Selection. (1)
“Now it’s my turn to draw a card~”
In the lounge of the Phairden Knights, a game was in full swing.
“Drumroll... Oh! I drew Binding Sword.”
Out of nine players, they’d selected two Specters, five Knights, one mage, and one duke. The Knights hunted the Specters, while the Specters killed the Knights—a psychological card game.
It was the latest craze: Specter with Knight.
“Now, whose heart should I stab with this Binding Sword...”
Subordinate knight Cindy twirled the card around the round table. Julie sat calmly, unmoving.
In truth, her heart had sunk the moment Cindy drew the Binding Sword.
“Captain?”
“What is it.”
“You’re a Specter, right?”
Cindy leaned toward Julie. It was blatant suspicion.
Julie placed both hands neatly on her knees and shook her head.
“I am not.”
“You totally are. Look, Captain, you’re terrible at lying.”
“What makes you say that.”
“Last round, we said your expressions were too obvious, so now you’re forcing yourself to show nothing.”
Julie puffed out her cheeks, pretending to sulk.
“And now you’re making a forced expression.”
“...I told you, I’m not.”
“Then I’ll use ‘Binding Sword’ on Captain Julie.”
“You’ll regret it. I am a Knight.”
“Hmm... saying that makes me hesitate again.”
Cindy pretended to ponder.
Julie wondered if the hesitation was genuine, but no—it was all a tease.
“Yes. I accept.”
“...”
As mana flowed into the ‘Binding Sword’ card, it glowed. A small blue blade floated up and stabbed the card in front of Julie.
Whoosh—
A ghost slipped out.
“See? I told you, Captain can’t lie at all.”
“...This game is difficult.”
As Julie sighed, Cindy grinned and asked,
“Still, it’s fun, right?”
Julie wasn’t the type to clumsily join her subordinates’ games. But this time, they’d dragged her in insistently.
Knowing their deeper intentions, she offered a faint smile.
“Yes.”
“Right~? We need breaks like this sometimes. You’ve been working too hard lately, Captain.”
“...”
“But if you draw Specter, we’ll just restart? You’re great at card strategy, but psychological warfare? Not so much.”
“...From now on, it will be different.”
Julie fiddled with her cards. She didn’t find the game itself enjoyable, but her competitive spirit had ignited.
She looked forward to the next round.
But then.
“Hmm, it’s already 8 o’clock. Jousting practice soon.”
“For real?”
“Captain! We’ll head out then. Practice more~”
The subordinate knights bolted from their seats and left.
The lounge, once bustling with fourteen people, emptied in an instant.
“...”
Left alone, Julie stared blankly at the table.
She tossed the card stack aside.
Shuffle—
As the cards scattered limply, a rumble sounded.
Rumble—
The knights returned.
Julie eagerly gathered the cards.
They’d pretended to flee just to mess with their captain. Cheeky, but this time she’d turn the tables...
The knights stood behind Julie, and soon imperial officials entered.
“Julie von Dayia Phairden.”
Julie sprang up and saluted.
“This is an imperial missive. Receive it with due respect.”
“Yes, sir.”
Imperial knight Lucan. At his words, she knelt on one knee.
Lucan handed her the letter.
Its contents read as follows.
I grant you the opportunity to be selected as the Emperor's Tutoring Knight. The first trial is to reach the designated location, 'Ron Past'.
The hottest topic in knight circles lately. The letter announced Julie’s inclusion among the ‘Emperor’s Tutoring Knight’ candidates.
...The continent held various ‘magical spaces.’ Each had its own bizarre, magical quirks.
Some were eternally winter or summer, others perpetual night, or barren without a single blade of grass.
The continent’s fringes, called ‘Mieolji’ or ‘Land of Magical Beasts,’ broadly fell into this category.
Julie traversed one such space. Though summer reigned outside, eternal snow blanketed everything.
This grueling half-day march was nearly over.
Flickering lights ahead guided her.
A large villa—her destination.
Julie stood before its door and knocked.
Knock-knock.
“Anyone there?”
No response.
Knock-knock.
—Enter.
After one more knock, a voice came from within. Julie opened the door. The interior warmth pushed back the blizzard’s chill.
Familiar faces filled the cozy villa’s living room.
Syrio, Rafel, Gwen.
All her seniors from university days.
“Long time no see, Julie?”
Syrio, vice-captain of the Ilayde Knights, smiled first. His sharp features were as striking as ever.
“Yes. It has been a while.”
“Knew it was you. Sit, make yourself comfortable~”
Five chairs in the living room. Julie took one of the two empty seats. The head seat was likely for the examiner.
Syrio spoke.
“Wonder what the trials will be like~ Feels like uni group projects. Right, Gwen?”
“No idea. Don’t expect favors from me. You too, Julie—brace yourself.”
Gwen swept a sharp gaze over the knights.
“Understood.”
Julie nodded steadily.
Rafel remained silent as Syrio continued.
