The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 165

Chapter 165: Training for Mana Control (4)

Ghislain felt inwardly satisfied as he observed the gazes of the knights-in-training.

In their eyes, he could clearly see a firm determination and passion. It was evident that none of them wanted to miss this opportunity.

‘Now they’re ready.’

This was exactly what Ghislain had been waiting for. The training they were about to undertake was extremely dangerous.

As if pouring oil onto the already heated atmosphere, Ghislain spoke up once more.

“It’s commonly said that it takes several years of proper mana cultivation practice before you can use mana. But don’t worry. I’ll explain it in a way you can understand easily. Within two months, you’ll all be able to use mana.”

Unlike with his close aides, Ghislain intended to personally oversee each of them.

If he simply left them to figure it out on their own, they wouldn’t understand, and it could take years.

Only Ghislain knew the method to drastically shorten that period.

“Woooaahhh!”

Another enthusiastic cheer erupted.

The mana concentration array merely helped them gather mana a little faster.

Learning and using the family’s mana cultivation technique was a completely different story.

They had assumed it would take at least several years of training, but here he was, claiming they could do it in just two months!

Hearing such unbelievable words repeatedly, they even started to doubt if this was a dream.

Ghislain folded his arms arrogantly and spoke confidently.

“It’s entirely possible. That’s because this is a specialized mana cultivation technique I personally refined!”

“……”

The previously heated atmosphere quickly cooled.

They, too, had some basic knowledge.

The family’s mana cultivation technique had been refined over long years to minimize side effects.

And now, a young lord claimed he had modified the technique according to his own whims?

No matter how skilled their lord was, it was natural to feel some doubt. One misstep, and they could end up dead.

The knights-in-training glanced at each other nervously, showing signs of unease, but Ghislain ignored it and continued.

“Alright, let’s get started. It’s been a while since I last did this, so I’d prefer someone sturdy to go first… Right, Gordon, you’re up.”

The first who got called was “Gordon the Muscle”, who recoiled and shook his head in panic.

“M-me? Can’t someone else go first?”

“Weren’t you the one complaining last time that it was unfair for Millet to go into the mana concentration array before you? This time, I’m letting you go first. Come on, step up.”

As Gordon hesitated and stepped forward, Ghislain looked him up and down and nodded in satisfaction.

‘If he’s built up his muscles to this degree, he must at least have some level of endurance.’

Ghislain placed his palm against Gordon’s back as he sat on the ground.

“All right, let’s begin. I’m going to forcibly draw mana into your body and imprint it, so pay close attention to the path the mana takes.”

“Uh, understood. I’m not going to die or end up crippled, right?”

“If you can’t handle it, that could happen. But, well, there’s nothing we can do about that.”

“Wait, are you serious? Hold on a second!”

Vwooom!

Before Gordon could escape, mana began to flow from Ghislain’s hand into his body.

“Gahhh!”

Gordon screamed as sharp, piercing pain sliced through him, as if a blade was tearing up his insides.

Something gathered below his navel, then began to spread throughout his body.

With each inch it traveled, an excruciating pain, like his body was being ripped apart, surged through him.

“Aaaagh! Wait! Wait!”

“Stop wasting mana by yelling! Shut your mouth and endure it! Focus on how it’s moving inside you and remember it! Vanessa held out just fine—why are you whining already?”

“I-I can’t do this! I can’t! It hurts like hell!”

Shortcuts were called shortcuts for a reason. While they yielded quick results, they demanded an equally harsh price.

Forcing mana into the body to create mana pathways came with overwhelming agony.

Driven to madness by the pain, Gordon tried to stand up and flee.

His newly forged loyalty was on the verge of shattering.

But Ghislain wasn’t about to let that happen.

Grab!

He wrapped one arm around Gordon’s neck to keep him from escaping and continued channeling mana into him with his other hand.

To the others, it looked less like a lesson in mana cultivation and more like an attempt to kill him.

“Gaaahh! Let me go! Aaaargh!”

“Oh, just endure it already! Let me at least finish forming the mana pathway!”

Ghislain had expected Gordon to hold up better because of his bulky muscles, but his whining was relentless.

Undeterred, Ghislain kept pushing mana into Gordon’s body, forcibly creating a mana pathway.

“Gahhh!”

Cough Cough!

The pain was so intense that Gordon’s eyes rolled back, and he started coughing up blood.

Still, Ghislain didn’t stop. Creating the mana pathway was necessary if Gordon was going to train with the concentration array.

