Exiled Prince: I'm the Unexpected Extra in the Novel-Chapter 106: Evershade [8] Dishonor vs. Knighthood

The next morning, as the dense fog settling over Evershade slowly dispersed, the castle’s vast training grounds echoed with the sounds of metal clashing against metal and the rhythmic shouts of soldiers.

Cassian, Eric, and Marquis Aldren stood on an elevated platform overlooking the training ground, watching the troops drilling below.

Cordelia, a few steps behind them, manifested her boredom by kicking pebbles on the ground with her hands clasped behind her back.

Cassian had kept his promise and saved the Marquis’s son from his painful fate. Now, it was time to collect the reward for this favor.

"What is the number of soldiers you can give us?" Cassian asked, not taking his eyes off the soldiers training in the field.

"Over 10,000 battle ready soldiers in total," replied the Marquis.

"Although seven thousand of these do not possess a mana core, they are skilled warriors with the necessary discipline and strength."

"The remaining approximately two thousand five hundred consist of more talented mages and warriors at the Second and Third Star levels who have completed their basic training."

"500 of them are elite knights and mages at the Fourth and Fifth Star levels."

"In addition, I can give you a special unit of 70 people at the Sixth Star level and five commanders and generals at the Seventh and Eighth Star levels."

The Marquis thought these figures were impressive as he gave them. Gathering such a powerful army would take months in most regions of the Empire. However, there was not the slightest sign of being impressed on Cassian’s face. On the contrary, he frowned slightly.

"Discard the 7,000 people," said Cassian, his voice icy.

Marquis Aldren and Eric turned to him simultaneously. "What?" asked the Marquis in astonishment. "Are you asking me to leave behind the units that form the backbone of the army? That would destroy our numerical superiority."

"Numerical superiority is nothing against Obsidian Dawn, Marquis," Cassian replied, walking to the edge of the platform. "Even the novices at the lowest rank of that cult start at the Third Star level. And they do not fight with skill alone. They use forbidden spells, blood rituals, disgusting methods that strengthen their bodies. In the moment of battle, they can artificially raise their power by one, even two levels."

Eric intervened, a worried expression on his face. "So you are saying ordinary soldiers would just be bait for them?"

"Not even bait," said Cassian ruthlessly. "They would just be a pile of corpses and a fresh blood source for the enemy. Taking those 7,000 soldiers there is equivalent to driving them to the slaughterhouse. We need speed and destructive power, not a crowd. We will only take Third Star and above. 2,500 people are considered manageable, five hundred elites, seventy masters, and five generals. This will be much more effective than that crowd of 7,000."

The Marquis thought for a while, then slowly nodded. "I will trust the judgment of the man who saved my son. Let it be as you say. I will have the people you want prepared."

Wanting to pull the subject to strategic depth, the Marquis asked: "So, do you know the estimated amount of support army coming from other regions?"

Eric answered: "Other regions do not possess a military power as large as yours. The total of Amberfield and Mooncrest regions will amount to only slightly more than yours."

Marquis Aldren murmured understandingly. "I could guess that. Unlike us, those two regions are more occupied with agriculture or trade, not war." He narrowed his eyes and looked at Cassian. "What about the enemy army... Do you have a number in mind?"

Cassian paused for a moment. A dark, gloomy expression settled on his face.

"More important than the number," he said in a voice close to a whisper. "Unlike us, they have five Demigods in their ranks."

This information fell on the platform like a bomb. The silence grew heavier as it prolonged.

Eric struggled to dissipate the tension brought by the silence.

"So, in terms of financial support, what will your Marquisate offer us?"

"As for financial support," continued the Marquis, changing the subject. "I have set aside 250,000 gold coins from our treasury. This amount will be enough to hire the best mercenary units of the Empire, purchase high level potions and magical weapons."

Eric nodded with satisfaction. "This generosity will change the course of the war, Marquis."

The conversation paused for a moment. Marquis Aldren’s eyes lingered on Cassian.

There was an air of an experienced swordsman rather than a mage in the young man’s stance, but he hadn’t seen him fight yet. His warrior spirit within and curiosity prevailed.

"Cassian," said the Marquis with a slight smile. "I have witnessed your strategic intelligence and healing skills. However, I would also like to see the combat skills of the person who will lead my soldiers. Would you like to have a small sparring match with my men for testing purposes?"

