Chapter 29: A Trial of Strength and Honor
If given the choice, Hideo would rather be lying in bed—wrapped in a warm blanket, reading an old book while taking occasional bites of freshly toasted bread. Compared to standing under the blazing sun, surrounded by the sharp gazes of hundreds of soldiers in the training grounds, the former sounded like heaven.
Unfortunately, life rarely offered choices.
Especially after the Thousand Gold Hall incident.
Tensions between the Dai and Mori families were boiling over. The humiliation of Dai Izuma—the grandson of the Dai family patriarch—had not only bruised pride, but threatened to unravel long-standing political balances. At first, the Abe family was suspected. But when Dai Wanli demanded answers, the Abe clan shifted the blame to Mori Haizou, accusing him of orchestrating the entire scheme.
Now, two of the empire's great houses were locked in a cycle of blame, ready to ignite conflict—while the Abe family remained quiet in the shadows, feigning innocence.
And here I am… being told to train a group of soldiers who don't even know how to stay alive in a real fight.
Just as he was about to refuse, a semi-transparent blue screen appeared before his eyes.
"Mandatory Quest Activated"
Quest Name: Training the Takumi House Guards
Description: Train the household guards into real warriors. Prove your leadership and turn them into a battle-ready elite force.
Objective: Forge an elite unit
Reward: 1 Random Skill
"Tch... even the system is pushing me now?" he muttered in frustration.
There was no escape.
"Alright, Uncle," he sighed. "Take me there."
As soon as they arrived at the main training grounds, Hisashi Takumi seized control of the atmosphere with a single command.
"ALL MILITARY UNITS—ASSEMBLE! FORM UP IN FRONT OF ME!"
His voice echoed loud and deep, like a war drum from a decade past. In an instant, the easygoing posture of the guards vanished. They snapped to attention, instinctively responding to the presence of the former battlefield commander.
In just a few minutes, three hundred soldiers stood in perfect formation.
Hisashi nodded slightly, then declared, "From this moment on, the Third Young Master will take full charge of your training. Whatever orders he gives must be followed—no exceptions. Understood?!"
Silence.
No one responded. All eyes turned toward the young man stepping forward.
Hideo took a deep breath, his gaze scanning each face before him. Without a word, he activated a skill he had long since mastered.
"Skill Activated: Learn (~)"
Scanning Target...
Status Appraisal: Active
A faint blue glow flickered in his eyes. A translucent screen appeared as he looked toward the first soldier in the front row.
[Status Window]
Name: Riken
Race: Human
Age: 25
Class: Warrior (D)
Stats:
• Mana: E
• Strength: D
• Intelligence: D-
• Agility: C
• Endurance: C
Skills: Slash (D), Shield Bash (E), Endure (F)
Stagnant... no meaningful growth.
He moved to the next.
[Status Window]
Name: Galdin
Race: Human
Age: 20
Class: Lancer (E)
Stats:
• Mana: F+
• Strength: C-
• Intelligence: D
• Agility: C+
• Endurance: D+
Skills: Pierce (E), Quickstep (F)
Same pattern. Physical training with no direction. No tactics. No actual improvement.
Hideo exhaled slowly.
They move, but they don't evolve.
He stepped forward, eyes sharper than before.
"My uncle and I observed your training earlier," he began. "And when he asked for my opinion, I said this: 'Is this what you call elite training? Is this something the Takumi name should be proud of?'"
He gave a small, cold smile.
"My answer? You're nothing but—pardon the word—trash. All you know is how to eat and waste resources. Sitting around... waiting to die."
Gasps and murmurs spread across the formation. Several faces reddened. Fists clenched.
An older soldier stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. "Young Master! We may be house guards, but we are not cowards! We've survived dozens—no, hundreds—of battles! It's not right for you, even as a noble, to insult us like this!"
But Hideo remained calm.
"Insult? No. You insult yourselves—by choosing to stagnate for years. If you think I'm wrong... prove it. Step forward. Challenge me. Face me. But only if you're capable."
He took another step forward.
"This is your first order under my command. My uncle will not interfere."
The air grew tense. Confusion brewed, but the simmering anger had yet to fade.
Hideo raised his voice.
"Let me ask you—how many of you received a promotion after the last war? How many became officers? How many are respected for their skill—not their age?"
No one answered.
"Exactly. You're all standing in the same place. Why? Because you're content. Because you stopped. Because you think surviving is enough. Meanwhile, many of your comrades became generals. Why? Because they kept moving. They didn't sit back waiting for death."
Heads began to lower.
"You train every day? Fine. But for what? To look impressive? To sweat? Where's the purpose? The direction? The will to live—and to win?"
The silence grew heavier. Some bit their lips. The young glanced at the old. The old began to question the worth of everything they'd done up until now.
"So tell me—do you want to change?" Hideo stepped closer. "Or are you truly satisfied guarding the back gate for the rest of your lives?"
The tension in the air felt like dry kindling waiting for a spark. No one spoke—but something had shifted.
Fists tightened. Backs straightened. And little by little, their eyes began to change.
They no longer looked at Hideo as the spoiled heir they once scoffed at—
—but as someone who saw something inside them…
…something they had forgotten.
And someone who refused to let them keep running from it.