The Knight with a Sword Smiles Again – Chapter 10
As the two stepped back, Ranzello shouted for everyone to assemble.
The applicants all gathered in one place. Ranzello checked the flags.
“Leona, Raphael. Five flags each—joint first place. And second place is…”
The rankings were assigned in order.
“Anyone without a flag is eliminated.”
Of the twenty-five, fifteen were eliminated, leaving ten people including Leona and Raphael.
Ranzello clapped toward the remaining ten.
“Congratulations on becoming probationary knights.”
The ten successful applicants could not hide their joy at the sweet word “pass,” and they cheered.
“To those who passed, we will present the sword that symbolizes the White Knights. Come up one at a time to receive it.”
Ranzello distributed the swords.
On the swords, a hexagram was engraved at the center of a golden pommel, and a sword shape was set into the center of that hexagram. The scabbard was white, and a silver tassel hung from the end of the pommel.
Those who received the swords shed tears of emotion.
Raphael squared his shoulders as if it were only natural, and Leona accepted her sword with a happy face.
At that moment, Commander Demian approached Leona and Raphael.
“Leona, Raphael. I look forward to your performance.”
Leona replied, “I’ll do my best,” and Raphael said, “I will give it my all.”
Raphael’s eyes were full of reverence as he looked at Demian.
“Ranzello, see to the wrap-up. I’ll return ahead.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Demian took note of each of the successful candidates, then turned and left the arena.
Ranzello then explained the next schedule.
“Attention. I’ll explain what comes next.”
At Ranzello’s words, the successful applicants straightened up and listened closely.
“By seven o’clock tomorrow morning, gather in front of the Imperial Palace with your belongings packed. Your assigned quarters and equipment will be issued. No one is to be late. After the morning schedule is finished, I will inform you of the subsequent plan. Understood?”
All shouted at once, “Understood!”
“Then you’re dismissed. Enjoy the rest of the day to your heart’s content.”
Waaaah—
The successful applicants cheered in delight.
Ranzello paid particular attention to Leona and Raphael.
“Leona, Raphael. Welcome to the White Knights. Let’s do well together.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll do well.”
When Leona and Raphael answered in turn, Ranzello smiled in satisfaction and offered words of encouragement to the other successful candidates as well.
Thus all the tests ended, and the applicants dispersed.
Leona also packed up, preparing to head out. Then Raphael approached her.
“Leona.”
“Hm?”
“Remember me well. I am Raphael de Bastian.”
Leaving those words, Raphael walked past Leona and away.
Leona stared after him blankly—because of the family name he had mentioned.
Bastian? That Bastian?
She recalled rumors she’d heard.
House Bastian was one of the four ducal houses known as the pillars of the Empire.
The Bastian family was famous for producing outstanding swordsmen.
And in the current generation, they said, a once-in-a-century genius had been born.
An unparalleled prodigy with exceptional looks, who had mastered not only swordsmanship but also magic and spear techniques.
He was the person Leona had envied most.
So that guy is that genius?
It was a little surprising—different from what she had imagined.
A fellow with a needless passion for competition. The sort who couldn’t stand losing.
To Leona, that was what Raphael seemed like.
I never thought we’d meet like this.
The world was indeed small.
Back at the order’s offices, Ranzello spoke with Demian in the commander’s room, his face bright with joy.
“Could you stop smiling so much?”
“If I’m happy, of course I smile. Commander, you should smile a little too!”
“Nonsense.”
“Truth is, you’re pleased as well, aren’t you?”
This year, the White Knights had harvested two excellent talents.
Leona and Raphael.
Leona was a user of holy magic, while Raphael was a talent who wielded two elemental magics.
It was hard enough to master even a single elemental magic.
To have learned two—no wonder House Bastian called Raphael a genius.
“But there’s something else.”
“What is it?”
“Leona… she looks familiar somehow.”
Her distinctive sky-blue hair, and those golden eyes—they didn’t feel unfamiliar.
Then, suddenly, something occurred to Ranzello.
“Wait, didn’t I hear that the Count of Caliban’s eldest daughter had sky-blue hair and golden eyes? I think her name was Leona, too.”
Ranzello chuckled, as if the thought was ridiculous even to himself.
“No way, right? That can’t be.”
Demian looked at Ranzello with displeasure.
“Ranzello, what are you muttering to yourself about?”
“Ah, well… I was wondering if Leona might be the eldest daughter of House Caliban.”
