37 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Episode 37
‘How did it end up like this…….’
I blankly stared at the training grounds where a dry wind was blowing.
‘How did it come to this…….’
There stood my wizard friend, the second male lead, and the mercenary kid all alone.
“Then, let’s begin the entrance test.”
Obron, who had returned at some point, said in a solemn voice. Next to Khalid stood two young men with tense faces.
“Three applicants for the knighthood!”
Grandfather puffed out his nose, unable to hide his excitement.
Next to me, Leviathan was sitting with the stern face of a strict head teacher.
Uncle, who had appeared without warning, received Khalid’s blood oath and lightly asked a few questions.
“You have mercenary experience? At 12?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell me.”
“…….”
“Were you a child soldier in the kingdom?”
Only Khalid would know the cold sweat that ran down my spine at that moment.
“I’m not a wizard. I just did some guild errands in a wandering mercenary group.”
“I see. And you met Ruby in Iosia?”
“That’s right.”
“Then let me ask you…….”
“Yes.”
“What’s Ruby’s least favorite food ingredient?”
“Bell peppers. Green ones.”
“What does Ruby like the most?”
“Baths. And a cozy bed.”
“Ruby likes…….”
“Hey, is this a quiz competition?”
“I guess you really are her friend.”
……Somehow, it turned into a strange interview midway.
Anyway, in the meantime, two more applicants had arrived.
Uncle said that a simple entrance test was required as a formality.
‘But I don’t think I took a test?’
Hmm, was it a special recruitment?
Anyway, I was honestly nervous. It was good to have Khalid by my side, but having two kids hiding their identities meant, in other words.
‘The risk of getting caught is doubled!’
Leviathan, as if interpreting my gloomy expression, cleared his throat and spoke.
“Ruby, I’m sorry, but our knighthood doesn’t hire based on personal connections.”
Huh! That’s good to hear! No to school ties, blood ties, and regional ties!
“Of course, it should be like that! We should recruit very coldly and strictly…….”
“Everyone who submits an application gets accepted.”
I shut my mouth tightly. Uncle shrugged and replied nonchalantly.
“We’re short on manpower.”
Damn it……. I overlooked that.
Grandfather was now almost as heated as a pressure cooker.
Obron, standing in the middle of the training ground, stepped forward.
“It’s just a simple procedure, but it’s a necessary test to gauge your skills. Don’t be nervous and do your best.”
“Yes, sir!”
The applicants answered with their shoulders tensed.
The cheeky Khalid was just staring at the ground with an indifferent face.
“Then, take a Wooden sword first. It’s a simple mock battle.”
Obron handed over a Wooden sword with white powder on it.
“There are no real rules. The one with the most white powder on their clothes loses.”
All three were wearing black protective gear. Indeed, it was the best way to gauge their skills without getting injured.
“Then you, Khalid……? And Edwin. Is that right?”
“Yes! Edwin Cowell! I came all the way from the distant east, inspired by the heroic deeds of Leviathan!”
The hero was feeding me walnut pie next to me.
“Okay. I heard your unsolicited motivation. Take your sword.”
“Yes, sir!”
Khalid and Edwin, holding white Wooden swords, stood facing each other in the training ground.
“Hey, you little snot, how’s that brat’s skill? Huh? Is he any good?”
Grandfather asked, fidgeting. I thought for a moment and replied.
“Well……. He’ll probably do the basics.”
No, he’ll be more than basic.
Khalid was an ‘unregistered wizard’ of the Archmage Kingdom. He had learned how to survive without using magic for a long time to avoid the kingdom’s attention.
‘He seemed more interested in swordsmanship than magic, which has many restrictions anyway.’
I shouted inwardly, even though I knew I was being blocked.
‘You have to hide your strength and do it moderately, okay?!’
Of course, no reply came from the boy standing in the wind.
Soon, the sparring began with Obron’s signal.
‘Don’t suddenly rush at your opponent like a whirlwind and turn them into a pulp in the blink of an eye……. Huh?’
I blinked slowly.
Thud. The walnut pie I was holding fell.
“……You little snot? Didn’t you say he’d do the basics?”
Grandfather’s voice returned, sounding puzzled.
“Yeah, I guess……?”
“He’s not even doing the basics.”
Uncle added, handing me a new walnut pie.
That’s what I’m saying.
“What is he doing……?”
The wind blew.
The boy Khalid was getting beaten up, covered in white powder.
Edwin won the first round in a landslide victory.
I blankly stared at Khalid, who was dusting off his clothes.
‘Has his swordsmanship deteriorated……?’
I don’t know. But looking at his dissatisfied frown, it was clear that something wasn’t going his way.
That’s strange. He wasn’t like this.
I knew Khalid’s skills better than anyone else. He had secretly helped me from behind in the wizard unit whenever he had the chance.
‘We killed so many Dark Creature together.’
The Magic King, who had been heavily criticized for the child soldier issue, initially pretended to reassign young wizards to rear support, but later it wasn’t the case.
‘He just pushed us forward more subtly.’
Like infiltrating us before operations to find traces of Dark Creature or secretly sending us to unknown Dark Creature habitats.
In conclusion, I had been performing the Magic King’s secret missions along with rear support.
Before I realized that this was a world in a novel, I was a puppet brainwashed by the Magic King, so I didn’t even know it was a difficult task…….
‘That’s why it’s even more cruel!’
To be exploited without even knowing you’re being exploited, how unfair is that!
‘Sigh.’
I sighed briefly and shook my head.
Since lamenting it wouldn’t change anything anyway, I decided to focus on the situation at hand.
‘But he’s really weird today.’
I frowned seriously, forgetting to eat my pie.
Meanwhile, the second round began.
The second opponent was a young man named Delmon, who was bigger than Edwin.
Khalid was also…….
“Start!”
Happily turned into a whitey here too.
“His movements are a bit sluggish.”
Uncle muttered next to me.
“He doesn’t look like that at all.”
Delmon shouted, “Haaap!” and swung his Wooden sword. Khalid hesitated and was grazed on the shoulder. Since he was wearing protective gear, there wouldn’t be much impact, but the boy looked very dissatisfied.
He seemed to be thinking, ‘Why am I like this?’
“Hmm…….”
Leviathan, who had been slumped over, straightened his back.
“Did you say he was in a mercenary group?”
“Uh-huh.”
Grandfather clicked his tongue.
“So what if he was? With that skill, it’s amazing he survived in a mercenary group.”
“Could it be…….”
Lord Leon, who was watching the sparring from behind Uncle, muttered that.
“Lord Leon, senior?”
He lightly looked around and stopped his gaze on the walnut pie in my hand.
“Why? Are you hungry?”
“I’ll borrow this for a moment.”
What? I handed over the walnut pie, puzzled. Lord Leon took it and threw it straight ahead without hesitation!
With a little bit of sharp intent. As if throwing a dart.
“……!”
At that moment, I met Khalid’s eyes, who had raised his head sharply.
I saw a sharp light flash in the boy’s eyes, which had been drooping. At the same time, he kicked Delmon’s shin to disrupt his balance and took out a knife hidden in his ankle.
Thwack!
The knife that pierced the center of the walnut pie flew straight towards Lord Leon.
“That crazy…….”
It clashed against the sword of the knight who had drawn his sword and fell.
