MTLNOVEL Chapter 17
Chapter 17: Lady Knight? – 3
—–CROW—–
A storm of magic raged.
The pressure began with the descent of a sword of light, like a miniature sun, striking the center of the training ground.
The knights reacted to the test in two main ways:
Endure or deflect.
*Thud!*
“Ugh!”
“Impossible…!”
“Hff!”
One by one, those who chose to endure began to collapse.
Those confident in their stamina, physical strength, and magic power chose this path.
But the amount of magic within one’s body wasn’t everything.
How one wielded that magic, where one focused their power… each knight, based on their individual talents and family secrets, endured in their own way.
But even they had their limits.
And those who chose to deflect?
“Kyaaa!”
“Woooah!”
*Whoosh! Thud!*
They fared better than those who tried to endure the magical pressure descending from the sky. But their success was short-lived. The oppressive magic began to ripple like waves, quickly transforming into a raging magical storm.
One by one, knights were swept away by the sudden onslaught. They had held their ground for a while, but they couldn’t maintain their balance against the overwhelming force.
“Hmm.”
Aidan was more impressed by his younger brother’s test than by the knights who were still standing.
Leaving aside their noble bloodline, Leo’s test was remarkably well-designed. He hadn’t simply unleashed a powerful burst of magic with the sun sword. He had distributed the pressure evenly among all the knights, forcing them to choose between enduring and deflecting, and then abruptly shifted the flow of magic into a chaotic storm, testing both their defensive strategies.
He knew his brother Leoric’s skill. Even the maids’ casual demeanor around him was a testament to that. Leoric always maintained perfect control over his magic, never letting a single thread of it escape. He had also observed him during occasional training sessions before their father…
Perhaps Leo’s control over magic was even superior to his own?
‘He could have been a truly troublesome rival.’
A lifelong rival, bound by blood. It wouldn’t have been so bad. Aidan glanced at Leoric, then chuckled and turned back to the training ground.
Only a handful of knights remained, still enduring. Those who were left must be quite capable. Aidan decided to memorize their faces.
* * *
“Hmm. Your skills have improved considerably since last time, Second Young Master.”
“Hahaha. This is nothing.”
It had taken some effort, but even Hans Gramps could do this. However, I was confident in my control. Ever since I was a child, I had amused myself by manipulating magic.
Wasn’t that normal? Reborn into a world with a mysterious power flowing through you, wouldn’t you be curious enough to try it out?
Because of that curiosity, I had even flown around using magic when I was too young to speak. It had ended in a disastrous crash, though.
Anyway… Hyung’s gaze from earlier was bothering me. It had sent a chill down my spine. I pretended not to notice and looked at the knights.
More than half of them had been eliminated. Or should I say it was impressive that half were still standing?
“They’re holding on quite well.”
“Well, they are the ones I selected. Those incompetent fools who dropped out so quickly will be undergoing hellish training for a while.”
“Oorah…!” Poor bastards. I had withdrawn my magic, but the knights who had collapsed or been blown away were still trembling. Perhaps more from the impending hellish training than from the shock of my test. It was their fate, so I moved on.
“Heeh.”
Among the few remaining, the one who stood out the most was the female knight in the center. Silver hair braided into a single plait, blue eyes, and an unadorned face. Despite her delicate frame, she was beautiful enough to be mistaken for a noble lady with a bit of makeup. She grimaced and groaned under the pressure of my magic, but her eyes held a stubborn determination.
*Thud!*
Even those who had managed to maintain their balance and deflect most of my magic, using their own, began to collapse one by one. But the female knight was still holding on. Her trembling legs looked like a fawn’s, quite cute.
“Ugh, gah…!”
Was this her limit?
*Fwoosh!*
I withdrew all the magic I had unleashed. I could have just blown them all away, but the remaining ones would have been swept away as well. It would have been a waste, even though their recovery rate was fast.
*Thud!*
“Gasp…!”
I looked at the remaining knights, gasping for air as the pressure suddenly vanished. There were only a handful left. They too collapsed as the pressure disappeared.
Looking at the knights sprawled on the ground, I focused on the one who had endured the longest. The female knight, of course.
“You, what’s your name?”
“Gasp, gasp…! Gah, gasp! Gah!”
“No… try breathing more slowly.”
The female knight struggled to lift her head and look at me. Covered in sweat and on the verge of collapse from exhaustion, she somehow managed to focus on me. Quite the tenacity.
I glanced at Hans Gramps behind me. He was wearing a satisfied smile.
“Gasp, gasp… Haa, haa… M-my name is…”
I saw my own reflection in her blue eyes. She was staring intently at me, and despite her labored breathing, she quickly stated her name, as if unwilling to keep me waiting.
“My name is Chloe Tristan!”
