Auren continues to stare at the magical-looking katana with interest.
This sword… I can feel it's special somehow. He used the blade and pommel to create our marks. This feels like more than just a symbolic gesture.
Elder Lidor continues his speech:
"However, all of those precious rewards won't come for free. I'm not interested in weaklings—I want someone capable of representing my school and carrying on my legacy. Your training will last six years. Every three months, I will excuse one of you. But rest assured—even if I dismiss you from the training, I still have use for obedient assistants. I own several more training halls, and I expect each of you to serve for at least ten years as repayment for your training."
"This is all you need to know. Listen to my commands, train, and I promise your future will be bright. Even if you only end up as an assistant, my successor will need capable subordinates to manage the other halls and pass on my style. Now, are there any questions? Speak now. I don't want to hear a word once training begins! The only thing I expect to hear from you is, 'Yes, Master!'"
One student—a boy slightly older than Auren—raises his hand. "Yes, No. 6, what is it?" Lidor asks.
I need to remember the numbers. I don't plan on interacting with my rivals, but if I want to win this game, I have to be aware of all the key players.
"How will you judge us? Will there be tests? Or will it be based on your impression?" No. 6 asks.
"You don't need to know how I'll decide. What a foolish question. But I'll indulge you this once. You'll be judged on four aspects: first, your overall physical capabilities. Then your mental capabilities. On top of that, your ability to learn and master the sword techniques I'll teach you. Fall behind there, and even the strongest body won't be enough to inherit my school. But the most important aspect is your Aura! You're not worthy of learning about it yet—but I'll teach you in the coming weeks and months. You're afraid of losing your chance, aren't you? Then train your body, your mind, the sword techniques I give you—and most of all, train your Aura! Any more questions?"
"Why do you call us numbers?" No. 19, a tiny boy, blurts out.
"Because you're not worthy of having your names recognized. Once I decide on my successor, I'll ask them for their name. In fact, I might name this precious blade, forged just recently, after the one I'll choose, depending on your progress. Your name will carry the legacy of this school—and the name of the blade you inherit. Trust me, this blade is a masterpiece. It was forged by a famous master, made from an ore so rare it's nearly impossible to find. It cost billions of Jenny—you probably can't even count that high! Is that all?"
A few students raise their hands, but Lidor ignores them.
"Good. Now I'll tell you about your training. Every morning at 7 AM, we begin with physical training. I'll demonstrate the exercises once, then your caretakers will monitor you. I will check in regularly on your progress, so if you want to slack off, be my guest. I will find out about it, you can be sure about that."
So breakfast is at 6:30, and physical training at 7. Sounds easy enough... but I guess for six-year-olds like us, it's going to be tough.
"At 9 AM, you'll attend three hours of regular schooling. I can't have a stupid successor who doesn't even have a basic education. I also expect you to study on your own. Every three months, you'll take a test—and those results will help me make my decision."
"Then at 12:30, your training with me begins. I'll be teaching you lucky brats the secrets of my personal style. Expect a few hours of strict training under my direct guidance. I also expect you to train alone, however. I'm not here to hold your hand. I don't need useless idiots too dumb to realize they're training for their own good. After dinner, at 6:30 PM, you will meditate for at least two hours. I'll explain more about that as we go."
"This will repeat every single day. However, I will grant you one free day each week. On Sundays, you can do as you wish. Since today is Sunday, your training begins tomorrow. Anyone who can't stick to this simple schedule will be eliminated first. You're excused now!"
"Yes, Master!" everyone yells in unison—except for No. 24, who is still sobbing a little, clearly in pain.
This is surprisingly well-structured. Daily physical training, schoolwork, sword practice, and then meditation… I bet that last part will eventually involve Nen. Honestly, it's almost too normal. Where is the catch? This is like winning the lottery!
Auren decides not to train today. Instead, he heads to bed early.
The next morning, nothing changes. As usual, he gets up at 6 AM, quickly showers, gets dressed, eats breakfast at 6:30, and arrives at the yard just before the clock strikes 7.
Right on time, Elder Lidor appears in the yard with two identical, overweight middle-aged men, both wearing black beanies. Lidor shouts, "Roll call! Start at No. 1!"
One by one, the students shout their numbers, until finally, Auren yells, "23!"
But the numbers stop there. No. 24 hasn't shown up—clearly not used to this lifestyle.
"So, No. 24 is absent. She will receive her punishment. We'll start no—" Lidor begins, but stops as 24 runs into the group.
"Sorry! I'm sorry! It won't happen again!" she cries, her face pale, her voice trembling with panic.
"This is the first and last time I'll show mercy. I won't punish you—since you're the newest student. But listen closely: these two are my servants, Buno and Bunu. Yes, as you've obviously noticed, they're twins. Consider their orders the same as mine. They will be in charge of your fitness, and you'd better behave."
These fat men are supposed to judge our fitness?I have to stay calm, even if they look silly—I can't afford to slip up. This isn't a joke. These two have real power over us.
