Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Please Take Me into Banpellyon
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23
Take Me into Banpellyon.
Dante froze at the words he'd never heard before in his life.
But Havel himself showed no particular reaction.
It was one of the phrases he'd heard the most in his life, after all.
Dante turned to look at Havel.
His eyes were filled with anticipation.
"H-Havel, we have applicants!"
Dante had been the only knight in Banpellyon his entire life.
So it was only natural that anticipation welled up in him.
'He'll end up handing over his liver and gallbladder at this rate.'
Havel clicked his tongue.
But it was Dante himself who would have to lead the Dawn Knights from now on.
So it might be good to let him hone his eye for people this time.
'Just...'
Havel glanced at one person among the gathered crowd.
One of them seemed to have ulterior motives.
"Ahem."
As Havel handed the authority over to Dante, Dante cleared his throat awkwardly and addressed them.
"Does asking to be accepted into Banpellyon mean you want to join the knights' order?"
"Yes, that's right!"
The man at the front shouted first.
Tanned skin.
His hair was cropped extremely short.
Even his eyebrows protruded prominently.
He had a ruggedly masculine look and was brimming with passion.
He eagerly explained why he'd chased after the two of them.
"I thought I could climb the Tower on my own without belonging to any group! But I crumbled at the wall of the 5th floor."
In the Tower, small groups inevitably hit their limits as they went higher.
The 5th hierarchy Dark Zone was a prime example.
It was a region infested with Gehenna, a massive criminal syndicate.
Small groups just became targets for Gehenna.
"Those were the days when I envied only the knights' orders. That's when I heard it. About Banpellyon—how the two of you defeated Glasis's rampage and climbed the Tower!"
They had taken down a knights' order that was seen as an absolute force—just the two of them.
That fact ignited a fire in countless people's hearts.
Many had been crushed under the weight of the great families, after all.
"I wanted to follow in your footsteps. That's what I thought!"
And that fire had spread to Banpellyon.
A family that had lost its power in clashing with the Five Great Families.
They were captivated by the tale that stirred heroic sentiments.
"I commend that mindset."
Dante empathized with his thinking.
He had thought the same way before meeting Havel.
"But Banpellyon doesn't accept just anyone."
The Dawn Knights of Banpellyon weren't open to everyone.
Dante fortunately understood that well.
"We're climbing the Tower right now."
Nowhere revealed a person's true nature like the Tower did.
The extreme conditions brought out one's true self, after all.
"We'll judge if you have what it takes to join the Dawn Knights as we climb the floors."
"The Dawn Knights?"
"They represent the Banpellyon family."
It was a sort of entry test.
Dante turned to Havel.
He seemed to want Havel to decide this much.
Wishing to help at least that far, Havel stepped forward before them.
They looked at him with puzzlement.
"Who's that guy?"
"Wasn't he a mercenary or something?"
Glassis and Graiza had kept Havel's existence hidden.
There was no benefit to them in revealing him—only gain for Banpellyon.
So the world knew only of Dante, and Havel remained largely unknown.
"The entry test is simple."
But Havel ignored their stares.
"Follow us."
He simply announced the straightforward test.
But no one there was unaware of what that test entailed.
It was already famous how the two of them had ascended the Tower at astonishing speeds.
And that speed came mostly from their relentless marches.
Knowing that, the applicants' faces hardened.
They knew failing to keep up meant immediate elimination.
"Let's go."
As Havel turned and walked away, Dante followed suit.
The test had begun.
Realizing this, they hurriedly chased after Havel and Dante.
Thus began the Dawn Knights' first entry test in a century.
Utter darkness where not even an inch ahead was visible.
People were passing through that darkness.
At the forefront were two men: Havel and Dante.
Since entering the Dark Zone, the two hadn't stopped once.
Havel went without saying.
And Dante's stamina and aura control had improved tremendously through training.
In contrast, the group chasing them was dying.
They couldn't see ahead, and calamity beasts appeared suddenly from the darkness.
The Dark Zone was filled mainly with calamity beasts that relied on hearing rather than sight.
So even the slightest noise drew them in like a pack of dogs.
That made quick, decisive battles essential.
Prolonged fights only brought more beasts from the darkness.
Dante and Havel were unaffected.
Their swords made no sound, and they slew the beasts in an instant.
But those following behind couldn't manage that.
Their fights dragged on, and the noise summoned more calamity beasts.
On top of that, with Havel and Dante not resting, they couldn't either.
This level of forced march was unprecedented for them.
"Crazy bastards. They're insane. I'm out. I'm dropping."
By now, they were at the 52nd floor.
Dropouts began to emerge one by one.
They had hit their physical limits and given up.
It was the first issue: lack of skill.
"Tch, testing us when there's only two of you? Screw this. I'm leaving too. We'd just die like this anyway."
On the 53rd floor, another dropout spat mocking words.
These were mostly the types who'd tagged along hoping for scraps.
But with not even scraps falling—and losing their own provisions—they decided to bail.
"Thought we could breeze through the Dark Zone."
"They're just complete lunatics."
And midway through the 53rd floor, a few more dropped out.
This was the second issue: personality.
Those whose only motive was personal greed, not true loyalty to Banpellyon.
So they gave up easily.
Dropouts continued after that.
It was clearly a simple test.
Yet few could pass it.
The group had dwindled to just four in the blink of an eye.
