Weapon Master of the Count’s Family

Chapter 5: The Failure Returns (1)

From the southern port, you sail south for about an hour to reach an island.

To get to Lansed Academy, you must arrive at the island and take a carriage to its center.

Inside the carriage, Jack was advising me, seated opposite.

“Young master, remember three things. First, Lansed prioritizes skill. Second.”

“Second, skill directly ties to rank. Last, aim high even if it feels unfair. Right? This is your tenth time saying it.”

“It’s that important.”

“Why? Because I’m at the bottom? I get it.”

In my past life’s arena, I faced similar treatment.

Differential treatment based on ranking.

From food to clothes, everything was discriminatory.

Having experienced this, I didn’t think much of it.

Ranks could be climbed, just like in the arena, right?

But Jack, who’d only known the Academy, was worried.

“I know you’re skilled enough to save my life from assassins. But the Academy isn’t just about fighting well.”

“So, like the old master, I’m 295th out of 300?”

“Not exactly. I’m worried about physical training or exams like history…….”

“Speaking of which, why does an Academy training knights make you study?”

“Because they’re not training ordinary knights but royal guard knights. Only those with a proper historical perspective can become one.”

“I hate studying.”

The thought of studying, which wasn’t in my fate, made me sigh.

Meanwhile, the carriage neared the Academy.

“Oh, we’re almost there.”

After passing through a dense forest where sunlight barely penetrated, a massive fortress came into view.

That was Lansed Academy.

‘So this is Lansed Academy. What’s this strange yet familiar feeling?’

Moss grew on the walls and outer buildings, with cracks in some places.

The ground was dry dirt with sparse grass, and walking a bit dirtied your shoes with dust.

The dark, dull black roofs made the place feel even more gloomy.

Oh, and the faint smell of sweat was a bonus.

‘It smells. The distinct sweat of a gladiator training ground.’

Inside, it was even more striking.

“Move faster!”

“Hup! Hup!”

“Faster!”

With the instructor’s shouts, the cadets who arrived earlier were all training physically.

Yes.

This was no ordinary Academy.

‘No wonder Jack dreaded it. It’s a bit tough for an Academy.’

Having lived as a gladiator and soldier in my past life, I was immune to this environment.

But for Jack and most new cadets, it would be grueling.

“Sigh…… How do I survive this place? Young master, you sure you won’t regret this?”

It was as if he meant it wasn’t too late to turn back.

“I’m fine. If you want to leave, go. But if you return like this, you’ll have nothing. You okay with that?”

I had proposed that Jack stay by my side for three years.

Not for free—I’d pay him monthly for the duration.

Three times more than what the count paid.

That was a hefty sum for a boy Jack’s age, equivalent to a head attendant’s pay.

Plus, Jack wanted to become a free knight, so he accepted the offer eagerly.

“Earn money and become a knight? That’s how you make your mom proud.”

“Sigh…… Of course. I was just saying. But you have to send the living expenses as promised, okay?”

“Of course.”

Their bond, forged by money, was unbreakable.

As I entered with the sighing Jack, eyes turned toward me.

Noticing this, I whispered to Jack.

“Why are they staring at me?”

“Because you’re the one who went through the count’s passing. The count was quite famous.”

“So they’re looking at me with pity?”

“Probably…… Here’s your dormitory, young count.”

“Here?”

Before my eyes was a dilapidated building.

Moss covered the walls, and the roof was roughly thatched like a stable.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No. Let’s go in. Unpack and meet the head instructor first.”

“Do failures live in a place like this?”

“Yes, but if you score well in the monthly evaluation, you can move to a better dormitory…….”

From the so-called pigsty to an ordinary dormitory,

to the luxurious tower accessible only to top cadets.

The three types of dormitories were reassigned based on monthly evaluations.

“When’s that monthly evaluation?”

“Oh! It’s tomorrow.”

Luckily, the chance to change dorms was the next day.

“Oh? That’s fortunate. Wait, where are you going?”

Jack was heading somewhere other than the pigsty.

“Huh? My dorm is over there.”

Jack pointed to the dormitory for mid-tier cadets.

“I’m fortunately 199th. See you later.”

“…….”

Leaving Jack behind, I headed to my dorm.

“Ugh. What’s this moldy smell?”

True to its name, the pigsty reeked from the entrance.

Despite apparent cleaning and maintenance, the distinct odor lingered.

‘Maybe it’s motivation. To escape this wretched place, you have to try.’

For training, a dorm like this was counterproductive.

Resting in a comfortable place boosts performance.

But this place wasn’t meant to make soldiers out of everyone.

It aimed to produce a single monster through cutthroat competition.

Like a crocodile in a swamp,

or a lion on the savanna,

it was a place to raise a single predator.

‘The rest are expendable. Especially the bottom-tier cadets staying here.’

