Chapter 1 – That’s Childish, Captain! (Part 1)

The five knight orders symbolize the Karseus Empire. Each year, the Empire held an examination to select knights. The selected knights were assigned to each order, and the overall conduct of the examination was overseen by the commanders of the five knight orders. 

For this year’s second examination, Alhendore Lengester, the captain of the Crown Prince’s Red Knight Order, was the supervisor. Before the commencement of the second examination, Alhendore walked while reviewing the list of candidates from the first examination.

First Examination Group A.

[Orgo Adan] [Passed]

[Philip Bertin] [Passed]

[Galverd Paraton] [Failed]

[Sendi Abbott] [Passed]

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:

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“Failed?”

He frowned at the word that caught his eye as he turned over the list.

“Isn’t the first exam just basic physical fitness?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Ronver, who was following behind him while holding a stack of documents, quickly nodded. Ronver was the deputy butler of the Lengester family and also assisted Alhendore with his personal tasks. The previous aide to the Red Knight Order, newly appointed last year, had resigned after less than half a year, so Ronver was temporarily filling in the position. 

To be dragged from home to the knight in order to see his master again was dreadful. He had been earnestly praying for anyone to fill the position as soon as possible.

“I’ve seen that name somewhere before.”

Noticing Alhendore’s gaze lingering on the name of the failed candidate, Ronver glanced at it.

“Ah, that person has applied six times now. Probably Galverd from the Paraton Earl family.”

“Tsk. From now on, reapplications from failed candidates are to be prohibited. If they can’t even hit a wooden stick, they’re just idiots.”

Without further comment, Ronver, who had been cut off mercilessly, smacked his lips in displeasure.

“Ah, yes… that’s right.”

Maybe the problem is that the wooden stick in question is made of winter wood that only grows in the north?

He swallowed back the words that almost slipped out.

Normally, typical wood rots and crumbles after repeatedly freezing and thawing. In contrast, winter wood is a species that has evolved continuously to avoid rotting. Furthermore, as a tree that grows in harsh cold, it is always damp and doesn’t catch fire easily.

Another name for this unburnable and exceptionally hard winter wood was ‘steelwood.’

Thinking about steelwood, a memory suddenly struck Ronver, and he opened his mouth.

“Come to think of it, I heard there is a female participant.”

“So what?”

Though female knights were extremely rare, Alhendore seemed indifferent. However, what Ronver said next appeared to catch even his interest.

“That female participant broke the steel wood.”

“Really?”

Among those who had recently taken the knight selection exam, only a few had broken the steelwood. Hyde Cashetra, Aran Radiero, and four others.

They were all elite members of the Red Knight Order led by Alhendore.

“What is that participant’s name?”

“Ah, I think it was a family name I hadn’t heard before. Probably…”

Lost in thought, Ronver suddenly frowned. No matter how much he tried to recall, he couldn’t remember the name.

Seeing Ronver’s struggle, Alhendore clicked his tongue briefly.

“Of course, you wouldn’t remember, never mind.”

How could he remember the names of the failed candidates but not the successful ones?

Turning over the list of Group A candidates from the first examination, he entered the examination hall. The hall was abuzz with preparations for the upcoming second examination.

While the first examination was a simple physical test involving 100 strikes on the steelwood, the second examination took the form of full-fledged duels.

Alhendore took a seat at the most prominent position and checked the lists for Group B and Group C. The rapid flipping of pages seemed to indicate how little interest he had in the others.

Then, he suddenly stopped. There was a name written there that he never expected to encounter in such a place.

A name he never thought he would see again.

‘You…’

Each letter of the name, impossible to forget, made his heart pound. As if to remind him that this was the name of that child from those days.

After finding that name, Alhendore could not focus on the exam and remained anxious throughout.

First Examination Group C.

[Lena Leshuriel] [Passed] [+]

In the knight selection exam, where most received passing marks, those with a ‘+’ earned additional points.

Instead of starting as a mere knight doing menial tasks, they were given the opportunity to work in a more comfortable position with a key role. The most representative method was to become an aide to one of the five knight commanders.

‘Lena Leshuriel.’

If she was indeed that child.

‘Hurry up and climb to where I am.’

– Next is the duel for the third group! Supervisors, please switch your score sheets.

Alhendore put down the documents he had been holding.

Among those entering for the third round, one figure stood out with exceptionally light-colored hair that fluttered like a tail as it was tied up high.

The green eyes fixed straight ahead were as fresh as a young apple. Even from afar, they exuded freshness and sweetness.

