Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Iron Guard Knight (2)
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“Come forward, Sion Aleyas.”
Helmut crooked a finger at me.
“To think you’d try to beat the examiner. How bold.”
“It’s happened a few times before.”
“I’m different from the Grade 2 Knight examiners you’ve faced so far.”
“You’re a Grade 1 Knight—an Iron Guard Knight, no less.”
“So, you really think you can win?”
“You have to test it out to know who’s longer or shorter, right?”
“Hmm.”
Helmut tilted his head slightly, scanning me from head to toe.
“No matter how I look at it, mine’s longer.”
“...Fair enough.”
Helmut was quite tall.
“I’m kidding.”
“You’ve got a sense of humor too, Examiner.”
“What’s wrong with that? I like to think I’m pretty witty.”
“Was that your best shot?”
We traded light banter as we both drew our swords at the same time.
[This time, you’ll have to borrow my power.]
‘No need for that.’
[What? You can’t win with your mana alone.]
There was an absolute gap in physical ability between Helmut and me.
Even if I used mana to compensate, Helmut had more to begin with. He was a six-star Knight, while I only had mana equivalent to three circles.
‘Still, I have to try.’
Helmut’s combat prowess surpassed my current level.
Since reincarnating as Sion, this was the first time I’d faced someone stronger than me, so I wanted to fight without relying on Igzard if possible.
“I’ll go first.”
Helmut moved.
There was no yielding the first strike, no mercy for a thirteen-year-old candidate.
[What a ferocious opening move!]
An attack that could crush my head.
If I just blocked it outright, the difference in strength would snap my arm.
Instead, I deftly deflected the blow with clever swordplay and slipped to the side.
“Impressive!”
Edwin cheered from the sidelines.
But Helmut ignored him and pressed the next attack.
It was a strike that could kill an ordinary kid in one hit.
‘He really... isn’t holding back!’
I boosted my speed with mana.
Helmut had long limbs and wide swings.
I focused on that, using my smaller frame to probe for openings.
“Not bad!”
Sensing my intent, Helmut shifted his style.
His attacks grew more precise, each one refined to counter even my slightest movements.
[Hey! Just borrow my power! You could get hurt!]
‘Thanks for the concern, but we’re not there yet.’
One slip, and I’d lose my life.
In that razor-edge tension, I felt my dormant senses awaken.
Memories from my days as Archbishop Hausel—no, even earlier—stirred within me.
‘Right, my old instructor said it.’
Back when I was trained as an assassin for the Dialogue Church, one of my instructors had told me this:
You’re all disposable anyway, so there’s a limit to how strong you can get.
When fighting enemies, don’t think about surpassing them outright.
You’ll face foes stronger than you, and trying to overpower them with raw strength will only lead to defeat.
So... focus on finding their weaknesses.
‘If I can spot the weakness, there’s a chance to win...’
The Helmut before me was someone current Sion Aleyas could never overpower.
There was no way for me to surpass him directly.
But... there was a way to exploit a flaw.
“Hup!”
Helmut raised his sword once more.
As he swung down with enough force to cleave me in two, I sensed my opportunity.
“Sion!”
“Stop!”
Edwin and Lieselotte cried out.
They must have thought Helmut’s attack was too much.
But Helmut knew better. He expected me to dodge with my quick footwork, like before.
“...?!”
I did the unexpected.
Planting my feet firmly, I met his attack head-on.
Boom!
My mana-clad sword clashed with Helmut’s training blade.
I nearly lost my grip. The impact shot pain through my hand and arm.
It’d ache for days.
‘That’s the end of it.’
Even as I let my arm drop, Helmut moved to strike again. The man was ruthless.
But he froze mid-motion.
“Guess you don’t maintain your training sword much.”
“...”
Helmut stared at his blade with a stiff expression.
A crack had already spiderwebbed across it.
“There was a tiny nick in the middle, so I targeted that.”
Helmut’s sword was a shabby training weapon.
Mine was a masterwork from Ianus Aleyas.
I figured channeling mana and striking the flaw precisely would do it.
“So that’s your strategy.”
He swung it lightly, and with a snap, the blade shattered completely.
Just like that, Helmut was disarmed.
Meanwhile, I stood with my sword intact.
“You were that desperate to beat me, huh.”
“Told you. I was thinking hard about how to win.”
“Satisfied? Winning like that?”
“At least now you know exactly what I’m capable of.”
“That’s not an answer to my question.”
“Means you’re satisfied.”
“Spot on.”
A smile tugged at Helmut’s lips.
Not like before—this one was genuine satisfaction.
“I’ve gauged your ability. Step back and rest.”
“Thank you, Examiner.”
Helmut said nothing more to me.
But the look in his eyes... it was completely different now.
“Alright, you four left—come at me one by one. No dawdling.”
“I’ll go!”
As Helmut prodded the rest, Robel dashed forward.
Maybe he thought Helmut being swordless was his chance.
“Sorry, but Sion wrecked the training sword.”
