Chapter 37: Northern Style Sports Day (1)

They say that when a person suddenly changes, they die. Did I push them so hard that they had to make such a big

decision?

“That’s why you came earlier than usual.”

Lee Ho, Sam Ho, and Sa Ho, with determined looks on their faces, kneeled in front of me and began to confess in turn.

From what I could gather, it seemed like they were talking about reflecting on their past lives and their vision for the

future.

‘I had planned to tame them to pass the evaluation.’

The goal was always to make them listen to me by giving food to the dogs of other households, not to train their

behavior under the slogan ‘There are no bad dogs in this world.’

To be honest, I don’t like these guys that much on a personal level. Who would? Who likes delinquents?

So, even if they were showing signs of repentance, it didn’t move me at all. People’s words can change easily, and

“changing attitude” carries a stronger negative nuance than positive.

They weren’t people I needed to recruit for the story ahead. They were like group project members that I’d work with

once and then part ways.

I didn’t have any real desire to get deeply involved with them.

“If you don’t intend to just talk and end it, don’t forget to get into position and start your training. Your confession

took thirty minutes, so I’ll push you harder than usual.”

“Thank you.”

Despite my deliberately curt response, Lee Ho and the others smiled faintly. The rest of them also stood up with

refreshing smiles.

Seeing that they weren’t disappointed, it seemed they hadn’t been hoping for me to reduce the training because I was

moved by their words.

Well, we’ll see.

If they were really trying to reform themselves, they’d prove it through their actions.

Even if it only lasts three days, it didn’t matter that much.

There were only three days left until the evaluation, and as long as they listened to me for those three days, it was

fine.

Lee Ho, who didn’t participate in the impromptu confession, was quietly swinging his sword and loosening up. That

was better, actually.

If we were in business together, it would be better not to waste time pretending to be friendly and just focus on the

tasks at hand.

I wasn’t going to throw them away, but I didn’t plan to nurture them either.

Still, that modest confession session wasn’t entirely bad.

“Dig deeper into it there! You’re usually quick-tempered, so don’t be timid in strange places!”

“I’m sorry! I’ll do it again!”

“Don’t overdo the enthusiasm. Do you think the one who shouts louder wins in a fight? If you get too excited, your

head’s gonna fly off.”

“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Even when I scolded them harshly, they didn’t distort their expressions and accepted it well.

They came up to ask questions about the training and even offered their own opinions.

On the first day, it felt like they were reluctantly following orders, but now they were actively participating on their

own.

Before I knew it, I found myself praising them without any hidden motives beyond the goal of taming them.

Damn, I’m struggling to adjust because they’ve suddenly changed.

Were they trying to make me uncomfortable?

I thought they were simple, but if that’s the case, they’re actually quite cunning.

Unlike the other three, Lee Ho and Winch weren’t so much actively participating in the training as they were still just

completing the tasks given.

‘He’s calmer now. He’s not doing anything to disrupt the atmosphere, accepting the scolding without complaints,

and properly engaging in the training. It’s not a problem.’

For some reason, I felt like they were subtly keeping their distance from the others, and I couldn’t quite figure out

why, but they were diligent in their training. Even when they made mistakes, they tried to correct them immediately.

They maintained a composed attitude throughout, which meant I had fewer reasons to scold them compared to the

others.

We finished the training, and the second evaluation day finally arrived.

‘It’s still quiet.’

While preparing for the second evaluation, I didn’t forget the most important task.

Since the training with the four delinquents would finish by the afternoon, I spent my evenings on investigation.

There was still a possibility that the second evaluation, with a large number of soldiers being dispatched, could be the

timing for a terrorist attack.

However, I hadn’t found any suspicious signs.

‘Perhaps they’re planning to strike during the third evaluation?’

There was someone who seemed suspicious, someone who had been unnervingly silent, and I couldn’t shake the

feeling that they were up to something. But for now, I decided to focus on the task at hand.

I hadn’t ignored them entirely.

The harvest could wait until after the work was done.

“Everyone’s here. I will now announce the details of the second evaluation, on leadership.”

As Gunther snapped his fingers, the evaluators presented something in front of us.

