NOVEL WEB Chapter 22
22.
The senior knights charged forward with great spirit, but as expected, their skills were pitiful.
“Ugh!”
“Ow!”
One of them was struck by the wooden sword and flew back, colliding with others and tumbling down in a heap.
A loud noise filled the air as the knights in black uniforms rolled on the ground. The once pristine uniforms were now covered in dirt.
“Can’t you see your movements at all? So slow it makes me want to yawn. At this pace, when will you even get back to your hometown?”
“Grr…”
A few angry senior knights surrounded me from all sides and lunged, but…
“Shouldn’t you have coordinated your combined attack a bit better? Rushing in like this is no different from a disorganized rabble.”
I deflected one wooden sword and twisted my body to evade another attack from behind.
The misdirected attack struck one of their allies, and as they chased my movements, their paths crossed and they crashed into each other spectacularly.
Bang!
“Gwaaah…!”
“Breath… can’t breathe…”
The cloud of dust rose as people were struck by the wooden swords and flew through the air.
No one has even touched a single button on my jacket yet.
The knights of Bradden I met on the way to the capital were better than this.
The difference in skill is so overwhelming that I can’t even feel any tension. No wonder everyone brings their house knights to the Imperial Palace.
The apprentice knights could only stare wide-eyed in shock at the sight of their senior knights being mercilessly beaten.
After getting hit a few more times, the senior knights began to glance around nervously.
‘Maybe next time we should use real swords.’
Of course, it’s not like there aren’t any competent ones at all.
The knights from the First Sword Group who charged in first were decent.
They must be the ones who often train at the training grounds.
The First Sword Group started off strong, but quickly got back up and swung their wooden swords.
“This is the person who subdued Knight Ildan. We can’t let our guard down.”
“What? Knight Ildan? The mana user?”
“Instead of calculating, just hit with all your might! He’s far superior to us!”
The attacks from the First Sword Group’s knights were certainly more formidable with full force.
Their swords sliced through the air with a fierce sound.
Though they were charging in like they were excited, their eyes remained calm.
They measured the distance, and read movements through eye contact, breathing, and actions.
If it were an ordinary knight, they’d have been cut down instantly by now by the wooden swords.
That is, in the case of an ordinary knight.
“Ugh…”
“What…!”
A gust of wind sent the knights of the First Sword Group flying helplessly.
As they rolled on the dusty ground, a thick cloud of dust rose in the training grounds.
While shaking my head to clear the dirt smell from my nose, a shrill voice and sharp momentum came charging in.
“Knight Commander Luniya Aishillin of the First Sword Group! Try this!”
Positioning from the corner and piercing through the target in a flash.
“Haah!”
‘Hmm.’
A movement clearly different from the other knights.
She came flying in, using the dust cloud to camouflage her presence.
Her agility warrants some attention to follow.
The First Sword Group is certainly not bad. Commander Luniya Aishillin’s strike was quite fierce. Fierce, but…
“Don’t chatter during battle, Commander Luniya. You’ve nullified the point of your concealment.”
“Urgh!”
Struck in the abdomen by the wooden sword, Luniya rolled on the ground and vomited loudly.
“…!”
Her trembling fingers wiped her mouth, her eyes sharpened.
Her red hair, soaked with sweat, fell in disarray over her face.
The gleaming eyes visible between strands of hair.
Luniya, glaring with venomous gaze, twisted her face and shouted.
“I’ll kill you!”
“Follow Knight Luniya!”
“Show the strength of the First Sword Group!”
The First Sword Group has quite a competitive spirit, isn’t that why they’re relatively skilled?
Thus, as Luniya and the knights of the First Sword Group charged again, but…
“Kyaah!”
“Careful…Urgh!”
“Uwaah. Wheeeek!”
High competitive spirit doesn’t close the gap in skill difference.
Calmly striking vital points one by one to knock them down, a silence fell over the training grounds.
“Apprentice knights, participate as well. If anyone manages to even graze my collar, I’ll promote them to senior knight immediately. Among them, the outstanding ones will be appointed as the commander of the Second Sword Group.”
The apprentice knights, who had been nervously watching, their eyes flared up.
Thus, over a hundred knights charged in with shouts, turning the training ground into chaos filled with dust clouds and screams in an instant.
*
“Ugh… ”
“S, spare me…”
The training ground floor was covered with soldiers groaning as they lay down.
“Still, using physical strength is convenient.”
My mind feels as clear as a blue sky.
The stress accumulated over the past while disappeared.
We should actively train with the members from now on.
I can loosen up, and the members can gain near-real combat experience.
With frequent interaction, the bond will deepen as well.
‘This is a double…triple benefit.’
I lightly shook off the wooden sword and looked around.
The broken pieces of wooden swords scattered on the ground.
There are many training wooden swords left in the armory, but at this rate, they’ll run out soon.
All the wooden swords are broken, and no one is standing properly.
The fallen could only tremble in their bodies and couldn’t get up. It’s time to end it for today.
“Deputy Commander Milene.”
“Y-Yes, Yes! Senior Knight Milene!”
The startled Milene hurriedly ran over.
Looking around the training ground, no other knights arrived apart from those who were initially gathered.
Only the people from the Imperial Army or the Guard Command passed by with a sickened expression, glancing at the fallen knights.
