Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Entering the Knight Academy
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"Wow....!"
The imperial capital of the Bazran Empire, which held its own even compared to the metropolises of the 21st century.
After filling my belly with delicious food at a pleasant inn, I asked for directions and headed to the Knight Academy where the Sky Knight entrance exam was being held.
'Yeah, if it's a city, it has to be at least this impressive.'
A massive city without the ugly, haphazard skyscrapers sprouting up like weeds.
Stone buildings no taller than five stories at most.
Various sculptures in the style of Rodin—pieces that would rake in a fortune if placed in the 21st century—adorned the exteriors of the buildings.
'The city is clean, the air is fresh.... Man, this is tempting.'
The imperial capital of the Bazran Empire, a place I wanted to own at least one of.
The faces of the people passing by were mostly bright, and the streets were spotless, as if a cleaning cart had just gone through.
Dozens of majestic soldiers patrolling in formation testified to the perfect public order.
'It must be the power of magic.'
Being a big city doesn't just mean having a large size.
From perfect sewage treatment facilities to the flawless supply of essentials like water.
Thinking about city-related magic naturally brought to mind purification spells and various others.
'Just what did Master stuff into my head?'
My Master's unpredictable, eccentric behavior was beyond comprehension.
All the knowledge filling my mind was undoubtedly his handiwork.
'No side effects, right?'
My Master, who shamelessly used Chinese products in magic circles.
The knowledge in my head seemed manageable, but I kept imagining myself collapsing while casting spells.
'Is this the start of the imperial palace grounds?'
The site of the Sky Knight entrance exam was located within the massive inner citadel inside the outer walls.
I'd heard that even this inner citadel was further divided, with the true imperial palace where the emperor resided separate.
'It's bigger than any fortress in the territories I've passed through.'
Classified as an inner citadel, the enormous fortress before my eyes was a castle in its own right.
'Intimidating.'
It seemed the rumors were true: tens of thousands of soldiers defended the palace, with over a hundred thousand elite troops in the surrounding fortresses.
Hundreds—no, thousands—of soldiers in spotless black breastplates and helmets stood rigidly atop the inner citadel walls like mannequins on guard duty.
Their mere presence exuded the emperor's authority.
The red cloaks signifying the imperial guards fluttered in the wind.
'Those must be the Royal Knights.'
Five knights in distinct red helmets and gleaming gold epaulettes, clearly set apart from the regular soldiers.
The fierce auras emanating from them marked them as imperial Royal Knights.
"Halt!"
Clang, clatter, clash.
As I approached the inner citadel gate, the lead knight who'd been watching me shouted.
Silver halberds gleamed as soldiers naturally stepped forward to block my path.
'Cool.'
A sight of knights and soldiers in perfect formation, impossible to see in the modern world.
Even movies didn't have scenes this impressive.
"Where are you headed?"
The Royal Knight treated me dismissively, as I wasn't riding in a noble carriage or escorted by knights.
His dignified gaze demanded my purpose.
"Haha! Keep up the good work."
I wasn't the type to cower, even without noble status.
"....."
My confident demeanor drew sharp stares from the knights and soldiers.
Their eyes screamed, "What kind of guy is this?"
"Where's the Sky Knight Academy entrance exam hall?"
'One wrong move, and I might end up as a pincushion before even taking the test.'
Over a hundred archers had already nocked arrows atop the walls.
As befitting the emperor's residence, no nonsense was tolerated.
Thud thud thud!
Amid this tense welcome, a carriage approached, escorted by about a dozen knights.
Neigh!
It halted before the gate.
"Her Highness, the pride of the Petrin Count family, has arrived to take the Sky Knight Academy entrance exam!"
The lead knight declared their purpose with crisp precision.
"Understood. However, from the inner citadel onward, only those summoned by His Majesty the Emperor, or officials and nobles, may remain mounted. Please dismount from your horses and carriage, inconvenience though it may be."
