A Former Police Officer Who Died And Get A Second Life!

Chapter 219: Training Day Trouble

He had only meant it as a joke, but Sergei’s serious reply made Qiong Xing give a wry smile and wondering just how much he was trusted.

"That was a joke. Please use this to keep up the good work."

"You’re having it made for me. I should pay for it."

He really was serious.

Still, it was a good mindset for not taking things for granted.

"Then, please take care of this child. I’m not asking you to be his ally. Rather, please train him."

When Qiong Xing looked at Brat who was happily eating cake beside him, the boy nodded as if he understood.

One should never hesitate to learn.

Just as Qiong Xing had said, Brat was trying his best.

"You really are like a mother. ...I won’t go easy on him."

"But it will be beneficial. Whether he can endure it or not, it will be a good learning experience to find out."

Even if he was strict, someone like Sergei would never teach anything useless.

It would help Brat gain recognition from those people around him and build confidence.

Understanding that, Brat simply nodded without a single complaint.

"...If you were truly his mother, my job would have been much easier."

"It’s precisely because you works so hard that everyone follows you."

When Qiong Xing said that, Sergei simply replied with a curt "I see."

Even so, Qiong Xing could tell that, despite his appearances, he was actually embarrassed, so he chose not to press the matter.

"I’m quite lazy, so I’m glad you’re here."

"That completely ruins the mood."

"Having someone reliable is a wonderful thing."

"Isn’t that a bit too convenient for you?"

"That just shows how capable you are, Prime Minister."

"You’re quite skilled at charming people."

"That’s a terrible way to put it."

Even as they exchanged words like this, there was no hostility between them.

If anything, Sergei seemed to be enjoying himself and Qiong Xing thought it would be nice if this served as even a small break for him.

...

"Eh, you don’t use magic?"

It was the day of their weekly meeting.

While Qiong Xing was at the castle to give his report and walking around inside, he asked the soldiers in training whether they practiced using magic.

Brat answered that magic wasn’t used in battle and it surprised him quite a bit.

"There are people who can use it, right?"

"There are. But—"

"Magic ain’t worth a damn in real combat."

"Captain Narka..."

"...A bear?"

Qiong Xing’s first impression of the captain made Brat struggle not to burst out laughing.

Considering the man’s massive build and several times Qiong Xing’s size along with his unkempt beard and roughly cut short hair, it was easy to see how without his armor he might be mistaken for a bear.

Appearing from behind them before anyone noticed, the captain stared at Qiong Xing with an almost disappointed look.

"Not useful, you say?"

"Long incantations, weak power. And mages are too frail. Fighting while protecting someone like that? That’s just stupid."

The captain himself had no magical ability at all.

Perhaps because of that, he trained his body to an extreme degree every single day.

Brat would sometimes spar with him in sword practice, but for some reason, most of those sessions ended up being muscle training rather than actual swordplay.

"...Hmm. So you’re saying there’s no way you would lose to me?"

"Q-Qiong Xing?"

The way he said it sounded almost like a provocation.

"What’s this, kid? You wanna take me on? With that small body of yours?"

"I’m still going to grow!"

Brat secretly wished he would just stay the way he was.

However...

"Oh? Then I’ll train you myself."

Perhaps misunderstanding Qiong Xing’s words as something childlike, the captain decided to meddle unnecessarily offering to train him.

Liking training was fine, but dragging Qiong Xing into it was not.

Brat hurriedly tried to stop them, but Qiong Xing was already being pulled along as if it were settled.

"If we’re doing this, Brat, you come too. With two of you, you might last a little longer."

Qiong Xing immediately puff out his cheeks in dissatisfaction when he heard that.

It was cute, but this was training where injuries were very possible.

Brat couldn’t let Qiong Xing get dragged into it.

"Qiong Xing, um... maybe you should sit this out..."

"It’ll be fine."

"But..."

"Then I’ll support you from the back, Brat. Let me see what you’ve learned from your training."

"Yes!"

He had never once beaten the captain, but hearing Qiong Xing say that made him feel motivated to do his best.

"Then, I’ll be off, Albe."

"Be careful. And don’t get hurt."

"Okaaay."

Surprisingly, Albe didn’t try to stop them at all and simply waved as if to say "have a good time."

Brat still didn’t quite understand the relationship between those two.

"Alright, ten minutes. If you can land even a single hit on me within ten minutes, you win. Got it?"

"Got it" or not, Brat had never agreed to this in the first place.

But now that they had come this far and with Qiong Xing watching him with expectation, he had no choice but to give it his all.

Once they arrived at the training grounds, they took their positions, surrounded by soldiers who had gathered to watch.

The vice-captain who have heard the commotion personally stepped in as the referee and agreeing in a rather half-hearted manner as if he just wanted it to be over quickly.

"You probably can’t win, but if the prince manages to bring the captain to his knees, that counts as a victory. If you become unable to fight, you lose. This guy’s an idiot, so don’t expect him to hold back. Now then—begin!"

He just called the captain an idiot and the man himself was laughing about it.

Qiong Xing found himself wondering if this country was really okay.

"I’ve gotten a bit better lately. Alright, let’s do th—whoa—!"

Thud!!

"......?"