Genius Gamer Reborn into a Family of Heroes

Chapter 16: White Night Castle of Hell (2)

The role of a swordsmanship instructor does not necessarily require a swordsman. Especially for young trainees, the focus is more on physical and mental training rather than pure swordsmanship, making the presence of a swordsmanship master unnecessary.

Enter Lauren Chaygan, a 7-star magician, master of one-on-one magical duels, and a specialist in hunting martial artists. Known once as the “Reaper of Knights,” why was this battle mage in Kaladan?

The reason was simple: he studied the weaknesses of swordsmen more than anyone else to counter them effectively. Swordsmen often thought themselves invincible, leading to their greatest downfall. Lauren Chaygan was here to teach the young swordsmen a harsh lesson about the futility of their so-called genius swordsmanship.

‘One of the quickest ways to make them realize this is by pushing their physical limits to the extreme.’

Under the guise of testing the trainees’ endurance, Lauren Chaygan put them through various rigorous exercises. He had them repeatedly climb and descend steps, dubbed “Heaven’s Stairs,” with sandbags strapped to their bodies. They pulled steel wheels tied to ropes until exhaustion or sprinted with them strapped to their waists. They bounced heavy rubber balls, as heavy as boulders, continuously towards the sky.

It might have sounded trivial, but in reality, it was hell. Lauren Chaygan understood better than anyone how to quickly exhaust a person, breaking down their muscles, stamina, and spirit.

Testing the limits of their stamina and patience, or rather, testing the very limits of their life, the “endurance test” left most trainees collapsing and retching on the floor.

“Hey? Are you all tired already? This isn’t even a warm-up. It’s just a test, remember?”

No one could respond. Some children only despaired, realizing they had wandered into hell. Most of the trainees were just past their teenage years, having spent 3-4 years honing their skills outside before coming here.

Yet, they all collapsed from just a single test. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

Crack!

Charen Paul Kaladan. At nine years old, she was supposed to hold the title of the “youngest trainee” this year. She clenched her fists while lying on the floor. She was trying to muster the remaining strength. Pushing herself up with trembling arms, the heavy bag on her back prevented her from standing.

‘Just one more…!’

Charen naively believed in the endurance test. She thought that completing more tasks than others would result in a higher ranking. While others rested when they felt sufficiently tired, Charen gritted her teeth, eyes rolling back, as she took on the test.

‘One more, just one more…!’

Little did she know, a calamity was about to befall her.

“Alright. That’s the end of the test.”

Was it finally time for scoring? When Charen looked up hopefully, Lauren Chaygan smiled broadly.

“Yes, well done. There were too many of you to count, but it was impressive. Anyway, everyone passed!”

“…What?”

Charen’s head buzzed. She had given it her all, only to be told that he hadn’t even counted properly? And then just ended it? What was this nonsense?

“Urgh!”

She retched. Even though she hadn’t eaten, she had overexerted herself to the point of nausea. Despite feeling utterly miserable, the real test was about to begin.

“Now, let’s decide the rankings for this first month. There are about 100 of you, but only 30 can stay in the high-end dorms. The general dorms can hold 50. The bottom 20… you see that?”

The trainees looked at a shabby, barn-like accommodation. It had no proper walls, offering no privacy or amenities.

“That’s the dorm for the bottom 20. To avoid staying there, you need to work hard. The event is… drum roll… your favorite: dueling! Fun, right?”

“Ah…”

Charen despaired at the announcement. ‘No way…’

Under normal circumstances, with her exceptional mental strength and swordsmanship, she could easily make it into the top 30. Everyone acknowledged that. But now, having exhausted all her strength…

“Ugh, a duel on the first day.”

“Phew. Nothing we can do about it.”

“I’ve rested enough to regain some strength.”

The children who had rested when they felt tired stood up looking relatively fine. Not Charen. In her current state, she would need half a day to recover even with her remarkable Kaladan physique.

Trembling, Charen struggled to stand while the other trainees grabbed wooden swords for the duel.

‘No, this can’t be…’

As she floundered in despair, Lauren’s explanation continued.

“Curious how the ranking will be determined? You have one hour! Duel as much as you can! Fight and win as many times as possible!”

