Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion (93)
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The air felt heavy.
As the promotion exam drew closer, an unspoken pressure seemed to crush the unit members.
Silver Knight Unit.
Though it was called a unit, Isaac had learned that this was a place where talented knight apprentices passed through on their way to becoming full knights.
Knight.
The word alone made his chest swell with grandeur.
Those who placed in the top ten of the annual promotion exam at Silver Knight could choose to join one of the royal knight orders.
And the moment they entered a knight order, they would receive an official knighthood.
Since everyone in Silver Knight was nobility anyway, it might not seem special, but if by some chance Isaac earned a knighthood, it would be tantamount to a change in status.
In any case, the most critical time in Silver Knight Unit was approaching.
Naturally, the training unit members wore tense expressions, and the sparring matches to qualify for the promotion exam finals were being conducted with great intensity.
“Is it Isaac?”
“Yes.”
“An outsider from the Arrowhead Unit... How unusual. This is the first time something like this has happened, so I'm a bit caught off guard. And he's a commoner?”
“That’s correct.”
Instructor Arcon, as an instructor of Silver Knight, possessed exceptional kingdom spear arts.
Though he was over fifty and retired, he still burned with passion rivaling the young unit members.
Arcon nodded at Isaac's response.
“Then let’s begin.”
This was the spar with the instructor—the final preliminary before advancing to the promotion exam finals.
He picked up a long staff and said to Isaac,
“You have ten minutes. Do everything you can in that time.”
At the instructor's words, Isaac silently raised his sword.
The instructor stared at his utterly ordinary stance, which had no distinctive features.
It almost felt like he wasn't ready?
Whenever he taught the unit members, they always started with their own unique stances.
But this guy... what was it?
‘Is he just standing there holding a sword?’
Of course, there was no way a commoner had learned advanced swordsmanship.
He probably just had whatever he'd picked up on the battlefield like a mercenary.
But Arcon knew.
He knew how threatening those blood-soaked skills learned in real combat could be.
Before his thoughts could continue, Isaac began to move.
Pabat-!
“...!”
He thought he'd lightly kicked off the ground, but his speed was surprisingly fast.
Arcon thrust his staff at Isaac amid his erratic, lightning-fast charges zigzagging left and right.
It was faster than expected, but he had no intention of letting him close the distance that easily.
It was the moment Arcon's staff would strike Isaac's face.
Hwik-!
Suddenly, the guy's movements accelerated in an instant, and he vanished from sight.
“...!”
Arcon's eyes trembled slightly.
He had lost track of Isaac's movement, if only for a moment.
“Hup!”
Arcon unwittingly shouted a kiai as he hurriedly turned and swung his staff widely behind him.
Buwoong-!
Arcon's staff sliced through empty air.
By then, Isaac had dodged the attack and leaped into the air.
Flash.
Isaac, mid-leap, swung his sword down at Arcon.
Peopeok-!
Though Arcon barely blocked the sword aimed at his face and chest, Isaac relentlessly closed the distance.
‘This madman...?’
Arcon frowned as he retreated, watching Isaac charge.
Speed and skill aside, the guy's eyes were completely different from the start.
‘What the hell is this guy...?’
They seemed calm and settled, yet they emanated a strange killing intent and fighting spirit.
It was the gaze of a 'true warrior' that no clumsy imitation could fake.
It reminded him of long ago, when he'd lived on the battlefield for the kingdom's revival.
Cclang-!
Seeing Isaac charging, Arcon swung his staff from below upward, deflecting him.
Tadak!
Isaac, flung back by the powerful strike, kicked off the ground again, zigzagging left and right.
“Stop!”
Before Isaac's attack could land, Arcon shouted loudly.
“...You pass.”
“Huh?”
“If we keep fighting, one of us is going to get seriously hurt.”
“...Ah, sorry.”
Isaac hurriedly apologized at Arcon's words.
Arcon shook his head.
“You're the first trainee like you since Shark.”
“...Shark?”
“You train with him, don't you know?”
“...Sorry. I don't pay much attention to others.”
“Huhu, interesting. You might meet him in the promotion exam, so you should take a look. It'll be an enjoyable encounter for you. Good work.”
With that, Arcon left the training ground.
The lingering tingle in his palm from the clash remained.
‘Shark... huh.’
Was that why?
He started to become curious about the Shark that Arcon had mentioned. But how was he supposed to find him in a place where he knew no one...?
“Ah.”
Suddenly, a good idea came to him.
* * *
“Huh? What brings you here?”
An unexpected guest had arrived.
Well, calling him a guest might be a stretch, but it was true that this was someone he hadn't expected.
“I have something I want to ask.”
Janiel lifted the corner of his mouth in interest as he looked at Isaac, who had come to see him.
Though everyone in the unit was on edge due to the promotion exam, this guy's visit somehow felt welcome.
Janiel said,
“What are you curious about?”
“Do you know someone named Shark?”
“...Shark?”
Janiel's expression hardened in an instant.
No, it was more like he was on guard?
It was the first expression Isaac had seen from him, despite their many conversations.