Considering they'd started with about twenty, that was a huge cut.
"A lot have dropped out. Doesn't that suck?"
Havel asked, but Dante shook his head.
"I see those who pass this first entry as the roots that will lead the Dawn Knights going forward."
Those who made it through this test would form the foundation of the Dawn Knights.
And a foundation couldn't be rotten from the roots.
Having someone without skill or character would just be a rotten root.
So they needed people solid in both virtues to build upon.
"So I'm not disappointed at all."
Dante was actually glad four remained.
Havel smiled faintly.
Dante was indeed suited to be captain.
'Worth keeping an eye on him. Such a commendable guy.'
Since entering the Tower, Dante had grown stronger.
Both physically and mentally, he had clearly matured.
"Good thinking."
So Havel praised him honestly.
"You have to pick carefully since they'll be your hands and feet."
"Yes."
Dante replied with a serious expression.
In the meantime, a cave appeared in the labyrinth of darkness.
It was a common rest point in the Dark Zone.
"We're resting."
Even in a forced march, rest came eventually.
The exhausted survivors finally showed some relief.
Having endured that march, the break felt like sweet rain.
They quickly prepared to rest in the cave.
They had know-how from climbing to the 5th hierarchy themselves.
Setting up bedding was quick work.
"How will you handle the watch?"
The most passionate man, Dorison, approached Dante.
"You all handle it among yourselves. I'll alternate with Havel."
"Two shifts?"
Dorison looked shocked.
A two-man watch rotation.
He'd never heard of such a thing.
"Yes, that's how we've always done it."
Dante answered as if it were natural.
Watching that, Dorison felt chills for some reason.
Forcing this march and still doing two-man shifts.
He felt once more just how monstrous their stamina was.
'Dante I get, but...'
Dorison's gaze shifted to Havel.
Dante had always treated him like a superior.
And his sword, glimpsed occasionally through the darkness, was utterly dominant.
One-shotting 5th hierarchy calamity beasts was a first for him too.
'What the hell is he?'
He was supposedly a mercenary.
But he couldn't voice the question.
So Dorison said he understood and returned to the others.
Dante watched him go, then asked Havel.
"What do you think of that guy?"
"He's fine. If he matches your ideals, take him."
If Dorison joined the Dawn Knights, Dante would be his superior.
So he already trusted and followed Dante's judgment well.
His reports were prompt, and he avoided rash decisions.
Plus, his skills were solid enough to keep up with Havel and Dante.
He was exactly the talent the knights needed.
"That leaves three others."
One was Blen.
He looked the youngest but was the oldest, and he was stoic.
Yet his swordsmanship was the best among the four.
He hadn't complained once during the march, showing great endurance.
He'd faithfully carry out any assigned duty.
"Lonslot's good too."
Lonslot, the man with excellent scouting skills.
His mouth was a bit loose, but his true colors shone in scouting.
Sensitive to calamity beasts' approach, he always warned of danger first.
He dismantled traps that posed real threats.
Their ability to keep up with Havel and Dante was largely thanks to him.
"And the last is Eltain."
Finally, there was Eltain.
Nothing particularly stood out compared to the others.
He just kept up well.
That was his merit, if any.
"Dante, sync my watch shift with Eltain's."
Suddenly, Havel spoke up.
"With Eltain?"
Dante glanced at Eltain.
Matching shifts with him meant Havel had business with him.
"Understood."
Dante didn't pry.
He simply assumed Havel had his reasons.
Meanwhile, Havel's eyes gleamed coldly as he watched Eltain.
If he was hiding something, he'd force it out.
It was time to weed out the spy disguised as an entry test applicant.
The Dark Zone made it impossible to tell day from night.
But darkness always brought fatigue.
Thanks to that, everyone except the watch fell asleep quickly.
"Yawn."
Meanwhile, Lonslot stretched after finishing his watch.
He lightly tapped the man sleeping under a thin blanket.
"Eltain, Eltain. Your turn."
Hearing the call, Eltain slowly rose.
His black hair stood out, and he yawned with a tired face.
"Already my turn?"
"Sleeping people never notice time passing. It was quiet except for a couple calamity beasts in the middle. Let's switch."
"Sure."
Eltain checked his weapons and stood.
Lonslot, laying down the blanket, waved.
"Take care."
"Sleep easy."
He smiled and headed to the cave entrance.
There, beside a dimly lit lantern, someone came into view.
First, silver hair nearly white caught the eye.
His back was rigidly straight.
It was Havel.
Havel sat cross-legged, silently gazing into the darkness.
As if he could see something there.
Eltain glanced into the darkness.
But nothing was visible.
"Sit."
At that moment, Havel spoke.
He apparently didn't like him standing there.
Eltain sat beside him.
"You've had a hard time. Isn't it tough for you two to handle the watch?"
Havel didn't answer.
Seeing that, Eltain scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"If you're tired, get some shut-eye. I'll cover for you."
"One question."
Then Havel spoke.
The taciturn man opening his mouth brought a smile to Eltain's face.
"Yes, ask away!"
But Havel's words dashed his expectations.
"How long do you plan to keep up the act?"
"Act? What act?"
Eltain reacted with bewilderment.
But Havel's expression didn't change.
Cold sweat began beading on Eltain's back.
Just being stared at straight-on made his body react.
Under that pressure, Eltain swallowed involuntarily.
"You get one chance."
After that, no more questions.