—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Clang……!
I leisurely left the room with the sound of the sword falling to the floor behind me.
Step, step.
My heart was pounding, and I felt like I had taken a trip to the afterlife.
Nevertheless, I walked slowly in a straight line.
I desperately gritted my teeth and endured.
If I hadn’t, my legs would have given out long ago.
‘I’m fine……I’m fine!’
The blade had come and gone right in front of my eyes—if I wasn’t scared, would that make me human?
I concentrated with all my might on self-hypnosis.
Fortunately, it seemed to have some effect.
Looking at how the trembling in my fingertips was subsiding.
But I still couldn’t completely let my guard down.
I was worried that Andrew might chase after me from behind.
‘Surely, it wasn’t an incredibly precious sword……right?’
I had already done it, but worry followed.
I thought he might get worked up for no reason and come at me trying to kill me.
So I was keeping my ears perked up toward the back.
Whether footsteps were following behind me or not.
‘W-well, if it really becomes dangerous, Monted will help me. P-probably……’
Breaking out in cold sweat like that, I returned to my room, my only sanctuary.
Fortunately, there was no incident of Andrew chasing after me and going wild.
As soon as I closed the door, I let out a big sigh and stroked my chest.
“Hah……I can’t live because of all this fear. I need to quickly get the unique skill and leave.”
I flopped down on the bed and closed my eyes.
I only thought about wanting to escape from this place quickly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After Rohan disappeared.
The room fell into silence.
Not only the paladins, but Andrew and Monted also hid their expressions as much as possible, but their surprise was all the same.
Andrew blankly looked down at his sword.
And then slowly reviewed the situation from earlier.
‘He didn’t even blink an eye, as if he had completely anticipated that I would stop. He’s not just someone flashy on the outside, but the real……deal?’
Those eyes that had watched him intently without the slightest change in expression, like the appearance of a transcendent being.
They wouldn’t easily fade from his mind.
Although Rohan and his height were similar, those eyes definitely gave him the feeling of a being from high above looking down.
A smile bloomed on Andrew’s lips.
“Wow. This time you really brought someone impressive.”
Andrew’s tone rose as if he found it interesting.
But Monted looked at him and shook his head.
“That was reckless.”
“Well, I had no intention of cutting him. If he’s a master of that level, he would have dodged even if I had really swung, right?”
“No. That’s not what I mean.”
“What?”
“It would have been natural for Sir Andrew’s sword not to reach him.”
Andrew’s pride was slightly wounded.
“Aren’t you looking down too much on the youngest of the seven knights?”
“You may be the youngest in age, but your experience and skill are still the least among the seven knights, aren’t they? As I’ve always told you, you must never let go of humility.”
“Even if it’s true, if it becomes nagging, I might become rebellious.”
“……”
“But there’s a……reason you made such an assessment, right? If it’s Lord Monted, you’re not someone who would just say empty words.”
Andrew’s and the paladins’ gazes all turned to Monted.
Monted paused for a moment and then opened his mouth again.
“I honestly don’t know the depth of Lord Rohan yet either. I’m just thinking that Lord Gauriel must have his reasons.”
“That answer is a bit deflating……”
“However.”
Monted cut off Andrew’s words.
He looked directly into Andrew’s eyes.
“I clearly saw with my own two eyes Lord Rohan cutting Kalarim with that worn-out dagger.”
Everyone was startled by Monted’s words.
Andrew, and Diaz too.
It was because an unexpected name had come up.
The senior paladin also asked back with a surprised expression.
“Did you say Kalarim? That Kalarim?”
Wasn’t Kalarim the high-ranking demon who killed Leanoa, one of the seven knights?
That Leanoa who was called the strongest sword of the knight order……!
Even while asking the question, the senior paladin carefully observed the face of Diaz, who had been Leanoa’s adjutant until recently.
The reason Diaz was so severely wounded.
And the reason Leanoa, who was her lord and friend, died.
The culprit behind it all was Kalarim.
Diaz asked Monted with a hardened expression.
“Is Kalarim……dead?”
“Dead. Completely. It was finished in one strike.”
“I……see.”
Diaz’s expression was very complex.
She seemed both relieved and resentful.
It was understandable.
She would have wanted to kill Kalarim with her own hands.
But she would also be resentful that she didn’t have the power to do so.
Monted’s last words kept echoing in Andrew’s head.
‘One strike. Just one strike. He sent the demon who killed Leanoa in one strike……’
Looking at him like that, Monted said.
“Who do you think could dispatch Kalarim so simply? Even if it wasn’t Sir Andrew, even if another of the seven knights had stepped forward. It would be hard to guarantee.”
“That might be true.”
“So from now on, never act recklessly, Sir Andrew. If he hadn’t been merciful, your neck would have flown instead of that sword.”
“……”
Andrew nodded in acknowledgment.
