The imperial knights split into two groups and charged at each other, beginning their training.
However, even as Karl watched the fierce mock battle unfold, he couldn’t pick out a single knight who seemed useful to him.
To Karl, the scene looked like nothing more than a crowd of armored people rushing together, shoving and beating each other.
That was only natural. Karl had no knowledge of martial arts, and although he possessed mana, he didn’t know how to use it. There was no way he could accurately judge the knights’ skills in this situation.
Instead, he memorized the faces of those who had stood at the back in rigid formation when the knights first lined up and carefully observed their expressions.
“What do you think?”
Seeing Karl’s narrow eyes darting around busily, Gilbert asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Karl glanced up at him and, in a small voice, replied with the same childlike smile still on his face.
“As expected of the Imperial Knights. They’re truly impressive.”
With that one remark, Gilbert clearly saw through the fact that Karl couldn’t assess the knights’ abilities.
Only a very small number of knights were taking the mock battle seriously, while the rest were lazily swinging their swords and half-heartedly bumping into each other.
With things like this, even those who wanted to try hard had no choice but to hold back.
It showed just how much they looked down on Karl.
After all, he lacked the insight to recognize their skills, and more than anything, they didn’t want to stand out.
Still, there should have been a limit. This was going too far.
At the very least, they shouldn’t have behaved like this in front of Gilbert.
“Enough!”
“Ugh!”
At Gilbert’s sharp command, Karl flinched and covered his ears.
Gilbert quietly glared at the halted knights with fierce eyes.
No matter how noble their lineage, none of them could dare meet the gaze of Gilbert Evil, the long-standing Commander of the Imperial Knights, with their heads held high.
“It seems you’ve all shown the very best that members of the great Imperial Knights are capable of.”
“……”
At Gilbert’s snake-like sarcastic remark, everyone shut their mouths tightly.
“I’d like to see each knight’s individual skill now.”
In other words, he was telling them to duel.
The knights’ faces immediately hardened.
It was already irritating enough to be suddenly summoned and made to do group combat training…
Even seeing the Imperial Knights reduced to a stage for politics, Gilbert chose not to press the matter further.
From the beginning, the Imperial Knights had been created as a tool of power for the Emperor.
This was their original nature.
In other words, Madius granting Karl an Imperial Knight meant that, if possible, he should build a political backing.
But Karl was acting in the exact opposite way.
Soon, the knights stepped forward, following the formalities of a duel. They raised their swords in front of their chests, gave a sharp swing, and took their stances. Karl forced himself to watch with an interested expression.
They appeared to be knights of noble birth, and Karl lost interest before it even began.
Clang! Clang!
Even as the duel began, Karl couldn’t really tell what was happening.
In the briefest instant that was too fast for him to follow, their swords clashed and the match was decided.
The noble-born knights exchanged blows and quickly determined the outcome before stepping back.
It was disciplined, stylish, and flashy. He couldn’t fully understand it, but it did seem like they were skilled.
But the moment a sword touched the body, it was over. They withdrew cleanly. They didn’t trust their armor and push in, nor did they attempt anything like wrestling.
Their status was too noble to throw themselves onto a dirty floor.
Finally.
At last, the moment Karl had been waiting for arrived.
Instead of the expected well-groomed nobleman with a neatly styled beard and hair, a stern-looking man with a shaved head and beard stepped forward.
Facing him was a woman with a similarly short haircut and a face covered in scars.
The two bowed once toward Gilbert and Karl, then put on their helmets and lowered their visors.
Clack! Swish!
They raised their swords before their chests, swung them powerfully, and in one motion shifted into stance, aiming at each other.
The male knight held his sword firmly at mid-level with his chin tucked in tight. The female knight raised her sword high and measured the distance with light footwork.
Something… was different.
A shiver ran through Karl at the sight.
Unlike the high-born nobles who flaunted flashy movements while freely expending mana, these two stayed low and heavy, like beasts stalking each other’s throats, waiting for an opening.
A chilling killing intent.
This was a true killing technique. Something created purely to take a human life.
Even Karl could feel it.
Clack!
The sound of swinging blades and stomping feet was swallowed by the harsh grinding of steel against steel.
There were no complicated movements. It happened in the blink of an eye. To Karl, it looked as if the two, who had been standing far apart, had suddenly folded space and collided.
The male knight’s sword, which had been aimed at mid-level, whipped forward with terrifying force, bending like a flexible branch as it carved a sharp, precise trajectory.
He was tall with long arms, and his sword was correspondingly longer. Naturally, he had an overwhelming advantage in reach.
With his chin tucked and center of gravity firmly set, he fully extended his arm to strike at maximum reach. The distance was no different from wielding a spear.
But the female knight twisted her body sharply and drove forward along her light footwork. Even as her helmet was grazed, she forced her crossguard in and deflected his blade.
Krrrk…
Amid the storm of clashing steel, a faint sound could be heard.
The female knight’s strike scraped across the male knight’s chest.
