Chapter 5
<Eric Ater>
Level: -99
Strength [1]
Agility [1]
Stamina [2]
Mana [1]
Trait: <Indomitable>
The training ground was empty at lunchtime.
Eric lay sprawled on the floor in a corner, exhausted, staring blankly at his status screen and examining the trait he had just obtained.
“<Indomitable>, huh… I never imagined I’d get this here.”
<Indomitable>.
Among the countless traits in Protect Humanity, this one was firmly ranked at the top tier. Unlike other traits that come with pros and cons, it had no penalty—and even prevented instant death if one took damage exceeding their maximum HP.
For a damage dealer, especially when facing a boss, this was extremely useful.
Many veteran players had wracked their brains trying to figure out how to acquire this trait. Yet, here he was, obtaining it under such bizarre conditions.
“To reach my HP limit a hundred times in such a short period… no wonder the acquisition method was unknown. Even just to exhaust my base HP, it would take half a day. And managing my territory on top of that? There’s no way I could reach a hundred.”
Unlike other difficulty levels, all his stats were 1, so even slight movement quickly pushed him to his physical limits—allowing him to earn the trait.
Especially given his frail body, which could have been killed even by brushing against a weak enemy, the second-life effect of this trait made him clench his fists in satisfaction.
“Also, my stamina feels noticeably less drained than before. Just because my level is pitiful doesn’t mean there aren’t any advantages… huh?”
Thud-thud—
His brief, bright smile faded as footsteps echoed from the far entrance. Reacting, Eric propped himself up with his trembling arms and slowly lifted his upper body.
“…Are you Prince Eric?”
A young woman entered the training ground, wearing elaborately embroidered armor and holding a helmet in one hand.
As she approached and looked down at him, Eric, struck by a familiar face despite never having met her, narrowed his eyes slightly.
“I am Leona Everrock. From today, I’ve been assigned as your swordsmanship instructor, Prince.”
“…Leona? Leona Everrock?”
Where had he seen her before?
Leaning against the wall and quietly observing her, Eric’s eyes widened at the next introduction.
Of course, he had expected that, as a sword instructor, she’d be some apprentice knight.
Ding—
<Leona Everrock>
Level: 25
Strength [60]
Agility [100]
Stamina [75]
Mana [25]
Trait: <Ambition>
He couldn’t believe it—this named NPC, barely level 25, was a hero-tier talent far surpassing the level 33 Ivan Ater.
“This kid… the Dawn of the Battlefield? Damn, why did it have to be a prodigy in this specialty…”
Of course, from the perspective of those who brought her here, the direct heir of the family, who had never paid attention to his own training, suddenly wanting to learn the sword might have required some effort. But hiring a talented, promising knight as a teacher didn’t automatically mean it would be beneficial.
Especially for a character who had been obsessed with ambition since childhood and had a unique background among the main heroes of Protect Humanity.
“…I am Eric Ater. Should I call you Lady Leona?”
What was he to do?
Contemplating, Eric glanced at Leona, who had been looking at him with a disdainful expression, and spoke quietly.
“Yes, Lady Leona. Judging by your expression, it seems you’re not pleased to have been summoned as my instructor.”
Allen Ater, the head of the current household, was considered so competent he might even surpass the current patriarch. Perhaps if she were assigned as instructor to a competent heir like Ivan, she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.
While it wasn’t an honorable task like defending the Empire’s territories, teaching the bloodline of a grand duke’s house was a prestigious opportunity and a stepping stone for advancement.
Being self-important, she could never behave arrogantly in front of capable heirs—but Eric wasn’t blessed by the goddess and lacked ability.
“If you dislike it, there’s no need to teach anything. Just stand beside me during practice.”
Seeing her silently look down at him without a word, Eric stood, speaking in an indifferent voice. Fortunately, who taught him swordsmanship didn’t really matter.
Although he was starting fresh and lacked skills, he had swung a sword hundreds of millions of times by reaching game endings before.
However, in the Protect Humanity system, having a teacher increased skill mastery speed, so she had been assigned for that reason.
“I didn’t have high expectations anyway.”
Finishing his words, he turned his head from Leona’s still disapproving gaze and picked up the sword from the floor.
