Chapter 301: The Knight Order…? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 301: The Knight Order…? (1)
Greinif, the land of the elves.
And within Greinif, Phildegrin, situated beneath the World Tree.
"Whew—"
Recently, with the help of Alon and Penia, a human mage had joined them, accelerating the reconstruction efforts.
However, Magrina still sighed as she looked out over the desolate Phildegrin.
"Hello there."
She turned her gaze toward the sudden voice.
"…It’s you."
"It’s been a while, Your Majesty."
Elivan stood there.
He wore a smile, looking as if he had been standing in that spot from the very beginning.
Magrina, showing no sign of surprise, looked at him and—
"Why did you do that back then?"
She threw the question at him.
"I’m not sure what you’re referring to."
Elivan shrugged his shoulders as if he truly didn't know.
But Magrina remained unfazed and asked again.
"When the Sin appeared, why did you stop me?"
The memory of that moment was still vivid in her mind.
The moment the Sin of Greed was about to attack Alon.
Magrina had intended to draw upon Baarma's power.
Even if the elves found out she had consumed Baarma's power.
…Even if her brother found out.
Saving Alon's life had been her priority.
But the reason Magrina hadn't followed through was because of Elivan.
The moment she tried to use her power.
He had appeared in the distance and naturally shook his head, suppressing her power, if only for a moment.
Watching Magrina stare straight into his eyes, Elivan let out a thoughtful hum.
"The Marquis would have been fine even if you hadn't stepped in," he said lightly.
"…He would have been fine?"
"Yes, really."
Elivan nodded immediately.
Magrina peered into his eyes.
His glowing blue eyes were steady, showing not a hint of doubt, as if he truly believed his own words.
"Did you go to the future or something?" Magrina asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
"…The future."
Elivan muttered to himself, then flashed his usual smile.
"Actually, no matter what the future holds, my belief wouldn't have changed much."
"…Pardon?"
"My hope won't wither away so easily," he said firmly.
"…."
Magrina started to retort but instinctively closed her mouth.
The atmosphere around Elivan had shifted in an instant.
His smiling face remained the same.
However, the aura he exuded and the eerie fanaticism flickering clearly in his eyes forced Magrina into silence.
"Oh, dear—"
Elivan quickly wiped away that atmosphere as if he had just snapped out of it.
"Anyway, to add to that, nothing bad would have happened to the Marquis. In fact, there was a high probability that only you would have been hurt, Your Majesty. That’s the only reason I stopped you."
"…."
"Ah, right. And I’ve taken care of all the Strange Gates. I actually came to report that, but I suppose I got a bit sidetracked."
He poured out his words at his own pace.
"Well then, I’ll be going now. I have to move quickly again."
And just like that, he left.
Elivan vanished as if he had never been there.
Magrina stared blankly in the direction he had disappeared.
"…."
Unlike before, her expression was strange.
In that brief moment when Elivan’s gaze had changed.
She had felt a familiar energy emanating from him.
…A very familiar energy she had felt not too long ago.
Because of that.
‘Just what is…?’
She couldn't take her eyes off the spot where Elivan had vanished for a long time.
* * *
Alon felt a sense of gloom as he looked at the crowds packing the territory, overflowing from the inner castle to the outer castle.
"I didn't expect this many people to come…."
Of course, he didn't deny that it was because he had posted the recruitment notice for the knight order too carelessly.
No, rather, because it was so careless and vague.
He never imagined that applicants would swarm like this.
To be honest, the notice Alon had posted was insufficient in many ways to attract people.
"Evan."
"Yes, Marquis."
"…I’m sure I just posted a notice saying we were recruiting for a knight order, right?"
"That’s right."
"Was there anything else added? Like salary, working conditions—you know, various details like that."
"Naturally, not a single one was included."
"Then you’re saying this many people flocked all the way here just after seeing a brief, one-line notice?"
"That’s right."
"…I can’t believe it."
Alon muttered with a groan.
However, Evan looked puzzled and asked back.
"Is that so? It’s a bit much, but it seems well within the expected range, doesn't it?"
"This is… within the expected range?"
"Yes."
"Why…?"
"…Marquis, I hope I’m wrong, but did you really not expect this at all?"
At the somewhat pathetic look in Evan's eyes, Alon scratched his head awkwardly.
"…I suppose I didn't."
"Marquis, to be honest, I feel this too, but you underestimate your own standing far too much."
"…I do?"
"Yes. Do you even know how great your reputation is?"
Alon groaned before finally speaking.
"Well, I suppose my name is known to some extent."
"You’re joking, right?"
"About what?"
"Your name isn't just 'known.' You’re so famous that if someone in the United Kingdoms doesn't know you, they’d be mistaken for an Imperial citizen."
"I’m that famous?"
"There are even mages who became mages simply because they admire you."
"Is that all?" Evan continued.
"You don't seem to realize it, but you are an absurdly famous person. It’s only natural for this many people to gather. Besides, there are already quite a few knights in Calliban who have grown strong using the power of Kalanon, the Lightning Receiver."
"Ah."
When Alon let out a low sigh as he thought of Silli in Calliban.
"So, even without any conditions, just the title of 'Knight of the House of Marquis Palatio' is enough to make people drop everything and come running. It’s perfectly natural."
"…Is that so."
