novelraw Chapter 44: Why Can't I Stay Low-Key?
Chapter 44: Why Can't I Stay Low-Key?
After ten days of such torment, the bald man finally stopped his various creative methods of torturing the youths.
That day, everyone finished bathing and returned to formation on time, not a single one late.
The bald man didn't find excuses to punish them today, instead having them line up and wait.
After daybreak, the bald man finally spoke: "You can call me Scarface, Oki, Iron Bones, or Instructor!
Whatever you call me, you need to understand one thing.
For a long time to come, you will all obey my commands.
It's true you were bought for no small amount of money, but I don't produce worthless goods.
If you fail to meet standards, I'd rather destroy you all than let you tarnish my reputation!
So you'd better behave, strictly complete my training tasks - this will both preserve your lives and allow you to leave here eventually."
After speaking, Scarface Oki made the youths continue running, interspersed with various physical training exercises.By morning, the youths' hands were shaking so badly they could barely hold their bowls.
However, today's meals were clearly much better than the previous ten days.
At least there was meat dishes, bread without sand or wood chips, and the soup had been replaced with bean and meat stew.
Henwil understood - the obedience training was over.
Now began the actual physical strengthening and willpower screening.
Those previous inferior foods naturally weren't needed anymore - the youths were at growing age and needed substantial nutrition.
If they only ate those awful things from before, no amount of training would turn them into qualified killing tools.
Having enough food was a blessing for Henwil.
But a few days later, he received a long-unheard nickname - Rice Bucket!
Thinking back to when he was last called this, it was years ago during his learning days at Knight Cookler's home.
Here, Henwil passed his ninth birthday.
Exactly which day was his birthday, Henwil didn't know - there were no dates announced here.
He just estimated it should be within these few days.
Thinking about these past two years, what kind of awful days had he been living!
Over a year of war experience, several near-death encounters.
Originally thought he had attached himself to a powerful patron, but because of his empirical thinking, his planned future vanished like smoke.
Now thrown into an assassin training camp, who knew how much worse days ahead would be!
After three months of physical training, Scarface Oki began teaching the youths unarmed combat techniques.
Henwil's performance remained excellent, but not top-tier.
Over six months, except for that girl called Mishir, not a single youth had become friends with him.
Now that combat training began, he often became the one surrounded and attacked.
Scarface Oki didn't mind this, instead frequently arranging for Henwil to fight others.
In one-on-one combat, Henwil's displayed strength feared no youth.
But this was a battle of attrition - each time Henwil was beaten until he couldn't stand.
However, Henwil also displayed ferocity and bloodlust that made other youths wary.
Henwil knew he had to intimidate these youths now, otherwise when weapons training came later, they'd still be this ruthless.
Henwil felt quite conflicted - not wanting to kill them was one thing, but mainly he didn't want to reveal his true strength.
The outstanding bird gets shot!
He'd already suffered once from this - maintaining upper-middle performance was perfect now.
Not enough to be made an example, but still having decent value.
Being human!
Still need to stay low-key!
After each combat session, that girl called Mishir would come apply medicine to him.
With Henwil's subtle guidance, this girl had become the best performer among all the girls, but this also made her more excluded.
After combat ended this day, Scarface Oki called Henwil over: "Do I need to use some methods before you'll show your true strength?
According to the materials left by that skinner Laiom.
You're supposed to be ruthless and able to fight adult bandit soldiers without losing ground.
Not this level of skill you're showing now! What?
You think I'm a fool? Or are you hiding your strength, planning to escape?"
Clearly, Laiom hadn't believed what that bandit leader called Nailhead said back then.
Thinking he exaggerated to sell for higher price, claiming Henwil had killed several of his men.
When Henwil suddenly killed a bandit soldier in the cage back then, Laiom recognized this youth was promising material, but only material nonetheless.
So in the materials sent here, Henwil only had ability to kill adult bandit soldiers, just described as having good willpower and being ruthless.
Hearing Scarface Oki say this, Henwil understood the situation.
What he feared most was someone tracing his history, learning about those things he'd done.
Now facing Scarface Oki's questioning, Henwil lowered his head: "Instructor, I just want to survive. I don't want to offend too many companions - that would make survival difficult for me!"
Scarface Oki sneered: "Hah! Kid, you haven't been listening to what I teach! Seems you're not as ruthless as described!
Only sheep care about companions' feelings - wolves and lions don't! Survival of the fittest! If you worry about exclusion making survival hard, that proves you're not strong enough!"
Damn right I know this principle!
Of course I know this principle - I'm not afraid those youths will affect my survival, I'm afraid of you people!
Seeing Henwil silent, Scarface Oki pointed to a guard nearby and said to Henwil: "Go! Kill him!"
Before Henwil could move, the guard directly reached for Henwil's neck.
Henwil dodged sideways, stepping while turning, shoulder slamming into the big man's ribs.
The pushed-back guard raised his leg to smash toward Henwil's neck.
Henwil blocked with his arm, the opponent's force making Henwil slide sideways one step.
Immediately the guard's left foot kicked toward Henwil's head.
As Henwil protected his head with right arm block, the guard retracted his foot and instantly threw a right punch.
But this was a war of attrition - each time Henwil was beaten until he couldn't stand.
Then Henwil stepped forward, right elbow bent, again slamming into the guard's chest.
After two hits, the guard's body leaned back, but his right fist remained in Henwil's left hand.
Henwil kicked the opponent's calf while retreating two steps, violently pulling the right arm.
As the guard's body was pulled straight, parallel to ground mid-air, Henwil raised his right knee, violently smashing into the opponent's face.
Twisting his body, he lightly jumped behind the opponent, and as he landed, Henwil knelt with both knees on the opponent's back.
Left hand pressed the opponent's head, firmly holding against the ground, right hand formed into a claw gripping the spine at the back of the neck.
Just as Henwil prepared to exert force to dislocate the spine, a small stone flew over, hitting Henwil's wrist.
"Enough! Though he's worthless, he's the boss's property - can't die so meaninglessly!"
Henwil pretended to clutch his wrist, standing up and retreating several steps.
Looking at Scarface Oki's appreciative gaze and the youths' fearful expressions, Henwil sighed inwardly.
Why can't I stay low-key?
In novels, protagonists easily stay low-key for long periods - why do I keep encountering high-intelligence NPCs!