Unlike with me, the Royal Knight spoke politely.
'Ugh, damn nobles.'
I felt the bitterness of having no title once again.
"Sir Osis, open the gate."
'Huh?'
A voice like jade beads rolling on a silver tray.
"Yes, milady!"
The knight called Osis dismounted and carefully opened the door of the white four-horse carriage.
'Oh ho!'
Nice.
A sudden melodious voice like a nightingale.
The silhouette of the woman slowly emerging.
'Urgh! God, you keep turning me into a bad guy!'
Whether due to untainted food or pure minds, most women here were quite appealing.
Not quite on the level of Jun Ji-hyun plowing fields or So-hee cutting grass, but generally easy on the eyes.
And among them, standout beauties.
'C-Cute!'
She was so adorably pixie-like, you'd believe she stepped out of a comic.
Golden twin tails tied with a blue headband, dressed in a pink gown.
Height just over 160 cm? A girl who looked a year or two younger than me.
Huge eyes that seemed to say "I know nothing," paired with fair skin.
She was heroine-level from a manga.
"Welcome, Lady Hynes."
The Royal Knights gave a brief nod to the girl now visible.
"It is an honor to meet the Royal Knights who protect the Empire and the imperial family."
Lady Hynes, as she was called, lightly curtsied, holding the hem of her dress.
"Enter. Soldiers will guide you to the academy."
The inner citadel boasted immense size.
It housed the empire's heart—the imperial palace—and various educational institutions.
'What about me?'
They treated Hynes like a person but ignored me like a silent utility pole.
"But where is that gentleman headed?"
As the gate opened and Hynes entered amid the knights' excessive courtesy, she asked about me.
"Don't mind him. Every entrance exam season, lunatics from the common folk show up."
'L-Lunatic! Argh!'
The Royal Knight's utterly rude attitude stabbed at my chest like the humiliation of a low-level character in a game.
But what could I do?
Even as a nation, one had to yield a step before the empire's inner citadel.
Cause a fuss, and those special forces-like knights and thousands of soldiers would swarm like rabid dogs.
"Ah, I see. He looks fine enough.... Poor thing."
Worse than the bully is the friend watching, they say.
Hynes scanned me up and down with pitying eyes, nodded, and turned to vanish through the gate.
'S-Son of a...'
A reality where I couldn't even curse.
I let out a long sigh and calmed myself to reason with the Royal Knights.
'Yeah, if Sky Knights were for every Tom, Dick, and Harry, where's the fun? Grandpa said you become a great man(?) by overcoming trials like this!'
I regained composure through self-consolation.
Didn't someone nurture power by eating bitter bile for years for revenge?
I vowed to make humiliation my side dish and feast on a gold medal—no, Sky Knight status and a territory.
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'Tch, what a bunch of clowns.'
The Royal Knights blocking my path and refusing entry.
They were stunned when I quietly presented my Rank 1 Mercenary Badge.
A Rank 1 mercenary badge guaranteed by the Mercenary Guild.
Even they knew it signified Aura Knight level.
'Heh, geniuses are heaven-sent! Hoho.'
They scowled at me, who looked much younger.
I could feel the sorrow of the mediocre encountering genius.
'Anyway, it's huge!'
Inside the inner citadel gate stretched a vast space.
The imperial capital had plenty to see, but this was on another level.
A four-lane avenue stretched long, lined with gardens everywhere.
And countless large buildings.
On grounds larger than any university campus I'd seen, buildings each with their own character filled my view.
'That must be the real imperial palace....'
Behind them, the true palace.
A massive wall of marble bricks gleaming milky white in the sunlight.
Countless spires rose beyond it.
Another world lay there, I could tell.
'All this belongs to the emperor? Impressive.'
The Bazran Empire's palace dwarfed the White House, Blue House, or Forbidden City—those were mere games in comparison.
It made the emperor's position crystal clear.
"This is the Sky Knight Academy exam hall."
