The night was long, long enough for everyone to have ample time to do what they wanted.
In the tavern, amidst the songs of a bard recounting a story that had already been distorted beyond recognition, people clinked glasses and shared their experiences from the past day.
“Ah, you don’t know, that girl today, with one swipe of her sword, just one swipe! That Crest Knight’s head flew off and rolled several times on the ground!”
A man laughed boisterously, rolling an apple across the table several times.
The man beside him, as if annoyed, snatched the apple and bit into it with a crunch. While chewing, he mumbled indistinctly, “Who doesn’t know that? That news has already spread everywhere. Your information sure is slow!”
“Hehehe.” The man whose apple had been taken wasn’t angry and picked up a new one from the plate. “If you ask me, these Holy Knights are all a bunch of good-for-nothings. You know? Every year, countless spoiled brats get sent in and lord it over everyone! At this rate, the country is doomed!”
“Right! Doomed!” Several people at the same table chimed in.
Bang.
A loud bang sounded from a nearby table. Several people turned to see a well-dressed man slamming his wine glass heavily on the table.
“Smashing what? Smashing what? Smashing what?” The man playing with the apple started to stand up, but a strong force pulled him back. His companion gestured with his eyes for him to notice the Golden Leaf hanging at the other man’s waist.
Realizing that the other man was a Holy Knight, the first man’s expression changed. But the alcohol warming his belly made him embarrassed to lose face in front of his friends, so he muttered quietly, “A bullying dog.”
“Enough, say a few less words. If you lose your head, no one can save you.”
At another table, the Holy Knight who had wanted to stand up was also pulled back by his colleague.
“Alright, don’t stoop to the level of these mercenaries. We’re not the kind of people who bully others.”
“I really don’t know what’s good about letting these rich and powerful young masters ruin our reputation! Now whenever we try to defend our honor, we get lumped in with the bullies! Why is being a Holy Knight so frustrating?” That Holy Knight let out a heavy sigh. The wine glass still hadn’t reached his lips before he slammed it down again. Due to his force, the wine spilled over the rim.
“Enough, enough, you’ve had too much to drink. Wealth, power, leisure—our life is what many dream of. I also want to kick those bullying dogs into the sea one by one, but there’s no way, no way.”
—
Outside the tavern, in front of a luxurious mansion near the city center.
“Thank you! Thank you, my lord! Then this grand gift is in your hands! Please take care of it.”
An old man dressed in finery was bending over, holding the hand of the person before him with both hands. That person was nothing more than a young man in a butler’s uniform.
“Alright, rest assured. I will convey your words to that lord. But I am a person of low status and modest influence. I cannot guarantee whether I can persuade that lord.”
The young butler spoke with a pompous tone, sneaking a glance at the old man’s bosom.
The old man immediately understood. He took out a coin purse from his bosom, then fished out several gold coins, and placed them solemnly into the young butler’s palm with both hands. The butler beamed with joy.
“Don’t worry, I will definitely report to the lord. Tomorrow’s Holy Knight Examination will surely have no problems. I’ll put in a good word for you.”
The old man repeatedly responded with a flattering smile, clutching the butler’s hand for a while, saying words of gratitude and devotion, then let go and retreated backward.
As soon as he turned a corner, several people immediately surrounded him, calling out “Master,” “Father,” and such.
“Hmph.” The old man’s expression turned gloomy. “A bullying dog! That lord is one thing, but what is he? A dog dares to put on such airs before me!”
“Father, didn’t you say you had already greased the wheels? That lord is said to be a favorite of the King. Why do we need to give gifts again?” The son frowned tightly. The gifts his father had just given were several months’ savings again, a huge sum for ordinary families.
“That lord said that the Royal Selection is imminent. It’s not enough to just put in a good word before the King. We also need the soon-to-be-crowned First Princess to know about you.”
“But… it’s not certain that the First Princess will win the Royal Selection, is it?”
“It’s uncertain, but the trend is clear. As for you…” The old man gritted his teeth in frustration. “Don’t believe what others say about talent, about good words. They’re just excuses to ask for money. Wait until tomorrow, I don’t believe the chief examiner won’t have heard your name!”
