Chapter 37

Adamantium Fortress: Training Ground

A few Hours Later.

One by one, the duels of the new high knights continued, but as each duel passed, the attention of the spectator shifted to Harris, who was still holding his planking, making all the high knights impressed by his strength, and deon wasn’t exempted, he looked at Harris with amazement.

Of course, just because Deon is impressed doesn’t change the fact that Harris is his enemy now, as he still wishes for Harris to fail. After all, he isn’t benevolent enough to forgive someone who just tried to backstab him.

Growing up as an orphan, Deon isn’t unfamiliar with bullies, and as he grew up, he realized that the best way to get rid of bullies is to fight them even if you lose and make them realize that you aren’t an easy target and as far as deon is concerned, Harris is just one of the bullies.

‘Hmph. Instructor Edder should just kick him out. He doesn’t deserve being high knight,’ Deon thought. Although Deon knows that he is being petty, he doesn’t care, and why should he?

As far as Deon is concerned, Harris brought this to himself, and he won’t receive any sympathy from Deon. ‘Whatever, why do I have to justify what I feel when he is the one who did the wrong deed?’ Deon thought as he ignored Harris and refocused his attention on the duel.

.

Harris’s eyes were unfocused, as though he could pass out anytime while his lips were bone dry, as though he didn’t drink any water for days. Both his legs and arms were shaking from fatigue.

‘I… can’t… give up… now,’ Even his thoughts were slowing down as he got more fatigued.

Harris continued his struggle to maintain his balance as he could feel every bead of sweat on his body while his arms were starting to get numb from hours of planking, but even with all the odds against him, he persisted.

Harris was born into a humble household. They lived on the outskirts of the Whitehill town. He has three siblings, with him being the eldest.

His father used to be a Hunter, but when Harris was only five years old, his father got into an accident resulting in one of his legs severed, ending Harris’s father’s career.

After that incident, their family struggled to put food on the table as his father was the sole earner of their household.

Usually, even if their father didn’t earn enough money from hunting, there would still be food on the table as his father always found food for them.

But with his father unable to hunt and six people in the household, their food soon ran out. Even when his father tried fishing, or his father’s hunting mates gave them food, it was still not enough.

In just a few days, he saw his muscular father turn skinny as his father always gave his share of food to his children while hiding the fact he hadn’t eaten yet.

During those times, his father would always lie, saying that he already ate as he watched his family eat while only smiling at the side, never complaining. Harris always thought that the reason his father became skinny was because he wasn’t hunting anymore, or at least that’s what his father told him.

And the only reason Harris found out about it is because he overheard his mother scolding his father about it while crying.

Thankfully, His mother soon found a job as a tailor as his mother used to help his father with the fur that his father hunted, and because of the environment of the Everwinter Kingdom, which is always cold. The pay for tailors was enough to feed their whole family.

Even though their family is in a better situation now, Harris always remembers it. That is why he strived to become a high knight to give his parents and his siblings a good life where that situation would never happen again. He wished to see his father and mother become fat as they enjoyed their life.

But if he fails now, he will only bring shame and dishonor to his family, and the life he envisioned will be nothing more than wishful thinking.

‘I… won’t… fail just because… of this,’ Harris thought as he remembered his family celebrating when they heard about him participating in the awakening ceremony and how they concealed their sadness when they heard him fail for the first time in the awakening ceremony. ‘I won’t… disappoint them… again.’

.

After a while, the duels came to an end, with instructor Edder announcing the end of the last duel. “The Winner is Julia.”

Julia clenched his fist and celebrated her victory, but the spectators didn’t even glance at Julia as most of their attention went toward Harris as they whispered amongst each other, making Julia annoyed as she returned to her position while giving Harris a distasteful look.

“I can’t believe he did it.”

“Heh. I guess he really didn’t want to lose the high knight position.”

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“Even if he could do it, do you really think Instructor Edder would forgive him?”

“Well… Instructor Edder did promise.”

“I don’t recall Instructor Edder promising anything.”

“Yeah, He only said that he would reconsider it.”

“So, you think Instructor Edder would still expel him even after all of that?”

“Damn, now I feel bad for him.”

“Don’t be. Instructor Edder is right. If he is willing to backstab his fellow knight, he doesn’t deserve this position. Who does he think he is?”

“Strictly speaking, he couldn’t backstab Deon since instructor Edder stopped him.”

“Hmph… Sympathies with him all you want, but don’t blame when that guy stabs you in the back.”

“…”

“Still, wouldn’t expel him too harshly? He should just get punished or something.”

“He is getting punished.”

Instructor Edder ignored all the whispers around and looked at Harris coldly, but to his surprise, Harris didn’t stop planking and continued to plank as though he didn’t hear Instructor Edder before him, making all the spectators also baffled by Harris’s actions.

“What is he doing?”

“Didn’t he hear Instructor Edder?”

“Is he waiting for Instructor Edder?”

“Why isn’t Instructor Edder stopping him?”

Countless questions filled the training ground as all of their attention locked toward Harris, but no matter how rowdy the spectators became, Harris didn’t stop his planking and maintained his balance even though it was clear that he was struggling in each passing second.

