Ghislain observed the determined expressions in the eyes of the apprentice knights and was inwardly satisfied. He could feel the firm resolve and enthusiasm radiating from them. It was clear they didn’t want to miss this opportunity. ‘Now they’re ready,’ Ghislain thought. This was the moment he had been waiting for, as the upcoming training was highly dangerous. Ghislain added fuel to the fire, speaking again to amplify the already charged atmosphere. “Normally, it takes years of training with proper mana cultivation techniques before one can even begin to use mana. But don’t worry. I’ll teach you in a way that’s easy to understand. In two months, all of you will be able to use mana.” Unlike with his close aides, Ghislain planned to personally oversee every step of their training. If he left them to their own devices, they wouldn’t understand the nuances, and it could take years. Only Ghislain knew how to drastically shorten that time frame. “Woooooahhh!” Another round of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the group. Mana condensation arrays merely helped gather mana faster, but learning to cultivate and wield it was a completely different story. Most of them had anticipated it would take years of dedicated practice, so to hear it could happen in just two months seemed unbelievable. They even began to question if they were dreaming. Standing confidently with his arms crossed, Ghislain declared, “It’s entirely possible because this is a modified mana cultivation technique that I’ve personally developed!” The atmosphere, which had been brimming with excitement, suddenly cooled down. They all had a basic understanding of the risks involved. Mana cultivation techniques had been refined over centuries to minimize the dangers involved. And now this young lord claimed to have modified such a technique on his own? No matter how skilled Ghislain was, it was natural for doubts to creep in. One mistake could result in death. The apprentice knights exchanged uneasy glances, uncertainty etched across their faces, but Ghislain pretended not to notice and continued. “Alright, let’s get started. Since it’s been a while, I’ll need someone sturdy to go first. Hmm... Gordon, why don’t you come up?” The "musclehead" Gordon, who was singled out first, recoiled in shock, shaking his head vigorously. “Me? Can’t someone else go first?” “Didn’t you complain last time that it wasn’t fair for the mana condensation array to get filled before you? I’ll let you go first this time. Now come on.” Reluctantly, Gordon stepped forward. Ghislain looked him over from head to toe, nodding in satisfaction. ‘If he’s built up this much muscle, he should have enough stamina and resilience,’ Ghislain thought. Gordon sat down on the ground, and Ghislain placed his palm on his back. “Now, I’m going to forcibly draw in mana and imprint it onto your body. Pay close attention to how the mana flows inside you.” “O-Okay. I won’t end up dead or disabled, right?” “Well, if you can’t endure it, maybe. But we’ll cross that bridge if we get there.” “W-What? Wait—” Before Gordon could finish, Ghislain began channeling mana into his body. “Gahhh!” Gordon let out a scream as if his insides were being ripped apart by a sharp blade. The mana pooled below his navel and quickly spread throughout his body. Every place it passed felt like it was being torn apart. “Arghhh! Wait! Wait!” “You’re wasting the mana by screaming! Shut up and bear with it! Focus on how the mana moves inside you! Even Vanessa held up better than this, so why are you whining already?” “I can’t! I can’t do it! It hurts too much!” Gordon cried. There’s a reason why shortcuts are called shortcuts—they come at a price. Forcing mana into the body and creating mana paths (mana roads) comes with excruciating pain. The agony was overwhelming, and Gordon attempted to get up and flee, his newfound loyalty nearly evaporating. But Ghislain wasn’t about to let that happen. Grabbing Gordon by the neck with one arm, Ghislain continued pouring mana into him with the other. To the onlookers, it looked less like Ghislain was teaching him a mana cultivation technique and more like he was trying to kill him. “Gahhh! Let go! Ughhhh!” “Just endure it a little longer! We need to at least finish creating the mana roads!” Ghislain had expected Gordon’s muscles to provide better resilience, but his whining was worse than he anticipated. He continued forcing mana into Gordon’s body, creating the necessary mana paths. Gordon began coughing up blood, his body unable to withstand the pressure. Despite this, Ghislain didn’t stop. The mana