Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Enlistment Exam (2)
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A barrage of arrows launched all at once.
The arrow rain arcing down toward us turned the surroundings into utter chaos in an instant.
“Uwaaack!”
“What the hell is this?!”
“Dodge! Dodge it...!”
Some people frantically tried to flee.
Others huddled up, protecting their vital spots.
Still others gave up entirely and collapsed in place.
“......”
But not me.
I simply stood there motionless.
“Hey, help that kid!”
“Is he frozen in fear?!”
A few people raised their voices upon seeing me.
They seemed worried about a child like me standing still.
But their concern was unnecessary.
[Not many, huh.]
‘Yeah, tell me about it.’
Just as Igzard said, there weren’t many.
Including me, only about five or six people had realized the true nature of this arrow barrage.
“......”
“......”
Among them were the delicate-looking boy I’d noticed earlier, and the short-haired girl.
‘Talented bunch.’
That thought crossed my mind just as—
The downpour of arrows struck our bodies.
Yet no blood sprayed anywhere.
“Wh-what?”
“This is...!”
Only then did the others catch on.
The arrows had no arrowheads.
Instead, they were wrapped thickly in cloth, blunted and padded.
They still packed some impact from their velocity upon hitting the body... but anyone who’d trained their physique to a certain degree and cultivated mana could shrug it off without issue.
“H-how...?”
“They were all fake arrows?!”
Dumbfounded, everyone started getting back up.
They were all applicants to the Holy Knight Order, after all. They’d finished basic training, so even a direct hit would amount to little more than a slight sting.
“Only six stood still without panicking... Fewer than last year.”
“......!”
“You there, kid.”
Amid the still-dazed crowd, Godwin pointed at me.
“Why’d you stay put?”
“Because I listened to what the knight said earlier.”
“The part about staying in place for a quick test?”
“That too, but also what came before.”
“And what was that?”
“You said you’d treat us as full-fledged Holy Knights.”
“And?”
“Holy Knights are knights of the Holy Spirit Church, each fighting to uphold the teachings of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t think there’d be any reason to meaningless sacrifice such precious forces here.”
“Hah. Sounds good to me. Spot on.”
There was actually one more reason.
The sound the arrows made cutting through the air was off.
I could tell right away they lacked arrowheads.
“Anyway, you all seem pretty shaken. But this wasn’t a test to evaluate you, so no need to worry too much. As I said, it’s just a light placement exam.”
Now I noticed several knights surrounding us, jotting things down on papers.
They were recording each of our reactions, it seemed.
[What the hell are they up to?]
‘Placement exam, like I said.’
[What’s that?]
‘They score our actions and group us accordingly.’
A moment later, Godwin raised his voice, papers in hand.
“You’ll face various trials ahead. To that end, I’ll now announce your comrade groups, with whom you’ll share those trials.”
So the fake arrow barrage earlier had been to form these groups.
Putting the capable with the capable, the duds with the duds.
“When called, step forward. First, Group 1: Hugo Strauss, Luca Pavar, Marie Selucian.”
Three young men stepped up.
They’d stayed calm like me earlier.
Their movements were precise, betraying trained martial skill.
[They rate those three the highest.]
‘Called first, so probably.’
Those three could likely hold their own in real combat right now.
“Next, Group 2... Sion Aleyas, Edwin Signus, Lieselotte Hydra.”
Called with me were... the delicate boy and short-haired girl I’d been watching.
They’d stayed calm too, so they got picked.
[They even factored in age for the groups.]
‘Yeah. Thoughtful there.’
Lucky for me.
Teaming with someone way older would be a hassle in all sorts of ways.
Being dismissed as a kid, or babied as one—both annoyances I didn’t need.
Teaming with Cain or Robel would’ve been awkward too... So this worked out.
“Edwin Signus seems the eldest, so you’ll be group leader.”
A knight beside Godwin handed the delicate boy an armband.
It bore the number 2.
“Head right along this path. Follow us.”
“Understood.”
We started walking through the fortress behind the knight.
“......Not one of you has a question.”
Perhaps intrigued by our silent compliance, the knight addressed us.
“You look young, but awfully composed. Are you all old souls in kid bodies?”
“Seventeen, sir knight.”
“Fifteen here.”
“I’m thirteen.”
Hearing our ages, the knight gave a wry smile.
“I know. Just testing.”
“......”
“Truth is, chattering without permission here would’ve cost you points. The test’s already started.”
What kind of test is this rigorous...?
I’d stayed quiet out of laziness—if I’d spoken up, I’d have lost points on day one.
* * *
The place we were shown to was our quarters.
A room tight for three beds, where we’d share meals and sleep from now on.
“Dinner at 7. Rest till then.”
“Understood.”
And so we rested in the room.
Finally a breather.
“Well then...”
Edwin Signus turned to us cautiously.
“We’ve got time now. Shall we do proper introductions?”
“Sure.”
“Sounds good.”
With our nods, Edwin bowed before us.
“I’m Edwin Signus. Seventeen, as you heard.”