The Imperial Knights dressed in black uniforms were the only ones laying sprawled out in the training ground.
“The senior knights from the Third Sword Group didn’t show up after all.”
“I…I’m sorry.”
“No, no.”
Anyway, it was the situation where Milene, the deputy commander, was calling.
If an assembly order had been issued in the name of the Grand Duke, they would naturally have assembled completely, but that would’ve been meaningless.
Seeing the absent figures I wanted to check beforehand, it seems they belong to the Third Sword Group.
“To the knight group office. Inform the knights to tidy up and gather at the same time tomorrow.”
Thus, leaving Milene, who was tidying up the fallen knights, I moved first to the knight group office.
While leisurely looking around the chamber, currently used by the acting deputy commander,
A light knock came, and Milene entered.
“Deputy Commander Milene. I have returned.”
I pointed to the nearby sofa as Milene lightly paid her respects.
I sat down on the sofa opposite to where she sat and stared into her emerald eyes that were watching me tensely.
“Deputy Commander Milene. Or, Knight Milene. Which one are you?”
It’s a noteworthy fact that a commoner holds the position of deputy commander of the Royal Knight Group. The deputy commander practically manages the knight group while the emperor and empress are busy with their duties.
Eastern region, western region, or perhaps another place.
At the meaning of this question, Milene looked at me with a puzzled expression.
But just for a moment.
With a hardened expression, she steadily answered my question.
“I am Milene, the deputy commander of the Royal Knight Group. I am the emperor’s sword and a knight guarding the empire.”
The unwavering green eyes held a firm will.
Claiming to be neutral or just the empress’s subordinate.
We’ll see soon enough if she’s truly neutral.
After looking into Milene’s eyes for a while, I nodded.
“Deputy Commander Milene. Are you familiar with the content specified in the imperial laws regarding the Royal Knight Group?”
“I may not know everything, but I’m familiar with the matters related to the knight group.”
“That’s fortunate. Then, I have a question.”
As with my honorary duels before,
And the current scenery around the palace,
“Why are there non-royal military groups wandering around the palace?”
“That…”
Milene couldn’t continue and helplessly lowered her head.
“Alright, then. Next question. How would you evaluate the current state of the knight group?”
At my question, Milene thought for a moment and answered calmly.
“To be honest… The current knight group might be the most incompetent organization in Altain history.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Objectively speaking, even including me, the knight power of the Royal Knight Group is substandard.”
Milene clenched her fists and lowered her head again.
“The talented ones have all left the palace. Although I, a commoner, have disproportionately taken the position of deputy commander…I’m not even a mana user. Even if excluded from that.”
The golden short hair of the bowed Milene lifelessly hung down.
“I’ll gladly accept. Only…the knights of the First Sword Group. Commander Luniya and her senior knights, and those apprentices have promising futures. Although…”
Milene looked up again and continued with a gloomy expression.
“…although insufficient, I as the deputy commander of the royal knight group dare to humbly offer this request. Please give one last chance. Your Highness, Grand Duke. Please take…all consequences on me…”
As Milene trailed off, I watched her for a moment and tapped the desk.
Tap.
“That’s good. Deputy Commander Milene. You’ve worked hard managing the Royal Knight Group.”
With a casual remark, Milene closed her eyes tightly.
“Please continue to work hard. I have too much on my plate to be overly concerned with the knight group.”
“Deputy Commander Milene. I accept His Highness’ order…what?”
Stopping mid-sentence, Milene’s green eyes turned to me.
“Dismissal…?”
Milene spoke with a trembling voice, I waved a hand.
“If we suddenly chase everyone out, who’ll guard the inner defenses? Commander. Trust me and follow along. I’ll take full responsibility.”
Staring at me, her mouth agape,
“I was planning to chase everyone out if they were just draining food without any motivation.”
The majority reacted fiercely to the intentional insults and provocations.
Even the apprentices showed willingness to charge, despite fear. The First Sword Group has at least some skill matching their self-esteem.
The remaining ones are decent enough to fend for themselves wherever they go.
But that’s not enough. The ones they’ll face from now on are strong individuals including former royal knights.
“Everyone holds a small spark of will. My job is to grow that into a flame.”
The Royal Knight Group must rise again.
To a level where no one in the empire can disrespect those who bear the royal crest on their armor.
And further, to elevate the standing of the knight group across the Western Continent.
“You’re no exception. Can you do it?”
The deputy commander nodded.
*
The next day.
As promised, I gathered the Royal Knight Group back at the training grounds.
The trembling figures gathered at the training grounds, all looking deflated.
Just as I was about to speak to the knights looking disheveled,
Someone entered the training grounds with a carefree gait.
“Ah…”
Luxuriant pink hair, a small star-shaped tattoo under the eyes, and muscular physique showing through the black uniform.
Truly a distinctive appearance among the Royal Knight Group.
A character so distinctive that even without illustrations, his description left a strong impression in my mind.
One of the several spies infiltrated by Sylvester.
The person who caused the first battle of Sylvester and Jaejeon to end in a great defeat.
‘This…’
I wondered if he’d be here but sure enough, there he was. This will be interesting.
Should I keep an eye on him and use him? Or…
‘Maybe I should deal with him now.’
I silently watched the pink-haired figure walking in while yawning.
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