Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Dogs and Wolves (1)
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The Crown Prince sent a messenger to make one thing perfectly clear.
He would handle all the preparations necessary for entering the Cradle, so I didn't need to prepare anything myself.
He must have felt he'd lost face after the letter of recommendation he’d gone to the trouble of writing had become a useless scrap of paper.
As for me, I had no reason to refuse his free offer.
So I decided to wait patiently.
I shouldn't have.
“Good heavens.”
I was appalled when I saw the clothes the Crown Prince had sent.
The stiff fabric gleamed as if plated in silver, and small jewels were even embedded in the chest and sleeves.
It was extravagant. Far too extravagant.
If I wore this to the entrance ceremony, I would undoubtedly become the center of unwanted attention.
No, before that, I doubted I could even move properly in it.
“How much must all this cost?”
I felt I'd cry my eyes out if I lost even the smallest jewel on the sleeve.
The shoes, hat, belt, and even the cloak. They were all just as ostentatious.
In the end, I pawned off the Crown Prince's gift on Gunther and went to see Abbot Michael to explain the situation.
He happened to have some everyday clothes for the young friars, so I borrowed the smallest set.
The clothes, which must have originally been charcoal gray, had faded to a dull, murky gray from being passed down over the years.
It was a shabby outfit, incomparable to the one from the Crown Prince, but it suited someone like me far better.
“Whew. That's much better.”
I liked the color, which wouldn't show dirt easily, and the loose yet comfortable fit was perfect for movement.
“The other outfit suited you quite well, in my opinion.”
Gunther spoke up as I adjusted the ties on the sleeves and waist for a more comfortable fit.
He suggested I should wear it out of respect for the sender's gesture.
“If I wear that, everyone will be staring at me for the entire test. There's a limit to how extravagant one should be.”
I didn't know the exact format of the test, but since they were only selecting a limited number of candidates, there was bound to be tension and rivalry.
I had to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down, and the one who shines brightest gets ganged up on—it was a truth of the world.
Having served such a 'nail' for ten years in my past life, I knew this fact better than anyone.
“Tsk.”
Gunther kept glancing at the folded clothes on the bed, a look of longing on his face, but I purposefully ignored him.
I finished opening the boxes the Crown Prince had sent.
A sword, a shield, a bow, and more.
Unlike the clothes, which were merely ostentatious and utterly impractical, these were all masterpieces.
High-quality armaments that Gunther and I couldn't afford even if we emptied our pockets.
“They're all yours, Master.”
It was a pity, but as I was now, I couldn't use them.
For one, the armaments allowed into the Cradle were limited.
The Cradle's regulations allowed only a single weapon to be brought inside. This was a measure to prevent candidates from passing the test or gaining an unfair advantage during their training with the help of outside items.
And my weapon of choice had been decided from the very beginning.
「Barisada」
The relic merged with the Knight-Slayer, a medium connecting me to the Faceless Witch.
Given who the original owner was, I couldn't just entrust it to anyone.
Frankly, Barisada's power was too exceptional to consider bringing any other weapon.
I had already experienced its formidable power firsthand in the last few battles.
Barisada was more valuable than all the fine armaments the Crown Prince had sent.
Its questionable origin was a problem, but that wouldn't matter as long as I didn't openly reveal its history.
After all, it was often impossible to discern a relic's origins from its appearance alone.
Furthermore, Barisada had shed its original form to merge with the Knight-Slayer.
Even if someone who knew its original form saw it, there would be no cause for concern.
“All set.”
Finally, after packing Barisada and my quiver, I was ready to head to the testing grounds.
“Hold on.”
As I was about to leave the room, Gunther called me.
“You're always so meticulous about others' attire, but never your own.”
With those words, he carefully retied the sashes at my sleeves and waist.
It felt strange.
Having always been the one taking care of others, I wasn't used to being looked after like this.
“Clothes just need to keep out the cold and block the sun. If they're easy to move in on top of that, what more could you ask for?”
So I replied, a bit curtly.
“That's not something I'd expect to hear from the one who always pestered me about the importance of first impressions.”
“That's because you're a knight, Master, and I'm not.”
“Just as you are treated poorly when I look shabby, my own honor is tarnished when you look unkempt.”
“Oh! You have a point, but hearing it from you, Master… Ouch!”
Gunther gave me a light rap on the head, brushed off some imaginary dust, and then straightened his back.
“No more nonsense. Let's get going.”
