About a month after the Orc tribe's training began...
Uwoooooo!
That's not it, you muscle-brained pig!
Uraaaaaaah! Stance! Stance!
Staaance! Ooooooh!
You sons of bitches!
Patrick despaired.
The blade art of the Peng Clan from Hebei was indeed a martial art where the potential of one's physique was more important than the Five Elements. But still, this was undeniably a martial art. Precise stances and disciplined movements accompanied by the delicate management of internal energy were supposed to be the basics.
Only then could it be called a martial art, and wasn't the process of achieving that called training? But these Orcs, no matter how many times he taught them, the moment he looked away, they would just charge forward, screaming "Uwoooooo!" They had completely forgotten the stances Patrick had taught them.
In the end, Patrick despaired.
‘It's impossible. Teaching these guys the Five Tiger Soul-Severing Blade is harder than teaching Goblins the Ten Thousand Blossoms Art.’
Patrick was not one to give up easily, but this was beyond his control. A rotten attitude could be beaten and fixed. A lack of talent could also be beaten and dragged upwards.
Violence was, after all, the most effective solution. That was Patrick's conviction. But there was no solution for a blockhead.
What good would it do to hit a stupid kid on the head? It would only make them stupider. In the end, Patrick, holding back tears, lowered his goal.
Advanced blade arts like the Five Tiger Soul-Severing Blade or the Primordial Chaos Lightning Blade, which he had initially aimed for, were absolutely impossible. He sought out the simplest and easiest martial art and refined it to suit the Orcs.
Simpler. Easier. More comfortable.
With these goals in mind, he refined and refined it again, and the result was... Three Tiger Blade Art. It was a blade art he named Orc Blade, tailored to the standards of this world.
He had taken the forms with the easiest internal energy management from the Five Tiger Soul-Severing Blade, which Peng Moojong had favored in his past life, and melted them into the principles of the Three Talents Sword Art, which every martial artist and their dog in the martial world knew.
For Patrick, a swordsman, to simply modify an advanced martial study like the Five Tiger Soul-Severing Blade was a truly arduous and difficult task.
But...
‘I'll go this far for you. When I see you in the afterlife, you'd better buy me a grand round of drinks.’
Gritting his teeth, he did it. It couldn't just be easy. He had to somehow melt in even a little of the essence of the Peng Clan's martial studies from Hebei and make the Orcs learn it.
The Orc Blade created this way was a martial art that even simple-minded, blockheaded Orcs could learn.
Of course...
“The next bastard to get the stance wrong dies. Go ahead, try screaming ‘Uwoooooo’ again. I dare you, you bastards!”
It was by no means easy, even so. In any case, although a few individuals were suffering, the Schneider Fief was exceedingly peaceful. Thanks to the Orcs, as well as the soldiers who were now quite handy with a sword, wiping out the surrounding monsters, they were now past securing safety and at the point of considering expanding the fief.
After all, the purpose of the fiefs placed in the great forest, including the Schneider Fief, was to pioneer the great forest and keep the monsters in check. Then, one such day.
“Young master. The lord is calling for you.”
April came and said to Patrick, who was having a drink for breakfast.
“My father? What's it about?”
“I do not know for sure. He ordered me to bring you, young master.”
“Alright. I guess I'll find out when I get there.”
On his way, Patrick wondered what kind of trouble he had caused recently.
‘Beating up the Orcs? Beating up the soldiers? Beating up Brian? Beating up monsters—ah, that's a good thing.’
Isn't the problem the fact that your entire life revolves around beating someone up? He would never realize it himself, of course. When he went to see his father, his mother, Ava, was there as well.
Unlike Baron Schneider, who had a few white hairs visible at his temples, Ava had grown even more youthful and beautiful. To an onlooker, they looked less like a married couple and more like a father and daughter.
“You called for me, Father?”
“Yes. Come and sit here.”
As Patrick sat down, Ava called out to April, who was standing behind Patrick, in the kindest voice in the world.
“You should sit too, April.”
“I am fine, my lady.”
