Chapter 9 — Training the Prince
Dawn broke over the palace courtyard. Min-jun stood waiting, his breath visible in the cool morning air. The training ground stretched before him like a small battlefield. Practice dummies lined one side, their straw bodies scarred from countless sword strikes. Weapon racks held an array of training swords, spears, and shields. Everything was perfectly maintained, polished, and organized.
He checked the System clock floating in his vision. Five minutes past the agreed time.
"He's not coming," Min-jun muttered to himself. Part of him wasn't surprised. Princes probably didn't wake up early for anything, let alone training with someone they saw as beneath them.
The morning air was crisp and clean. Birds chirped from the palace gardens beyond the stone walls. Servants moved quietly through distant corridors, beginning their daily duties. The peace of the moment reminded Min-jun why he'd fallen in love with this world in the game. Everything felt so real now. The smell of morning dew. The weight of the practice sword at his hip. The sound of his own breathing.
But peace could be broken easily. He'd learned that lesson in his gaming days. The strongest guilds were the ones that trained even during quiet times.
Footsteps echoed across the stone courtyard. Min-jun turned to see Prince Roderick approaching. The prince walked slowly, like every step was a burden. He was still dressed in silk robes instead of proper training clothes. His dark hair was messy and his eyes looked heavy with sleep. A few servants trailed behind him at a respectful distance.
"You're late," Min-jun said simply.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Roderick snapped. His voice carried across the empty courtyard. "Let's get this ridiculous show over with. I have important matters to attend to later."
Min-jun studied the prince carefully. No respect in his voice. No real desire to learn. His posture screamed boredom and superiority. This would be harder than fighting a dozen bandits.
"Important matters?" Min-jun asked. "Like what?"
"Not that it's your concern, but I have meetings with the treasury officials. Father wants me to understand palace finances." Roderick's tone suggested he found the idea as appealing as eating dirt.
"Leadership isn't just about fighting," Min-jun agreed. "But fighting skills can save your life when leadership fails."
"When would I ever need to fight?" Roderick waved his hand dismissively. "This kingdom is peaceful. We have guards. We have armies. Princes don't swing swords anymore."
Min-jun thought about the awakening ruins in the Whispering Mountains. About the hints of unrest King Aldwin had mentioned. About the Administrator Functions that could reshape reality itself. The prince lived in a bubble of safety that could burst at any moment.
"First lesson," Min-jun said aloud. "Combat isn't about fancy moves or showing off. It's about staying alive when everything else fails."
"I know how to fight," Roderick said with a scoff. He walked to the weapon rack and selected a practice sword. The blade was well-balanced, designed for training but still capable of causing pain if misused. Roderick held it like he'd seen knights do, but his grip was wrong. His stance was theatrical rather than functional.
He swung the sword through the air in what looked like a dramatic flourish from a stage play. The movement had no power behind it, no real intent. It was all for show.
"I've had the best teachers in the kingdom," Roderick continued. "Master Gareth trained me personally. He served in three wars."
"Then show me what he taught you," Min-jun said.
Min-jun picked up his own practice sword from the rack. The weapon felt light in his hands, almost weightless thanks to his enhanced strength stats. He'd started this world with all skills unlocked, including expert-level swordsmanship. But he didn't need superhuman abilities to handle an untrained prince.
He took a basic stance and waited. Feet shoulder-width apart. Sword held ready but not threatening. Eyes focused on Roderick's center mass, not the weapon. This was Combat 101 from any decent game or training manual.
Roderick saw the stance and seemed to take it as an insult. His face flushed slightly.
"You're mocking me," he said.
"I'm ready for your attack," Min-jun replied calmly. "Show me what Master Gareth taught you."
The prince's grip tightened on his sword. Without warning, he charged forward with a wild overhead swing. The attack had power behind it but no control. No setup. No consideration for what might happen after the first strike.
Min-jun stepped to the side like he was dodging a falling tree branch. Roderick's sword whistled through empty air. While the prince was off-balance from his missed swing, Min-jun gently tapped Roderick's shoulder with the flat of his blade.
"Dead," Min-jun said matter-of-factly.
Roderick spun around, his face now bright red with anger and embarrassment. "That doesn't count! I wasn't ready! You moved before I could react!"
"Enemies won't wait for you to be ready," Min-jun said. "They won't announce their attacks or give you time to prepare. Combat is chaos. Training teaches you to find order in that chaos."
"That's not how Master Gareth trained me," Roderick protested. "We always started in proper position. We announced our techniques. We followed forms."
"And that's fine for learning," Min-jun said. "But real fighting is different. Try again."
Roderick reset his position, his grip even tighter now. This time he tried something he'd probably seen in storybooks or theater performances. A spinning attack with a flourish that looked impressive but left him completely open.
Min-jun didn't even need to dodge. He simply stepped forward and swept Roderick's legs while the prince was mid-spin. The prince hit the stone ground hard, his sword clattering away.
