LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 129: Chief Instructor Alan!
"Forget it, kid. Talking to you is like trying to reason with a brick wall," Kro sighed, shaking his head with a mix of frustration and amusement. Alan was always like this, stubborn, sharp-tongued, and often misunderstood. For those who didn't know him well, he could seem insufferable. But deep down, Alan had a good heart, and Kro knew that better than anyone.
"Are you really sure about this?" Kro asked, his voice laced with concern.
Alan's response was firm, unwavering. "Yes, I'm sure."
Kro sighed again, a trace of worry clouding his eyes. "The Chief is testing you, Alan, and the entire Wolf Cavalry at the same time. If you lose, all that bravado of yours will just be empty talk. But if you win, it makes the whole cavalry look like a bunch of amateurs."
Kro's tone softened. "Neither outcome is particularly great, but for what it's worth, I hope you win. And not just win, I hope you do it in a way that makes those wolf riders learn a lesson. They could use a humbling defeat."
He paused, looking at Alan with a conflicted expression. It was clear that despite his tough words, Alan held a special place in Kro's heart. "Yes, I'm sure," Alan repeated, his voice calm and resolute.
Bagen, who had been listening in, couldn't hold back his laughter. Kro's face darkened. "Are you sure?" Kro muttered under his breath. "Does that mean you're confident enough to decide whether they lose gracefully or get thoroughly embarrassed? Arguing with you is like debating with a wall."
Not wanting to waste more time sparring words with Alan, Kro urged his wolf forward, following after Logan, the Chief.
As Logan neared, over 500 pairs of eyes from the wolf cavalry soldiers locked onto him. The Chief's presence was magnetic, commanding respect without effort.
"I'm Logan. How's the training been?" Logan's voice boomed across the assembly, reaching the ears of every soldier present.
"Not tired at all, Chief!" came the enthusiastic responses, overlapping in a chaotic chorus.
"Welcome, Chief!"
"Good to see you, Chief!"
A few Wolf Beastmen soldiers threw in some playful jabs, drawing chuckles from their comrades. Logan surveyed them all with a keen eye, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"Not tired, huh? How's the training going? Still having trouble riding those wolves without toppling over?" His eyes sparkled as he teased them, his gaze sweeping across the assembled troops.
"Ha, no way! We're pros now!"
"He's talking about you, Rat!"
"Shut it! The Chief wasn't even looking this way!" One of the Wolf Beastmen snarled, gripping his reins defensively. Laughter erupted all around them as the soldiers reveled in the light-hearted banter.
Even Logan couldn't help but laugh along. But as he raised his hand, signaling for silence, the laughter quickly died down. Discipline returned in an instant, something the wolf cavalry was known for.
"I just had a chat with your captain, Allen," Logan Begon, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "He's confident, almost too confident. He claims he could take on fifty of you rookies single-handedly without even breaking a sweat." The statement hung in the air like a challenge, the soldiers exchanging uneasy glances.
The stage was set, and whether they knew it or not, both sides were about to be tested in more ways than one.
Kro and Bagan exchanged puzzled glances, clearly taken aback by what they were hearing. Even Alan, who had maintained his usual calm demeanor, felt a wave of confusion wash over him. Wait, when did he ever say that? He didn't remember making such a boastful claim.
Logan, picking up on their reactions, smirked and turned to Alan. "I should call you arrogant, Alan, but I don't really know the full picture of your training, so I'm holding back my judgment. But tell me, do you think the Chief Instructor's got it right? Are you all just a bunch of rookies?"
His voice echoed across the field, challenging not just Alan but all 500 wolf cavalry soldiers. The tension was palpable as the soldiers exchanged uneasy glances and murmured among themselves.
"We're not rookies!" one of the soldiers finally shouted, breaking the silence.
Another chimed in, "Chief Instructor Alan may be incredible with his cavalry skills, but I refuse to believe fifty of us couldn't take him down!"
A voice from the crowd added boldly, "Honestly, it wouldn't even take fifty! Five of us could give him a run for his money! Right, brothers?"
A chorus of agreement rippled through the ranks. "Yeah, Captain Rem's right. We're not pushovers! Chief Instructor Alan's way too full of himself."
"I mean, come on; its fifty people? He'd be lucky to hold off just five!"
"Damn it, did he actually call us rookies? That's some nerve!"
Among the shouts and grumbles, one soldier muttered, "Actually, I kind of see where the Chief Instructor's coming from… there *are* a few noobs among us."
"I'm not one of them!" another soldier quickly retorted.
"Neither am I!" echoed another voice, the irritation spreading like wildfire.
The whole cavalry was abuzz with indignation. The title of "rookie" was a slap in the face, and the soldiers were clearly stung by it.
Alan, standing amidst the sea of frustration, couldn't help but feel bewildered. A giant metaphorical question mark might as well have been floating above his head. He hadn't uttered a word of what Logan claimed, yet now here he was, seemingly the villain in the soldiers' eyes. But with Logan involved, Alan knew better than to argue.
