On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 135

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Organization Collapsed on My First Day of Infiltration Episode 135

 

 

Cracked Castle Wall (1)

 

 

The first day’s physical fitness test was almost coming to an end.

In reality, it was breaking the students’ spirits under the guise of a fitness test!

However, the first years passed through quite smoothly. Thanks to this, everyone was exhausted by the time the blind test ended, but they weren’t quite at death’s door.

 

“If we hadn’t received training from Teacher Ziel… what would have happened to us?”

 

Yurio, whose physical strength was still a bit lacking compared to other students, was breathing heavily.

He didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger.

 

“If it were the old you, Yurio, you would have dropped out from the long distance running.”

“That’s right… I think I would have seriously considered withdrawing from school…”

 

It wasn’t just Yurio.

Karen, who had just spoken, as well as Delev and Celia, who had the best physical strength, were all thinking the same thing.

Moreover, the students who had taken Ziel’s class for the first time this semester felt an even more dramatic change.

 

“…The kids who took the teacher’s class in the first semester avoided it several times, but I only avoided it once.”

 

Lydia.

Omar.

Ellie and others.

They didn’t show much activity in the blind test.

But in the long distance running that was conducted first, and the mirroring test that followed, they definitely felt the effects.

 

“Still, I feel like my physical strength has improved tremendously, Omar.”

“That’s true… If I hadn’t received training, I think I really would have collapsed quickly.”

 

It was a definite achievement.

Horn and the apprentice members who were in charge of the first year training today were shocked enough when they saw the records.

 

“This… the overall records surpass the second and third years, right?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Haha… This year’s first years are exceptional, truly exceptional.”

 

Horn glanced toward the spire, lifting his head.

 

‘Whether the students are talented or the teaching skills are good… I’ll know tomorrow.’

 

All training schedules for today were finished.

After meals and rest, tomorrow’s second day of training would begin.

Today was simply a physical fitness test to break their spirits.

But starting tomorrow, training would begin in earnest with swords in hand to measure their skills.

 

‘The basics seem to be solidly established… I wonder how they’ll do in sparring.’

 

Just as Horn withdrew his gaze from the spire.

 

“S-Sir Horn. Over there…”

“Ah.”

 

Horn’s eyes widened as he quickly ran over.

 

“I greet Your Highness!”

 

It was Prince Dietrich II who had just emerged from the spire building with Relio.

Horn was a bit flustered.

He knew His Highness would come someday since he was showing interest, but without any prior notice like this?

 

‘As expected.’

 

The person who followed from the spire was none other than Ziel.

 

“Mm. Sir Horn. How are the first years doing?”

 

Horn glanced at Ziel once and quickly answered.

 

“Their training level is excellent. They’re surpassing the physical fitness test records of the second and third years.”

“Is that so? Remarkable. They’ll become talents responsible for our Empire’s future.”

 

Dietrich turned his head toward Ziel.

 

“Teacher Ziel, how did you teach the students?”

“I taught them well.”

 

How, how irreverent!

Horn gasped inwardly, but Dietrich actually laughed heartily.

 

“Right, you taught them well, so such excellent results came out. Amazing. Hmm. By any chance, is there any training that could be applied to our apprentice members?”

 

Ziel answered boldly, going even further.

 

“There is.”

 

Horn’s eyebrows trembled.

 

‘There is?’

 

“I didn’t see their swordsmanship today, but judging by their gait, the armor they’re wearing seems excessively heavy.”

“The armor seems heavy?”

“Yes. Considering the depth of footprints on the ground, the members’ fatigue levels, and their hunched shoulders, it would be more helpful for now to wear light armor, or even just clothes, rather than living in heavy armor.”

“Oho.”

 

Dietrich posed a difficult question.

 

“What are Sir Horn’s thoughts?”

“…Your Highness, the reason members live wearing armor is to build a sense of belonging and pride, and to get accustomed to the weight of armor in advance.”

“Is that so, Teacher Ziel.”

“That was an advantage I wasn’t aware of. But what’s certain is that it puts a lot of strain on the members’ shoulders and backs. Just today, I witnessed different members complaining of shoulder and back pain about 15 times.”

