The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Chapter 210: I’m Really a Pacifist. (3)

Despite Ascon’s pleas, Ghislain’s fists didn’t stop. Gradually, Ascon’s consciousness began to blur.

‘Why am I getting beaten up here?’

The boundary between dreams and reality started to crumble, and even the pain began to fade.

He welcomed this phenomenon with relief.

‘Ah, this is great. It doesn’t hurt anymore. That’s how it should be. No matter how good someone is at beating people, if you’ve been hit this much, you’re supposed to faint. Hah, in the end, I won. I won!’

Before his dimming vision, a handsome, middle-aged elf appeared.

‘Grandfather!’

It was the grandfather he’d only seen in portraits as a child. Hadn’t he passed away about a hundred years ago?

‘I must’ve inherited my good looks from Grandfather. Heh heh.’

The elf before him smiled kindly and gestured for him to come closer.

‘Ah, I’m coming, Grandfather.’

Ascon’s consciousness began to drift toward him. He felt that if he could just grab his grandfather’s hand, all would be well.

Suddenly, a colossal blue tree that seemed to engulf the entire world appeared behind his grandfather.

‘Finally, it’s time for me to become one with the World Tree.’

With joy in his heart, Ascon approached his grandfather. Soon, his soul would rest in the embrace of the World Tree, revered by elves.

But then, the world suddenly turned crimson and began to tear apart.

Startled, Ascon heard a voice whisper in his ear.

“Stay conscious, will you? Where do you think you’re going?”

Flash!

“Uwaaaaah! Grandfather!”

Ascon jolted awake, the sensation like his very soul being yanked out. His grandfather, the World Tree—everything had disappeared.

What remained was the harsh reality of being beaten senseless.

He’d been sure he would faint, yet his senses had become sharper instead!

There was no escape from this. He couldn’t die, couldn’t lose consciousness—only the relentless pain remained.

At this point, it seemed wiser to live quietly than to fight.

Overcome by a sudden will to survive, even Ascon himself was surprised as he stammered out, “P-please spare me… you crazy Lord…”

Yet Ghislain’s fists still didn’t stop.

When Ascon’s endless screams finally quieted, and the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Ghislain’s punches came to a halt.

“Oh, it’s already this late? I got so absorbed in the sensation that I lost track of time. Elves really do… no, I mean humans.”

Ascon collapsed onto the ground, sobbing. He couldn’t understand why he hadn’t fainted.

Not dying, not fainting, just enduring endless pain—this was the worst punishment imaginable for a long-lived elf.

“I’ll be the representative, I’ll work with the soldiers, I’ll cooperate… so why couldn’t we just talk… hic.”

“Hm, I got a bit too focused on testing a new therapy and forgot to stop. My apologies.”

The elves grimaced at those words, their expressions filled with exasperation. The fact that they had accidentally overstepped all day long? They could almost tolerate that. But admitting to conducting experiments on human bodies? That was another level entirely.

Many of the elves had previous experiences of defying nobles and living relatively freely for a time. It was precisely because the nobles couldn’t handle them that they had been sold off.

Initially, they had thought they could carry on in the same way here, but their thoughts were starting to change.

I better not mess with that bastard. He’s truly insane.

A tension began to settle over the elves, who had previously been lax and carefree.

As things finally seemed to fall into order, Ghislain turned to Ascon and asked.

“Starting today, you’re human, right? A fresh start for you, isn’t it?”

Ascon hesitated for a moment before closing his eyes tightly and replying.

“Yes, I’m just a human with pointy ears now. Honestly, I’d cut them off if I could.”

He had abandoned even his racial identity. Survival required it. If the human in front of him demanded he change species, then he’d simply have to do so.

“And you’ve dealt with that anger management problem, haven’t you? That’s not good for you, so it’s something you absolutely need to fix.”

At that question, Ascon replied firmly.

“Yes, as of today, I’m a master of anger management. There’s no need for further treatment.”

Under Ghislain’s guidance, Ascon had not only cured his illness but also redefined himself as a new individual.

That included gaining the ability to fully control his rage.

* * *

With the elves finally disciplined, Ghislain fell into a brief contemplation.

Creating a new type of unit not previously present in the estate would take time. However, putting the elves through rigorous training right away would be impossible due to their abysmal physical condition.

He needed to build up their stamina at the very least before they could function as he envisioned.

“Hmm, who should I assign to oversee their physical training? Everyone’s so busy, I can’t think of anyone suitable.”

Gillian was already fully occupied managing and training the knights. Kaor, if tasked, would likely just slack off and do the bare minimum.

Ghislain needed someone who could quickly and earnestly dedicate themselves to the task. As he mulled over his options, Gillian cautiously suggested an idea.