Helmut remained merciless.
“I’ll face the rest of you with a real blade.”
“...?!”
Robel’s eyes widened, as did everyone else’s.
Helmut shrugged and glanced my way.
“Blame Sion if you’re mad.”
What a spiteful guy...
* * *
After that day, the grueling training began.
It was a review of past exam content, but the intensity was beyond imagination.
“This is me going easy, considering most of you are kids whose bodies haven’t matured yet! Endure it!”
“Th-this doesn’t feel easy at all...”
“P-please, spare us...”
Cain and Robel from Squad 3 groaned constantly during our joint sessions.
The others were worn out too, though not as badly.
But... I managed.
“Sion, you’re amazing. How do you hold up?”
“Yeah, I was honestly worried.”
“Just got good endurance.”
I brushed it off to Edwin and Lieselotte like that, but really, it was because my past life had tougher training.
I’d been an assassin trainee in the Dialogue Church. Beatings were daily, and food was scarce.
Compared to that, this was a breeze.
“You’re handling it so well, I’ll give you extra assignments, Sion.”
“Any reward?”
“Of course. That snack set from last holiday supply drop.”
“That’s ancient. Shouldn’t it be thrown out?”
“Don’t refuse.”
“No thanks.”
Helmut was strict with me, but not abusive.
We had a hierarchy, but enough rapport for banter.
However...
“Cain, Robel! Don’t drag me down!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
“Sorry!”
“Aleyas kids got nothing better? Shape up!”
Training together made Squad 3’s dynamic grate on me.
Squad leader Hades was too harsh on Cain and Robel, and it started bothering me.
I’d ignored it before, but now it was hard to overlook.
‘It’s getting under my skin.’
For my own sanity, I couldn’t let it slide.
* * *
During night free time, I arranged a private meeting with Helmut.
“I can guess what you want to talk about.”
In the empty training ground, Helmut spoke coldly.
“About Squad 3, right?”
“Sharp as ever.”
“You’ve been glancing their way with that displeased look.”
“I don’t think I scowled openly.”
“Correction: your eyes did.”
The man was incisive.
Why was someone like this stuck training rookies?
“I figured you for a cold war machine, but you can’t stand seeing your cousins get beat on?”
“They’re getting beat?”
“Beatings where no one’s watching, apparently.”
“Didn’t know it was that bad.”
“You didn’t notice? Surprisingly oblivious.”
“I knew they had injuries outside training. Thought it was from fair spars.”
Edwin and Lieselotte got bruises too.
But from honest duels.
Not one-sided violence like Hades...
“I never imagined my brothers getting thrashed by that guy.”
“They’re Aleyas too, so pride keeps them from telling other knights.”
“To protect that pride, they should crush him by any means.”
“Like what?”
“Plenty. Ambush him at night, both at once, beat him down.”
“You think those young masters could come up with that?”
“I could.”
Helmut chuckled at my words.
“Even a night raid wouldn’t let Cain and Robel beat Hades.”
“You think so?”
“Hades is twenty-five—a peak adult physically. Cain and Robel are still growing.”
They were shooting up daily, but still shorter and less muscled than Hades.
“They could bridge the gap with mana-enhanced strength, but they’re only two-stars. Even ganging up, they can’t take a three-star Hades.”
“So strike before he rallies and boosts his mana.”
“Kid, that’s why it’s impossible for them.”
“Then what should they do?”
“I don’t interfere.”
Helmut gazed at the night sky.
“I don’t meddle in squad internals. Unless Cain or Robel ask for help.”
“They won’t ask cousins for aid. Pride aside, penalties apply.”
“Right, so even if you beg, I won’t step in.”
“Never planned to beg.”
“What?”
“I just want permission.”
“For what?”
“Can I handle him?”
Helmut went silent, staring at my face.
“You personally?”
“Yes.”
“What’s a kid like you doing this for your cousins?”
“It pisses me off.”
“Can’t tolerate that level of injustice, and you think you’ll survive the Holy Knight Order?”
“That guy name-drops Aleyas all the time.”
Aleyas.
The name silenced Helmut too.
“He gets off crushing Cain and Robel—fellow Aleyas—feeling superior.”
“...”
Better than the great Aleyas house.
Drunk on that superiority.
“He only has the edge because they’re immature kids. Not because he’s special.”
“...Hades is plenty capable. Already three-star, Grade 1 material.”
“But not qualified to scorn Aleyas. Not with that.”
I was Aleyas now.
I couldn’t just watch someone insult the house.
“You weren’t thrilled with Squad 3’s state either, Examiner. Not the type to ignore a cocky punk.”
“...”
Helmut’s expression shifted.
Hit the mark.
“I’ll handle it. Just cooperate a little.”
“This kid...”
Helmut sighed deeply.
“Feels weird.”
“What?”
“Discussing this with a ten-year-old. Like talking to a peer.”
“Thirteen.”
“Same difference.”
He sighed again, scratching his head.
“Fine. What do you need from me?”
Permission granted.