Chapter 47 – Royal Knights (4)

“Excellent.”

Standing in front of the two, Melissa showed her admiration without hiding it.

“Both of you proved sufficient qualifications. Especially if it weren’t for you, Henry, I would have nearly missed a precious talent. Austin, too, had the skill to be promoted long ago.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you too. But could you not notify my father or eldest brother? If news reaches the family for nothing…”

“Tell me what you want. I will make sure it is done.”

“I’d like you to say that I applied for the Class A exam from the start and barely passed on the borderline.”

Melissa looked at Austin with interest.

A child trying to hide his achievements from his parents.

Moreover, if that parent was a high noble, it would naturally be even more interesting.

“May I ask the reason?”

“I have no interest in the position of family head.”

“I heard the eldest son of the Duke Roderick family has proved sufficient qualification.”

“Because the fools following me only wish for their positions to be overturned. Sometimes, the look in their eyes when they watch me glistens like fanatics. If they hear this news, their state will probably get worse.”

Melissa nodded slowly.

She seemed to understand.

Usually, internal family circumstances were hard to speak of honestly, but he wanted to hide this fact that much.

“I promise on my honor. The exact facts will not be transmitted to your family.”

“Thank you repeatedly.”

“And Henry Camilton.”

“Yes.”

Melissa’s gaze returned to Henry again.

In fact, the real protagonist of this spot was Henry.

Honestly, looking only at the exam results, Austin had the upper hand, but the time taken to grow was different.

“Now I should verify again. I plan to assign you to Class A starting from the next class. You can accept it now, right?”

“Of course. Thank you for your consideration.”

“That’s a relief. Since Austin has already agreed, there will be nothing to worry about.”

From this moment, both were assigned to Class A.

It was news that would stir the academy as soon as the rumor spread.

But without stopping there, Melissa offered one more proposal.

“Also, there is something I want to ask the two of you. In truth, I had no intention of telling you beforehand, but seeing your reaction yesterday, Henry, I was worried. I concluded that it would be safer to tell you in advance.”

“I am listening.”

“I plan to arrange for you to join the Royal Knights immediately upon graduating from the academy. It is a proposal that applies to both of you, and I will guarantee secrecy for this as well. At least until you enlist.”

The last part was directed at Austin.

Since he was in a position to hide even being assigned to Class A, he would definitely not want to spread the fact that he was scheduled to join the Royal Knights.

However, contrary to Melissa’s expectations.

“That’s a bit troublesome for me.”

Austin rejected it calmly.

“I will become a wandering knight. Traveling the world freely is my life goal. That is also the reason I asked not to send news to my family.”

“……A wandering knight?”

“I do not have the boldness to handle that kind of honor. Nor am I that faithful to chivalry. I am merely a petty person chasing things that interest me. The Royal Knights isn’t a group you can enter just because you are highly skilled, is it?”

At his looking so proud while running himself down, Melissa was left dumbfounded.

Having supervised countless exams, she had never once experienced such a case.

Without exception, they were only those who desperately wanted to enlist, and on very rare occasions when Melissa offered the proposal first, they would even shed tears of gratitude.

“I-If so…”

Melissa’s gaze turned to the side.

Toward Henry Camilton, whose face showed not a trace of gratitude.

The returning answer was as feared.

“It seems hard to decide right now.”

“……Hmph.”

“I know it is a precious opportunity. However, I have a reason that I cannot speak of yet, and for me, solving that problem is the priority.”

A polite but firm voice.

Henry spoke as if he possessed an unbreakable belief.

Naturally, because she had mentioned Austin earlier, Henry’s “reason” sounded to Melissa like it was surely related to chivalry.

“A reason you cannot speak of.”

“I am sorry.”

“I can do quite a lot for you, Henry Camilton. Usually, what are called problems can be regarded as not being problems depending on who the opponent is.”

“It is something I must handle with my own hands.”

“……As a knight, I assume?”

“Yes.”

“It can’t be helped then.”

A sigh of resignation leaked out.

It had been a really long time since she was held back by the symbolic existence called chivalry.

Melissa was also a member of the Royal Knights who revered honor, but in the end, honor was an abstract existence that was felt differently by everyone.

“I have no intention of taking up any more of your time. However, this proposal remains valid until you graduate, so if that problem is resolved, speak up anytime. The same goes for Austin.”

“Yes.”

“For me, it’s not a problem, but…”

“I will correct it to ‘if your mind changes.’”

“Thank you.”

Austin grinned broadly, and Henry was serious.

Melissa left the spot with a face showing she had experienced a truly absurd event.

It was a back view that held disturbance rather than displeasure.

But contrary to that.

“Henry!”

As soon as Melissa vanished, Austin stared wide-eyed and faced Henry.

“You really…”

“Don’t bother me. I’m tired.”

“You are a cool guy!”

“Stop right there for today.”

“Holding back for a day is an easy thing, Henry. Anyway, Class A now. Although it has changed a lot from the life I planned… in fact, this isn’t bad either. I did keep in mind graduating early and leaving.”

“Before your family reaches out?”

Austin nodded.

He was thinking that instead of hesitating awkwardly, it was a method to leave for a distant place beyond reach.

Because in the first place, if the person to rely on disappeared, even if they harbored troublesome thoughts, they wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“Though I didn’t execute it because the risk was too great. To go from Class C to Class B, and from Class B to Class A again, it would have taken at least two months. Because I would have had to take two exams. But thanks to you, Henry…”

“It finished all at once. If you are satisfied, grant me a few favors later.”

“Not just one?”

“If it is worth that much, one would be enough. Since I think I probably won’t have to ask for such a grand favor.”

“Very calculating…”

“When do you plan to graduate?”

