Ch.92Starlight Knight

Time flows like running water. Before I knew it, a month had passed since I, Se-erin, joined the elementary division of the Bichrome Kingdom’s Knight Training Institute.

Suddenly, Se-erin realized something. Unlike her worries before starting this mission, she was actually getting along well with the elementary school children.

While most of her relationships remained somewhat distant, she had made many friends through Handel whom she could actually call friends. The number exceeded ten.

She now had more friends at the Knight Training Institute’s elementary division than she had made at Cheong-ik. It was truly strange.

“Rona! Aren’t you playing ball today?”

Se-erin turned around at the voice calling her. Standing there was a boy named Baban, holding a ball as the evening free time began. She was about to nod naturally but shook her head with a small sigh instead.

‘I’ve been too immersed in acting. I’m not Haim Del Rona. I’m Se-erin of Cheong-ik… not a child. I need to maintain some distance.’

“Oh, really? Everyone was looking forward to it…”

Baban turned away with a dejected expression after Se-erin’s refusal. Watching him, her hand twitched involuntarily. Why did he only ask once?

If he had asked two or three more times, she might have reluctantly agreed to go. But reality was harsh. Baban ran toward the training ground with the ball.

-Isn’t Rona coming?

-She said she doesn’t want to today. Must be in a bad mood.

-That’s too bad… she’s the best player.

-It’s not like we can’t play ball another time, right? Next month starts the “Knight’s March” training season anyway.

Thanks to her exceptional hearing, the children’s conversation reached her clearly. Se-erin quietly turned away. Hadn’t she already said she wouldn’t join? Her pride wouldn’t allow her to casually show up now.

Trudge, trudge-

Se-erin turned with a gloomy expression. Upon returning to her quarters, she immediately began packing. She stuffed a large bag with spare clothes, preserved food, oil, rope, and other camping supplies.

It was a bag for the large-scale training that would take place in a few days.

***

The Knight’s March.

This was a large-scale training conducted by the Bichrome Kingdom for knight candidates, and its content was as follows: They would empty out an entire mountain, release monsters that had been bred there, and then send in the knight candidates. Following specific routes, the trainees would march through the wilderness, learning how to survive in the wild and deal with monsters.

It was quite a dangerous training exercise that resulted in casualties every year, but the Bichrome Kingdom insisted on maintaining this tradition.

Before dawn, the elementary division students of the Knight Training Institute had to leave their quarters carrying large bags. Se-erin also joined this procession.

Unlike usual, all the children’s moods were deeply subdued. Even when spoken to, they would only give short answers with expressionless faces. Se-erin asked Handel:

“Everyone seems really tense.”

“Can’t be helped. It’s a dangerous training where we could die…”

“If it’s that dangerous, why not just refuse to participate?”

“Well, that’s…”

The cold dawn air slipped between the long line of trainees. As they left the Knight Training Institute and followed the instructor toward the mountain, citizens threw words of encouragement and support at the procession of knight candidates.

Some citizens even burst into tears watching the children, as if they had family members among them. Se-erin looked back at them with mixed feelings.

They reached their destination just as the sun was beginning to show itself. Tall iron walls surrounded the large mountain like fortress walls, with kingdom soldiers stationed at regular intervals around the perimeter.

This was a measure to prevent the monsters released on the mountain from escaping.

The instructor looked at the children and spoke.

“If anyone is feeling unwell or too afraid of monsters to enter the mountain, raise your hand now.”

The instructor’s voice echoed slowly through the silent group of children. No one raised their hand. Some children’s right hands twitched, but ultimately everyone expressed their determination to participate.

“No one is giving up. Very good. Now I will assign you to teams. Those whose names are called will form groups of three and enter the forest to begin training. Before you depart, other instructors will inform you of your first destination, so check your maps carefully and find your way there.”

Team assignments began before the training started. Some children offered prayers where they sat. Others turned their heads to make eye contact with each other. They clearly hoped to be grouped with close friends.

Se-erin sat on the ground, resting her chin on her hand as she looked up at the mountain. Having accepted the spirit’s power into her soul, her sensitivity to energy had increased. Despite the distance, she could sense the presence of monsters in the mountain.

