116
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 116
A few days later.
Gloria, Gideon, and Theon left for Sanctus Lumen.
Caesar thought his training ground would be empty, but it wasn't.
Instead, it was packed with people.
Sean called out to the knights:
"Sir Marco, come forward!"
"Yes!"
The one called Marco stood confidently before Caesar.
He had a few freckles that made him quite likable.
Caesar sat on a tree stump with the bottom cut off and looked at Marco.
After checking his watch, he spoke:
"First, you're on time, so first stage passed."
"Thank you!"
"Your voice is loud, so second stage passed."
"Thank you very muuuuch!"
"Bring the steel knight badge."
"Here it is!"
Marco brought Caesar the steel knight badge, a symbol of knighthood.
The badge was quite shiny, indicating he was a recently appointed knight.
"How long have you been a knight?"
"I became a knight last year!"
What a youngster.
And he's not even a famous knight in Caesar's memory.
"I said I wanted knights who have participated in the demon realm war. It was clearly stated in the announcement, so why did you apply?"
"W-well! I wanted to join a knight squadron! But no one would accept me..."
"Isn't that too honest?"
"I was taught that knights do not lie!"
Indeed.
How many nobles are currently comfortable enough to take in new knights?
Small-scale nobles have filed for bankruptcy, unable to receive the compensation promised through the imperial court.
Naturally, knights who have gained experience in the demon realm are being absorbed into large knight squadrons like the Redfield Duke's or the Springfield Viscount's family...
Who would take in these newcomers?
Caesar looked at the knights behind Marco.
With these knights alone, he could form five or six squadrons.
But no matter how much money Caesar has, he can't accept all of them.
"Rejected."
"What?! Is it because I lack experience?"
"I clearly said I wanted knights with experience from the demon realm war. If you don't meet the criteria, you're out."
"I can't accept this! Then where are knights like me supposed to gain real-world experience!"
"Yes, that argument is valid. However..."
Caesar stood up.
"I hate seeing young knights dying from recklessness the most."
Caesar used 'Oppression'.
The young knights behind Marco, including Marco himself, collapsed with their legs giving out.
"How can you swing a sword next to me when you can't even withstand my oppression? Huh?"
Caesar looked at Sean.
"Check those who've fallen and send them all back."
"Oh, yes."
Caesar sat back on the stump.
Counting the fallen knights, almost 90% were eliminated.
The rest were barely hanging on.
Caesar cracked his neck.
"Next."
It seems it will take some time to form a proper knight squadron.
***
Caesar had three absolute criteria for rejection.
First, those without demon realm war experience:
"Rejected. You have no demon realm war experience."
"But I've been a champion for 15 years..."
"Does that make you stronger than me?"
"What?"
"Do you think I need a champion? Are you saying you're stronger than me? Huh?"
"N-no, but..."
"I want knights skilled in group combat. I don't need individual play knights like you. Next!"
Caesar yawned while checking the profile Sean handed him.
"What's your name?"
"Bihawk Adelman."
"Rejected."
"What?"
"No spirit in your voice. Rejected."
"Huh...?"
The second rejection criterion was for those with notorious reputations or terrible personalities.
Bihawk was a prime example.
Bihawk was talented and had demon realm war experience.
But he was too transparent.
Caesar looked at a new knight's profile.
"You use triple swords?"
"Yes! Correct!"
"Rejected."
"What...? Why?"
"Have you ever broken swords on the battlefield?"
"Uh..."
"Rejected."
The third rejection criterion was weapons not optimized for group combat.
Caesar especially despised triple swords. They were flashy, but rarely used effectively, often breaking mid-battle.
Would you use a nearby longsword if your weapon breaks?
No.
Most triple sword users were technique-focused, having learned unique skills only usable with triple swords, so they never looked at other weapons.
During wars, he'd seen countless instances where such knights would wait in the rear until they could get a new weapon made...
"No more?"
Sean looked through the documents and nodded.
"Yes, this is the end for today."
Caesar stood up.
"In the end, I couldn't recruit anyone."
"I'll run around and find good knights!"
"Alright, work hard."
Caesar looked at the dejected knights in the training ground's corner.
Most were new knights.
"Damn... We thought becoming a knight automatically meant joining a knight squadron."
"Where should we apply? Should we try the Friedrich border region?"
"It's the best place to build a record, but Friedrich has such a notorious reputation..."
One reason the Friedrich border region was suffering from a talent shortage was this.
The Friedrich border Count had dismissed the hero 'Yan' who was serving as his knight.
Because of this issue, he was marked as someone who couldn't properly see or use people, so talents weren't flocking to him.
Moreover, applying to the Friedrich border region meant mandatory deployment to dangerous demon realm frontlines, with pay that didn't match the hardship.
Caesar approached the new knights.
The new knights quickly stood at attention.
"Take a break. Your heart must be racing after being rejected."
"...I heard you've turned away all the reporters who came today. Why did you reject everyone?"
"I told you. I don't want to see my colleagues die while showing off."
Marco stepped forward and said:
"But! I heard that a knight should not fear his own death."
"Really?"
"That's ri-..."
Thump!
Caesar punched Marco right in the face.
