Chapter 3
Chapter 3
“Sir Damian reporting for duty! I am Damian, newly assigned to the Imperial Knight Order starting today!”
“Welcome, Sir Damian. I am very pleased to have a capable new recruit join us.”
Time passed, and I was officially admitted into the Imperial Knight Order that protects the Roseshill Imperial Palace as the top graduate of the knight department at the academy.
“So. I heard you manifested aura during the academy graduation exam. Show me.”
“Yes, sir!”
I answered in a disciplined, military tone and drew the longsword from its scabbard at my waist.
Then I manifested a crimson aura along the blade.
Fiiing.
“Impressive. Very pure and well-refined aura. At this level, you’re probably mid-tier.”
In this world, aura proficiency is divided into four stages: lower, intermediate, upper, and highest.
In my case, I was at the intermediate level.
Aura was not something you could simply choose to use.
It was a mysterious power that only manifested when talent and effort aligned perfectly.
Even though the academy taught aura control, historically only ten students, including me, had ever reached it.
That was why the Imperial Knight Commander seemed to have high expectations of me.
“For reference, I am at the highest level myself. Hoho.”
“Is that so? I will do my best and hope to reach that level as well!”
“Hoho. At your age, already at intermediate level… with a little effort, you might get there sooner than you think.”
In society, flattery is the foundation of everything.
Since the position of Imperial Knight Commander carried significant authority within the palace, making a good impression on him would benefit me greatly.
More importantly, he was one of the top three people I needed to build connections with.
For the sake of safely placing the Crimson Empress on the throne.
“Since your induction is complete, let’s go meet your seniors in the Imperial Knight Order.”
“Yes, Commander!”
“No need to be so stiff. The Imperial Knight Order is strictly merit-based. You can relax a little.”
That is absolutely a trap.
It’s a test.
“No, sir. How could a newly inducted recruit dare to relax? I will humbly learn from my seniors and do my utmost to ensure the safety of the palace!”
“Hoho. Very disciplined. Let’s go then, Sir Damian.”
“Yes, Commander!”
Soon after, we arrived at the Imperial Knight barracks.
“New recruit incoming!”
“New recruit?”
“Ohhh! It’s real!”
“I’m finally free from being the youngest?!”
“Jackson’s energy just skyrocketed now that the youngest is here!”
There were four knights inside the barracks.
Wearing the Imperial Knight uniform, they looked like hyenas starved for a new recruit.
This feels familiar.
A bad memory surfaced.
The kind of situation where the youngest is stuck in that position for far too long because no new recruit arrives.
“We lost a guy last year!”
Bang!
The Commander knocked Jackson, one of the knights, on the head.
“It’s only been one year… or rather, a whole year…”
“We cannot appoint just anyone as Imperial Knights. We are tasked with protecting the palace. We must select only those with proven ability.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“By the way, this year will be the last time we need to worry about that.”
“Pardon?!”
Jackson looked shocked.
“What do you mean by that…”
“The academy’s second place student is the third son of the Duke of Teclis.”
The Duke of Teclis family is one of the pillars of the Roseshill Empire.
They protect the empire from northern barbarian tribes, operating multiple knight orders.
Most likely, the second place student had already joined one of those orders and would eventually become its commander.
“So the Teclis Duke family… I see… wait, the second place student is the third son?! Then the top ranker is—!”
“Yes. The newly assigned Sir Damian here is the top graduate of the academy. And he has held the top position for three consecutive years without ever losing it.”
The four knights turned their gaze toward me.
Bright, intense curiosity.
Too intense.
I feel pressure…
I stiffened for a moment under their gaze, but I couldn’t make a bad first impression.
“Greetings, seniors! I am Damian, newly assigned to the Imperial Palace and inducted into the Imperial Knight Order starting today! I look forward to working with you!”
“You don’t have a family name. So you’re a commoner?”
“Yes, that is correct!”
“Hey, relax. We’re all commoners here. Well, now we’re all baronets after our achievements, but still.”
“No, sir! I am more comfortable like this!”