“Do you not want to sit next to me?”
Seeing Ava's disappointed expression, April hesitated for a moment before...
“No, my lady. I will sit.”
She sat down next to Ava. And Ava began to dote on April as if she were her own beloved daughter.
“Is there anything making you uncomfortable? Is Patrick treating you well? If you need anything, just tell me directly.”
At this sight, the Baron sighed and said.
“I'm sure she's doing fine on her own.”
“What did you say?”
“No, nothing. Ahem, April, could you bring us some tea?”
“Yes, my lord.”
And just as April was about to get up, Ava's eyes widened as she spoke.
“Why are you making the girl stand up again after I just had her sit down? Don't you have hands? Don't you have feet?”
“Uh... well.”
“Is our April someone who just serves tea?” ...
He wanted to say, 'Well, that's what a maid does,' but seeing his wife glaring at him, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
“Ahem. No, no. I was wrong.”
In the end, Baron Schneider sighed and apologized, and Patrick looked at his father with pity in his eyes.
“What are you thinking?”
“I'm resolving to get married as late as possible.” ...
It's just sad.
Plain sad.
Baron Schneider took a sip of the tea he had brewed himself and spoke to Patrick.
“How are the soldiers' skills lately?”
“Most are at the three-star level or higher. Sanson, the guard captain, might even reach the five-star level soon.”
“Hahaha... that's incredible. At this point, wouldn't it be fine to grant them knighthood?”
“They're still far from ready.”
“You hold the standard for a knight too strictly. Would you only be satisfied if they all become seven-star and can draw out an Aura Blade?”
“Hmm, that would be a respectable level.”
At his son's words, Baron Schneider shook his head. He had completely entrusted the soldiers' training to his son. But sometimes when he went to observe, seeing the brutal hellscape that unfolded made him wonder if he should intervene.
However, as a result of allowing it, his son had produced clear results. Usually, reaching the two-star level was enough to be called a knight, but they were at a minimum of the three-star level? Even the guard captain, Sanson, was four-star.
This was no longer a force of 200 soldiers. Judging by skill alone, it was a knight order of 200. The one who had achieved this was his son, standing right before him. For him to interfere now, even as the lord, would be shameless.
“Alright. I'll leave it to you. You must have your reasons.”
“Of course.”
“Surely you're not thinking it's a waste to raise their salaries if they become knights.” ...
“Of course not.”
“Hey.”
“So, why did you call me?”
Patrick quickly changed the subject, and Baron Schneider let out a deep sigh before taking a letter from his coat and holding it out.
“Read this.”
Patrick did as he was told and took the letter to read.
“To my beloved wife Ava, your beauty grows more dazzling by the day, enough to make the goddess of beauty jealous...”
“Wait, wait, not that one.”
The Baron, greatly flustered, snatched the letter from Patrick's hand. Patrick looked at the blushing Baron and Ava, who was shyly saying, ‘Oh, you,’ from the side, and said.
“You two are sooooo in love.”
“Ahem, ahem...”
“Am I getting a younger sibling? A little brother? A little sister?”
“Enough, just read this.”
The Baron took out another letter from his coat and gave it to him. And as Patrick read the letter, his brow began to furrow subtly.
「To Baron Schneider. Recently, bandits have become rampant in the east, robbing merchants of their property and lives and tormenting the good people of the kingdom. Several lords have already tried to subdue them, but the bandits' forces are formidable, and the subjugations have ended in failure. Therefore, as the Count responsible for the east, I intend to unite the forces of the eastern nobles to subdue these heinous bandits, fulfill the duty of the nobility, and establish justice. Upon receiving this letter, lead the forces of your fief and assemble at the Count’s domain. Count Jayden Parmas.」
After Patrick finished reading the letter, Baron Schneider spoke.
“What do you think?”
“About what?”
“The punitive force the Count speaks of.”
“Well, it’s obvious.”
“Oh? Obvious?”
“Yes. Bandits appeared, they tried to subdue them, but they were stronger than expected, and they got their asses kicked. So now they want to increase their numbers and gang up on them. Isn't that it?”
