Chapter 10: Orb of Water (2)

“Everyone worked hard. That's all for today's training.”

After the weaponry training, which felt long if you thought of it as long and short if you thought of it as short, I was finally able to check the results of today's training.

[You have acquired the Art, ‘Swordsmanship (F)’.]

Art.

Unlike traits, which are obtained under special conditions and are mostly impossible to grow except for a few growth-types, arts refer to the power one has personally trained.

F-rank.

I could immediately tell what kind of evaluation this world was giving my current swordsmanship level.

No, thinking about it differently, the fact that I had unlocked the swordsmanship trait after just one day of training was quite good news.

Even though it was nothing more than copying what I saw on the surface, the base was so good that the evaluation seemed quite generous.

In any case, I had taken the first step to survive in Winter Castle.

‘I should think of this as the real beginning.’

The days in Winter Castle continued.

***

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Name : Vell Blackwood

Level : 1

Stamina : 1

Strength : 1

Mentality : 2

Traits : [Postponer of Ruin(EX)], [Weapon Summon(??)]

Arts : [Swordsmanship(F)]

Magic : ─

──────────────

***

“I have something to tell you today.”

Edric said, showing no signs of fatigue despite yesterday's weaponry training.

“Originally, we were supposed to do basic physical training and weaponry training today as well…… but due to internal circumstances, the schedule has changed. Today's training will be practical training.”

“If you mean practical training, what kind of training are you referring to?”

“It’s demonic beast hunting.”

It has only been two days since the training began, and not only is it practical training, but it’s a demonic beast subjugation…….

It was truly fitting for Winter Castle.

“Although you may not be physically sufficient, I believe the squad members can do well. Also, as a reward for that, the member who shows the most outstanding training performance in this demonic beast hunt will be given a day's leave.”

“Are we free during that leave?”

“That’s right. You can go out of Winter Castle if you want.”

Going out…….

It seemed that the opportunity to obtain the Orb of Water had come sooner than I thought.

“Practical training, you say.”

“I needed information on the terrain around Winter Castle anyway, so this is good.”

Even though it hadn't been long since the training started, none of the members of the 4th Special Task Force were nervous at the mention of entering a real battle already.

“Hmph…….”

In Conlan's case, he even openly yawned to express his boredom.

This meant that as long as their limbs weren't tied up with Magic Sealing Stones like in the prisoner escort carriage, a real battle with demonic beasts was nothing special to them.

As I had already expected, they all seemed to have formidable histories.

“Are we going to the Demonic Realm?”

At my question, Edric shook his head.

“No. We are going to Tasman.”

Tasman is a region to the south of Winter Castle, and although it's naturally less dangerous than the Demonic Realm to the north of Winter Castle, it is still a place where demonic beasts appear quite frequently.

In fact, the prisoner escort unit was attacked by a pack of demon head hounds when coming to Winter Castle.

“The appearance of demonic beasts in the Tasman region has recently become frequent. Large-scale packs cannot cross into Winter Castle, but there have been more cases of small-scale packs that occasionally cross the Winter Mountains and attack private homes. It’s a good opportunity for us to conduct practical training.”

I didn't know why that was a good opportunity for us, who had only been enlisted for two days, but since it was a good opportunity for me as well, I didn't bother to say anything.

“Any questions? If not, we will depart immediately after everyone secures their military gear.”

“No, sir!”

“Still a good voice. Very good.”

Edric smiled with satisfaction.

The reason why the members of the 4th Special Task Force, each with an unusual temper, are particularly powerless against Edric is partly because he is our direct superior who worked us like dogs just yesterday, but the biggest reason is that Edric is a clear powerhouse.

Even Albino, who possessed an arrogance as if he looked down on everything in the world, was nothing more than a single soldier in front of Edric.

‘Well…… I’m not sure about Alicia’s case, though.’

Alicia is a woman as enigmatic as the commander, Edric, among the members of the 4th Special Task Force.

In particular, the magic she showed when she confronted Conlan before was magic that I also knew.

‘It was definitely the magic of the Punishment Order.’

The Punishment Order is a religion that eradicates mages, but there are those within the order who learn magic.

The Inquisitors of the Punishment Order.

The magic Alicia used when dealing with Conlan was magic mainly used by the Punishment Order to subdue sinners.

‘An Inquisitor…….’

An Inquisitor of the Punishment Order became a prisoner drafted to Winter Castle by the Punishment Order…….

It was a story that was suspicious from a single glance.

‘For now, it’s best to be cautious.’

Well… not that there was anyone to trust within the 4th Special Task Force from the beginning.

***

Perhaps because of the special position of a special task force, the basic supplies provided were not bad.

Not only the thick cold-weather gear, which could be considered an essential item, but the specially made canteen also prevented water from freezing easily in the severe cold environment.

In addition to that, for armor, they were provided with armor made from processing the relatively light leather of demonic beasts, rather than heavy iron armor that restricts movement.

Equipment processed from demonic beasts usually boasts a considerable price, but it was possible because Winter Castle has a relatively easy supply of demonic beast by-products.

Literally all the equipment provided was optimized for the harsh environment of Winter Castle.

