Lord of Training - Chapter 33



Only Krnovel

33. The Archduke’s adopted daughter.

33. The Archduke’s adopted daughter.

Swish swish!

‘Why am I here?’

I can’t tell if the steak is going into my mouth or my nose right now.

The world’s most difficult dining experience.

Across from me is a three-star corps commander, and next to him is a two-star chief of staff. And the chief of staff is my uncle, who is competing with me for territory.

Of course, he doesn’t seem to think of me as a competitor.

And sitting right next to me is the daughter of the King’s brother, Prince Harry Russell.

I’m going to get sick if I keep doing this.

‘But why is your rank lieutenant?’

The Seven Princesses of the Empire that I saw in the capital city of Lutes were also of the rank of lieutenant.

Are they deliberately giving lower ranks to the royal family for their safety?

I might have made a mistake if Commander Buxley hadn’t casually revealed her identity.

“Major Alain, is the food not to your taste?”

Commander Bugsley asked.

“No. I’m trying to lose weight these days······.”

“Haha! You weigh 70kg. Are you trying to lose more? You’ll hurt yourself if you do that.”

He laughed awkwardly.

As it is a restaurant mainly frequented by nobles, the atmosphere is also very luxurious.

When will I ever eat in a place like this?

But I just wanted this to end quickly.

Meals are more delicious and easier to digest when eaten with people you feel comfortable with.

But the wine is still delicious.

I had coffee for dessert, and now it’s time to get up······.

“We have two talented members of the Bombard family standing strong in our legion. It’s reassuring.”

Commander Bugsley seems to be unaware of our relationship.

Or maybe he thinks that Chief Sten and I are not competitors.

“And with the Royal Air Force and Alain’s Air Squadron here, those Albion Kingdom guys will be so shocked that they’ll run away if they come across the border. This war is pretty much ours to win. Oh! Did I tell you about the Battle of Taberin? How fierce that battle was······.”

As Commander Buxley’s speech became longer, I almost yawned.

But I desperately tried not to show it.

Then, Captain Sten stepped forward.

“Commander, I would like my staff and I to move to Hebrok Estate at dawn tomorrow.”

“Huh? We’re moving in three days. Do you want to go first?”

“I will go and check the situation on the front lines and also get more cooperation from the Hebrok Territory Army.”

“Okay, then I understand.”

“Then, let’s wake up first to move tomorrow.”

Corporal Bugsley looked at his watch.

Only then did he nod, perhaps realizing that it was too late.

“Let’s stop here too. It was a good time.”

“I really enjoyed the meal.”

Lieutenant Audrey and I also stood up from our seats.

Chief of Staff Sten took off in his horsepowered car, and Corps Commander Buxley looked at us.

“Are you two going to take my car?”

“No. I’ll walk to help with digestion.”

“I have some work to do somewhere else.”

“Oh? Okay, I see.”

Commander Bugsley drove off in his car.

“Oh my! I thought I was going to die from the discomfort.”

Lieutenant Audrey let out a sigh.

“It’s hard to have a meal with high-ranking people. Especially, when you have to sit upright for three hours, your back hurts and you get dizzy.”

How could royalty be uncomfortable?

I’m always going to eat only with high-ranking people.

But can I keep speaking informally to you?

“Lieutenant, where are you going?”

“Where are you going, Major?”

“Me? Of course I should go back to the unit.”

“Then shall we walk together to the unit?”

“huh?”

“I moved my luggage to the unit today, but I haven’t even been able to organize it.”

“Then I took the commander’s car a little while ago.”

“Then I really feel sick.”

She shook her head slightly.

“And you can just fly, so there’s no need to get in a car.”

“Ah! I see.”

An aviation magician is good for times like this.

If you use your flight skills, you’ll get there much faster.

We walked together.

The night streets of the capital were quite charming.

The canal stretched long and blue mana lanterns lit up the streets.

Since the floor was made of stone, there was no need to worry about dirt or water splashing.

Neither Hunter Choi Yeon-seong nor Alain Bombard have ever walked side by side with a woman like this.

Besides, walking with such a beauty was something that could not be done.

But walking with royalty was too nerve-wracking.

As the silence grew longer, I felt like I had to say something.

“How will flight training be conducted?”

Eventually, we brought up work.

She chuckled.

“Are you worried about the flight training of the members? Don’t worry too much. My adoptive father is Archduke Harry Russell. I have been living in the Air Knights since I was young. I also learned the art of flight when I was 11.”

“Huh? Your adoptive father?”

“Huh? You didn’t know?”

What? She was an adopted daughter.

Then you don’t have to worry too much about your status.