“How about assigning Gordon?”

“Gordon?”

“Yes, if nothing else, he’s the most dedicated to exercising and building muscle. He should be capable of teaching the basics.”

“Hmm, not a bad idea.”

If Gordon was known for anything, it was his diligence in training. While the other mercenaries would spend their free time drinking and playing around, Gordon never skipped his workouts.

For him, “muscle loss” was considered the gravest of sins in life.

Even just exercising alongside Gordon would significantly improve the elves’ physical condition.

“While he might not be able to build practical combat muscles, he can certainly teach basic training. Very well, I’ll leave it to Gordon.”

Having made his decision, Ghislain went straight to find Gordon.

The fortress was abuzz with knights engrossed in their rigorous training. If they wanted to avoid death, they had no choice but to push themselves. As such, during their breaks, they refrained from drinking and instead focused solely on rest and recovery.

But Gordon was different. Even during his rest time, he poured his energy into exercising. After all, neither mana cultivation techniques nor swordsmanship training alone could lead to the massive muscle gains he pursued.

So relentless was his effort that he quickly regained any muscle he’d lost during his initial focus on cultivation techniques.

To Gordon, building impressive muscles was not only his life’s goal but also his greatest pride.

“Huh? Gordon’s not here?”

Ghislain was surprised not to find Gordon at the training ground where he usually worked out. Wondering if Gordon had taken the rare step of resting, Ghislain headed to the knights’ quarters.

“Oh? Lord Ghislain, to what do we owe the visit?”

Gordon greeted him with a slightly fatigued expression. His frame seemed a bit smaller than usual.

Ghislain gave him a quick once-over before asking.

“What’s this? You’re the guy who claimed you’d never skip a day of training for fear of losing muscle, yet here you are resting? Your muscles even look a little smaller. Been feeling tired lately?”

Gordon let out a chuckle and replied.

“I don’t work out as much anymore. I’m busy these days.”

“Busy? Don’t tell me you’re not afraid of muscle loss anymore. What’s keeping you so occupied?”

“Well, learning to read and write has changed my entire perspective on life. I’ve started writing. If I go a day without writing, I experience ‘literary loss’.”

“You… writing? What kind of writing?”

“I’m working on a literary novel. It’s based on classic works, but I’ve added my own creative spin. The goal is to move people, teach them valuable lessons, and help them discover the truths of life. Hah.”

With a smug grin, Gordon brushed a hand over his smooth head, looking for all the world like a legendary literary figure gracing the earth.

“Wow…”

Ghislain stared at him, dumbfounded. This guy? Writing?

Judging by his references to classics and literature, it seemed Gordon had genuinely immersed himself in studying recently.

I only taught him how to read, but this man’s entire life has turned around!

Even Gillian, whose expression rarely changed, looked visibly taken aback as he glanced at Gordon.

Sensing the attention, Gordon smirked even more arrogantly and added.

“It’s not finished yet, but would you like to read it? I’m curious about your literary judgment, my lord. Feel free to share any critiques.”

Even his tone seemed to have grown cockier. With a reluctant grimace, Ghislain nodded.

At this, Gordon reached down into his crotch area and fished around a few times before pulling out a small book.

Why does he always pull things out from there? No, more importantly, how does he even fit all that in there? Does he have some kind of pocket dimension attached or something?

Ghislain accepted the book with a reluctant expression.

The moment he read the title on the cover, his body froze for a brief moment.

[The Invisible Sword Master]

“…The title is quite something.”

“Hah! The content is even better. Go ahead, read it now.”

“Well… I’m a bit busy right now, so I’ll read it later. But it seems like you don’t know much about swordmasters. Being invisible doesn’t hold much significance at that level.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? If you’re invisible, no one can see you. That makes you ridiculously strong!”

“Invisibility doesn’t matter if your presence can still be detected. At that level of mastery, not being visible isn’t a significant advantage. The logic is a bit shaky—”

Before Ghislain could finish, Gordon interrupted, flaring up.

“This invisible sword master has no detectable presence either! Their presence is invisible too! So they’re completely undetectable! That’s the setting! What do you mean, ‘shaky logic’?”

“…Alright.”

If that was how the author intended it, there wasn’t much else to say. Ghislain let his mind wander for a moment.

Invisible and without a detectable presence? In that case, wouldn’t it make more sense to create a mana field to confine them and then sense the anomaly? Though that would require an enormous amount of mana… Wait, there might be another method…

Such a being, if real, would be truly terrifying. How would one fight against such an opponent?

It felt as if Ghislain was on the verge of discovering something new—a strategy, a realization.