However, if there was one drawback, it was that my weak body felt like it would fall backward if I wore this and carried my military pack.

No matter how much lighter armor made from demonic beast leather was compared to iron armor, to me, both were equally heavy.

“Tsk. Stand straight.”

As I was struggling to keep my balance, Conlan suddenly grabbed me and clicked his tongue.

That action was so unexpected that even I, with a mind as calm as still water, couldn't help but be taken aback for a moment.

“……Thanks.”

“Just get ready. If we’re late because of you, I don't know how the captain will react.”

The way he spat that out and turned away, what should I say…… It made me think of a word starting with ‘Tsun-something’.

Come to think of it, Conlan was the one who had kindly answered my questions from the beginning when we were in the prisoner escort carriage.

It was only because the first button of our relationship was fastened wrong that it became this mess, but he might not be such a vicious person in essence.

‘Though he is a heinous criminal.’

But everything is relative.

Being surrounded by suspicious guys like Albino and Alicia, Conlan, who appeared to be the same on the inside and out, seemed like a very good guy in comparison.

It didn't seem good to make more enemies when I already had someone on bad terms with me.

‘There’s no need to treat him badly.’

The assembly time was near.

***

“You’re here. Get on.”

When we arrived at the south gate of Winter Castle after the assembly time, Edric was waiting with a carriage.

I was wondering how we were going to walk all the way to Tasman in this state, but fortunately, it seemed we were moving by carriage.

Of course, to be precise, it felt more like a cargo cart pulled by two horses than a carriage, but what could you do?

“For now, we are moving like this because I don't know which of you can ride a horse, but from next time, we will be moving on horseback, so keep that in mind.”

Edric was well aware that we were soldiers who were only on our second day.

As if he had had this kind of experience countless times before.

‘No…… I guess it can’t be helped.’

Why was Edric put in charge of the newly created 4th Special Task Force?

Where was Edric originally from?

What on earth is the meaning of a powerhouse of level 6 or higher like Edric being assigned to a special task force with only four members?

‘Anyway, it’s suspicious.’

However, I had to stop my thoughts there.

Because the carriage had started to move in earnest.

Edric did not ride in the same carriage as us but rode a separate horse.

It was a huge black horse with a prominent black mane.

“That’s a fine horse.”

“It’s called Phileon. I heard it has a little demonic beast blood mixed in. It's a fellow that has been through countless battlefields with me. At this point, you could call it a comrade-in-arms.”

Edric said, as if proud.

I tried complimenting the horse to get on his good side, and it felt like it worked more than necessary.

“What is the mission exactly?”

“It’s not a mission, it's training. The content of the training is to patrol the Tasman region and subjugate the demonic beasts that appear in that area.”

I wondered what the difference was, but Edric was confident.

“I see.”

“Indeed.”

After my conversation with Edric ended, the carriage was silent.

In the first place, the relationship between Conlan and Albino, which had been relatively better, had soured, and with the addition of the usually quiet Alicia, it was in a way a natural thing.

On the moving carriage, the cold air of the north becomes a biting wind that grazes the skin.

‘……It’s cold even when I’m bundled up like this.’

If I had my way, I would have liked to at least look at the bulletin board during the travel time, but I did not let my guard down.

As I mentioned earlier, the carriage we are currently riding in is essentially a cargo cart that is open on all four sides.

This meant that if a stray stone were to be thrown from somewhere, I could end my life right there.

Therefore, instead of looking at the bulletin board, I carefully caressed the Colt Garrison B-09 inside my pocket.

Normally, I wouldn't have summoned it in advance, but since we were heading into battle now, I had summoned it beforehand to let the cooldown reset.

According to what I had checked from time to time before, the cooldown of the Weapon Summon trait starts to run right after summoning.

In other words, I could now use a total of 12 bullets at once.

With this much firepower, even if a decent-sized pack of demonic beasts came at me, I should be able to protect myself.

‘There are demonic beasts that seem like bullets won't work on them at all…… but this isn't the Demonic Realm, so the possibility of such a thing being in the south of Winter Castle is low.’

My judgment was that my swordsmanship, which was only F-rank, was still inadequate to be used in a real battle where my life was on the line.

Therefore, for today's practical training, I intended to avoid close-quarters combat as much as possible.

How long had we moved while maintaining our vigilance?

“Everyone, get ready.”

“Yes?”

The question did not last long.

-Squeak, Squeak!

-Grrr! Grrrrr!

The cries of demonic beasts coming from a distance.

It meant there was a pack of demonic beasts nearby.

“You remember the training content, right? I'll give a day's leave to the one who shows the greatest results.”

All the members of the 4th Special Task Force got off the carriage, holding their respective weapons, but Edric remained on his horse.

“Captain, aren’t you going to help?”

“Hm? Did I not say, this is training. Wouldn’t the training become too easy if I stepped in?”

Yes, I knew he would say that.

But it didn't matter.

Clack-

I could see the demonic beast in the distance.

The distance is about 200m.

It was a difficult distance to hit with a pistol, but it was a perfectly suitable distance to make an impact in front of Edric.

Baaang!!!───

With the pulled trigger, lightning flashed from the muzzle.