Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Final Exam (2)
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The second match was between me and Edwin.
After Lieselotte stepped down, Edwin took her place in the training grounds.
“…….”
Edwin looked a bit tense.
He took a few deep breaths, as if to steady himself, then bowed his head toward me.
“For the last time…… please fight me seriously.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, without holding back.”
Edwin bowed deeply.
He was always polite by nature, but in the year we'd spent together, he'd never bowed quite this low.
“…….”
I nodded silently.
If that's what Edwin wanted, I wanted to grant it.
“Thank you!”
A bright smile lit up Edwin's refined features.
It might have been my imagination, but he seemed a little less tense.
[He seems to have made up his mind about something.]
‘Yeah.’
While I conversed with Igzard, Edwin assumed his stance.
“Then…… let the match begin!”
The moment Helmut, acting as referee, called out.
Light flashed from the sword Edwin held.
“Haaah!”
With a spirited shout, Edwin charged forward.
I immediately took a defensive posture.
“……!”
Boom!
A loud noise shook the ground around us.
It was the shockwave from clashing sword auras.
[Well, well, this kid……!]
Igzard sounded surprised in my head.
[He's mastered sword aura already? What a shock!]
‘Yeah, I didn't know either.’
When we first met, Edwin couldn't use sword aura.
He had 2-star mana, but sword aura required 3-star mana.
But now, Edwin…… was a 3-star swordsman who could wield sword aura.
‘Well, Edwin really put in the effort.’
Edwin had the goal of becoming an ironclad knight who could wield sword beams like his father.
This was the result of his hard work toward that goal.
[That's not all.]
‘What?’
[Your cousin Sena Aleyas couldn't use sword aura at eighteen either, right?]
‘Right.’
[So what's the reason Edwin can already wield sword aura? Was he a genius surpassing Sena Aleyas? Did he receive better training than the Aleyas family's prodigies?]
‘That's…….’
[The reason he's grown this much is because you were by his side.]
Hearing that, I bit my lip for a moment.
[He was constantly stimulated by your off-the-charts existence, which turned him into a swordsman who can wield sword aura at his age.]
Igzard was right.
With Edwin's original talent alone, it should have taken much longer to master sword aura.
[So…… take responsibility.]
‘I know.’
As I parried Edwin's attacks, I slowly drew up my mana.
In this situation, there was only one way for me to take responsibility.
‘Show him a higher realm.’
I channeled more mana into the blade.
My sword aura was already stronger than Edwin's, but I made it even stronger, pushing back his sword aura.
But that wasn't the end.
“Ah……!”
Edwin let out an exclamation.
He'd noticed my sword aura beginning to change.
“This is……!”
The form of the mana rippling along the blade shifted.
The compressed sword aura turned thread-like, wrapping around the blade.
This level of control was impossible with 3-star mana. It was the step before sword beam, requiring at least 4-star mana.
Sword aura in this state was called sword thread.
“Isn't that sword thread?!”
“He's reached 4-star?!”
Many in the audience were shocked.
Glancing over, I saw Helmut smirking, as if muttering, ‘Arrogant brat.’
“Impressive.”
Edwin swallowed hard, his expression tense.
But he didn't retreat a single step, holding his defensive stance.
To honor Edwin's courage, I raised my sword.
“Give me everything you've got.”
“…….”
I nodded silently and swung.
The moment our swords clashed, a fierce shockwave erupted, scattering Edwin's sword aura entirely.
Unable to withstand the impact, Edwin was pushed back and dropped to one knee.
“Huff, huff…….”
Edwin panted, his sword fallen beside him.
Even in defeat, his face showed relief.
But in the eyes looking at me…… there lingered a hint of regret.
* * *
‘Is this the end?’
I thought it would be enough if I could fight Sion all-out in the final match.
But now that it was over, regret welled up.
‘Really…… is this it?’
The exam was almost done.
Sion would pass with top honors and be assigned wherever he wanted.
And then…… our connection would end.
‘I wanted to learn more.’
Of course, Sion hadn't taught me personally like a master.
In that sense, Helmut had given more direct instruction.
But I'd definitely learned a lot from Sion.
Just watching him by my side taught me so much.
Not just how to fight…… but how to live.
Watching him live boldly on his own terms at such a young age, unafraid of anyone, I'd learned volumes.
‘But now, that's…….’
A surge of emotion choked me.
But I held it back, lifted my head, and looked at Sion.
“Edwin.”
Then, Sion spoke.
His voice was as calm as ever, belying his age.
“Will you follow me?”
“……!”
The moment I heard those words.
Edwin dropped his other knee too and bowed his head.
No need to hesitate.
No need to think.
All I needed was to declare my intent.
“Please let me join you, Sion Aleyas!”
In that instant, Edwin found the lord he would serve as a knight.
* * *
The third match, between Edwin and Lieselotte, ended with Lieselotte's victory.
Edwin, the 3-star swordsman, should have had the edge, but he'd expended too much mana fighting me and fell to Lieselotte's surprise attack.
