Chapter 71
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: The Path to Senior Knight (2)
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Swordran.
The supreme knight order, known for allowing only the elites among elites to join.
It was so famous within the Delont Kingdom that practically no one hadn't heard of it.
On top of that, its historical exploits were particularly standout.
Just taking the entry test here was an honor for aspiring knights dreaming of their futures.
However, Roin couldn't have cared less about such glory.
The moment she heard Swordran was his top choice, Remina couldn't quite wrap her head around it.
"You're the one who hates anything bothersome with a passion."
"That's right."
"And yet you want to join Swordran?"
Swordran was renowned not just for handling incidents within the Delont Kingdom, but for traveling the world and engaging in a wide variety of intense activities.
No matter how Remina thought about it, Roin and Swordran just didn't match up.
Of course, purely in terms of skill, he had more than enough potential to make it in.
But their temperaments didn't align.
"Why Swordran of all places?"
She wanted to know the reason.
The biggest motivation for Roinwho even found the training courses at the swordsmanship academy a hassleto apply to Swordran.
It was simply...
"It's perfect for racking up achievements."
Roin had already mapped out a schedule to rocket through junior and mid knight ranks all the way to senior knight qualification in record time.
The senior knight promotion system was vastly different from junior or mid.
It wasn't as simple as excelling in the academy's training courses.
They evaluated how many accomplishments you'd achieved in actual combat.
The International Knight Federation comprehensively assessed these and made the final call on whether you qualified as a senior knight.
Pass the benchmark, and you promote.
Fail, and you either keep challenging or settle as a mid knight.
Roin intended to steamroll straight to senior knight qualification.
'That way, the family won't have any excuses to keep an eye on me.'
If he snagged senior knight early, even Lucas wouldn't pressure him with this or that anymore.
That was why Roin was set on joining Swordran, hassle or not.
"Then you'll run into Jerka."
Roin perked up at Remina's words.
"He's applying to Swordran too?"
"Not exactly. I just vaguely heard he was thinking about it."
As the kingdom's number one knight order, it was only natural he'd aim for it.
Plus, his brother Nix Tayla was a vice commander in Swordran.
Kern Tayla was a former Swordran captain too.
Most from the prestigious swordsmanship family had come out of Swordran, so Jerka seemed likely to follow suit.
"Jerka... Getting tangled with that guy would be a pain."
But Remina saw it differently.
"To me, you two seem like a good fit. You successfully pulled off that mission together, right?"
"Maybe. But it's too early to say for sure based on one time."
Their personalities were polar opposites from the start, so it was hard to say if they'd mesh well.
"Anyway, putting that aside."
Roin turned the conversation toward Luem this time.
"Luem. If you haven't decided where to go, just apply to Swordran with me."
"Me?"
Luem blinked his eyes wide several times.
"How could I possibly join Swordran...?"
"Commoners can take the entry test too, as far as I know."
Swordran wasn't exclusive to nobles.
It judged purely on merit.
That was how it maintained stronger combat prowess than any other order over the long years.
But Luem's worry wasn't about his commoner status.
"I don't know if I have the skills to pass the entry test. From what I've heard, Swordran's is insanely tough."
Swordran's entry test boasted difficulties beyond anyone's imagination.
It was only natural for fear to hit before courage.
"Don't worryjust apply. If you're with me, I'll make sure you pass somehow."
Roin planned to drag Luem along to Swordran.
Remina and Luemwho'd never seen him look out for anyonefelt an odd vibe from this inexplicable kindness(?).
But there's no such thing in the world as a result without a cause.
Roin had his reasons for this generosity.
"It'd be nice to have someone to run errands for me."
Luem let out an awkward laugh at that.
The time for the mid knight commissioning ceremony arrived.
"Roin Leyden, step forward."
At Vermin's call, Roin slowly walked out in his formal attire.
He carefully lifted the sword laid neatly on the altar with both hands.
It was the sword you saw at every promotionthe item nicknamed the "Sword of Oath."
Holding the sword, Roin recited the Knight's Oath in a calm voice.
"I, Roin Leyden, as a mid knight, shall always uphold the dignity of a knight without falter..."
No need to memorize; he just read the text spread out right in front of him, so it was a breeze.
Once he finished the oath,
Roin returned the Sword of Oath to its place.
He went back to his spot.
Nearby, Lepidwho was watching the mid knight promotion riteasked in a very quiet voice.
"I heard you're applying to Swordran."
Rumors spread fast.