The Chief wasn't one for subtlety, but he wasn't stupid enough to make a scene in front of everyone either.
Sensing the brewing dissatisfaction, Logan stepped forward and addressed the soldiers directly. "So, you're all worked up about this, huh?" he asked, his eyes sweeping across the angry faces staring back at him. "It looks like none of you are willing to be labeled as rookies."
The soldiers remained silent, but their expressions said it all, they were far from satisfied.
"Alright then," Logan said, a sly grin creeping onto his face. "Let's put that confidence to the test. We'll make it interesting, a little game. I'll randomly pick fifty of you, and you'll face off against Chief Instructor Alan in a one-on-one duel."
The soldiers leaned in, eager to hear more.
"The rules are simple," Logan continued. "Each of you gets ten arrows, and so does Alan. You'll be riding and shooting at each other. Whoever Alan hits is out, and if one of you manages to hit him, then you win. Easy enough, right?" Logan finished with a smile that hinted at mischief.
The soldiers murmured in anticipation, some eager to prove themselves, others secretly hoping they wouldn't be chosen.
"Of course," Logan added with a chuckle, "we'll be removing the arrowheads, so nobody gets hurt. This is about skill, not bloodshed."
With that, the challenge was laid out, and the stage was set for a battle of pride, precision, and a bit of friendly humiliation. The soldiers could hardly wait to see who would rise to the occasion, and who would fall.
As soon as Logan laid down the challenge, a murmur rippled through the ranks of the more than 500 wolf cavalry soldiers. Excitement buzzed in the air as eager eyes darted around, searching for the first brave soul willing to step up.
The tension was electric, many of the Wolf Beastmen soldiers itched for a chance to prove themselves, yet they were uncertain of just how formidable Chief Instructor Allen really was. After all, how often did they get to test their skills against him directly?
"Who's ready to step up? I need fifty volunteers!" Logan's booming voice cut through the chatter, his command like a battle cry that sent pulses racing. "Don't just talk about it, show me what you've got!"
The challenge had barely left his lips when a wolf rider nudged his mount forward, the determined gleam in his eyes leaving no doubt that he was ready to throw down.
"I'll take him on!" the soldier barked, his voice carrying both bravado and a hint of nervous energy.
Logan squinted at the soldier, recognition flashing across his face as he broke into a grin. "You're Rem, aren't you?"
For a second, Rem was caught off guard. He hadn't expected the Chief to know him by name. His eyes widened in surprise before he quickly dismounted, dropping to one knee in a show of respect. "Rem greets the Chieftain!" His voice carried a mix of awe and excitement. It wasn't every day that someone of his rank got noticed by the Chief himself.
Logan chuckled, nodding in approval. "Good, you've got some guts, Rem. I like that."
The crowd of soldiers perked up, intrigued by the exchange. They had all seen Rem before, a skilled rider but not someone typically in the spotlight. Yet here he was, catching the Chief's attention with his boldness.
Encouraged by the Chief's praise, Rem couldn't help but push his luck. "Chieftain," he ventured, his voice laced with a daring edge, "if we manage to defeat Chief Instructor Allen, can we expect a reward?"
A ripple of surprise ran through the crowd. Had Rem really just asked the Chief for a reward? That took nerve and everyone knew it. The soldiers leaned in, waiting to see how Logan would respond.
Logan's grin only widened as he stared at Rem, amused by the Wolf Beastmen's audacity. "You want a reward, huh? Bold request." There was no anger in his voice, only amusement, and perhaps even a hint of admiration. "Tell you what, if you and the other forty-nine manage to take down Allen, I'll treat you all to a feast. You'll get to eat meat until you can't stuff another bite in."
The mention of a meat feast sent a surge of excitement through the ranks. For a moment, the soldiers could almost taste the sizzling, savory cuts of meat, and their mouths watered at the thought.
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"It's a deal, Chieftain!" Rem laughed heartily, his voice brimming with confidence. Spinning around, he roared at his comrades, "Hear that, rookies? We've got meat on the line! What are you waiting for?"
The energy in the crowd surged as soldiers Begon shouting their eagerness to join in.
"I'm in! There's no way we're letting this chance slip by!"
"Meat for days? Count me in, let's show Chief Instructor Allen what we're made of!"
"Fifty of us against one? We've got this in the bag!"
The soldiers rallied around Rem, drawn by the promise of both glory and a feast. Within moments, the fifty volunteers were gathered, each one fired up by the thought of outmatching the Chief Instructor and earning their reward.
But as the group assembled, Rem couldn't help but glance at Allen with a mix of determination and unease. He knew his own skill level, there was no denying that Chief Instructor Allen was on a different tier. Yet, with fifty warriors united and the incentive of endless meat, Rem believed they stood a fighting chance.
The stage was set. Under the lure of Logan's offer and Rem's rallying call, the Wolf Beastmen soldiers were ready to prove they were no mere rookies. Whether they'd rise to the challenge or crumble against Allen's might was yet to be seen, but one thing was certain, the battle was about to get interesting.