In his world, which was entirely gray, this sprout that bloomed after a long drought was incredibly precious.

The corners of his mouth, which had always been firmly set, softened for the first time in a long while.

The person who first made him smile. He thought it would be the last, but it seemed it wasn’t quite the end.

‘The one who seemed unable to catch even a single bug.’

With beads of sweat flying, that child swung the sword.

As he watched the little lady, who had grown up well, with satisfaction, he noticed ‘that object.’

‘Is that…?’

It was the moment when she raised her sword high.

A small silver ring was clearly visible in the Sword Master’s view. That insignificant, crude ring scratched at Alhendore’s nerves.

The ring itself wasn’t the problem, but its position was far from ordinary.

Left ring finger.

His vigorously beating heart stopped its trembling.

Does she have a fiancé? Or a lover? 

Whatever it was, it was certainly unwelcome.

Like someone who had something that must be his alone taken away. The vile jealousy that boiled from his feet twisted his tender affection.

‘Who is that bastard?’

Clear jealousy shone in his bloodshot eyes.

***

“I am Lena Leshuriel, newly appointed as the Captain’s aide!”

Wearing a crisply ironed new uniform, Lena placed her fist over her chest and performed the knight’s salute.

‘Wow, look at that physique. It’s no joke.’

That was her first impression of the knight commander, Alhendore Lengester.

A moving statue.

His grand, broad shoulders and strongly defined facial features exuded masculinity.

Especially his golden irises and the vertically slit, jet-black pupils, which resembled a magnanimous king of beasts showing mercy to a small creature.

Lena blushed without realizing it, then quickly shook her head.

‘What am I even looking at right now!’

She had a fiancé, and here she was getting excited over someone else. To calm her briefly fluttering heart, she took a deep breath.

For some reason, Alhendore, who had been staring intently at her, spoke at that moment.

“Don’t you remember me?”

“Pardon?”

Have we met somewhere before?

‘No way.’

There was no need to consider the remote possibility. If she had ever encountered such a face even once, she would definitely remember it.

“Your memory seems to be quite poor.”

“But I have a good memory.”

“No, your memory is truly bad.”

“Pardon?”

Unable to follow the flow of the conversation, Lena repeated herself. 

What is this?

When exactly did he see me to be so sure about my supposedly poor memory?

‘Could it be that we really have met somewhere?’

While Lena was seriously contemplating this, Alhendore, who had been staring at her intently, gestured for her to come closer.

“Come here.”

“Pardon?”

“Come over here.”

“Oh, yes!”

Rummaging through his desk drawer, Alhendore grabbed something. As Lena approached, he held out his closed fist to her.

‘What’s that?’

All she could see was the back of his hand, and his strange action only made her tilt her head in confusion.

“Aren’t you going to take it?”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

She quickly placed both hands under his. Something fell into her palms. It was a fairly large object, about the size of a pearl, wrapped in a wrapper.

It can’t be what I’m thinking, right?

While trying to figure out her superior’s intention and the identity of the object, the impatient captain couldn’t stay still for even a moment.

“Don’t you like it?”

“No! Thank you?”

“If you’re grateful, eat it quickly.”

“Excuse me?”

“Why?”

“No, nothing. I’ll eat it, thank you!”

Lena hurriedly unwrapped the item and was stunned. It was indeed candy, just as she had suspected.

The disjointed pattern of declaring her memory poor and then suddenly giving her candy left her dumbfounded.

Lena glanced at him. A man who looked like he would lazily torture a sinner with a cigarette in his mouth was offering her candy. This cute incongruity was beyond awkward.

‘Or maybe!’

Could this be some kind of test? 

Thinking of it that way made it seem a little less awkward. She probably got involved with a madman.

‘This is completely messed up…’

Despite there being five knight orders, only this one was hiring an aide.

The competition wasn’t even fierce. Even though the aide’s salary was three times that of a regular knight.

Apparently, everyone who knew avoided this lunatic.

‘Sigh…’

Under the watchful eyes of her superior, who was waiting for her to eat, she quickly picked up the candy.

Its yellowish color made her uneasy, but she threw it into her mouth anyway. And then…

“Uwep!”

She almost spat it out.

‘So sour! It’s too sour!’

Covering her mouth with both hands, she made a grimace. In front of her, Alhendore was laughing so hard his shoulders shook.

Laughing…? Is it funny?  

Lena trembled with rage and then couldn’t help but lament. She swallowed her tears, sensing that things were not going to go smoothly in the future.