episode_0055

The knights who had finished their morning drills were expected to quickly gather at the sound of Mark’s assembly.

However, as the rest period was about to end, a trainee knight called me over and stood me up.

“Trainee Karsein. Explain why you committed such an act.”

The reason is obvious.

▶Framed in the training ground!◀

▶Choices are given. Find a way to prove your innocence!◀

Because this route appeared.

The farce route.

It was an episode that unfolded when Karsein, a trainee, caused friction with the knights during the training period.

The conditions were simple; you could simply choose the given option, or you could confront the opponent who could be avoided like now.

It was not a route commonly used.

If news of a direct confrontation spread within the knights, it would undoubtedly have an impact on Karsein.

The reason for consistently ignoring or remaining silent on the choices that appeared during the training was all for this reason.

“But now, it can be used to my advantage.”

As I glanced sideways, I noticed the trainee knight Bruce, who was smirking like someone else.

I maintained a respectful posture and confidently spoke to the trainee knight.

[ 2. Because my belongings were taken. ]

“My belongings were taken.”

“Taken?”

“Yes. They took the towel I received from my family right there.”

At that moment, Bruce shouted as if he had been waiting.

“It wasn’t taken. It was just a measure for a fair entrance exam. Please give your statement.”

“Alright. Explain, Bruce.”

“Karsein is not qualified to take the exam fairly during the entrance period. He is receiving external support, and one of them was that towel.”

“Hmm. Go on.”

With the thought that he could expose me, he continued his speech in an excited voice.

Although there was an option to intervene with a “Protest!” during the speech, I chose not to use it.

“If Bruce’s claim is true, Karsein, you will be guilty of causing a farce. As a trainee, you confronted a trainee knight, so you must face the consequences.”

I didn’t plan to inform the superiors separately, but the consequences would be quite severe.

It was regrettable, but well, it went somewhat as I wanted.

“If you want to refute, you may. However, if you accept it peacefully and show an attitude of reflection, the punishment will be carried out here.”

This is how the farce route ends, with Karsein receiving punishment.

Although it doesn’t have a significant impact on the episode, the perception within the knights decreases, and the camaraderie slightly declines.

In any case, it is normal not to choose such things.

However, there is one exception.

▶Ariana witnessed this scene!◀

▶Choices disappear!◀

“Karsein is going to be punished. What does that mean?”

“Ariana?”

It was only useful when I knew that family members were coming.

***

Why did I raise the camaraderie and choose the worst option when Ariana came to the training ground.

Why did I confront that Bruce guy when he started an argument.

Why did I choose to go through with the farce route even though I knew it would happen.

All for these reasons.

“It’s not like you’re going to receive punishment. Family support can be plentiful, but it only affects Karsein’s condition during the entrance period, not enough to sway the evaluation. Isn’t that right?”

Because I knew Ariana would return.

So I laid the groundwork and waited.

If Isabella or Claire had come, I could have made excuses. Women in the knights didn’t know much about what was happening inside.

But if Ariana came, the story would be different.

Why did she directly prohibit Karsein’s entry? Why did Isabella allow it?

It was not because she was a noblewoman but because she had trained directly in this knights’ order before.

The farce disturbance would end as soon as Ariana appeared.

After regaining the right to speak, I fully explained everything that happened at the training ground.

The knights’ expressions stiffened.

“Bruce. You…!”

The rest was predictable.

Bruce, who was just a trainee knight, couldn’t increase my responsibility anymore, and some who wanted to question me couldn’t casually criticize me.

But I had a reason.

A reason to point out not to anyone else but Ariana.

I dismissed the knights with a somewhat direct question.

“Do you understand now? What happened because of that one towel.”

[ Do you understand now? ] It was like a reinforced version of the choice.

I conveyed the message more clearly so that she could understand the favoritism accusation.

“If you think that receiving punishment for this towel is light, you’re mistaken. It’s not just picking a fight for no reason.”

“…”

“Better not to worry about it. It’s actually better for me.”

If I told Mark about this, there would be a problem. If I scolded Bruce here, there would be a problem.

So, I firmly told her not to worry about it.

Fortunately, she didn’t argue back, knowing her mistake.

But she quietly turned around and said one thing she wanted to say.

“…I never doubted you this time. Just remember that.”

Once again, her red ponytail swayed.

This time, it wasn’t a forceful step but a sign that her anger had subsided. The message was visible as a result.

