Ch.74Initiation Ceremony (1)

After receiving compensation from my father for teasing me about an arranged marriage, I had demanded and been promised a “unicorn horn.”

“Camille, I’m sorry, but I can’t give you the horn right now.”

“…Why not?”

“The horn is currently being stored elsewhere. Even if I want to give it to you, I can’t because it needs to be moved here first.”

“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped then.”

Since it was physically located elsewhere, it would naturally take some time to bring the horn here.

During this time, whether I liked it or not, I had to stay at the castle, so I decided to make the most of this period.

For instance, I planned to purchase supplies for the pioneer village.

‘Let’s see… what Gretel asked for….’

Gretel, who had undoubtedly lived a tribal life far from civilization, had adapted surprisingly quickly and easily, giving me errands—specifically, asking me to obtain certain materials on her behalf.

In any case, when I bring back the unicorn horn this time, Gretel would be the one processing it. During my free time, using some of my personal assets left at my family home, I specifically wanted to purchase and deliver several materials for Gretel.

…Well, the amount of materials needed at an individual level wasn’t much anyway.

And the supplies I intended to purchase for the pioneer village weren’t limited to just Gretel’s requests.

“Expansion backpack… 30 silver coins, here it is.”

“Thank you as always!”

Having purchased an “internal space expansion backpack” that would be useful in various ways going forward, I freely used this mysterious product that could fit a cartload of supplies… as long as they could fit through the backpack’s opening.

‘Iron ingots, iron ingots… about this much. Tanning chemicals, oil, candles, and… Ah, right, I needed that too.’

I was busy purchasing and stockpiling various supplies that couldn’t be self-produced in the village, as well as many small but hard-to-find consumables for the pioneer settlement.

And while I was deeply engrossed in this shopping spree…

“Lord Alzar? So you were here!”

“Oh, Sir Gafrang. It’s been a while.”

Sir Gafrang was a veteran knight with one of the most impressive records in the Alzar Knights Order.

Previously, he had been appointed as the supervisor responsible for giving me practical experience by taking me on goblin subjugation missions, showing his excellent standing within the domain.

When he reacted as if he had been waiting for me, I became curious and asked:

“Is something the matter?”

“No, well, there is something, but nothing like an incident. Actually, we have a new recruit in our order….”

“Ah, a hazing ritual to show the difference in skill?”

“…That’s right. The recruit has quite a sharp personality, which concerns me, but since you happened to be here… I’m asking for your help.”

His answer to my question was that he wanted to request my assistance in “educating” the new member of the knights order.

In this world, every noble is a knight, and such knights are either potential lords or already lords—this wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Furthermore, in the vast majority of domains or manors, it’s common to have no knights at all except for the lord.

And in this medieval fantasy world, a knights order formed by gathering such rare knights is, naturally, an organization with power beyond imagination proportional to their rarity.

Just looking at the “Alzar Knights Order” in our domain, both my father and I are members, and almost all knights active in the domain, with few exceptions, belong to the Alzar Knights Order.

As knights accumulate experience or achievements, they may be awarded manors as rewards, making them one of the most important pillars in the governance of the Alzar Barony.

While being a military organization with a command structure separate from the domain army, the number of soldiers they have under them as retainers makes them practically a second domain (central) army.

Thus, the domain’s knights order is an organization akin to an elite military branch.

Following the reasoning that it wouldn’t hurt to get along with them as the future lord, I often cooperated with them indirectly in various ways or assisted in training.

For instance, by serving as their wall in somewhat challenging hazing courses.

In this world, knights often display excessive arrogance, intoxicated by their overwhelming power or strength.

Of course, many knights act as leaders of groups such as domains or manors, so one could argue that this is better than lacking confidence or having a weak sense of self.

However, for knights in a “knight collective” composed of intermediate warriors (knights), showing excessive confidence or arrogance brings no benefits.

The abilities required of a “leader” who must control and command a group differ from those of a “member” who works as part of the collective.

Once one joins a knights order in pursuit of power, they must ultimately obey orders and follow instructions, regardless of who they are.

Of course, knights who have awakened their aura at a vigorous age have pride that reaches the sky, so the “hazing ritual” they ask me to perform is meant to break this pride, stabilize their minds, and increase their survival rate.

No matter how strong knights may be, there are many formidable opponents in this world who can defeat them, and this “hazing” is designed to prevent new knights from dying due to carelessness against such opponents.

It’s an act that, while seeming like a bad practice, has its own meaning in making new members realize they are actually frogs in a well.

And the reason the knights order often asks me to be the target of “education” despite having their own members is probably to demonstrate overwhelming superiority in both skill and strength during sparring.

Additionally, with the high probability that I will eventually inherit the position of knights commander, such performances enhance control.

Since it’s self-evident that organizations like knights orders are inevitably extremely macho groups, instead of grumbling or complaining, I looked at Sir Gafrang and said:

“Understood, I’ll crush them.”

“Haha! I’m always indebted to you! It’s been a while since I’ve seen that spectacle!”

As we conversed, we looked at each other with wicked smiles.

※ ※ ※

The headquarters of the “Alzar Knights Order” in one part of the capital.

This garrison, which somehow reminded me of a K-military base despite having no connection to modern people, proved that the concept of convergent evolution wasn’t meaningless. Many people were already waiting there.

The person who came to greet and guide me to the front of the headquarters was Knight Sir Cobain, someone I already knew.

“Lord Alzar! We’ve been waiting for you!”

“You were waiting for the duel, not for me, Sir Cobain.”

“Haha… how could that be?”

Three years ago, when I had just awakened my aura at age 13 and joined the knights order, he was sacrificed as the target of my first “hazing ritual,” after which he reformed and became an exemplary knight.

A man with a great voice and excellent musical sense that would be perfect for rock music, he chatted with me as he guided me to the central training ground of the Alzar Knights Order headquarters.

“Wow, this is quite elaborate.”

In the center of the training ground, as had happened several times before, various temporary facilities had been set up, ready to enjoy the hazing ritual at full power.

Regardless of era or situation, do all military men become more serious when playing than when fighting? With what looked like a professional wrestling stage and numerous spectator seats in place, the new knight I had heard about was standing in the center of the stage.

‘Hmm….’

The knight, wearing armor that covered about half of their body, specifically focusing on vital points, appeared to be female based on build and frame. At the same time, her face visible through the helmet was, shall we say, full of pride.

Anyone could clearly see that she was excited and intoxicated by the fact that she had become an official knight. After observing her briefly, I leaped over the arena and approached the female knight.

Of course, she noticed my approach as well.

“Are you… Lord Alzar?”

“That’s right, rookie. And also your opponent for the hazing ritual.”

Even as I spoke, the female knight looked at me with doubt… or rather, with an expression containing some subtle emotion. Thanks to this, I could immediately understand why she was giving me such a look.

‘Ah, so that’s it.’

My current attire was not sturdy metal armor, not even leather, but ordinary fabric clothing—in short, it looked too light for engaging in a practical duel during a “hazing ritual.”

Of course, knowing this wouldn’t change much.

“Rookie, don’t presumptuously worry about me. If anything, worry about yourself, having to face me.”

“…How dare you!!”

Immediately after I spoke with deliberate contempt and provocation, facing the female knight who was almost enraged with anger, I drew my “weapon” as I always did during “hazing rituals.”

“Are you, are you trying to mock me…?!!”

“Of course, naturally. Did you think otherwise?”

It was a straight tree branch about 40-50cm long that I had picked up on the way.