Because it happened in a moment too fast to react, Marco could only respond after Caesar's fist had stopped.
"Aaaagh!"
With a fierce gust of wind, he was knocked backward and fell on his bottom.
"Look. Even though I threw a punch right in front of you, none of you reacted. This is death."
Caesar grabbed Marco's collar and lifted him up.
"You could die from a friendly fire, or suddenly get poisoned by goblins playing dead. Among the knights who died, there's not a single one who knew they were going to die. That's why I don't want you. You lack experience."
Caesar smoothed out the wrinkles in Marco's clothes while Marco stared blankly.
"But if you broaden your perspective and let go of your ambitions a bit, you'll see there are plenty of opportunities."
"...Opportunities?"
Caesar pointed to the recruitment notice for 'Homigraph Special Police' hanging at the entrance of the training ground.
"The world's becoming quite turbulent. Recently, they say there are outlaws handling aura both inside and outside Homigraph. Can regular police stop those guys? Only aura users or knights can stop them."
Marco spoke carefully:
"Wasn't it the job of Caesar's knights to solve this?"
"The knights are my private property. Why should I use my knights to handle Homigraph's public security?"
Caesar tore off the notice and handed it to Marco.
"Protecting Homigraph's citizens is the job of the police. Of course, I'm a wizard deputy sheriff and federal sheriff, but that's just a personal position. I'm not obligated to use my knights."
Caesar looked around at the dazed newcomers.
Their expressions were complex.
"If the world has changed, you must adapt to the changed world. If you resist, you'll get tired. Look at me. I became a sheriff before serving my lord."
A spark began to appear in their eyes.
As they realized Caesar had already paved the way for their future, their stiff minds softened.
One quick-witted person raised his hand.
It was Marco.
"I'll apply!"
"Me too! Me too!"
"Where can I apply?!"
"The notice! What's written in the notice?! What are the qualifications?!"
Marco raised his hand to stop the rushing knights.
"I'll read it! Everyone, be quiet!"
As the knights fell silent, Marco began reading in a loud voice:
"So the qualification is just to be an aura user, and those with knight qualifications will be preferred. The number of recruits hasn't been determined yet... And... Huh?"
Marco stared directly at Caesar.
"The application site is the personal training ground of Wizard Deputy Sheriff Caesar...?"
Caesar snapped his fingers and called out:
"Sean. New applicants. Bring their profiles."
Caesar sat on a tree stump.
***
Gregory stood in front of the entrance mirror and adjusted his necktie.
He carefully checked each detail, whether his mustache was neatly trimmed, if there were any wrinkles in his clothes, if his shoes were clean.
Just as knights have armor and swords as essentials, for a Councilman, a neat suit and a top hat are armor, and a walking stick and a smooth tongue are swords.
Therefore, Councilman Walterwood managed his clothes, walking stick, and dry throat whenever he had a chance, just like knights oil their armor and swords.
Gregory looked at himself in the mirror.
Though his clothes were unwrinkled, his hands and face were wrinkled like old tree bark.
Once he thought these wrinkles were a symbol of nobility and wisdom, but today they seemed fragile.
Perhaps because of these wrinkles, he didn't feel refreshed even when waking up, and now he could barely read newspaper letters.
Today, he felt like he could see his father beyond the mirror.
What did his father say on the first day he decided to run for Councilman?
"Greetings, Councilman Walterwood."
A familiar voice rang out.
In front of the main entrance stood a young man holding a brass puma walking stick identical to Gregory's.
His suit looked new, neat, and elegant, and his shoes were glossy.
It felt like a fresh sprout breaking through a hard concrete floor.
Gregory gestured to the man.
"Harrison."
Harrison walked slowly towards Gregory and stood beside him in front of the mirror.
Now he seemed to remember what his father had said to Gregory.
"A new suit, shiny shoes, and a stiff walking stick are like a fresh spring breeze. They feel like a symbol of impending change and transformation, and to old, hardened power-holders, they sound like a retirement gunshot."
Gregory moved his hand, and a butler immediately brought a case.
"Most current and prospective councilmen are more experienced and more cowardly than you. When you hit a cowardly snake, it will bite back."
Gregory personally opened the case and took out the walking stick inside.
"This is..."
The left ear of the brass puma was worn, and the walking stick was full of scratches everywhere. However, due to proper oiling and repair, it didn't look damaged. Instead, it felt vintage and stylish.
"This is something you left behind in a frenzy. Take it."
Harrison put down his new walking stick and picked up the old one. It felt perfectly comfortable in his hand.
"Being a Councilman means standing on the podium for those who support you, driving away and persuading enemies with sharp and soft speech. You yourself are like a sharp knife, so at least imbue your clothing and walking stick with friendliness."
Gregory looked into Harrison's eyes. Somehow, his son, now half a head taller than himself, was looking back at him.
"This is the first advice for you becoming a Councilman."
Harrison found the current Gregory somewhat unfamiliar. Because except when he was young, Gregory had never been this warm to him.
Maybe that's why?
Today, one word kept lingering in his mouth.
"I understand. Father."
Gregory's rigid lips drew a small curve for the first time.
"Let's go."
Gregory headed towards the carriage.
"We must announce that a new era has come."