Having lived at the pinnacle, my goal was to survive three years here, but I saw no need to deliberately look incompetent.

Especially if the bottom-tier dorms were this bad.

―Creak.

‘Ugh, a four-person room?’

A structure for four to share.

Fortunately, training was ongoing, so the room was empty.

‘I need to move rooms quickly.’

Living a life of pretense, I at least wanted to rest comfortably in my bedroom.

But sharing with others made that impossible.

‘Just endure until tomorrow.’

I left my belongings in the pigsty and headed to the head instructor’s office.

On the way, instead of Jack as promised, two unfamiliar cadets blocked my path.

“It’s really Evan, huh?”

“Hey! Long time no see?”

For a moment, I thought they might be friends.

But Jack said Evan had no one he got along with.

Their actions revealed their relationship with Evan.

“Thought you’d run away, but you’ve got some guts? Guess we weren’t scary enough?”

“Let him be. A few weeks off, and he forgot.”

They put their arms around my shoulders, subtly pressing down with force.

Their physique and strength created an intimidating dynamic, clearly a hierarchical relationship.

‘Are these the guys Jack warned about?’

Jack had warned me before coming to the Academy.

There was a group that subtly bullied the old Evan Lafard.

A group called the “Noble Society,” composed of noble heirs.

Made up of heirs from capital noble families, some of whose families had friction with the Lafard Count Family.

Perhaps because of that, their children subtly tormented Evan at the Academy.

‘Grown-ups’ power struggles hurt an innocent kid. His bad personality played a part, but I don’t want to deal with this.’

The old Evan might have bowed, but I was different.

I was about to break the arms pressing on my shoulders.

Then, a girl’s voice came from behind.

“Dale! Branco! What are you doing!”

Turning around, I saw a fair-skinned girl with striking red hair.

Even the Noble Society guys softened at the sight of her.

“Tch.”

“Hey, see you later?”

They slapped the back of my head and went on their way.

‘Those bastards…… You’re dead next time we meet. But who’s she?’

Where there are malicious people, there are opposites.

But her expression toward me was unusual.

‘What’s that contemptuous look mean?’

Watching the silent girl leave, I felt I had a lot to ask Jack.

“Young master!”

“You’re quick.”

First, I had to finish my tasks.

***

Meeting Jack, I went straight to see the head instructor.

For the formal procedure to return to the Academy.

Entering the head instructor’s office, I was greeted by Head Instructor Everhart Mylon, with a concerned look.

“Evan Lafard, you’re back safe.”

“Yes.”

“Well…….”

The pain of losing parents.

Unable to find words of comfort, Everhart offered heavy silence.

But I, not having lost real parents, was gauging the head instructor’s strength.

‘Oh? His aura is impressive. A former royal knight, huh? He wouldn’t fall behind even compared to Empire knights.’

Everhart Mylon,

Head Instructor of Lansed Academy and a former knight of the royal guard protecting the palace.

Along with the absent headmaster, he was one of the two giants symbolizing the Academy.

“Evan, honestly, I didn’t think you’d return. Most don’t after such an ordeal. Especially you…….”

“I came on purpose. My sanctuary has become the most dangerous place for me.”

“I heard. Filthy scum. They deserved execution.”

The Pillard Family, which nearly massacred the count’s family, faced a massive purge.

The mastermind, Glen Pillard, met his end on the guillotine, and his family lost status and wealth.

The incident was so significant that news reached the island where Lansed Academy was, across the sea.

“So you chose to be here instead of the mansion? Not a bad choice. But you know this isn’t just a lodging, right?”

Knowing my past behavior, Everhart was worried.

I was at a point where expulsion from the Academy wouldn’t be surprising.

“Honestly, you’ve been dodging training and underperforming in what you did attend. Isn’t that so?”

“The me back then and the me now are different people.”

Jack, listening quietly behind, barely kept his composure at my words.

‘What’s the young master saying?’

The meaning of my heart-stopping statement was:

“The old me definitely hated the Academy. I just wanted to squander the family fortune and live comfortably.”

“Hm.”

“But this incident made it clear. Even if I want that life, I need to be able to protect myself. To safeguard my status and wealth, I need to become strong.”

“That’s true.”

“From now on, think of the old me as gone. I’ll do my best to graduate from this Academy.”

“Then I hope you show a changed self at tomorrow’s monthly evaluation. At least that mindset.”

Saying this, Everhart held no real expectations.

Empty talkers were everywhere, and most lacked substance.

He remained skeptical about me.

‘Ugh…… Getting ignored here feels bad. Let’s see if you act like that tomorrow.’

But Everhart didn’t know this.

The Evan now was completely different from the old Evan Lafard.

And that wasn’t a metaphor—it was literal.

Standing before Everhart wasn’t a mediocre failure but a legendary figure from across the sea.