"Dead again," Min-jun said, extending his hand to help Roderick up.
The prince slapped Min-jun's hand away and struggled to his feet alone. His silk robes were now dirty and torn at the knee. His carefully styled hair was a mess.
"You're cheating somehow," Roderick accused, pointing his finger at Min-jun. "Using magic or some kind of tricks. No one is that fast."
Min-jun sighed. The System had warned him this quest wouldn't be easy. But he was beginning to understand the real challenge. Roderick's pride was like armor around his mind. Every failure just made him more defensive instead of more willing to learn.
"No magic," Min-jun said patiently. "No tricks. Just basic sword work. Watch carefully."
Min-jun moved through a simple sword form. Each movement flowed into the next. Each step had purpose. Each cut or thrust was clean and economical. No wasted energy. No flashy spins or unnecessary flourishes. Just efficient, deadly technique.
The form lasted about thirty seconds. When he finished, Roderick was watching with a mix of annoyance and grudging interest.
"That looks boring," Roderick said finally.
"Boring keeps you alive," Min-jun replied. "Flashy gets you killed. Every fancy move you try is an opening for your enemy. Every spin is a moment where you can't see what's coming. Every flourish is energy that could be used for defense."
"But that's not how heroes fight in the stories," Roderick protested. "They use amazing techniques. They defeat entire armies with legendary skills."
Min-jun paused. This was getting to the heart of the problem. Roderick had grown up on stories and legends. He thought combat was supposed to be glorious and dramatic.
"Stories aren't real," Min-jun said gently. "Heroes in stories don't feel pain when they get hit. They don't get tired. They don't die when they make mistakes. Real combat is ugly and quick and brutal. The goal is to go home alive, not to look impressive."
"Then why should I learn at all?" Roderick asked. "If I'm never going to be a story hero, what's the point?"
Min-jun saw a crack in the prince's armor. Not pride this time, but genuine confusion. Maybe even disappointment.
"Because protecting people you care about is worth more than any story," Min-jun said. "When danger comes to this kingdom, will you hide behind guards? Or will you stand with them?"
Roderick went quiet for a long moment. He picked up his practice sword and held it properly this time, copying Min-jun's grip.
"Show me the boring way," he said.
They spent the next hour on basic footwork. Min-jun demonstrated simple steps and stances. Forward. Back. Side to side. How to maintain balance while moving. How to keep your guard up while changing position.
Roderick complained constantly at first.
"This is just dancing," he said after the fifteenth repetition of a basic advance.
"Dancing with intent," Min-jun corrected. "Every step puts you in a better position to attack or defend. Every movement has meaning."
"When do we get to the real techniques?" Roderick asked for what felt like the hundredth time.
"When you master these," Min-jun said. "A house built on a weak foundation will collapse. These basics are your foundation."
The prince's form was sloppy but gradually improving. He kept trying to add unnecessary flourishes to simple movements, but Min-jun corrected him each time.
"Just the step," Min-jun would say. "Nothing else. Simple. Clean."
They moved on to basic guard positions. How to hold the sword to protect different areas of the body. High guard for overhead attacks. Low guard for leg strikes. Center guard for versatility.
"This is exhausting," Roderick panted. Sweat was beginning to show on his forehead despite the cool morning air.
"Combat is exhausting," Min-jun agreed. "That's why conditioning matters. That's why practice matters. In a real fight, the person who gets tired first usually dies."
"Dies?" Roderick seemed startled by the word. "I thought this was about winning and losing."
Min-jun stopped the lesson and looked directly at the prince. This was important.
"Combat isn't a game," he said seriously. "It's not a tournament with rules and judges. When someone attacks you with intent to harm, they want to hurt you. Possibly kill you. You need to understand that reality if you want to survive."
Roderick's face went pale. Maybe he was finally grasping what real violence meant.
"Has anyone ever tried to kill you?" the prince asked quietly.
Min-jun thought about the bandits in the forest. About the moment when steel met steel and lives hung in the balance. The fear in his chest. The surge of adrenaline. The knowledge that one mistake could end everything.
"Yes," he said simply.
They worked on basic blocks next. How to intercept an incoming attack without taking the full force. How to deflect rather than stop. How to turn a defense into a counterattack.
Roderick's form improved when he stopped trying to show off. His blocks became more solid. His footwork more stable. Min-jun felt a small spark of hope.
"Better," Min-jun said after Roderick properly blocked one of his slow attacks. "Do it again. Same technique."
A genuine smile flickered across Roderick's face. Probably the first real praise he'd received in combat training. Most of his tutors likely told him he was wonderful regardless of his actual performance.
"Like this?" Roderick repeated the block, his form almost perfect this time.
"Exactly like that," Min-jun confirmed. "Now we build on it."
They practiced combinations next. Block and counter. Step and strike. Simple two-move sequences that could save a life in real combat.