“….”

 

Actually, it wasn’t wrong.

Horn had also suffered because of that damn armor during his apprentice days.

The only time he could take off his armor in daily life was when bathing.

Other than that, he wore armor even while eating and sleeping.

There were times when he considered it a useless bad custom disguised as tradition.

Now, years after becoming a full member, he thought of it as a natural rite of passage.

Because he had already gone through it all.

Moreover, Ziel wasn’t just pointing out problems.

 

“Rather than putting strain on the body for excessive periods, it’s better to apply selective strain.”

 

Horn asked.

 

“Please explain in detail.”

“Rather than wearing armor all day, it would be better to wear it only during training, and during training, wearing sandbags on commonly used joints along with armor would have a strength enhancement effect. For example, the elbows or waist that directly affect swordsmanship movements.”

“Hmm.”

 

In fact, wearing armor all day was just a bad custom for apprentice members, only superficially promoting training effects.

Naturally, Horn and the other knights couldn’t take Ziel’s words badly.

However, Dietrich was different.

 

“Hmm. Managing the Imperial Knights isn’t my jurisdiction, but… still, I can’t ignore the members’ health. What does Sir Relio think?”

 

Relio flinched, then pondered a bit before answering.

 

“…It doesn’t seem wrong.”

 

He couldn’t bring himself to say it was right.

Though it was as good as admitting it was correct.

He had a bit of a flash of insight too.

Sandbags.

Why hadn’t he thought of that.

They hadn’t been used for over ten years because they were considered old-fashioned, but their effectiveness was certain.

They just didn’t look stylish.

 

‘Should I try using them in the apprentice members’ next training?’

 

Though he really didn’t like hearing opinions from an outsider.

Of course, Dietrich also preserved Relio’s last bit of pride.

 

“Think it over well and express your opinion to the Vice Commander and Commander once. You are a Senior Member, after all.”

“I receive your command, Your Highness.”

 

Horn’s feelings were complicated.

Some guy who rolled in from outside was pointing out internal problems.

But on the other hand, knowing those words weren’t wrong, he couldn’t just harbor complaints.

Most of all…

 

‘How did he notice that?’

 

When had he observed the apprentice members’ condition so closely?

This feeling of gradually understanding why His Highness was keeping an eye on him.

 

“….”

 

Relio, who had just received orders, felt similar emotions.

Ziel was starting to look a bit different.

But conversely, anger came first.

 

‘How dare he point out internal problems?’

 

In such cases, common sense was to pretend not to see even if you saw, pretend not to know even if you knew.

But Ziel had no such consideration.

The problem was-

 

“Teacher Ziel, you’ve given good advice.”

“Is that so.”

 

Dietrich seemed to like it.

No matter what, he was the 2nd Prince.

He was in a position where he heard more flattery and sweet words than honest ones.

Perhaps that honesty was one of the big reasons he wanted Ziel.

 

“Hey, hey. Over there. Over there!”

“What, what’s wrong?”

“I’ve seen that person before. That’s Prince Dietrich!”

 

Meanwhile, students who had collapsed from exhaustion were belatedly getting up awkwardly.

Authority was a fearsome thing.

Especially since this was The Iron Keep in the Imperial Palace.

Seeing the 1st Year Students hastily getting into position, Dietrich asked Relio.

 

“Is today’s training all finished?”

“Yes. There’s nothing except a brief assembly scheduled for tonight.”

“Then let them rest. I’m planning to stay here, and at this rate they’ll stand there forever.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

 

When Relio signaled to Horn, Horn approached the 1st Year Students and ordered them to rest.

 

“Everyone return to the dormitory and wash up! Move quickly to the bath house according to the instructors’ orders!”

 

Students cheering quietly on the outside, loudly on the inside.

Finally, it was rest time.

They had come out before dawn, endured a hectic day, and finally reached rest!

But the gazes of several students were fixed on Ziel.

 

‘He’s with His Highness the Prince… Could it be a scouting offer?’

