Feeling and accumulating mana is one thing, but it's meaningless if you don't know how to use it. Gordon! Step forward and show us what you've learned so far."
At Ghislain's command, Gordon stepped forward confidently.
He began to channel mana according to what he'd learned.
'Ahhh, so this is what it feels like!'
As mana coursed through his body, Gordon felt euphoric.
Though the amount was minuscule, the effect was undeniable—his body felt as solid as steel.
He felt like he could destroy anything, block anything, conquer anything.
It was a whole new world he had never imagined.
'This is mana! I'm invincible now! I could probably even beat Kaor!'
Emboldened, Gordon pushed himself to draw out all his mana.
He wanted to fully revel in the newfound strength.
Fwooosh!
"Wow! Look at that energy coming off Gordon!"
As Gordon's energy grew, the other trainees fidgeted with excitement, eager to try it themselves.
But then—
"Bleeegh! Gaaaahhh!"
Having completely drained his mana, Gordon collapsed, vomiting copious amounts of blood.
"...?"
Everyone froze, wide-eyed, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Meanwhile, Ghislain clapped his hands in delight.
"Good! That's exactly how you use it! How does it feel? Doesn't it feel powerful?"
Gordon, bewildered, looked up at Ghislain and asked, "Um, my lord? I'm in pain. I just coughed up blood. I feel completely drained."
"Oh, that's normal."
"…Normal?"
"It's a side effect. You're essentially using more power than your mana reserves can handle, so your body takes a hit. It's a method that involves 'detonating' your mana, you see."
"Side effect? Does that mean I'll cough up blood and collapse every time I use mana?"
"Yeah, but don't worry. That only happens if you use up all your mana. With training and growth, you'll be able to handle it better."
"Oh… so it gets better eventually."
Ghislain's nonchalant explanation reassured Gordon somewhat. But a nagging doubt made him ask again.
"But what if I don't train hard enough and don't grow stronger?"
Avoiding Gordon's gaze, Ghislain stared off into the distance as he replied, "If you don't train, the mana accumulated in your body will keep trying to detonate itself. Eventually, it'll consume your life force, and you'll die."
"…Die?"
"Yes, so you'll need to get stronger quickly. The stronger you get, the longer you can sustain yourself using mana, which means your lifespan increases as well."
"W-What kind of crazy mana cultivation technique is this?! Isn't this supposed to be the Perdium family's technique?"
"It's based on the Perdium technique, but I improved it. This version has fewer side effects, so it's easier for you all to learn. The mana explosions aren't as severe."
"Oh… fewer side effects. So the weaker ones just die faster. Got it. Hahaha!"
Tears welled up in Gordon's eyes as he let out a hollow laugh. Tears also glistened in the eyes of the other trainees watching from the sidelines.
Gordon, unable to hold back any longer, screamed, "You didn't say anything about this at the start! This is a scam! Cancel the contract right now!"
Ghislain looked at him with wide eyes.
"Wow, you've changed a lot. You used to get scammed all the time. Now you're talking about canceling contracts? Look at you, all grown up."
"Aaaaaah! I'm serious! I'll pretend I never learned this, so please cancel it!"
"Oh, I can't do that. The only way forward is to train hard and level up quickly. If you want to live, you'll all have to become stronger than you are now."
The trainees, including Gordon, couldn't find the words to respond, but their minds were filled with curses.
'What kind of lunatic comes up with a mana cultivation technique like this?'
'Then again, he's never been normal, has he? That's on us for forgetting.'
If the lord and his close aides had been the only ones frantically busy before, now the trainees had to join them in their unrelenting grind.
The Fenris Knights had truly become a group where only the strong survived.
If they wanted to live to a ripe old age, their only option was to train themselves to death.
It was the beginning of a new chapter of suffering.
***
Meanwhile, Count Desmond Harold sat deep in thought in his office.
The effort to rebuild his forces after the war with Ghislain had left him visibly weary. His face showed clear signs of fatigue from sleepless nights.
Despite his already overwhelming workload, there was one issue that gnawed at him—the contents of a letter from the Duchy.
"That brat has taken Marquess Branford as his guardian and joined the royalist faction? And now he's even secured funding to replace Bribant's support…"
The last report Harold had received about Ghislain was that he was upending his territory.
Since then, all his spies had been exposed and expelled, and Fenris had been sealed off, cutting off further news.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Ghislain had appeared in the capital, selling cosmetics and becoming an instant sensation.
Harold had dismissed him as a fool and ignored him, but the revelation that Ghislain had joined the royalist faction came as a shock.
Clicking his tongue, Harold glared at the letter before asking his adjutant, "The duchy instructed us to treat Ghislain as an equal to Rayfold's Knight Commander, Jürgen. What do you make of this?"
The adjutant hesitated before replying, "I find it hard to believe, but the duchy wouldn't make such a statement without basis."