‘There’s nothing dangerous. Mostly small creatures… no monsters that move in groups…’

Se-erin’s name was called after considerable time had passed.

“Haim Del Rona!”

Focused elsewhere, she hadn’t even heard the names of her teammates. Se-erin hurriedly got up and left the line, heading toward the mountain entrance. There, the previously called children were waiting for her.

Fortunately, there was one familiar face. Handel. Her first friend here. Se-erin found herself smiling slightly without realizing it.

“We’re in the same team!”

The other person besides Handel was also somewhat familiar. Miles Edenhofer. The eldest son of a prestigious noble family. A boy who always gave Se-erin uncomfortable, intense stares.

“It seems the threads of fate have tied us together, Rona. I look forward to working with you.”

He extended his hand with a subtle smile. Se-erin stared at the hand. He seemed to have applied perfume, as a faint floral scent wafted from him. Did he lack awareness as a knight? He appeared more interested in romance than training.

Se-erin’s expression naturally soured.

The team leader was selected based on recent academic performance. Therefore, Se-erin, who had demonstrated overwhelming skill lately, was appointed as the leader. Before entering the mountain, the instructor called Se-erin over and handed her a small pouch and a map.

“This map shows your first destination. After arriving there, pass through all the points marked on the map, get them stamped, and return here. The training period is a maximum of one month, and if you can’t endure it, light a fire with the pouch.”

Se-erin looked down at the leather pouch. This item would probably never be used. She carelessly stuffed the pouch into her bag.

“Enter!”

Following the instructor’s command, Se-erin’s group entered the mountain. After they had walked in some distance, the large iron door closed with a loud bang behind them.

“Wow… they really closed it.”

“Everyone be careful. Prepare for monster attacks…”

Ignoring the two, Se-erin slowly took a deep breath. The mountain’s fresh air filled her lungs, invigorating her entire body. Se-erin had originally lived in an environment close to the wilderness. She even felt a sense of homecoming.

“Let’s move right away.”

Se-erin immediately unfolded the map. Her plan was to complete all the training tasks first. As the small girl’s hands fidgeted with the map, Handel and Edenhofer leaned in around her.

“Rona. Do you know how to read a map?”

Se-erin silently nodded. Given her profession, Se-erin had to travel all over the world. Map reading was a basic skill for Cheong-ik members.

As Se-erin started walking in the lead, the other two followed behind, watching her carefully. The mountain path marked on the map was extremely rugged terrain. Se-erin tilted her head in confusion. From her perspective, there were many safer routes available.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Se-erin asked Handel:

“Handel. Is there a rule that we must follow this exact map route for the training?”

“Um… there wasn’t any such rule…”

“I see.”

As Se-erin nodded to herself, Edenhofer, who had been watching from the side, hastily spoke up.

“Aren’t you going to ask me? I haven’t heard of any such rule either.”

She hadn’t been curious about his opinion. Ignoring Edenhofer, Se-erin folded the map. If they didn’t have to follow the exact route marked on the map, there was no need to consult it.

“Let’s take a different path. There should be an easier and safer route.”

Se-erin confidently headed in a different direction.

“Huh? Where are you going? The map says we should go this way…”

“Didn’t I say I know how to read maps? The direction isn’t that way, it’s this way.”

Handel and Edenhofer, now lagging behind, looked at each other uncertainly. It was a team member’s role to follow the leader’s orders. However, it was also their role to correct the leader when they made a wrong choice.

What should they do?

The two wore complicated expressions as they watched Se-erin’s confident demeanor.

In the end, Handel was the first to move.

“I-I’m coming with you!”

“Oh my…!”

Edenhofer followed shortly after.

****

Bichrome Knight Training Institute Elementary Division Infirmary.

A boy lying on a pristine white bed let out a faint groan as he sat up. His long, pitch-black hair covered half his face.

“I… I am…”

The boy frowned as he massaged his throbbing head. There was a bump protruding from his head as if he had hit something. But that wasn’t the main problem.

The boy murmured blankly:

“Where am I…?”

He couldn’t remember anything. Not his name, nor where he was.