I’m a Rebel in Another World

Chapter 15: The Serf Corps

"Excellent! Your foundation is quite solid. This Knight's Body Training Technique you're practicing is used by most families across the continent as the prerequisite for various family inheritances. However, there are some subtle errors in your practice. Now follow my movements to correct these habits. While these minor mistakes don't affect too much, they do genuinely impact your bodily coordination."

Fabio patiently corrected and instructed Henwil, demonstrating a complete set of complex movements resembling gymnastic exercises. Henwil studied with intense concentration, refusing to miss any detail.

Although this was just a basic, universal Knight's Body Training Technique—merely fundamental instruction that knight families used to train their descendants—Henwil understood clearly that these things couldn't be bought with money. This was exclusive knowledge of the upper class, never circulating among common folk.

Back in his small town, he had essentially stolen his learning at the knight's manor without systematic guidance, inevitably leading to deviations. While Kavizé possessed considerable skill, he came from ranger background and only taught Henwil combat techniques and enemy engagement experience. Regarding Henwil's Knight's Body Training Technique, Kavizé hadn't interfered much.

Now that he had a teacher willing to patiently instruct him, Henwil naturally seized this precious opportunity without the slightest slackness. Simultaneously, Henwil maintained his proper position, never assuming that saving Fabio's life once meant he could treat nobles as equals—especially after noticing that Fabio seemed related to Count Obiken, making any negligence even more unacceptable.

Even after Fabio mentioned it several times, Henwil still acted like a proper young attendant, taking care of Fabio's daily needs. The noble officers who frequently interacted with Fabio gradually became familiar with Henwil as well.

From their conversations, Henwil learned that the Allied Forces' vanguard army of one hundred thousand soldiers had been completely annihilated. The situation looked increasingly unfavorable for the Allied Forces, though the winter snow blocking roads currently hampered the Allied Forces' movements. Otherwise, the Allied Forces would likely have already launched a counterattack against Plains City.

Everyone understood that, at the latest by next spring, a major battle centered around Plains City would commence. Henwil needed to use this time to learn as much as possible—who knew which skill might prove useful on his escape route someday.

Every morning, Henwil practiced weighted long-distance running. Even though Fabio said it wouldn't help much with knight development, Henwil gritted his teeth and persisted. Henwil knew very well he wasn't just running—he was racing against death. Regardless of whether the Allied Forces or the Silent Battleaxe Legion emerged victorious, everything would descend into chaos. Whether escaping for his life or slipping away during the confusion, running ability would surely prove crucial.

During idle moments, Henwil wondered how his mother and younger siblings were doing. Back when Henwil told Kavizé about the possible troops at Fire Eye Town, Kavizé had kept his promise to extract Henwil's family from the cellar and take them to a safer location. Originally, Kavizé promised to reveal the family's whereabouts after the Fire Eye Town campaign.Unfortunately, Kavizé died later, and now Henwil didn't even know where to begin searching for his family. Sometimes Henwil even wondered if his family had already died, and whether Kavizé had simply lied to him—using his family as leverage to keep him bound.

Because, for a mercenary, Kavizé seemed unusually concerned about his attitude, which didn't quite make sense. Whenever these thoughts arose, Henwil grew restless and would then practice in the courtyard, swinging his several-kilogram heavy longsword.

From their conversations, Henwil learned that the Allied Forces' vanguard army of one hundred thousand soldiers had been completely annihilated. The situation looked increasingly unfavorable for the Allied Forces, though the winter snow blocking roads currently hampered the Allied Forces' movements. Otherwise, the Allied Forces would likely have already launched a counterattack against Plains City.

According to Fabio, this was an excellent sword forged from Thunder-Tone Steel. Thunder-Tone Steel was a special type of steel whose clashing sound differed from other metals—producing a dull thunder-like resonance, hence its name. Not knowing the sword's name, Henwil created one himself—Dawnbreaker!

Symbolizing that this greatsword could lead him out of these nightmare-like dark experiences toward a happy dawn. Although Henwil could swing the Dawnbreaker greatsword, it proved rather inconvenient. More often, Henwil preferred using the short sword given by his father.

With a blade just over thirty centimeters long, it perfectly suited his current height. Currently, wielding the Dawnbreaker greatsword served mainly to exhaust his physical energy, helping him calm his mind and forget those distressing matters.

Every morning, Henwil practiced weighted long-distance running. Even though Fabio said it wouldn't help much with knight development, Henwil gritted his teeth and persisted. Henwil knew very well he wasn't just running—he was racing against death. Regardless of whether the Allied Forces or the Silent Battleaxe Legion emerged victorious, everything would descend into chaos. Whether escaping for his life or slipping away during the confusion, running ability would surely prove crucial.

Henwil understood particularly well that the sprouting, flowering earth ahead would require blood as its water source and corpses as fertilizer for nourishment. He didn't know what fate awaited him—perhaps he might have the chance to see how demonically beautiful those blood-and-flesh-nourished flowers would become.

Or perhaps, he himself would become nutrients for those flowers. Regardless, he had done everything possible—now everything depended on his destiny.

Due to the Silent Battleaxe Legion's destruction, Fabio was assigned to the noble private army side, leading over three hundred conscripted serf soldiers. Because of his familial relationship with Count Obiken, Fabio didn't assume command alone.

He now had over ten cavalry and forty-plus Silent Battleaxe Legion warriors forming his personal guard troops, making him appear less shabby within the noble private army. When they arrived at the noble private army camp and Henwil saw the serf soldiers' condition, he stopped mentally criticizing the duchy legion's poor quality.

By comparison, the duchy legion Henwil had looked down upon truly qualified as elite professional troops. Just look at what kind of specimens stood before them now! From young half-grown children of twelve or thirteen to elderly men with graying hair in their sixties.

Were these people here to fight battles? What? I'm not even ten years old yet? That's certainly true! But Henwil felt confident he could single-handedly defeat any young serf soldier, and if maintaining distance, he wouldn't feel intimidated even by the prime-aged serf soldiers.

Having spent a long time in regular legions, Fabio found these motley crew under his command utterly displeasing to the eye. He subjected these serf soldiers to various intense drills and training, but achieved minimal results! Expecting to train these conscripts into professional troops was simply joking—Fabio himself didn't believe it possible.