Vol 3 Chapter 15 (1/2)
Chapter 15
Chapter 3 Episode 15
Editor: Sebastian J.
Proofreader: mr.tanen
Day 17th, 9th Month, the Year 2812, Western continent calendar: (The Ways To Learn Magic Arts 1)
”Oraa! All of you, don't stop swinging!”
“Hey you! Your swing is too weak, put more power into it! Imagine that the enemy is bigger, stronger and better equipped than you are. You need to beat them with only your sword!”
With almost 20 children swinging and practicing their swordplay, the ground around each of them was soaked with their sweat and the tension was huge.
After lunch ended, a whole two hours had already pa.s.sed.
A little bit farther from the place they were training, even from their location, another group of kids could be seen practicing their sword skills as well.
The strategy was to divide the children into groups and have the members of the Red Lion mercenaries teach and drill them.
A faint roar could be heard across the plain, it was exactly the kind of words needed for the children to find their motivation.
”Young master might be kind, but that does not mean that slacking off is permitted! In the battlefield, one mistake could cost you your life! If you desire power you must work hard! Swing your sword with the intent to kill! Imagine that the person you hate the most is standing right before you! Hold nothing back, you must have no fear in order to surpa.s.s your limits!”
A strong but obvious tactic was to use battlecries, they heightened one's morale while striking fear into the enemy.
Even in training, one also had to control their emotions to control their adrenaline, as it could lead to mistakes and ultimately, death. It could also lead to fatigue, which played a huge part in the number of deaths an army suffered.
Understanding that, the mercenaries who became the children's trainers, raised their voices the moment fatigue was noticeable on the their faces.
”Mike, how is it?”
”Oh?! Young master! Out on a patrol are ya? Alright everyone, let's take a break! But, make sure not let your body get cold!”
Mike’s intense expression immediately relaxed after the training was suspended. Although Mike was a nice guy, he knew it was for the better to raise his voice towards the children because he understood that his hard work would one day decide their fate.
He knew, that if he spoiled the children and gave them an easy time, he wouldn’t be suitable for coaching the kids.
For the sake of raising the children’s skills and endurance, he would not mind if he was detested by them.
To respond to the young master’s question, Mike thought about his training regimen.
”Hmm... It seems like there's no problem. In a month’s time they have already learned so much and starting tomorrow we plan to teach them useful magic arts. Will that be satisfactory with you?”
A month ago Ryouma instructed the children to form 5-man squads and to have four of those squads gather together as a small brigade.
Finally to complete the set-up he chose a member of the Red Lions to lead each brigade.
To ensure a proper teaching, Ryouma gave Lione and Bolts the position of overseers and directed the idle mercenaries that were not leading any brigades to a.s.sist with the training.
Ryouma, thinking carefully about the training, made the Red Lion mercenaries the leaders as they were experienced in cooperation and teamwork. He considered that those who abandoned individuality and performed well with others would have a higher survival rate than others.
This could be seen from Elen
a's achievements.
By abandoning her individuality, in her time within the knight corps, she became known as ‘Rozeria's white G.o.ddess of war’.
In other words, they would be more efficient and safer while fighting as units compared to fighting individually. This was the difference between a soldier and a warrior.
That being the case then, those who from the start were taught how to cooperate would undoubtedly perform better in that regard.
Of course, they had to learn the basic and personal skills as well, but for the sake of efficiency they focused on one thing at a time.
By dividing 1 brigade into 4 squads of 5 people each, then making them live in the same place, having the same meals, and sleeping together, it would create a sense of solidarity growing among them.
With solidarity growing within their consciousness, it would strengthen their unity and will to mutually protect each other. Along with that, the quality of the soldiers would inevitably also increase.
That is what Ryouma was aiming for. Afterwards, it would be just a matter of how much they could learn of the fundamentals within one month.
”Hmm, let's see... I've also already talked with Bolts and Nee-san, I think it’s coming along well? I've also talked with the others, and their results seem to also be quite favorable... As long we don't take the faces they’re making into consideration, I guess it is tolerable?”
The distrust and anxiety from the children hadn’t been dispelled yet, but it could be felt a lot less now compared to the first time.
They were now regularly eating delicious food and wearing clean clothes. They now had beds where they could sleep inside tents, which while not being really that comfortable, were also a far cry from the treatment they got before they were sold to Ryouma.
And the most important thing was that they were all released from the previously constant fear of being flogged.
They at least understood that they wouldn’t get struck with a whip for no discernible reason.
The evidence for that was in the children’s eyes, which showed no fear towards Mike.
They understood that their leader and instructor looked at them as peers despite raising an angry voice every time he addressed them.
This was a point that Ryouma insisted on before starting the training.
Fortunately, the Red Lion mercenary group consisted of people with a commoner background, which made it easier for them to understand Ryouma's goal.
If they had been knights or n.o.bles, they would have, without a doubt, laughed when presented with similar instructions.
”I see... It seems like everyone’s doing well... And looking at the way they swing their swords, they seem to be fine...”
”Indeed. We did teach them carefully after all. Without a doubt, we have met our first objective and did so within a month...”
They were all holding swords meant for adults, purchased from the Mistel firm.
After meeting with Earl Salzberg he managed to form a commercial relations.h.i.+p with them.
After one month, and as a result of enjoying adequate meals and adequate sleeping, and undergoing moderate training, the bodies of these children started to develop some muscles.
Of course, it was not something drastic, but even if little by little, they were surely growing up. Their stance would no longer crumble after just a few swings of the heavy sword.
At the time when the slave merchants delivered these children, their bodies were skinny because of their poor diet, but it turned out the merchants did not lie when they said that they had brought him healthy slaves.
”And the effectiveness of giving them candy after training... As expected, their enthusiasm becomes high with rewards dangling in front of their eyes.”
”I see... Well, sweets are not something that commoners can easily get their hands on after all... I guess this is all proceeding according to the plan.”
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”Well, they do not yet need money after all... That's why I don't think giving them such rewards is a bad move...”
At the end of the training, a small candy ball would be distributed as a reward by the teachers.
Based on the teachers' judgment, those who worked harder compared to the others would get two.
This kind of system where everybody got one unless they played truant, seemed to be very effective for children.
It made the children not necessarily compare each other’s results, while also giving something extra to those who worked harder and thus raise their motivation.
In this world, where sugar was expensive, sweets were a luxury good that even commoners rarely could afford.
Yet, Ryouma purchased the candy b.a.l.l.s from Epiroz and distributed them to the children. And the effect was truly dramatic.
Back in Ryouma’s world, one couldn’t motivate children with only candy b.a.l.l.s, but in this underdeveloped world, it was a splendid bait.