Roderick was breathing heavily now, his silk robes soaked with sweat. But his eyes showed focus that hadn't been there before. He was actually trying to learn instead of just going through the motions.
"Why aren't you tired?" Roderick asked during a brief rest.
Min-jun considered how to answer. His enhanced stamina and strength made this level of training feel easy. But the prince didn't need to know about System bonuses.
"Practice," Min-jun said. "The more you train, the less effort basic techniques require. Eventually, these movements become as natural as walking."
"How long did it take you to reach your level?" Roderick asked.
Another difficult question. Min-jun's skills had been granted instantly by the System. But in the game, he'd spent countless hours perfecting combat techniques.
"Years," he said, which was true in a way. "And I'm still learning. Every fight teaches something new."
The morning session was nearly over. Min-jun decided to end with a simple sparring match. Slow speed, basic techniques only. A chance for Roderick to try his new skills in a semi-realistic situation.
"Remember," Min-jun said as they faced each other. "Keep your guard up. Move your feet. Simple techniques only."
Roderick nodded and raised his sword. His stance was much better now, though still imperfect. When Min-jun made a slow attack toward his left side, Roderick managed to block it properly. When Min-jun stepped back, Roderick followed with a basic thrust that was actually aimed correctly.
"Good," Min-jun said, deflecting the thrust easily. "Now try a combination. Block and counter like we practiced."
The sparring continued for several minutes. Roderick made mistakes, but he also showed real improvement. His movements were more controlled. His attacks had better timing. He was starting to think during combat instead of just reacting.
Finally, Min-jun called an end to the session. Roderick was exhausted, his clothes completely soaked with sweat. But he was still standing, still holding his sword properly.
"Same time tomorrow," Min-jun said, wiping down his practice sword with a cloth.
Roderick nodded automatically, then seemed to catch himself. "I suppose I can spare the time," he said, trying to sound bored and superior again.
But Min-jun saw the eagerness in the prince's eyes. The way he lingered instead of immediately leaving. The way he looked at his sword with something like respect instead of dismissal.
Maybe this quest wasn't impossible after all.
As Roderick finally left the courtyard, followed by his patient servants, Princess Seraphina appeared at the entrance. She'd been watching from the shadows, Min-jun realized. Probably for the entire session.
"How did it go?" she asked, approaching across the stone ground.
"Day one," Min-jun said, placing his sword back on the weapon rack. "Six more to go."
"He looked like he was actually trying by the end," Seraphina observed. "That's more than most of his tutors achieve."
Min-jun turned to study the princess. She was dressed in simple court clothes, but her posture and the way she moved suggested her own combat training. Not surprising for a future ruler.
"Do you train here too?" he asked.
Seraphina smiled. "Every morning, usually. I wanted to give you space today. Father believes princesses should know how to defend themselves and their kingdom."
"Smart policy," Min-jun said. "What does he think about princes learning the same skills?"
"That's... more complicated," Seraphina said carefully. "Roderick is Father's only male heir. He's precious. Protected. Maybe too protected."
She walked to the weapon rack and selected a practice sword, testing its weight and balance with practiced ease.
"He's not as bad as he seems," she continued. "He just... he's always had everything handed to him. Father wanted another heir after me, but Mother had trouble with pregnancies. Roderick came late in life, when they'd given up hope. He's been spoiled since birth."
Min-jun watched as Seraphina moved through a quick sword form. Her technique was excellent, clearly the result of years of proper training. Much better than her brother's theatrical nonsense.
"Everyone can learn," Min-jun said. "If they want to."
"And if he doesn't want to?" Seraphina asked, completing her form and lowering her sword.
Min-jun looked at the practice area where Roderick had fallen twice and gotten back up. Where he'd stopped showing off and started learning. Where his pride had cracked just enough to let knowledge seep in.
"Then we find out what he really cares about," Min-jun said. "Everyone has something they'd fight to protect. Even spoiled princes."
The System chimed softly in his mind, a sound only he could hear.
Quest Update: "Humble the Arrogant Prince"
Day 1 Complete. Prince shows notable improvement in basic techniques.
Observed genuine effort in final sparring session.
Progress: 1/7 days
Hint: Pride is a wall. Find the door. The door may be closer than you think.
Min-jun smiled slightly. The System seemed pleased with the day's progress. That was encouraging.
"What are you smiling about?" Seraphina asked.
"Just thinking about tomorrow's lesson," Min-jun said. "I think your brother might surprise us both."
As they left the courtyard together, Min-jun was already planning the next day's training. Today had been about breaking down Roderick's assumptions and building basic skills. Tomorrow would be about building on that foundation.
But first, he had his own training to consider. The ruins in the Whispering Mountains were still awakening. Whatever ancient powers lay sleeping there would require more than basic sword work to handle.
The real test was coming. For all of them.