“Good. Chloe. Will you become my vassal?”
“Yes! It would be my honor!”
She was still on the ground, but her eyes shone brightly. I liked that. I extended my hand.
“It is my honor, Young Master… no, Leoric-nim!”
* * *
“So, her name is Chloe Tristan?”
We had arrived at my office. Chloe and I were the only ones present. Dressed in her formal uniform instead of her training attire, she seemed more imposing despite her delicate frame.
Even so, she was still smaller than me.
“Yes. Chloe Tristan.”
The female knight stood at attention, quietly stating her name. She was barely tall enough to reach my chest, her physique delicate. Even with magic, stamina and mental fortitude were essential for a knight. She did show signs of rigorous training. Her magic capacity was slightly below average for a knight. Judging by her performance earlier, magic manipulation must be her specialty.
“Tristan… Tristan.”
I had never heard that family name before.
“I’ve never heard of that name. A new family?”
“Yes. My great-uncle earned great merit, but he couldn’t have children. I was born with magic, so I inherited the name.”
Hmm. I see. So it was a first-generation knight family. That explained her magic capacity. For Chloe, this was just the beginning. She would have to continue building her family’s lineage, combining her bloodline with others to elevate its status.
It wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a year or two. It would take 50, even 100 years.
“So, going back to the beginning, do you have any objections to becoming my vassal? It’s not mandatory. You can still refuse. I’ll make sure there are no repercussions.”
“None at all. It is my family’s honor to become the sword that protects Leoric-nim.”
How flattering. She spoke quietly but looked me straight in the eyes. She seemed sincere.
“Can you do anything I command?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it’s dishonorable?”
At my question, Chloe, who had been answering immediately until now, looked at me and then promptly knelt.
“I have already offered you my sword. To fulfill any command you give, no matter what it may be, is my honor as a knight.”
I looked down at her, kneeling before me, her posture respectful. I could see her sincerity. I had found a good one. A noble must reward a loyal vassal accordingly.
“Then, is there anything you desire?”
“A knight does not ask for rewards.”
“Nonsense. Rewarding a close aide is also a noble’s duty. It’s alright. You can tell me. You wouldn’t make me look like a noble who can’t even give a single reward to their vassal, would you?”
“W-well, then…”
Chloe hesitated, her cheeks slowly flushing. What was she trying to say?
“L-Leoric-nim’s…”
“My?”
“Ch-ch-ch-ch-…”
I watched as Chloe’s face turned crimson.
“Ch-?”
“I want your child!”
“Hmm.”
A child, huh?
* * *
Chloe squeezed her eyes shut, trying to suppress the frantic beating of her heart. It was incredibly embarrassing. She had just said she didn’t need a reward, and now she was asking for his child. How vulgar.
But as a first-generation knight, Chloe’s position was precarious. She held the title of knight, but in terms of lineage and assets, she was barely different from an adventurer. Her magic allowed her to train as a knight, but securing her future was difficult.
Her bloodline wasn’t prestigious, and there was no guarantee how much magic her children would inherit. There were few who would want to marry into such a family.
The best marriage for a knight was to another knight, but it wasn’t uncommon for them to marry female adventurers. The best option, however, was to receive a lord’s favor.
“Ah, I see. You desire my favor.”
“I-I apologize.”
It was shameful for a woman to say such a thing. Chloe blushed deeply. She had sworn to abandon her femininity the day she became a knight, but now, her heart pounded in her chest.
“Hmm. Could you look up?”
“…Yes.”
Chloe, who had been looking down in shame, slowly raised her head at her lord’s command. Her heart raced under the gaze of Leoric Franz, the Second Young Master she would now serve. Was it from embarrassment, or…?
‘Such impudent thoughts for a knight!’
She tried to suppress the thought and maintain her composure. Leoric Franz spoke.
“Alright.”
“Yes?”
Chloe stared at him blankly, momentarily stunned by his words.
“But not now.”
Leoric smiled playfully, looking down at her.
“I’ll give you points every time you complete a task I assign you.”
“…Carrying out my lord’s commands is a knight’s…”
“No, not those kinds of commands. Very special commands.”
…Special commands. Were they assassination missions? Or tasks that would require her to abandon her knighthood? Even if that were the case, Chloe intended to carry them out to the best of her ability.
After a brief silence, Leoric continued.
“Knight uniforms have skirts, right?”
“Yes.”
While they usually wore pants, female knights could wear skirts for slightly more formal occasions. Leoric slowly looked Chloe up and down.
“Wear a skirt.”
“Yes.”
“And no panties.”
“Yes?”
“That’s one point per day.”
“Yes?”
“Every 100 points, I’ll grant you my favor.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, you’ll work as my secretary.”
“…Yes?”
—–CROW—–
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