Chapter 10 The Path To Becoming A Knight
It seemed that the exam was going to be done in groups.
The knights held a lottery, and each group moved to a different training ground. There, the exam would officially begin.
"Hey, you guys. Don't walk in front of me, move to the back!"
"Y-Yeah, I want to, but..."
"The order is set, so it can't be helped."
"Tch, I don't like it. They should just let us do what we want. They're so picky."
(Is this how someone who's about to become one of them talks?)
We were near the front of the line of a group walking through the headquarters. It must be really annoying for him to walk behind us, his followers.
Among the sounds of footsteps, Ruzure stood out the most.
"Why am I behind that girl?!"
But it seemed like his frustration was aimed somewhere else.
Ruzure was glaring at Shura, who was further ahead.
What a small-minded guy. Still, I could understand wanting to be at the front.
After all, the main character is always at the front, especially in RPGs.
(As for me, I don't really feel like a main character right now.)
At least I got to know a super beautiful girl.
It felt like a good connection with an important character.
As a main character, that's a good sign. But even so, I still wasn't satisfied.
(This is just the beginning.)
First, I need to pass the entrance exam.
That's surely the starting line for Hiiro's knight story.
Thinking about the prologue to glory made me feel super motivated.
* * *
"Everyone, line up! Listen up! I will now explain the details of the entrance exam!"
The place we arrived at was a wide field that looked like it could host a sports day.
On the stage, dust swirled as a knight with an eye patch shouted, making everyone stand up straight.
"The entrance exam is simple. You, the candidates, will challenge each other in one-on-one combat."
"One-on-one? A duel?!"
"Quiet! It's not as grand as a duel. You will choose a weapon from that rack over there, one that you are good at."
The knight who seemed to be the instructor pointed to a wide weapon rack with various weapons leaning against it.
Swords, spears, bows, hammers, and many more. However, all the weapons had been dulled or made of wood, so they couldn't cause serious harm.
"Don't let your guard down just because the weapons are less dangerous. Even with safety measures, accidents can happen. We do have a medical room, but we will not accept any complaints or responsibility for injuries you might get. Everyone, be careful."
Still, as the instructor said, we couldn't be careless.
Getting hit with a dulled sword would still hurt, and you could get injured. There's even a chance of dying.
"Next, about your opponents... Everyone, pay attention! The knights lined up before you, you can freely choose one of them to challenge. After that, you will take your weapons and, under everyone's watch, it will be a one-on-one fight. Those who defeat or put up a good fight against the knight will pass. That's all for this exam!"
"Wait, our opponent is a knight?!"
"No way, there's no way we can win!"
"Hey, the fifth person (knight) from the right. That person is active duty, I've seen them before!"
(Wow, this is tough, isn't it?)
The room buzzed with chatter about the exam details.
I was sweating a little too. After all, our opponent was a knight.
There's no way an average candidate could win against them.
If you want to become a knight, you have to show you can beat someone you can't win against. The title of knight must be that heavy.
"This is why lowly people are like this. The exam has no flair or excitement. But it's funny to see those who are shaking at the last moment. They could just fail without even taking the exam."
Surprisingly, Ruzure, who had a big ego, didn't show any signs of being shaken.
He was still throwing out insults as usual. While everyone else looked down, he stood tall with confidence, and that honestly impressed me.
Wow, he's got guts. I respect that a bit.
"But, Sir Ruzure, isn't this a bit bad? I mean, facing a knight?"
"Hmph, it's not bad at all. Don't compare me to those fools."
"Seriously? You think you got a shot at winning?" (Do you have some secret plan?)
"A shot? It's not just a shot. It's a guaranteed victory. Hey, Shouk, Hiiro. Listen up."
Guaranteed victory? That sounds cool.
I was curious about Ruzure's secret plan, so I couldn't help to listen.
"The second from the left. See the man with his mouth covered by a cloth?"
"Yeah, that dude looks sketchy as hell."
"Don't say that, Hiiro. But yeah, you're right. Listen, you all should pick him. If you do, it'll be an easy pass."
"...Huh?"
Wait a minute. Hey.
A guaranteed victory? No way.
"Sir Ruzure, is that what you mean?"
"I told you, don't treat me like some fool. Using smart methods is what nobles do. Commoners think differently when it comes to brains and strategies, ha ha ha."
"Wow, as expected of Sir Ruzure! I can't believe you were making plans like that!"
That's totally unfair!
Give back my admiration and respect!
No wonder he could flirt with Shura before the exam. If he was already in touch with the examiners, of course he'd be relaxed. I really regret looking up to him!
"Heh. Working hard for the exam is a commoner's way of thinking. The wise pave their own path. Got it, Hiiro?"
"...You jerk." (This guy...)
And he's even taunting me.
That smile of his makes fun of all the hard work I put in.
I clenched my fist tightly, but I didn't swing it down, not because I was holding back against my annoying childhood friend.
"Everyone, quiet! I will now announce the first examinee!"
The instructor's sharp shout.
The shaking of my clenched fist and the noise around me stopped instantly.
The first examinee. This means the exam is about to start.
I can't waste time on Ruzure anymore.
I'm angry, but I need to switch gears.
Future dreams are more important than my current anger.
"Eshurareze Midgard. Step forward!"
Wait, it's her right away!
I'm suddenly leaning forward for the first pick.
Shura. The girl I thought was an important character steps forward.
Her looks and presence made the previously quiet crowd buzz again.
"Now, please choose the examiner."
But that buzz was quickly cut off.
Because Shura slowly pointed and chose her target──
"Oh. Is it me?"
It was the one-eyed instructor.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)