Ghislain had always harbored a love for combat and a strong competitive streak. If he ever found himself helplessly defeated by an invisible foe, he’d be utterly furious. That was something he absolutely couldn’t accept.

As he conjured up a hypothetical opponent in his mind to simulate a battle, Ghislain shook his head. A wave of self-reproach washed over him.

What am I even doing? What’s with this nonsense about an invisible sword master? Something like this doesn’t even exist!

Though he felt it was better to stop wasting time, he couldn’t fully let go of the idea.

There was an itch in the back of his mind, as if a valuable insight was just within reach. If he pursued it a little more, he might unlock something profound.

In the end, Ghislain decided to be honest with himself.

Hmm, I’ll read this novel later when I have some time and use it for some virtual training. Who knows, I might discover a new method of mana utilization. This could be fun.

Having found a potential source of entertainment, Ghislain tucked the book away and spoke.

“For now, I’m giving you a new assignment.”

“Huh? What assignment? I’m busy training and writing… If I skip even one day, I’ll experience ‘literary loss’…”

“Training instructor for the elves’ physical conditioning. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll assign someone else.”

“Huh? No! I’ll do it! Absolutely!”

Gordon immediately broke into a wide grin, rubbing his hands together eagerly.

I had become a knight, but I didn’t hold any specific position within the estate.

Taking on a role like this would allow me to stand taller, boast a little, and enjoy some perks. Moreover, knowing the lord’s personality, taking on additional responsibilities would likely lead to a higher payout.

Honestly, I couldn’t count the number of times I’d envied Gillian as I watched him drill the knights.

“If it were me, I’d run them harder than that old geezer!”

Gordon, with such ambitions in mind, wasn’t about to miss this opportunity.

“But these elves… don’t they use spirits and stuff? Can we even push them hard in physical training?”

“Spirits? What spirits…? They don’t know how to do anything. Make sure to work on them thoroughly.”

It was natural for Gordon to immediately associate elves with spirits; after all, elves were renowned for their high affinity with them. However, the elves who had arrived here were so steeped in alcohol and tobacco that they likely hadn’t laid eyes on nature in ages. If they’d once had the ability, they’d lost it long ago.

Ghislain raised a fist as a warning to Gordon.

“If you slack off and get mesmerized by their pretty faces, you know what’ll happen, right? You’ll be the one thrown into special training.”

“Yes, sir! Don’t worry about me!” Gordon shouted, brimming with confidence, even snorting for emphasis.

Soon, the elves gathered in the training grounds. It was Gordon’s first time instructing anyone, and he couldn’t hide his excitement as he shouted.

“From now on, I’m your training instructor, Gordon! I’m the second strongest man in this estate, right after the lord! Trust me and follow my lead!”

The elves wore expressions of pure misery. They’d lived their lives indulging in laziness and had no desire for physical training.

Ascon, the one who should have voiced objections on their behalf, appeared completely drained, his face blank and expressionless.

Oblivious to the atmosphere, Gordon immediately began the training.

“From now on, just follow everything I do! Got it? No response? Answer me!”

“Yes…”

“What’s that supposed to be? Say it louder! Always louder! Like this—Aahh! Aahh!”

“Aahh!”

“Good! That’s the kind of spirit I want to hear!”

Gordon was ecstatic. The fact that someone was following his orders gave him a tremendous sense of satisfaction.

“Alright! Since today’s the first day, let’s take it easy. Just 100 push-ups! Watch me and copy my form! One! Two! Three! Four! What are you doing? Hurry up and follow me!”

True to his simple-minded nature, he didn’t consider the others’ capabilities and focused entirely on showing off.

The elves awkwardly mimicked Gordon’s movements.

“One…”

“Two…”

“Three… I can’t do this anymore!”

Most of the elves collapsed before completing even ten push-ups. Their slender physiques weren’t built for such strenuous exercises.

Gordon grew increasingly frustrated.

“What the hell! How can you not even manage 100 push-ups? Damn it! Useless bunch! Get up! Fine, then we’ll start with running! Let’s do 100 laps!”

Forcing the elves to their feet, he started running with them. However, by the second lap, the elves began dropping like flies.

“You worthless idiots! Gillian pushes us way harder than this! Take a short break, and then we’ll do it again!”

Panicked and impatient, Gordon kept yelling without giving them proper rest.

This was his first real assignment. He thought he was finally being recognized, but now he worried he might fail and lose everything.

The elves felt the same despair. The thought of continuing this ridiculous training was enough to drive them mad. On top of that, this guy seemed to think the number 100 was the only one that existed.

This couldn’t go on. They needed a solution.

The elves, slumped on the ground, exchanged subtle glances before starting to offer Gordon some gentle temptations.

This chapter upload first at NovelBin.Com