Chapter 48
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Real Test
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Huh?"
What is *that* guy doing here?
Demian stared at Leonhard.
But in that moment.
"..."
Amidst this huge crowd, Leonhard was looking directly at him.
Demian couldn't hide his bewildered expression as their eyes met.
*Pfft.*
But Leonhard seemed to answer by simply raising the corner of his mouth in a slight smirk.
Soon, the entrance test for the Kaion Unit began.
Regardless of the atmosphere, there was no reason not to join, given the salary and treatment were on a completely different level from other units.
Demian said to Dianal and Kyle.
"Let's just focus on passing the test first. It'd be pathetic to fail and go back, no matter what."
"Of course. Hehehehehe."
"But what kind of test is it?"
Unlike the confidently laughing Kyle, Dianal cautiously surveyed the situation.
And just then.
*Clank!*
*Thump, thump, thump.*
From the rear of the training ground where they stood, men clad in armor began to walk forward.
Helmets pulled down low.
And the insignia engraved on their left breastplates was...
"...A knight order?"
It was the Monster Knight Order that Leonhard was training.
At that, Dianal's expression hardened.
"Demian, don't tell me the test is..."
"I think it's exactly what you're thinking."
*So they only gathered guys who have already been vetted to some extent?*
It was as if they were saying to hell with the usual tests of stamina or strength.
"A spar that's close to a real battle, then."
There were no sparring weapons in the training ground.
The weapons lined up on either side were all lethally sharp.
Demian let out a laugh.
"This is interesting."
*Yes, this is how an independent unit should select its elite members.*
It suddenly reminded him of the old days.
*'I used to run a lot of tests like this back then.'*
Of course, back then, Demian was the one judging.
*'But are they really planning to test all these people?'*
Demian let out a small sigh at the sight of the large crowd.
He wondered if they could even finish by sunset.
But just then.
*Slash!*
"Kuaargh!"
"...?!"
A scream came from somewhere.
At the sound, all the applicants turned their gazes toward the source.
"Ugh... Uuuugh...!"
There, an applicant lay fallen, bleeding from a deep gash on his arm.
The knight standing before him pointed a bloodied sword at his neck and spoke.
"Do you wish to continue?"
"I... I yield."
With those words, the injured applicant retreated.
A medic soon came and bandaged his wound, but...
"W-What was that?"
"Isn't this a sparring test? Why is he injured...?"
"No, what is this?"
The applicants began to murmur.
In that moment.
"Everyone, be quiet!"
Vincent shouted at the applicants.
The murmuring applicants shut their mouths and looked at Vincent.
Vincent said.
"This is a spar with live blades! We're not holding back, so anyone who's afraid can leave now!"
"...Who says I'm scared!"
"You think we're scared just because you're knights?"
Still, these were all men who had made a name for themselves in their respective units.
If anything, Vincent's words only ignited their fighting spirit.
"Hyaaaaaah!"
*Swoosh!*
"Hahp!"
*Whoooosh!*
Suddenly, the atmosphere of the sparring test heated up.
Everyone charged the knights with murderous intent. But...
*Schwing!*
*Clang!*
"Kuh!"
"Aaaaaargh!"
The result was no different.
In fact, facing the fiercely charging applicants, the knights of the Monster Knight Order also kicked things up a notch.
*Thud.*
"Kuuuugh...!"
Injured men began to appear one after another.
The injuries ranged from minor cuts on their sword hands to deep gashes on their thighs and arms.
At this sight.
"Fight like your lives depend on it! If you don't take this seriously, you could actually die!"
Even Leonhard, who had been watching, roared.
In an instant, the atmosphere of the testing ground turned ice-cold.
A strange tension filled the air, as if something truly terrible was about to happen.
"Come to think of it... on the forms earlier."
There was a clause stating they would accept any consequences, including serious injury or death during the test.
Everyone had read it, but they'd dismissed it as a mere formality.
"Uwaaah!"
Another applicant fell, his arm slashed.
Then.
"Goddammit! What kind of test is this? I quit!"
"M-Me too!"
"Fuck, it's like they don't even plan on accepting anyone!"
*Clatter!*
Some even threw down their swords in the middle of a spar and turned to leave.
The atmosphere grew chaotic.
After the first few left, a significant number of the remaining applicants began to follow, leaving the training ground.
The number of those who left was about half the original group.
But watching them go, Leonhard just let out a short laugh.
"Now things will be a little easier."
Then he shouted to the remaining applicants.
"All of you, approach this test prepared to die! Even if you pass, anyone who suffers a major injury will be mercilessly cut, so be warned!"
Leonhard's eyes flashed.
Seeing that, Demian couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
"That guy's got his old look back."
"What was that?"
"Aish, you scared me!"
Demian yelled, startled by Kyle who had suddenly appeared beside him.
"What are you doing? Not taking your test?"
"It's not my turn yet."
"...Right."
*This guy seems to be getting smoother with each passing day.*
Demian waved his hand at Kyle.
"You two better take this seriously. Fight like you're trying to take down those knights."
"Got it."
"Understood."
Dianal and Kyle nodded.
And just then.
"Next, Demian from the Neokalitz Unit! And Dianal, Kyle! Step forward!"
As their names were called in succession, the three of them gave each other a light fist bump and headed toward the testing area.