Well, every word out of Roin's mouth had been major news at the swordsmanship academy.
Maybe this was just par for the course for him.
Lepid grinned and said to Roin,
"If you pass, grab a day sometime and come visit the academy. As your senior, I'll treat you big."
"Got it."
Come to think of it, not just LepidGillion from the Leyden family was Swordran alumni too.
'Might ask Gillion what Swordran's entry test is like these days.'
Advice from someone who's been through it is always gold.
Once the ceremony ended, Roin resolved to head straight home and pick Gillion's brain on Swordran passing tips.
'No, waitthere's something I gotta do first.'
One very important task remained.
Applying for the Swordran entry test.
The mid knight promotion rite and graduation ceremony finally wrapped up.
Roin had successfully escaped Loud Swordsmanship Academy at last.
Maybe that's why.
"Phew! Feels damn good."
It was like being released from prison.
Roin had never been one to mesh well with oppression or control from people or organizations.
The word "free" suited him perfectly.
That man was Roin.
But it was still a stretch to say he'd gained total freedom yet.
'Once I snag senior knight, that'll be full independence.'
Roin's goal was precisely this "independence."
Leaving Leyden Manor behind to live entirely on his own terms.
That was his ultimate aim.
Having left the academy, Roin rushed Luem, who was still saying goodbyes to their classmates.
"Quit with the goodbyes and hurry up. If we're late, they might not take the application."
"Sorry, Lord Roin. Coming right now."
Luem scurried over to Roin's side.
Reminawho'd waited with Roin for Luembid the two boys farewell.
"I'll head out first then."
"Where to?"
Home?
But for Remina, home was even more dangerous than the academy.
Roin showed a bit of the bond they'd built since her apprentice days.
"If you want, I could set you up with a place to crash."
"Nah, I'm good. I'm heading straight to apply for an entry test anyway. No need to stick around home long."
Each knight order had its own training grounds, though they varied.
Once you joined, you'd live, eat, and sleep there for at least half a year.
Passing the entry test right away meant starting as an official member.
And Remina was a girl with real grit.
Even in crises, she always found a clever way through.
She'd do fine.
Roin decided to trust that.
Remina stuck her hand out to Roin first.
"Hope next time we meet, we're both full-fledged knight order members, not trainees."
"Yeah. Sure."
Roin shook her hand.
And so, the time the boy and girl had spent together drew to a close for now.
In the end, Luem decided to submit his Swordran entry test application with Roin.
"But my feet just won't move for some reason."
Today, taking that step felt impossible.
It was inevitable.
Swordran's entry test was notorious for being several times tougher than the mid knight exam.
Having failed the mid knight exam multiple times already, Luem strongly suspected this challenge would be no walk in the park.
Watching him, Roin shook his head.
"You said you didn't have anywhere to apply anyway."
"Not that I don't have anywhere I just hadn't decided yet..."
"That's why I decided for you. Quit yapping and let's go. Sun'll set at this rate."
Prodded by Roin, Luem had no choice but to knock on the door of Swordran's Endla branch.
Luem cautiously opened the door.
The atmosphere inside was eerily quiet.
A space shrouded in silence.
A woman stood there stock-still, staring straight through Luem.
The sight made him jump like he'd seen a ghost.
"L-Lord Roin! Th-there's a f-female gh-ghost in there...!"
Roin sighed deeply at that.
"You're built like a mountain but scared of your own shadow. Move."
Roin pushed past, entering first, and strode right up to the motionless woman.
The long-haired woman didn't budge even as Roin got right up close.
"......"
Staring her down, Roin finally caught on.
"Ahem!"
He deliberately cleared his throat loudly.
Her shoulders twitched ever so slightly.
"Oh, customers. Welcome."
Only then did she greet Roin.
But Roin's eyes couldn't be fooled.
'This woman's been asleep.'
One of the techniques Swordran taught was exactly this.
Sleeping without looking like you were.
Humans are most vulnerable during sleep.
To minimize showing that weakness to enemies, Swordran trained this sleep method.
Once mastered, it got abused for things like napping on the job, like this receptionist.
"I'm here to apply for the entry test."
Roin handed over his pre-filled application.
Luem hurriedly followed suit.
After checking the applications, the woman pointed to the stairs leading up.
"Registration's upstairs. I'll show you."
She started up the stairs first.
Roin took a step onto the stairs to follow.
He paused and warned Luem.
"Luem. Stay sharp."
"Huh? Why, Lord Roin?"
Roin had his reasons.
"Looks like the entry test already started."