episode_0104

At a table placed outside the Mary Jane store, the excitement of the swordsmanship competition was not cooling down, and stories were being heard about the knights who were active this time.

“As expected, I think Count Cecil is very kind. I heard you taught Sir Claude swordsmanship?”

“Ah. Was it something like that? Somehow.”

“There is even room for that in a match. It’s really amazing.”

“Sir Claude is your knight. The Count is close to the Princess.”

“Still, Senior Ian was a bit disappointed. Of course, I had to face Count Cecil…”

It was a conversation that would have made people foamy if they had heard it, but their voices were cheerful.

If the noble ladies were good-looking knights, led by the winner of the competition, Count Cecil, then they were older nobles. Most of the noble nobles’ fires were knights who took third place.

“The star of this swordsmanship competition is, of course, Diego Ortagi. It’s a family I’ve never heard of, but I never thought there would be such a talented person hiding there.”

“I heard that you are from a fallen fiefdom in the northern region.”

“They say they are trying to get him from all over, but everyone is refusing.”

Life turns around. There is no word that fits better than that.

If you are the second or third son of a low-class noble family, there is no territory to inherit. Therefore, only private soldiers from high-ranking noble families or those with good skills become knights.

Even though they were the same knight, everything was different between a knight from a low-ranking noble family and a knight from a high-ranking family.

“Anyway, which place will he choose in the end?”

“I heard it’s from the Beastie Counts.”

“Hmm? I heard that I belong to Count Patus…”

“Wasn’t he the Marquis of Esselrod…?”

“The last winner, Lord Yugo, personally asked to shake my hand. Of course it was the Marquis of Astral, right?”

It didn’t matter whether it was true or not. This was proof that Diego was a hot potato.

“Ian Rippleton wasn’t as special as you thought, right?”

“Hey, you got stoned by the ladies.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

This was the thought that came to mind from most young people who watched the game.

Diego Orta, who took third place, competed with the winner, Count Cecil, for 10 matches.

On the other hand, Ian Rippleton, who took second place, collapsed after just one match.

A standard that is clear to anyone.

Even if that is the result someone intended.

And not long after, Diego Orta’s whereabouts were determined.

The fortune-tellers who were fortune-telling the two marquesses, Esselrod and Estral, were surprised by the unexpected family name.

“Arjane?”

“Aren’t the conditions for joining the Black Hawk Knights very strict?”

No matter how great Diego was, no one thought he would be worthy of joining the Order of the Black Hawk.

A truly elite position that requires both swordsmanship and magic.

That was the Black Hawk Knights.

* * *

Smoothie driver. So, Diego Orta came to Mary Jane and waited for me for several days, even helping with serving.

“I almost collapsed without even being able to play a proper match due to the unexpected heat, but thanks to the young lady, I achieved good results.”

He drinks and serves. So, I earnestly asked the store manager to repay the favor to the nobleman who sent me Miu, and it was eventually passed on to me through Nazar.

I moved right away and ended up having a conversation in a corner of the kitchen.

“Um.”

After listening to it a bit… I think Miu used a bit too much MSG.

“I would like to return the favor to you.”

While I was thinking for a moment. He said earnestly again and again.

I saw the eyes shining brightly at me while I was wearing such a suspicious mask.

‘It would be perfect for this person to get scammed.’

At that moment, I made eye contact with Miu, who stuck out her head. She gave me a thumbs up without any sign of embarrassment. For someone who came from an orphanage, his communication skills are at the highest level.

“Miu. I have to work.”

Alex approaches Miu before she knows it, puts his hands on Miu’s arms, lifts them up, and drags her away.

“Oh! Chef Alex! This is sexual harassment. pervert! transformation! Chef!”

“Chef is not an insult.”

It may have only been a short time since I was deployed, but I feel like we have already become friends.

While I was watching the two of them chatting for a while.

Nazar, who was standing next to me, sent a message.

I knew Mana affinity the moment I saw it. It looks like he never learned anything, but he looks like he’s at Claude’s level, and his skeleton is… I don’t know the details, but it’s just amazing.

When I saw it from a distance, it was just big, but when I saw it right in front of me.

The chairs in the store appear to be children’s chairs.

His arms, as thick as logs, seemed thicker than my waist, and his beaky eyes and thick eyebrows.

‘Is this really 18 years old?’

What would it feel like if you met a bear in the wild?

‘Oops. ‘This is such a rude idea.’

In modern times, he is a high school student, first of all, he is much younger than Claude, but he looks 10 years older.

“You want to return the favor?”

I was silent for a while, but when I opened my mouth, his words came out like rapid fire.

“Yes. Thanks to the grace you have bestowed upon me, it is as if I have been revived as a knight. Even though I was only in third place, I felt like dedicating the honor of victory to the noble person if I knew who he was. Although I am not very intelligent, I have a knack for using a sword. To a noble person with a humble talent.”

