The pressure test!

"Pressure?"

Ashoka frowned.

'I thought he would test my stamina and willpower.'

Considering the training that Alberad had been instructing them on so far, he should've tested his stamina and willpower, and yet he chose pressure.

"Pressure?"

"Is he really testing pressure on the children…?"

"He really is going too far."

The parents spoke up, as they didn't expect the content of the test either.

"I'm the instructor, so please be silent."

Alberad snorted and waved his hand.

"Pressure is an integral aspect of a warrior. I'm evaluating such an important ability, so why are you complaining so much?"

He wasn't wrong.

The pressure was the harmony between the spirit and expertise of a warrior. A powerful force could often make the enemies lose their will to fight, without actually fighting.

"It hasn't been long since the children learned aura. Testing pressure is unreasonable."

"And some children didn't even learn aura."

"The test is completely unfair!"

"I knew you weren't aware of it. Pressure isn't just a manifestation of aura."

Alberad swung his long finger left and right.

"True pressure is the combination of a warrior's achievements. It's a warrior's testimony, which can be manifested without an aura."

A chill and rusty wind surrounded the training ground alongside his firm voice.

'This is…'

Ashoka narrowed his eyes. Alberad had just expanded his pressure without using aura as if he were proving what he was saying.

"If you still want to complain, then the emperor is here in person to listen to you."

Alberad turned around. Smirking, as if he had never been serious.

"Your majesty, is a warrior's pressure created from aura?"

'Hah.'

Ashoka huffed. Alberad was really an unexpected man, or elf? for him to suddenly involve the Emperor.

"He's not wrong. Even those who never learned aura end up developing pressure, depending on how they've been living."

"Wow! As expected of your majesty!"

Alberad turned around and clapped his hands.

"Hmm…"

"Damn."

"If my lord says so…"

Since Bindusara himself had said it, nobody could question it any longer.

{That pointy-eared bastard just said something to my liking for the first time ever. Pressures created from something like mana, demonic energy or aura are all fake. A pressure stemming from the achievements of the soul is the only real one.}

Draco nodded in agreement.

{It reminds me of the past. Back in the days, When insignificant dragons started to run rampant, this monarch used mighty pressure to make those fakes surrender… ugh!}

Since it looked like he was going to keep talking, Ashoka tapped his ring.

"For the past six months, thanks to my detailed training, the children kept surpassing their limits…"

"Stop lying. Marquis Tharanatha Nanda, the lord of the Ujjain province—stood up while glaring at him.

"There are many witnesses of your lying down and napping during the regular training sessions. Did you even train them properly?"

"I've heard about it as well, that he'd only show up without giving them any attention."

"I heard he'd always sleep and let the children train on their own!"

"Oh, you are well aware."

Alberad didn't panic. He nodded instead, complimenting their intelligence capabilities.

"That's also part of my training."

"How was that training?"

"Which one do you think will result in more achievement? Doing their best on their own accord? Or doing their best following someone else's instruction?"

"It's obviously the former."

"That's correct. What I wanted from the children was that willpower. Stamina and skills can be taught, but improving willpower is difficult. I wanted to select the children with the best willpower and train them."

Alberad's voice was the same as always, but his words were filled with wisdom.

"The children who surpassed their limits on their own managed to develop their own expertise, which will help them tremendously in the future."

The others couldn't protest his confident voice anymore.

Their eyes shone with the expectation of their children's growth as they followed such training.

"Since everyone understands, let's start the test…"

"I'm going to ask one last question."

Marquis Tharanatha Nanda didn't withdraw. His eyes were still filled with distrust.

"Despite having received the same training, the expertise of the children are on different levels. How are you planning to evaluate that?"

"I'm going to check how much they have grown compared to their temperament at the beginning of the training. And the temporary trainee that has grown the most will be the first place."

"Does 'beginning' mean six months ago? Are you implying that you remember the temperaments of all one hundred sixty children?"

"I'd have to quit being an instructor if I couldn't even remember that."

Alberad grinned, and Marquis Tharanatha Nanda's expression stiffened even more.

"Well, now that every troublemaker—I mean, every parent is convinced, let's begin. Tishya, stand in front of me. The rest of you stay back."

Tish nodded lightly and stood in front of Alberad, while the other children stepped away.

"Tishya Raksha. The pressure I'll be emitting is on the level that you can withstand if you've been doing your best."

Smiling lightly, Alberad continued.

"You pass if you touch me through my pressure."

"Understood."

Tish quietly responded and nodded.

"Then, I'm starting."

Alberad closed his eyes, then opened them. As a green light sparked from his eyes, a powerful pressure emerged.

Rumble!

The oppressive pressure that suddenly emerged crushed Tish's composure.

"Ugh!"

Biting her lip, she curled up like a shrimp.

"You fail if you use aura. Use the willpower that you've been using to withstand your training until now."

"Huff!"

Getting rid of the aura she was about to use, she stepped forward. Cold sweat rained down her forehead, but she took step after step while enduring it until the end.

Tap.

Slowly but precisely, Tish extended her hand and grabbed Alberad's sleeve.

"You easily passed. I can see that you have been doing your best."

Alberad grinned and patted Tish's head.

"Haah!"

Exhaling violently, Tish stepped to the side.

Alberad waited for a movement before calling the next kid.

"Next is Jean Paul."

---***---