Thanks to the Rank 1 badge, the two soldiers refrained from rudeness.
After twenty minutes' walk, we stopped before a four-story building.
"H-Here?"
'Why so small?'
Wyverns ridden by Sky Knights were huge. And the palace had Black Wyvern-riding Royal Sky Knights too.
Yet the building before me was four stories, elementary school-sized compared to others.
"Is there a problem?"
True to their red cloaks, the Royal Guards asked crisply.
"No, it's just... for a Sky Knight academy, don't you need wyverns? And space for them?"
"Wyverns?"
They looked at me like I'd scratched their thigh in their sleep.
"Heh...."
One soldier chuckled lightly, as if realizing something.
'No way? Tell me it's not.'
A country bumpkin doesn't become a city slicker just by arriving in the city.
That was me exactly.
No internet or Naver to check, so I blinked at the soldiers.
"Wyverns cannot be kept inside the palace."
"What? What do you mean...?"
"Aside from a few imperial-owned wyverns raised by the palace, their danger keeps them at outlying garrisons."
Ding!
'Argh, total faceplant.'
A Sky Knight aspirant clueless as a brick.
The soldiers eyed me pitifully.
"So what is this place...?"
"This is the Sky Knight Academy. That spired building is the Imperial Magic Academy, the large training ground over there is the Imperial Knight Academy, and the forest behind is the Spirit Academy."
'I-I see.'
My face stiffened at the soldier's "helpful" explanation.
I knew next to nothing.
I'd thought I'd gathered decent info, but the road ahead was sky-high.
"Inside, an officer will assist you. Even after entering the Sky Knight Academy, you'll train for two years in various subjects before receiving a wyvern, title, and Sky Knight status."
The Royal Guards explained kindly in several ways.
"Thank you. I won't forget this favor if we meet again."
I truly meant it.
"Haha, of course. In the name of the Goddess of Blessings, Semir, I pray you become a Sky Knight."
Their goodwill felt good.
'Two years....'
No short time.
But having decided, I'd enjoy it fully.
Better to gain from clashing than waste time overthinking like a fool.
'First, pass the exam.'
Sky Knight training ground: a schoolyard-sized arena with a cute garden.
I stepped toward it energetically.
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'Wow!'
Inside looked worlds apart from outside.
The Sky Knight facility had disappointed me with its small size.
But entering through the wyvern-carved door, the vast hall inside stole my senses.
'A preserved wyvern under preservation magic!'
Incredibly, a Black Wyvern with wings spread in mid-flight dominated the four-story hall.
'Huge!'
Even dead, its massive body exuded living majesty.
I wondered if it was made of steel.
Glossy black hide, enormous black wings, black maw, massive black claws.
Only its razor teeth, ready to shred anything, gleamed.
Its pitch-black eyes choked the breath from viewers.
'Is this why Black Wyverns are top-tier?'
Fundamentally different from Viscount Piyor's wyvern, which I'd even dueled.
Like tiger versus house cat.
'If I flew this thing...'
My heart raced.
My vague dream materialized before me.
I imagined soaring blue skies on a Black Wyvern.
"Hmph! We meet again. Rotten commoner bastard...."
A voice like an arch-enemy dousing my dream-kiss with ice water.
'Alfonso.... Argh, you little shit.'
The curse rose unbidden.
"Hehe, judging by your face, you were fantasizing about riding a Black Wyvern. What a clueless fool."
Followed by the shrill voice of a witless wench.
'Luciera....'
A pair dying to be killed.
I squinted and turned.
'Perfect match. A ideal cockroach couple.'
Like attracts like—two vermin glaring with obnoxious faces.
"We've already passed the Sky Knight exam. If you fail... you won't leave this palace alive. Grr."
Alfonso vented his foul temper.
He glared with venomous eyes.
"Yeah? Must've been easy. Even nobodies pass."
"N-Nobody?"
My modern slang "nobody" auto-translated to continental tongue.
