Bad Born Blood - Chapter 10



Only Noblemtl

010

Kinuan, who had been sparring with me, sat upright and took a rest. I watched him quietly with my mouth shut.

‘Kinuan’s combat skills… … .’

My prediction was correct. Kinuan possessed combat skills not found in the Imperial manual.

“Luka, what did you feel and learn from the sparring just now?”

Kinuan asked me with his eyes closed.

“I felt possessed. My body felt like it was moving out of control.”

It wasn’t a pleasant experience. What I’ve learned so far is how to completely control your own body, whether it’s a flesh-and-blood body or a machine-made prosthesis.

When I sparred with Kinuan, I felt like the skills I had learned were becoming meaningless.

“It’s called Archie’s Victory. It’s usually called Archie’s Combat Art.”

Kinuan said with narrowed eyes. The trembling of the two fingers that were pressed together also stopped. This means that the nervous system has stabilized.

‘Archies fighting techniques.’

I had heard of it too. But my doubts grew.

“… … So you learned it before becoming a cadet?”

Kinuan nodded slightly at my words.

“I became a cadet three or four years later than other people. At the time, the Royal Guard was suffering from exhaustion, so the selection criteria were lax.”

As I listened to Kinuan’s words, I gathered my questions and spoke them out loud.

“But there’s something I don’t understand. As far as I know, the Akies fighting technique is a self-defense technique used by street urchins. It’s not a proper fighting technique.”

I said it as mildly as possible. In common parlance, it is a third-rate technique.

“You’re right. People only know it as one of the fighting techniques learned by gangsters in the lower classes. Right now.”

The security of the lower areas is not good. There were many situations where one had to protect oneself. Various fighting techniques using prosthetic bodies were popular, but most of them were useless and were useless.

There was no way that the fighting techniques of Akiess, which even back-alley gangsters could come into contact with, could be that excellent. It was a fighting technique with considerable depth.

“I believe that the Archies combat technique that the instructor showed us is of a level that can be adopted as one of the Empire’s official combat techniques.”

I spoke honestly. Kinuan smiled faintly.

“Actually, the higher-ups also considered it. However, there are three problems with the Archies’ fighting techniques.”

Kinuan pointed upward with his index finger and then spread out three fingers. He seemed to be waiting for my answer.

I thought for a moment and then opened my mouth.

“Are you saying it’s difficult to learn?”

Even a brief moment of practice gave an idea of ​​how difficult it would be to master.

“You’re smart, as expected from a genius, Luca. What about the other two?”

Of the remaining two, one was easy to guess.

“Is the cause of the brain dysfunction you are experiencing, Instructor, the Akiest fighting technique?”

“… … Yes. And the other one, you won’t know right now.”

Kinuan didn’t mention the last question. I didn’t ask either. That wasn’t my concern.

“I’m willing to take that risk if it means I can become stronger than I am now. I heard that one of the side effects of the neurochemical treatment we received was brain dysfunction. Even if the risk increases a little… … .”

I expressed my will, but Kinuan shook his head.

“That is not for you to decide. You are already the property of the Empire. How much do you think it has cost you so far? Even though the cadet training course seems dangerous and rough, it is structured to a level that you can overcome.”

Death must be present for your senses to become sharp. The experience gained from overcoming life-or-death crises is not superficial, but is engraved like a brand. That is why the cadet training was maintained at a level of risk where a mistake could result in death.

“Then why didn’t you just reject me outright… … why did you bring me all the way here?”

I said something a bit aggressive and looked at Kinuan’s expression.

“Learning and using the Archies combat technique won’t cause any functional problems right away. However, there are some cases where it’s too late or too early. You’ll be the first to feel the abnormality in your brain. Can you promise to stop using it when that happens?”

I licked my lips. I almost nodded habitually and said I would do so.

‘You must not answer falsely.’

Kinuan’s pupils were dimly shining. He was a senior Irregular who was decades ahead of me. I shouldn’t make fun of my superiors. Those with insight won’t listen to weak lies.

I had some idea of ​​how others viewed me. I was quite arrogant and greedy. If I had been a little less talented or had gone astray, I would have been lying around in the back alleys of the lower classes, dead like a worm.

“… … I can’t promise. But I will try.”

This is the best answer.

“Come see me at this time starting tomorrow.”

Fortunately, it seemed to be the correct answer. Kinuan tapped my shoulder. I nodded and tried to express my gratitude.

Whirl!

My vision spun around in an instant. Before I knew it, Kinuan had caught my leg. No matter how good the output was, it wouldn’t be able to exert any force if my foot was in the air.

‘I’ve been stabbed in the back again.’

Kinuan, who had knocked me down, opened his mouth as he passed by my bedside.

