Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Entrance Exam (3)
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[Shall I lend you my power?]
‘No need for that.’
The examiner standing before me was a fairly skilled man.
He was probably a Grade 1 Knight, capable of using sword aura.
He was a knight with the skill to instantly subdue rookies who lacked real combat experience.
‘I can handle this on my own.’
I gripped the sword Ianus had handed me and assumed my stance.
Then, slowly, I steadied my breathing.
‘Mana… I draw it up.’
The mana circle residing in my chest.
I pulled mana from there and channeled it into the sword I held.
Since I already possessed mana output surpassing that of a typical 3-star knight, the power was more than sufficient.
‘Mana… I let it flow.’
Zing.
With a subtle hum, my mana began to flow along the blade.
If one lacked mana control, it would scatter into the surroundings instead of clinging to the blade, but I condensed it perfectly on the edge without spilling a single drop.
The sword vibrated faintly as a bluish light rippled along it.
This was sword aura.
“Sword aura…!”
I could tell from behind that Edwin was startled.
The examiner was just as shocked.
“A 3-star? How could a kid like you…?”
“I’ve heard that one too many times.”
“…”
The examiner bit his lip for a moment.
“I see. One of those rare geniuses from the Aleyas family. A blessed bloodline, as expected.”
“So, when do we start?”
“If you’re going to act like that, I’ll get serious too.”
The examiner assumed a proper stance as well.
At the same time, a bluish light began rippling along his sword.
“W-What?”
“What’s going on?”
Just then, voices came from behind.
Turning my head, I saw Kain and Robel, who had entered the exam grounds, staring with wide eyes.
‘Those guys were assigned to Group 3, right?’
I vaguely recalled hearing yesterday that Kain and Robel had been placed in Group 3.
They must have been evaluated positively for swinging their swords to deflect the barrage of arrows.
“Examiner! What do you think you’re doing? Using sword aura against a candidate—stop this at once!”
“Quiet!”
The knight leading Group 3 raised his voice, but the examiner ignored him.
“Then, let’s begin.”
“Yes, please do.”
We locked eyes and exchanged faint smiles.
Then, we moved at the same time.
* * *
“Unbelievable…”
Edwin Signus muttered in a trembling voice.
“That kid, not only using sword aura, but…”
He couldn’t believe the scene unfolding before him.
“He took down the examiner in one strike?”
It happened in an instant.
Sion and the examiner crossed blades just once.
There was only the clash of sword aura—paat—and that was it.
Yet the examiner dropped his sword and collapsed limply.
“S-Sion! Right now…”
“It’s fine.”
Sion sheathed his sword after withdrawing his sword aura.
“I struck with the flat of the blade.”
“…!”
Moments later, the examiner staggered to his feet.
Clutching his side, it was clear that was where he’d been hit.
His face was contorted in pain, indicating it hurt quite a bit.
“Sion Aleyas, was it?”
“Yes, Examiner.”
The examiner glared at Sion with a fierce expression and bellowed loudly.
“The future of the Holy Knight Order lies right here!”
The highest praise.
But it wasn’t an exaggeration by any means.
Edwin, Lieselotte, and everyone else could instinctively sense that Sion Aleyas was the talent who would lead the Holy Knight Order in the future.
“You pass, Sion Aleyas!”
“Thank you, Examiner.”
Watching Sion shake hands with the examiner, Edwin felt an indescribable surge of emotion.
* * *
“In the end, all three of us passed the first exam right away.”
Having passed the first exam, we were allowed to eat in the cafeteria.
Yesterday, we’d only gotten dry bread and portable rations in the barracks, but today we could have a proper meal.
“This feels like a good omen. A strong start, right?”
“It’s because the examiner got injured facing you first, Sion. I could understand Lieselotte, but I didn’t pass on my own merits.”
Unlike the cheerful Lieselotte, Edwin wore a somewhat gloomy expression.
“If I’d gone first, I wouldn’t have passed. Just like the people in Group 1.”
“Come on, don’t say that. The examiner even praised you. Your swordsmanship is good enough for real combat.”
“…Lieselotte, your skills are superior.”
As Edwin said, Lieselotte’s abilities were beyond candidate level.
She faced the examiner barehanded, slipped into his guard with swift movements, and lightly placed her hand on his solar plexus.
If Lieselotte had gone all out, the examiner would have taken a heavy blow to the solar plexus and dropped to his knees.
“The examiner must have been tired from facing you and Edwin back-to-back. They even switched examiners starting from Group 3.”
“Hmm… Still, it’s making me lose confidence.”
Edwin looked dejected, but I wasn’t too worried.
‘He’ll use this as motivation to train harder. Edwin’s got what it takes to go far.’
Edwin’s swordsmanship was exceptionally good.
If he straightened up from our influence and put in the effort, he could grow even stronger.
“Got some kids here.”
Just then, men with rough looks approached the table next to ours.