In their hands were…

“A towel?”

It was about the size of a hand towel, and it was colored in red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and various other colors.

Everyone was curious about what it was, but Gunther explained.

“The rules are simple! Each team will be given one of these towels. The goal is to fight each other and take the towel

from your opponent. However, the towel must be taken by the evaluator, and the soldiers can only help the evaluator

in taking it.”

Wow.

It was beyond my expectations, the North.

I thought it would be a fight, but who would have guessed they’d incorporate a recreation?

This is basically a cavalry battle.

Honestly, I started to think the knight exam in the North was more like a sports day.

The reason they make the duel public to the citizens is probably because it’s a monthly entertainment, like the UFC.

Since it’s such a cold region where the entertainment industry didn’t develop, it strangely made sense. The most fun

thing in the world is watching a fight, after all.

Gunther continued to explain the simple rules.

No killing, no sharp weapons.

The time limit is 30 minutes; if the towel isn’t taken within that time, it will be scored based on the duel.

The towel must be worn at the waist, but don’t tie it too tightly.

To summarize, the rules were meant to keep things from getting too violent, so as not to affect the third evaluation.

“There are sixty groups in total. With thirty evaluations, one evaluator is assigned to each group. Follow the assigned

evaluator to your respective exam locations.”

I was curious who would be the evaluator for our group.

It was Gunther.

Weren’t you the lead evaluator for the second exam?

‘Hmm, this doesn’t seem like a coincidence.’

Am I just running into people I know, or is it because I’ve been living so diligently? I thought about it as I waited.

Finally, it was my turn.

“I’ll give you ten minutes for strategy time. Gather again in ten minutes.”

After receiving the strategy time, I returned to my group and first looked at the expressions of the four of them.

Though they were tense, their faces were serious.

‘I had already told them we’re up against Alex.’

The reason I told these four about Alex’s group in advance was partly to discuss tactics, and also to prevent any of

them from getting flustered during the battle.

Naturally, all four were shocked. They knew Alex was attempting the knight exam, but I guess they didn’t expect to

face him as an opponent.

Although I’d trained these guys, a part of me was still uneasy.

How could one easily sever emotional ties?

I thought there was a possibility that if they knew who the opponent was, their earlier training might be rendered

useless, and they might even plan a betrayal. So, I was ready to tighten my control over the next two days.

That would make it easier to devise a strategy.

-?

The response was unexpectedly calm.

On top of that, Hayden reassured me, saying they would fight on my side, so I didn’t need to worry, and Den and

Muller backed him up.

Winch had a complicated expression, but didn’t object.

It was such an unexpected reaction that it made me wonder whether they were trying to reassure me so they could

betray me on the battlefield.

However, when I subtly probed, it didn’t seem like that was the case. They had already shared Alex’s weaknesses and

habits with me in detail.

Heh, what could this mean?

Anyway, I was relieved that they wouldn’t be doing anything unnecessary.

Over the next two days, we trained and also worked on tactics to deal with Alex’s group.

“Even though there are rules, the key is still combat. Just coordinate well as a team like we practiced. Don’t overthink

it or get too nervous.”

“Yes!”

The team members responded energetically, but part of me couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Do these guys have some

grievances against Alex?’

You know, like those subordinates who’d gossip behind their superior’s back, “I’m just going along with it, but

honestly, that guy’s not that great.”

I wasn’t sure about the specifics of their relationships, so I couldn’t say for sure.

“Well, the most important part is the towel bearer.”

“?

“The towel bearer is Winch.”

“1”

At my words, Lee Ho and Winch’s eyes widened, and the other three looked at us in surprise, alternating their gazes

between me and Winch.

“Wait a minute! Isn’t the towel supposed to be held by the group leader?”

“Only the group leader can take the towel, but there was no rule stating that the group leader must carry the towel.”

“But…”

Logically, to keep the towel safe, the strongest person should carry it, and since I’m the strongest here, it makes

sense that I should carry it.

Moreover, since this is a match, it would make the examiner feel more at ease if the towel was carried by the one who

is being examined.

“……Why are you taking it?”

Winch, looking puzzled, slightly furrowed his brows and asked.

