I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

075. The Imperial Guard (1)

These days, I’ve been stuck at home every day.

It’s not because of laziness or not wanting to work; strictly speaking, I’ve been training.

Because I kept thinking about what to do with this body that couldn’t keep up with my level.

“Emma, press harder there.”

“Yes…!”

Emma pressed down on my back with her elbows as I lay face down.

It’s always a process I go through after overexerting myself.

At first, Emma was so weak that I couldn’t tell if she was pressing or tapping, but now she does a good job of loosening my muscles.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s comforting.

‘Why is muscle pain so severe?’

When I think back to my reckless days, I wonder how I managed to live with this body.

I have no desire to return to the time before my regression, but at times like this, I wish I could at least bring back the body I had then.

Simply put, it was a reverse sensation.

The body of a Sword Master knows no fatigue.

Just by absorbing mana, the muscles disperse fatigue and pain.

Moreover, the growth is steep.

The moment one reaches the state, the body breaks through the human limit of muscle growth and is restructured.

Having experienced all that, how could this shabby body be satisfactory now?

I must reach the Sword Master… that’s all I can think about.

‘Am I now at the upper level of Expert…?’

All this time, I have consistently abused my body to build muscles.

It was a remarkable improvement.

After all, in just a few months, this body, which was at the level of scrap, has come this far.

The reason I could surpass the normal growth rate and come this far was thanks to the necklace.

From noble mtl dot com

Borrowing its recovery power, the process of tearing and reattaching muscles was compressed effectively.

“Alright. You can go now. I’ll be in my room, so call me when it’s dinner time.”

“Yes! To the lady…”

“Tell her I’m training.”

“…Are you really doing it?”

“Is a servant supposed to talk back to their master?”

“Hik…!”

Once again, I dismissed Emma, who insisted on adding a word, and stood in front of the mirror.

I saw finely crafted muscles.

This is good enough.

As a ‘foundation’ to become a Sword Master.

‘In my previous life, I couldn’t even build my body properly and suffered for it.’

The restructuring of a Sword Master’s body depends on the form of the existing body that serves as the foundation.

For example, Lord Draenor’s muscles swelled during his Expert days, which solidified the supporting framework.

That was reflected in his nature as well.

In my case?

Looking back, it was truly a dreadful experience.

―With a crippled body, every time I used my nature, I felt like committing suicide.

Yuren Paros, the scoundrel, knew nothing about training.

He was too busy drinking every day to even think about exercise. How could his body remain intact?

He couldn’t fix that chronic problem until he became a Sword Master.

Even though he was reconstituted, the original was a wreck. It was like a house of cards.

Thus, a phenomenon occurred.

―Your body can’t withstand the recoil of Shatter. If only your muscle elasticity was a bit better…

―Density is also an issue. The bones are taking the shock that the muscles can’t absorb, causing fractures every time.

―If only your nature was Dominance, it wouldn’t be so frustrating…

―I can use Dominance without any recoil.

―Yes, yes, you’re so~ great.

My nature, ‘Shatter,’ was particularly savage among the various natures.

Its form resembled a beast, and those who faced it were reminded of a ferocious predator for that reason.

Though less than Dominance, it had a strong will.

Thus, every time I used it, the recoil would return to my body.

The key to preventing that was the elasticity of the body.

In other words, the ability to absorb the recoil of the nature, but at that time, I was lacking in that area.

So, in my past life, even after becoming a Sword Master, I spent several years adjusting it.

I approached it theoretically and tested it on my body to create the most suitable physique for ‘Shatter.’

Extreme elasticity and density.

That was the most important thing to me.

So, in this life, I was particularly focused on building my body with that in mind.

The first reason was that it was hard to go through the same hardship twice.

And,

―Grand Master? Hmm, the important thing is harmony. It’s what makes me feel sorry every time I see you.

―…Yes?

―A Grand Master is ultimately the pinnacle of the sword. The body must support it, but your body is too weak. It’s not strong enough to keep up with your enlightenment.

―…What if I keep developing it?

―It would take at least several decades. You started off on the wrong foot.

―The wrong foot…

―The body at the moment you become a Sword Master. You should have raised your level with a properly formed original.

…Grand Master.

In this life, I wanted to reach that level.

In other words, it was an obsession.

Even the future crown prince said I had potential, but because I advanced my skills in a haphazard way, I had to take a long detour.

I still think about it.

What if I had followed the proper process and become a Sword Master back then?

What if I had reached the Grand Master level within the given time? Would the war situation have been different?

Now, it’s a meaningless assumption.

But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about it.

‘Who knows what kind of monstrous b*stards will come out in the future.’

The enemy is secretive, large in scale, and strong.

I only saw a fragment of it, but already demons and new apostles of fate have appeared.

Isn’t it needless to say how important my strength is in dealing with them?

I must at least aim for the Grand Master.

Expert upper level.

In other words, if I go a little further, I will become a Sword Master whether I like it or not.

Until then, I had to shape my body to suit the destruction, so there was no time to rest.

And one more thing.

‘Is it tomorrow…….’

Tomorrow was the day the selected imperial guards would enter the royal barracks.

There was a need to immediately turn the cadet-level rookies into a fighting force.

* * *

Liam couldn’t help but exclaim the moment he entered the royal castle.

His flushed face clearly showed how moved he was at this moment.

Of course, the royal knight he had only dreamed of.

Wasn’t he selected as one of the imperial guards, which is considered the highest honor among them?