Because the adopted daughter isn’t real royalty.

I feel a lot more at ease.

Now I just need to focus on training.

Archduke Harry Russell was the best named aerial magic knight in Atlan until ten years ago.

If he had been learning flying techniques from a young age, Lieutenant Audrey’s skills would be considerable.

That’s why Chief of Staff Sten invited him as an instructor.

“Can I ask about the level of the members?”

“It’s been about a month or two since everyone learned flight techniques. They’re all at a very beginner level. They have absolutely no experience in aerial combat.”

“Then I think I should start by teaching you about formation flying and formation formation. Beginners are more likely to collide with their own fighters or mistakenly fire at their own fighters while flying. I’ll also teach you about aerial marksmanship.”

As expected, he seems to have some skills.

I feel relieved.

“Can we start training tomorrow? I promised to give the members a day off tomorrow.”

“All right.”

“Is one-on-one tutoring possible?”

“yes?”

“I have a lot of time tomorrow.”

Lieutenant Audrey smiled.

“Okay, Major, you start tomorrow.”

I need to practice more than my subordinates at least one day.

That way, I can stay one step ahead of my subordinates.

But we’ve already run out of things to talk about.

The unit is still far away······.

“Can I ask you one thing?”

This time, Lieutenant Audrey spoke first.

I nodded.

“How was it possible that 16 out of 23 members were able to awaken the flying technique in just 3 months? There are all sorts of rumors going around among the flying magic knights right now.”

I gave a snicker.

And he told me the truth.

“Once you take the Awakened One to the Spirit World Gate, go to a place where there are many wind spirits, kill dozens of dimensional monsters a day, drain your mana to the bottom 10 times, and overcome the brink of death about 10 times. Then, you can maximize the probability of awakening the flying technique. Of course, it’s still not 100%.”

“yes?”

Lieutenant Audrey tilted her head.

I guess he thinks I’m joking.

In fact, it is impossible to completely drain and refill mana 10 times a day. And who would overcome the threat of death several times a day?

Our team members accomplished that difficult task.

Of course, it would have been impossible without the legacy of my elven ancestors and my mana ring.

Silence fell again.

“Do you even have flight training up to the base?”

“Oh! That would be great. How about we make a bet to see who can get there first using only low-speed flying skills? The loser gets to buy dinner tomorrow night.”

“The bet is a little weak. The loser buys dinner for our squadron two days later.”

“Okay. When should we start?”

“now!”

Wheeing!

I left first.

Lieutenant Audrey’s voice was heard, shouting that it was foul play.

Where is the foul in betting?

If you win, it’s a jackpot.

***

[2nd Corps Chief of Staff Office]

As soon as Sten Bombard returned, he packed his bags.

It was a long way from the capital to Hebrok Estate, and he had planned to leave with his staff by train at dawn tomorrow.

smart!

“Chief Sten, it’s been a while.”

“Huh? Gus Naven!”

As soon as Sten saw Major Gus, he gave him a warm hug.

“Haha! You were complaining about your promotion being delayed, but you ended up getting promoted to major.”

“I was lucky.”

“Then, you should be mindful of your superiors’ opinions and flatter them a bit.”

“I’m not good at that because I resemble Chief Sten.”

Sten shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve been listening to my superiors a lot lately. The reason I came here is because they said that if I could just stop this war, they’d give me the position of corps commander.”

“I didn’t know that. I have to win this war.”

“Of course. I can’t stand seeing my hometown being destroyed.”

Gus thought that Sten Bombard had come here to protect his home territory rather than to seek promotion.

“Have you met Major Alain?”

“Yeah, we just had dinner together.”

“He has changed. He is not the Alain Bombard I knew before.”

“I know. You’ve become quite clever. You’re quick-witted and patient.”

“It seems to me that you have been hiding your skills all this time.”

“Hide your skills? Alain wouldn’t have any reason to do that, right?”

Gus Navon swallowed hard and answered.

“I will become the lord of Hebrok Estate.”

“huh?”

The Sten Bombard hesitated slightly.

Then he chuckled.

“That’s interesting.”

“This is not a story to be passed over. The loyalty of the battalion members is incredible. You could even say that it is Major Alain’s personal army.”

“Huh! Is that it? It seems like gaining the trust of my subordinates is a tradition in our family.”

Sten Bombard stroked his chin.

“I will be a good competitor.”

“yes?”

“People need to compete to improve. My nephew is excellent, so I need to work harder so I don’t fall behind.”

Gus Navon shook his head.

As expected, the Sten Bombard he knew was this kind of person.

