009
I went to see Kinuan, the martial arts instructor. It is not uncommon for cadets to visit their instructors for personal matters. Especially after completing basic training, around the third year, they find their own shortcomings and create their own training curriculum.
“What a surprise you came to see me.”
Kinuan, who was sitting inside the office, looked at me and said. He, like the other instructors, is a retired guardsman.
“I came because I had something to ask.”
“Please sit down. Would you like some tea?”
Kinuan stood up from her seat, her loose clothes fluttering. Before I could answer, she was pouring tea.
“thank you.”
I took my tea and sat down.
Hurup.
The tea was bitter and sour. I barely managed to keep a straight face. If the other person hadn’t been a superior, I would have cursed at them for paying for such a thing.
Kinuan sniffed the steam of the hot tea with his nose and took a careful sip. He looked like he was enjoying a tea ceremony leisurely.
I looked at Kinuan. He had a middle-aged face. At first glance, he seemed calm enough not to be a soldier.
But Kinuan is strong. Even when I was learning martial arts under him, I could feel the difference. There was something different about him.
“When it comes to martial arts, there’s nothing more you can learn. You’re already great. If you look through all the cadets, there aren’t many who were better at martial arts than you.”
To interpret it differently, it means that there was no one better than me.
“It’s not enough to just excel at the cadet level.”
There’s no need to drag it out. I got to the point.
“There is no need to be greedy.”
“I just watched the guards and Cora’s knights fight.”
“Of course. That’s why you’re a cadet, right? I’ve read the records and reports. You’ve done a great job. You’ve made the most of your abilities.”
Kinuan chuckled.
“Strictly speaking, I failed the mission.”
Claude and other cadets died under my command. If it weren’t for the intervention of the guards, they would have been wiped out.
“You were an opponent that couldn’t be defeated even if you gave it your all. It wasn’t your fault. It was the failure of your superiors. In fact, your evaluation has been raised even higher since the last mission.”
“I don’t care about the evaluation from above. I need to be able to deal with unexpectedly strong opponents.”
Kinuan closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes. I raised my head and waited for Kinuan to speak.
“… … Time is yours. You will gain more experience and receive better bodies. You will become stronger without rushing. The superiors who lost a cadet due to this misjudgment will also be cautious.”
Kinuan spoke as if he was pacing me. I straightened my neck and back and stared at him.
“I heard that you, too, are from a two-digit orphanage like me.”
Kinuan is like me. He was an irregular who came up from the bottom.
The one-digit numbered nurseries and the two-digit numbered nurseries were qualitatively different. Nurseries 1 through 9 were filled with genetically superior children. I heard that there were also many illegitimate children from noble families. They also received ample support from the empire.
Kinuan and I are from a two-digit orphanage. Because we have a low chance of becoming talented, we receive poor support from the Empire.
However, a few outstanding individuals were able to rise to the top despite the harsh environment.
‘The Empire is fair. It gives everyone a chance.’
People thought so. I thought so too.
But according to Illei, the Empire was merely creating this illusion in its subjects through the Irregulars.
… … This is a subversive thought. We must not go any further than this.
I swallowed and listened to Kinuan’s words.
“Luka, you have better qualities than I do. When I was a cadet, I was always last in training. My classmates would grumble at me. They said I was not qualified to be a guard.”
It was an unexpected statement. The position of instructor was a very honorable one. Only those who had been recognized for their merits in the Royal Guard could become instructors.
I found it hard to believe that Kinuan was a poor student during his cadet days. Of course, this was only a story of a poor student among the cadets. In the eyes of the entire empire, he must have been an exceptional talent.
“It’s a shape that’s hard to believe.”
Kinuan smiled as he watched me remain silent.
“Because I’ve seen your resume, Instructor. Especially… … .”
Kinuan was a man who had achieved great success in every major battle during his active service. He had received countless medals of honor while serving in the Royal Guard.
I paused for a moment and then continued speaking.
“… … I heard that he entered enemy territory in a non-combat body and performed well.”
Kinuan had once feigned surrender on the front lines during a stalemate with the Bellato Federation that lasted for several months. The body Kinuan used at the time was a low-powered, everyday-use body that was not suitable for combat.
The Bellato Federation accepted the surrender of the unarmed Kinuan. Then a catastrophe occurred. Kinuan killed the officer interrogating him, then stormed into the conference room and slaughtered the officers who were in charge of the field at the time, temporarily paralyzing the front line.
The Empire took advantage of the gap to launch an offensive, and the Federation had no choice but to withdraw its front lines.
‘I do not have the authority to view detailed records from that time.’
I don’t know how Kinuan could do such a feat. The soldiers of the Bellato Federation are not fools. They suffered because there was something out of the ordinary in Kinuan.
“You are very curious.”