roads had to be established for Gordon to use the condensation array for future training. Eventually, Gordon passed out, and only after some time did Ghislain finally release him, wiping the sweat from his brow. Thud. Gordon collapsed, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Seeing this, Ghislain smiled brightly. “Phew, I must be rusty. That took longer than I expected.” “...” Whoever said no job was easy was absolutely right. The apprentice knights, who had been eagerly waiting, collectively took a step back. Ghislain grinned wickedly at their reactions. “What’s wrong? Where did all that enthusiasm go? Who’s next?” One of the knights timidly raised his hand and asked, “Um... Is it really necessary to do it this way? It seems extremely dangerous. Couldn’t we just learn the technique the normal way?” “What do you mean by that?” “Well, couldn’t you just give us books or explain it to us verbally, and then we could train on our own? We could ask questions if we don’t understand something...” The knight’s suggestion was well-thought-out, but it was far from acceptable to Ghislain. “Do you know how long it would take you to learn that way? You’d be training for years. And even if I explained it to you, most of you wouldn’t understand. That’s why I’m teaching you the fastest way, hands-on.” ‘Ah, so that’s what he meant by “easy to understand,”’ they realized. Cold sweat trickled down their faces. It made sense. Pain was one of the most effective ways to learn—it left a lasting impression on both the body and mind. And forcing open mana paths, as Ghislain was doing, was indeed the fastest way. Even though they understood the logic, seeing Gordon lying there foaming at the mouth made it hard to ignore their fear. As they hesitated, Gordon’s condition suddenly worsened. “Cough, cough, cough!” Even while unconscious, Gordon continued vomiting blood and convulsing. The mana forced into his body had wreaked havoc on him. Normally, one would use their willpower to endure the pain and memorize the mana’s flow, but Gordon had failed from the start. “This guy’s a real crybaby. Look at his size, and yet he’s so weak,” Ghislain muttered, clicking his tongue. He signaled to the attendants nearby. “Take him to Belinda immediately. Give him the herbs we’ve prepared and let him rest. If you don’t hurry, he might die. Oh wait, is he already dead?” “He’s not dead yet,” one of the attendants replied calmly, unfazed by the situation. The attendants moved swiftly and efficiently, as if they had anticipated this outcome. The apprentice knights were now certain of it. The lord had known this would happen and had prepared everything in advance. He had promised to keep them alive during the war, but now it looked like they might die during training instead. ‘What should I do?’ ‘I know I have to do it, but...’ ‘It looks incredibly painful...’ They couldn’t run away, though. Missing out on this opportunity would lead to lifelong regret. Even if they had to risk their lives, they had to endure it and learn. But when it came down to actually risking their lives, their feet refused to move. At that moment, a quiet man stepped forward confidently. “I’ll go next.” “Oh? And who are you?” Ghislain asked. “I’m Lucas, one of the new recruits.” Ghislain nodded, though he already knew exactly who Lucas was. Lucas was a former subordinate from his past life. A prodigy with a spear, Lucas would one day earn the title of "Master." He was a man of immense talent who preferred to brood in silence and embraced solitude. Now, Lucas glanced back at the others with a sneer. “All of you act so high and mighty, but look at you now. If we can master mana cultivation with just a little pain, that’s a bargain. You’re all cowards.” “You bastard...” The mercenaries who had served with Ghislain for a long time began snorting with anger. In situations like this, whoever stepped up first held the power, and Lucas had taken that chance. There had already been plenty of tension between the original mercenaries and the new recruits, with constant squabbles breaking out. And now, in the moment they hesitated, a newcomer had snatched the opportunity and insulted them. Seeing their furious expressions, Lucas laughed mockingly and knelt before Ghislain. “I’m ready, my lord. Do as you will.” His calm demeanor made Ghislain smile. ‘As expected from Lucas. He’s exactly the kind of man I knew him to be.’ With a grin, Ghislain placed his hand on Lucas’ back. As soon as he did, a horrifying scream rang out. “Hrrrggghhh! Aaahhh! Nghhh! Grrrahhh!” “...I haven’t even started yet,” Ghislain sighed. He had forgotten one important detail. His mercenaries weren’t exactly "normal" people. Now that he thought about it, Lucas had always been the type to throw a tantrum over the slightest scratch. Yet despite that, he loved acting like the stoic, cool guy, which only made it funnier. No doubt he had volunteered first simply to maintain his tough image. Scratching his head in embarrassment, Lucas grinned awkwardly. “Oh, you haven’t started yet?” “Now I’m starting, you melodramatic fool.” Fwoom! “AAAAAHHH!” The pain hit Lucas like a tidal wave, and he screamed at the top of his lungs, completely forgetting his plan to stay silent and stoic. Just like Gordon before him, Lucas tried to stand up and run, but escape was impossible with Ghislain’s hand holding him in place. Ghislain leaned in and whispered into his ear. “Stay still. Everyone’s watching. Are you really going to cry and run away? You hate being embarrassed, don’t you?” “Ughh! Nghhh!” Lucas gritted his teeth. He despised embarrassment. He wanted to look cool at all times. ‘I have to look cool, no matter what!’ Fueled by that single desire, Lucas endured the torment, but this level of pain wasn’t something that could be overcome by willpower alone. “Guhhh...” In the end, Lucas passed out, frothing at the mouth. The attendants quickly moved in and carried him away. Shaking his head, Ghislain sighed again. “Next?” With both Gordon and Lucas down, the atmosphere shifted slightly. Although some were still hesitant, others began stepping forward with newfound resolve. “I’ll go next.” “No, I was first.” Most of them were the newly joined recruits. These people had left everything behind, with no home to return to. They were the ones most desperate for the opportunity to grow stronger, even if it meant risking their lives. Seeing this, the veteran mercenaries felt their pride stung and also stepped up. “No! I’m going next!” “Get out of the way! How dare a newcomer go first? I’m going!” Their motivation wasn’t just to avoid being outdone by the new recruits; it was also driven by their pride. ‘I was always going to do this! I just hesitated for a second because of the pain.’ Watching them compete to step forward, Ghislain finally showed a satisfied expression. “Good. That’s much better.” The enemies they would face in the future would be far from easy. Even risking their lives might not be enough to secure victory. It was crucial that they didn’t falter at the first sign of difficulty. Only those willing to risk everything alongside Ghislain would be deserving of the rewards to come. “We’ll go fast. Endure it however you can.” “Arghhh!” “Gyaaaahhh!” The apprentice knights who received Ghislain’s mana infusion writhed in agony. Though they had stepped up with confidence, this was not something mere courage could overcome. Still, not all of them succumbed to the pain like Gordon and Lucas. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢 Several of them gritted their teeth, glaring at the world around them as they fought through the ordeal. ‘Hmm, I expected this one to endure, but that guy’s a surprise.’ Ghislain narrowed his eyes. Some of his former subordinates had endured as he had anticipated, but a few of the veteran mercenaries had held on as well, which he hadn’t expected. This was a good start. Most of them had collapsed in agony, coughing up blood and passing out, but more than he had expected managed to hold on. Some had followed his instructions and kept their focus, while others clung to consciousness purely out of pride. One thing was certain—they had all taken a significant step forward, shedding their old selves. “Ughhh...” “I feel like I’m dying... Is it over?” Groans filled the air as attendants rushed to move the collapsed trainees to the infirmary. Fortunately, no one had died. As one of the apprentice knights was carried away on a stretcher, he looked up at Ghislain with a proud, relieved smile and asked, “Is it... over? Can we use mana now?” Ghislain wiped his nose before replying. “What are you talking about? How could you use mana after just one session? We’ve only scratched the surface. We’ll need to do this several more times. You’ll also need to train in the condensation arrays and learn how to release your mana.” Ghislain had said they’d be able to use mana after enduring the process, but he never said it would happen after just one round. To the apprentice knight, Ghislain’s words were like a bolt from the blue. He had to go through that again? And multiple times? It felt like the sky was falling. “Just kill me...” he whimpered before fainting on the spot.