067. Guard Captain Arena
The air in the arena changed.
The spectators in the stands held their breath, staring at the scene unfolding before them.
It was all because of the lone man standing in the center of the arena.
A colossal figure clad in a white uniform. No amount of clothing could conceal his bulging, rippling muscles.
His fierce face, with its silver forelock swept entirely back, left the crowd speechless.
“……!”
“T-That's Guard Captain Jink……!”
“Why is the Guard Captain here……?!”
Countless people harbored doubts at the sight of him. He was none other than the Guard Captain—no less.
With his duties commanding the knights of the Gana Empire, he shouldn't have had time for this.
Jink Howard. Nicknamed the White Lion, he was a 1st Class knight in the realm of the gods.
Head of the Howard family—one of the empire's top ten noble houses—and Guard Captain of the Gana Empire.
Helden would claim his position someday.
It was then, as Jink thrust his fist toward Bin—
Tap, tap.
Two knights approached before Jink.
They gripped their spears and issued a warning.
“You can't just leap into the arena like that. Please return to the stands.”
“Even as Guard Captain, this is Bascon territory. Follow our rules.”
The imposing physique before them was intimidating, no doubt.
But they couldn't shirk their duty.
Jink shifted his gaze and looked down at them.
When he showed no sign of retreating despite the warning, the knights shouted again.
“We'll say it one more time. Return to the stands.”
“We kindly ask for your cooperation.”
The knights spoke with utmost courtesy, befitting his rank.
Yet Jink merely smiled leisurely in response.
“You've had it rough.”
At those words, the knights' pupils trembled.
It was utterly unexpected.
Jink then fixed them with a steely gaze, strength gathering in his eyes.
“……!”
And in that instant—
Thud.
Thud.
The two knights collapsed limply on the spot.
He'd felled them without so much as touching them—an alien sight.
The spectators gaped, unable to shut their mouths.
“The knights collapsed……?!”
“What the hell…….”
Jink then shrugged off his uniform jacket and draped it over them.
“Pass. As expected of the Bascons. A true knight needs the guts to charge the Guard Captain. Reward time—sleep it off. Kekekeke.”
As Jink's shoulders shook with laughter—
Thud.
Thud.
Footsteps echoed like a knock on the ear from somewhere nearby.
Bin turned at the sound.
Father…….
The footsteps belonged to none other than the Bascon family head, Moden.
Jink's eyes sharpened in an instant.
With Bin between them, the two giants locked eyes.
A clash between two 1st Class knights.
The spectators' hearts pounded harder than theirs.
Moden eyed Jink and rumbled in a low voice.
“The winner's name hath not yet been called.”
Moden's menacing glare carried weight. After all, Jink had intruded before the duel officially ended.
He took issue with the uninvited leap into the sacred arena—no matter the man's status.
Jink, meanwhile, threw his head back at the sight of Moden.
“Well now, I've been rude. But an old heart can't be tamed when it races after so long. Kekekeke.”
As Jink's shoulders shook again, Moden fixed him with a piercing stare.
“…….”
“Beast, it's been ages. Don't glare like that. You got a fine show out of it. Drinks are on me tonight.”
“White Lion…….”
As Moden finished, a tense aura rippled outward from him.
Swoosh.
Jink's swept-back forelock receded even further.
“The pup's still got fire. Looks ready to hold the family head seat till he's a white-haired geezer.”
Moden ground his teeth at Jink's words before replying.
“Better than living as the empire's dog.”
Jink roared with laughter at the insult.
“Kekekeke.”
As Jink and Moden stared each other down—
Jink turned to Bin with a meaningful smile.
“But raw momentum won't cut it. Not when the cub's already baring its fangs.”
A few days later.
Plentel Castle arena.
Moden’s massive frame stood at the arena's edge.
A long red carpet stretched out before him.
Bin, clad in black uniform, strode confidently along it toward Moden.
Step.
Step.
Straight-backed, with disciplined footfalls.
Not a single flaw in his posture.
Confidence radiated from Bin's bold advance—a sight unthinkable before his regression.
Trumpeters flanked him on both sides.
The stands brimmed with castle knights, siblings, and crowds seated as one.
