I Came to Admire "Knights☆"! - 3
I shot a quick glare at the door Alfred Santigo had just exited through, then immediately checked the gauge at the very bottom.
100% ■■■■■■■■■■
A completely filled gauge.
You have successfully upheld your chivalry against a superior foe.
Rewards for the Oath of Chivalry have been granted.
A chime rang out, and swirls of light spread from my hand. Damn, that's flashy. Anyone seeing this would think I'd awakened some holy power or something.
Come to think of it, they hadn't specified what the rewards would be... No way they're giving me their own "fuck you" item, right?
The lights faded quickly soon after. And once they were gone, something remained in my hand.
"A ticket?"
It was a ticket with some weird symbol scribbled on it. One that looked awfully familiar, too.
Insight Eye activated.
Wait a sec. Why the hell is this showing up here?
◈ A ticket granting entry to Dreamland.
Who would've thought this would drop here. If I compare it to a mobile game, it's like a material dungeon—one that gives you upgrade materials or resources upon clear.
Usually, you'd get items to boost the male leads' affection or consumables, but if you're lucky, weapons or skill books pop out too. Hidden pieces are better, of course, but these are pretty damn useful. Plus, you get EXP on clear.
For someone like me who needs to level up, it's a godsend.
In the game, the character tears the ticket with a specific motion to open it. Wonder if it's the same here.
You have obtained an item for the first time.
Your inventory has been unlocked.
It opened. The flower of all games: the inventory. I'd wondered why it wasn't there—turns out you need to pick up an item first.
A hidden ability of the trait Oath of Chivalry has been partially unlocked.
Alarms blared again out of nowhere. A hidden ability of the Oath of Chivalry unlocked? I immediately checked the trait.
Oath of Chivalry
You must advance toward the unreachable stars.
The Knightly Stars will observe your words, actions, and deeds, serving as judges of your chivalry.
◈ Penalties are applied for un-chivalrous actions.
◈ Rewards are granted for chivalrous actions.
◈ The Knightly Stars are watching you.
◈ NEW! You can communicate with the Knightly Stars.
A single golden sentence sparkling at the very bottom. Communicate with the Knightly Stars? No way—is this like those constellation stories where they stream or some shit?
Would you like to communicate with the Knightly Stars? (Y/N)
Before I could even think, a notification window shoved right in my face. Like I was hypnotized, I hit Y.
And then...
An item has been added to your inventory.
You have exceeded the narrative you can handle.
Connection with the Knightly Stars has been severed.
Three chimes and a static crackle later, the status window vanished.
...?
What the fuck just happened? Blocked right after I clicked? Fuck, they invite me to chat and then slam the door? What kind of play is this?
Grousing, I opened my inventory. And there...
"What the hell is this."
A grid of squares, one with a book icon etched in it. A skill book.
◈ Use to acquire [Skill: Orlando-style Muscle Training Method].
Orlando-style Muscle Training Method Lv 1
The foremost virtue a knight must possess is not swordsmanship or mana, but muscle.
Muscle surpasses all.
— The Indestructible Knight —
But don't turn into a musclehead, okay? Nothing's more of a headache.
— The Knight of Ancient Swords —
◈ Body stats rise in proportion to mana stats.
◈ Mana can be temporarily converted to body stats.
Not blocked—they slipped it to me instead? And body stats rise with mana? That's fucking broken. Meaning, even if I dump everything into mana, my body stats go up too. It's like double-dipping on level-ups.
This'll give wings to my biceps.
So, how do I learn the skill? Do I have to read the whole book? Looks like at least 300 pages.
But my worries were for naught—the moment I touched it, it dissolved into light and absorbed into me. Nonexistent memories flooded my mind: how to use muscles, how to accumulate mana in them to increase mass, and more.
The epic tale of a knight honing his innate indestructible body accumulated in my brain.
I immediately opened my status window.
[Orlando-style Muscle Training Method] Lv 1
[Logres Mana Training] Lv 1
[Logres Swordsmanship] Lv 1
Body stat really went up by 5. At this point, I won't get my ass kicked anywhere.
Total defense boost of about 110 from the common-grade set.
Next...
A sword boosting attack by about 30. Not amazing for common grade, but better than nothing.
Even more amazing? I don't feel like I'm wearing armor. I feel the weapon's weight, but not the gear's. No bulkiness either. Plus, on/off switch means I can make it invisible even while equipped.
And the sword fits perfectly in my hand. Despite this body being from a modern guy who barely exercised, swinging it felt easy. Natural, like I'd held it a thousand times. I could see exactly how to swing it, and execute it flawlessly.
Ian’s memories? Or the system? Either way, I eyed the Dreamland Invitation in my hand.
With this gear and stats, I won't die easily. My conclusion.
What I need most right now? Levels. Actual stats eclipse level 1, but it's still level 1. And this is the Northern Territory. True to its frontline setting, even the weakest monsters here are level 30. Passing soldiers are level 40—this is a high-level zone!
Swing a sword around to grind? I'd get fucked. That's why Donnesia Kihano doesn't start right in the north—early game stacks bullshit on bullshit, putting her through hell.
By academy enrollment, she's higher level than others. Gold maknae geniuses catch up quick, though.
So, tear this thing? Alfred mentioned some schedule today... but nothing major, I think. Dreamland clears aren't long—just one dungeon.
It's an instance dungeon scaled to player level. I'm a transcendent level 1, so easy clear. Breakfast is still far off. I can return before it's set.
Let's go. Rip it, I guess?
I tore the Dreamland Invitation.
My father left me a note before he lost his mind. One he said to open only if he went mad.
It read:
'Go to the Logres Ducal Estate.'
Logres Ducal Estate. One of the five pillars upholding the Astoria Empire, guardians of the north. Rulers of the vast, frigid north, single-handedly holding back hordes of monsters and barbarians.
People praised their overwhelming might—and feared it.
They rarely appeared publicly, rooted in the north. So, rumors spread in the empire's back alleys:
The Northern Duke isn't human. Must be a cold monster ripping open barbarian chests to chew hearts.
Just rumors, of course. No one dared say it aloud. Insulting one of the five dukes? Too heavy a crime.
But I heard it in the empire's shadows, where dawn doesn't reach. Rumors I could've ignored.
I remember hearing it in the back alleys. Is the Duke really that icy monster? The one I saw as a child wasn't.
Well, now... I'll never know.
"Kekekeke! Boss, this one's top quality!"
A repulsive laugh, like gravel. Acrid stench assaulting my nose. The two men in front cackled.
I was bound, captured by these two. Thought I'd pass unnoticed as always, but sudden ambush got me.
"Pretty face too—sell her for a fortune."
Their leering gazes. Familiar from back alleys—disgustingly so. Lewd, filthy stares.
They didn't see me as human.
"Shame to sell without sampling first, eh?"
"Idiot, using it drops the value."
"Psh, one go won't wear her out."
I want to die. Bite my tongue and end it.
Father left the note and vanished mad. Clan ruined—no home. Clinging to this sliver of hope like a real blade, I came.
If this hell is the end... even surviving, if hope's a lie... better to die.
Bite tongue, meet dead mother, lost father maybe.
"C'mon, just once..."
Yeah, die...
Then—THWACK! Flesh struck hard; one bandit flew.
CRASH! He twitched, slumped; white steam from crotch turned yellow.
CLANK-CLANK. Heavy armored boots. Curses erupted around them, but they didn't stop.
Stopped before me. Head down, I saw only boots—shiny, new.
They stayed still till I looked up. So I did, slowly...
And there.
"Are you alright?"
A knight stood.