Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Final Exam (3)
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“Ah……!”
Sershes gulped and whipped around in alarm.
“Knight Order Leader, Your Excellency!”
“Yes, Sershes.”
The one who appeared behind Sershes was none other than the leader of the Holy Knight Order and head of the Aleyas family, Ianus Aleyas.
In other words, Sershes’s father…… and his sole superior.
[It was Ianus after all.]
Igzard chuckled inside me.
The reason I’d been able to provoke Sershes so boldly just moments ago was that I’d sensed Ianus was here.
“Y-Your Excellency, what in the world brings you…… Weren’t you at headquarters today?”
“It’s an unofficial visit, so naturally, no word reached you.”
After snapping at him coldly, Ianus turned his gaze to me.
I immediately bowed at the waist in greeting.
“Have you been well, Grandfather?”
“Yes, Sion. So this is the final exam day?”
“That’s right. It’s already over.”
“A shame. I should have come sooner.”
“Uncle said much the same.”
“Oh? Did he now?”
Ianus turned back to Sershes.
“So, Sershes, what exactly brings you here? Is this official business?”
“No…… it’s not.”
“I see. Then why are you here?”
“To congratulate my nephew on passing the enlistment exam.”
“Is that all?”
“And…… I planned to recommend that Sion join the Assault Knight Brigade.”
“Put Sion in the Assault Knight Brigade?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“By whose authority?”
Sershes flinched at Ianus’s icy tone.
Even Sershes couldn’t help but tense up before Ianus.
“Knight Order Leader, Your Excellency.”
“Don’t call me that. You said it’s unofficial.”
“Then, Father, allow me to speak plainly.”
Sershes spoke carefully.
“Sion has what it takes to join the Assault Knight Brigade. Despite having only one circle, he possesses mana on par with a three-star knight, and he’s a promising talent with great potential for growth.”
“Still, isn’t he too young? The Assault Knight Brigade fights in the fiercest battles as the elite unit.”
“He passed the enlistment exam faster than anyone else. Young as he is, he’s already superior to the other recruits. The Assault Knight Brigade is mostly made up of veteran knights, but they do take on new ones occasionally. Better to take Sion than anyone else.”
“Hm. So that’s how you see it?”
“Yes, Sion is truly exceptional.”
Somehow, Sershes ended up praising me fervently before Ianus.
“If you say so, Sershes, then Sion must truly be a knight with a bright future.”
“Ah…….”
Sershes realized his mistake and stiffened.
He’d been scheming to keep me from rivaling his daughter Sena…… but he’d gone and sung my praises in front of Ianus.
“Well, these days there are no large-scale battles with the Dialogue Church, and the Assault Knight Brigade is mostly focused on training anyway.”
“Yes, that’s true…….”
“Sena seems to be settling in fine after joining recently, and Sion will too. Just as you said, he’s exceptionally talented.”
“…….”
Ianus looked at me again.
He spoke to me in a tone far warmer than the one he’d used with Sershes.
“So, Sion. What are your thoughts?”
“My mind hasn’t changed since before.”
“You want to lead the Independent Knight Brigade?”
“That’s right.”
“The Assault Knight Brigade doesn’t appeal to you?”
“The Assault Knight Brigade is the world’s finest elite unit, the pride of the Holy Knight Order. I dream of becoming a member someday.”
“But you think the time isn’t right yet.”
After confirming my intentions, Ianus glanced at Sershes.
“That’s what Sion says, Sershes.”
“Father…….”
“Of course, this is just his personal preference. In reality, assignments are up to the higher-ups.”
“…….”
“So as the Integration Supervision Headquarters Chief, you’re free to use your influence to place him elsewhere.”
With that, Ianus gave a small smile.
“But remember, I’m the one who advised him to take the enlistment exam first and then apply to the Independent Knight Brigade.”
“…….”
Sershes’s expression hardened.
As he’d just said, Sershes could easily force me into the Assault Knight Brigade.
But ignoring his superior—and father—Ianus after he’d spoken so plainly…… would take considerable nerve.
“Please don’t misunderstand, Father.”
“Misunderstand what?”
“I only judged that for the future of the Holy Knight Order, it’d be best for Sion to join the Assault Knight Brigade. But as the top scorer in the enlistment exam, it’s customary to honor their wishes as much as possible, so I plan to respect Sion’s choice.”
“Hm. Is that so?”
“Yes, I won’t force Sion into the Assault Knight Brigade.”
With that, Sershes forced a smile and looked at me.
“Did you hear that, Sion?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“It’ll go according to your wishes, so don’t worry. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Uncle, in that case…….”
I glanced at Edwin and Lieselotte Hydra standing nearby before speaking.
“As I mentioned earlier, you’ll arrange for these two to join me as well, right?”
“Well…….”
“Oh, was that not what you meant?”
“No. I can certainly arrange that much…….”
Sershes looked like he’d just bitten into something foul.
He’d planned to drag me off and turn me into Sena’s subordinate under his control, but instead, he’d promised in front of Ianus to grant my every request.
‘Now I don’t have to worry about Sershes pulling any strings.’
From my perspective, things had worked out perfectly.
“What are you all doing here…….”
Just then, Helmut ambled over, only to freeze at the sight of Ianus and Sershes.
“Gasp, Knight Order Leader, Your Excellency. And Lord Sershes too……!”
Helmut dropped to one knee and bowed deeply.
“Helmut Devansky, at the service of the Knight Order Leader, Your Excellency, and the Headquarters Chief!”
“It’s been a while, Ironclad Knight Helmut.”
Ianus looked down at him and spoke.