Even as the eldest, he was polite.
“My father was an Iron Rank knight in the Order. I took the exam to become a Holy Knight like him.”
“Oh? Your father was Iron Rank?”
Lieselotte clasped her hands, eyes wide.
“Iron Rank means reaching sword aura, right? Impressive man.”
“Yes, I respect him greatly.”
“But if your father was Iron Rank... couldn’t you join without the exam?”
“Well, circumstances...”
“Ah... I see.”
As Edwin trailed off, Lieselotte didn’t pry.
[What circumstances?]
‘Probably got kicked out for some bad reason.’
Answering Igzard inwardly, I watched Lieselotte start her intro.
“I’m Lieselotte Hydra. Fifteen... My parents work for the Holy Spirit Church.”
“The Holy Spirit Church? No way...”
Edwin startled.
“Are you perhaps Archbishop Filp Hydra and Dr. Elizabeth Hydra’s...?”
“Oh, you know my parents.”
“They’re famous!”
I was mildly surprised too.
I’d known their names since my Hausel Archbishop days.
“But Lieselotte, why take the exam instead of skipping it...”
“My parents don’t want me joining the Order.”
“Ah...”
Edwin nodded in understanding.
Makes sense—even from a great family, parental opposition blocks special entry.
“And you...”
“I’m Sion Aleyas. Thirteen.”
“Aleyas... From the Aleyas family, then.”
Edwin swallowed, staring at my face.
“Then why take the exam, Sion? Some circumstance?”
“No circumstance.”
“Huh?”
“I want to become Grade 1 Knight as fast as possible, so I took the exam. Special entry starts you as squire no matter what.”
“......!”
Edwin and Lieselotte looked stunned.
“My goal’s to become Grade 1 here and lead an Independent Knight Brigade.”
“Y-you’re serious?”
“Of course. Father approved.”
“G-good lord. A brigade leader at your age...”
“I’ll be older by then.”
“Th-that’s not the point.”
As Edwin flustered, Lieselotte spoke calmly.
“Sion has ambition.”
“Ambition? Nothing that grand.”
Yeah.
The Independent Brigade’s just a stepping stone.
“Very admirable. Younger than us and... Ah, age doesn’t matter. Anyway, impressive.”
“Thank you, Lieselotte.”
In that exchange, I observed Lieselotte closely.
She seemed a soft girl on the surface... but she passed the first test, stood firm in the arrow rain—not ordinary.
[Hey, this seems...]
‘Yeah, exactly.’
Answering Igzard in my head, I kept eyeing her.
‘This girl’s suspicious.’
Her posture and movements screamed professional martial training.
Contradicts her parents-opposed-joining story.
[Then maybe an assassin.]
Assassin.
Sent by Serxes, Helena, or Est to eliminate me...
‘I’ll watch for now.’
Nothing certain yet.
But if she’s the assassin, better she reveals it quick.
I want to know who among the three wants me dead... fast.
* * *
Next day.
Having bonded somewhat, we followed yesterday’s knight to the exam grounds.
Group 1 was already testing there.
“Urk!”
But it wasn’t going well.
All three lay on the ground, bruised head to toe.
“All failed! Try again tomorrow!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Group 1 staggered out.
What did that to them... was the middle-aged man standing in the exam center.
“Weaklings.”
He held a real sword.
Not a training mock-up—a true blade.
[Real sword, but those guys only bruised?]
‘Probably beat ’em with the flat.’
He’s no doubt highly skilled.
“You’re Group 2?”
“Yes.”
Group leader Edwin answered tensely.
“I’m the proctor for the first trial. Here’s the format.”
The proctor raised his sword.
“From now, you’ll face me one by one in sparring. No time limit—land any hit on me, and you pass the first trial.”
Simple rules.
Easier than yesterday’s tests.
“Questions?”
“Edwin Signus. One question.”
“Shoot.”
“What if we fail?”
“Didn’t hear earlier?”
“Want specifics.”
“Hm. Good attitude.”
The proctor nodded.
“Fail, and retry tomorrow.”
“Until we pass?”
“Yes. No limit on retries.”
“......Understood.”
Interesting system.
Plenty would struggle and fail the first trial.
Retrying endlessly... till they quit the enlistment altogether.
“Lieselotte, Sion. I’ll go first.”
“Edwin, no need to—”
“I’m eldest. I should.”
Edwin wasn’t being greedy.
He’d take the hits first, let us scout a strategy.
But I didn’t want to leave it to him.
“Edwin.”
“Sion?”
“Sorry, but I’ll go first.”
I stepped forward lightly.
Edwin reached to stop me, but I twisted aside.
“Sion Aleyas. I’ll challenge first.”
“Won’t go easy ’cause you’re a kid.”
“Figured.”
“Need a weapon?”
“Brought my own.”
With that, I drew the sword at my waist.
[This guy’s pumped.]
‘That obvious?’
[Why else step up for Edwin?]
Couldn’t help it.
First time crossing blades properly since reincarnating.
‘Been a while... Let’s loosen up.’