章 30: Igniting Discord
"My instructions won't be easy. I'm just going to give you the instructions and let you train however you want. If you follow them the way you did today, then everyone will fail without exception."
"Hmm…"
"No way…"
The expressions on the faces of the twelve- to thirteen-year-old children were filled with urgency, as they couldn't go back home without any results.
However, there were people who stayed calm, as if they weren't concerned. They were Ashoka and Tishya Raksha.
They didn't show any reaction, despite hearing what Alberad said.
"Damn it…"
On the other hand, Vikram, who had finished first, didn't look good.
He didn't say any names, but Alberad reproached him and complimented the exhausted Jean-Paul.
Despite running faster than anyone, Vikram felt like he had lost to that no-name noble.
"You will live in the training ground's dormitory from now on. It has the best facilities and treatments, so enjoy yourselves for six months."
Alberad pointed at the dormitory, which could be seen behind the training ground.
"Hmm…"
"That's the dormitory…?"
The children's expressions didn't get better, despite hearing that it had the best treatment. That was because they knew those benefits were only temporary.
"Since this is the first day, I'll finish here. You can go rest or keep training here however you want. There is also an indoor gymnasium on the left side, so feel free to use it."
Albeard went down the platform as he finished his speech. However, when he was halfway down the stairs, he turned his head and grinned.
"Oh, one more thing. Social standing doesn't exist here. Whether you are a prince, a baron, or a duke, you are all equals. Make sure to get along with your fellow trainees."
He waved his hand, showing he really had nothing else to say now, and left the training ground. Half the instructors followed him and left, while the other half looked over the children with their backs against the wall.
{That rude, pointy-eared…}
'What do you dislike about him so much?'
Ashoka showed his confusion as he looked down on Draco.
{I don't like his face. He dares to look down on this monarch, thinking he has everything in his grasp. Ten thousand years of imprisonment in ice won't be enough punishment for such insolence.}
'…'
He explained, but Ashoka still couldn't understand it. For him, it looked like Draco was just a psychopath.
'I'd better ignore him.'
Shaking his head slightly, he relaxed his tired body and mind using the mana circulation method.
'I should check out the gymnasium.'
Ignoring the murmuring Draco, Ashoka entered the indoor gymnasium that Alberad mentioned.
"Hmm…"
"Ashoka"
"Just how did he even run?"
The noble children couldn't take their eyes off Ashoka's back as he entered the indoor gymnasium.
There was too big of a difference between what they saw earlier, and what they had thought about him.
They still couldn't believe that he managed to hold out for longer than they had, despite them constantly training their stamina.
"It must be thanks to the elixirs provided by the emperor."
Luz Percival frowned. He was the collateral who first picked a fight with Ashoka.
"E-Elixir?"
"But isn't he a bastard? I heard that the emperor doesn't even care about anyone other than his official children."
"That's right. How could he have gotten an elixir?"
"Even if he got an elixir, it shouldn't have been a good one."
The other children refused Luz's opinion by giving reasons.
"I heard that Sage Chanakya was very close to the twins, not to mention Sage Vyasa, who is their grandfather, he must have gotten elixirs from them."
Luz explained the situation to the collaterals, who were all wondering being set on making Ashoka look like a sheltered prince.
He was trying very hard to ignite discord between the noble children and Ashoka.
"Ah!"
"Sage Chanakya did!"
It wasn't wrong either as Sage Chanakya was the one who provided Ashoka with the dragon grimoire.
"In the end, he managed to run thanks to the power of the elixir, not on his own."
"And he's so proud!"
Hearing that he'd taken an elixir given to him by Sage Chanakya, the children looked disgusted.
"Tsk!"
"What a lucky guy!"
"He got a lucky elixir despite being a mere bastard, there is really nothing likable about him."
Luz smiled as the noble children expressed their resentment.
"That's why I'm saying,"
"Huh?"
"Shouldn't we teach him a small lesson?"
"That's true. Apparently, he was cocky while talking with lord Ahmed as well."
"I guess we need to show him what's up."
"Then when he goes back to the dormitory today…"
"Stop it."
When the nobles were about to plan their assault, a low voice was heard from beside them.
"Vikram?"
"You don't have anything to do with this, so stay away"
"Birds of the same feather flock together, he is also a bastard after all"
The noble children didn't hold back in condemning Vikram.
"You will dirty the name of your noble families."
He gave a cold glance at the children.
'How pathetic.'
He didn't like Ashoka either, but oppressing him using group violence was disgraceful.
He couldn't let them plan such a thing as someone who is representing the house of Sena.
"What matters if he consumed elixirs or not, results are all that matters. You all should better focus on your training rather than talking about someone behind their backs."
Narrowing his eyes at their unsightly behavior, Vikram left the training ground.
"Ah, hmm…"
"He… He told us to stop."
"Hmm."
"Are you really that stupid?"
"Who does he thinks of himself to order us?"
Luz clicked his tongue, seeing the discouraged noble children.
And as if you encourage Luz another low voice was heard.
"Dogs often forget their places, it is our duty as their masters to show them where they stand"
"Lord Ahmed!"
It was Ahmed who said that, but he didn't say anything more and just left the training grounds.
All the children were looking confused at what he meant when Luz intervened.
"He is actually telling us to do it."
"What?"
"He was saying that he didn't want to get his own hands dirty, so we should proceed with it. Did you really not get it?"
"Ah?"
"Is… Is that so?"
"Of course. Finish preparing already. If we give Ashoka a proper lesson, Lord Ahmed will also be satisfied, later we can teach a lesson to that rude bastard Vikram."
The four trainees gathered in a circle and started to plan how they would discipline Ashoka.
And after that…
Tishya Raksha, who hadn't looked at anyone so far, focused her gaze on a certain location.
It wasn't Vikram who finished in the first place or Ahmed who came second, it was nor the children from noble families, nor Alberad, who was called the Sword of Emperor.
Ashoka.
Her gaze was fixated on Ashoka's back, whose performance had been less than average during the test. And then, she murmured one word.
"Strange."
Ashoka walked outside of the indoor gymnasium after checking the different equipment.
'Not bad.'
The training equipment was the latest and the best, just like Alberad had said. The training ground certainly looked like it would raise the trainees to be the best if they could follow directions.
Since he had started to train in the afternoon, the sky was already getting dark. He went out of the training ground, and was about to head over to the dormitory…
"Hey."
From the alleyway to the right side, a low voice could be heard. When he turned his head, the four collaterals who picked a fight that morning were glaring at him with intimidating expressions.
"I heard you ingested an elixir before your first birthday."
"And that's how you became so cocky?"
"If I consumed an elixir like you, I would've been way better than you. I'd be right behind Lord Ahmed already."
The four children seemed to believe that they were speaking with authority as they approached.
{Are you really being looked down on by such kids? I want to end my life now.}
'Don't worry.'
The flame in Ashoka's eyes was ignited.
'You will be able to see what you want this time.'
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