Chapter – 16
Rising to Knight Trainee….
Although Pirancheva had gained an unexpected fortune through the blessing of mana and the reconstruction of his body, he did not tell anyone about it.
He continued participating in training as usual, doing his best in what he had to do and living quietly, almost unnoticed.
One day, a knight gathered the trainees and announced the day’s schedule.
“Today, we’ll be conducting an individual ability assessment to review the progress of your training so far.
Anyone who fails to meet the standard will be demoted and must train again alongside the recruits.”
The mention of demotion caused a murmur to spread among the trainees.
“Silence!”
At the knight’s single command, the room fell quiet.
“I trust everyone understands. We’ll now move to the testing area for the physical assessment.”
Under the knight’s direction, the trainees moved to a massive warehouse-like building behind the Eastern Marquis’ estate.
Inside, the warehouse was unexpectedly clean and well-organized.
Training equipment lined both sides at regular intervals—likely tools used by knights for their own exercises.
Once everyone lined up in rows of ten, other knights entered and stood before each piece of equipment, assuming rigid, formal postures.
“You’ll proceed in order. Do as the knight in front of each apparatus instructs, circle the warehouse once, then return to this spot to wait. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Trainee No. 1, Midorant, you start. Go!”
Midorant was the first to take the test.
Watching, Pirancheva thought the evaluation resembled the kind of training he had experienced during his time in the special forces.
“One hundred push-ups in one minute—pass!”
That was the first test. When Midorant successfully completed it, the next trainee stepped up, and so on.
One by one, they all went through the tests, until finally, Pirancheva’s turn came last.
Push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, vertical jumps, 50-meter sprints, endurance running, visual tracking, reflex tests… Over twenty different evaluations in total.
Pirancheva passed every single one with excellent results.
When the assessments were finished, the knights gathered the trainees to announce the results.
“Nos. 8, 13, 18, 26, and 29!
You five have failed to meet the physical standard and will be demoted to recruits.”
The named trainees’ faces twisted in despair. The leaders of their cliques also wore grim expressions—fewer followers meant less influence.
“Nos. 1, 7, 11, 17, and 30!
You five achieved excellent results and will each be awarded a Star Badge.
Collect ten of these, and you can be promoted to full knight trainee status.
Step forward and receive your badges.”
Among the group leaders, Midorant earned a badge; among Chadlin’s faction, Holland received one.
Simid’s faction received none.
From those unaffiliated with any group, Anthony, Pavel, and Pirancheva were each awarded a Star Badge.
As Pirancheva accepted his badge and turned away, a faint smile curved his lips.
“The badges will make competition fiercer. Anthony and Pavel will now draw attention from the factions—less pressure on me.”
“Those not called, focus harder in training and aim to earn a badge next time!”
“Yes, sir!”
“The demoted trainees—pack your belongings and gather at the training ground.”
The demoted ones hung their heads in defeat.
“The five who received Star Badges are granted leave for the day.
Return to the castle by six this evening and report in.”
“Yes, sir!”
The five responded loudly.
“Everyone else, gather in the parade ground now! Move!”
The trainees obeyed and dispersed.
Having earned leave, Pirancheva changed clothes and left the castle.
The Dark Market
“The Marquisate of Lawrence has a black market run by the shadow merchants…”
That black market—called Amjeon—was operated by the Thieves’ Guild.
It was said that, aside from a few truly rare items, anything could be obtained there for the right price—even artifacts or flawless fake identification papers.
Thinking of this, Pirancheva made his way into the city under the Marquis’ domain.
After wandering through several narrow alleys, he stopped and scanned the surroundings.
“It should be around here. If I remember correctly, the inn’s name was The Starlight Beneath the Darkness… Ah, there it is!”
He smiled brightly as he spotted the building.
The inn had a rather long name: The Inn Where Starlight Falls Beneath the Darkness.
Pirancheva opened the door and stepped inside.
The first floor looked like a tavern—a small pub, with a long bar lined with bottles behind it, several tables, and a tiny stage on one side.
A staircase on the left led up to guest rooms.
“Hey, kid. You looking for someone?”
The gruff voice came from behind the bar, where a rough-looking man stood.
“I am looking for someone—but rather than a person, I came to buy something.”
The man looked intrigued.
“Oh? Here to buy liquor, maybe? You look too young to drink. Buying a bottle for your father?”
“My father doesn’t drink. I came to buy something I need.”
Pirancheva sat at the bar, placed a gold coin on the counter, and asked calmly,
“What’s your name, sir?”
“Skull,” the man replied.
“You’re with the Thieves’ Guild, aren’t you, Mr. Skull?”
Skull flinched.
“Don’t look at me like that. You might not remember me now, but if you look closely, you’ll know who I am.”