“Right.”
As I left the room, I glanced toward the prayer room.
It felt a bit wrong to leave without saying goodbye after they had looked after me for so long.
But Gunther looked unconcerned.
“They won't see us off either.”
The friars would see us off with their prayers; that was the way of the Iron Cross Monastery.
It was a custom I couldn't quite grasp, but if Gunther, who had once been a part of the Iron Cross Monastery, said so, then I supposed it was.
And so, Gunther and I left the monastery where we had stayed for some time and headed for the guild.
There, we said our goodbyes to the Abandoned Dogs and I left a letter for the Crown Prince.
It basically said that Gunther was still my only point of contact—in other words, a request to look after him well.
Having finished my errands, I headed to the eastern district of the capital, where the Cradle was located.
There was still some time before the test began, but there was no harm in going early.
As I started to walk away, Gunther called out to me.
“Yan.”
I stopped and turned to look at him.
“……?”
But Gunther's expression was different from usual.
He had been showing more emotion lately, but he was generally a man of few emotional swings.
On the rare occasion he laughed, it was but a small smile, and if something angered him, his temper would quickly subside. That was Gunther.
I attributed it to his years as a paladin, a life that valued moderation as a virtue.
In any case, he was quite reserved when it came to expressing his feelings.
“I'll get straight to the point.”
And yet, that same Gunther.
“You are more than I deserve.”
was smiling broadly, so unlike him.
His expression was warmer than I'd ever seen, filled with deep affection.
“Master?”
It was so sudden and bewildering that I couldn't understand the meaning of his words for a while.
“You will have many opportunities ahead of you. Perhaps you'll even catch the eye of a renowned knight. No, knowing you, I'm certain you will.”
“Master, what are you saying...?”
“When that moment of choice comes, I want you to move forward without looking back.”
In other words, he was telling me not to refuse the opportunity to serve a more distinguished knight as my master.
For some reason, I felt a surge of anger.
I couldn't hold back, and so I spoke.
Or rather, I tried to speak.
But seeing Gunther's expression, I was at a loss for words.
“I've wandered this wide world, yet I haven't taken a single step forward from where I was ten years ago.”
The beggar knight who used to laze about, napping all day without a shred of motivation; the man who viewed the world with vacant eyes.
“So, I intend to start walking again.”
He was going to start anew.
His eyes were shining, so unlike him, his face filled with a motivation I had never seen before.
“If fortune favors me and my path leads somewhere worthwhile, perhaps then I can stand before you with some dignity.”
he said.
He said that when that day came, he would find me again and ask to renew our bond as master and squire.
“I won't wait.”
“I will walk with the resolve to make up for the last ten years.”
“You'll trip if you rush like that.”
“If I fall, I'll just get back up again.”
At Gunther's reply, I pouted.
I wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.
“Take care.”
“You too, Master.”
In the end, the only words that came out of my mouth were in a sulky tone, like a pouting child.
Gunther gently patted the top of my head and turned away.
And so, I parted ways with my first master.
“Damn him. He didn't even look back.”
Staring blankly in the direction Gunther had vanished, I too turned and resumed my walk toward the Cradle.
Just as he had, I did not look back.
* * *
“I'm sure I told you not to cause any trouble while I was gone.”
“You did.”
The Knight of Gales remained shameless, even as he faced the incensed Vice Director.
“But what is this?”
But that shameless attitude vanished without a trace before the dozens of documents the Vice Director thrust before him.
“Unauthorized entry into the Iron Cross Monastery?”
“That was because one of our cadets was supposedly being held there.”
“He hasn't even taken the test. How is he our cadet?”
“He'll be our cadet once he passes the test.”
“Yes, that's right. *If* he passes.”
The Knight of Gales looked away, feigning innocence.
But the Vice Director's nagging had only just begun.
“And another thing. The children from the great houses are all taking the test now? Weren't we supposed to give them separate spots? How could you make such an important decision so hastily while I was away? Does that seem right to you?”
While his eyes scanned the mountain of protest letters from the great houses piled on the desk, the Vice Director relentlessly berated his superior.
“Look, let's be honest. Letting the children of great houses enroll without a test is blatant favoritism. What is the founding principle of the Cradle? 'The stars are reflected in the eyes of all who gaze upon them.' What does that mean? It means opportunity is equal for all. But what I see is an unfair practice that goes against our principles. I won't stand for it. Not as long as I'm the Director.”