Isaac cautiously asked,
“Did I... say something rude?”
“No, no. It's not that... Why are you asking about that guy?”
“I heard his name from the instructor. He said it might be fun to meet him.”
“The instructor? Oh, you took your promotion test, right? How'd it go?”
“I passed.”
“Already? Oh, wait. For you... it's not that surprising.”
The instructor promotion test in the preliminaries required anywhere from two to four attempts.
The reason was simple.
They had to select about a hundred people, but they couldn't just take the first hundred in line.
Thirty in the first test.
Then, for those who failed, the instructors switched assignments and took another thirty in the second round.
This process meant some had to take the test multiple times to fill the spots for the finals.
But to pass on the first try?
It clearly showed that his skills all this time were the real deal.
Was that why?
Janiel's gaze toward Isaac grew complicated.
Janiel asked Isaac,
“...What was the name of your unit again?”
“Arrowhead Unit.”
“Could I get as strong as you if I went there?”
“...?”
Isaac tilted his head at Janiel's question.
He couldn't grasp the intent behind it. But,
“Well... I can't guarantee it, but speaking personally, if we're talking about getting stronger, my unit seems much faster.”
Isaac met Janiel's eyes directly as he spoke.
“Because at least there, unlike here, you're always experiencing real combat, not just practice.”
“...I see.”
Janiel trailed off with a nod. Then he said to Isaac,
“Come with me. I'll take you to where Shark is.”
“Oh, can I see him?”
“You can. His location is obvious anyway.”
“...Pardon?”
“That guy's a training bug like you.”
* * *
Shaeak-!
The sword's path through the air flowed smoothly like water.
The downward slash immediately shifted to a diagonal upward slice to the right, then retracted into a straight thrust.
It was a simple motion, but how much training had gone into it?
It was utterly efficient with no wasted movement, yet the one wielding the sword still seemed unsatisfied.
“...What is it?”
Shark turned his head toward the uninvited guest who had entered his training ground.
His deep navy hair contrasted with his red eyes.
His slender jaw and red lips gave off a strangely androgynous vibe.
Janiel shrugged.
“Someone wants to see you.”
“It can't be you... Isaac, was it?”
“Isaac here. Sorry to interrupt your training.”
“I don't accept apologies. So, why did you come to see me?”
At Shark's question, Isaac stared at him steadily.
The moment he saw him, he understood why the instructor had said it would be good to meet Shark.
‘...He's strong.’
He felt like a solid boulder standing firm.
No flashiness, but the restrained aura was incredibly impressive.
At minimum, among the unit members he'd met since arriving at Silver Knight, he seemed undoubtedly the strongest.
But,
Pfft.
“...Why are you laughing?”
Isaac asked Shark, who smirked at him with a lifted corner of his mouth.
Shark glanced at Janiel beside him and said,
“You should think about that smug bastard too. He keeps it all hidden and doesn't show it, but he's got a ton of talent.”
“Hey, is this the Shark, Silver Knight's so-called strongest, acknowledging me?”
“Who knows, maybe it's sarcasm.”
“That's not bad either.”
Janiel shrugged in response. Shark turned back to Isaac and said,
“Nice meeting you. I'd love to face you in the promotion exam finals.”
At that, Janiel placed a hand on Isaac's shoulder and said,
“He already advanced with the first test, this guy.”
“More than worthy.”
“Not surprised, huh.”
“He doesn't seem like the other dullards.”
Passing the first test was impressive, but to the capable, it was only natural.
“I passed the first test too.”
“Figured.”
“You too, right.”
“...Whatever.”
Janiel shrugged. Then he turned around.
“Manage your condition well. I'm taking first in this promotion exam.”
Janiel said as he turned.
It wasn't clear if he was talking to Shark, Isaac, or both.
Isaac gave Shark a light nod and left the training ground.
The mundane life at Silver Knight suddenly felt invigorating.
* * *
The promotion exam preliminaries had ended.
It had taken quite some time, but they'd wrapped up without issue.
“...”
Isaac could feel the unit's atmosphere shift the moment the promotion exam finals began.
And lately, the way people looked at him had changed too.
“What's up?”
“Just... it feels like the way people look at me has changed.”
Isaac murmured quietly in response to Janiel's question.
It wasn't the ignoring gaze from before.
It was guarded, but the other feeling mixed in was hard to put into words.
Janiel said to Isaac,
“They've got a lot on their minds.”
“On their minds?”
“Seeing you makes them feel like it negates everything we've done.”
Isaac tilted his head at Janiel's words.
Negates? What?
Janiel continued without hesitation,
“We've trained to death since childhood, mastering family secrets and magic heart methods, yet you're stronger. They can't help but question their methods and circumstances.”
Though bound together as nobility, the guys who came to Silver Knight were those more loyal to the kingdom than anyone and desperate to grow stronger.
In that sense, Isaac held quite a symbolic meaning in Silver Knight.
“Everyone's heads must be spinning.”
And mine too.
Janiel swallowed the last part and looked at Isaac.