The Special Recruitment Plan (2)
“Professor, what on earth is this…?”
“Irenide, just be quiet.”
Ereia covered Irenide’s mouth as she looked bewildered.
“If you want my daughter, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask more questions, Professor. How old are you?”
“Fifteen this year.”
“You’re not joking, are you? Believing you at face value just because you’re fifteen? The realm you’ve reached and the things you’ve said don’t suit a fifteen-year-old at all. Only the outer appearance makes it feel youthful.”
“I’ve heard that complaint plenty of times, so I’m used to it. I’m aware of how old I look, after all.”
Ereia’s expression was relaxed as she spoke.
From a glance, she looked to be in her late thirties or early forties.
The age matched my previous life, so the conversation would flow smoothly.
I found it easy to keep talking as well.
“So what about my daughter caught your interest?”
“Most of all, her skill. She’s only nineteen, yet she’s already reached the 6-Circle realm and possesses the rare talent to wield both sword and magic at the same time.”
“My daughter’s skill is definitely commendable. What else?”
“Her attitude of acceptance and her diligence. The moment she realized she’d relied too heavily on her sword, she started showing steady progress in working hard to become genuinely stronger. If she didn’t have strong willpower, she would have given up quickly, but she keeps at it.”
Ereia nodded.
“It seems you’ve been watching my daughter closely. Though she’s a bit of a handful, I’ll entrust her to you.”
“Mother?”
“Then please tell me exactly what you want from my daughter.”
Irenide’s eyes widened.
“Mother, what are you talking about? The professor wants me for…?”
“You still haven’t told me what you want me for.”
“Eh?”
Only then did Irenide realize she had fallen for the prank.
Ereia apparently knew Irenide would enjoy the joke.
But the prank was kept light.
Now it was time to get serious.
“A new eighth division is being established in the Imperial Knights.”
“Eighth?”
“Yes. I have been appointed commander of that eighth division.”
“I can hardly believe it. No matter how skilled you are, creating a brand-new eighth division and appointing you as its commander?”
“His Majesty the Emperor issued a special order. Anyway, as a member of the division, I ask that you join as well.”
Only then did the realization dawn on Irenide, who had been listening. Her expression calmed.
“Irenide, I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
“I’d love to. Joining the Imperial Knights would easily satisfy the graduation requirements. But I want to know exactly what work I’d be doing.”
“Fundamentally, I’ll be carrying out the orders His Majesty the Emperor gives, but that will start once the eighth division is fully formed. Probably until the end of this semester, you can just do your own thing.”
“Then after this year?”
“We’ll travel the world in search of talent.”
Watching Irenide ponder, the memories of my previous life surfaced.
The memory of forming the wandering mercenary knight squad.
Lezar, the executioner in the tyrannical kingdom, became deputy commander. Pine, who had lost her mother at the slave market and been left alone, was rescued and became my disciple.
‘Each recruit had their own painful story, but now it’s nothing compared to that. No….’
The moment I thought that, I scolded myself.
It wasn’t peaceful.
Solea had barely survived its path to destruction, and wars still raged across the world.
Most importantly, the coming Demon King invasion would decide the world’s fate.
With the Emperor’s support secured, the foundation was solid.
Now I could begin preparing for the future in earnest.
“Irenide student, there’s no need to decide on joining right here. After all, you’ll see me again in class, so take your time.”
“Ah, yes. Then I’ll think it over a bit more.”
“Understood. Then, since the business is finished, may I rise?”
“Just a moment.”
As I tried to stand, Ereia stopped me.
“One more question, as the mother of this child.”
“Ask me anything.”
“Is it truly only as a knight that you find my daughter appealing?”
Grandfather or mother.
Irenide was a beautiful and attractive student.
Her abilities and future were bright.
But…
“Hmm. I don’t really know myself.”
I answered with a vague shrug.
And I left Irenide’s house and headed to another place.
Today was Friday.
On Fridays, I could visit the house of a student who was resting at home.
Bernard’s house, Elson’s house.
“Who are you?”
The moment the tall gatekeeper saw me, he spat out the words.
“I am Professor Erewon. I’ve come to see Sir Bernard. I apologize for the sudden visit, but I hope I may speak with you. Please tell Sir Bernard that it concerns Elson.”
“What? You’re a professor?”
As always, the age problem was the issue.
“And something about Elson? Hah!”
The gatekeeper sneered at Elson’s name.
“A professor like you? Where did you even learn to lie? And my master doesn’t even consider that Elson boy his son. He won’t see you about anything concerning that brat, so get lost!”
“Then let me change the subject. I am Erewon von Soleil, Prince of the fallen knight kingdom Solea and Commander of the 8th Division of the Imperial Knights. Does that still not work?”
“What nonsense is this getting! No way! I’ll teach you a lesson!”
The gatekeeper tried to deliver a honey-punch to my head.
‘He was waiting for this!’
I lightly dodged the honey-punch, then struck the gatekeeper’s abdomen with a fist.
“Uwehk!”
The shock was enough to knock him unconscious but not fatally. He vomited what he’d had in his stomach and collapsed on the floor, body shaking violently.
After leaving the gatekeeper twitching on the ground, I kicked the house’s doors until they shattered.
The door exploded with a loud crash and dust filled the air.
I shouted from inside the empty entrance.
“The servant who just attacked the Imperial Knights! The master of this house, come out immediately!”
A moment later, the people living in the house came out to check the situation.
Among them were two men carrying swords.
From a glance, it was clear.
Those two were Elson’s brothers.
They looked to be in their mid-twenties.
‘That’s why Elson must feel inferior.’
“Who are you?!”
“Who dares…?”
“I clearly said it. The servant of this house tried to attack me, a member of the Imperial Knights. Are you the master of this house?”
I asked, but as expected, the two ignored me completely.
“What? Imperial Knights? You’re just a little kid!”
“I’ve never heard of an Imperial Knight being a kid like you!”
The fact that the Emperor hadn’t yet made an official announcement made it even more fun.
They didn’t know I was the commander of the 8th Division, and seeing only my young appearance, they could enjoy crushing my arrogance without restraint.
The fun kept increasing. I pretended not to know and kept up the act.
“Young masters! Look at this! The gatekeeper…!”
At that moment, another servant spotted the gatekeeper sprawled on the ground.
The expressions of Elson’s two brothers changed when they saw him shaking violently on the floor.
“He must not be that skilled. To dare do something like this to our servant.”
“But he’s just a child after all. Using that much strength to make an innocent person like this? As a knight, I’ll teach you about justice!”
The two charged at me at once.
The only mercy for them was that they hadn’t drawn their swords.
If they had, things would have escalated.
‘It won’t become a more entertaining situation.’
A little regretful, but the purpose of coming to Bernard’s house wasn’t to beat these two up in the first place.
Subduing the two took less than five seconds.
Just like with the gatekeeper, I dodged once and delivered a single punch to each abdomen.
“Uhek, hek…”
“Kek. Kehek!”
The two collapsed on the floor, shaking like the gatekeeper.
At that moment, someone with strong mana moved.
The 7-Circle realm.
“Who are you to commit such outrages in our house! Stop at once!”
It was Brennen Bernard, Elson’s father.