Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Rochelle Kingdom's Strongest Female Knight, Rei (2)
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Christia Count family.
The Christia Count family, renowned as one of Rochelle Kingdom's three great count houses, bore the moniker "the kingdom's sword."
Elite knights and valiant soldiers.
As the count house responsible for guarding the border against the untamed wilds, their overall military strength was formidable.
"Hup!"
"Hah!"
Whoosh—swoosh—
The training grounds of the count's estate reeked of men's hot sweat even in broad daylight.
Bone-grinding effort and sky-piercing spirit.
The knights who endured this hellish daily training, pushing themselves to the brink and honing their skills, each possessed monstrous power.
The Black Dragon Knights, called the kingdom's strongest sword.
Followed by the White Dragon Knights and Blue Dragon Knights.
The knight orders were divided into three tiers based on their members' skills.
Even the Blue Dragon Knights, rated as the weakest, had individual knights whose strength surpassed C-Class adventurers.
Rei, the captain of the Black Dragon Knights, whom even those Blue Dragon Knights looked up to, finished her personal training session, shook off her sweat lightly, and changed into casual clothes.
"Whew."
A private training hall, reserved for nobles only.
Yet Rei had converted an entire building in the count's estate into her exclusive training ground.
As she stepped outside, maids bowed their heads in greeting.
"Lady Rei, excellent work on your training. Count Christia summons you."
"Got it."
As the captain of the Black Dragon Knights, she held a position equivalent to nobility within the count's household.
Second only to the count and his wife in authority.
It was only natural. Given Rei's prowess, she could earn a noble title anywhere.
If anything, the count house should be grateful she stayed on as knight captain.
Rei entered the main castle building.
She ascended the stairs to the top floor, then knocked on an ornate door.
Knock knock knock—
"My lord. It's Rei."
"Come in, Lady Rei."
"Yes, sir."
Inside sat a middle-aged man with neatly combed-back black hair.
Godmund von Christia.
The current head of the Christia Count family, and the man her father had sworn loyalty to.
Rei entered with natural poise.
Godmund pulled out a chair for her himself, and Rei sat politely on the plush seat.
"I called you to check on something."
"Yes, sir."
"The Monster Wave is less than a month away now. I wanted to know if our forces are gathering well."
Though Rei was captain of the Black Dragon Knights, she didn't handle their training personally.
Even the elite Black Dragon Knights paled in comparison to her in raw power—there was a vast gap between regular knights and their captain.
Rei was too valuable a resource to waste teaching others. Her talent was better spent sharpening her own edge. Thus, all Black Dragon Knights training fell to the vice-captain.
Her role was solely self-improvement and external operations.
Rei spoke up.
"Regular soldier-level mercenaries and knight-level adventurers are gathering smoothly. Beyond the pay, many apply hoping to rise in rank through distinguished service."
"Mm. Indeed. A Monster Wave is a calamity, but also an opportunity."
Godmund nodded deeply.
Rei was in charge of recruitment for this Monster Wave. She didn't scout personally, but she reviewed every applicant.
"However, disappointingly, we have no captain-level applicants. It's been six months since we opened recruitment, but no S-Class or higher adventurers have signed on."
"Sigh... This is troubling."
A shadow fell over Godmund's face.
Captain-level recruits.
In other words, S-Class adventurers or above.
Forces for the Monster Wave were divided into three tiers.
Regular soldiers.
Knight-level.
Captain-level.
Each had distinct roles.
Regular soldiers held the line against monsters breaking through defenses, buying time. Knight-level swept the battlefield proper.
Captain-level were jacks-of-all-trades: firefighters, disruptors, infiltrators—capable of any role as needed.
Captain-level forces were the core of Wave defense.
One-for-hundreds, even one-for-thousands—apex predators.
No such aid had come.
It was unavoidable.
80% of S-Class adventurers were monopolized by the Phrygia Alliance, leaving only 20% for national coalitions.
And in Rochelle Kingdom, no active S-Class adventurers for two years.
Adventurers were elusive; without guild ties, tracking them was impossible.
Mercenaries were the fallback, but captain-level ones were rare even there.
Adventurers had quality; mercenaries, quantity.
A first-rank mercenary equated to a C-Class adventurer. Even rare specials topped out at B-Class.
"We'll have to rely heavily on the kingdom's reinforcements. That aside, Lady Rei, how's your condition? Holding up well?"
Godmund asked.
"I'm always at my peak."
"Good, as expected. Lycan always said the same."
Godmund spoke bitterly. Rei paused at the name, lost in nostalgia.
Lycan.
Her father's name.
He'd passed five years ago, but he'd been Rochelle's strongest.
Lycan served Godmund, and Rei carried on that legacy for the count house.
The only change: now serving Godmund's sole heir, Lady Charlotte, per his orders.
"Anyway, Lady Rei. Keep recruitment open. A captain-level volunteer would make things much easier."
"Yes, sir."
"If none come, much rests on you. Maintain peak condition as always."
"Understood."
Rei bowed, and Godmund smiled, satisfied with her confident reply.
He trusted her power utterly. She outclassed any other knight captain by leagues.
Their conversation ended there.
He briefly mentioned Lilac Village's annihilation to Rei, but it barely concerned her.
Godmund quietly blamed himself for neglecting the village.
Rei surmised he planned an investigation team to uncover the truth and rebuild.
"Then I'll return to training."
"Mm. Take care."
Step, step—
Leaving the main building, Rei gazed at the sky.
Clear blue.
Not a cloud in sight.
Hard to believe monsters would swarm soon on such fine days.
Rei strolled toward the training grounds where knights drilled.
"Hyah!"
"Hup!"
Swoosh—whoosh—!
Black Dragon Knights swung swords with fierce kiais, shirts off, muscles rippling.
Perfect form, unyielding spirit.
Rei took in each knight.
Black Dragon Knights, 1st Squadron, Crimson Fang Company.
All proven elites. The 30 training could pass for B-Class adventurers anywhere.
Off-duty members were no different.
A top-tier order, but to Rei, still lacking.
'The Monster Wave... We must stop it.'
Her late father came to mind.
Rochelle's strongest, invincible Lycan—slain by a monster.
One of the Five Great Evils from the wilds: a devil.
Humans instinctively loathed monsters, but Rei's hatred burned deeper.
This Wave was personal.
No more losses like her father. Crush the monsters thoroughly, minimize casualties.
Hence, captain-level reinforcements were urgently needed.
Currently, only six secured.
Herself, Black Dragon vice-captain, White Dragon captain, Blue Dragon captain, and the Third Royal Guard captain and vice-captain.
Six should feel solid, but Rei remained uneasy.
'None are true "captain"-level.'
In adventurer terms, White and Blue captains plus Third Guard vice were high A-Class.
Even the borderline S-Class Black vice and Third captain barely scraped by.
She couldn't count on flawless performance.
Strong, but ambiguously so—that was Rei's assessment of the others.
'If only an S-Class adventurer dropped from the sky...'
Rei sighed.
But that was near impossible.
After six months of recruiting, none meant none would come.
Rei cleared her mind, gripped her sword in the private hall. She steeled herself.
'Whew. I'll do better. Yeah, I won't waver.'
She held her sword firm and swung like the wind.
* * *
And that night.
Rattle—
Rattle, rattle—
"Hehe, bro! Look at this. Aren't the stars super pretty?"
"They are. Clear view."
I didn't stay in Binbona Village. Instead, I rode a carriage to Christia City with Sera and Seri.