In the end, Gordon couldn’t hold on and finally passed out.

Only after some more time had passed did Ghislain wipe the sweat from his forehead and release him.

Thud.

Gordon collapsed, foaming at the mouth and trembling violently.

Watching him, Ghislain smiled brightly.

“Phew, maybe it’s because it’s been a while. That took longer than I expected.”

“……”

Whoever said nothing in life was easy had nailed it; this scene was one of the proof of that.

The knights-in-training, who had been waiting their turn, all retreated backward in unison, as if they had planned it.

Watching them, Ghislain gave a wicked smile.

“What’s this? Where did all that overflowing passion go? Shouldn’t we get the next person ready?”

One of the trainees cautiously spoke up.

“Uh… it looks extremely dangerous. Do we really have to do it that way?”

“Oh? Then how do you want to do it?”

“Couldn’t we just learn it the traditional way? You could give us a book or explain it verbally, and we could train on our own. If we don’t understand something, we could ask you…”

He had tried to suggest an alternative, but to Ghislain, it was completely out of the question.

“What are you talking about? How long do you think it’ll take if you learn that way? Do you plan on training for years? Besides, even if I explained it to you verbally, most of you wouldn’t understand. That’s why I’m showing you in a way that’s easy to grasp.”

‘Ah, so that’s what he meant by “easy to grasp”.’

The knights-in-training broke into a cold sweat.

His words made sense, in a way. Pain had a way of searing lessons deep into both body and mind.

Creating mana pathways this way, by forcibly drilling them through, was indeed the fastest method.

They understood that logically, but looking at Gordon lying there foaming at the mouth filled them with dread.

As they stood there frozen, unable to do anything, Gordon’s convulsions suddenly grew more severe.

“Guh… ugh… ”

cough, cough!

Even in his unconscious state, he writhed in agony, repeatedly coughing up blood.

The forcibly injected mana had wreaked havoc inside his body.

To endure it, he needed to summon his willpower and absorb the flow, but it seemed he had failed from the very start.

“This one’s unusually sensitive. For such a big guy, why is he so weak?” Ghislain clicked his tongue and gestured to the servants waiting nearby.

“Quick, take him to Belinda. Give him the prepared herbs and let him rest. If you’re too slow, he might actually die. Wait… has he already died?”

“Yes, sir. He’s not dead yet.”

The servants, as if they had anticipated this outcome, moved with calm precision, their expressions unfazed.

Seeing this, the knights-in-training became certain of one thing.

Their lord had expected all of this and had already prepared accordingly.

He had promised they wouldn’t die in battle, but at this rate, they might die from training.

‘Ah, what should I do?’

‘I have to do it, but…’

‘It looks way too painful.’

They couldn’t just run away out of fear. Missing this opportunity would be something they regretted for the rest of their lives.

Even if it meant risking death, they had to endure and learn, somehow.

However, when it came down to risking their lives, their feet wouldn’t move so easily.

While everyone else hesitated, a man with a stern face stepped forward confidently.

“I’ll go first.”

“Hmm, and you are?”

“I’m Lucas, the one who just joined.”

Ghislain nodded. He pretended not to recognize him, but in truth, he knew exactly who Lucas was.

Lucas, his subordinate from a previous life.

A man with remarkable talent, who would one day earn the title of Master with just a single spear.

He was the type who always liked to cross his arms and brood in solitude, carrying a weighty air about him.

Now, he looked back at the others and sneered.

“You all act so high and mighty, but you’re nothing special. If enduring this kind of pain is all it takes to master a mana cultivation technique, it’s a damn bargain. You cowardly bastards.”

“You little…!”

Ghislain’s veteran mercenaries, who had been with him a long time, flared their nostrils at Lucas’ provocation.

In situations like this one, who dares first often dictates the flow of leadership.

There had already been tension brewing daily between the old mercenaries and the newcomers.

And now, in that brief moment of hesitation, not only had a newcomer taken the lead, but he’d also taunted them.

Watching the enraged faces around him, Lucas smirked even wider before plopping down in front of Ghislain.

“I’m ready. Go ahead, my lord, give it all you’ve got.”

Amused by his composed attitude, Ghislain smiled.

“As expected of Lucas. Just the kind of man I chose.”

With a grin, Ghislain placed his hand on Lucas’s back.

The moment he did, a bizarre scream echoed out.

“Hrrrgh! Aaagh! Urghhh! Huuurgh!”

