The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 44: Why Can't I Just Lay Low?

After ten grueling days, the bald man finally ceases his various torments on the boys. On this day, everyone finishes their bath and returns on time, without a single one being late. The bald man doesn't find an excuse to punish them today; instead, he has them line up and wait.
At dawn, he finally speaks, "You can call me Scarface, Archie, Ironbones, or Instructor! Whatever you choose, you must understand one thing. For a long time to come, you will follow my orders."
"It's true that you were bought for a hefty sum, but I don't produce failures. If you don't meet the standards, I'd rather destroy you all than let you tarnish my reputation! So, you'd better behave, complete my training tasks strictly, and you'll not only keep your lives but also get the chance to leave this place."
With that, Scarface Archie sets the boys to running again, interspersed with various physical exercises. By the end of the morning, their hands are trembling as they hold their bowls.
However, today's meals are noticeably better than the past ten days. At least there's meat and vegetables, bread without sand and wood chips, and the soup has been replaced with a hearty meat and bean stew.
Henwell realizes that the obedience training is over. Now begins the formal physical strengthening and mental endurance testing. The previous subpar food is no longer necessary; these boys, in their growth spurts, need ample nutrition. Eating only the previous slop, no amount of training would turn them into effective tools of war.
The plentiful food is a blessing for Henwell. But a few days later, he earns himself a long-forgotten nickname—glutton! The last time he was called that was years ago during his days studying at the house of Sir Kukler.
Here, Henwell marks his ninth birthday.
He doesn't know the exact date, as there's no calendar to refer to here. He just estimates that it falls around these days.
Reflecting on the past two years, what a hellish time it's been! Over a year of war, with several brushes with death.
He thought he'd found a solid backing, only for his reliance on past experience to turn his planned future into nothing but a mirage.
Now, he's been thrown into an assassin training camp, and who knows how much worse things could get from here!
Three months into the physical training, Scarface Archie begins teaching the boys hand-to-hand combat techniques. Henwell continues to perform well, but he's not the top of the class.
In six months, aside from a girl named Michelle, no one else has befriended him. Now that combat training has started, he often finds himself the target of group attacks. Scarface Archie doesn't mind this; in fact, he occasionally pits Henwell against others.
In one-on-one fights, Henwell shows a strength that none of the other boys can intimidate. But in these round-robin battles, he ends up beaten to the point where he can't stand.
Despite this, Henwell displays a fierce courage that makes the other boys wary of him. He knows he has to use this opportunity to intimidate them; otherwise, when weapon training begins, they might still go all out against him.
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Henwell is in a tough spot. It's not just about not wanting to harm them; it's mainly about not wanting to reveal his true strength. Standing out too much can be dangerous. He's learned that lesson before. For now, maintaining a position in the upper ranks is enough. It keeps him from being targeted while still holding value.
Sometimes, you just have to keep your head down and endure!
After each fight, Michelle, the girl, always comes to apply medicine to Henwell's injuries. With Henwell's subtle guidance, she has become the best performer among all the girls, but this has also led to her being more isolated by the others.
After the fight that day, Scarface Archie calls Henwell over.
"Do I have to resort to some methods before you show your true strength? The records left by Flayer Ghost Leom mentioned that you're ruthless and can hold your own against an adult bandit soldier. What you're showing now isn't quite up to that level, is it? What do you think, I'm an idiot? Or are you hiding your strength, planning to escape?"
Clearly, Leom didn't fully believe the bandit leader's claims at the time. He thought the leader was exaggerating to fetch a higher price, claiming Henwell had killed several of his men.
When Henwell had killed a bandit in the cage, Leom realized the boy had potential, but still saw him as just that—a potential. Thus, the records that reached here only noted Henwell's ability to kill an adult bandit, emphasizing his strong will and ruthless nature.
Hearing Scarface Archie's words, Henwell knows what's up. His biggest fear is that someone might trace his actions back to him and uncover the things he's done.
Facing Scarface Archie's questioning, Henwell lowers his head and says, "Instructor, I just want to survive. I don't want to offend too many of my peers; it would make it hard for me to get by."
Scarface Archie scoffs, "Ha! Kid, you haven't been listening to a word I've taught you! Seems like you're not as ruthless as your introduction claimed! Only sheep worry about their companions' feelings. Wolves and lions don't! It's survival of the fittest. If you're worried about being ostracized and struggling to survive, it just means you're not strong enough!"
Damn, do I need you to teach me that? Of course, I understand this principle. I'm not worried about those boys affecting my survival; it's you guys I'm worried about!
Seeing Henwell remain silent, Scarface Archie points to a nearby guard and commands, "Go! Kill him!"
Before Henwell can make a move, the guard reaches for Henwell's neck. Henwell swiftly dodges, sidestepping and ramming his shoulder into the guard's ribs.
The guard, knocked back, immediately kicks towards Henwell's neck. Henwell blocks with his arm, the force causing him to slide sideways. The guard's left foot then aims for Henwell's head. As Henwell raises his right arm to protect his head, the guard retracts his foot and throws a right punch.
Henwell's left hand deftly catches the guard's fist, pulling it towards himself to neutralize the force, while his right fist pounds solidly into the guard's chest. Henwell steps forward, elbows bent, and strikes the guard's chest again.
After two hits, the guard leans back, but his right fist remains in Henwell's left hand. Henwell kicks the guard's shin, steps back, and yanks the guard's right arm. As the guard's body straightens and floats parallel to the ground, Henwell's right knee crashes into the guard's face.
With a twist, Henwell nimbly jumps behind the guard, kneeling on his back as he lands. Henwell presses the guard's head firmly onto the ground with his left hand, while his right hand claws at the guard's spine. Just as Henwell is about to exert force to dislocate the guard's spine, a small stone flies over, striking Henwell's wrist.
"Enough! He's a worthless piece, but he's still the boss's property. Can't let him die so wastefully!"
Henwell pretends to clutch his wrist, stepping back a few paces.
Seeing Scarface Archie's approving gaze and the boys' terrified expressions, Henwell sighs inwardly.
Why can't he just lay low? In novels, protagonists manage to stay unnoticed for ages. Why do I always encounter these high-intelligence NPCs?