"It’s not just 'is that so,' it’s a fact."
"I see…."
"I keep telling you, Marquis, you need to be aware of your own fame. Just in case you didn't know, did you know that knights from Calliban have been visiting the territory lately on a 'pilgrimage' just to bow to the statue Deus gifted you?"
‘Bowing to that Chieftain’s statue…?’
After a brief moment of thought, Alon let out a sigh and organized his tasks for now.
"…Let’s start the interviews first."
"I’ll get things ready."
And so, the knight order interviews began.
* * *
Simus, who turned twenty-three this year, took great pride in his swordsmanship.
It was only natural.
Because of his master, a reclusive expert, he had never stepped foot into the outside world until now. He had spent his time honing his sword since he was very young, reaching the level of a Sword Master at an early age.
When Simus reached the level of Sword Master, even his master, who was stingy with praise, acknowledged him, saying he was truly remarkable.
As a result, his pride pierced the heavens.
When he was finally told he could descend the mountain, Simus made a resolution.
A grand resolution to return home in glory through his own abilities.
And as the first step of that grand dream—
He decided to become a knight of the House of Marquis Palatio.
Of course, he knew he should go to Calliban to succeed as a knight.
But Simus wanted his success to be a bit more special.
To put it simply, he was acting out of youthful vanity.
On top of that.
Marquis Palatio was famous enough that even he and his master, who lived in seclusion in the mountains cut off from the world, heard news of him occasionally.
That was why Simus applied for the knight order without hesitation.
He dreamed happy dreams as he headed toward the House of Marquis Palatio.
Imagining himself entering the service of the Marquis, receiving his favor, growing rapidly, and eventually surpassing even the Five Swords of Calliban.
The imagination would surely become reality.
He didn't doubt for a second that he would pass the entrance exam.
He had heard from his master that Sword Masters were truly rare in the United Kingdoms.
Thus, Simus, who came to the House of Marquis Palatio for the entrance exam with a heart full of dreams, felt—
"…?"
Something was strange.
Because at the entrance exam, there were people with skills similar to his—
"…??"
Far more than he could have imagined….
Since Simus was a Sword Master, his eye for gauging opponents was fairly accurate, which made him even more flustered.
"Uh…?"
Just by turning his gaze to one side, he saw people who felt clearly stronger than himself exchanging sidelong glances.
Anyone could see they were blatantly wary of each other.
Even when he turned his head the other way, there were plenty of experts at a similar level to Simus.
Was that all?
"…What’s that?"
"Isn't that royalty?"
"Why would royalty come to a knight order entrance exam?"
"…That person over there is a mage?"
"Huh? Isn't that the daughter of the Red Tower Master?"
"Wait, I think I’ve seen that person somewhere before?"
"…Babayaga? There’s a Babayaga from the Colony here?"
"Crazy—why is the First Sword of Calliban here!?"
"I’m doomed—"
At the whispers pouring into his ears.
‘…Is this the level of the United Kingdoms…?’
Simus’s self-esteem shriveled up completely….
* * *
Alon filtered people out with a very simple physical test and began the interviews immediately without delay.
In truth, he wanted to categorize them by adding conditions, not just physical strength.
However, if he did that.
He would have to send back people who had abandoned their work to come all the way here just because they didn't meet certain conditions. So, he decided to endure a bit more hardship himself.
And so, he welcomed the very first person into the interview room.
The moment he looked up to check the applicant.
"?"
Alon couldn't help but wear a bewildered expression.
"…Rim?"
"Greetings! Primordial—no, Marquis!"
It was only natural, as the first person to open the door and walk in was none other than Rim, one of the Black Leaves of Phildegrin.
"…Why are you here?"
"I came for the interview."
The words ‘…You’re a Black Leaf who serves the Queen’ rose to his throat, but he didn't voice them.
"Er, don't you already have a position?"
"I can change it!"
…Did she even talk to Magrina before coming here?
The words surged up inside him once more.
Alon flipped the paper as if there was nothing more to see.
"…Please leave."
"Yes…."
At this, Rim left with a slightly dejected expression.
After sending back a few more elves like Rim, the next person to visit was—
"Greetings, Marquis!"
"…Philian?"
"Yes, I am Philian Merkillan!"
It was Philian Merkillan, a noble of Ashtalon.
Seeing Philian introduce himself with a very confident smile, Alon spoke without hesitation.
"Please leave."
"Pardon?"
"…You are a noble—no, a member of Ashtalon."
It was a bit flustering, but from Alon's perspective, it would actually be quite good to have Philian join the knight order.
However, Philian was quite obviously a noble of the Ashtalon Kingdom.
Furthermore, he was the youngest Sword Master, highly cherished within Ashtalon, so hiring him would surely cause trouble.
When Alon rejected him without hesitation.
"…."
Philian, who seemed to be in deep thought, spoke again—
"Greetings! I am Philian!"
He greeted him vigorously once more.
"?"
Alon looked bewildered, wondering what was going on.
However.
"I have discarded the name Merkillan! I am a commoner now, so you can address me comfortably!"
"Cough—!"
At Philian's subsequent words.
Evan, who had been yawning beside him, began to cough repeatedly as if something had gone down the wrong pipe.
"…."
Alon instinctively squeezed his eyes shut and clutched his head.
…It was already proving to be difficult.