He's right...
He is right.
But.
“Must you put it like a back-alley thugs' turf war?”
“Is there any difference? Whether they're nobles putting on airs or kids in the back alleys, in the end, they're fighting to protect their own rice bowls. The nobles' game is just on a bigger scale. Pathetic fools.”
“Son, you are a noble too.”
“Ah, I forgot.”
Seeing Patrick, who seemed to have genuinely forgotten, Baron Schneider covered his eyes with his hand. My hopeless child.
“Anyway, isn't this kind of thing obvious? Since they can't do it alone, they're gathering forces to gang up. What is there to think about?”
“You don't think it's good?”
“There's no good or bad. The situation is just the situation.” ...
Seeing Baron Schneider still looking like he didn't understand, Patrick sighed.
“What's important isn't Count Parmas, but your choice, Father.”
“My choice?”
“Yes. What do you want to do?”
“What do you mean, what do I want to do? The Count has summoned us, so shouldn't we naturally go?”
“Well, yes. And once you go, what do you want to do? Do you want to just hold your position, fulfill your duty, and be done with it? Or...”
Patrick paused for a moment, then looked the Baron straight in the eye and spoke.
“Do you want to announce the power of the House of Schneider to the world and grasp wealth and fame in your hands?”
“Wealth and fame, what...”
“It's not an absurd statement. It can be done.” ...
“If only you desire it, Father.”
Baron Schneider's expression hardened. His son's expression as he spoke had become quite serious. Although his son had a rotten personality, was monstrously strong, and was so ferocious it was doubtful if he was even human...
‘What on earth have I raised?’
Baron Schneider briefly felt a sense of failure as a parent but quickly collected himself. In any case, despite his son's many flaws, he sometimes showed wisdom and insight unbecoming of his young age. Right now was one of those times.
“Are you saying you will achieve it for me if I desire wealth and fame?”
“You are the lord, Father, and we are your subjects. Of course, we will achieve it for you.”
It was as if he were asking, "Shall I buy some fruit on my way back from the market?" But if it was Patrick, he would really do it. There was nothing he had said he would do that he hadn't done.
Baron Schneider thought in silence for a moment before opening his mouth.
“Wealth and fame.” ...
“They are good things. Wealth enriches everyone, and the pursuit of fame is the very goal that many nobles dedicate their lives to.”
“In that case...”
“However.”
Baron Schneider cut his son off and continued.
“I do not wish for you and the soldiers to risk your lives and shed blood for such wealth and fame.” ...
“Compared to the blood they will shed and the tears their families will cry, things like wealth and fame are nothing but trivial.” ...
“Damn, they're so alike.”
“What did you say?” ...
Patrick did not answer. His memory was recalling the distant past.
[Master, our Twin Dragon Sect stood at the forefront and shattered the Blood Kill Sect. Why must we yield the credit to those bastards from the Nine Great Sects who just watched from the back?]
[To contend with them for the credit, you would have to fight those Nine Great Sects this time.]
[Let's fight. I'll crush those shameless bastards.]
[I...]
The Master continued, with his usual benevolent smile.
[I do not wish to put you all in danger for the sake of some trivial credit.]
[Master...]
[If the blood of my disciples is required to gain a higher reputation, then I would rather be in the lowest position in the world.]
It was frustrating. It felt unfair, and he was angry. There's a limit to how good a person can be.
It's not like anyone would acknowledge him for acting like this, so why did he do it? There's a limit to how good a person can be. Isn't this too much?
But...
‘It's because Master was that kind of person that a bastard like me was able to function as a proper human being.’
If it hadn't been for his Master, Jin Cheon wouldn't have been called the Radiant Dragon Grandmaster, but something like the Blood Demon Dragon. And he would have become a titan of the unorthodox alliance, bringing a storm of blood to the martial world and unleashing calamity upon the world.
His Master had taught him and shown him through his own actions what was precious and what was more important. Although he had passed through one death to gain a new life in a new world, his Master's teachings were still engraved deep within Patrick's soul.