The Count’s Youngest Son Is A Player - Chapter 69

Episode 69

Chang! Chajaeng!!

Fierce and fiery battles took place one after another.

The regular knights who had already been ordained by Count Melvin were already demonstrating their skills as skilled expert swordsmen.

“Whew. It was very impressive swordsmanship. If I get the chance, I’d like to share the sword again next time. “I passed.”

The six regular drivers passed the screening with ease, demonstrating skills that were almost equal to those of the examiners.

The audience applauded and cheered non-stop, and the nobles in the audience no longer had any doubts about the knights’ abilities.

Those who criticized it for being an order of knights with only a moderate assortment of knights were busy trying to hide their reddened complexions.

And just in time, a new prey caught their eye.

“Hmm. Now, training knights are appearing. But honestly, providing formal armor and weapons to training knights… isn’t this a very childish and low-level idea?”

“That’s right. I can’t believe you’re trying to fool the low number of knights like that. “Wouldn’t foolish citizens think they were all knights?”

“If we consider the status and status of true knights, such despicable acts should be banned. “What on earth is the Knights’ Association doing?”

“that’s right! Who doesn’t provide armor to trainee knights because they don’t have money? “It’s all because of the hierarchy of the knights…”

They were the ones who started making nonsense again.

And the atmosphere in the judging room felt like it had changed slightly.

Although it was said to be a fair review, it was natural to know some information about the participants.

As trainees will appear from now on, the judges will feel a little more at ease.

And some judges were waiting for the trainee knights to enter, exchanging meaningful glances.

* * *

The second screening, guided sparring, was a screening to check the participant’s swordsmanship level and dueling ability.

As the name Guidance Sparring suggests, the principle is for the examiner to conduct the sparring according to the level of the participant.

Therefore, most sparring did not use mana, or if it did use it, it was limited to the Mana Sword.

In the first place, it was rare for a confrontation like that between Jake and Pierce to take place openly with Mana Blade (a typed sword technique).

visor! visor!

The two-handed sword, which features a long handle, moves simply and nimbly.

‘That’s tricky.’

The examiner clicked his tongue.

The two-handed greatsword was known as a weapon with distinct pros and cons.

While it had the advantage of being able to make powerful cuts and thrusts due to its long blade and weight, it had the disadvantage of being less agile and vulnerable to response when given close range.

Naturally, the judge tried to create a gap by reducing the distance between the participants, but there was no gap to be found.

‘Wasn’t he a trainee knight? ‘That’s amazing.’

The other participant, Alec, was maintaining his spacing and continuing the attack smoothly.

It was said that he had a clear understanding of how to use his weapons.

‘It’s not for nothing that the Earl of Ashton is called a prestigious family. Swordsmanship is great, but the level of training knights is this high!’

No matter how much I guessed about the other person’s age, he was only in his mid-20s. However, looking at his swordsmanship and handling methods, I got the feeling that he was a seasoned swordsman with plenty of practical experience.

When looking at the swordsmanship itself, it seemed like there was nothing more to judge.

Realizing that three minutes had already passed, the examiner nodded and shouted.

“So far. You have excellent sword skills. I have no choice but to give it a pass. What do the judges think?”

“I passed.”

“I cannot agree. “I demand a retrial!”

The examiner, who thought he would pass the exam, paused for a moment. One of the assistant examiners raised an objection.

“…It’s hard to understand. “Is there something wrong with my judgment?”

Then the examiner who raised the objection shrugged his shoulders and said.

“Honestly, wouldn’t it be difficult to call it a proper sparring? “For some reason, it seemed to me that he spent some time mixing his swords outside the gap between the great swords.”

“what…!? Are you serious? “Did you see it properly?”

“That’s strange. From what I saw, my skills were sufficient to get accepted.”

Another assistant examiner also tilted his head as if he did not understand.

“Anyway, my opinion remains the same. “I will have to see the retrial.”

It seemed like he had no intention of giving in.

At that time, something sparkling came into the examiner’s eyes.

‘Is this really possible…?’

The emblem on the brooch worn on the uniform of the examiner who raised the objection.

That meant Viscount Gronan, a collateral branch of the Earl of Randall.

Apparently, there was a political issue involved.

“Do whatever you want!”

The main examiner gritted his teeth and walked towards the assistant examiner’s seat with rough steps.

Since retrial was a power given to the assistant examiner, there was nothing he could do about it.

‘Dirty bastards. How dare you bring political issues into the halls of sacred knights! I won’t leave you alone.’

The examiner was furious, thinking that he would file a formal objection to the association after today’s review.

The retrial time is 1 minute. The assistant examiner who raised the objection will spar directly.

If you last one minute, you automatically pass, and if you don’t, your decision is determined by the final assistant examiner who did not participate in the two sparring rounds.

In any case, a retrial was decided, and Alec, a trainee knight, had to be judged once again.

Examiner Bern looked at Alec with shiny eyes and pulled out his rapier.

‘You need to get away from here.’

There was an order from the main family, but even if that wasn’t the case, I had no intention of letting Ashton’s training knights pass the examination.

Before he knew it, his rapier was becoming stained with red mana.

Shhh!!

