Chapter 25
Shouts and laughter echoed through the training ground day after day.
The shouts came from Renato and Rudo, while the laughter came from the soldiers, led by Dan.
Without a moment's rest, Renato and Rudo went through the training menu like an assembly line, while I and Altried fetched water and placed it beside Dan, who rested a wooden sword on his shoulder like a demon instructor.
"......Ugh."
"......Renato!? Damn, wake up!"
"Alright! Disqualified!"
When Dan lightly swung the wooden sword, it signaled a soldier holding a bucket to pour water over Renato's head.
"Pwah!......Ugh, you—!"
"Ahahaha, if you're frustrated, train harder! It's summer, so it's still fine, but winter's brutal!"
"Rena...! *cough*..."
"Sorry. It's part of the job."
As Renato, who had lost consciousness during push-ups, raised his soaked face and glared at Dan, Sasha, who had quickly noticed Rudo becoming one with the ground beside him, poured water on him and apologized with a guilty expression—but without hesitation.
"I can understand Renato, but why is Rudo going through basic training now?"
"Probably the pride of an older brother not wanting to lose to his younger sibling. Still, it's quite the sight..."
"Everyone here has gone through this, without exception."
"......If we did the same thing in the knight training, it'd probably be considered corporal punishment."
"This is still mild. At least they're not drowning."
"Drowning?"
"If you get hit with that repeatedly, you can't breathe."
"Can't breathe..."
"No need to worry too much. We've switched to slightly smaller buckets, so it's fine."
Muttering that everyone was so kind, I patted the shoulder of the dumbfounded Altried.
"You shouldn't compare this to training in the Royal Capital's knight training. This place could become a battlefield at any moment. Whether it's raining or snowing, fighting enemies while trudging through muddy water is the norm. That's why both mental and physical training are essential."
Knights who had always been admired in the safety of the Royal Capital probably never had to crawl on the ground or push themselves to the point of vomiting and collapsing. Naturally, they couldn't endure what was normal on the battlefield, and even the knight commander would frown at the situation.
From the perspective of the National Army, the reputation of the knight training has only been declining, with everyone seeing them as "an incompetent group that gives arrogant, off-the-mark orders."
However, if the knight commander had undergone the same training as the National Army and could handle it, the story would be different.
On the day Renato stands on the battlefield as the knight commander, the National Army and military nobles will surely become strong allies.
"......Renato doesn't plan to attend the military school, right?"
"I believe he'll attend the academy in the Royal Capital."
"I thought so."
Thinking that military school would be better for the future might mean my thoughts are heading in a strange direction...
Figuring it was about time for a break, I approached the two soaked boys with a canteen in hand. Renato, noticing me first, looked at me with teary eyes and silently pleaded, 'Celes......' but I smiled and ignored him.
"Here's a towel and some water. Rudo... you should wipe your face too."
"Ahh... I really thought today would be the day."
"Looks like we can go a bit harder. Dan, let's switch the bucket back to normal."
"Celes!?"
I pressed the towel against Rudo's shocked face and knelt in front of the stiff-faced Renato to meet his eyes.
"Do you remember what I said before?"
"......Yeah."
The day I went to check on Renato during his training.
To show him that basic training wasn't easy enough to allow conserving strength, I splashed water on him while he was resting on the ground.
Renato, stunned and unable to grasp what had happened, was given continuous instructions not to take unnecessary breaks.
Though confused, Renato followed the orders, but naturally ran out of stamina midway, and I poured water on him from directly above when he couldn't move anymore.
When that happened several times, Renato finally hit his limit and shouted, "This isn't training!"
He didn't use his royal status to complain, which improved his evaluation, but criticizing the training menu that the Marshal and Colonel had crafted through trial and error for children was a demerit, so I grabbed Renato's face with one hand.
"Then what do you call training?"
"......What do I call it..."
"I'm not a soldier, so I'm not a sergeant responsible for recruits' safety or training. But in Renato's case, because of his strong desire, Rudo and Altried are taking responsibility, and I'm observing his progress, so he's allowed to participate. Handling weapons, attitude toward superiors, pointing out mistakes... all of this must be drilled into Renato."
"......Ce-Celestia?"
"I was observing because you said you wanted to do what I gritted my teeth to accomplish two years ago, but it seems I've been spoiling you quite a bit."
"What the—ouch!"
"This isn't a playground. It's a place where people who risk their lives to protect the nation train daily, and when war comes, it's the front line. It's not a place where you can relax while being a burden. If you're not serious, go back to the Royal Capital or stay safely guarded inside the fortress."
I let go of his face and gave a cold smile to the staggering Renato.
"Someone who can't even do what a mere noble daughter managed at nine and cries that this isn't training has no chance of becoming a knight commander. Protect Rudo, who will become king? Say that nonsense after you're asleep."
Renato's path, aiming to become knight commander, is far harsher than mine, who will support from the rear as a military noble, or Rudo, who will be king. There's never enough time.
If he takes the position of knight commander just because he's the Second Prince with no achievements, the Third Prince might take that position once he grows up.
The reason Grandfather can stay at Ransheen Fortress even after retiring from the military is because of his numerous achievements.
A hero of the people, the cornerstone of the nation.
The more visible the achievements and the greater the resulting benefits, the more the people shout that only he will do, and nobles, with their own agendas, try to cozy up to him.
To solidify a foundation, he must be able to handle basic training with ease.
"Altried, do you think the soldiers here are weak?"
"No. Sergeant-class soldiers can be found in the Royal Capital's knight training too, but when it comes to Colonels... only unit commanders or vice-commanders could match them."
"Ransheen Fortress has about fifteen Colonels and forty Sergeants. And by the way, nearly all of the Rotish family's private soldiers are Colonel-class."
"......That's incredible."
"They're trained personally by Grandfather. Their sons, having grown up watching their fathers and the fortress soldiers, also aspire to become soldiers from a young age."
Ransheen Fortress isn't the only one along the border, but since it faces two nations considered enemies rather than allies, it requires more military strength and gathers more capable individuals than others.
"Does Renato intend to become a knight commander who's inferior to commoners and noble daughters?"
"......No. I want to become the greatest knight commander in this country and protect my brother."
As Renato clenched his fists and looked at me with a piercing gaze, I gave a small nod and thrust the training menu before him.
"I refuse to follow a man weaker than me."
—If you want to command the National Army and military nobles on the battlefield.
"Prove your strength..."
"You remember, right?"
When I patted his head saying, 'Good, good,' Renato stepped back with a pout, as if escaping my hand.
"I'm not that much of a kid... I'll catch up in no time and become stronger than you, Celes. So go back to your own training! Don't watch me!"
As I reached out with the towel to wipe his face, he ran off before I could say anything...
"......How am I supposed to instruct him if I don't watch?"
"Maybe instruction isn't necessary? With both Renato and Rudo now involved, active soldiers are taking turns as their escorts and instructors."
"......"
"Also, boys don't want girls to see them while they're growing up."
Not really understanding, I nodded and felt a little sad as I watched Renato playing with Dan and Sasha.
Maybe because I was staring at him so bitterly, Altried gently patted my shoulder as if to comfort me—and that only made me feel even sadder, though that's a secret.