Several instructors surrounded the 100 trainees. In the center, Lauren Chaygan held up one finger.

“You get one point for each win and lose one point for each defeat. You can challenge anyone from the same group, and you can’t refuse a challenge. Once accepted, the duel begins immediately. A duel ends when one concedes or can no longer fight!”

Many trainees instinctively turned their heads toward Charen. Anyone could see she was in terrible shape. In her current state, anyone could easily defeat her.

‘Heh, foolish kids.’

Lauren’s eyes gleamed. He had noted which trainees looked at whom in that moment. Those who displayed a fleeting desire to prey on the weak for their gain. They were unworthy of becoming great swordsmen or knights.

‘My job is to correct that rotten mindset.’

He also identified the opposites: those who stood out even after the endurance test, like Harang. He noticed a few boys who looked at him with determination.

‘What a monster.’

In over ten years of training trainees here, he had never seen anyone like Harang.

So, he decided to add a special rule.

“Oh, right. Three of you stood out in the endurance test: Theon, Harang, and lastly, Charen. Any trainee who wins a duel against these three gets an additional five points. But if you lose, you lose five points. Be careful.”

“Ah.”

Right after hearing that, Charen let out a bitter laugh. This guy was determined to torment her. She felt resentful and indignant but could do nothing.

Having foolishly exhausted her strength, she was practically guaranteed to be in the bottom 10.

‘I was a fool. I forgot Father’s advice to always reserve some strength.’

There was no hope for her in this ranking match. She closed her eyes tightly.

‘It’s my fault.’

There was no one else to blame.

“Now, let’s start! Who will be the first to duel? I can’t wait!”

Trainees paired off and moved apart to give each other space for their duels, aiming their wooden swords at each other.

A few boys slowly approached Charen. Even though she was a pureblood Kaladan, they hesitated to challenge her directly.

Annoyed and disgusted by their indecisive behavior, Charen shouted in frustration.

“Just bring it on already!”

Her outburst left her completely drained, but it was her last act of defiance to protect her pride.

Swoosh—

As someone stepped forward, Charen thought it was finally time and forced herself to lift her wooden sword.

That opponent was none other than Harang.

‘Oh…?’

He was so caught off guard by the unexpected opponent that his strength faltered, causing the wooden sword to droop, but he quickly corrected his stance.

No one present had anticipated this duel between the two, so the other trainees’ fights temporarily halted.

“You…!”

Charen gritted her teeth.

How shameful. How could she still call herself a pureblood of Kaladan? She didn’t utter such nonsense. She didn’t have the strength, nor did she want to give advice to an adopted sibling.

‘I’ll never lose without a fight!’

One of the assistant instructors came out to widen the space for their duel and, after signaling the start, Charen summoned all her strength and took a step forward.

‘Even if I lose, I’ll land a blow on that arrogant face of yours.’

Like a cheetah ready to pounce, like a butterfly soaring. Aiming her wooden sword at Harang, Charen executed her moves with all her might.

Kaladan Swordsmanship First Move

Speed Butterfly Sword

Thud!

“……”

“……”

Charen’s strength only lasted until then. Her wooden sword aimed and her step forward—those actions alone were a miracle, as she barely had the strength to stand. It was a miracle that her wooden sword merely tapped Harang’s chest.

Harang, who had been watching her expressionlessly, suddenly spoke to the instructor.

“My chest hurts too much to continue. I concede.”

“Eh…?”

Charen was stunned, but she didn’t have the energy to argue. The new trainees of the 97th class, as well as the senior trainees watching, were all shocked and glanced nervously at Loren.

“……Harang trainee. What do you think you’re doing?”

Loren was still smiling, but all the trainees present could tell.

Anger. Pure, well-honed anger caused some trainees to back away.

But Harang, standing his ground against this fury, answered firmly.

“I am merely following the rules you set, Instructor. If one can no longer fight or chooses to forfeit, it’s considered a loss.”

“Are you playing with words?”

Loren’s magic surged, making the air heavy.

However, to Harang, who had withstood Kalel’s prowess and the Sacred Sword’s aura, this was nothing.

“No, truly. My chest hurts too much to continue the duel.”

