Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Our Knight Order is Kind
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"Yes, we'll register you under the Azure Sea Knight Order's 6th Company. Once you're officially a knight, you'll be assigned two squires and nine soldiers. How would you like to handle that?"
"Skip that. Please go through the same route as wandering knights who join Valheim."
That was the path for externally recruited wandering knights: a three-month probation period before being assigned squires and soldiers.
"You're referring to the probation process for wandering knights, then. Understood."
Revlian quickly adjusted everything accordingly.
"What about your age?"
"Ah, can you tweak that a bit? I look young on the outside. Make it around 18."
"Would it be alright if I preview your appearance first, as a test?"
"If that's the case, change the appearance and slot me into the 6th Company today."
There was no reason to drag things out.
"Understood. I just need to report to the captain, and it can be processed right away. We'll have it done today. What about a room?"
"Got any empty ones? I'll make sure not to bump into other knights unnecessarily."
That's when Krash thought of Bianca.
"Oh, Bianca will be with me too. Frame it as a condition for the wandering knight joining: I have to look after my young sister, so no choice."
"Yes, I'll prepare that as well."
"Sorry. Throwing a lot at you."
Watching Revlian jump into preparations for every request, Krash gave a wry smile. Revlian blinked.
He realized belatedly that he hadn't responded and straightened his posture.
"My apologies. It's my first time hearing an apology from a superior for something like this. I was a bit flustered."
Knights embodied the strictest hierarchy.
For Revlian, who had lived in that world, Krash's apology was unexpected.
Krash looked at him, then let out a wry chuckle.
"Revlian, even Valheim direct descendants are just people."
They might be treated like gods, but to Krash, they were all the same.
In the face of annihilation, Valheim nobles, knights, and commoners all died equally.
"I gave you a lot of work, so I felt sorry. You handled the requests well, so I'm just grateful."
Others might differ.
But that's how Krash was.
"...I see. I was short-sighted."
"Right. Now, as I said earlier, let me show you the appearance I'll use for the time being."
Krash immediately shifted into his Krad form right in front of Revlian.
"Ah, um, yes, understood."
Seeing Krad's half-closed eyes and thick black hair, Revlian looked somewhat awkward.
Krash understood his reaction.
Honestly, this appearance looked pretty suspicious.
The saving grace was his recent growth spurt, making his face look somewhat age-appropriate.
His unique aura probably helped too.
"I'll report to the captain and return."
Once Revlian left the room,
Krash turned to Bianca.
"Lord Krash, I can't see your eyes."
"I can see ahead fine, so don't worry."
Bianca didn't seem fazed by Krash's changed appearance.
To her, his looks had never mattered much anyway.
As long as Krash was there, that was enough for her.
"More importantly, Bianca, you might want to change your hair color too. Is that okay?"
He'd set her up as his sister, but Bianca's hair was too distinctive.
Her face wasn't widely known in Valheim, so no one would recognize her, but...
The signature white hair of the Hardenharts was impossible to miss.
"The same color as you, Lord Krash?"
"Of course. That's the plan, since you're my sister."
"Then sure."
Good that she agreed.
Krash glanced at Crimson Garden, who gave a light nod.
Hair color was easy to change with magic.
Crimson Garden approached Bianca and lifted a wing slightly. In that instant, Bianca's hair turned black.
The black hair fluttered once, dramatically altering Bianca's aura.
She'd grown more expressive lately, but her face was still stoic.
Perhaps because of that—if white-haired Bianca resembled a flower between her brows, black-haired Bianca evoked a black rose.
Her hair had grown long recently, now swaying noticeably over her back.
Bianca fiddled with her new black locks, then turned to Krash a bit shyly.
"Does it suit me?"
She asked with a hint of worry.
"It suits you perfectly."
He meant it.
With Bianca's looks, what wouldn't suit her?
Her recent growth made the black hair give her a slightly more mature vibe than before.
Bianca's lips curved up faintly, then she turned her back to Krash.
"Lord Krash, tie it for me."
The dark color must have made it feel hotter.
Krash took the tie from her and slowly gathered and bound her hair.
Now with a ponytail like a horse's tail, Bianca shook it once and sat beside Krash.
Leaning her head on his shoulder, she smiled faintly.
"Same color now."
Krash had no idea what was so great about it.
But her legs swinging happily under the chair said she was pleased, so he said nothing.
Thanks to Revlian's swift handling, Krash was assigned an empty dormitory room as a wandering knight.
Valheim's knight orders had great welfare.
With private bathroom, shower, kitchenette, and three rooms, living there would be no issue.
"Crim, want me to give you a room?"
[Do whatever you want.]
What a grumpy response after he considered her.
Krash tossed the luggage Aliod had thoughtfully packed into a room.
"Bianca, any room you want?"
"Which one will you use, Lord Krash?"
Krash picked a random room.
Bianca nodded and chose the one next door.
She didn't care which room either.
"Feels like a newlywed home."
For some reason, Bianca's voice sounded excited.
Where did she even learn to say that?
Krash thought he might need to give her personal maid Elly another lecture soon.
Knock knock—
A knock came from outside the dormitory.
Krash opened the door curiously and first noticed a scar on the forehead and a bald head.
The rough-looking man towered over Krash by a head.