“House Caliban?”
“Yes, that renowned knightly family.”
House Caliban had produced knights for generations.
“Leona is the Count of Caliban’s eldest daughter?”
“That’s what it seems.”
“And what makes you so sure?”
“First, the unusual hair and eye colors match the image of Caliban’s eldest daughter.”
“Have you actually seen her?”
“I haven’t, but the rumors were rampant. The nicknames people used for her were famous too—like ‘the Ugly Duckling,’ for one.”
At that, Demian furrowed his brow.
“Is that important now?”
“If it’s true, isn’t it quite the twist? A young lady on the verge of being cast out for lacking skill turns out to be a rare case who uses holy magic.”
“Enough pointless chatter. Whoever she is, once she’s entered the White Knights, she’s a probationary knight we are responsible for leading. Set aside needless bias. Understood?”
Ranzello answered reluctantly.
“Understood.”
Their conversation ended there.
Demian sent Ranzello out. As commander, he still had much to do.
Back at the inn, Leona collapsed straight onto the bed.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted!”
It had been an incredible day. Still, she was glad the results were good.
Leona looked proudly at the sword she had won outright.
The emblem of the White Knights with the silver tassel.
She had finally gotten it. She felt as light as air.
This sense of achievement… it’s been a long time.
A fullness born of success.
I’ve finally taken one step closer to being a knight.
She was now a probationary knight—a kind of apprentice knight.
During the probationary period, depending on the merits accrued and the achievements in training, a probationary knight could earn the chance to be promoted to an elite knight.
If you passed the promotion test, from then on you became a full knight—an elite knight.
Leona had taken the first step.
I’ll work hard and become an elite knight.
To become an elite knight, your merits and training achievements had to be high.
The performance threshold pursued by the White Knights was far higher than that of other orders; unless you met that standard, you couldn’t even qualify to take the promotion test.
For now, sleep.
Her body was far too tired. The exams had pushed it hard.
She needed rest.
Leona fell asleep in a happy mood.
Morning dawned.
Leona raised her upper body with a tousled face. When she rubbed her eyes, dazzling sunlight seeped in through the window.
“What time is it now?”
Leona stepped out onto the terrace and looked toward the distant clock tower.
The hands of the clock pointed to exactly six o’clock.
“Ugh, I’d better hurry.”
She quickly returned to the room, did a quick wash, packed her things, and left the inn where she had stayed for a week.
She wouldn’t be coming back to this inn. From now on, life in official quarters awaited.
With her backpack slung on, Leona hurried toward the Imperial Palace.
When she arrived in front of the palace, yesterday’s comrades greeted her.
“You’re here.”
A short, brisk greeting from Raphael.
“Welcome.”
“Nice to see you again.”
The other successful candidates also greeted Leona.
Leona smiled brightly and waved.
“Good to see you all.”
As the cheerful greetings ended, Ranzello appeared.
The commander was nowhere in sight.
“Is everyone here?”
All shouted in unison, “Yes!”
After confirming all ten, Ranzello handed out entry passes.
The passes were made of rectangular metal.
Each bore its owner’s name and affiliation. They were special passes exclusively for the White Knights, granting entry to the Imperial Palace.
With the pass in her hand, Leona truly felt she had become a probationary knight.
Ranzello spoke.
“Everyone, follow me.”
As Ranzello took the lead, the guards saluted him and opened the gates.
The guards checked the fresh probationary knights’ passes and let them through.
Leona followed Ranzello and stepped into the Imperial Palace.
Once inside, she was once again struck by its dignity and grandeur.
It’s at least twice as grand as the Holy Nation.
Compared to the Empire’s palace, the Holy Nation’s sacred temple felt like a mere drop in the bucket.
As they moved, Ranzello explained the order.
Each knightly order maintained its buildings in the outer palace.
There were four orders in total. Their positions corresponded to east, west, south, and north.
Blue in the east, Black in the west, Red in the south, and White in the north.
The White Knights’ compound, located on the north side of the outer palace, consisted of three buildings.
The central building housed the commander’s and vice-commander’s quarters and offices; to the left of the central building were the elite knights’ quarters, and to the right were the probationary knights’ quarters.
Centered around the three buildings were two large training grounds.
One was for sword training, and the other was for magic training.
And across the large training grounds stood the dining hall where the knights could take their meals.
Listening to the explanation as they walked, they lost track of time without realizing it.