Skull studied the boy’s face carefully—then it hit him.
“Pirancheva… Ilya!”
Pirancheva smiled.
“I knew a member of the Thieves’ Guild would recognize me.”
“I heard you’d come to the Lawrence Marquisate. But what brings you here?”
Even the Thieves’ Guild dared not touch him carelessly—Pirancheva belonged to a powerful noble family, and even the Empire itself kept an eye on him.
If he were harmed by the guild, the Ilya family might exterminate every branch of the Thieves’ Guild across the Empire.
Knowing this well, Pirancheva wielded his position as a weapon.
“Like I said—I’m here to buy something from the black market. Please, show me the way.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry. I’m not buying anything dangerous. I’d just appreciate your guidance.”
From his tone, Skull sensed that the boy already knew the black market’s location.
“Who told you about it?”
“There are many secrets worth keeping in this world, aren’t there?”
“Hmm…”
Skull stared at the boy’s mischievous smile and nodded slowly.
“Even if I refuse, you’ll find your way there anyway, won’t you?”
“It might be more troublesome, but yes. And if that happens, more people will learn about the market.”
“You could die, you know.”
“Then the Thieves’ Guild would be wiped out.”
Skull let out a dry laugh.
“So this is the genius everyone talks about…”
“Fine. You win. Go out the back door—through the storage room, someone will meet you there.”
“A warehouse today, huh?”
At those words, a flash of killing intent passed through Skull’s eyes.
But Pirancheva simply smiled coldly—enough to make Skull’s heart skip a beat.
“Mr. Skull, did you really think an eight-year-old would come here without a plan?”
“Hmm…”
“I’ll be visiting often from now on. It’s bad business to show hostility toward a regular customer, don’t you think?”
“Ahem.”
Skull coughed awkwardly and opened the back door.
“If you show killing intent again, I might pluck out your eyes. So be careful, okay?”
Pirancheva warned lightly and slipped out the door.
As he disappeared, Skull exhaled deeply.
“What kind of child smiles like that…? I swear my heart nearly stopped.”
The Black Market
Pirancheva entered the warehouse and followed a guide down to an underground passage.
After walking about ten minutes through the tunnel, they emerged inside a stable.
There, Pirancheva boarded a carriage that took him elsewhere.
After about an hour’s ride, they finally arrived at the black market he sought.
“Thank you for your help,” Pirancheva said, handing the man a silver coin.
“Much appreciated, Lord Pirancheva.”
“We’ll probably see each other often—let’s stay on good terms.”
“I’ll serve you faithfully whenever you visit.”
Exchanging light words, Pirancheva stepped through the entrance of the Amjeon.
Vendors of all kinds hawked goods not permitted for legal sale. But Pirancheva ignored most of them, searching only for what he needed.
“There it is.”
He approached a merchant selling stones that glowed faintly blue.
“I need about 30 kilograms. Can you give me a discount?”
The merchant froze slightly upon hearing his voice.
Even if not everyone recognized his face, most nobles, merchants, the Thieves’ and Information Guilds, and even the Mage Tower had at least heard the name Pirancheva Ilya.
“Ah, Lord Pirancheva. I heard you’d lost interest in magic lately—apparently not true?”
“If a man born into a family of mages showed no interest in magic, he’d be thrown out. And, well, that’s why I was sent to the Eastern Marquisate—just like how Elina was sent back to the main house.”
“Ha ha, I only hear the rumors, my lord. No real interest in your family’s affairs.”
“Then sell me 30 kilograms of mana stones at a fair price.”
“Ha ha, I suppose I’ve been outmatched. Very well—30 kilos for 100 gold coins.”
At the mention of 100 gold, Pirancheva emptied his pocket, spilling gold coins across the counter, and counted them out one by one.
“You’re the first noble I’ve seen carrying gold like that.”
“Better than holding them in my hand.”
“And how do you plan to carry the stones?”
“Put them in a leather pouch.”
He handed the merchant one more coin.
“You really know how to make people work, my lord,” the merchant chuckled, packing the mana stones into a sturdy pouch.
“Watch yourself in the black market—pickpockets are everywhere.”
Fwoosh!
In that instant, fiery arrows appeared floating around Pirancheva.
The merchant flinched at the sight of the Fire Arrows.
“Any thief who reaches for my pouch will burn to ash.”
Pirancheva smiled faintly and walked away.
The merchant couldn’t take his eyes off the boy as he left.
“They said he’d lost interest in magic… but that’s clearly a lie. Fire Arrow is a third-circle spell—and he didn’t even chant or stir mana.”
As soon as Pirancheva disappeared from sight, the merchant hastily began packing up his stall.
“I must report that Pirancheva Ilya is at least a third-circle mage—and that we should reevaluate our assessment of him immediately.”