What was more baffling was Instructor Edder not stopping Harris and continued looking at Harris with his cold eyes, making the spectator afraid as they quieted down, waiting for Instructor Edder to make a move.

After a few minutes, the situation continued, and Harris never looked around him as though he was the only one in the training ground.

Deon frowned as he looked at Harris. At first, he thought that Harris was just showing off his endurance, but as minutes passed, he realized that wasn’t the case as Harris never once looked around him and kept his head down as he persisted.

‘Did he go crazy or something?’ Deon thought. ‘Where was this strength when we were fighting? Is he cheating?’

As more minutes go by, all the spectators start to become amazed by Harris’s determination to the point that they are quietly encouraging Harris to endure as they look at Instructor Edder with nervousness.

Although Instructor Edder coldly watched Harris, he still carefully observed Harris to make sure he was all right, and like Deon, he thought Harris was only doing this for a show, which dissatisfied him, but after looking at Harris closely, he realized that Harris was barely holding on.

‘How is he able to hold on for this long?’ Instructor Edder thought, baffled by Harris’s resolve but also quite impressed. ‘His whole body is shaking, yet he still doesn’t want to give up.’

Instructor Edder continued to observe Harris for a few more minutes and became more amazed by Harris’s tenacity.

‘This kid got a knight’s resolve all right, But should I really ignore this situation? Backstabbing his fellow knights is something that cannot be excused,’ Instructor Edder thought. Although he said that he would reconsider, In his mind, he already expelled Harris and wanted to make an example out of Harris to make the rest of the high knights obedient.

‘Hm… If I excuse this kind of behavior, then the rest of the high knights might think it’s not a big deal.’ Instructor Edder frowned in deep thought. ‘But this kid has potential… but the potential isn’t everything, the character is more important… But then again, he is only 14 years old. It is understandable that he would make mistakes due to competitiveness… But is that really enough?... If I expel him, he might become dangerous in the future and harbor some hostility toward the order… should I kill him?’

Instructor Edder immediately shook his head the moment his thoughts turned dark as he carefully observed Harris and his expression.

Unbeknownst to him, the moment instructor Edder shook his head, all the spectators gulped as they tensed up, quite nervous about their instructor’s next move.

‘No. As a high knight, I can’t judge someone just because they might become dangerous in the future… but expelling him is just me running away from my responsibilities. As their instructor, it is my duty to lead them to the right path of knighthood… he has a strong resolve but has a trash character… but I can reforge that so that he will become a better knight…no... a better person.’

*Sigh*

Instructor Edder bent down and patted Harris on his back, but to everyone’s surprise, the moment Instructor Edder patted Harris, he crumbled down as he fell from his plank.

Harris ‘woke’ up from his unflinching resolve the moment he fell. As he looks Instructor Edder in confusion but quickly regained his clarity as he kneeled before Instructor Edder even though his whole body was hurting and numb.

“Please, Instructor Edder, Forgive me. I have lost myself in jealousy and insecurity and have almost hurt my fellow knight. I am willing to accept every punishment, but please Forgive me.” Harris said, with no lie in his words or excuse, making Instructor Edder quite satisfied but still made sure that he had an indifferent face before Harris.

“Hmph. Why are you apologizing to me? I wasn’t the one you backstabbed,” Instructor Edder said as he looked toward Deon, to which Harris and everyone in the training ground also looked at Deon for any type of response, making Deon frown deep inside, but remained a poker face on the surface.

“I… Deon… I—” Harris was about to say something when instructor Edder interrupted him.

“Enough… This isn’t the place for you to be apologizing. You have wasted enough time… Go to the infirmary first.” Instructor Edder said, realizing that he had put Deon in the spot when he said that.

“But I…”

“This isn’t a request. It’s an order. Are you disobeying my orders now? We can talk about your status here later on, but first clean yourself up,” Instructor Edder said

“Yes, Sir,” Harris said

“Good, Lead this foolish knight to the infirmary.” Instructor Edder said as he commanded the servant by the side of the training ground. “Oh, and once you are done. Bring the stuff I said earlier.”

“Yes, Sir,” The servant replied as he immediately approached Harris and helped him stand up.

As Harris was escorted out of the training ground, Instructor Edder and the other high knights observed intently. The high knights’ emotions were complex.

They didn’t know whether to root for Harris because of his amazing show of tenacity or hold Harris in contempt for his actions, but before they could think any further, Instructor Edder spoke.

“Now that we wasted more time than necessary, how about we just move on and start our lecture?...”

Deon shook his head as he looked at Harris’s back. ‘Lost yourself in jealousy? Is that supposed to comfort me? Do you think you can just hit anyone just because you are jealous? Hmph. Whatever you say, you will be nothing more than a coward in my eyes.’

Deon may have seen Harris express remorse, but he still harbors doubts and is not willing to easily forgive him or let him off the hook. After all, Deon would have suffered significant injury had he taken the same blow that Harris did.

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Thought For Thoughts

* Should Deon Forgive and Forget?

* Start the enhancement training next chapter.