Eric tensed. He knew Cassian didn’t like being "tested" very much. However, after thinking for a moment, Cassian shrugged.

"Why not? I’ll get some morning exercise. Besides, Cordelia was about to explode from boredom, a little entertainment will be good for her too."

Hearing her name, Cordelia raised her head. "Will I fight too?" she asked with a hopeful voice.

"Sorry Cordelia, the people here cannot be a match for you, for now, you will only be a spectator," said Cassian in a warning tone.

The Marquis couldn’t quite make sense of Cassian’s words; was this girl stronger than his soldiers?

When he looked to examine the girl, she possessed a mana core but he couldn’t understand at what level or how strong she was; it was as if she was hiding her powers flawlessly.

Remembering how abnormal Cassian could be, the Marquis thought his team could be like him too.

When the Marquis stepped into the training ground, everyone stopped their training.

The instructors stepped forward and saluted the Marquis respectfully.

The Marquis ordered the instructor to choose a few talented warriors.

Fearing to keep the Marquis waiting, the instructor quickly chose two people from among the soldiers training.

The first was a soldier in his mid twenties, agile built, holding a long training spear. He was at the Third Star level. The other was a close combat fighter in his early thirties, with a massive build, wearing iron plated armored gauntlets on his hands, at the Fourth Star level.

Cassian walked to the center of the ring. He reached his hand into the void and pulled out a pitch black, elegant katana from his dimensional portal. The sword’s design was very different, much more elegant and deadly compared to Evershade’s crude and heavy weapons.

The Marquis leaned in curiously. "That sword... A strange design. Single edged, slightly curved... One rarely encounters those who use this style of weapon in these regions. I wonder, are you from the East?"

Cassian swung his sword slightly, the air whistled sharply. "No," he said in a flat voice. "I have never been to the Eastern region. I am a western orphan. This sword is just a piece that suits my hand."

Sensing the coldness in the word "orphan", the Marquis did not probe the subject further. Some pasts were better left buried.

"Your first opponent," said the Marquis, pointing to the soldier with the spear. "The rules are simple: the one who makes his opponent surrender wins. No killing."

The soldier grasped his spear with both hands and bowed respectfully. "It is an honor to face you, sir!"

As for Cassian, he did not bow. Just holding his sword loosely by his side, he said, "Let’s begin."

A more experienced instructor gave approval to start. "Begin!"

The soldier lunged forward with a proper stance that showed he had undergone disciplined training. He was swinging his spear towards Cassian’s torso and legs with rapid and sharp moves. Every move was flawless, as if straight out of a knight’s handbook.

However, Cassian was not part of this "honorable" fight. He dodged the spear tip by millimeters, moving like a leaf swaying in the wind. He almost never needed to raise his sword to defend.

Thanks to the Stormheart skill, Cassian’s reflexes were at the highest level. Anticipating and countering the attacks of someone at 3 stars was not difficult for him at all.

Frustrated by his opponent’s relaxed attitude, the soldier made a stronger move. "Hiyah!" he shouted, thrusting his spear towards Cassian’s chest.

Cassian took a slight step to the side. As the spear passed by him, he suddenly kicked the sandy soil on the ground hard with his foot.

The dense cloud of dust and sand that rose hit the face of the soldier lunging forward directly.

"Argh! My eyes!"

The moment the soldier lost his vision and stumbled, the concept of "honor" was razed to the ground.

Cassian did not miss this opportunity. He dropped his sword, grabbed the shaft of the blindly swinging spear, and pulled the soldier towards himself.

As the soldier’s balance was disrupted, Cassian grabbed his arm, spun around his own axis, and threw the soldier over his shoulder, slamming him hard onto his back.

THUD!

The air emptied from the soldier’s lungs, and he began to writhe on the ground trying to breathe. Cassian calmly picked up his sword from the ground and pointed its tip at the soldier’s throat without sheathing it.

"You’re dead," said Cassian.

_ _ _

Hi everyone,

I’ve started working on a new novel.

Its theme and story structure are completely different from my current one.

If you’re into academy settings, a yandere twist, a strange main character, and a single female lead, you might enjoy this one.

[F-Rank Beast: The Heroine’s Useless Partner]

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