Chapter 103: Astonishing Captain Harris
The closer Roderic got to the training grounds, the more attention he began attracting.
A few of the nearby knights were the first to notice him.
"Lord Roderic?"
Several more heads began turning towards him.
Roderic nodded at them with a polite smile, though his attention remained fixed on the figures in the distance.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Frederic and Paul clashed with each other, exchanging blow after blow.
Only just a bit away, John and Peter were doing the same.
’’Posture, Frederic!’’ Captain Harris’s voice rang out over the chaos. ’’Paul, you’re too formless!’’
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The exchanges continued fluidly.
They weren’t the only ones under Harris’s watch either.
More than a dozen young knights were spread across the training grounds, some sparring in pairs while others practiced their techniques nearby.
Harris’s eyes constantly moved between them, occasionally shouting out another correction.
A small smile appeared on Roderic’s face.
’Leaving them with him certainly was the right choice.’
Just then, Captain Harris seemed to notice his approach as well.
His eyes widened slightly before he raised one hand.
’’Enough!’’ he shouted over the chaos.
The clashing of weapons gradually came to a stop.
Frederic and every other knight lowered their weapons, confusion briefly appearing on their faces.
’’Captain?’’
Captain Harris didn’t answer.
Instead, he politely bowed in Roderic’s direction.
’’Young Master,’’ he greeted. ’’I’m glad to see you’ve returned safely.’’
Roderic came to a stop near the edge of the training grounds.
A large grin spread across his face as he leaned over the wooden fence.
’’No need to be so formal,’’ he replied casually. ’’Wouldn’t exactly say I returned safely either, hehe.’’
Captain Harris raised his head, his brows furrowing.
But Roderic’s gaze had long shifted past him.
’’Hey, you guys,’’ he said, waving at his four retainers. ’’I see you’ve all been well?’’
For a moment, the four simply stared at him.
Then they quickly lowered their heads.
’’Young Lord!’’
Roderic waved his hand dismissively.
’’Cut out the respectful bullshit. There’s neither a need nor time for all that.’’
Without even waiting for a response, his gaze flickered back towards Captain Harris.
’’Captain, do you mind if I take them for a bit?’’ he asked. ’’I’ve picked up some techniques I want them to learn.’’
Captain Harris’s brows only furrowed further.
Even so, he didn’t hesitate to nod.
’’Of course, Young Master,’’ he replied respectfully. ’’But if it’s alright... could I verify these techniques first?’’
Roderic raised an eyebrow.
’’These knights you’ve brought in are some of the most talented I’ve ever seen... some even more so than I am,’’ Captain Harris continued hesitantly. ’’If, by chance, they fall on the wrong path due to a faulty technique, their future potential could be severely harmed.’’
Roderic blinked, slightly surprised by the request.
Then, after thinking about it for a moment, he nodded.
’That actually makes sense,’ he thought. ’Crazy techniques usually don’t fall out of the sky after all.’
Besides, Harris had been responsible for their training over the past months.
There was no way in hell he’d want to see Roderic ruin their futures because of something so preventable.
’’Sure,’’ Roderic said casually. ’’Take a look.’’
Captain Harris’s expression lit up.
’’Thank you, Young Master,’’ he said gratefully.
Straightening himself, Harris turned back towards the rest of the knights.
’’Five-minute break!’’ he shouted. ’’Get some water and catch your breath. If I’m not back by then, begin basic stamina training until I return!’’
The rest of the knights snapped out of their daze.
’’Yes, Captain!’’
With that, the five followed Roderic away from the training grounds.
As the noise behind them gradually faded, a sly smile crept onto Roderic’s face.
’Showing these techniques to Harris might bring some additional benefits too,’ he thought, rubbing his hands together.
In this place, where his father held the most power, Captain Harris was practically the undisputed number two.
’Not to mention...’
His gaze flickered towards Captain Harris walking beside him.
A familiar golden glow flashed through his right eye.
[Captain Harris]
Age: 34
Race: Human
Current Rank: Three-Seal Knight
Knight Talent: Medium
Minor Traits: [Press to load 20+ items]
Medium Traits: [Press to load 10+ items]
Advanced Traits: [Veteran Instinct], [Sword Mastery], [Battlefield Commander], [Last Man Standing], [Man of a Hundred Battles]
- - -
Roderic’s smile grew wider.
’Would you look at that,’ he thought. ’What a monster.’
’It’s no wonder he’s able to throw around as much weight as he can.’
Such a person would normally never be inside a Barony.
They’d have long switched over to a viscounty or higher for far better privileges and techniques.
But Captain Harris had chosen to stay.
Perhaps it was loyalty to Arthur, or simply attachment to the place he’d spent so many years protecting.
’Regardless, he’s probably the only reason we haven’t been invaded earlier,’ Roderic thought. ’Such a shame he’s practically reached the limits of his talent...’
Alas, that was life.
Some were more fortunate than others.
And that’s simply something one had to live with.
’A shame... such a shame...’
Having finished his thoughts, the golden glow began disappearing from Roderic’s eye.
Before long, the group reached a secluded corner of the training grounds, hidden from the others by several buildings.
Coming to a stop, Roderic turned to the others.
’’This should be private enough.’’
Without another thought, he pulled four manuals from underneath his clothes.
Roderic tossed the first one, Frederic’s [Sunforge Guardian Art], to Captain Harris right away.
’’Check it out and tell me what you think,’’ he said casually. ’’I spent a lot on these, so they better be worth it.’’
As Captain Harris nodded seriously, a glint of amusement went through Roderic’s eyes.
He couldn’t wait to see how the man would react to the technique.
Captain Harris flipped open the manual.
His expression remained calm at first.
Then he turned the second page.
Quickly followed by the third and fourth.
Page after page went by as his eyes widened noticeably.
Roderic could barely hold back his chuckles.
’There it is,’ he thought. ’That’s what I wanted to see.’
After a few more seconds, Captain Harris carefully closed the manual.
’’Young Master...’’ he muttered, slowly raising his head.
The disbelief on his face was almost comical.
’’Where in the world did you find this technique?’’