As soon as the sparring began, the rapier flew towards Alec like a red meteor.

‘How dare you receive this sword!!’

The rapier looked like it would pierce Alec’s thigh at any moment.

But soon Bern’s expression became distorted.

‘You avoided it…?’

A mere knight in training can avoid the Randall family’s ‘Shooting Star’ swordsmanship.

Bern, who thought it was just a coincidence, continued to investigate.

However, Alec thoroughly blocked the attack, as if he had read the rapier’s movements in advance.

Because there was a basic skill gap, they were unable to counterattack, but that was enough.

“All the way there!”

Before we knew it, a minute had passed and the assistant judges stopped the sparring.

“Alec participant. I passed. “I can’t help but be amazed by your excellent workmanship!”

‘Whoa, it’s over.’

After putting away his greatsword and bowing to the judges, Alec took a deep breath and turned around.

Wow!!

Enjoying the outpouring of cheers, Alec tried to suppress his overwhelming emotions.

‘Thank you Master!’

If it weren’t for Raoul, it wouldn’t have been easy for Alec to pass this screening.

Raoul investigated everything, including the examination method of the investiture ceremony, who the examiners were, what swordsmanship they used, and even which family they were affiliated with.

Raoul, who realized that many of the examiners were affiliated with the Randall family, personally held a rapier and performed ‘Shooting Star’ to help train the novice knights. The results are now visible.

Alec couldn’t help but admire the Master’s foresight.

‘okay. Everything was as the Master said!’

Now there is only one step left. Once he passes the final gateway, he will be able to stand by his master’s side as a proud knight.

If that happens, I will live my whole life by His side and for Him.

Alec made a firm determination and left the training ground behind. The devastated image of the examiner, Bern, passed behind him.

“Haha, should I say this is really elaborate? “I think I really understand why the knights of the Kingdom of Ruben are so talented.”

“Keuhum!”

“It’s definitely different from previous years. “What is the reason for the particularly strict evaluation this year?”

VIP seats located in the very middle of the Colosseum.

An uncomfortable sound continued to reach the ears of Carson, the president of the Reuben Kingdom Knights Association.

That’s because strange situations kept happening in the screening room.

Even after Alec, a trainee knight of the First Knights, passed, a series of retrial decisions were being made at the place where the trainees of the First Knights were examined.

I don’t know if there really was a problem and a retrial was issued, but no matter how I looked at it, it was strange that I didn’t notice that people with better skills than the previous contestants were being retried one after another.

‘Such shameful bastards!!’

The chairman of the association, who was watching the judging scene pretending to be polite, was shaking slightly.

They hurriedly sent an employee to take care of the situation, but their face was already in ruins.

furthermore.

“President of the Association. This is a little surprising. “Is it really what I think is happening?”

There are media executives who ask outright,

“Haha. Is that really so? The Knights’ Association of the Kingdom of Ruben is the focal point of knights across the continent. It may just be because the examiners are overly motivated. “Isn’t that right?”

The famous sage Gray was talking next to me with an incomprehensible expression.

In addition, there were many powerful people in the VIP room today who he could not treat lightly.

Cold sweat ran down the back of the association president, whose face was red.

“Hmm….”

“Heh heh….”

“This is beyond my imagination.”

The examiner’s control of the First Knights ended in complete failure. No, on the contrary, it had the opposite effect.

“Some of the knights in training are excellent, but…”

“It would be correct to say that the Ashton family is superior to the Randall family in terms of swordsmanship.”

“After all, a prestigious name is a prestigious name, isn’t it? “Isn’t this a limitation of the Shinheung family?”

“It seems so. There is no doubt about the skill of the master, Earl Hudson, but the level of the knights is definitely bound to be in favor of the Ashton family…”

The atmosphere and current of the observers were changing.

Originally, the Randall family had greater influence in the capital than the Ashton family.

Perhaps because of this, many people thought that the Randall family was superior in terms of swordsmanship and the level of knights, but that stereotype was being shaken.

Moreover, if you look at the audience seats rather than the observer seats, this was not just a counterproductive effect, it was almost like giving birth to the First Knights.

“As expected, the First Knights!!”

“Even the trainee knights all passed! “You knew I would be like this??”

“dad! When I grow up, I will become a knight of the First Knights!!”

“Why is the Earl of Ashton not known? “If the new knight order is this good, how strong is the original knight order?”

To be honest, there were a lot of rumors about the First Knights, but not many people actually saw them fight.

At best, there were only stories told by those who were saved at the gate or some mercenaries, but now the situation has changed.

In addition to the rumors, many citizens witnessed the actual sparring in person.

Moreover, they were younger than the other knights and were equipped with flashy new armor and weapons, so it was natural for them to shine in the training hall.

“Haha, are you already the last contestant? “I was so immersed that I didn’t notice time passing.”

“hey! Look at that! “The last participant is him!!”

“iced coffee. I can’t believe I can see him fight in person. Even if I die now, I won’t have any time left.”

“Ouch! Prince Raoul~! “Please look here!!”

Although it was expected that the audience would be exhausted due to the lengthy review due to the retrial, the audience seemed more excited.

This is because the last participant in the second screening was Raoul.

(Continued in the next part)