▶Ariana’s camaraderie increases!◀

[ Current value: 24% ]

“You never doubted me.”

I chuckled and denied her words.

“You’d be better off doubting me.”

That’s how the first girl was.

Whenever I tried to help her, problems always arose.

It was better to hit her face and speak harshly.

Ariana was the same.

Helping her like this was more troublesome.

It only added to the trouble, and the mistakes I made would come back to haunt me.

If that was the case, I would rather not care at all.

That was my true feelings towards the first girl.

“Lift your butt higher. Do you really think the crime of touching Ariana’s belongings is so light?”

“No!”

“Then keep that posture straight.”

“Ugh, yes!”

As I turned my gaze away from Ariana, who was walking silently, I saw Bruce receiving punishment.

There was a difference between a trainee and a trainee knight, but it was enough to receive punishment for touching someone else’s belongings.

Moreover, the fact that it was Ariana’s belongings played a significant role.

Thanks to Bruce, he ended up turning the tables on himself instead of framing me.

“…”

He glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

It was a look of revenge, like those delinquent boys I saw in school.

At times like this, teasing him was the best.

I chuckled, and the veins in his neck bulged.

“Yeah. Are you getting angry? Pile it up. The angrier you get, the more impatient you’ll become.”

It was a satisfying result from both sides.

***

“That commoner bastard…!”

When the new trainee heard the name Karsein, Bruce approached without hesitation.

He was a commoner.

If a nobleman had become a trainee like him, it would be different, but he had no fear.

Rather than having no fear, he was more dissatisfied.

He was dissatisfied that the outsider who was picked up from outside would become a trainee knight just like him after finishing the entrance exam.

So, he tried to create an excuse to scare him. He did the same thing.

“Oh. He’s really a handful. He’s done quite a lot for a commoner, hasn’t he?”

But when he actually met Karsein, he received quite a grand reception.

He felt a surge of jealousy.

Engaging in misconduct, instilling fear, and planning to crush the spirits before the entrance period and fair exams even began. It was assumed that taking at least one of them would serve as a warning to others within the organization.

However…

Contrary to expectations, Karsein did not back down.

No.

Not backing down only made him more complacent.

So, he was determined to give him a proper scolding.

Using his presence within the organization.

But an unexpected outcome occurred.

Although the intervention of Arina Vagrand was surprising, it was not a problem as someone who was not believed to be trustworthy came forward to testify.

– “Shouldn’t we stop such a bad custom?”

With the first lady’s point in support of Karsein, Bruce ended up using more than necessary.

“Damn it.”

Following the orders of the superior officer, Bruce, who had been scolded for a long time, cursed.

His palms, which were digging under the gravel, bore large and small marks.

Not only were there deep marks, but sharp rocks had been digging into them for a long time, causing bruises.

Even now, Bruce could still feel the sharp pain in his hands.

But he didn’t have time to feel that pain.

There were still more trials ahead.

“Ugh. To think I’m a trainee knight with someone like that.”

“Pathetic. Are you even a knight?”

“No matter how you lose to someone who’s not even a newcomer. Wow…”

It was the criticism of the fellow trainee knights.

Bruce bit his lip and shouted.

“Don’t you shut up? These damn bastards, lower in rank than me, dare to speak up?”

Within the organization, the rank of a knight carries great power.

Even though skill was secondary, the ones in front of him were lower-ranking knights.

“If you talk back to me, when we go back to the dormitory later, I’ll…!”

“Then I can say that to you, right? Since I’m higher in rank than you.”

“G-Gareth…”

But as soon as he brought up that point, the higher-ranking knight immediately intervened.

Although he was also a trainee, from the perspective of a group below, he was not a suitable opponent to argue with.

“Luckily, you were chosen as a high-ranking knight with many juniors, so why are you acting so arrogantly? What position are you in to say something to those guys?”

“…”

“Shut up. Even if you’re a trainee, you’re not in a position to say anything to them. You’ve been fooling around every time, not taking training seriously, not growing at all. It wouldn’t be surprising if something like this happened. You’re just a fool.”

Bruce couldn’t say anything in response to Gareth’s painful criticism.

In addition to that, allowing the ridicule and mockery of junior trainees whose entrance period was not much different from his own, his fists trembled involuntarily.

After confirming that he had become a laughingstock, Gareth designated Bruce’s next destination.

