The legion is a place where the weak prey on the strong, and the same is true for the imperial guard team.

Like most legion establishments, if a soldier wants to become a formal imperial guard, he must first pass an audition and undergo an examination of extraordinary potential and family background. Afterwards, after rounds of elimination and screening, the best of them will be selected.

Qualified to enter the reserve force for further education.

Of course, reserve service is just the starting point in a sense. Only after undergoing rigorous physical and mental training here, and finally standing out and being selected by the royal family, can you be qualified to join His Majesty the King and become a true imperial guard.

The warriors who can enter the imperial guard reserve are elites who have been selected at all levels, but strength and weakness are always relative. There are strong and weak in any group.

In a group like the Imperial Guards, where the strong are respected, if you are weaker than others, you will never have dignity.

In the palace training ground, 20 imperial guard reservists were lying on the ground. It was raining heavily that day and the ground was muddy. They were soaked to the skin, and their clothes and faces were covered with mud. They looked like destitute beggars.

The instructor holding a long whip stood in front of these people, his eyes extremely cold: "I really can't imagine that the kingdom's military resources this year will be so poor. The local army selected them at all levels, and finally selected you girls.

cavity."

"If you losers are allowed to follow His Majesty the King, and there is a war, His Majesty will go out of his way to protect you from being killed, not to mention escorting you!"

"Now, you losers, listen to me, everyone holds one arm on the ground for one hour!"

"Yes!" the punished people responded, putting one palm on the ground to prop themselves up and maintaining balance in the heavy rain.

Most of the reserve members have awakened the most rudimentary extraordinary powers, and their physical fitness is far beyond that of ordinary people. However, the posture of holding one arm on the ground is very energy-consuming. In addition, they have been subjected to corporal punishment before, and they did not drink water, eat, or sleep for two whole days...

.After half an hour, someone was already shaking.

The instructor was furious and immediately whipped anyone who shook his head, drawing bloody marks on their backs.

Unqualified rookies were subjected to corporal punishment in the rain. Those who passed the training had finished their training long ago, put on clean clothes, and ate rations under the eaves while watching the rookies being tortured.

"Hey~ The instructor is very irritable today. Fortunately, I passed all the assessments."

"No way, no way, there are really people who can't even pass that simple assessment, right?"

"These losers are destined to be eliminated. I don't know why they still persist. It would be better for me to give up as soon as possible."

"That's right, especially that little guy, look at it, he's shaking like a sewing machine."

When his companions were teasing, a young man heard the sound and looked over. There was a petite figure at the end of the punishment team. His body shape was in sharp contrast with the strong men around him.

The question is a girl.

"What's the dwarf's name? Is it Neeko?"

"It seems so. You said a woman doesn't wash and cook at home, why would she come to participate in the imperial guard selection?"

"It is said that his father was one of the "Three Musketeers of the Royal City" as famous as "Black Lion" Garrot and "Sword of Dawn" Dinisa. However, he died in the battle in the 500th year of the Fire Moon Calendar. Your Majesty remembers his father in his memory.

Out of love, he made an exception and brought her into the palace, giving her the opportunity to participate in the selection."

"The Three Musketeers of the Royal City... It turns out that his father is the famous "Eagle Eye" Myne?! The hero who fought with "White Dragon" Sulla for a day and a night?!"

"No way... Master Maien actually gave birth to a loser like Nico. It's really embarrassing for his father."

At this time, the young man interrupted them silently: "Who is his father, and what kind of person she is, there shouldn't be an inevitable connection, right? The father's reputation should not be a burden to future generations. As long as she does what she does, she can be worthy of her."

I think it’s amazing what you have done.”

The companion did not argue with the young man. He just smiled and said jokingly: "You think so, but the instructor doesn't think so."

Soon, the instructor walked up to Nicole, who was shaking from exhaustion, raised his boots and stepped on her head. His eyes were as round as a bell: "What's your name?"

Nicole had to maintain a supporting position with one arm and bear the pressure on her head. She gritted her teeth and found it difficult to speak: "Report...instructor...my name is...Niko...

."

"Oh yes, yes, Neeko, the daughter of Hawkeye Myne, is a person authorized by His Majesty the King to come here for training." The instructor's face remained ferocious as he stepped harder, "Do you think that you

With a great father and His Majesty’s favoritism, you can come here and insult my team casually?”