“As fast as possible. Since we’ve come this far, there’s no other choice. It’s not the time to try and hide it awkwardly.”

It was a statement filled with confidence that he could achieve sufficient results if he revealed all his skills.

Henry nodded as if he knew it would be so.

“Then do that. How did you handle the Stone Giant?”

“The Stone Giant? Of course, there’s only one method, isn’t there?”

Austin blinked his eyes as if puzzled.

To the half-doubting Henry, Austin said as if it were natural.

“I found the mana stone and destroyed it. So, Sir Patricia, was it? The exam ended when she arrived… Why look at me with those eyes?”

“How much of your skill did you hide?”

“I hid quite a lot. They say blood doesn’t lie. The ones clinging to me expect such things as well. Anyway, the most important thing for a knight is skill.”

“If evaluated accurately?”

“Around 3-star. Defeating the Stone Giant, as I said not long ago, is because my eyes are unique. I only need to find the spot where the mana wriggles most dynamically in that giant body.”

Austin was speaking as if it were simple, but in truth, it was only possible because he was at the level of a 3-star knight.

Because unless sufficient mana was loaded, no matter how sharp the sword, it could not pierce the Stone Giant’s body.

“…….”

“Why those surprised eyes? Didn’t you catch it too?”

“I caught it.”

“So it wasn’t a lie. You really caught it, but did you underestimate me too much?”

“It was just beyond expectations.”

“This is also sincere. Then it’s a happy thing. Your friend was a more amazing guy than you thought.”

Henry did not reply and stood up.

If one was a 3-star knight, graduating from the academy was actually a level that could be done with eyes closed.

Because no matter what task was given, they could pluck out only the best results.

‘3-star.’

Currently, Henry was at the entry of a 1-star knight.

Although his mana amount alone was more than enough to reach 2-star thanks to the gift obtained from Rousseau, his other abilities had not yet reached the standard value.

‘Elements like swordplay proficiency can just be filled by physical training. On top of that, if I use all the sponsorship funds gathered now…’

Henry calculated in his head.

Not thinking about additional sponsorship money that would come in, he calculated only the immediately available amount.

‘It would be possible up to the entry of 3-star. Under this kind of flow, taking a month generously would do. That is, if I give up the proficiency of other weapon types.’

Austin, who hunted the Stone Giant, said he was 3-star.

Although he said there was an “eye” handed down through generations of the family, Henry himself had a similar ability.

“It will be possible.”

“……Suddenly what is possible?”

“There is something like that.”

Henry, receiving the words casually, exited the exam venue.

He intended to go to Rousseau in preparation for the dean’s calling, which would happen soon.

But at that moment.

“Henry Camilton!”

An unwelcome face appeared with a smirk.

Bane Timothy.

The scoundrel of the Marquis family approached with an air as if he found it very admirable, then patted Henry’s shoulder.

“I heard the results roughly. They say you were excellent?”

“What is this again?”

“What do you mean, ‘this’? We are in a position to become family soon. If you have any ill feelings left, shake them off. If it is because of the times you behaved rudely, I have forgotten all of it.”

“Rude? The part where even the lackeys you dragged along were beaten up together?”

Henry asked with a smirk, and at the same time, Austin stepped back with a smile, understanding the situation.

Only Bane showed a slightly flustered look in his eyes.

“I believe the expression ‘beaten up’ is somewhat misleading…”

“I see some familiar faces back there too. What do you guys think?”

Even now, Bane had brought a crowd along.

A few who had been beaten by Henry before wore troubled expressions, while the rest, who did not know the situation, only scanned the mood with awkward eyes.

“You are making a mistake, Henry. Ruining things due to a momentary emotion is not a very wise choice.”

“It is certain that you ruined my mood. Are you going now? Or shall we do what we did last time once more?”

“To your future master…”

“Let’s do it once more. I challenge you to a duel, Bane Timothy. The friends you brought and Austin here will be sufficient as witnesses. I will gladly endure any subsequent punishment…”

The academy had that kind of system.

Since they were ostensibly knight trainees, they could formally request a duel when a dispute arose.

The conditions were two.

There had to be at least three witnesses, and the duel targets had to be in the same class.

Of course, the duel’s outcome did not distinguish right from wrong; it could be seen as having introduced a relatively better method to prevent simple physical assault incidents.

The punishment was also significantly less than in situations where they fought blindly.

And naturally.

“I refuse. It is an unfair condition. You are already assigned to Class B…”

“I am still Class C.”

Refusal was also possible.

After all, this duel was also a procedure introduced by the academy to reduce unpleasant incidents as much as possible.

Instead, in that case, the refusing party absolutely had to leave the spot, and even if they suffered an unfair situation, there was no other way than to formally report to the academy later.

“If you aren’t doing it, get lost quickly. A guy of prestigious lineage not even knowing honor… What are you doing not leaving? Are you going to do it?”

There was no way he could do it.

Bane retreated while grinding his teeth.

Because if he pounced any further here, he would receive the academy’s punishment.

“B-Bane…”

“Shut up. Don’t say any more. I can’t tolerate this any longer. If only Sir Sanson hadn’t stopped me, I wouldn’t have suffered such an insult!”

As soon as he returned to the dormitory, Bane sent a letter to his family.

Befitting a Marquis family, they used a magic tool that could immediately exchange content.

What he expected was a reply from a loyal knight saying they would run over right away, but…

[Keep your mouth shut and stay put quietly. Until the moment you graduate from the academy, you are not a Timothy. You half-witted fool who doesn’t even know how to read the situation!]

What returned was a letter filled with anger, scribbled directly by Marquis Timothy.

BJ Swordmaster