Awakening the Great Chapter 14

Ch.14: Reward

As newcors, they couldn't deeply feel in their bones what the oath of the Mountain Rabbits ant or its true significance, but they could easily tell from the veterans' reactions just how monuntal this matter was.

"You're going to receive an oath? To a greenhorn who's barely completed one commission? Did Gregor go senile and start babbling? The captain should have drawn the line on this."

"Hagen, watch your words."

"......Ah, shit, this is fucking ridiculous!"

What exactly was this oath that had every veteran rcenary throwing a fit?

Thud!

The veteran rcenary Hagen, having heard Vice-Captain Marik's warning, returned with a vicious expression and kicked a water bucket to vent his anger.

"What are you staring at? Do I look crazy to you? Think about it the other way. Aren't you guys pissed off? Did soone co here after suffering like a moron for a whole year?"

"That's true. The person who took the oath fastest was...... Basim. He even took half a year. But Hagen accepted it."

"That's exactly why I'm angry. Are we soldiers? We're fucking rcenaries! If soone's going to be chosen, they should prove it with consistent skill!"

However, despite such opposition, the decision was not reversed.

Calix also readily accepted Gregor's proposal, and inside the tent, the captain and so personnel gathered to serve as witnesses.

"......One alone is insufficient, so two shall complete one whole, and leaning on steadfast faith, we shall face our enemies. Before the crisis, we shall not turn away from each other, and never shall we let the other depart alone. If our given ti differs, I shall remain by your side and watch over your death."

"Welco to becoming a mber of the Mountain Rabbits, Calix."

"At last, Gregor has found his partner."

Right after finishing the oath by sharing a sip of alcohol, Hadiya and the dwarf Basim patted his back and offered congratulations.

"Don't mind the ones throwing tantrums. You proved your worth. No one stepped forward for Gregor. Not because they didn't know he was strong, but because they didn't want to risk their own lives in an uncertain situation."

"Mm-hmm, that's right. Those bastards know it too, which is why they're making even more of a fuss. Those trying to hide their sha usually act like that."

"Yes, thank you."

Pat pat.

Soon, the captain and Vice-Captain, being naturally quiet, patted Calix's shoulder and quickly left the tent, but Zahira and the healer Ella remained to continue the lively atmosphere.

"I'll acknowledge it too. It was truly a brave act. I didn't expect anything like that at all."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. If you had hoped to survive, maybe, but saving soone else wasn't your role yet. It was quite cool. Your friend, that guy who looks like a raccoon's armpit hair, you know? Even he couldn't have done that."

"......"

"Are you feeling alright physically?"

While Zahira offered a charming smile and joke, playfully poking his chest with her fist, the healer Ella substituted her first greeting with a gentle question.

"Yes. There's no problem with walking. I heard what you did. That you treated

when I lost consciousness."

"Good intentions have value only when put into practice. I'm glad you've recovered."

"......Yes."

Do all people from the religious order speak like this? Since he had never directly encountered a cleric even during his childhood at the Marquis's house, Calix felt quite bewildered.

It felt difficult to treat her comfortably.

Just then, suddenly, Gregor broke his long silence and uttered a single simple sentence. It was brief but aningful.

"When did you co down from Niboria?"

"......Pardon?"

His green eyes shone more vividly than ever, as if they wouldn't tolerate lies.

From Calix's perspective, it was like an unexpected ambush.

Considering the relationship between the Niboria Empire and the Astria Kingdom, he thought it was sothing that shouldn't be carelessly revealed.

Fortunately, his troubled expression completely disappeared due to Hadiya's intervention.

"You were from the Niboria Empire? Just like Gregor?"

"......Gregor is also from Niboria?"

"That's right. Oh, just use nas for addressing. After becoming an official rcenary, everyone does that. 'Mister Gregor' sounds like a complete stranger, doesn't it?"

Unexpectedly, they showed no signs of reluctance.