The sturdy armor of the Imperial Knights was sharply shaved away in a single blow.
But it was shallow. Both had landed hits on each other, but neither could be called fatal.
Unlike the earlier duels, they didn’t stop there.
They looked as if they truly intended to kill each other.
The explosive fighting spirit and killing intent made Karl’s skin prickle, as if it might split open.
What happened next, even Karl could clearly see.
“Hup!”
Thud!
Their blades locked at the crossguards.
The male knight bore down with brute force, twisting his wrist, and charged forward with heavy, deliberate steps.
The female knight’s blade seemed to bend downward, then her flexible wrist snapped it back almost as if it might break. She recovered the sword as she retreated.
Clack!
She had skillfully received the longer, heavier longsword, but her seamless offense-and-defense technique failed to land a proper attack on the male knight.
The difference in reach was too great. Her sharply thrust blade stopped a full hand’s breadth short of his head.
At longer distance, the male knight had the advantage with his reach. But if she closed in, she would be overpowered and forced down.
“Ah!”
Karl, who had unconsciously clenched his fist and let out a gasp, was completely captivated by the duel between the two knights, who truly seemed to be fighting with their lives on the line.
With intense concentration, Karl’s eyes clearly tracked the movements of the female knight, who was in danger.
The female knight seemed to step back slightly, but as the male knight pressed in, she charged straight at him.
At the moment he thought it was reckless, she sharply pulled back the sword she had been swinging.
Crack!
The male knight’s longsword struck the female knight’s completely exposed shoulder with brutal force.
The mana-infused blade carved through her armor and dug in, sending blood spraying from her shoulder.
However, she blocked it.
Handling armor was also part of a knight’s skill!
Thud!
Clang!
Next, the female knight thrust the sword she had pulled back with all her strength, driving it into the male knight’s chest.
The mana-infused blade snaked between his arms like a serpent and pierced through his armor.
As he was being pushed back by the blow, the direction of force twisted, causing the middle of the blade to snap cleanly in two.
The male knight, his armor pierced by the tremendous force, came to a sudden halt.
In that instant, the female knight rolled across the ground to create distance, then sprang back to her feet.
She then held the broken sword at mid-guard and, with it aimed forward, drew a thick dagger from behind her back into her left hand.
In the chilling air, the male knight calmly sheathed his sword.
“I yield.”
If the female knight had intended to push the blade in fully, his chest would have been pierced and he would have died. The female knight might have lost her left arm, but she would not have lost her life.
The male knight pulled the broken blade lodged in his chest out with his gauntlet and tossed it to the female knight. She caught it and placed it into her scabbard.
They removed their helmets, revealing faces drenched in sweat in that brief span of time.
Then, after giving a slight bow to Gilbert and Karl, they turned and walked back to their places with a clatter of armor, as if nothing had happened, despite having just moments ago aimed their blades at each other with genuine intent to kill.
Even after that, Karl witnessed many duels, but none ever gave him the same intense feeling as theirs.
He felt completely entranced.
***
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes. I am.”
Gilbert grew flustered and raised his snow-white eyebrows and asked again for confirmation. Karl nodded firmly.
Gilbert’s thoughts grew complicated at Karl’s declaration that he would take a female knight of fallen noble birth with no backing whatsoever.
He didn’t seem like a fool, but Gilbert couldn’t understand what he was thinking in trying to acquire such a useless card.
If it was because she was a woman, there were plenty of female knights more beautiful than her.
And it seemed a stretch to think he had fallen for her appearance, as she had trained relentlessly for the revival of her family, leaving not even a trace of femininity.
In terms of skill, there were clearly knights stronger than her. Even if Karl lacked an eye for martial ability, there were obviously knights who were both stronger and more experienced at a glance.
Her family was insignificant, she lacked visual appeal, and her skills were not outstanding.
“Hmm, very well. Have Lady Catherine brought here.”
Since Karl spoke with such firmness, Gilbert no longer felt the need to persuade him.
Karl sat calmly, feeling slightly tense, as he waited for the person who would become his knight.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Enter.”
At Gilbert’s permission, the door opened and Catherine walked in with crisp, disciplined steps before bowing her head.
With her very short brown hair, dull blue eyes, stubborn brows, and firm lips, there was nothing about her that gave a feminine impression. She was simply a knight.
“Lady Catherine, Sir Karl has chosen you.”
“Yes, understood.”
Surprisingly, that was the end of it.
Gilbert offered no further explanation, and Catherine asked no questions.
Catherine turned and looked at Karl.
“I am Catherine Mold, who will serve you, Sir Karl.”
“…I’m Karl.”
Slightly flustered, Karl forced a smile and held out his hand.
As Karl extended his hand, Catherine took it at precisely the right moment, held it briefly, and then withdrew it sharply the instant Karl let go.
Karl looked up intently at Catherine’s face, which seemed to show not a trace of dissatisfaction.
Then suddenly, Karl realized that it wasn’t that Catherine had no complaints at all.