At this, the Knight of Gales stood up, his face indignant, and recited the Cradle's founding principle.
“Are you done?”
“Huh? Oh.”
“Hah. Unfair, my foot.”
Despite the passionate speech, the Vice Director's response was icy.
“Director, do you know what's really unfair?”
“……”
“It's forcing the common children to suddenly compete on the same stage as the privileged ones—the ones who've been fed the best of everything since they could walk, training all day under renowned masters without a single financial worry.”
“You never know until you put them to the test...”
“Hah. This is why I hate geniuses. See? It's impossible to reason with you.”
“W-what, all of a sudden?”
“Director. You were so exceptionally talented that you could trample over everyone, regardless of their background, to get where you are. But that's not something just anyone can do. Their starting lines are completely different. What do you expect them to do?”
“A trivial thing like background can be overcome with effort...”
“What? Effort? *Effort*? Hah. Don't give me that nonsense about overcoming things with effort.”
“Hey, your words have been a bit harsh...”
“Listen here, Knight of Gales. In this world, there are things effort can achieve and things it can't. Telling these kids they can do the impossible if they just try harder is no different from indirectly calling them idiots for failing. Do you have any idea how damn cruel that is? Huh? Do you?”
Faced with the Vice Director's vehement outburst, the Knight of Gales furtively averted his gaze, feigning indifference.
Regardless, the Vice Director continued his tirade.
“Alright, let me make a prediction.”
“Suddenly? Now?”
“Do you know how the brats from the great houses will act now?”
The Knight of Gales shook his head.
“'What, these vermin who can't even meet my gaze are going to spend five years in the same place as me? How infuriating. I should just crush them all, shouldn't I?'”
The Vice Director grimaced in disgust.
It seemed to have dredged up some unpleasant memories.
“I guarantee you, there will be an incident during the test. We might even see limbs flying. I heard some of the Samdusa kids are here this time, right? They're a sure bet. In any case, the rest of the candidates will be so intimidated they won't be able to show even a fraction of their true abilities. Wow, the atmosphere will be just wonderful. Just you wait and see if I'm right.”
“Then I'll just use my authority as Director to fail every last one of those brats who lack any chivalry.”
“What does chivalry have to do with it? From their perspective, it's a justifiable measure to protect their honor.”
The Knight of Gales was struck dumb by the Vice Director's rebuttal—that whether one prioritizes protecting the weak or upholding one's honor is not for others to judge.
“Sigh. I do admire this side of you, Director. It's why I followed you all the way here to play the part of a nanny, a role that doesn't suit me in the slightest. But. This time, you've gone too far.”
The Vice Director sighed again and again, lamenting that at this rate, they were destined to witness a bloodbath on the day of the test.
It was then that the Knight of Gales, who had been silent for some time, finally spoke.
“Ah!”
He looked triumphant, as if he'd had a brilliant realization.
“There won't be a bloodbath.”
“……?”
“The children from the great houses won't have time to go around crushing the other candidates.”
Baffled by his baseless confidence, the Vice Director asked.
“Why is that?”
The Knight of Gales replied.
“They won't have the luxury of worrying about the other candidates.”
“And why is that.”
“Because there's someone better than them.”
With that, the Knight of Gales explained the meeting he'd had with the great houses while the Vice Director was away.
“Ah, I see. The common candidates should be safe, then.”
“See? I told you I had it all figured out.”
“However.”
The Vice Director, who had been nodding as if he understood everything, suddenly shouted.
“What were you thinking, leaking a candidate's information so recklessly! You idiot!”
“What! So what! It would have leaked out eventually anyway! What's the harm in letting it out a little early!”
The Knight of Gales, not to be outdone, raised his voice as well.
“But why! What for!”
He answered the Vice Director's roar with confidence.
“It's the only way that boy, Yan, will show his true potential.”
He'd done it because he didn't think he'd get to see the boy's full potential unless the scions of the great houses came at him with everything they had.
He said it with a look of utter confidence.
* * *
I followed a man from the Cradle to an open lot.
Having arrived at the testing grounds, I waited quietly for my turn.
“Yan.”
After a long wait, my turn finally came.
“Here.”
I answered the call and stepped forward.
My voice was neither loud nor soft, just... average.
Just like all the other candidates had.
There was nothing special about it at all.
But it seemed I was the only one who thought so.
“……!”
The atmosphere in the testing grounds froze.
Everyone fell silent and turned to look at me.
As if on cue.