They had gathered for a single purpose:
To celebrate Bin's appointment as 7th Division Centurion and Super Nova.
Of course, some attended out of obligation.
The knights and retainers muttered as they watched Bin.
“Young Master Bin—the youngest—taking the 7th Division Centurion spot……”
“Hard to believe he's only fifteen.”
“You hear what they call the once-useless Young Master Bin these days?”
“What? Call him what?”
“Junjae. ‘Bascon's Junjae,’ they say.”
“Junjae……”
One knight pondered briefly, weighing if the title fit Bin.
He soon nodded in conviction.
At fifteen, wielding a superior weapon.
No room to argue against junjae.
Especially after surpassing his siblings for Centurion.
“He'll surely be one of Bascon's next generation.”
The other knights nodded.
“Damn right.”
Not everyone welcomed Bin's rise, though.
His siblings shot jealous glares.
Short-haired, bulky build. Second of the seven siblings: Iron Bear Silva.
His face flushed red.
That position to Bin Bascon…….
Silva ground his teeth.
He'd seen it as his seat.
Silva glared at Bin, eyes bulging.
If only I hadn't blacked out then…….
Regret filled his gaze.
He'd been one of the final two vying with Bin for the post.
Having a long-coveted prize snatched away was intolerable.
He yearned to shatter the scene before him.
Hoo…….
But he couldn't ignore his own failings.
Bin had analyzed his foe before engaging.
Silva had trusted only his brute strength, bloated with arrogance.
That gap sealed his defeat.
Silva clenched his fists, imagining himself treading that red carpet.
That belongs to me……!
As Silva glared, fists balled—
Another watched with bafflement.
In the end… he got it.
Silver long hair. Massive 'X' scar on his forehead. Fourth of the seven: Blue Wolf Willie.
He'd assumed Silva would claim it, naturally.
The unforeseen outcome left him incredulous.
But a smile soon curled Willie's lips.
Heh.
Better Bin than Silva.
If matchup-favored Silva took it, his own shot was gone.
Rather a good thing.
Beside Willie stood those sour-faced at Bin's sight.
Fifth and sixth of the seven: Hyena siblings Billy and Shirley.
Jealousy burned in their stares.
How the hell Bin…….
The guy who could barely use his right arm…….
Billy and Shirley felt utterly deflated.
Just years prior, their skills had been comparable—at best.
No, they'd ranked Bin below.
Yet now he'd ascended to the unattainable Centurion post—and even Empire-sanctioned Super Nova status.
Impossible to swallow.
Billy and Shirley stared vacantly at Bin.
Something's wrong…….
This can't be…….
Bin soon stood before Moden.
Moden's hulking frame dwarfed him.
Moden regarded Bin and declared sternly.
“As head of the Bascon family, I appoint Bin Bascon to the post of 7th Division Centurion and Super Nova!”
As Moden concluded, Bin knelt sharply on one knee.
Moden approached and affixed a silver epaulet to Bin's shoulder.
Instantly, those stationed along the red carpet's sides blew their trumpets with full force.
Pwaaaaaa!
Pwaaaaaa!
Trumpet blasts filled the arena.
Meanwhile, ranks of knights marched in formation along the carpet.
One stepped forward as representative, approaching Bin from behind.
Bin turned.
The knight presented his sword before his own eyes.
“Loyalty to the 7th Division Centurion!”
The assembled knights behind chorused, raising their swords in unison.
“Loyalty!!”
Still not used to this.
Bin watched the spectacle with a dazed look.
Conversely, Codic at Bin's waist beamed innocently.
Yes, you vermin. Proper form in serving your liege. Hahaha!
Codic's cheekbones lifted skyward, delighted by the rare sight of agreeable humans.
A few days later.
Step, step.
Bin entered a mansion within the Gana Empire.
He was attending Bang, the Super Nova gathering.
A venue where established Super Novas vetted the skills of the newly minted.
Creak.
As Bin opened the door, several Super Novas sat in chairs.
Imposing presences, every one—elite scions of great houses.
But Bin wasn't one to be cowed.
He smiled upon seeing them.
Mostly familiar faces.
From across the table, the Gana noble It at the center spoke up.
“You've arrived, Bascon Super Nova. Then let's get to the test.”