“…What?”

Loren suddenly realized something different.

“My chest hurts.” He didn’t mean it as a joke, saying it was because Charen’s wooden sword pricked him.

‘Could it be that, even as an adopted child, he wants to take care of his sister? Did he feel sorry for her exhausted state?’

Harang still had plenty of stamina and displayed a unique presence. What if, by intentionally losing to Charen, he made it clear to the other trainees?

‘Charen is under my protection, so don’t mess with her.’

If they crossed Harang, they might end up repeatedly challenged in duels and lose points, making it risky for any trainee to mess with Charen.

Winning 5 points for beating Charen once, but then losing points by continuously getting challenged by Harang—it would be a no-win situation.

‘Heh.’

Loren doubted his own thoughts for a moment.

‘A direct Kaladan line member protecting their kin?’

But through the brief exchange with Harang, he understood.

This wasn’t mere childish defiance.

It was a strategic act of wisdom and protective behavior rooted in familial love, something impossible without genuine affection for family.

If he possessed such wisdom, wouldn’t he also predict Loren’s anger?

Harang, as a direct Kaladan bloodline, was willing to bear personal losses to protect his sibling.

This had never been unheard of in Kaladan’s centuries-long history.

‘There have been many. Those born as direct Kaladan bloodlines who loved and cherished their family.’

In a generation, there were at most three and at least one who vowed to protect their family.

What became of them?

They either died at the hands of their family.

Had a limb severed, rendering them unable to wield a sword.

Or had all their rights and privileges as blood relatives revoked, being demoted to merely a protector of the family.

‘The latter is a comparatively happy ending…’

What about this boy?

Could he survive without dying or losing his limbs?

‘Familial love, how ridiculous.’

It was a mindset wholly unsuitable for the Kaladan throne, stained with mutual slaughter.

‘Does he not know his adopted status? No, that’s impossible. That sharp mind of his knows everything.’

When he reached this point, his anger melted away like snow. Instead, his interest in Harang grew.

“Puhaha! What a funny guy. Fine! I apologize for getting angry. But in return… how about I add one more rule to suit your desired situation?”

“By all means.”

“Charen, take on the challenges she receives and win in her stead.”

This system, known as the ‘Black Knight System.’

“From now on, anyone who challenges and defeats Harang will receive 20 points. Whoever it is, if they can bring him down, they’re guaranteed a top rank!”

The trainees’ eyes changed at those words. Challenging the weakened Charen was a matter of conscience as knights, but challenging Harang was a different story.

Even though he was only seven, he had already shown exceptional stamina and performance and confidently challenged the instructor in front of everyone.

Challenging him was not difficult at all.

“If Harang loses even once, he will lose 20 points. A direct trip to the stables would be guaranteed. Still confident?”

It didn’t matter if he refused. Harang could still find ways to protect Charen without taking such risks.

However, Loren Cheygan knew.

‘That guy will never refuse. He’s that type. I can tell.’

This was a kind of ‘duel.’

A duel of pride between Loren Cheygan and Harang Paul Kaladan.

Who would emerge victorious?

As Loren predicted, Harang subtly raised the corner of his mouth and nodded readily.

Was it because of a quest?

No, not at all. Even without the quest, Harang would have accepted this challenge.

The more he turned such unfavorable battles to his favor, the greater the sense of achievement, thrill, and exhilaration.

For Harang, who had lived as a lifelong gambler, just feeling that sensation was a sufficient reward!

“That sounds very interesting. I accept.”

Harang had no intention of backing out of the duel, nor did he intend to lose.

‘Once a duel begins, I must win.’

Loren grinned widely. He turned to Charen, who still had a bewildered expression behind Harang, and asked.

“What do you think? It’s good for you too. Do you agree?”

“I, I…”

Charen, with a troubled expression, glanced around helplessly before lowering her head deeply.

She realized how shameful it was to have her adopted brother fight in her place, especially as a blood relative, but she also recognized her current state and reality, unable to fight any longer.

She clenched her fists tightly.

Instead of stubbornly clinging to pride, taking a step back and relying on him would be much more beneficial for her future and training.

“I… agree.”

“Great. Since both of you agree, let’s start right away!”