“Yes, yes, Father’s lesson is correct.” The son agreed readily, but his face showed reluctance.
“Just wait! Tomorrow your opponent will definitely lose to you. When you become a Holy Knight, the best thing you can do for your father is cause fewer troubles!”
—
The next day, the examination began as usual.
The previous day was only the first round of matches. The Holy Knight Examination was not meant to select the strongest individual, but to choose a batch of knights. Therefore, a single defeat did not prove anything.
Just like the day before, the King came in person. The princesses took their seats below the platform, and the Twilight Hall was packed.
The other Crest Knights were either fully armed or, like Lita, had changed into lighter clothes, all standing near the platform. Lita still wore a set of casual clothes that showed good taste, so she wouldn’t be hindered if someone called her down to fight again, as had happened yesterday.
The examinee named Mei from yesterday did not show up today. According to the King, she already qualified to become a Crest Knight, so participating in the examination was not necessary.
However, to Lita’s surprise, Qiangsen had also appeared in the examinees’ section. Beside him sat Aerbeier, and the two were murmuring to each other about something unknown.
Momoka and Promi were naturally there as well, but they were not sitting together. The cloaked Dark Elf was also huddled in a corner of the examinees’ section, staring intently at the arena.
Compared to the first day, today’s examination was much more ordinary. Fierce battles came and went on the ground that had been watered with blood yesterday, but they could not reproduce yesterday’s glory or cruelty.
Many of the participants were not weak, but mixed in with the obviously padded matches, the audience grew drowsy. Occasionally, a fierce and exciting match would erupt in cheers and then quickly end.
Even though it was boring, the spectators were not few. Such a grand event was still much better than their tedious work.
However, the results of those whom Lita was familiar with or concerned about were quite good today.
One examinee who had challenged Lita yesterday encountered Momoka. Momoka poked him into running all over the arena until he finally had no choice but to admit defeat.
The examinee who faced Promi fared even worse. Amidst a gray gale, that examinee let out several shrill screams, then curled up on the ground and conceded.
The one Lita was most interested in, Keluoyi, was matched against an examinee who had also won yesterday.
“Come on! I’m not going to be easily taken down by you like that big idiot from yesterday!” The examinee, wielding a one-handed hammer and a tower shield, made a few gestures and declared loudly to Keluoyi.
As usual, Keluoyi drew her twin swords from under her cloak. The black dark magic once again appeared before everyone’s eyes. The twin swords crossed, and a black blade of light arrived in an instant.
Hummm—
Ripples that made Lita uncomfortable spread across the tower shield. The moment it blocked Keluoyi’s twin blades, the darkness on the blades melted away completely.
‘Holy Light Magic?’
‘Who exactly is this examinee?’
As Lita pondered, Keluoyi twisted to dodge the warhammer. With a nimble figure like a bird, she began to fight a guerrilla war around her enemy. The twin blades always thrust from unexpected angles, but they were always brutally knocked away by the opponent’s tower shield or warhammer.
Even though a few surprise attacks nearly succeeded, the darkness on the blades could not harm the examinee at all under the protection of the Holy Light. Everything Keluoyi did seemed in vain.
Relying on solid defense to contend with the opponent, yet not so clumsy as to be unable to parry attacks—this examinee was rather interesting.
If Lita wasn’t mistaken, this opponent had been arranged here specifically to counter Keluoyi.
But Lita didn’t remember if this examinee had appeared yesterday. Perhaps because her opponent yesterday was too weak, she hadn’t paid attention. After all, Lita couldn’t possibly memorize every examinee’s name and face.
Yet, with such a match happening, the entire viewing platform was eerily silent. That was somewhat abnormal.
Lita quietly shifted her gaze to the usually loudest Eliya. But now Eliya was pouting with a displeased expression, as if she was nervous because Keluoyi was at a disadvantage.
Lilia was indifferent. Rosalia and Brownie usually didn’t like to talk much, and Saixiliya went without saying. Lita wasn’t sure if she had seen wrong, but the First Princess Amelia, who always wore a gentle smile, now seemed to have a hint of satisfaction on her face.