After Conan and Victor walk on the street for a while, they stop in front of a house. Victor steps forward, approaches the door, and knocks. A young man opens the door. Victor asks him, "Is Master Ardin inside?"
The young man replies, "What did you need?"
Victor replies, "We wanted to participate in combat training."
A voice is heard from inside. "Bren, that is Victor. Let him in."
Bren lets both of them inside. Victor stands in front of the large-built, old man and greets him respectfully.
"Master Ardin, we came here to learn how to fight from you."
Ardin smiles and says, "Victor, I know you well. It is as if you grew up before my eyes since childhood. But the Kingdom of Celaria is not a weak country. Especially its guards coming here to the back alleys to take lessons from me."
Victor replies, "Master, even though this place is in the back alleys, you were once the kingdom's greatest warrior and general. You even awakened the rare profession of tank warrior. There is no one better than you to train us."
Ardin replies, "Then why did you suddenly fall into this thought, Victor?"
Victor replies, "Master, Bear Gregor and his men are causing problems for us. In our current state, we are very weak. Only you can teach us."
Ardin replies, "Then for your sake, I will speak with them. They will leave you."
At that moment, Conan steps forward and calls out to Ardin.
"Master, even though we are guards, we also have our own pride. Rather than taking shelter under someone's shadow, we want to protect what is right and protect ourselves and those around us. You were a warrior, and you know warrior pride very well. Teach us, Master."
Ardin examines Conan with his gaze and stands up, speaking to them.
"Follow me, young men."
Conan and Victor look at each other happily and follow behind Ardin.
Ardin opens the back door. The door leads to a hall that is not very large. Several young men like Bren were training there. Ardin looks at them again and speaks.
"Join the others. From today, you will also train here."
Kaelhor speaks.
"Human, the man before you looks stronger than the general you saw in the city square this morning. Do not miss the opportunity. Ask him for personal training."
Conan turns his face toward Ardin.
"Master, actually our only enemy is not Gregor. My personal enemy is the Sword Hero."
Ardin smiles.
"Ha..ha..ha..ha.. Boy, tell me, how can a Hero be the enemy of a human. Are you perhaps on the wrong path?"
Conan gives a deep look and speaks in a calm tone.
"The only thing I had were my dreams. They took that from me as well. All that remains is my life and my pride. Whether you agree or not, I will do everything I can to protect them."
Ardin looks at Conan seriously.
"Young man, what do you want from me? How can I help you?"
Conan replies.
"Master, please, train me personally!"
Ardin smiles.
"Very well. But do you have the strength to endure it? Or is only your speech ability strong?"
Conan replies.
"I am ready for any difficulty!"
Ardin laughs.
"Excellent. Both of you follow me."
Victor speaks hesitantly.
"I am fine with general training. It is not a problem for me."
Conan grabs Victor's arm and pulls him.
"What happened, were we not together until the end?"
Victor replies with disappointment.
"Fine, fine, my friend. It seems there is nothing to do."
Both of them follow behind Ardin together.
Ardin opens another door. There was also a hall here. But this place was empty and slightly larger.
Ardin stands in the center and says to them.
"First, remove your swords and armor."
Both of them remove their swords and armor and place them aside. Then they stand face to face with Ardin from a short distance.
Ardin begins to speak.
"First, let us test your strength, Celaria guards. Attack me as you wish!"
Both of them look at each other and attack Ardin.
First, Conan delivers consecutive punches to Ardin. But Ardin skillfully deflects all the blows. During these blows, Victor enters from behind and grabs Ardin's waist, trying to lift his legs off the ground. But Ardin does not move even slightly. Victor continues to exert strength, but only Victor's feet slide on the floor.
Ardin first wraps his left arm around Conan's neck and places his right arm between his legs. He lifts Conan's legs off the ground and slams him onto the floor.
During this time, Victor continues exerting strength while holding Ardin's waist. Seeing Conan being lifted, he begins punching Ardin's back. After slamming Conan onto the ground, Ardin turns back and delivers a powerful kick to Victor. From the impact, Victor rolls on the floor.
Ardin speaks.
"Young men, is your endurance only this much? Get up. Training has just begun."
Conan and Victor stand up again, but until the end of the day, they are only heavily beaten. Not even a single strand of Ardin's hair is affected.
At the end of the day, Ardin turns his face toward them and says.
"Both of you fight well as a group. You simply do not know how to fight opponents stronger than yourselves. See the weaknesses of your opponent. Starting tomorrow, we will begin serious training."
Hearing this, it feels as if Victor's soul leaves his body.
Both of them wear their armor and leave the place. They begin walking on the street while suffering from pain.
Victor speaks.
"It would have been better if we were beaten by Gregor rather than by a former rare profession general."
Conan replies, trying to comfort him.
"My friend, look at the good side. This is not for humiliation, but for becoming stronger."
Victor replies without hesitation.
"I choose humiliation. Rather than being beaten like this every day, I would rather be beaten once."
Conan replies.
"Stop talking nonsense. There is no way back anymore. Prepare yourself for heavy training starting tomorrow."
Even though Victor regrets it, he does not reject his friend's wish.
Finally, both of them say goodbye in front of Conan's house and separate. Victor walks toward his house while limping and holding his waist. Conan also holds his waist and enters his house. He removes his armor and sword and places them aside. He sits on the bed.
At that moment, Kaelhor's voice is heard.
"Ha..ha..ha..ha.. The pleasure of real training is better, am I not right?"
Conan replies.
"Because of you, I am in this situation today."
Kaelhor replies.
"I did nothing. You are the weak one. Even if you do not accept my power, at least you must become stronger to protect that wretched body of yours."
Conan replies.
"The bad part is that you did nothing."
Kaelhor replies.
"What is it, have you already abandoned the path of a hero and feel ready to pursue revenge?"
Conan replies.
"That is nothing but your imagination. That will never happen. I just want to sleep. Be silent. That is enough."
Kaelhor laughs.
"Never say never, human. Ha..ha..ha..ha..."
Conan lies on his bed. The fatigue of the day overwhelms him, and he falls into a deep sleep.
"Everything is covered in fire. He slowly looks left and right. Many swords are stabbed into his body. He breathes heavily. He sees blurry silhouettes in front of him that cannot be distinguished. He slowly extends his right hand toward them.
— Why!?
At that moment, they call him. Conan... Conan... Conan... Wake up, fool, you are dead!?"
Suddenly, Conan wakes up from his sleep in fear and grabs his head with his right hand.
"What kind of nightmare was that?"
At that moment, Victor breaks the door and enters inside.
"Conan, are you alive!?"
Conan replies in fear.
"Idiot, what kind of entering is this!? Are you crazy!?"
Victor replies, confused and angry.
"Idiot, I have been calling you at the door since morning. I knocked hard, and you did not respond. I thought something happened to you. Are you alright!"
Conan stands up.
"I am just very tired. I have not trained like this for a long time. I will wash my face. You repair the door you broke during that time."
Victor smiles innocently.
"Alright, you get ready. I will repair the door."
Conan approaches the water well in the yard to wash his hands. He places both hands on the stone and speaks.
"What was that nightmare I just saw? Since you started speaking with me, I have begun seeing such things."
Kaelhor replies.
"Do you really want to know what that nightmare was?"