“Weren't you holding back too much against Sion?”
“Ahaha…… I have no excuse.”
Anyway, with that, the final exam was over.
We waited in the training grounds.
According to Helmut, Godwin would soon formally confer our holy knight qualifications.
“Now we're officially becoming members of the Holy Knight Order.”
“Yeah, all of us together…….”
We who passed the final exam would become holy knights ahead of the others.
I heard Kain and Robel were scheduled for theirs in a few days.
[In the end, your cousins missed out on top spot.]
‘Yeah.’
Kain and Robel, who could have joined without exams, took the entrance trials on orders from their mother, Helena Aleyas.
She'd pressured them to outdo me for first place…… but I took it anyway.
‘Still, those guys…… they'll have gained a lot here.’
[You think?]
‘Better than waltzing in without trials.’
From watching them, Kain and Robel had grown a lot.
This experience would be a huge asset for their future as holy knights.
‘Helena's gonna be pissed her sons missed top spot, though.’
[Hmm, in the end, only Helena…… Wait.]
‘What?’
[Seems like a big shot's arrived.]
Hearing that.
I stood and turned.
And confirmed the face of the man walking toward the training grounds.
‘That man…….’
A face I remembered clearly.
I'd met him at the family gathering two years ago, and at the baptism after reincarnation.
Of course, even before that, during Archbishop Hausel's time, I'd seen him on the battlefield a few times.
The man recently promoted to head of the Holy Knight Order Unified Supervisory Headquarters, the de facto second-in-command…… Sershes Aleyas, eldest son of Ianus Aleyas.
“It's been a while, Uncle Sershes.”
“Se-Sershes?!”
“……!”
As I greeted him, Edwin and Lieselotte hurriedly knelt and bowed.
As the Aleyas eldest son and head of the Unified Supervisory Headquarters, Sershes was a towering superior to them.
“I came to watch the final exam, but I'm a bit late.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, the carriage had trouble midway.”
Sershes's tone was cold.
Estrid was cool too, but Sershes carried an arrogance Estrid lacked.
Though Helena was the queen of arrogance.
“Sion, did you take first place?”
“I don't know yet. They're probably tallying scores now…….”
“As long as it's not Kain or Robel, it'll be you.”
Sershes cut me off mid-sentence.
“Then you'll be a Grade 1 Knight.”
“If I take first, yes.”
“Good. Then you're qualified.”
“Qualified for what?”
“Sion, join the Assault Knight Brigade.”
Assault Knight Brigade.
The name of the elite unit hailed as the Holy Knight Order's strongest force. I'd fought them several times during Archbishop Hausel's era.
Sershes was their captain.
“I don't understand what you're saying.”
“Lack comprehension?”
Sershes frowned.
“You passed the entrance exam first place and earned Grade 1 Knight status. You're more than qualified for the Order's top elite unit, the Assault Knight Brigade.”
“Uncle.”
“I'll pull every string for you. This is a golden opportunity.”
Sershes still held strong sway in the Assault Knight Brigade.
If he guaranteed my position, joining suddenly wouldn't cause issues.
“My daughter Sena joined the Assault Knight Brigade recently too.”
“I see.”
“You'll assist Sena. Fight for the Order while supporting your cousin.”
“Uncle.”
I understood Sershes's scheme.
He was worried I'd rise as Sena's rival, so he wanted me under his thumb.
[Estrid Aleyas seemed to like you and wanted to recruit you…… but not this guy.]
‘He's not the type to move on sentiment.’
Any merits I earned would be credited to Sena, not me.
Sershes already had it all planned out.
[But does he think you'll just nod?]
‘He thinks I can't refuse.’
Sershes could act this high-handed because, as head of the Unified Supervisory Headquarters, he influenced the entire Order's personnel decisions.
Assigning me to the Assault Knight Brigade or demoting me somewhere awful…… all within his power.
[I see. So what'll you do?]
‘Obvious.’
I lifted my head and met Sershes's gaze.
Then said without hesitation.
“Sorry, but I've already decided my path.”
“What? What did you just say?”
“I've decided my path.”
With that, I approached Edwin and Lieselotte, who knelt tensely behind me.
I placed arms around their shoulders and spoke calmly.
“I plan to lead the Independent Knight Brigade. With these two.”
“……!”
Sershes's eyes widened.
Edwin and Lieselotte flinched in shock, staring at me.
No one expected me to openly defy Sershes's order like this.
“Si-Sion! You can't do this!”
“Yeah. Even if he's your uncle, Lord Sershes is…….”
Edwin and Lieselotte whispered urgently beside me.
But I ignored them, keeping a composed expression.
“Sion, are you serious?”
“Should I say it jokingly?”
“…….”
Sershes's gaze turned menacing.
The eyes of the man who'd terrorized Dialogue Church followers with ruthless annihilation ops.
“Sion, do you know who I am?”
“Yes, my uncle.”
“That's not all. I am…….”
As Sershes blustered arrogantly.
“My son too. Isn't that right, Sershes?”
A leisurely voice came from behind Sershes.