“The last one’s probably the examiner... Heard Vice-Captain Isak’s injured? No way Duke Gephrid’s coming?”
Gephrid. At the Empire’s Guardian Knight’s name, Julie tensed.
“Hah. As if.”
Gwen scoffed.
“Duke Gephrid’s retired. Guardian Knights stay south, not the palace anyway.”
“True enough.”
As Syrio shrugged—
Knock-knock.
A clear knock echoed.
All eyes turned. The outsider opened the door without waiting.
Whoosh...
Blizzard winds poured in.
He wore a coat. A fedora hid his face, but he was tall and solidly built.
For some reason, his presence felt familiar to Julie.
She realized why when he removed his hat.
“!”
Julie’s eyes widened. The other knights merely blinked.
Unfazed by the absurdity, he casually hung his hat and coat on thin air.
Creeeak—creeak—
The floorboards groaned under his steps. His shoes were spotless, no snow.
“Greetings.”
He took the head examiner’s seat.
“I am Acting Examiner Deculein.”
...Silence fell.
No one spoke.
It was sheer disbelief. The knights stared dumbly at Deculein.
“...Deculein?”
Rafel’s deep voice broke the quiet. Deculein nodded.
“You? You’re the examiner?”
“Indeed.”
Rafel, Syrio, Gwen, and Deculein were cohorts, entering the knight and mage departments the same year.
“Do you even know the sword? Knightly duty? How dare you—”
The 2-meter Rafel shot up, glaring. His manly features twisted.
“As I am a professor, not a knight, I shall judge per the manual.”
“Manual? You, on swordsmanship—”
“I know it imperfectly. But the virtues required of His Majesty’s Tutoring Knight extend beyond swordplay. Moreover, I was already selected as palace tutoring mage, so my qualifications suffice.”
Syrio’s eyes bulged.
“You were selected? What about Ruina? She got passed over again?”
“...Ruina.”
Deculein pondered the name he’d heard often lately.
His inevitable rival, Ruina von Schlot McQueen.
She should’ve appeared by now, yet silent since Floating Island.
“Wow, amazing~ Anyway, with you as examiner, that’s four cohorts here?”
Syrio chattered, but Rafel and Gwen seemed displeased. Julie felt more uncomfortable than anything.
“But is this fair? No favoritism, right?”
Syrio grinned, hitting the point.
Deculein shook his head.
“I conduct the selection, but His Majesty makes the final decision.”
“Hmm. Not claiming fairness... Fine. If His Majesty decides, no complaints.”
“Enough. When does the trial start?”
Gwen said. Deculein turned to her. Their eyes met; she flinched.
“The first trial was reaching the destination. Proper trials begin tomorrow. Rest today.”
Independent Quest: Tutoring Mage Selection
◆ Shop Currency +2
◆ Imperial Medal
11:30 p.m.
I read the knights’ files in the examiner’s room.
Syrio │ Knight of Clear Winds │ 33
Rafel │ Knight of Might │ 34
Gwen │ Knight of Holy Faith │ 31
Julie │ Knight of Refinement │ 28
100 pages per person. Unexpected high-grade intel from the palace.
“...”
Three days ago, the palace assigned me ‘Acting Knight Selector.’
Likely the Emperor’s whim, but seeing the list, I accepted without hesitation.
For Julie.
I murmured like a sigh.
“...The original Deculein would never have let Julie even enter selection.”
Deculein’s schemes would’ve excluded her outright. But I lacked time and connections.
Clang! Sching!
Sudden clash of steel and mana. I peered from the window.
The knights sparred.
Gwen and Syrio.
Clang—clang!
I appraised their swordsmanship with the naked eye.
Gwen: Supreme Rodelt-raza.
Syrio: Supreme Syrio Quickblade.
Both supreme realms, but Syrio’s self-created style edged ahead.
—Lord Rafel, a bout please.
—Very well.
Next, Julie versus Rafel.
Boom—bang!
Blades clashed fiercely, sparking. Rafel’s heavy strikes exploded; Julie parried effortlessly.
Watching, I exhaled softly.
“...Julie.”
Emperor’s Tutoring Knight.
But unlike Guardian Knight, it’s unrelated.
I hoped Julie would be excluded from that glory.
Fail selection.
That’s why I accepted this absurd task.
The palace basement still held ‘that monster.’
Phairden’s abyss, seed of ruin.
Deculein’s death variable—the ‘mirror’ you must never meet.
Until I, or someone, shatters that damned mirror, I pray you never reach the palace.
Thus...
“I will disqualify you.”
The next day, Julie woke at dawn.
“...”
After stretching, she began yoga to center body and mind.
Having warmed her flexible form, she stepped outside. The other knights sat ready in the living room.
“Sleep well, Julie?”
Gwen asked. Julie nodded.
“Yes.”
“Man, you’ve really grown. Can’t let my guard down.”
“...No such thing.”