There was no point forcing someone to do something they clearly disliked—it would only make them resentful.
Whoosh—
Slash!
Turning his back, Eric began swinging his sword at a wooden dummy again, while Leona watched silently for a moment.
“…Huh?”
Leona’s face contorted in surprise as she snapped to attention.
“Four hundred thirty-three! Four hundred thirty… four!”
In a corner of the training ground, Leona, who had followed Eric since dawn, sighed heavily after watching him swing his sword tirelessly for hours.
‘His stamina is poor, his swordsmanship a mess… is he really from the grand duke’s bloodline?’
Rumors said the second prince was incompetent, but she hadn’t expected this.
‘And he has no desire to learn. Then why ask for a teacher at all?’
Yet, despite appearances, he persisted in training for days, showing some determination. Though he had no skill or stamina, he still held onto his pride.
He left her standing like a screen while swinging the sword recklessly, which irritated her.
“Look at him. Still at it.”
“How long will he keep swinging at a wooden dummy? Doesn’t he care about actual sparring?”
“They said a prodigy graduating early from this academy would come, but… was the teacher summoned for swordsmanship, or just to supervise a girl?”
For over ten days, she had been treated as Eric’s attendant rather than a knight. Watching him reminded her of unpleasant memories.
When she first sought to become a knight, people had looked down on her.
Even at the academy, she couldn’t shake off the condescending gazes of classmates and some professors.
“…If a capable person seriously trained in swordsmanship, they wouldn’t be treated with such disdain.”
Leona clicked her tongue, regarding Eric who endured countless mockeries silently.
Even though he had a duel with the youngest prince approaching, he showed no confidence in himself. She wondered if he needed a woman for support.
“Well, I guess he couldn’t go out to the town for training.”
“Ha! I suppose it’s better than having some random person. At least he’s the legitimate heir.”
Despite wanting to quit from the daily ridicule, she couldn’t. After graduating the academy and aiming for the frontlines, she was drafted to instruct this delinquent by request of Duke Ater.
‘Patience. After the duel, I’ll formally request a transfer.’
She had worked hard to succeed in the North and couldn’t let this minor disturbance set her back. Even in the North, where ability was valued above all, it was impossible to succeed if she fell out of favor with the Ater family.
Not only was she not a grand family’s heir, she was female. Born of a lowly mother, her noble birth was insignificant.
“By the way, how about a drink after this?”
“No, I have patrol duty tonight.”
“Patrol? Why are you on patrol?”
“There’ve been more disappearances in the slums. The soldiers alone can’t handle it, so we’ve been assigned.”
After enduring insulting words for a few minutes, Leona stayed in the training ground past lunchtime, watching Eric continue to swing at the dummy.
“…You’re not frustrated?”
Days turned into weeks. If she were ignored by the family knights, she’d have been furious and tried to learn something.
Yet, from the first day, he stubbornly refused to learn properly, letting her just stand by.
“If you’re just going to keep swinging at a dummy while being criticized, why did you even ask for a teacher?”
From the moment she first held a sword, she had strived to be recognized as a knight, enduring condescending gazes and mocking tones for years. Upon graduating, she had finally gained acknowledgment.
“Did you need someone beside you to share the ridicule?”
That’s why she disliked Eric, who lived like a delinquent merely because he lacked ability.
No matter the circumstances, he could have changed perceptions through effort.
Yet even now, he stubbornly ignored guidance!
Thunk—
Leona vented briefly in a tired voice. Eric quietly set down his wooden sword and looked back at her.
“Strange.”
Was she always this sensitive to minor things? In the past, she had chased only great achievements, ignoring trivial matters—truly a troublesome hero.
“Why did you become a knight?”
Leona frowned at the question.
“Well…”
She had been asked this repeatedly at both her family and the academy. People doubted a woman’s choice to become a knight. Fed up with such questions, she answered curtly.
“Did you learn the sword because you were afraid of being criticized?”
At Eric’s words, Leona went silent, staring blankly.
Why…?
His gaze, focused only on his goal regardless of others’ opinions.
The way he returned to swinging at the dummy after speaking.
“At least, I did not.”
It reminded her of herself, in the past, staying in a dark training hall alone, swinging her sword with relentless determination.