Demian picked up a spear from the weapons rack.
"Let's see... I wonder what kind of special treatment the first soldier to defeat a knight will get."
Spear in hand, Demian muttered quietly as he walked toward the knight.
His gaze was soon fixed on the knight before him.
* * *
Jeff was a knight of the Monster Knight Order.
Though his mana manifestation was still unrefined, he possessed great physical strength and outstanding swordsmanship.
*'To think I have to judge this riffraff...'*
Jeff frowned in displeasure, his eyes scanning the applicants.
If it hadn't been for Instructor Leonhard's request, he wouldn't have come here.
But to the Monster Knight Order, Instructor Leonhard was like a master.
He was here against his will, only because it was his request.
But...
"...Hm?"
A guy was coming from the weapon rack, holding a spear.
There had been one or two spear-users so far, but...
"...What's this?"
Unlike the previous applicants, this one had a remarkably young face.
Jeff's brow furrowed.
"Now of all things..."
*A mere kid dares to show up here.*
An inexplicable irritation welled up inside him.
Jeff tossed the helmet he'd been carrying under his arm to the ground as if discarding it, and raised his sword toward the boy before him.
"Didn't you hear you could get seriously hurt? Don't choose such a dangerous path out of some misplaced bravado."
"Hurt? You mean you?"
"...You've got a sharp tongue, boy."
To make him this angry with just a few words.
The kid must have trained nothing but his tongue.
"Looks like you're the type who needs a harsh lesson to come to your senses."
Jeff raised his sword to shoulder height, pointing the tip forward.
At the same time, he lowered his stance, shifting his weight to his front leg.
It was the assault stance of the Kingdom's swordsmanship, used by the Monster Knight Order.
Seeing this, the boy standing before Jeff silently raised his spear.
It was Demian.
*'...It's been a while since I've seen that stance.'*
The Kingdom's swordsmanship, characterized by a powerful dash followed by a rapid series of strikes.
He had faced it countless times before.
A sword raised to the shoulder and aimed forward for a thrust, combined with a dash.
The diagonal slash and upward slash that followed were the foundation, the very essence, of the Kingdom's swordsmanship.
The assault stance, in particular, was so threatening that it often ended a fight within those three strikes.
But...
*Fwoosh!*
Jeff kicked off the ground and charged toward Demian.
As expected, he intended to settle this in one go, his movements completely different from when he'd faced the previous applicants.
He moved with incredible speed.
Incredible speed.
Jeff intended to take Demian down instantly.
However.
*Swish!*
*Flick!*
"...?!"
For a moment, he felt a stinging sensation on his cheek.
Jeff's eyes widened, and a cold sweat ran down his spine.
"...Huh?"
Leonhard, who was watching the spar, let out an involuntary gasp.
Before Jeff could completely close the distance, the spear Demian thrust out had grazed his cheek.
*Drip.*
Soon, a line of crimson blood trickled down his cheek from the wound.
Demian said to Jeff.
"Please come at me with your full strength."
"..."
In an instant, Jeff's gaze turned sharp and cold.
Sword in hand, Jeff silently took a couple of steps back. Then he spoke to Demian.
"I sincerely apologize for underestimating you."
*Swish.*
Jeff wiped the blood from his cheek and raised his sword again.
The same stance as before.
"Now, I'm coming with everything I have."
Facing Jeff's now serious and cold gaze, Demian aimed his spear at him once more.
*'In my current state... I'll test exactly what the gap is between myself and a knight.'*
A knight, by definition, possessed combat strength incomparable to that of an ordinary soldier.
To put it bluntly, a knight who could properly wield mana could easily defeat twenty or thirty regular soldiers.
Right here, right now.
*I will confirm the extent of that gap.*
*By drawing out my opponent's full power.*
"Huuuuuuup."
Demian took a slow, deep breath and tightened his grip on the spear.
The look in Jeff's eyes was completely different from before.
*Wooooom.*
And from his body, Demian could feel a faint aura of mana.
*'He's serious.'*
His words about using his full strength.
He might even be prepared to actually kill Demian.
But the thought didn't last long.
*BOOM!*
The ground where Jeff kicked off caved in.
Like an arrow shot from a bow, Jeff's form shot toward Demian.
It was truly in the blink of an eye.
Closing in on Demian, Jeff thrust his sword.
*Whooosh!*
A thrust that tore through the air.
But in that instant.
*Ssk.*
*Whoosh!*
"..."
As his sword cut through empty air, Jeff's pupils trembled violently.
*'J-Just now...?'*
It was clearly before his sword had even reached the boy.
*'He dodged?'*
The moment his sword began to move, Demian had already started his evasive maneuver.
Jeff bit his lip in disbelief.
"Hahp!"
He retracted his thrust and immediately followed up with a diagonal slash.
But it was the same this time.
*Swish!*
Jeff's sword cut futilely through the air, and before he could even begin his third strike...
"Keuk!"
Demian's spear shot out, aimed at Jeff's chest.
*CLANG!*
Jeff hurriedly raised his sword to block Demian's spear, but his pride was already in tatters.
"What in the...!"
*What did he do?*
It felt like he was fighting a ghost.
As if the boy could see right through him, knowing exactly where he would attack.
"This is just the beginning."
"...You're insane."
Facing the ensuing attack, Jeff couldn't help but curse under his breath.