No way they knew the term for unheard-of trash.
"Oh, it's a thing."
I scratched my ear, scanning the hall.
'That must be the exam room.'
For a Knight Academy, few people milled about.
Aside from hurrying servants, no students.
My eyes fixed on one spot.
A paper reading "Exam Room" hung before a back room.
"See you later."
Staying near them harmed mental health.
I strode toward the exam room.
"You bastard.... Grr."
Alfonso's teeth-grinding echoed.
Creak.
'Wait. I'll teach you life's not easy, bone-deep.'
Time aplenty ahead.
Ways to torment them overflowed.
Swoosh.
The door opened; I stepped in.
The continent's strongest empire's elite Sky Knight exam.
Tension crept in lightly.
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'Hmm? What's this?'
The so-called exam room.
'A defensive magic circle?'
Quite spacious.
Roomy as six classrooms.
A defensive magic circle against magic and physical force etched in the center.
Behind it.
An old, prickly-looking mage at an antique desk, a stern-faced Royal Knight, and a white-haired Sky Knight in Irene-like uniform sat.
"Are you an applicant?"
Not just them.
Three young mages, five Royal Knights, two Sky Knights stood behind.
A desk at the door; the clerk asked upon seeing me.
"Yes."
"Full name?"
'Full name?'
"Kaiser."
"Yes?"
The clerk writing my short full name stared.
"A commoner."
"....."
At "commoner," he ducked without reply.
In this land, no title meant no respect.
"Commoner?"
Unlike the clerk, one reacted.
The white-haired man in Sky Knight garb.
'All stronger than me.'
I hadn't noticed at first glance.
But the mana scent filling the room told all.
'6th Circle+ mage, and Blade Knight rivals....'
My body instinctively warned near the strong.
'Disperse the mana circles.'
Learned during two months' travel: mana dispersion.
My mana circles were unique, fused from lower, middle, upper dantians.
For days like this, I'd practiced separating them.
A world too dangerous to flaunt full power.
I gently shifted circle mana to upper and middle dantians, pooling the rest in lower.
'Mana as last resort.'
I'd used magic at the inn, but Alfonso's silence suggested knights hadn't spread I was a mage.
Or his pride refused belief.
"Yes. Kaiser from Luna Village in Piyor Viscount Territory, Dafis Kingdom."
I gave the prepared answer.
"I am Marquis Mermos, Vice-Commander of the Imperial Royal Sky Knights."
'M-Marquis? Whoa, big shot?'
Empire marquis, not kingdom.
I'd seen nobles' lives en route; marquis rank was immense.
Barons or viscounts ruled fiefdoms like kings.
Absolute authority over life, death, taxes, law, military.
Marquis ranked just below emperor and duke, addressed as "Your Excellency."
'Then those guys too.'
Casually seated beside him.
Surely marquis-level.
'Lifelong rare to see one marquis; today three?'
Where else but here to glimpse high nobles?
Etiquette demanded bowing low, prostrating as they passed.
"Honor to meet Marquis Mermos, Your Excellency."
Could be my future superior.
Mimicking local nobles: left arm back, right hand at belly, bowed head.
"Hmph, a commoner mimicking noble etiquette? Fearless cur."
'No, were you born noble? Skull-faced dried-up zombie!'
I inwardly cursed the provoking mage.
"In an egalitarian exam hall, commoner courtesy is fitting, no? Forgive any discomfort with magnanimity."
A 21st-century commoner who bowed to no one—how could I kneel to that?
"Haha! Amusing youth. To stand so bold before Kermon Marquis, head of the Imperial Magic Tower."
'W-What, Imperial Magic Tower?!'
Among my scant continental knowledge, this was solid.
'E-Empire's Imperial Magic Tower requires 7th Circle... That skeleton's 7th Circle!'
Stepped in shit luck.
No good antagonizing prickly mages, yet clashing from exam start.
