Sword Emperor, Becoming the Young Lady of a Viscount House

Chapter 20: Torze Military Academy (2)

“High-Rank Knight, Reiser Pluto here. I am the chief instructor responsible for your training for the next month.”

The nobles, half-dragged along by the knights, arrived at their destination.

It was a private residence, a place exuding a certain vintage elegance.

In the spacious garden of the residence, seating had been prepared in advance.

Each seat was labeled with a name, ensuring no one was omitted, and the nobles sat in order of rank.

Beatrice ended up seated near the back.

Despite its past glory, the Cenci Family was still just a Viscount’s household.

“You there! Get me out of here at once. What is the meaning of this outrage?”

Of course, the nobles couldn’t remain silent.

But—

“This is His Highness’s command. He decreed that anyone refusing this training shall be deemed a traitor and executed on the spot. What will you do?”

It was an impossible situation.

Had this taken place on their own estates, things might have been different.

But this was the capital—completely under the Crown Prince’s control.

To resist here would be nothing short of foolishness.

The noble who had raised an objection quickly backed down.

“…No, I must have been momentarily agitated. Training, of course, is necessary.”

“I am relieved to hear that you agree.”

Watching the scene unfold, Beatrice reflected.

‘Doesn’t this feel like a chicken coop? Gathered so close together like this.’

[Young Beatrice is among them too, after all.]

‘Even in a flock of chickens, there’s always a leader. That’s me—though I’m a bit different.’

She wasn’t here without a plan.

‘If I show outstanding performance here, I could gain higher rank on the battlefield.’

In war, skill mattered more than status.

However, no matter how skilled Beatrice was, if her abilities went unrecognized, it would all be for naught.

She needed to build a tower—a carefully crafted and undeniable record of achievement.

It would take time.

Normally, she would have had to build it slowly on the battlefield.

But through this training, she could start building it now.

For her, this place was an opportunity.

“This place has been designated as the Torze Military Academy. In the future, countless talents of Krapos will be educated here, just as you are now.”

No one responded.

Reiser, seemingly uninterested in their responses, continued speaking.

“It is an honor. You are the first students of this institution, which will become a source of pride for Krapos.”

“Are you mocking us?”

Some nobles erupted in anger once again.

It wasn’t surprising.

Being dragged here against their will, only to hear about “honor,” was enough to make anyone seethe.

“Does it sound like a joke? His Highness has invested a great deal of wealth and talent in this place. He intends to continue developing it into a steadfast pillar of Krapos. In other words, it will go down in history.”

‘The Crown Prince… seems quite capable.’

Beatrice, indifferent to matters of history, was still a modern thinker.

She understood.

Historically, kings who achieved remarkable feats often established academies or institutions for nurturing talent.

“You are the first class of the illustrious Torze Military Academy. Do you not realize how honorable that is?”

“……”

The previously indifferent nobles began to show subtle changes in their reactions.

Though not immediately drastic, the angry ones calmed down.

They started paying attention to Reiser’s words.

Honor.

There was no word more potent in moving a noble’s heart.

“Furthermore, His Highness has declared—”

Now, no one let Reiser’s words pass by unheard.

All eyes were on him.

“Those who graduate at the top of the Torze Military Academy’s training program—”

Reiser’s voice lowered.

“—shall have their rank elevated by one. Viscounts to Counts, Counts to Marquises, and Marquises to… Dukes.”

No further explanation was needed.

From that moment, the atmosphere of the room shifted.

The faint air of dread turned into a glimmering hunger.

Beatrice was quick to detect the subtle madness that began to spread.

**

The knights weren’t as coercive as expected.

Despite their initial threats to execute anyone who refused the training—

“You can… quit?”

They announced that anyone dissatisfied with the program could leave.

They assured everyone that, for the honor of Krapos, there would be no petty retribution.

Hearing this, Beatrice couldn’t help but admire the strategy.

‘Impressive. They’re clever.’

On the surface, the approach wasn’t heavy-handed.

However, the choice was already made for them from the start.

Several factors played into it:

The desire for upward mobility.

The fact that few, if any, would welcome them back home after returning.

And the nagging doubt—would they really be allowed to leave alive?

The reward was far too enticing compared to the risks.

In a society where rank was everything, one step up wasn’t a mere trifle.

In the medieval era, the difference between ranks was as vast as heaven and earth.

Who wouldn’t covet such an opportunity?

Here was the key: the Crown Prince’s declaration of “freedom to choose” lent legitimacy to the program.

It gave him the authority to manipulate the nobles as he saw fit.

While each person wrestled with their own thoughts—

Someone stood up and shouted.

“Damn it, are you guys seriously going to quit?”

His crude words were unbefitting of a noble.

All eyes turned to him.

Though he appeared unremarkable—

[Hmm. The Red Dragon… That’s the Argos emblem.]

‘How many families are there? It’s hard to keep track.’

[Haha, you don’t need to memorize them all. You’ll learn in due time.]

‘So, what’s Argos about?’

[One of the three founding families of Krapos, alongside Arvanceco and Cenci. Argos possesses unique abilities. They’re classified as battlemages. Whether that concept still holds true today, I’m unsure.]