"Unbelievable."
Harold clutched his head with both hands.
Jürgen was one of the kingdom's top knights, renowned across the land. He hadn't earned the title of North's Finest Sword or the position of Knight Commander of Rayfold, a major territory, for nothing.
If the duchy's assessment was accurate, then Viktor's defeat at Ghislain's hands made more sense.
"Ghislain! That damned brat!"
The duchy's message wasn't just a warning about Ghislain. It came with scathing criticism for failing to investigate him thoroughly and a warning that this was their final chance.
For the first time in his life, Harold was facing such humiliation.
Ghislain had thrown all his plans into chaos.
His first instinct was to march on Fenris immediately, but more urgent matters demanded his attention.
"What's the situation with Count Rayfold?"
"It's clear they're preparing for war," the adjutant replied.
"So they're targeting us. Do we know what justification they'll use?"
"Likely, they'll claim to be acting as Perdium's ally, punishing us for the attack on their ally. They'll argue that our covert assault, without proper cause or process, was unjust."
"Damn hypocrites."
Harold sneered at the thought of Rayfold invoking their alliance with Perdium when they had done nothing during the actual war.
He had never expected to keep his involvement in the Digald operation a secret forever.
Even with the effort to split his forces and cover their movements, such a large army could never remain hidden indefinitely.
At the time, Harold hadn't cared. He believed that victory would justify everything. If Viktor had won, any suspicions would have remained just that—suspicions.
But they had lost, and Count Rayfold was now baring his fangs at him.
Harold clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Of all times for them to make their move."
His adjutant spoke cautiously.
"We must hurry Amelia's rebellion before the war begins."
"Ugh…"
Harold groaned involuntarily.
The adjutant wasn't wrong. They had already invested a significant amount of funds and sent dozens of knights to support Amelia's rebellion.
If Rayfold declared war before the rebellion, all those resources would be wasted.
Yet Harold hesitated.
"There's no one to face Jürgen. If only Viktor were still here…"
The Knight Commander of Rayfold, Jürgen, known as the North's Finest Sword. He was a foe Harold had groomed Viktor to counter. But with Viktor's death in the last war, there was no one left to match Jürgen's strength.
Without someone to counter Jürgen, Harold couldn't feel confident in Amelia's rebellion.
If it failed, Harold's head would roll—not by Rayfold but by the duchy.
Cautious by nature, Harold found himself paralyzed by the risk to his own life.
Understanding his hesitation, the adjutant continued in an objective tone.
"At the current pace, Rayfold's preparations will likely be complete within two or three months."
"I know time is tight. But if we fail, it'll be even more dangerous. Tell Amelia to prepare thoroughly."
"She reports that all preparations are complete. She's gathered all affiliated groups in the north and awaits only your signal to act."
Harold raised an eyebrow at this.
He knew Amelia was sharp, but he hadn't expected her to anticipate and act on the situation so precisely.
"Hmph. She's still as perceptive as ever."
"She also sent a message, my lord."
"What is it?"
"She says if you're worried about Jürgen, she'll handle him…. So please, just set a date quickly."
Harold's face twisted in a grimace. Handle Jürgen? She dared suggest ignoring the most critical issue?
The audacity of Amelia presuming to anticipate his concerns only irked him further.
"Tch… She's grown too bold for her own good. A bit of power, and now she's getting cocky. Insolent wench."
"It seems Amelia is also feeling the pressure. If Rayfold declares war, they'll amass an overwhelming force."
If war broke out, any castles Amelia seized would become irrelevant.
The moment Count Rayfold returned with his forces, her rebellion would be crushed like dry leaves.
Though Harold understood her urgency, he couldn't risk rushing into action.
Amelia's failure wouldn't just mean her death—it would mean his own.
"Tell her to stay put. She's not to move without my approval."
"...Understood."
"And plant spies among the next group of migrants to Fenris. We can't afford to leave that place unchecked. Have them disrupt whatever they can within the territory."
"As you command."
After his adjutant left, Harold pressed his temples, trying to soothe his throbbing headache.
His migraines had worsened recently, no doubt due to stress.
"Ghislain… Ghislain Perdium."
That brat had thrown his plans into complete disarray.
Though Harold longed to march on Fenris and crush him, he couldn't.
His hands were tied by Rayfold, and he couldn't mobilize other lords freely due to the royalist faction.
The brat was, in a word, lucky.
"Enjoy your time while it lasts. Once Rayfold is dealt with, you're next."
Harold was convinced Ghislain's survival was merely temporary. No matter how much he struggled, his fate was sealed.
Though he thought this, the rage boiling within him refused to subside.
"Just wait. I'll make sure you regret everything you've done."
Lowering his gaze, Harold's eyes gleamed with a murderous intent that left no doubt—he was determined to see Ghislain dead.
[T/L: Please support me and read 60 extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]