“True, I didn’t even detect when he cut my sword.”
Because space itself had been cut, Andrew hadn’t felt any sensation through his sword.
So he thought Rohan had swung the dagger at some moment he couldn’t see.
With that worn-out dagger, his sword……
But his face still wore an expression full of competitive spirit.
“I should pester him to spar with me sometime. Hehe.”
Realizing that there were more hidden monsters in the world than he had imagined.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
That day passed quietly without incident.
I tossed and turned in sleep, worried that someone might come looking for me.
Fortunately, such a thing didn’t happen.
And the next day.
At a time when the darkness of dawn had not yet fully lifted, a knocking sound woke me up.
Knock knock knock.
I reflexively sat up.
Like a wild animal.
It was probably because I had been continuously tense.
“Whew……”
After letting out a short sigh, I opened the door.
Monted’s figure was visible beyond the door.
And Diaz too.
Monted was the first to speak.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Not bad.”
“That’s fortunate. Would you like to have a meal?”
“Let’s do that.”
“Then let’s go together.”
So Rohan, Monted, and Diaz began walking slowly through the monastery.
“The monastery’s morning starts a bit early. The meaning is to feel the dawn rising every day, be grateful for God’s blessings, and strive forward.”
I didn’t answer.
I wondered what this was all about so suddenly.
Although I hadn’t observed Monted for long, I knew he wasn’t the type to say many unnecessary things.
It definitely didn’t seem like he was just chattering.
‘How frustrating. What is he trying to say by beating around the bush?’
Indeed, when you’re curious about something……
Asking directly was always the fastest.
I abruptly stopped walking.
Then Monted and Diaz, who were walking ahead, also stopped.
When they turned around, our eyes met.
“What do you want to say?”
At my words, Monted gave a bitter smile.
“Haha……you’ve already noticed?”
“The introduction was long.”
“Please understand. I’m not particularly good with words.”
“So, what do you want to say?”
“I wanted to say……thank you.”
I narrowed my eyes and tilted my head.
“Thank you?”
What thanks all of a sudden?
I hadn’t done anything deserving of thanks.
“About showing mercy yesterday. Even if you had gotten angry, we would have had nothing to say.”
With that much explanation, I understood too.
He was talking about what happened with Andrew yesterday.
It seemed he had judged that I could have easily killed Andrew.
I had tried bluffing with an “oh well, whatever” attitude, and it seemed to have worked properly.
“I got to vent my anger enough too. Let’s consider it never happened.”
“I’ll make sure to warn Sir Andrew so that such a thing never happens again.”
Please, I beg you.
I didn’t want to experience it twice.
I drove the point home clearly.
“If such a thing happens again……I can’t guarantee that either.”
“Of course.”
The misunderstanding stack seemed to have built up better than I had expected.
It could be said to be very satisfactory.
“As mentioned, the appointment ceremony will begin today. And as soon as the appointment ceremony ends, the Stone of Authority will also be delivered.”
“Mm.”
I answered calmly, but inside I was jumping around.
It was finally the moment when a new unique skill would come into my hands.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The appointment ceremony proceeded quite conventionally.
Following Monted, who asked me to just go along with it once, I received the knight appointment according to tradition.
‘Phew. This is damn tiring.’
This was also quite an exhausting affair in its own way.
Matching movements, following formalities……
After a series of appointment ceremonies ended like that.
I officially became a knight who joined the Seven Knights Order.
One of the seven knights that many knights respected endlessly and regarded as an object of admiration.
But my attention was entirely elsewhere.
‘When are they going to give it……exactly when……’
I was more interested in the rewards than the honor of being one of the seven knights.
Whether I was appointed as a knight or not, what mattered was the unique skill.
And.
Finally, the long-awaited Stone of Authority delivery ceremony began.
“His Grace the Bishop is entering.”
At those words, my eyes sparkled.
I had heard this from Monted before the appointment ceremony started.
After the appointment ceremony ended, Bishop Haint would personally bring the Stone of Authority and return.
Bishop Haint, the archbishop of the Straun diocese, appeared wearing different light clothes than during the appointment ceremony.
Barely holding back the corners of my mouth from rising, I stood before him.
The archbishop was holding a small wooden box in his hand.
“Now, to commemorate the birth of a new seven knight. Representing our Straun diocese, we present a small gift to Sir Rohan.”
Applause from the audience filled the monastery.
The archbishop smiled and opened the box before my eyes.
A scene slightly different from what I had expected unfolded before me.
Three gems emitting light revealed themselves from within the box.
“Choose the one you want. That will be God’s will.”
I thought there would be one inside……
‘Now they’re suddenly telling me to draw lots.’
A brief confusion passed through me.
But that was only momentary.
I smiled inwardly.
‘Even better!’
And I reached out without hesitation.
Toward the new unique skill.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