Born into a fallen noble family, she had risked her life to become an Imperial Knight in order to restore her house.
Yet now she had become the knight of the frail Fourth Prince, who had no power and might die at any moment, turning her dream of reviving her family into nothing.
It would be stranger if she weren’t resentful.
Even so, she uttered not a single complaint and silently obeyed orders.
Even though her life and her family’s future had been thrown into the mud.
“…Let’s go.”
Karl said nothing more to Catherine.
That was enough. As long as she followed orders well, that alone was sufficient.
…Pity belongs to those who can afford it. It is a luxury not permitted to a starving rat.
Karl harshly steeled himself against any creeping weakness.
“Sir Karl. Please grant me some time to gather my belongings.”
At Catherine’s words, Karl hesitated.
Come to think of it, as a knight, she would have various things to pack. She couldn’t simply come with nothing but herself.
“Yes, I’ll be waiting out front. Finish your preparations and come.”
“Thank you.”
Catherine gave a short bow and strode off without hesitation.
Karl stood still for a moment, staring at the spot where Catherine had been, then turned and offered Gilbert a gentle smile as he said his farewell.
“Until next time, Sir Gilbert.”
“Yes, Sir Karl. If the opportunity arises.”
Gilbert replied with a warm smile, like that of a kindly old neighbor.
But there was an edge to his words.
If the opportunity arises…
What a cruel thing to say.
***
“Lady Catherine will be here shortly. Let’s wait and go together.”
“Yes, Sir Karl.”
Harmon who had been waiting in the coachman’s seat opened the carriage door as Karl approached and answered respectfully.
However, in the back of his mind, a small flicker of dissatisfaction toward Karl stirred.
For a prince to speak so politely to a mere attendant was one thing, but to even wait for an ordinary knight to arrive, he had no sense of dignity whatsoever.
And Catherine? A woman’s name, and one he had never even heard before. Just what insignificant family was he planning to bring in a girl from? Surely she wasn’t a commoner?
Fortunately, Catherine finished her preparations much faster than Karl had expected. It seemed to have been about a minute since Karl had gotten into the carriage.
However, she had brought along one more thing Karl hadn’t anticipated.
“…Who is this?”
“My squire.”
At Catherine’s words, as she rested a hand on the squire’s shoulder, Karl finally realized he had made a foolish mistake.
Damn it! This was a chance to bring in the squire along with her!
Karl forced himself to maintain his composure.
But he couldn’t hide the way his face had gone pale from the churning in his stomach.
If he brought in a high-ranking noble knight from the Imperial Knights, he could also draw in the squires beneath them who were likewise from prestigious noble families.
Families of that caliber didn’t have just one or two squires. Some kept nearly ten.
Catherine, from a fallen noble house, had only one squire. And surely from some insignificant family….or perhaps even a commoner!
“What are you doing? Hurry and greet Sir Karl.”
Catherine scolded the squire who had followed her in a stern voice.
Even as his head spun, Karl clenched his teeth and forced himself back to his senses.
Then, thinking he should at least win Catherine’s favor by treating this insignificant squire kindly to make up for his losses, he stepped down from the carriage and stood before them.
Harmon tried to steady Karl as he staggered slightly from dizziness, but Karl shook off his hand and stood on his own.
Harmon’s eyes twitched faintly at the frail figure that matched Karl’s gaunt appearance all too well.
The squire was a boy with ordinary dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. He had a fairly solid build but looked young.
He didn’t seem much different in age from Karl. Perhaps he was even younger.
With a sullen, displeased expression, the boy muttered under his breath.
“…I’m Bilford, squire to Lady Catherine.”
“Bilford!”
“Yes! I’m Bilford, squire to Lady Catherine, Sir Karl!”
Startled by Catherine’s sharp rebuke, he shouted loudly.
“……”
“Sir Karl?”
Harmon cautiously called out to Karl, who had stopped mid-handshake in surprise and was frozen in an awkward posture.
“…Ah, um, it’s a p-pleasure….”
No matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to speak too politely to a mere commoner and a squire, so Karl spoke that way as he extended his hand.
Bilford, clearly flustered by Karl’s behavior, hesitated, but when Catherine gripped his shoulder tightly and shot him a sharp glare, he shakily reached out and shook Karl’s hand.
Then, still rattled, he glanced nervously at Karl.
Because Karl’s hand was trembling even more violently than his.
With an unreserved, radiant smile, Karl spoke to Bilford.
“I look forward to working with you, Bilford.”
Of course he wouldn’t be listed in the Imperial Knights roster.
Bilford. The young talented knight who, under Eingir, carried out all manner of dirty work without complaint, even while being called the Emperor’s dog.
He was not yet a knight but merely a squire!
So after all that, he ended up in my hands like this!
Karl smiled.
It was a shame he couldn’t pull in entire noble families along with him, but this still meant he had achieved his initial goal.
He had let a great opportunity slip by, but even so, this wasn’t bad.
…At least, not bad.
That was what he wanted to believe.
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