Chapter 301

Chapter 301. A Knight Order? (1)

The land of the elves, Greynifra. And within Greynifra, beneath the World Tree, was Fildegrin.

“Fuuu—”

Thanks to the recent help of Alon Palatio and Penia, a human mage had joined, accelerating the reconstruction project.

However, Magrina was still observing the void of Fildegrin with a sigh when—

“Hello?”

Hearing a voice suddenly, she turned her gaze.

“…It was you.”

“Long time no see, Your Majesty.”

It was Eliban.

Smiling as if he had been there from the start.

Magrina wasn’t surprised either. Instead, she asked him:

“Why… did you do that at that moment?”

“To which moment are you referring?”

Eliban shrugged as if he really didn’t understand.

But Magrina, unflinching, asked again:

“When the Sin appeared. Why did you stop me?”

The memory was still vividly engraved in her mind.

When the Sin of Greed was about to attack Alon, Magrina tried to draw out the power of Baarma.

Even if the elves discovered she had devoured Baarma’s power…

Even if her brother found out…

Saving Alon’s life came first.

But the reason she didn’t use her power was Eliban.

Just at the instant she was going to use it, he appeared from afar and, with a simple shake of his head, momentarily blocked her power.

Looking her straight in the eyes, Eliban murmured a “Hmm—” and then said:

“Ultimately, even if you hadn’t intervened, the Marquess would have been perfectly fine.”

He opened his mouth lightly.

“……He would have been fine?”

“Yes, truly.”

Eliban nodded immediately.

Magrina examined his gaze.

His blue eyes shone without the slightest hesitation, as if he truly believed his own words.

“Did you go to the future or something?”

She asked, frowning slightly.

“The future, huh.”

Eliban muttered to himself and then, with his usual smile, added:

“The truth is, whatever happens in the future, my conviction would not have changed here.”

“…Eh?”

“My hope does not collapse so easily.”

He said it firmly.

And Magrina, who was about to respond, instinctively closed her mouth.

Eliban’s atmosphere had changed in an instant.

The smile was still there.

But the energy he radiated…

And the clear and strange fanatic devotion burning in his eyes made Magrina fall silent.

“My, my—”

Eliban wiped away that aura as if he had regained his composure.

“Anyway, to add something else, the Marquess wasn’t going to suffer any harm. Instead, it is most likely that you, Your Majesty, would have been hurt. That is why I stopped you.”

“Ah, and I also finished handling all the strange monsters. In fact, I came to report that, but the conversation dragged on.”

He threw the words out as he pleased.

“Then, I shall take my leave. I have to move with haste.”

And he left.

Eliban disappeared without a trace.

Magrina stood looking at the spot where he had departed.

But her expression was different from usual.

Because in that instant when Eliban’s gaze changed…

She felt a familiar energy emanating from him.

…An energy she had felt a short while ago.

That is why—

‘What the hell?’

Magrina could not look away from the place where Eliban had disappeared.

---

Alon observed the enormous number of people crowding even the outer and inner walls of his territory, feeling disheartened.

Of course, he didn’t deny that the fault was his for having published the recruitment call too carelessly.

No, in fact, it had been so careless and informal…

That he never imagined so many people would show up.

After all, the announcement he published had too many insufficient elements to attract crowds.

“Evan.”

“Yes, my liege.”

“……Didn’t I simply put that we were recruiting for the knight order?”

“Correct.”

“Did it have nothing additional? Like salary, working conditions, those things.”

“Of course, it had none of that.”

“So just by reading a vague line of an announcement, all these people came?”

“Exactly.”

“…I can’t believe it.”

Alon sighed.

But Evan, instead of sharing his disbelief, returned a strange look.

“Really? It is a bit much, but I think it is within expectations.”

“This… within expectations?”

“Yes.”

“Why…?”

“……My liege, I want to think it isn’t that, but… did you really not anticipate even a little bit that this would happen?”

With that look that seemed to say “this is obvious,” Alon scratched his head in embarrassment.

“…I suppose not.”

“My liege, with all due respect, I think you underestimate yourself too much.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Do you know how great your fame is?”

Alon murmured, uncomfortable.

“Well… I am somewhat known.”

“Is that what you said?”

“What?”

“My liege, you aren’t ‘somewhat known.’ If there is anyone in the United Kingdom who doesn’t know who you are, they would probably be mistaken for someone from the Empire.”

“Am I that famous?”

“There are mages who became mages just because they admire you.”

“Just that?”

Evan continued:

“My liege does not understand, but you are ridiculously famous. That many people come is normal. Even knights who became strong using the power of The Lightning Receive, Kalanon, are in Caliban.”