“…I haven’t even started yet.”

Ghislain sighed.

He had momentarily forgotten that there were hardly any normal people in his mercenary corps.

Come to think of it, this guy was always the same, even in his past life—screaming bloody murder over the smallest scratch.

Yet, despite that, he loved to act all dignified, which only made it more amusing.

Most likely, he had stepped up now just to look impressive, thinking he’d earn some points for bravery.

Lucas scratched his head, giving a sheepish smile.

“Oh, we haven’t started yet?”

“Now we’re starting, you lonely show-off, Lucas.”

Smack!

“Aaaagh!”

As the pain surged, Lucas let out another scream, forgetting entirely that he should be keeping his mouth shut.

Just like Gordon had done before, he instinctively tried to get up and run, but with Ghislain holding onto him, that was impossible.

Ghislain grabbed Lucas by the neck and whispered in his ear.

“Stay still. All those people are watching—are you really going to whine and try to run? You hate looking embarrassed, don’t you?”

“Ugh… gah!”

With that, Lucas gritted his teeth.

He despised being humiliated. He always wanted to look cool and impressive.

‘I just want to live looking stylish and dignified!’

Fueled by that single-minded desire, he tried to endure, but this pain wasn’t something that could be conquered so easily.

“Kuh… ugh…”

In the end, Lucas lost consciousness.

His mouth was foaming as he was carried away by the attendants.

Ghislain shook his head a few times, then sighed and said, “Next?”

With Gordon down and Lucas also having collapsed, the atmosphere had shifted slightly from how it had been at first.

While some were still hesitant, a few brave souls stepped forward.

“I’ll go next.”

“I was here first!”

Most of them were newcomers.

They had abandoned everything and left their hometowns. They had nowhere to return to now.

These were people desperate for a chance to become stronger, willing to risk their lives to achieve it.

Seeing this, even the veteran mercenaries, not wanting to be outdone, rushed to step forward as well.

“No, I’m going next!”

“Hey! Move aside! What’s with the newbies trying to take the lead? I’m going first!”

It was pure pride—none of them wanted the shame of being outshined by rookies.

‘I was going to do it anyway! I just hesitated because it might hurt a little.’

Watching those who stepped forward with newfound boldness, Ghislain finally looked satisfied.

“Good, much better than before.”

The opponents they would face in the future would be anything but easy. Even risking their lives in battle might not be enough. If they faltered from just this, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

Only those willing to risk their lives alongside him deserved to gain everything.

“We’ll move quickly. Do whatever it takes to endure.”

“Urghhhh!”

“Kyaaaah!”

The knights-in-training who received Ghislain’s touch writhed in agony. They might have stepped forward with bravado, but sheer determination wasn’t enough to endure this pain.

Still, not all of them collapsed, foaming at the mouth or coughing up blood.

Some gritted their teeth and forced their eyes open, enduring until the end.

‘Hmm, I expected this one to hold on. But that one’s a bit surprising.’

Ghislain narrowed his eyes.

He had expected a few of his former-life subordinates to withstand it, and as anticipated, they endured well. However, he hadn’t expected any of the veteran mercenaries to hold their ground.

It was a good start. While the majority collapsed foaming at the mouth, more people than expected managed to stay conscious.

Some had endured out of obedience to Ghislain’s orders, while others clung to their pride to keep from blacking out.

One thing was certain: each of them had shed a layer and taken a step forward.

“Ughhh…”

“I feel like I’m gonna die… Is it over now?”

Groans echoed from all around. The attendants, who had been urgently called in, began carrying the fallen to the infirmary.

Fortunately, not a single person had died.

One of the knights-in-training, lying on a stretcher with a look of mixed pride and relief for having endured, turned to Ghislain and asked, “It’s… all done now, right? I can use mana now, right?”

Ghislain wiped his nose and replied, “What are you talking about? Just by doing this once doesn’t mean you can immediately use mana. Today was just a light initiation. To properly go down this path, you’ll need to go through this a few more times. You’ll also have to train in the Concentration Array and learn how to release mana.”

He had said they’d be able to use mana if they could endure, but he hadn’t said it would happen after just one session.

For the knight-in-training, Ghislain’s words were like a bolt from the blue.

They’d have to go through this excruciating, potentially life-threatening ordeal again? No, not just once more, but several times?

It felt like the sky was falling.

“Just kill me now…”

Tears welling up in his eyes, the knight-in-training fainted on the spot.