Chapter 15: The Order of Knights (1)

Three months had passed by since the judgement ceremony took place in April. Ultimately, Kurena had not been called over by the landlord during these three months. The stay over seems to have worked in making peace between Rodan and Gelda. Theresia told Allen about how they would fight from time to time.

The summer here was considerably hot. The temperature was easily above 30 degrees Celsius so they made sure Mash had plenty of water such that he is not dehydrated. Being over two years old now, he was able to walk properly and would follow Allen to most places. As it was with Allen, once Mash turns three, he will probably be given the permission to go outside as well.

As for Allen’s training progress, his level nor his skill level had changed. However, his synthesis level would soon level up to three. Since he needs to create two cards first before using synthesis on them, it is harder to level up compared to create. Just a while longer until his hard work pays off.

His swordsmanship was also still level three. After all, it is not easy leveling up in hellmode, to say the least.

“Allen, are you done preparing?”

“Yes, mama.”

Something big is going to take place today. The Order of Knights will be visiting the village. Although Kurena was not called by the landlord, it seems the Order of Knights are coming to visit her. Finally, after three whole months since her appraisal, the knights have begun to move.

A messenger came a few days early to deliver the news to the mayor. The mayor then passed it on to Gelda the next day. According to that, the knights will be coming to the residential area.

(Order of Knights, eh? Are they influential enough to hold power over territories? They feel like people from the other side of the sky to serfs. I hope they don’t order us to commit seppuku if our eyes meet.)

Of course, the ones called were Kurena and her father, Gelda. However, his childhood best friend Rodan would also accompany them. Gelda also requested him to come if possible. So he decided he would watch his best friend achieve success as a serf.

“Well then, we’ll get going.”

Theresia was staying back with Mash. They cannot have Mash burst out in tears because of all the crowd and noise there.

As they headed towards Gelda’s place, they spotted Gelda and Kurena already standing in the front. Mithilda was also there beside them, with Lily.

“Allen!!”

Kurena waved at Allen as hard she could.

(She looks extremely happy. I mean, she can meet the knights, whom she looks up to so much, so I guess it’s only natural.)

It will soon be three years since they started playing knight make-believe. Kurena would always call herself ‘Knight Kurena’. And now, the knights themselves will be coming to visit her today. One could feel the joy from her voice alone.

The four of them met up and headed towards the residential area together. The 9 o’clock bell rang just a while ago so they should reach before 10. In addition, the Order of Knights will be arriving in the afternoon, it seems.

They departed quite early so as not to make the knights wait.

It takes about 15 minutes to reach Kurena’s house from Allen’s house, at Allen’s pace. And an hour to reach the residential area from Allen’s house.

“From today, I will be a knight, right?!”

“Hahaha, we will have to ask the Order of Knights about that.” said Gelda, stroking Kurena’s hair. She must have been like this ever since she heard of the news. They soon reached the residential area, listening to Kurena’s stories along the way.

“Where should we go from here?” asked Rodan.

“The plaza, if I am not mistaken.”

“Plaza? Not the gate or the mayor’s house?”

The plaza was the meet up place. Quite a big crowd had gathered at the plaza. ‘The master swordsman has arrived” such voices could be heard from here and there. Everyone had already heard the news of the knights coming today.

Rather than the black-haired, black-eyed Allen, all attention was focused on Kurena today.

Nobody came approaching them even after they had arrived. It looks like they would have to wait for the knights to arrive.

(Uwah, we have to wait for another 2 hours from now? I don’t really have anything to do so… maybe I’ll take a nap?)

Without paying any attention to the looks they were getting, Allen started dozing off. Just how one would if they were on a bullet train or an airplane. Generally, when Allen has nothing to do, he takes a nap. As Allen fell asleep, Kurena also started nodding off.

They slept like a log. And while they were sleeping at a corner of the plaza, the 12 o’clock bell rang. It was much louder here in the residential area.

“Huee?!”