"Yeah. But usually...... People don't like it when you say you're from Niboria."

"That can't be helped. The Niboria Empire is like a nightmare for the residents of the Astria Kingdom, especially those in the north. But we're rcenaries, right? Can we hate the kids who bring us work? When a war breaks out, gold coins pour down like rain."

"I see. Right. No, you're right, Gregor. I was born in the Niboria Empire."

"Ha, I knew you were a Niboria bastard! I almost got fooled!"

"......"

"Just kidding, friend."

The surprise from the mischievous joke was brief.

The conversation topic once again beca about Gregor.

"Since we've even taken the oath, I'll tell you this, but Calix, you chose your partner well. Gregor isn't an ordinary person."

"I know he's not ordinary. I saw him fight directly."

"But you don't know his background."

"......Am I allowed to hear this?"

Calix montarily asked the person directly, thinking sensitive content might co up, but he casually nodded.

"Why are you asking directly again? Once you've taken the oath, it's all over. What are rcenaries? People who exchange deals. You roll your body as much as you get paid, and if you've beco partners, you 'deal' so you can know everything about each other's past and what you're good at."

"......Yeah."

"Anyway, he was actually part of the 'Silver Shield Legion.'"

"......"

"......Gregor was from the Silver Shield Legion?"

"Is that amazing? I'm asking because I don't really know."

"Of course it is!"

Therefore, the following explanation included the lofty reputation of the 'Silver Shield Legion'.

"Why would the Niboria Empire be notorious? Because of the conquest wars. And what they gathered by selecting only the best from those countless wars was the Silver Shield Legion. It's called a legion, but the numbers aren't that many. But whenever they went to battle, they were legends using their unique shield techniques. For example, there's the Battle of Toria. In the war against the Viale Mountain Alliance, they pushed back the central army with pure physical force, and after the battle ended, when they examined the dead, they were in such a state that you couldn't tell if they were dwarves or elves!"

"Hey, you bastard. Why are you suddenly bringing up Toria?"

"Oh, Basim. Co to think of it, the Mountain Alliance was your holand. Sorry if it was uncomfortable to hear. Then there's also the Battle of Darent against the Elvra Holy Empire!"

"......Hadi."

However, Hadiya consecutively touched the nerves of the dwarf Basim and the healer Ella, majestically sinking, and soon shut her mouth while watching their reactions.

Zahira, who had been quietly listening beside them, smiled slyly and picked up the conversation.

"She often makes slips of the tongue, but she didn't lie. They say they select based only on skill, regardless of social status, and eventually transform them to a level comparable to senior knights. Not only in the Astria Kingdom, but even in Kalahim, far from the Niboria Empire, the reputation of the Silver Shield Legion has spread."

"Yes, I was lucky."

"No. It's good for both of you. You're in good condition right now, but Gregor also needs help. So it's lucky for both of you."

***

For the following two weeks.

The 'Mountain Rabbits' moved toward a nearby city to deliver the remains and compensation to the family of Kenta, who died in the previous battle, while also taking on their next commission.

During this process, Calix could clearly feel the advantages and disadvantages of being promoted to an official rcenary mber.

"Calix, eting ti."

"Yes."

"Lucky you. Getting to join etings that only official mbers can attend."

"It can't be helped. Volga, they said you can't."

etings that newcors couldn't attend.

Inside, he directly witnessed scenes of argunts over the rcenary group's inco and expenses, and later, in a private eting with Vice-Captain Marik, he received new weapons and light armor while being notified that there would be no wages for the ti being.

Click.

"All done. Does it fit perfectly now?"

"Yes. It's perfect."

It felt loose at first, but after going through the dwarf Basim's hands, he finally felt like he had proper equipnt.

Instead of the sword that was damaged beyond repair, half-broken from the previous battle, they fitted him with a new one with perfect weight distribution, and for armor, he wore leather around his torso while covering one shoulder with shoulder guards that happened to have a spare.

"How nice. Even getting iron armor."

