Chapter 3 - The Villain’s Training Begins
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The moment the ceremony ended, my parents immediately arranged a training session for me.
Not tomorrow.
Not next week.
Immediately.
"Since my son has tamed such a powerful beast," Father said with a satisfied grin, "he must prove himself in battle!"
Which was just his way of saying: "Time to throw you into a death match, good luck!"
I stood in the underground training grounds of the Valtara estate, staring at my opponent.
It was a fully grown Direwolf, its eyes glowing red with bloodlust. A beast that had devoured dozens of men in its lifetime.
I was expected to defeat it.
...With a baby rhino.
"Alright, Ironhorn," I muttered. "Think we can do this?"
The little guy snorted. "Tch. Just watch me."
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The fight began instantly.
The Direwolf lunged with terrifying speed—
But Ironhorn didn't move.
Instead, he stood his ground, lowering his head slightly.
I could see it in his stance—he wasn't afraid.
He was confident.
A flash of silver—claws sliced through the air toward Ironhorn's neck—
CLANG!
...Huh?
Instead of flesh being torn, the wolf's claws just... bounced off.
No damage?
Ironhorn yawned.
"Impossible!" one of the elders gasped. "That Direwolf's claws can pierce through armor!"
I checked Ironhorn's abilities again.
— [Titanhide Armor: Skin stronger than dragon scales]
Oh.
Ohhh.
This little guy is a walking tank!
"Alright then," I grinned. "Ironhorn—counterattack!"
BOOOOM!
With a sudden burst of speed, Ironhorn charged forward.
The Direwolf barely had time to react.
One second it was standing—
The next, it was flying across the training grounds, slamming into the wall.
A cloud of dust exploded from the impact.
Silence.
Then—
"HAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
My father let out a thunderous laugh.
"THAT'S MY SON!!"
The other nobles gasped in disbelief.
"That rhino... no, that beast is a monster!"
"Such raw power at this young age?! Impossible!"
Meanwhile, Celestia...
She was clapping her hands excitedly like a schoolgirl.
"Kyaa~! Leonhardt is so strong~!"
I felt my face heat up from embarrassment.
Wasn't she supposed to be the Number One Villain?
Why was she acting like my number one fangirl instead?!
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That night, I sat in my room, thinking.
Ironhorn wasn't just strong—he was absurdly overpowered.
And this was only his baby form.
Meaning...
If I trained him properly, he could evolve into something even more terrifying.
That was when I made a decision.
"Ironhorn," I said.
"Hnn?"
"Starting tomorrow, we're training."
He tilted his head. "What for?"
I smirked.
"Because I don't just want to survive."
I wanted to become unstoppable.