It wasn’t just that.

That day, he collapsed in the tournament and was unconscious for several days.

When he woke up again, the first thing that came to mind was not joy but worry.

He thought his father must have been in trouble because of him.

The reason he went to see his father first, despite his unwell body, was for that reason.

However, his father’s subsequent words dispelled Liam’s worries.

―Your position has changed. To the 2nd Knight Order.

―What do you mean…?

―It means you have become a knight under His Highness the Crown Prince, so don’t worry.

While Liam was lying down, Callios had been busy erasing all external problems.

In the process, even the parts that had been Liam’s weaknesses were all resolved.

It was something that made Liam feel great gratitude.

Of course, loyalty towards Yuren, who had exposed the matter, and Callios, who had resolved it, could only surge.

“I’m really becoming a member of the Royal Guard…!”

As Liam murmured in emotion, Rubin, who was beside him, despaired.

“Aah, it’s here. It’s really here…!”

Liam chuckled.

He also felt grateful to Rubin.

At the time, he thought Rubin had endured for his own success, but Rubin’s true intentions were different.

Similarly, appearing while groaning from injuries, he said, ‘If it weren’t for the promise to endure with you, I wouldn’t have joined the Royal Guard!!’

Indeed.

With just the word ‘endure together’ said in support, Rubin had held on out of loyalty.

This is what comradeship must be.

Liam believed that with Rubin, he could overcome any hardship and adversity.

“Let’s go. Please take care of me in the barracks.”

“Aah, I don’t want to go…!”

Liam grabbed Rubin by the back of his neck and dragged him inside.

The ones they met immediately after were Nathan and Fred.

The other two who had passed the Royal Guard selection.

“Hello. Sir…!”

“Enough. We’re comrades now, no need for that.”

“Right, Nathan.”

“…You’re quick to drop formalities. I thought you’d refuse once more.”

Nathan replied reluctantly, and Fred quietly laughed.

Finally realizing it, Fred, the top student of the fourth grade.

Contrary to his bold appearance, he was quite a quiet and timid person.

These were the companions.

Liam felt his heart pounding again.

It was safe to say that he was completely intoxicated by the ‘knight fever’ that often afflicts those with big ambitions among the newly appointed knights.

Anyway, it was while the four of them were walking.

“Wow…”

A girl’s voice came from the bushes.

Though she was a cadet, she was a knight.

Even though the sound wasn’t loud, all four of them heard the exclamation.

They turned their heads in surprise at the thought that someone was trampling the royal garden like that.

They immediately held their breath.

“How big…!”

“We greet Her Highness, the Princess!”

Aria was there.

No one had seen Aria in person here, but even so, they could immediately discern her identity.

Surely, there couldn’t be two blonde, blue-eyed girls in expensive clothes wandering around the royal palace.

Liam was particularly nervous.

It was because of the advice his father had given him.

―The Grand Duke cherishes the Third Princess. He is often seen playing with her in the royal castle.

She was a royal whom Yuren, their future mentor and benefactor, cherished.

If they offended her, who knew how their knightly careers would be twisted.

It was right after they had given a proper salute.

Aria blinked and opened her mouth, “Heh…”

“What is inside that?”

Aria’s gaze was fixed on their luggage.

Ah, there wouldn’t be many people in the royal palace carrying such heavy loads.

Thinking that her curiosity was understandable, and also finding her appearance cute and innocent, Liam answered.

“We are knights assigned to the Crown Prince’s guard from today! We have brought our luggage to go to the barracks.”

It was at that moment.

“…Brother?”

Aria flinched and narrowed her eyes.

Hostility was clearly visible.

Liam was filled with confusion at her inexplicable reaction.

Aria took a hesitant step back.

Her body trembled violently.

For some reason, she was on the verge of tears.

“Hey, hey! What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything…!”

Liam hastily retorted to Rubin’s scolding.

In the meantime, Aria spoke with eyes that were slightly raised.

“You, you were the enemy’s subordinate…! Aria will not be deceived!”

“W-wait…!”

“Eek!”

Aria dashed away with a rapid patter of footsteps.

Liam froze with his hand outstretched towards Aria.

He was filled with bewilderment.

‘W-what on earth…!’

Liam, who had entered the royal palace today, did not know.

Just an hour ago, Aria, who had received praise in class for the first time in a while, was rewarded with a cheeseburger.

She had taken it to the garden to eat, only to run into Callios, who exclaimed, “Oh! Aria! Did you bring a snack for your brother? How commendable!” and promptly snatched it away, eating it deliciously right in front of her.

Thus, Aria had been walking in the garden to soothe her sorrow.

“What, what did I do wrong…?”

If anything, it was the fault of having a bad superior.

So, to Aria, the four of them were just the henchmen of the burger thief.

It was something Liam still couldn’t understand.

* * *

A while later, the four of them entered the Dawn Palace, trembling at the thought of having offended the royal family.

And so, they could face each other.

“Oh, you’re here.”

“Ah…!”

Aria, sitting on Yuren’s lap with a happy face, munching on a cheeseburger.

“Ta, Taisan! Your Highness…!”

“Oh, yes. Her Highness, the 3rd Princess. These are the knights I will be teaching.”

“Um? Um… Hmph!”

Aria stared blankly at the four people, then snorted and turned away from them.

Yuren tilted his head.

“Huh, what’s wrong?”

“Hmph!”

Aria’s grudge was as heavy as four cheeseburgers.

They had done nothing wrong, but it was what it was!