Even if they were originally commoners, they were now nobles after earning merit and becoming baronets.
And treating senior knights casually would be the definition of incompetence.
It was best to warm up to them after some time had passed.
“You’re seriously disciplined. Jackson was nothing like this.”
“Why are you bringing that up again, Sir Yufir!”
The Imperial Knight Order.
This place is interesting.
“Anyway, since we have a new recruit, we should decide his assignment.”
“That’s true. Even if it’s a probation period, it’s better to assign it early.”
“We should coordinate with the others too.”
“Still, since he just arrived, starting with something easier would be best.”
After some discussion, the topic turned to my assignment.
It was a casual conversation, but I could feel they were trying to make things easier for me.
“Still, isn’t it better to let the new recruit decide?”
At that suggestion, the Commander nodded.
“Good idea. Sir Damian, look at the assignment map and tell us where you want to be stationed.”
This worked perfectly.
I had already planned for this.
If I wanted to stay near the Crimson Empress, there was only one place.
“I would like to be stationed here.”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
The place I pointed at was the palace of the youngest princess, the Crimson Empress.
The four knights looked visibly shaken.
“Listen, rookie. The youngest princess’s palace is honestly not recommended.”
“There hasn’t been a single normal knight stationed there so far.”
That was because every knight assigned to Princess Yuria Rosehill’s palace tended to die frequently.
That was why no knight wanted to be assigned there.
Except for one female knight.
That girl from before.
Cecilia Sylvester.
The identity of the female student I saw earlier.
She was the second daughter of the Sylvester Count family, a mid-level aura knight like me at that time, and would later become the Crimson Empress’s “First Sword,” reaching the highest aura level.
Because she had a youthful appearance, she was currently infiltrating the academy as a student.
So if she was there, my life wouldn’t be in immediate danger.
There’s no way I’d be in danger if Cecilia Sylvester is there, right?
“Hmm. Fine.”
“Commander!”
“This is too harsh for a recruit…!”
“I understand your concerns, but there is no need to worry. Sir Damian is an intermediate aura knight. He also has real combat experience from working as a mercenary during vacations to pay his tuition.”
“What?!”
All four knights looked at me in shock.
A newly graduated student with intermediate aura and real combat experience as a mercenary—it seemed hard to believe.
“My father was a former mercenary. So I occasionally received work through his connections…”
“What? You’re a highly capable used recruit?”
“If you were a mercenary, you probably did convoy escort or bodyguard work? Or dungeon exploration?”
“I’ve done convoy escort and bodyguard work, and I’ve also explored dungeons a few times.”
“What kind of overqualified rookie is this?”
“Haha… my father’s influence was quite strong…”
My father had retired due to health issues now, but he was once a very capable mercenary.
Thanks to him, I became who I am.
“What is your father’s name, recruit?”
“His name is Siegmund.”
“Siegmund… Siegmund… wait, the Giant Slayer Siegmund?!”
“I think so…?”
I had heard many stories about my father since I was young, but I never fully believed them.
Parents always exaggerate their achievements for their children.
But was all that actually true?
“Talent really does run in bloodlines…”
“The Giant Slayer Siegmund was at least upper or even highest aura level before retirement, right?”
At that moment, I realized my father might have been far more extraordinary than I thought.
Maybe my childhood as a mercenary trainee had been more extreme than I imagined.
Father… just how harsh were you trying to raise me…
My little sister was spoiled endlessly, though.
I should go home during my next leave and ask him about this properly.
“Anyway, no one objects to Sir Damian being assigned to the youngest princess’s palace, right?”
“Yes, Commander!”
“Good. Then Sir Damian, starting tomorrow you will report to the youngest princess’s palace.”
“Yes, Commander!”
“If you need help, feel free to rely on me or your seniors.”
And just like that, my first day in the Imperial Knight Order ended quickly.
This is the place.
I swallowed hard.
The next morning, I reported for my first day at the palace of the youngest princess.
The place where Princess Yuria Rosehill, the future Crimson Empress, resided.