"You're the new guy recommended by the vice-captain, right?"
His low, booming voice asserted dominance right off the bat.
He'd come straight away.
Rumors spread fast in the Azure Sea Knight Order.
"Yeah. Krad."
"I'm Zeke. We have a tradition for new members in the Azure Sea Knight Order. Mind coming with me?"
He gripped the door firmly, like a threat.
Textbook bully vibes.
Hazing was common in knight orders, he'd heard.
Plus, Krash was nominally a wandering knight.
Regular knights who rose through proper channels wouldn't welcome that.
Whatever.
He'd be with the Azure Sea Knight Order for a while anyway.
Better settle things quickly.
"Bring your sister if you want."
"I'll go alone. She's shy around strangers."
No reason to drag Bianca into hazing.
Zeke nodded and led Krash away obediently.
Krash cracked his neck lightly.
How strong was the Azure Sea Knight Order?
Average Expert mid-to-high rank, he recalled.
At the dining hall door, Krash sensed a crowd inside.
Seemed like the whole Azure Sea contingent was there.
As he heightened his Sixth Sense, Zeke opened the door.
Bang!
Something popped, and Krash's hand went to his waist before he saw it was a small party popper.
Confetti rained down—purely celebratory.
Knights and soldiers everywhere shouted in unison toward Krash.
"Welcome, new guy!"
"Let's get along!"
"Haha, you've got a unique look!"
It was an enthusiastic welcome. Krash blinked his half-closed eyes.
Looking at Zeke, he grinned back.
"We gather everyone we can for new members and throw a welcome party. It's been a while, so they're all excited. Bear with it."
"Ah, uh, sure."
Not hazing—he hadn't expected a welcome. Krash looked awkward.
"Everything okay with this?"
Zeke asked worriedly right away.
Unlike his bald head, his heart was full of consideration and warmth.
"Might be overwhelming. We're all strangers, after all."
"Haha, no worries. Heard you brought your sister here yourself to look after her? Grab some sister-friendly stuff!"
"If your sister's upset about something but won't say, ask me. Easier for girls to open up to another woman, right? Girls are sensitive."
Warm words came from all around.
Krash scratched his head, unaccustomed.
So this was the Azure Sea Knight Order.
He realized anew how disconnected he'd been from Valheim's knight orders.
...Guess I'll go fetch Bianca.
The party was pretty good.
Bianca loved sweets and devoured the cake.
He had to wipe her mouth and hands midway since she got messy.
Still, seeing her eat well lifted Krash's mood.
The issue was being treated like an adult and offered drinks.
Krash politely declined alcohol.
After the party, as Azure Sea knights rested,
Krash was checking future plans with Vice-Captain Revlian.
"So, Forbidden Zone support starting next week."
"Yes. The designated zone is the Demonic Realm. About a month's travel by carriage, but Sephira will handle transport."
"Sephira support?"
Krash paused.
Sephira, the World Erosion specialist unit.
He'd recently heard about them from Crimson Garden.
"Yes. They've permitted use of their space magic circle near the Demonic Realm. Its activity has been unusual lately. They need support."
Hearing that, Krash pondered.
Forbidden Zone duty was standard, but running into Sephira's princess was inevitable, it seemed.
Still feels too early.
Krash tapped his crossed arms.
...Not going as a Valheim direct descendant, so maybe no involvement?
The thought struck him, so he asked Revlian more.
"That much support means Azure Sea isn't alone. Other orders?"
"Yes, Second Sword and Fourth Sword are mobilizing too."
Krash stroked his chin slowly.
With Second and Fourth Sword, Fifth Sword Azure Sea would handle grunt work.
Fourth Sword had top-tier Experts; Second Sword mixed early-to-mid Masters. They'd be the main force.
Not that it matters against One Sword.
All Master high-rank.
The world's strongest knight order, One Sword.
Its captain, Valheim's Guardian Sword, was peak Master.
This was why the Empire hesitated against Valheim.
Not individual power, but a full knight order of Master high-ranks.
The Empire's White Dragon Knights might outnumber, but quality-wise, they fell short.
The creator of my One Sword got the Guardian Sword title, hence the name.
Including Guardian Sword, five at peak Master.
Valheim's deputy head, Martial King, ranked in Heavenly Ten Strong, reaching the pinnacle of Master.
Finally, Martial Emperor Balok Valheim, one of four worldwide at Emperor realm.
Krash felt anew how monstrous Valheim was as a martial house.
No wonder people said Valheim's knights outshone Staron's royal ones.
Monsters, all of them.
Knowing he belonged there, Krash chuckled dryly.
This was why he was half-baked in Valheim.
To them, he truly was.
Yet it left him bittersweet.
Even Valheim was powerless against annihilation.
Well, the Sky Generation, called history's strongest, fared no better.
Valheim wouldn't either.
"Um, are you alright?"
Krash snapped back at Revlian's voice and looked up.
"Alright?"
"Your expression looked serious."
"Just my normal face."
Revlian peered again, puzzled.
With eyes closed, Krash's face was hard to read anyway.
Then Krash caught on.
"Because of your big sis in Second Sword?"
Lilys Valheim.
Valheim's second child, current Second Sword—Heavenly Host Knight Order captain.
Belokin's blood sister and Krash's half-sister.