‘No way, he even rejected my father’s proposal. But wait, if he rejected it to go to the Imperial Palace…’

 

Delev and Celia were particularly anxious!

Though not quite to that extent, Yurio and Karen also had similarly worried expressions.

 

“Yurio, if Teacher leaves…”

“He won’t go. I want to believe that…”

 

Of course, Ziel had no intention of going anywhere.

Dietrich, who had begun strolling through The Iron Keep with Ziel, asked.

 

“So, Teacher Ziel. About the proposal I made before… do you still feel the same way?”

“If you’re referring to the scouting offer, then yes.”

 

Ziel gave the answer he had expected.

Therefore, Dietrich wasn’t disappointed and brought up what he had prepared to say.

 

“You’re remarkable. Not only did you make those greenhorns surpass the Second and Third Years, but you also fearlessly pointed out the Knight Order’s problems here at The Iron Keep.”

“Helping the First Years grow was good work, but I’m not sure if pointing things out is remarkable.”

“No. It’s definitely remarkable. Within this fortress, the Knight Order is the law and the rules.”

 

The praise continued.

 

“This is why I want you, isn’t it?”

 

Dietrich paused for a moment and looked at Ziel.

Clear blue eyes met Ziel’s gaze.

 

“Teacher Ziel, come to my side. I’ll give you treatment that goes beyond satisfactory—the very best. If you want, I can even give you a knight’s position. There’s no doubt about your abilities. And also… I could help with your family’s revival.”

 

The Steelheart Family.

Though that topic came up, Ziel showed not even the slightest positive reaction.

 

“I will not go.”

“…Do you really dislike it that much?”

“Yes. I dislike it.”

 

This way of speaking wasn’t easy to get used to.

To so easily say he disliked something to a prince.

For Dietrich, who had only met people who spoke in roundabout ways, such direct words were quite refreshing.

That’s why he liked it even more.

 

“Alright, let me hear the reason. I’ll ask precisely—do you dislike me, or… do you dislike this position?”

 

Dietrich was gradually abandoning his pride.

 

“Of course, both could mean the same thing. If it’s the former, I’ll give up cleanly, but if you don’t like the proposal, I could make a different offer… Teacher Ziel?”

 

But while speaking, Ziel was looking down at the area below The Iron Keep’s castle wall.

 

“Teacher Ziel? I’m in the middle of speaking, where are you looking?”

“This place is vulnerable.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve felt it since we entered, but the security of this place called The Iron Keep doesn’t seem thorough.”

“…Teacher Ziel, we were in the middle of a conversation.”

“It caught my eye. Please continue.”

 

Dietrich shook his head inwardly.

 

‘He’s not skilled at deflecting conversation. What’s the problem with that?’

 

The place Ziel pointed to was just a section where stones were stacked in layers below the castle wall.

There were no cracks, nor any particularly problematic areas.

 

“I’ll ask again, so you don’t like the proposal?”

“I wasn’t considering it from the start, so I haven’t thought about whether I like it or not.”

“…”

 

The conversation was going in circles.

 

“Sigh… Is there really no way to make you my person?”

“Your Highness could come to the Academy.”

“…What did you say?”

 

Dietrich let out a chuckle at the absurd answer.

He hadn’t thought of such a response.

 

“I must remain at the Academy.”

 

Just then, students could be seen moving in the distance.

 

‘Is it because of the students?’

 

A true teacher.

So that’s how it is.

 

‘There are still four days left.’

 

Dietrich put his mind at ease.

 

“I understand. Let’s leave it at that for today. Shall we have a meal first?”

“That sounds good.”

“You won’t listen when I ask you to come, but you immediately accept a proposal to have a meal.”

 

Dietrich grumbled.

Still, his expression wasn’t bad.

 

“What’s on the menu?”

“Hmm. It changes every time, so I’m not really sure either. But you’ll like it.”

“Then I’ll eat plenty.”

“How much are you planning to eat…”

 

And after the two left, some time passed.

 

Crack-

 

A crack appeared in the castle wall that Ziel had pointed out earlier.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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