This was not a compliment. It was a warning to the curious in the guard, no, to the soldiers of the Empire.
Do not seek to know more than you are authorized to know.
Silently keep your position… … Be loyal to the Emperor and protect the people of the Empire.
I know this too. If it were just a year or two ago, I wouldn’t have done something like this. I vaguely realized it too.
‘I am changing.’
I was gradually deviating from the virtues that an imperial soldier should have. No matter how much I think about it, it’s because of that damned Ilay. That guy is a bad influence on me.
“… … Excuse me, Instructor.”
I tried to get up from my seat. In my opinion, Kinuan was the best instructor among the current ones. However, I had no intention of being persistent with someone who was not convinced.
“Are you planning on going to all the instructors like this? There will be many who will look at you with negative eyes. Reputation is just as important as skill.”
“I have no intention of getting promoted by flattering others. I intend to rise on my own. I have no background.”
Kinuan looked at me quietly and smiled. He stood up, holding his knees.
“Follow me, Luca.”
* * *
Kinuan stopped in front of the empty training room. The lens on the door frame opened to identify visitors. Soon, the door opened with the sound of the lock being released.
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The walls and floors of the training room were all made of cold metal tiles. There was so much empty space that even the sound of breathing seemed to echo.
“You have always been an excellent student.”
Kinuan said as he walked to the center of the training room. He looked at me with his pack on his back.
“thank you.”
I answered reflexively.
“I’m especially proud as your instructor since your martial arts scores are so good. Write down what you’ve learned from me so far, Luca.”
I immediately took up my stance and prepared for battle. There was no need to wonder. If this was a test, I had to pass it. This was a chance to learn the fighting skills of Kinuan, who had been through all kinds of hardships.
OMG.
My right prosthesis analyzed Kinuan’s full-body prosthesis. It was a low-power, everyday prosthesis.
Other instructors and guardsmen use combat-grade equipment even in peacetime.
‘Even if you only consider the strength of the prosthetic arm, I am ten times stronger.’
Overall, I had much better specs. The only thing that was disadvantageous to me was that since it wasn’t a full body prosthesis, the durability of the living parts was weak.
I raised my power while regulating my breathing. I didn’t let my guard down. Kinuan was a strong man who could easily defeat a cadet like me even with such a low-spec body.
“I don’t think I ever taught you how to tame a dog? Looks like you’ve forgotten the basics.”
Kinuan said, still carrying his luggage on his back.
“Then excuse me.”
I muttered and stepped forward.
Again.
The metal tiles rang coldly.
The martial arts of the Empire pursue lethality and efficiency. Strikes aim for vital points in the shortest and fastest manner.
Whoosh!
I moved my body in an exemplary manner. I rolled my feet and gained elasticity in my body. The fist I extended for check was aimed at Kinuan’s face. It was light, but if it hit properly, his head would be crushed.
Swish!
Kinuan gently tilted his head to avoid my punch. I never thought Kinuan would be hit by such an attack.
‘Closing the distance by striking… … .’
I extended my other fist, my fingers spread loosely so that I could grab Kinuan at any moment.
If Kinuan’s limbs were caught in my grasp, I could twist them apart at the joints and rip them out.
widely!
Kinuan lightly hit the inside of my wrist with the back of his hand and pushed. My body tilted at the seemingly insignificant movement.
‘uh?’
My arms and body lurched like a train that had run off the tracks. My feet faltered, losing their balance.
I didn’t try to straighten my falling body. If the continuity of the attack was interrupted, I would be the one to get hit. I was already within Kinuan’s attack range.
Whirl!
I fell harder, hitting the ground with my hands. Then I pulled my unsteady feet up and aimed for Kinuan’s chin.
I also thought it was a sharp improvisation. I secretly expected that Kinuan wouldn’t be able to avoid this either.
I moved my eyes and looked at Kinuan. He was smiling. The moment I saw that smile, I was sure I was going to get hit.
Bam!
Kinuan pushed my kick away as if he was pushing under his palm.
Whiriliriririk!
My body spun around in the air like a cartwheel. I couldn’t control my body and fell down flat on my back.
“earthly…….”
I couldn’t hold back my doubts and blurted them out. It was a kind of exclamation.
Kinuan only lightly tapped me. But every time, my body staggered and lost its balance. At the end, he even reversed the direction of his power while blocking my kick. It was a technique not found in the Empire’s textbooks.
And I was sure that coming to Kinuan was the right thing to do.
“It’s personal self-defense.”
Kinuan reached out his hand towards me as I fell and spoke.
“I can learn… … .”
I closed my mouth as I spoke. Kinuan’s hands were visibly shaking.
It wasn’t just his hands. His body was shaking and trembling out of control, which meant there was something wrong with his brain function.
“There is a price to pay for shortcuts.”
Kinuan smiled bitterly.