He explained that he received a large third-place prize money and sent it to the estate, which helped his sister, who runs the estate, put out the emergency fire.

I earn money outside for my smart but weak sister.

‘Something feels a bit sad.’

He said that if he had not performed well in this tournament, he would have given up being a knight and joined a mercenary group to make money.

He seems to have good personality as well.

I had already received a call that they had recruited all the promising contestants as well as the top ten who had already been broadcast by the staff.

Meanwhile, this smoothie, no. Diego Orta stayed faithful and said that he wanted to return the favor by seeing me in person.

Of course, I don’t intend to blame those who came before me. Being hired at a high salary was their goal from the beginning, and it was what I was aiming for as well.

The remaining 11 joined the Shadow Knights, a secret organization managed by Nazar. Officially, they are the Knights of the Duchy of Arjeine, but in short, they are my personal private army.

Let’s try to live up to expectations a little bit.

When I took off the mask, Diego’s eyes grew as big as a flower and his mouth dropped open.

“Do you know who I am?”

Looking at the expression, a sense of playfulness comes out.

“Well, no matter how ignorant I am, I am not at the level of not knowing the most famous lady in the capital. It’s an honor to meet you. This is Diego Orta, the eldest son of the northern Orta fiefdom.”

I was planning on teasing him, but I ended up getting embarrassed.

I. Was he the most famous in the capital…?

“Really?”

“Yes, four. Just give me any commands!”

“Hmm… But why are you stuttering like that?”

“Well, that… I was surprised that you were so beautiful, I’m sorry.”

I’m so embarrassed that I’m trying to calm down.

“Then, do you know what kind of knightly order the Duke of Arjan is?”

“No, of course. The Black Hawk Knights are admired by all knights, but I don’t know how to use magic…”

The loud voice gradually becomes quieter.

this person. It’s cuter than I thought.

Should I say it’s just like Winnie the Pooh…?

“Then, I will let you join the Black Hawk Knights, where you can learn magic and increase your strength. ah. Is it okay for me to speak informally like this?”

“Of course. I have already sworn allegiance to the princess.”

* * *

Even though I had scouted Diego Orta, who came in third place in the swordsmanship competition, my father seemed somewhat uncomfortable.

‘weird?’

I thought you would be happy?

“…Where did you get that wild dog from again?”

Dad clicked his tongue. Although it is closer to a black bear than a wild dog.

“Aren’t you happy…?”

Nazar said he was a pearl in the mud with the Master at his doorstep? Just looking at the rumors in the world, the eyes of the nobles who were scouting for Diego were burning.

“Of course, joining is permitted. This is a favor for my daughter.”

I shook my head.

‘As expected, my father… .’

I once again reminded myself that I shouldn’t entrust my father with anything, whether it’s a business or a fiefdom.

“Hmm. First of all, he has good grit and is my knight. I would like you to join the Black Hawk Knights and train me like Claude.”

“Like Claude… . Yes, to the very core. Maybe I’m rolling it to the point where I can’t think of anything else… . I will train you.”

“Yes…?”

“No need to worry. He looks determined and won’t die.”

Did I say something wrong?

‘sorry.’

I silently prayed to Diego Orta, who somehow seemed to have a difficult path ahead of him.

But soon I heard him thank me again.

“I wanted to return the favor to you, but you actually made my dream come true.”

I didn’t know it, but the Black Hawk Knights are said to be the goal and dream of those who admire knights.

I heard from my dad that the guideline for the first head of the family should be an article that can survive even if thrown into the desert with its bare body.

As a result, it is said that the knight who requires magic is a must.

‘What does that have to do with the knight?’

In any case, it is an elite knighthood recognized even in the empire.

Rumors about Diego quickly spread within the knights.

A knight who gets up like a roly-poly no matter how much he rolls.

“I am enduring the 1:1 special training with the head of the family.”

“The lady brought a bear, not a person.”

“I never thought I would see the head of the family say that we should stop first.”

Even the members were impressed by Diego’s extraordinary strength and tenacity.

“Damn. What do I regret about this guy… But it’s Marian’s request…”

My father was sullen, saying that he had less time to play with me. The reason was that there was no knight who could face Diego’s mighty power head-on.

‘surely.’

This made sense when I saw him swinging a huge sword as lightly as a wooden chopstick while taking a walk.

“It’s pretty good. Still, the lady’s first knight is me.”

“…I am also your knight!”

Even now, seeing Diego sparring with Claude, he didn’t seem to be pushed back at all.

Claude had the upper hand when using Aurors, but in a pure confrontation, even Claude was defeated by Diego’s power.

‘It’s not for nothing that they say that being a magic swordsman is the dream of knights.’

The flames surrounding the great sword were so splendid that it made me think of that.