Yearning for the Knightly Ideal! - 1
I have no idea what this is about. Every time I do something that goes against chivalry, I get a penalty, but if I act in accordance with chivalry, I get a reward? And what's the standard for this chivalry anyway? What the hell are these Knightly Stars? I scratched the back of my head amid this feast of bizarre conditions.
Fucking vague as shit.
Act in line with chivalry for rewards, against it for penalties. But there's no explanation of what those rewards or penalties are, nor any criteria on what behavior qualifies as chivalrous. On top of that, Knightly Stars? Never heard of it. Didn't show up in the game, not even in the artbook lore. Hell, even Ian had some backstory, but this?
So what does this trait's "chivalry" even mean? Is it just telling me to play Don Quixote? That's the only knightly imitation I know.
Sigh... Should I just charge at a windmill or something?
Anyway, no point overthinking it—I'll just wing it. I'm Ian de Logres, man with Dragon Power. Best to shut up, dive in, and figure it out later. Overcoming adversity is a knight's virtue, right?
With these biceps, upcoming trials hold no fear. Don Quixote must've felt the same charging those windmills. For me, these biceps are my Sancho and Rosinante.
Consequences? Future me can deal. Now, let's sort out my next moves.
Usually in these isekai setups, you leverage modern knowledge for business and cash in. I thought that too at first. But nope—realizing what this me can actually do: eat sword-for-hire gigs and swing steel. That's it.
Ian's memories, 29th-run game knowledge, and wiki-deep brain data reveal a ton. And just now, I confirmed I'm good for jack shit.
This world's medieval backdrop fuses magic and science into magitech, so modern gripes are pointless. Smartphones? Fridges? Abilities here overflow with equivalents.
Modern knowledge? Useless downside. So no "make soap and sell it" vibes.
Me crafting soap here? Not "wow, modern genius"—more "what's this retard on?" And anyway, I don't know how to make soap. Buy it at the mart—who handmade soaps?
So what's left? Right—wordcel. Novels.
Standard isekai: flood dopamine-starved vanilla locals with modern webnovels. But weirdly, this world's books drip modern sensibilities. Hunter-lite stuff despite settings, pure love to NTR—Earth-level smut everywhere. Grammar's similar too.
Me writing? Just another hack joins the pile.
But how's a medieval world got this? At this point, I'm the retarded one for sucking here.
So what can I do? Duke? Nah. No one's asking, but I'd pass anyway. I wanna live long and lean. Plus, brother's the heir—why burn bridges with my okay-ish bro?
Just snag falling crumbs, suck honey. But slacking? I'd get dumped in this icy North faster than army days. Colder here. Even my biceps would protest abandonment.
Conclusion: sword-for-hire, get strong. Any route—engineer, novelist—strength's mandatory.
Dawn Star Academia has route-specific final bosses you must beat for endings. Romance fantasy genre, but lore-dive: bosses are bullshit. No late-game power-up? Instant death on contact.
Unlike solo-clearable game, story canon: heroine parties male leads via friendships/romance, beats bosses with friendship/love power.
Yup. Romance atop apocalypse. Flowers bloom in war for a reason. Mid-bosses ain't slouches either.
"Just avoid heroine?"
Nope. This is Reality. This isn't some pink romance-fantasy fluff: this is the cold reality of Northern Territory.
No strategy guide, no save-scum. Unlike game A-boss-for-A-ending, probably true ending needs all bosses down for happy retirement.
Heroine draws male leads—sans her, no party. DLC-less heroine extinction scenario proves her importance.
Heroine croaks early? Everyone fucked.
So get strong. Keep power-inflate pace, snag sidekick role. Then comfy bro-leech with limbs intact.
Key too: this run's heroine.
Pick one playable—others vanish. Difficulty varies by synergy/talents.
Easiest: Angelica. Munchkin knight—OP combat skills galore.
Next: Iris, Cecilia. Healing saint Iris: top support, synergy god. Regressor Cecilia: competent post-loop.
Problem: Donnesia Kihano. Adoption-route heroine. Count Kihano daughter, disowned at 15, adopted into Logres at 15.
Hidden drama aside—issue's start point. Not adoption: post-eviction.
Unlike sheltered heroines, she's homeless. Hard-mode bullshit early—sole bad-end trigger.
If she's this run's protag and dies pre-here? All fucked.
Summary: 1) Power up, don't lag inflation. 2) ID this run's heroine; if Donnesia, fetch fast.
For 2), no dad permission needed. Ties to him anyway. Post-heroine buffs, she/males smash bosses... I straw-bro, toast wine.
Perfect plan. Biceps bulge in agreement.
"Alright then."
Finishing thoughts, rising—
Knock knock.
"Apologies for the early hour, Young Master Ian. This is Head Butler Alfred."
Gruff yet seasoned baritone. First face-to-face since isekai.
Over seventy, yet buffer than most adults. Wrinkled forehead screams years; white hair fully claimed black. But those sharp eyes? Unbroken.
Kind face, white mustache—striking. Head Butler Alfred Santigo. Duke's closest, served two lords. Duke's trusted blade; sole voice to scold the North's wild lord.
And.
Insight Eye
Level 74. And that's declined from peak.
I got Dragon Power, but stats wise? Barely level 13. Overwhelming gap. Even with best biceps, Alfred flicks—I shred.
Good news: Insight Eye shows threat rank for foes. No rank? Not enemy.
Dunno why here, but... caution.
Speech like old Ian's memories.
"What brings you, Elder Alfred?"
My reply—Alfred pauses, lips seal. Silence hits; cold sweat cascades down my back.
He knows I'm not Ian? Moment stretches eternal. Kind face or not—superhuman monster. Could kill me ten times in a blink.
Then.
"My apologies, Young Master. These old eyes grow dim; I misspoke briefly."
Rubs eyes, kind smile. False alarm.
Alfred's visit? Routine. Today's schedule, like old Ian got. Finishes, bows, heads to door—grasps knob.
And.
"Forgive me, Young Master Ian. Might this old man ask a question?"
Doesn't turn knob—instead faces me. Again?
"Go ahead."
No veto power anyway.
"Do you have a dream, Young Master?"
Random as fuck. Dream? Like career goal? Why sudden?
"A dream...?"
"Yes. I've heard Master Cassian's, but not yours."
Drops Cassian's name grilling my aspirations. Old Ian never shared. Why probe now? Testing if I'm fake?
What to say? 'Wanna straw-leech bro's spine'—nope.
But... gotta? Superhuman butler or not—bastard son. I say no, what can he do?
Then.
Oath of Chivalry has activated.
The Knightly Stars are watching your chivalry.
What the fuck?
Blue UI pops. Alfred no-react—solo view? But why now?
Post-alert: bottom gauge spawns.
0% □□□□□□□□□□
Fuck. Why's my interview panel suddenly bigger?