My life ahead looked bumpy.
Even I'd admit: few in history dared speak so to a marquis holder.
Madmen, suicides, or reckless like me.
"Hmph! Commoners anyway...."
The mage snorted girlishly in annoyance.
'Prickly bald eagle. I'll remember you.'
Bald eagle skull-mage with scant hair.
Foresight flashed: he'd make bad memories.
"Pleased to meet you, Marquis Kermon, Your Excellency."
Unlike my heart, I bowed to the bald skull eagle.
"Fine. Your specialty? Even commoners may test, but disrupting with mediocrity demands penalty."
Marquis Mermos spoke refinedly, nobly.
'Officially, only formal mages and Blade Knights qualify?'
One oddity.
Sky Knights: instant continent-top knights upon selection.
Yet not all Aura Blades or mages applied.
'Qualifications: Blade Knight knights, 4th Circle mages. Why not all apply?'
Wanted to ask, but not here.
Skull-mage would call me ignorant fool.
"Of course."
"Off, of course?"
'Damn!'
Nodded "obviously," but school habit slipped out unconsciously.
"It's southern continent slang for 'naturally so.' Trending lately."
"I see. 'Of course'...."
Unlike others, Mermos seemed open-minded, savoring it.
'Why's a marquis vice-commander?'
Empire marquis: lifelong rare as emperor for commoners.
Kermon, Imperial Magic Tower lord, was marquis; the other beside surely too.
'I'll learn later.'
Curiosity surged, but exam first.
"How is the exam conducted?"
"Simple. Infuse mana into this mana stone to measure quantity. Above threshold: first pass. Then, gain approval from Marquis Kermon here or Marquis Astain, Imperial Royal Knight Commander."
'Easier than thought.'
Far simpler than rumored.
I nodded.
'Mana stone... Measures mana resistance, right?'
Magic knowledge surfaced naturally.
Glows brighter with more mana infused.
'Just enough to pass.'
No one shows full hand from start.
I slowly approached the head-sized mana stone on the platform.
Knock knock!
Sudden clear knock echoed.
Creak.
Thick door opened cautiously; all eyes turned.
'Eh? That girl?'
The manga-heroine-like frail girl called Hynes.
Entered inner citadel before me, yet arriving at exam now.
'F-Flower?'
Doll-like pure shy smile as Hynes entered.
Unknown fresh-picked flowers in her hand.
Grass bits on her dress.
'And in her hair!'
Crucial: tiny flower tucked in right ear.
Not some Dongchimi Village heroine, but...
My body shivered lightly.
"Of the Petrin Count family, Hynes. Here for today's Sky Knight exam. Please guide me well."
"P-Petrin!"
"Ahem...."
At Hynes' entry, the scowling skull mage grimaced at "Petrin Count."
Other marquises, knights, mages behind—all bared raw fear.
'What the hell are these faces!'
Sulkang noodle with rusty sponge instead of meat; dream-kiss ruined by red pepper in teeth, shattering illusions; post-dump toilet paper discovery panic.
Complex emotions poured from every face.
"P-Per chance, are you that Hynes?"
Relaxed Mermos, Sky Knight Vice-Commander, asked.
"Know not the meaning, but sole heir of Petrin is I, Petrin de Hynes."
How so demure.
Prim Joseon lady: soft, modest, shy Hynes.
Doll-manga charmer pleased me, but stiff faces unrelented.
"Sigh!"
Mermos sighed deeply.
"Pass...."
He reluctantly muttered "pass" lowly.
'What now?'
Open favoritism before my eyes.
Hynes passed sans test, while I watched.
But no protest.
Mermos' life-or-death anguish clear.
Unavoidable pass.
"Thank you. This girl takes leave."
Hynes gracefully curtsied, holding dress hem lightly.
Face said such favoritism normal.
'Who the hell is she?'
Hynes' mystery identity unknown.
But one thing clear from faces: unspoken warning—stay far away.