The unfamiliar term was enough for her to grasp the general idea.

It seemed they were adept at offensive magic.

“Quit? This is an obvious trap! It’s not quitting—it’s a wise choice!”

“Don’t spout nonsense. This is an opportunity! For losers like us, cast out by our families, it’s the chance of a lifetime!”

The voice, though rough, carried undeniable conviction.

At that moment, someone stood up and shouted.

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re being used. Argos! Can’t you even discern that much?”

“Whether we’re being used or not,”

Argos spoke with a cold glare.

“This is a definite opportunity. Do you think devoting your entire life to your family will get you anything in return? No. You’ll be eliminated as a liability before you ever become the family head.”

“……”

“You say we’re being used? Well, let me tell you, your families are using you just the same. But at least here, even if you’re used, the rewards are substantial if you succeed.”

None of the nobles could refute his words.

“And didn’t you hear what His Highness said? He’ll raise our rank. That means… if we perform well on the battlefield, we might even take the position of family head. Don’t you get it, you idiots?”

Beatrice, who had been watching Argos with interest, opened her mouth.

It was simple curiosity.

“Hey.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Beatrice’s soft voice.

She continued speaking, unfazed.

“If it’s such a great opportunity, why don’t you just do it alone? Why bother persuading us?”

The nobles’ gazes shifted to Argos.

It was a point they hadn’t considered.

“That’s true… Why are you dragging us into it?”

“I hate this. I can already imagine how we’ll be treated.”

“No doubt… we’ll be treated worse than slaves. This is the capital, not our family estates. We won’t be able to resist anything here. This is too disadvantageous for us.”

“Isn’t that guy up to something?”

“Right, it’s Argos’s delinquent speaking. Why should we listen to him?”

Finally, the young nobles began raising objections.

Argos spoke with a look of utter frustration.

“You idiots, what’s the point of gaining a higher rank or becoming family head if the country—my country—disappears? That’s why I’m explaining this damn thing to you myself.”

-Murmur, murmur.

The hall grew noisy in an instant.

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

“Even if you’re Argos, that’s too much.”

“Being rough and being stupid are two different things. Argos’s delinquent, you’re just stupid in my eyes.”

Countless criticisms poured in, making it difficult to respond to each one.

As the noise in the hall reached a market-like level, Beatrice’s brow twitched.

She spoke as if dealing with children.

“Raise your hands and speak in order. Keep it organized. It’s too noisy.”

“……”

Silence filled the hall.

The combination of Beatrice’s youthful appearance and her composed tone was jarringly mismatched.

“Pfft! Pretty one, you must be the famous Beatrice Cenci! Fine, like Beatrice said, come at me one by one, you stupid bastards. I’ll answer everything.”

In any case, the main debate was still with Argos.

Someone raised their hand.

‘How obedient.’

Beatrice found the sight satisfying.

For nobles who had been pampered their entire lives, they were surprisingly polite.

“Alright, you there. Speak.”

“No matter how bad Krapos’s situation is because of the civil war, how could we lose to a small nation like Central?”

The murmurs resumed.

The nobles nodded, exchanging thoughts with those nearby.

Argos spoke without a moment’s hesitation.

“If things remain as they are, we’ll lose for sure. It’s hard to believe, but that’s the reality approaching us.”

“That’s absurd! We’re not weak enough to lose to Central!”

“Central has been building its strength for the past 100 years. They’ve formed alliances with the Empire and steadily grown their national power. Of course, they don’t yet rival Krapos. However—”

His face turned bright red.

His voice carried a powerful emotional appeal.

“Nearly five years of civil war. And take a look at yourselves.”

“…What?”

“Is there a single competent person among you? None of you are even heirs, let alone family heads. You’re all the useless cards your families have discarded. I’m no different. If we don’t change—or if some of us abstain from this war—then we’re guaranteed to lose. And when that happens, do you want to be sold as slaves to the very Central you’re looking down on? If anyone does, speak up now so I can bash your head in.”

‘So that’s why everyone here looked so young.’

She had suspected as much, but now it was clear.

Everyone present was too young to be expected participants in a war.

…And they all seemed intimidated, despite this being the capital and under the Crown Prince’s authority.

Their positions should have protected them from such absurd treatment.

‘So he figured that out.’

Beatrice took note of Argos.

‘He’s useful.’

That was her evaluation.

War wasn’t fought alone; it was a competition of talent.

Having experienced countless battlefields, Beatrice had a keen eye.

And in her eyes, Argos had the talent for “persuasion.”

A voice filled with conviction, the ability to provoke the desires others craved most.

…That was a talent more valuable than being a great fighter or strategist.

Hitler.

Mao Zedong.

Napoleon.

These infamous dictators all shared that trait.

The difference was that they used their persuasive abilities to ascend to thrones.

Beatrice, on the other hand, intended to wield such people for her own rise.

Individuals like that could become either heroes or villains, depending on how they were used.

-Smile.

The corner of Beatrice’s lips twitched.

She was in a good mood, having found someone quite promising after a long time.