“Ah…”

Alon sighed, remembering Silly in Caliban.

“So, even without conditions, people would come just to bear the title of ‘Knight of the House Palatio’.”

“…Oh, really?”

“Not ‘really’. It is obvious.”

“I see….”

“I will say it again: you must be aware of your own reputation. Do you know that lately, knights from Caliban come to your territory as if it were a sacred pilgrimage, to bow before the statue that Deus gifted?”

Alon froze.

The idea of knights bowing before that statue…

He sighed deeply and decided to organize himself.

“…Well, let’s start the interview.”

“I will prepare everything.”

Thus began the interview for the knight order.

---

Seamus, 23 years old, had enormous confidence in his swordsmanship.

It was natural.

Thanks to his master, a true hermit, he had never gone outside and had trained with the sword since he was very small, reaching the level of Swordmaster at an early age.

When Seamus reached Swordmaster, even his master —who rarely gave praise— acknowledged how impressive he was.

That is why his pride reached the sky.

When he finally received permission to come down from the mountain, Seamus made a decision:

To return gloriously thanks to his skill.

And the first step for his great dream was—

To become a knight of the House Palatio.

He knew that to succeed as a knight he should go to Caliban…

But he wanted to achieve success in a more “special” way.

Simply put: he was acting out of pure vanity.

Furthermore:

Even he and his master, who lived isolated from the world, had heard of the fame of Marquess Palatio.

So Seamus applied without hesitation.

And while he headed to the Palatio mansion, he fantasized happily:

Being accepted, gaining the Marquess’s favor, growing quickly, and surpassing even the Five Swords of Caliban.

Of course, the fantasy would become reality.

He did not doubt that he would pass the exam.

Because his master told him that in the United Kingdom of Allies, Swordmasters were extremely rare.

Therefore, Seamus, full of dreams, showed up for the exam.

But he felt something strange.

In the entrance exam, there were too many who had a level similar to his…

Many more than he imagined.

And as a Swordmaster, his ability to perceive the level of others was quite precise. What he saw left him even more astounded.

“Eh…?”

Turning around, he saw people who were clearly stronger than him, looking at each other with distrust.

It was blatant competition.

Looking to the other side, there were more strong people like him.

And was that not all?

“What is that?”

“Isn’t that a prince?”

“What is someone of royal blood doing here?”

“…That one over there is a mage.”

“Ah? Isn’t that the daughter of the Red Tower Master?”

“Where have I seen that one?”

“…Babayaga? Is there a Babayaga in Colony?”

“What the hell— why is the First Sword of Caliban here!?”

“We are dead.”

With all the whispers entering his ears—

‘…Is this… the level of the United Kingdom…??’

Seamus’s self-esteem shattered.

---

Alon conducted a very simple physical test to weed people out and immediately started the interviews, without wasting time.

He wanted to classify them with stricter requirements, but…

He would have had to send back many people who abandoned everything to come all the way here.

So he decided to work more himself.

The first interviewee entered.

When Alon looked up to see him—

“…”

He couldn’t help but frown in confusion.

“…Rim?”

“Greetings! Oh Primordial Elf— I mean, Marquess!”

Because the first person to enter was none other than Rim, one of the Shadow Blades of Fildegrin.

“…What are you doing here?”

“I am coming for the interview.”

‘……Aren’t you a Shadow Blade who serves the queen?’ he wanted to say, but he held back.

“You already have a position, don’t you?”

“I can change it!”

…Had she discussed this with Magrina?

The words got stuck in his throat.

Alon turned the page without hesitation.

“…You may withdraw.”

Rim left somewhat depressed.

After rejecting several elves like her, another candidate arrived.

“Greetings, Marquess!”

“…Filian?”

“Yes, Filian Merkilian, at your service!”

It was none other than Filian Merkilian, a noble of Ashtalon.

With a proud smile, he introduced himself, but Alon responded without hesitation:

“You may withdraw.”

“Eh?”

“You are from Ashtalon. A noble.”

Although it would have been good to have him as a knight…

Filian was the youngest and most cherished Swordmaster of Ashtalon.

Hiring him would cause political problems.

So Alon rejected him without wavering.

Filian, after thinking deeply, said:

“Greetings again! I am Filian!”

“?”

Alon was left bewildered.

But then—

“I have renounced the surname Merkilian! I am now a commoner! You may treat me without formalities!”

“Cough—!!”

At those words, Evan, who was yawning, almost choked on his saliva.

Alon, with his eyes closed and his head in his hands, thought:

…This was already being difficult from the start.