“Luka. Always be prepared for an attack in front of me. Feel like you’re constantly maintaining your senses expanded.”

“All right.”

I answered while lying down.

* * *

“Are you sleeping well?”

Ilay, who had returned from her mission yesterday, spoke to me. It was a face I hadn’t seen in two weeks.

Sure, Ilay is quick-witted. She’s been sleeping less lately. She’s been sleeping less for not three days, but for two weeks.

It was all because of Kinuan’s training. In many ways, my condition couldn’t help but be bad.

“I have some work to do. By the way, how was your recent mission?”

I changed the subject. Ilay shrugged.

“It was a bit boring because I had to deal with a runaway android that malfunctioned. All my missions these days are like this. It’s like child’s play.”

“Because of the reconnaissance of the ruins last time, there’s a lot of noise from up above. Could that be why you haven’t been seen lately, Captain?”

Captain Heilas occasionally showed up at the training camp, but it seemed like it had been over three months since he had seen him.

Illai closed her mouth for a moment and then shook her head.

“That’s not it. There must be something else going on. I also heard something from my family’s contacts.”

The Kartika family of Ilay had many high-ranking military personnel. Anything that happened would reach the Kartika family’s ears.

“Well, if it’s something that would require the captain of the guard to do something like that… … Is there a rebellion or something?”

I said it as a joke. It was actually a very dangerous remark. But when I was with Ilay, we often exchanged reckless remarks.

“……uh.”

Ilay swallowed his words without answering right away. I opened my eyes wide and observed Ilay’s face. He was unusually flustered.

“Is it true?”

Illai nodded reluctantly.

“It’s not certain yet, but I heard that there is a group plotting a rebellion. Once the investigation is over, the purge will begin soon.”

Even I was speechless. The word rebellion itself is a blasphemous word. If there really was such a movement, it would not be something to be mentioned lightly.

‘revolt.’

From my perspective, I couldn’t understand it.

There was an obvious enemy across the border. Tensions were still high along the border, and full-scale war could break out at any moment.

The empire needed an iron emperor and a united army.

“How absurd. Are you planning to start a civil war in front of the enemy?”

I blurted out my words with anger and contempt. Even the most subversive of thoughts would agree with this.

But my expectations were off. Ilay was lost in thought and then opened her mouth carefully.

“If you just dismiss it as absurd, it will rot from the inside… … .”

Before Ilay could finish speaking, my hand moved. Without realizing it, I grabbed him by the collar.

“Illei, I can overlook the heresy of the Empire. But if you are an enemy of the Empire, then I… … cannot leave you alone. This is the minimum. I am in the Empire’s grace.”

The words that came out of my mouth were surprisingly honest. I never thought I could say such things.

Ilay, who had been grabbed by the collar, was staring at me without even a hint of embarrassment. He observed me with his eyes half-closed. His gaze was piercingly cold.

“Calm down. I, too, have passed the Royal Guard aptitude test. Do you think I would become an enemy of the Empire?”

Ilay tapped my wrist as she spoke. My head had cooled, so I let go of the collar I had been holding.

“So don’t say anything that could be misunderstood. I don’t want to see your name on the list of traitors.”

“I know. I can say it because it’s in front of you.”

The released Illei smiled as she straightened her appearance.

“Don’t laugh, it’s annoying.”

I shoved Ilay with my shoulder and walked towards the vending machine. Ilay followed me and jokingly asked me to get one for her too.

“By the way, Claude’s sister came to see you? I know Lillian too. She’s pretty good… … .”

“She was a strange woman.”

I said dismissively.

“If they’re interested in you, you’d better give it a try. You’re a girl from the Ramones family. This is your chance to get ahead.”

I didn’t want to hear it, so I threw the drink I had just opened at Ilay.

“Fine. I have no intention of getting ahead by clinging to women. Since then, I have refused all visits. I hate being manipulated by a rich girl’s curiosity.”

“Uh, um, but still… … .”

“I told you I could do it.”

Ilay was strangely persistent. I declared that I did not want to mention the subject.

I ignored Ilay and went to the vending machine to choose a drink.

Knock knock.

Ilay, who was drinking a beverage, tapped me on the shoulder. He pointed toward the interview room with his fingertips. I followed his finger and looked around.

I saw a familiar face through the interview room window. She was looking at me.

‘Lillian Ramones.’

Lillian was inside the interview room.

Even if you are a young lady from a noble family, you cannot enter a military facility without permission. The cadet meeting room is also a military facility.

I knew who had let Lillian in. I frowned and looked at Ilay.

“… … plague.”

Ellie shrugged her shoulders sheepishly after hearing my swearing.

“I’m sorry, Luca. Lillian asked me to do it. I have a long history with the Ramones family, so it was hard for me to refuse.”