Nicole answered with difficulty: "Report...I...didn't..."

The instructor stepped on his head harder and said fiercely: "No? Even the most basic physical training is so tiring. You are such a waste and rubbish. Let alone join the Imperial Guard, it is a shame for me to become a reserve."

!You are not qualified to be here, let alone take advantage of your father!"

"Let's do this. I'll give you a new name - Short Winter Melon. From today on, you are no longer Neeko or the daughter of Maien. You are Short Winter Melon. We will call you that, and you must also call you that.

Myself, have I made it clear enough?! Now tell me, what is your name!"

Nicole gritted her teeth tightly because the pressure on her head was so great that the capillaries ruptured and blood flowed from her nose, dripping into the mud in front of her, but she never acknowledged this insulting nickname.

Unprecedented anger ignited in the instructor's eyes, and he stepped on the back of Nicole's hand: "Are you challenging my authority? Short winter melon. Or are you saying you don't like such a pleasant name? I should just call you scum."

,stinky dog?”

The instructor kept turning the soles of his boots, trampling the back of Nicole's hand until it was bloody. He said with a grim face: "Your training time will be extended for another hour, and I will keep stepping on it. If your dog's claws dare to loosen their grip, give it to me directly."

Get out!"

Based on Nicole's physical strength and this kind of rough trampling, it would be great if she could last ten minutes, let alone an hour.

The punished reservists nearby did not even dare to speak out, for fear that they would be targeted by this perverted instructor.

Just when Nicole was about to lose her hold, a scolding voice suddenly came from behind: "That's enough."

The instructor's expression changed, and he looked stiffly at the approaching young man. He was stunned in the rain for a moment, as if he couldn't believe that a student dared to speak like this.

The companions watching the show under the eaves were so frightened that they dropped the bread in their hands. They quickly stood up straight to show respect, and at the same time secretly shouted: "Roman! Are you crazy?!"

The instructor's pupils were slightly out of focus. When he came to his senses again, overwhelming anger ignited in his eyes. He strode up to the young man named "Roman" and looked down at him with his height advantage. His face was even darker than the rain clouds in the sky.

Gloomy: "Rookie, are you teaching me how to do things?"

Roman stood with his back straight and his head held high, facing the instructor in the posture that a recruit should have, and said loudly: "Tell the instructor, I think the way you coach this girl is inappropriate."

The companion turned pale with fright. Although this instructor was strict and perverted, his teaching level was beyond praise. Those who graduated from him were the most elite imperial guards.

Not to mention anything else, the current chief royal guard, "King's Blade" Denisha Doguland, received training from him when she was young.

The words an instructor of this level speaks to recruits are comparable to a king's instructions. Whatever he says is what he says. He tells you to go east, but you can't go west. He says you have cerebral palsy, and you have to respond respectfully to the report.

Instructor, I have cerebral palsy."

Roman is now openly challenging the instructor's authority, and no one dares to imagine what will happen to him.

Just when the instructor was stunned, Roman spoke first: "This girl did not perform well and failed to meet your expectations, instructor. You are very annoyed because of this. I understand."

"But from another angle, I think we can see the shining point in her - if you want to become a qualified imperial guard, strength is important, but what is more important is character, tenacity and loyalty."

"In normal training, although Nicole always comes last, I have never seen her get discouraged. When everyone goes out to drink and have fun, she will take the initiative to stay and train more to hone her physical shortcomings. Many, many

Late at night, when I looked out the dormitory window, I could see her practicing sword hard in the back mountain."

"The companions around her laughed at her height, despised her, made fun of her, and felt that she was not worthy of the reputation of the daughter of Hawkeye Myne, but she never gave up on herself because of this, and she always tried her best to silence those people.

Even if she is knocked down countless times, she will stand up again."

"If one day we all become imperial guards, Nicole may not be the strongest, but she will definitely be the most trustworthy person for His Majesty. People with strong bodies are rare, but people with strong hearts are even more precious."

"So, I think the instructor's way of teaching her is biased. You use hard power as the only criterion, only see her shortcomings, but ignore the invisible inner strength in her."

"If possible, I hope the instructor can change his approach, stop insulting her personality, encourage her more, and train her to become a pillar of the kingdom."