“Your senior is calling you. Go see him. You idiot.”

“…If it’s the senior, then…”

“Tsk tsk. Are you paying the price for your arrogance?”

Gareth muttered and patted Bruce’s shoulder as he passed by.

The juniors still didn’t see him as a proper senior and continued to mock him.

‘Oh no. If he’s calling me, that means…’

Damn it.

Bruce muttered to himself inaudibly and soon headed to the place where the trainees always gathered.

Soon, Bruce arrived at the place where the trainees always gathered.

He immediately heard the mocking voice of a fellow trainee.

“Did you come?”

“…I heard you calling me.”

Upon confirming Bruce’s arrival, the trainee bowed his head like a criminal and approached the one who called him with trepidation.

And then.

“Ugh…!”

He knelt down again, punching Bruce in the stomach and making him kneel again.

“It was a mess today, wasn’t it? They insulted the names of the knights in every way possible.”

“Ugh…”

“When I heard that the trainee had caused a scene, I thought I would help out because it seemed like he had caught some prey. But when I opened the lid, the story was different. Huh? Huh? Huh?”

– Slap. Slap. Slap.

“When you see expensive things, you can lose your mind. I know what kind of person you are. But listen.”

He lowered his voice and grabbed Bruce’s chin.

Every time he waved his hand, Bruce’s head turned.

“I didn’t know you would be so shameless as to be my successor after falling out with those guys.”

“Excuse me! I was careless! I didn’t expect him to suddenly come out like that and I handled it carelessly…”

But as he made excuses, Bruce was punched in the face with a solid fist.

Whether it was because he couldn’t calm down even with that blow, the kicking continued.

A face that had been hidden in the darkness was revealed.

That face belonged to the man who, until recently, had been a kind lady who was worried about the cold and had covered him with her own coat.

“You’re careless and arrogant. You’re the reason why I’m being doubted even in my skills. When you’re not around, how can I teach someone like that?”

“Ugh!”

“I’m almost a full-fledged knight. If this continues, then! How will I feel! Huh! You bastard!”

Yes.

He was fierce and ruthless.

The kind smile Flora had shown was just a mask she had created.

The true nature of Teo Ramstair was so cruel and merciless.

He kicked his kneeling subordinate in the stomach.

“Ha. Damn it. I asked you to break him, and you’re handling it like this.”

“…”

“Oh, you bastard! It’s been a mess for four days now, and it’s frustrating. You know?”

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Teo’s kicking made Bruce unable to resist and he fell to the ground again.

“Ha.”

Teo kicked Bruce’s stomach hard and vented his anger.

He was lost in thought.

‘Damn it. Because of this guy’s inability to handle things properly, it’s becoming difficult to deal with him alone!’

Due to Arina Vagrand, the perception of the regular knights had changed.

Although the situation could have escalated to involve the entire knight order, thanks to Karsein, who was not believed to be trustworthy, the public opinion began to improve.

‘Now that they have proper eyes to see, what I’ve been writing so far won’t work… How do I get rid of him?’

Lost in sudden thoughts, he lowered himself and grabbed Bruce’s hair.

“…Okay. People can make mistakes. There should be a chance for redemption, right, Bruce?”

“Yes, yes?”

“You must also want to get revenge now. You want to step on that commoner.”

Forcing an answer.

No questions allowed. Bruce felt a threat reflexively and nodded desperately.

“You’ll have another chance in training tomorrow. Make sure to step on him properly. Got it?”

“…”

“Answer me, don’t you?”

Bruce, who had no answer, slumped down, which displeased Teo, who raised his hand again.

At that moment, Bruce opened his mouth.

With his eyes rolling back and his face twisted.

“Is it okay to go a little overboard?”

“What?”

“I think we should really crush him. I’m just thinking about how to crush that guy.”

There was something off about Bruce’s state.

But to Teo, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Fine. I’ll leave it up to your discretion.”

If this guy was used and discarded properly, that would be enough.

Whether Bruce retaliated against Karsein or not, as long as he didn’t stay in the training camp any longer, that was all that mattered.

***

▶Attention!◀

▶Someone within the organization has harbored deep malice towards Karsein.◀

▶Danger levels and time limits will be activated in specific areas of the training camp!◀

“Hmm.”

While doing the laundry, a status window suddenly popped up.

Seeing the window indicating that a being filled with malice had appeared, the hands doing the laundry involuntarily stopped.