Julie was humble, but Syrio and Gwen heaped praise: ice on her blade, elemental sword-mage, etc.
As Julie stifled a hamster-like grin at the masters’ compliments—
Deculein appeared.
He’d stayed in the separate examiner’s room to the right.
“Trial starting, Examiner~?”
Syrio beamed. Deculein nodded and sat.
“The first trial evaluates observation and persistence.”
He infused mana into a crystal orb.
Four items floated in the air.
“‘Ron Past’ abounds in rare mana produce: ice flowers, ratran, mana cores, crystal herbs. I assign each a target—bring it back.”
Deculein assigned: Syrio ‘ratran,’ Gwen ‘mana core,’ Rafel ‘crystal herb,’ Julie ‘ice flower.’
“Intact only. No damage whatsoever. And I shall not move a step from this spot.”
Julie memorized the ice flower: transparent bloom on high cliff faces, blooming and withering ten times daily. Seemed manageable.
“Objections now. Rules can be adjusted.”
All, including Julie, shook their heads.
“Good. All agree. You have 24 hours. Begin.”
7 a.m. sharp.
The knights rose.
“Let’s do our best, friendly competition~!”
Syrio encouraged.
They split upon leaving the villa.
Julie headed for the highlands where ice flowers grew.
‘Ron Past’’s vast space had nearby sloped mountains.
The ascent began.
“...Hah.”
No easy task. Overnight blizzard meant deep snow. Legs sank with each step; she barely advanced by thrusting knees forward.
Reaching the cliff face.
On that precarious slope, where a misstep meant death, she spotted an ice flower. Clear and pristine.
Only three hours passed.
Julie lifted it carefully and retraced her path.
Creeeak—
Back at the villa, she opened the door.
Deculein waited in the living room. Julie approached and offered the flower.
“Here it is.”
“...”
He took it silently, inspecting every angle.
Julie waited quietly.
Finally, Deculein spoke.
“Defective.”
“...Pardon?”
“I said ‘intact, without the slightest damage.’”
He returned the flower. A speck-like tear on a petal.
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Unreasonable, but Julie said nothing and left.
Face flushed from cold, she roamed the mountains.
Scoured the harshest peaks.
“!”
Another bloom caught her eye. She rushed over—flawless from every angle.
“Good.”
Nodding satisfied, she returned to the villa.
Deculein still sat.
“Here it is.”
Confident this time, but...
“Defective.”
Same verdict.
Startled, Julie checked: a scrape on the base.
Definitely wasn’t there at first.
Damage during handling?
“Defective too?”
Syrio asked. He’d finished, eating.
Julie’s stomach growled. Knights’ sole weakness: massive basal metabolism.
Deculein said,
“Meals after completion or forfeit.”
“Oh? Sorry, Julie. Was gonna share.”
Syrio shrugged.
“It’s fine. I’ll go again.”
Ignoring hunger, Julie exited.
Third climb.
Hunger limited mana; she endured cold via armor.
“Hah, hah...”
Nearly six hours roaming. Blizzard returned. Snow clung; hair froze.
...After that ordeal, one ice flower.
Exhausted, no joy. Back to villa.
Checked outside, then to Deculein.
“...”
He examined. Julie shivered, throat tight with tension.
Tick, tock, tick.
Three seconds like thirty minutes.
Deculein calmly declared,
“Defective.”
“Impossible! It can’t be!”
Julie’s face nearly crumpled.
“See for yourself.”
He offered it. She checked.
A tiny scar.
“Ah.”
How?
Clutching her hair, Julie pondered.
No damage outside.
Why always damaged...
Pop.
Suddenly, a spark from the fireplace.
Julie’s eyes widened. Insight flashed.
“Forfeiting?”
Deculein asked.
“...I’ll return.”
She dashed out.
Through raging blizzard. Body freezing. Flesh tearing.
Fourth flower evaded her, but she persisted.
“Ah...”
In merciless cold, the most radiant ice flower.
Fourth.
Staggering back, careful not to run or let wind touch it, cradled in hands.
“...”
Villa door open. Gwen, Rafel, Syrio—three passed—visible.
Julie shouted from the threshold.
“Here it is! I have it!”
She didn’t enter. Stood in the frigid heart, presenting the flower.
“Julie, bring it here.”
Deculein said. Julie shook her head.
“Come out, please.”
Ice flowers were temperature-sensitive.
Entering, nearing his chair, the fireplace behind—even slightly...
It would damage.
“The ice flower is here.”
Julie believed this the answer.
Self-reproach for past stupidity.
She held it amid the blizzard. Bloom intact; her breath froze.
...Yet.
“No.”
His reply far colder.
“...Pardon?”
Julie blankly repeated.
Beyond the frozen world.
In the warm villa living room, he gazed with unprecedented chill.
“I said clearly.”
Then, Julie realized belatedly.
“I shall not move a step from this spot.”
Deculein had intended her failure from the start.