“You’ve been teaching Sion, Cain, and Robel all this time.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Must have been inconvenient, instructing the Aleyas children.”
“Not at all.”
“Oh, that reminds me…….”
Stroking his chin, Ianus continued.
“Kurt has just been appointed leader of the Inquisition Knight Brigade. He requested that I summon you.”
“Sir Kurt of the Heavenly Rank……!”
“You’ll hear from him officially soon. Back to the field after two years.”
The Inquisition Knight Brigade.
A unit specializing in subjugating enemy forces of the Holy Spirit Church like the Dialogue Church, it stands alongside the Assault Knight Brigade as one of the Holy Knight Order’s two premier knight brigades.
The fact that my father, Kurt, had been appointed its leader meant……
‘He’s decided to throw himself fully into the successor race.’
The eldest son Sershes, chief of the Integration Supervision Headquarters overseeing the entire Holy Knight Order.
The eldest daughter Helena, grand inquisitor of the Heresy Inquisition Council investigating enemies of the Holy Spirit Church.
The second daughter Est, chief of the Pilgrimage Investigation Corps searching ancient relics in dungeons and such.
The second son Kurt, leader of the Inquisition Knight Brigade facing the Dialogue Church on the front lines.
With the four siblings now holding key positions in the Holy Knight Order, the race for the next Knight Order Leader was truly underway.
It would affect our generation too.
‘My father has no intention of dragging me into the power struggle, though.’
Unlike Sershes or Helena, who’d exploit their children to the hilt, Kurt was different.
He’d want me to live quietly as a Holy Knight in the provinces.
That was something I could use.
‘Build my strength in the provinces…… while gathering intel on the Dialogue Church.’
The Dialogue Church, where I’d spent so long as Archbishop Hausel.
To seriously probe its secrets, I needed more freedom of movement than I had now.
It was time to distance myself from the central headquarters, where Ianus and Kurt were, and build power in the provinces.
Someday…… to reach the pinnacle of the Holy Knight Order.
“Knight Order Leader, Your Excellency, the conferral ceremony to award the knight badges to the candidates who passed the final exam is about to begin.”
“Ah, I see. May we join?”
“Of course. Please honor us with your presence.”
And so we followed Helmut to the conferral site.
* * *
Godwin didn’t seem surprised to see Ianus—he must have known already.
“Sion Aleyas, step forward.”
“Yes.”
Standing on the platform, Godwin spoke in a solemn voice.
“You were the first to complete every exam this term and achieved the highest scores overall. Accordingly, we recognize you…….”
Locking eyes with me, Godwin smiled.
“As a formal member of the Holy Knight Order and bestow upon you the knight badge of a Grade 1 knight.”
“Thank you.”
Godwin pinned a red cross-shaped badge to my chest.
Among the knight badges signifying membership in the Holy Knight Order, this one was reserved for Grade 1 knights.
“Continue to shatter your bones and crush your sinews in safeguarding the teachings of the Holy Spirit Church.”
“Understood.”
Applause rose from those around us.
Ianus clapped briefly, Sershes reluctantly, Helmut vigorously.
“Edwin Signus and Lieselotte Hydra, step forward.”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
Edwin and Lieselotte received their knight badges next.
As the top scorer, I got the Grade 1 knight badge, but theirs were for Grade 2 knights.
[Without you, both would have gotten Grade 1 badges. Godwin must have been wary of Ianus.]
‘Doesn’t matter.’
[Doesn’t it?]
‘Under me, they’ll qualify for Grade 1 in no time.’
While conversing with Igzard, I lightly touched the badge on my chest.
Fourteen years since my rebirth as Sion Aleyas. At last, I was an official Holy Knight.
‘Now…… the real start begins.’
I’d taken the first step.
All that remained was to truly take flight.
* * *
Kurt Aleyas heard the news while inspecting the Heavenly Rank knight badge pinned to his uniform.
“The Young Master passed the exam, it seems.”
“Really?”
“They say he took first place. He’s been granted Grade 1 knight qualifications.”
“I see……!”
Kurt had feared his only son’s genius being exposed to the world, but he couldn’t help rejoicing at this news.
What father wouldn’t be happy when his child came in first?
“That Sion…… he doesn’t know how to hold back. Cain and Robel were there too, and he must have crushed them.”
“With the Young Master’s skills, that’s probably what happened.”
Hazel, who’d brought the news, was smiling too.
“Let’s see. Since he passed, he’ll have some free time now.”
“What will you do, sir? Go back to see him?”
“…….”
Kurt pondered for a moment.
But he soon shook his head with a wry smile.
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Sir Kurt…….”
“If we meet again, I’ll want to keep him by my side and protect him. Can’t do that.”
Kurt had already made up his mind.
He couldn’t cage his son under the pretext of protection.
“I want him to soar freely. Just as he wishes.”
“Understood.”
“Alright, then…….”
Kurt stepped out of the barracks with Hazel.
Countless Holy Knights saluted as they saw him.
“Everything’s ready, I assume?”
“Of course. We’ve completely surrounded the Dialogue Church bastards.”
“Fearless fools…… hiding in a place like this.”
As Kurt climbed the hill, he spotted Dialogue Church followers lying in ambush in the woods below.
“They’ve been quiet lately, the Dialogue Church. But it seems they’re ramping up activities again.”
“We’ll need to stay sharp.”
“With me leading the Inquisition Knight Brigade, they won’t get their way.”
With that, Kurt drew the sword at his waist.
One of the Holy Knight Order’s five famed holy swords, ‘Erdais.’
“Exterminate them. Follow me!”
“Ooooooh!”
With a thunderous roar, the Holy Knights surged forward.