“Don’t worry. I trust my subordinates. Aren’t they all excellent staff members?”

Gus Navon nodded after hearing that.

There were quite a few officers who followed Sten Bombard like himself.

Among them were excellent staff officers such as Colonel Trani and Lieutenant Colonel Culbenny, who were considered Atlan’s greatest tacticians.

Alain’s men were excellent chess pieces, but Sten’s staff were excellent strategists who moved those chess pieces.

Alain’s men thought that even though they had the advantage in battle, Sten would ultimately win the war.

“And my family is already pushing me. Will you be my opponent?”

“So you gave Princess Audrey to Major Alain?”

“Wouldn’t that be the only way we can win this war? The princess is an excellent aerial magic knight.”

“But if I make a mistake against the princess······.”

“I see Alain is a very smart man today. He must know that Princess Audrey is His Majesty the King’s illegitimate child. It’s an open secret.”

***

Whew! Whew!

“Everyone, check left and right! Keep your distance!”

Lieutenant Audrey shouted overhead.

“Major Alain! You’re too far ahead!”

I slowed down a little.

Although I am a superior, she is an instructor, so I will omit the honorifics.

“Keep the momentum going. Now! Go up!”

I clenched my fist and raised it, extending my thumb so it was pointing upward.

And the altitude rose.

The men behind me followed me and rose.

Although it was a simple signal, it required a lot of practice to use it in real life.

“Now turn to starboard.”

The movement of the squadron is natural depending on how I, the squadron leader, move.

We turned to starboard.

And landed safely, following Lieutenant Audrey.

“Good! Good job. Always check your mana after takeoff and landing!”

“yes!”

My formation flight training is over.

Next, a formation led by Ensign Phelps took to the air.

‘It’s pretty good!’

Lieutenant Audrey was clearly at least an elite-level aerial magician.

I won the low-speed flight bet the other day, but her high-speed flight skills that she showed at the end seemed to be at least 1.5 times faster than mine.

It seems that the high-speed flight skill was also at level 3.

And her mana amount was clearly several times more than mine.

My unit members and I secretly ate mana pills to replenish our mana, but she continued to fly with us no matter how many times we flew.

We spent the whole day practicing formation flying and different formations.

The soldiers were sprawled out on the parade ground, exhausted.

“Wow! Is it true that it’s been a month or two since you all awakened to the flying technique?”

Lieutenant Audrey looked surprised.

“It’s been a few months since I awakened to another form of sorcery.”

“No matter what, it’s normal for your mana to drop several times, but it’s amazing that you can continue to practice flying.”

It’s because of the mana ring.

But they didn’t tell me.

If this secret gets out and you ask me to make you a mana pill, it’ll be a problem.

“And is it true that it has been three months since you awakened your flying skills, Major?”

I nodded.

Actually, it’s been 6 months.

“But I really don’t understand how you’ve already awakened the high-speed flight skill. It took me three years. I heard it took Archduke Harry two years as well.”

“I guess I’m a genius.”

Lieutenant Audrey nodded with a serious expression.

“We will end our training here today.”

“Aren’t you going to do night flight training?”

“I’m running low on mana, so I need some time to replenish it. And I’ll do the night flight from here to Hebrok Estate.”

“Okay.”

Our 2nd Corps will take the train north tomorrow.

It was a long journey to Hebrok Estate, taking ten full days by train.

Since the train was very slow and we had to change trains three times along the way, our aviation battalion decided to start flight training tomorrow and then move to the front line.

“IM jealous.”

“huh?”

Lieutenant Audrey looked at her men with a bitter expression.

“What? Are you jealous?”

“It’s about protecting each other’s backs and fighting on the battlefield.”

“What’s there to be jealous of? I might die at any moment.”

“I’ve had a lot of flight training since I was young, but I’ve never actually flown in combat.”

“What? Why a talented person like you?”

For a moment I didn’t understand.

Because with her skills, she was at least qualified to be a squadron leader.

“No one, even if they are royalty, will accept me into their unit.”

“ah!”

I nodded.

Even though she is an adopted daughter, she is the daughter of the Grand Duke, so it wouldn’t be easy to accept her as a subordinate.

If you die or get injured on the battlefield, you will incur the wrath of Archduke Harry.

Archduke Harry Russell was a legend among the Knights of the Airborne Magic, and was rumored to be the 7th most powerful person in the political hierarchy of the Atlan Kingdom.

“Lieutenant Audrey, are you buying dinner for the men tonight?”

“yes?”

“You lost the bet just now.”

“Oh! That’s right. I should buy it.”

But she’s the Grand Duke’s adopted daughter, so she must have some money, right?

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