Judging by their armbands, they were from Group 4. Since they were in the cafeteria, they must have passed the first exam on the first try.
‘Group 3 with Kain and Robel didn’t pass? They’ll retry tomorrow, then.’
Ignoring them and continuing our meal, one of them approached our table.
“Hey, kids. How’d you pass the exam? Did the examiner go easy?”
“That’s…”
“We passed with our skills.”
Lieselotte cut off Edwin mid-sentence and spoke up.
She then smiled at me.
“Right, Sion?”
“That’s right.”
I set down my fork and said,
“All three of us passed on merit.”
“Hah, well now…”
The man shrugged as if it was absurd.
“So the Holy Knight Order entrance exam is a lot looser than the rumors say. Letting kids through just like that.”
“…”
They were thugs not worth engaging.
Our meal was done anyway, so I stood to return to the barracks with my tray…
“Especially this one—still looks like he’s nursing, doesn’t he?”
The man reached to tousle my hair.
That, I couldn’t let slide.
“Don’t touch me carelessly.”
“Ugh!”
Holding the tray in one hand, I snatched his wrist out of the air.
A slight twist, and the man grimaced in pain.
“What the hell!”
“You little shit…!”
When the rest of his group rushed me, Edwin and Lieselotte stepped up too.
“You’re the ones picking a fight.”
“Back off. We don’t want to cause a scene.”
“You damn brats…!”
The tension was thick enough to snap.
Other knights were in the cafeteria, but none intervened.
Come to think of it, they’d said meals and breaks were free time—do whatever, within reason.
Personal fights between candidates were apparently fine too.
‘In that case, no reason to hold back.’
The moment one man lunged with a fist, I swung my tray and smashed his face.
It hit with a thud, sending him tumbling back. Meanwhile, Edwin and Lieselotte engaged the other two.
“You punks!”
“I’ll crush you!”
One even drew a carried weapon.
But Lieselotte disarmed him with a clever joint lock, then finished him with a strike to the vitals—he foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
The last one fighting Edwin went down quick once I joined in.
“Hmm…”
Then the knight who’d been watching the brawl approached.
He glanced at the fallen Group 4 without batting an eye and muttered,
“Group 4 won’t be taking the exam tomorrow.”
He turned to us and said,
“Group 2.”
“Yes, Knight.”
“Clean it up.”
“Understood.”
Clear orders.
We dragged the half-eaten Group 4 uncles outside and started cleaning.
* * *
“How’s it going?”
“Like a crane among chickens.”
Godwin Reizen responded to the voice over the communication spell.
“They’re already standing out. Young Master Sion is truly remarkable.”
“Of course. Whose grandson is he?”
A hearty laugh boomed.
The one Godwin was speaking to via communication spell was none other than Holy Knight Order Leader Ianus Aleyas.
“Hey, Godwin.”
“Yes, Order Leader.”
“You’re not giving them any special treatment, right?”
“Of course not.”
No special favors just because Sion Aleyas was the Order Leader’s grandson.
He’d instructed all subordinates strictly.
“I even told the men to be stricter with them.”
“Good. That’s what makes it meaningful.”
“That’s why the other young masters might be at a slight disadvantage… Young Masters Kain and Robel didn’t pass the first exam on the first day.”
“I see? Isn’t the first exam a duel with the examiner?”
“Yes, but an emergency replacement was needed, so only those two had a nearby Iron Guard Knight handle their exam.”
“Hey, did you say Iron Guard? You had them duel a knight who can use sword gang?”
Sword gang.
Far more powerful than sword aura—a blade of mana hardened like steel.
Knights who mastered sword gang were called Iron Guard Knights, and from there, they were truly considered skilled.
“You should’ve gone easy.”
“The guy couldn’t hold back… After that, we switched back to regular knights for examiners.”
“So Kain and Robel took the hit.”
“My apologies.”
“No matter. Adversity builds character. Treat those boys strictly too—no special treatment.”
“Yes, as you command, Order Leader.”
“Oh, and don’t let on that I contacted you. Got it?”
“Of course.”
The communication ended.
Godwin relaxed and let out a sigh.
‘The fearsome Order Leader… turns into a regular grandfather when it comes to his grandsons.’
Ianus had five grandchildren in total.
Three of them were here taking the entrance exam—an unusual occurrence.
Godwin couldn’t help but pay close attention.
‘He said treat them strictly… but don’t let them lose their lives.’
Fatalities did happen occasionally in the Holy Knight Order entrance exams.
There were dangerous formats like dungeon explorations.
‘And… there might be those targeting the young masters’ lives.’
The Aleyas family had a history of bloody internal conflicts.
Things were relatively peaceful now under Ianus’s dominance, but someone could have infiltrated the exam to assassinate Sion, Kain, or Robel.
He had to keep a sharp eye to prevent any incidents.
‘But…’
For some reason.
No matter what happened, Young Master Sion seemed like he’d handle it just fine.
That’s what Godwin thought.