A few students snicker. The two middle-aged men laugh along with them, grinning as they pull off their beanies to reveal heads covered in scars. Without warning, they rush toward the snickering students and sweep their legs out from under them, sending five of them—including No. 22—crashing into the dirt.
"It's not your place to discipline my students, Buno, Bunu. When I'm gone, do whatever you like, but don't ever disrespect me in front of them again," Lidor says coldly. "As for those lying on the ground—you've already disappointed me. I hope you learn to improve your foolish minds."
"Now, to begin: ten laps around my mansion! If you stray from the outer wall, the lap doesn't count. Don't think you can deceive me. Anyone who takes longer than thirty minutes fails… NOW MOVE!" he roars.
Auren immediately sprints toward the tall wall and starts running his laps. Thanks to the running he's already done since arriving, he knows his limits—and ten laps are well within them.
I'm glad I got some training in.
As he runs, Auren notices three students keeping pace with him. To his surprise, one of them is No. 24. The other two are unfamiliar.
I guess I should at least try to be social. These are the capable ones. I need to keep an eye on them... or maybe eliminate them, if I want to make it through this.
"I'm No. 23. You're already pretty well known, No. 24. What about you two?" Auren asks as they run. One is a slightly older blond boy, maybe seven or eight—clearly the type bold enough to question his new master. The other is a tall girl, nearly a head taller than Auren. She's obviously one of the oldest in the group, at least eight years old.
"I'm No. 4," the boy says.
"6," the girl replies curtly.
4, 6, and 24... I've got you in my sights. 4 and 6 are dangerous because they're older. I'll have to make up the difference with training—and hopefully with Nen.
"You're not asking my real name?" No. 24 asks, looking confused.
"Our real names are keepsakes—reminders of the past. They don't matter anymore," Auren says.
No. 4 and No. 6 nod silently in agreement, shocking No. 24.
Looks like 4 and 6 are used to this treatment. They are probably from Meteor City too. But 24... she seems almost too innocent.
The group finishes their laps quickly, earning nods of approval from Lidor and the twins. Auren notices that one of the twins is jotting down their numbers and times.
They are indeed paying attention. I need to suck it up and treat them with respect. I can't afford to make enemies… they also look fairly strong and competent, despite their weight.
Some students fail the run, but Lidor doesn't even acknowledge them. He simply tells Buno and Bunu not to go easy on them.
What follows is similar to Auren's solo training. Lidor demonstrates a special stance, one that emphasizes stability. The children are ordered to mimic it and hold the position—for thirty minutes.
Everyone, including Auren, visibly struggles. There is not a single student who is not sweating and desperately struggling to continue. Many give up and are forced to run even more laps as punishment.
Auren grits his teeth and holds the stance until the end, succeeding along with about half the group. He notices that No. 4, No. 6, and No. 24 all manage to hold out as well.
The final hour is filled with sit-ups, sprints, crawling, planks, and other physical exercises—some involving light weights, they are ordered to take them from a small shed nearby.
This is hard… but two hours of this? Honestly, it's perfect. I want to grow strong. This is the bare minimum!
By the end, nearly every student collapses to the ground. Lidor stares at them with contempt, but his gaze lingers on Auren, No. 4, and No. 6—each of whom still looks ready for more. Surprisingly, No. 24 is unable to stay on her feet as well, despite her earlier performance.
The day continues with schoolwork. Auren enters a classroom along with the other twenty-three students. An elderly lady with grey hair tied into two tight buns walks in. Auren, wanting to keep a low profile, takes the seat farthest from the door, all the way in the back. He quickly notices that each desk has a small drawer—just enough room for a few supplies.
"I am Mrs. Mu. You will follow my lessons. If you disrupt my class, I will send you outside—and that will make passing your tests nearly impossible. I will not repeat this. You'll get exactly eighteen hours of schooling per week. That's enough to teach even the dumbest kid more than most children around these parts will ever learn in their entire lives. Some children would kill for the opportunity to be taught by me! You better be grateful!"
To Auren's surprise, she begins with simple reading and writing exercises, gently guiding the class so even those with little prior education can keep up.
Auren struggles. Despite the massive amount of knowledge in his head, this particular writing system is unfamiliar to him. However, by the end of the lesson, he smiles, pleased with his progress.
Mrs. Mu hands out a few worn textbooks and says, "You will stay in your assigned seats for as long as I will teach you, if there are too many seats, I'll remove a few, but that is not relevant for now. You're allowed to store your books in the desk drawers."
Auren takes the book gratefully—finally having a way to keep studying and catch up. He notices that No. 4 and No. 6 also seem to be struggling, which gives him hope. Only No. 24 looks bored, flipping through the pages absentmindedly.
Who would've thought I'd get to go to school again? I need to beat them—not just in the dojo or the yard, but here too. Honestly, I'm loving this life. A prison? Maybe. But it sure beats fishing and doing hard labor with no future. This is paradise. I'll shape my own destiny here!