“The reason is simple. Until now, your teamwork has been centered around Winch, with Den in the front, Muller in

the rear, and Hind as support.

The safest person among you is Winch.”

“That’s not what I’m asking, though. Do you, no, the team leader, trust me? Are you confident I won’t give the towel

to Alex?”

“Are you an idiot? If I was going to give it to him, I’d accept it without saying anything. Why do you have to ask me?”

“……!”

“And trust? What the hell? Have you and I ever had the kind of relationship where we’d build that kind of trust? No

matter how I think about it, all I can remember is hitting and scolding you. You’ve always had such a dark

expression.”

“Then why did you choose me?”

Yeah, it’s confusing. Giving up the towel means entrusting the judgment of my performance to him, someone with no

trust in him whatsoever.

But I didn’t give him the towel because of personal feelings.

“You’re from the North too, so you wouldn’t want to lose after all the hardships you’ve endured for a week, right?

Don’t you want to see what kind of result your daily efforts will create, to find out if those actions were really worth

it?”

“1”

“If you’re born as a man from the North and become a soldier, you don’t want to be embarrassed in battle. Everyone

feels that way.”

Maybe something I said touched a nerve.

Winch’s expression changed.

Though I couldn’t know what he was thinking, his expression seemed to relax a little.

Winch let out a deep sigh and then said to me,

“Please entrust me with the towel. I won’t let it be taken, even if I die.”

“Don’t try to be cool. If you’re in a situation where you look like you’re going to die, I’ll make sure you’re not in that

kind of danger.”

With Winch acting all serious, I couldn’t help but smile and handed him the red towel.

Once the strategy meeting was over and we gathered again, the judgment began immediately.

Taking the positions we had trained for, we waited for Gunther’s signal to start while eyeing Alex’s team.

‘The numbers are more on that side.’

While we had five members, including me, their team had seven.

They seemed to be planning to charge from the start, with their leader, Alex, forming a triangle with the others.

I couldn’t help but wonder how the judges assigned the teams.

‘The difference in numbers is big, but.’

Having more people doesn’t always mean an advantage.

With only a week to interact, the number of people involved increased, and when there are too many opinions, the

quality of coordination can drop.

‘If they’re good in quality as well… I guess I’ll have to make up for three of them.’

After all, I’m part of the North Duke’s guard. It wouldn’t be right to do the same as the other soldiers.

Most of all,

‘Why are they here?’

I almost had a heart attack when they entered earlier.

They were trying to disguise themselves, changing their clothes and wearing helmets, but there was no way I

wouldn’t recognize them.

The two people watching us from the sidelines—Grace and Elaine.

To be honest, I only recognized Elaine, but standing beside her was another female-shaped knight.

‘This is bad.’

I told my teammates not to be nervous during the operation, but I was the one who was nervous.

What should I do? Should I just use my longsword right from the start? But they’d die if I did that.

As if reading my complicated thoughts, Alex, with a smirk on his face, spoke.

“Hey, are you nervous? Heh, I can tell from how your team looks. You’ve gotten pretty close to those guys, huh?

They’re decent, but I wonder if you can handle being the team leader. Looks like you’ll be struggling by yourself.”

“Thanks.”

What?

My head was a mess, but Alex’s cheap provocation cleared my thoughts, and the answer came immediately.

The loser.

It’s just a wooden sword, so I won’t die.

When Alex saw that his provocation didn’t work, he frowned and assumed his stance.

Sure enough, he had the towel on his side.

“Start!”

As Gunther’s shout echoed, the second trial began.

“Waaaaah!”

As expected, Alex’s team charged right from the start, letting out a loud battle cry, forming a triangular shape in their

assault.

Though they weren’t on horseback, it looked like a cavalry charge.

Thud!

“Ugh!”

With a dull sound, someone in their formation was sent flying backward, and the battle cry and charge abruptly

stopped.

“You bastard!”

Alex, who had fallen to the ground, shouted irritably as he stood up.

I aimed my sword at Alex,

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”

I spoke to the back.

Den, the vanguard of the four, nodded and prepared to thrust.

Anyone coming toward us would be pierced.