Roman's impassioned speech made everyone dumbfounded. No one expected that this young man who usually didn't talk much would actually contradict the instructor for a girl with whom he had no friendship.

And not to mention, what he said... seems to make some sense.

Nicole also stared at Roman in stunned silence, her pupils out of focus several times, and she lowered her head in confusion.

The instructor froze in place like a statue. After an unknown amount of time, he closed his angry eyes, raised his head, let the cold rain fall on his face, and sighed complicatedly.

...

Half an hour later.

"Roman, I told you not to mess with the instructor. He is just a perverted and violent maniac. Will he be beaten badly now?"

Next to the training ground, I saw Roman being beaten with a bruised nose, a swollen face, and bumps all over his head. His front was stained with nosebleeds. He was hung by a rope by his hands and hung from a tree. It was as miserable as it could be.

Nicole was also punished for her poor performance in training and was hung aside. The two of them were like two pieces of bacon.

Roman licked some of his bloody teeth and smiled miserably: "The instructor was too harsh. My front teeth seemed to be loose."

The companion held his forehead and sighed, and said: "The instructor will hang you up for 24 hours. Just bear with it. I will take you to see a doctor when the time comes. I'm leaving first. It's all your fault, kid. The instructor gave us special training at night."

After their companions left, only Nicole and Roman were left here. The two had never interacted with each other before, and now they were hanging face to face. The atmosphere was awkward for a while.

Finally, Nicole asked cautiously: "Why...why do you want to speak for me?"

"Ah? Oh..." Roman came back to his senses and said with a smile, "Because you remind me of someone."

Nicole asked curiously: "Who?"

"My sister." Roman's eyes seemed to be lost in memories, and he said with emotion, "She is exactly the same as you. She didn't like dolls when she was a child. She liked to play sword games. Every time I knocked her down, she refused to admit defeat and stood up again and again.

.So every time I see you trying to be strong, I will think of that little guy."

Nicole smiled knowingly and asked, "Where is she now?"

Roman's expression became a little stiff, and he said bitterly: "She disappeared when I was 10 years old... lost in the market."

After hearing this, Nicole said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't mention your sadness..."

Roman twitched his lips and forced a smile: "Haha, it's okay. It's been more than ten years, and I'm used to it no matter how painful my heart is."

Nicole asked in a low voice: "You have a missing sister...Why did you come to be a royal guard? Shouldn't you be looking for her?"

Roman said quietly: "Of course I have to look for her. I have been looking for her for more than ten years. It's just... the world is so big, and my personal power is too small."

"The reason why I want to become a royal guard is that I hope to gain His Majesty's approval, get better connections and resources, and use the power of the royal family to find her."

"But... so many years have passed, and there has been no news from her. My memory of her is still in my childhood. Maybe I won't recognize her when we meet on the street one day."

Roman twitched his lips and his voice was hoarse: "I even...don't know if she is still alive...Maybe my efforts were in vain from beginning to end..."

"Still alive!" Nicole looked at Roman firmly and said without hesitation, "Definitely, definitely still alive!"

Seeing Nicole like this, Roman couldn't help but smile: "Thank you for your encouragement. You are really similar to my sister. Sometimes when I look at you from a distance, I think - if my sister grows up safely, she must be Nicole." Such."

These words sounded a bit different, and Nicole couldn't help but feel her face getting hot, and she lowered her head in confusion.

Roman also reacted and stammered an explanation: "No, no, I'm not using this topic to tease you... You guys are really similar in personality, appearance, etc..."

Seeing Roman's face flushed, Nicole couldn't help but smile and joked: "Are they all dwarfs?"

Roman put on a serious expression: "What a dwarf, this is called petite and exquisite~"

Nicole was amused, and Roman also laughed. Several companions who had finished their meal happened to pass by in the distance. Seeing this scene, they couldn't help but look at each other. They didn't know what was so funny about being hung on a tree and punished.

"Oh, by the way, I haven't formally introduced myself to you yet." Roman raised his body with both arms, bowed and saluted in a serious manner, and said very gentlemanly, "My name is Roman, can we be friends in the future? ?”

Nicole pursed her lips and smiled sweetly: "Of course, nice to meet you~"
Chapter completed!