All Riglids began doing push-ups and I joined them after a moment of realization. IF I COME LAST THEY’LL MAKE ME REPEAT THAT! And me showing the difference between them and me would be pointless… I barely did forty push-ups and one of them began to run. And second, third, and fourth. It looked like there were only ten men beside me. I started running with one other guy leaving five men behind.

I almost finished the first lap and out of nowhere one of them ran past me. He started running like a minute or two after me! And he already ran past me?! What are they?! I was fourth from the very bottom. Only better than the other Riglids. Not the best but still. I’m your average janitor… Almost average. Hehe…

[ Riglid's Captain ]

“Everyone! Take a spear and find a duel partner.”

There is no time for rest?! Nah… They’re just showing off. Ok… I’ll pick up the ones that were behind me since they are clearly weaker. When I turned back I noticed that everyone was already training… I was going to wait for the last guy but the captain stood in front of me with a spear ready.

[ Riglid's Captain ]

“Until the last one will finish his training, you’ll be sparing with me.”

So this challenge is to survive until that guy finishes the training?! I could fight a guy from the first place but captain?! He was the only one who didn’t budge at my False Fear. And I don’t know how to fight with a spear! I’m doomed…

I barely noticed him raising his spear to attack me and I barely blocked the attack with a wooden handle. He hit it so hard that the spear broke in half. Is this really just sparing?! Maybe… That’s for the better now I have two short weapons.

That guy didn’t give me any time to rest and attacked me again. This time I parried his attack by sliding it away with the blade. With each strike, I felt that my parries were getting sloppier, or rather his attacks were getting more precise.

He raised his spear high in the air to strike me again from above. I was ready to block it with both of my arms but he changed his attack midway from slash to thrust. It was impossible to block this attack now. He can kill me with that thing! Do they have some kind of healer here?! In a rush, I changed from defense to attack. I aimed for his head but I knew he wouldn’t do anything because he will thrust me faster than I would him but with a little push…

This time he switched from attack to defense. I used my False Fear to give this little push. He took the bait or did it instinctively. Of course, it didn’t end with that because he kicked me away. Didn’t feel like I could stand up let alone breathe. When I stood up he was just standing there waiting for me.

Now there is no mercy. My time to humiliate you… I got my broken spear ready but he didn’t even move. Was he mocking me? Then he pointed a finger at something behind me. The guy that repeated the training finally finished it. At least now I don’t have to try this hard.

I was ready but that man didn’t seem like it. He was trying to catch his breath, his legs were shaking and he probably was sweaty because his clothes were wet in a few spots. Captain approached him and he thrust his spear into the ground. The man took it and I could see that his hands were shaking more than his legs.

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He tried to attack me first but his movement was so slow that I avoided his attack. I just kicked him away to see what could happen. He just rolled over on the ground and managed to get on his knees. Like the captain, I gave him time to stand up. It took him a while but he did it.

This time I went for the attack with my wooden handle. He bearly blocked it. I tried to overwhelm him with pure strength but he was doing pretty well. I put the blade on his neck.

[ Eric ]

“Checkmate…” While I did it my tattoo started to burn. Not as bad when I tried to break the taboo but it still was painful.

What are you trying to say to me Loki… That I shouldn’t even dare to touch that guy. Is that it? The man took a few steps back and bowed toward me. I did the same but I still couldn’t let this weird feeling go away. He has to do something with Loki.

*CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*

When I looked at the gate there stood more guards and Astvar. How much did they see? Me fighting a captain or only this fight? There was someone else by Astvar’s side. When I looked around every Riglid were on their knees with their head down. When I looked closer at the man he had something on his head. He had a golden wreath so that means he is a KING! I immediately kneeled in front of him.

[ Eric ]

“My… My apologies… I didn’t notice someone of your status from the very beginning.”

[ King ]

“You can stand up.”

[ Astvar ]

“Told you that I found an interesting guy.”

[ King ]

“Interesting indeed. He defeated one of the Riglids so easily.”

So they only saw me fighting an exhausted guy. Cool but not cool… I defeated one of them and they think I’m as good as them or even better but I don’t feel good about that when I won against an exhausted soldier.

[ Astvar ]

“If I may ask, king.”

[ King ]

“Yes? What is it?”

[ Astvar ]

“Why do your soldiers have masks and well… they don’t speak at all…”

[ King ]

“The idea of the last king was that they are like one body. All of them are just muscles and the captain is the brain and only brains give orders to muscles.”

[ Eric ]

“What about a heart?”

[ King ]

“Let’s not be too philosophical about the simple ideas. It just is that way and it worked for the past twenty years.”

So they are replaceable… Not like normal soldiers are any different. They fight, they win, they die. That’s the sad truth. Not many soldiers live after a battle… I was supposed to make fun of them but now I feel bad and even sentimental! Could just stay in the restaurant and eat…

[ Astvar ]

“How about my guards doing some training with your soldiers? What do you think? It might be beneficial for both of us.” Asked Astvar.

[ King ]

“Hmm… I don’t have any objections.”

Does he really wants me to do the same training that I just did for half a day?! That’s not what you paid me for! And yet… I came back here the next day. We did the same thing. Seventy push up! eighty crunches! And two laps around the training ground! I thought that I would watch Tae crying about the training but he was better than me…

What Tae didn’t expect was dueling with someone after finishing it. He clearly was surprised by trained Riglid. He was overwhelmed by his opponent after one strike. Meanwhile, I hold my ground. He wasn’t as strong as a captain but he wasn’t as weak as the last guy. When I was close to stabbing him my tattoo didn’t burn… Why did it do this to that guy… And which one of them was it?! Wear something different! How else should I know who is who! I’m not even sure if the same guy that is last is the same guy as last time…

The more we trained the more I wanted to just leave but for some reason, other guards were more pumped than before the journey… But the more I think the more something feels off… Like the numbers of Riglids. It’s not like one of them is missing but five? Maybe… there were sent to do some kind of important task but if I remember correctly they only work together as a group, like one organism. I was sleeping comfortably in bed at night after a long day of training and then I heard a voice.

[ Loki ]

“How stupid can you be?”