Semir returned with the first batch of spoils and the gifts Baron Kermoyer had sent.
Although Kroya had paid little attention to matters on their end, he knew the apprentices had clearly done an excellent job, helping Baron Kermoyer secure considerable gains.
In this supernatural world, where immense power rested with individuals, the number of mages and knights under one's command was essentially the sole measure of strength.
Unfortunately.
Although Viscount Bernal was a viscount, the supernatural forces at his disposal were nowhere near as capable in combat or other duties as Kroya's apprentices.
His approach to training those knights mostly amounted to keeping them well fed and comfortably provided for-which was also how the vast majority of lords operated.
Supernatural individuals were inherently a cut above everyone else. Even when training and exercising, they rarely took it very seriously or showed much discipline.
Many knights chose to enter the service of a minor noble after advancing to level one, gaining power and status in return.
Under the corrosive influence of those two things, how much strength they retained was questionable, let alone the fact that most supernatural individuals also wanted to sire plenty of descendants.
The energy that consumed... really could drain their bodies dry.
In that respect, Kroya, who held absolute authority, was far stronger than him. If Kroya wanted something, the Mage Apprentices and Knight Apprentices under him could only obey.
No matter how grueling the training regimen, they had to see it through.
Over time, both their abilities and their willpower far surpassed those of the viscount's supernatural retainers.
Especially... since they also had Semir, who was practically a cheat unto himself.
During a duel, he had even displayed astonishing prowess and cut a Level Two knight down from his horse. And he was only a