“Oh? You’re awake? It seems they’ll be coming soon.” said Rodan, seeing Allen wake up.

And they did come on time.

(Hoho, I can’t really see much from here but they have already arrived, eh?)

He noticed the villagers were starting to get noisy, as he looked around, seeing the number of people gathered here had increased by a lot. Many serfs who do not normally come to the residential area are also here. One can tell if someone is a serf or a commoner from their attire.

While observing the surroundings, he could hear the sound of horses galloping get closer.

(Ohh! They really came. They came all the way here, eh? Although I don’t really know how far the landlord’s town is from here.)

The Order of Knights arrived with their horses. Only ten of them came. They do not really need to bring too many knights just to meet Kurena.

The mayor was also waiting at the plaza. He hurried to the knight who seemed to be the commander of the squad. He could not hear well from here but it felt like the mayor was welcoming them.

The mayor then pointed towards Kurena. To look properly, the commander took off his helmet and looked towards Kurena. Following him, the rest of the knights also took off their helmets to look. In response to this, Kurena just glared at them.

The mayor beckoned at Kurena, instructing her to go to him. Gelda and Rodan looked at each other and nodded. Finally, she will be meeting the knights.

Kurena went to the middle with Gelda, to the knights. Allen and Rodan watched over them from afar.

(So, she will be leaving with the knights after this, eh? I guess that is the end of our make-believe games and afternoon hangouts.)

With a mixture of feelings of wishing her good health and loneliness, Allen watched as Kurena went over to the knights. Although they were standing afar, they could hear Kurena loudly introduce herself “My name is Kurena”. They could also see Gelda say something like “You’re a bit too loud” to Kurena.

The commander, who had a moustache and a good build, started speaking with Gelda. They could not hear properly from this distance. They just watched over in silence.

And as they were doing so, Gelda suddenly looked astonished.

“Wha?! Please! That’s just unreasonable!!”

(Eh?)

It did not appear like they were having a normal conversation. After Rodan’s sudden reaction, they went close enough to be able to hear the conversation. Seeing Gelda like that, the crowd surrounding the plaza started to get noisy. There were more than 100 commoners and serfs gathered here already.

From the looks of it, it appeared as though Gelda was trying to convince the knight.

“Kurena is only 5 years old and she has never held a sword before… this is just too unreasonable…”

“You’re still going on about that? She’s a master swordsman, is she not? Then I don’t see any problem here. Or what is it, did you deceive us—no, the landlord?”

“Th-that’s not it… but, fighting a knight right away is…”

Gelda was being persistent. Seeing that there was no point in continuing that conversation any longer, the commander called out to a knight behind him.

“Reivland vice-commander, prepare yourself.”

“Yes, sir!!”

They started moving the horses away from the plaza. Although the mayor looked puzzled, he just went along with the commander’s instructions and led the other knights to the stable.

“P-please, reconsider… Kurena will end up dying..”

Gelda kneeled down on the ground, pleading the commander.

“Hmm, it appears you still do not understand, so I will say it clearly. Only death penalty awaits those who trick the judgement ceremony. Both you and your daughter. If she does not fight with the knight, we will have to cut you and your daughter down right here for deceiving the ceremony. Well, what will you do?”

Gelda was left speechless. One could feel his despair, oozing out from him. One of the knights unsheathed a real sword from its scabbard and handed it over to Kurena. It was a double-edged sword, almost as tall as Kurena herself. A western style long sword.

(Eh? Isn’t that just too unreasonable? What in the world is going on? So they designated the plaza as the meeting place to fight her from the start?)

He finally understood what was going on. And while he was wracking his brain, trying to think up of a way to breakthrough this situation, Kurena spoke up.

“Hmm? So… I can become a knight if I beat that knight-san?”

Even the commander was shocked to hear this.

“Y-yes, that’s right. If you win, the road to being a knight will open up for you.”

“A’ight, got it!!”

In this situation, there was only one person smiling. It was Kurena. She looked at the real sword with glittering eyes.