"......"

However, where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages, and the stinging gazes from the surrounding newcors were harsh.

Smack!

"Ow! Why did you hit !"

"It was an instinctive action, you bastard. Jealousy is always ugly."

"This shit......"

Indeed, even Volga, who just got hit by Basim, couldn't hide his envious feelings.

He wanted to receive an oath too, but how could that be done at will?

Thus, frustration soon transford into jealousy, and Calix couldn't belong to either group - newcors or veterans.

Of course, even in this situation, Volga was sowhat of an exception.

"Ah, that guy always hits people. But don't misunderstand , too. I don't bla you like those idiots over there."

"Really?"

"Of course. I'm Volga. If my friend does well, there'll be a few crumbs that fall to , too. What reason would I have to dislike you? I should applaud and say it's great."

"Your expression doesn't seem to agree."

"That's...... Purely because my stomach hurts. Maybe it's self-reproach? Damn, I should have helped Gregor first!"

"Haha, at least you're honest."

Nevertheless, Calix didn't regret his decision to receive the oath.

Volga served as a pillar of support for the newcors in his own way, and most importantly, he began receiving earnest instruction from Gregor.

"Looking back at the previous battle, your fighting style was closer to an assassin than a warrior. You always aid for single decisive strikes, and it worked surprisingly well. I'd guess it was because your opponents felt bewildered by that recklessness of charging in while ignoring your own safety."

"Yes."

"But that's not swordsmanship. It's worse than what street thugs use, and it's definitely not how rcenaries fight. You rely relied on excellent adaptability to neural accelerators."

Although his mind was mostly unsound, the mories of those monts remained alive, so the old man pointed out his weaknesses with a sharp tone.

"Then what should I do?"

"You need to build fundantals from the ground up. Ignorant fools might rely only on neural accelerator performance, but eventually, when you reach a certain level, victory and defeat are determined by what you've accumulated. Also, you mustn't neglect physical training. Just as a famous sword doesn't determine victory or defeat, neural accelerators don't guarantee victory. Only your effort and sweat will beco seeds for the future."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"......Good. What you'll learn is the 'Dance of the Wasteland’. Since you're from the Niboria Empire, it would be better to learn sothing from there. It originates from the northern part of the empire, characterized by simple, clean movents and flowing combination techniques."

A little later.

While the rcenary group had stopped their wagons for rest, Gregor took Calix out toward the fields.

Thud! Slide.

Soon, he planted his shield by its rim into the ground and drew his sword from his waist, taking a stance.

"The first step of swordsmanship is not movent but balance. By properly positioning your feet and establishing your center of strength, only then will your sword move according to your will. But for now...... Just capture the overall feeling with your eyes."

"Yes."

And he demonstrated the basic swordsmanship as he had explained earlier.

Swoosh, swooosh!

After briefly raising the sword handle right in front of his face.

His foot stepped forward, his body's center shifted, and he secured his center of gravity again before following through with a downward strike.

Swish, swoosh, slash!

Next ca slashes and thrusts that attacked low, middle, and high positions equally. The flawless consecutive attacks made even the weeds in the field scatter their leaves in the air as if expressing admiration.

Calix also bit his lower lip, trying to suppress his swelling heart.

'Finally, finally I'm learning.'

The boy who could only watch knights' training from beyond the walls was now, at nineteen, receiving proper sword instruction.

However, what Gregor deliberately didn't ntion was that the 'Dance of the Wasteland' was the basic technique of Niboria Empire knights.

"......Did you see it all?"

"......"

"These are movents you must repeat until your body can bring them out on its own, even if you can't rember them."

But what aning would such an explanation have?

[Output decreasing, '3.4', '2.2', '1.6'...... '1.0']

[Montary amplification stopped]

What mattered was that within the stopped ti, Calix analyzed each movent of the experienced rcenary as if dissecting it.

Talent, effort, and tools.

He was ready to beco strong.