Chapter 88 – Reason (1)

When she received Rousseau’s message,

Royal Knight Melissa immediately canceled her planned schedule.

Originally, Royal Knights were not beings who moved so easily, but the situation was what it was.

Henry Camilton.

Although the regular member Patricia had made a fuss, even if she hadn’t, Melissa definitely intended to recruit Henry into the Royal Knights.

To do that?

Finding out the reason why Henry refused to join was the first step.

‘To think that such an atrocious deed is taking place in this Vallaran.’

Rousseau’s letter was short, but it contained details that could not be taken lightly.

The fact that something that should never happen in a country of righteous knights was taking place, and even that the perpetrator was a high noble family.

The mere fact that the sender of the letter was the chief instructor was enough to make time, and even more so since Henry Camilton was involved.

There was nothing better than resolving the problem and accepting a capable talent at the same time.

And when she arrived at the academy,

Melissa was able to face Henry Camilton, who had quite a serious look in his eyes.

“Chief Instructor Rousseau said so. That you have something to tell me directly.”

“Yes.”

“What is it about?”

“Before that, I would like to ask one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“I heard that the Royal Knights are not swayed by nobles. They only follow the orders of His Majesty the King, and external intervention cannot have any influence on the Royal Knights.”

“It is a clear fact.”

“It is a matter related to the Duke of Roderick’s family.”

Melissa frowned. It was because a name much higher than she had expected had popped out.

The House of Duke Roderick.

They formed the strongest force among Vallaran’s high nobles, and there were even rumors that Roderick’s knights were on par with the Royal Knights.

‘Of course, that is an absurd story.’

As Melissa herself, she could not accept it, but at least that was the public view.

Then, the young trainee before her might think similarly.

Melissa decided to instill confidence first.

“Even Roderick shows respect to the Royal Knights. There is no exception. So you may rest assured.”

Henry wore a relieved expression. Then he gestured behind him.

The guest who appeared did not deviate from Melissa’s expectations.

“Austin Roderick. Surely you aren’t going to ask me to resolve a family matter, are you?”

“You are correct.”

“You are quite bold for someone doing so.”

Melissa’s eyes narrowed.

A Royal Knight was not a mercenary. Under the gaze demanding an explanation, Henry calmly began his explanation.

“I will tell you from the very beginning.”

***

The action Henry took as soon as Melissa arrived at the academy was simple.

[Information – Individual (External) has been purchased.]

Henry grasped what kind of person Royal Knight Melissa was first.

She was righteous. She possessed significant pride in the group she belonged to, and was full of confidence in her own skills.

She was not arrogant. Her pride and confidence kept an appropriate line. She was a person who would choose death over submitting to injustice.

“I am satisfied. Sir Melissa is truly someone worthy of being called the model of the Royal Knights.”

Had he chosen the wrong person, it might have ended up showing an opening to Roderick.

Fortunately, Melissa could be trusted.

Of course, there had to be sufficient grounds for her to move, but that was not difficult for Henry.

“…So Roderick has done that.”

First, Henry explained the general situation. Austin laid out details that were even more specific, so realistic that anyone would have no choice but to believe them.

Why the descendant of the Roderick family ended up at the academy.

What would happen if he left this place.

Why he cut ties with his family, and consequently how he would end up living.

Surprisingly,

Melissa had an expression of being slightly shocked.

“So Roderick acts in that manner.”

“Yes. The Duke of Roderick’s family.”

“…It is a fact I was completely unaware of. So,”

Melissa thought for a moment, then spoke.

“The moment Austin leaves the royal capital. The family’s shadows will come find him, and Austin will be dragged away. Is that the situation?”

“Yes.”

“Even though he expressed a clear intent of refusal?”

“Austin’s will is not important.”

Henry replied, but Melissa shook her head.

“I want to hear it directly from Austin.”

Austin shrugged his shoulders.

“How can I express it any further? I did my best.”

“I agree. The level of the shadows?”

“Do you mean the entirety? Or the level of the guys targeting me…”

“The latter, of course.”

“There will be one 6-star and nine 5-stars. They move in teams of ten.”

“That will be sufficient.”

Melissa’s word ‘sufficient’ meant she could face them all alone.

However, clashing was only possible if the opponent lunged.

Melissa looked back at Henry.

“You have a plan, right?”

“I haven’t thought of one yet.”

“…?”

“I had no certainty that Sir Melissa would help. As you said in the beginning, it is actually an internal family matter.”

‘…It makes sense.’

How would the world look in the eyes of these young trainees?

Roderick’s knights were not inferior to the royal family, they were the most powerful family, and they even possessed ruthless shadows.

Even if Melissa had refused, they might feel regret but would not have been surprised.

‘It is also not an entirely incorrect thought.’

Melissa’s range within which she could move was only to the level of obstructing Roderick’s operations.

In her heart, she wanted to barge into the Roderick estate right away, but for that to happen, it had to be a case where the King personally issued an order.

Just as they respected Melissa, Melissa too had to respect them.

“For me to move, the situation must take place right before my eyes. Do not forget that fact.”

It was the most important condition in carrying out this matter.

Justification.

If the matter proceeded in a place Melissa could not see, there was nothing she could do.

“Thank you.”

“It is what should be done. Let us return now.”

Melissa turned around. Drawing up the plan was the trainees’ portion.

Even if she intervened after it was completed, for now, she had to give them time to do it themselves.

And apart from this matter,

‘Could it be because of this reason?’

Melissa was feeling positive.

Henry Camilton. Austin Roderick.

Both were tempting talents, but if one weighed their value as a knight, Henry was a cut above.

‘Since he definitely said it was because of a promise.’

Henry refused to join, and it was the same for Austin.

Yet their reasons were different.

Austin said he would become a wandering knight, but the real reason he revealed only today was precisely his family.

What about Henry?

It must have meant he could not join alone while leaving such an Austin behind.

In other words, the moment Austin’s problem was resolved,

it meant Henry too would have no reason to refuse joining.

‘It is possible. Rather, other members should also… No. It would be troublesome if rumors spread.’

If Roderick came to know of this fact?

Melissa would lose the opportunity to resolve the problem.

In any case, her martial power was sufficient. If the opponent was an assassin, Melissa could easily handle them alone. Even if the opponents numbered in the dozens.

Feeling a heart-fluttering sensation for the first time in several years, Melissa returned to the royal palace.

***

[Can Melissa really handle it alone?]

“It is sufficient. It is due to the technical characteristics of assassins. When dealing with a target weaker than themselves, they leave not a single trace, but when facing a strong target, they are those who cannot even approach easily.”

[Why?]

[Does it really make that much of a difference??]

[What if they are of the same class?]

“If they are of the same level, it would vary depending on the environment or situation, but otherwise, each other’s skill is the absolute criterion. An assassin’s techniques focus on stealth rather than destructive power, and that doesn’t change much even if the level goes up.”

Be it assassin or knight,

in the end, the fact that they utilized mana was the same.

The important difference was the way they utilized it.

Even if they consumed the same amount of mana, instead of the knight focusing on direct defense and attack, the assassin invested mana in factors like speed and stealth.

Furthermore, as the level rose, the sense of handling mana was bound to grow sharper.

“If the enemy’s level is high, stealth does not work. For they will see through all movements. They cannot clash head-on, so they end up looking for openings, and in the process, they are typically counterattacked in reverse.”

Of course, in the opposite case.

When targeting someone weaker than themselves, no one was as outstanding as assassins.

Because the target would close their eyes without even knowing when they had been struck.

“In other words, the core of this matter is,”

Henry summarized the plan in a single sentence.

“the fact that we must hold out for the brief moment until Sir Melissa intervenes.”

Actually, the rough outline was already set.

Leaving the royal capital, using the gate, and reaching the mission site.

The shadows targeting Austin would surely spring out then, and it was over as long as Melissa, who was waiting at an appropriate distance, intervened.

There were two things to verify.

Grasping any situation that might possibly occur from Austin, the party involved, and obtaining a suitable mission through the authority of Rousseau, the chief instructor.

“It is sufficient. It should be. I felt it when we just faced each other. Even if there were about a hundred of me, I probably wouldn’t even be able to approach Sir Melissa.”

First, Austin added to the certainty.

He was a 4-star as a knight, but Austin had reached the 5-star level as an assassin.

If he felt that way, there would be no need to worry in terms of military power.

And that afternoon,

Rousseau succeeded in obtaining the request form Henry had expected.

“It will probably suit your situation.”

Thanks to asserting the chief instructor’s authority, this request was in a situation where other trainees had not even been able to check it.

The region was Heritz.

It was about subjugating a dungeon near some Viscount’s estate, and the recommended number of personnel was six based on Class A trainees.

“You two will go this time, right?”

“Yes.”

“I will not worry. For I have seen your skills.”

Rousseau knew it now too.

Henry and Austin were not at the level of trainees.

“However, there is something that bothers me. This request form was not even hung on the notice board. They will have to notice the fact that you are performing that mission.”

Austin stepped forward with a grin.

“You don’t have to worry about that part. Because they probably know already.”

“How?”

“Because it is Roderick. They are probably grasping everything from the types of missions that entered the academy to who performed which mission. They will also know the fact that the instructor has already taken the request form.”

“…That shouldn’t be. No matter what, this is the academy. Unless they planted a spy…”

He froze mid-sentence.

Rousseau looked into Austin’s eyes, and Austin nodded.

“The reason I can still stay here is because the responsibility when I disappear falls on the academy. Even the headmaster would not tolerate that.”

Rousseau groaned.

He had guessed it when he heard the story too.

However, as he gradually grasped the concrete situation, he felt as if the scale of the matter was growing larger and larger.

“I want to accompany you in my heart, but…”

“If you are by our side, Instructor, they will not approach.”

“…Right. Since Sir Melissa has agreed to help.”

Rousseau’s role ended here.

Arranging the meeting with Melissa, and looking after their convenience within the academy.

Just as he was soothing his regretful heart, someone called Rousseau.

“Rousseau!”

“Alex?”

“The headmaster is looking for Henry. I was sure he would be with you. A positive result from a rational inference indeed.”

“Hello.”

“Oh, Henry. I heard you’re doing another mission? Austin is here too. The atmosphere of you three looks as if you are going to wage a war somewhere.”

Alex asked, chuckling. The three, including Henry, only then relaxed their stiffened expressions.

Of course, even so, it was awkward just the same.

“…Is it true?”

BJ Swordmaster