Chapter 99
One knight-class per Knight Order.
One only becomes a true knight by becoming Knight Commander.
It was an adage that one cannot become knight-class by locking oneself in a room and training with a sword alone. In other words, to be properly recognized with honor in noble society, one must lead a Knight Order.
Nowadays, that meaning has been distorted to disparage illegitimate children of poor and weak families or commoners who cannot lead a Knight Order even if they are knight-class, saying they are not true knights.
Rather, in a reversed state, nobles with excellent families and assets enough to obtain the Knight Commander position even without being knight-class would be considered proper knights.
Gilberto, the vice commander of illegitimate birth, greatly disliked such reality.
When young, he gathered peers in similar situations and even petitioned the imperial family to change the outdated Knight Order organization.
In the past, only knight-class could face knight-class so personnel had to be split for operational efficiency, but with current technological developments that's no longer necessary so there's no need to assign just one knight-class.
Explicitly, it was a petition to increase positions available when we illegitimate children reach knight-class realm.
Still, it was a petition out of concern for the empire's future which only retreated after the demon realm enemy completely collapsed. It was when he was in his prime.
But as can be seen from the current organization, nothing changed. Perhaps it was fortunate the tyrant former emperor didn't bother to bring out the execution platform.
Peers scattered and Gilberto relied on weak connections of illegitimate birth to move from place to place.
Then he coincidentally showed talent in administrative work and gained a position, eventually rising to the vice commander seat.
It's quite a rags-to-riches career for an illegitimate child. Gilberto himself knew well.
Though his skills stagnated and he couldn't become knight-class. His weak family is still the same so Knight Commander is far off, but realistically it's probably the highest position attainable as an illegitimate child. Pride filled his heart.
However, that wasn't the case these past few years.
If only there weren't those nauseating commoners.
If only they didn't covet positions with their insignificant skills, this wouldn't have happened.
He wouldn't have fallen for the Bellamont ducal family's temptation saying they'd actively recommend him for Sky Island's Knight Commander position.
He wouldn't have made connections with the cult agreeing to cooperate in crushing Elsior Bellamont.
He wouldn't have become a loose end cut off by the ducal family who were startled by the radical terrorism that occurred when he requested assassination.
If only there weren't commoners who fell into envy unable to be satisfied with positions befitting their status. If only the Knight Commander didn't subtly take the commoners' side and prevent suppression, this wouldn't have happened.
A cult member riding a bird flew next to him.
"Vice Commander, you'll have to pay the price for not properly controlling the Knight Order when this chaos ends. You shouldn't handle work like this."
"Shut that mouth! It's not a matter for a mere messenger to evaluate with your loose lips!"
Gilberto urged his bird. He flew past the commoner cult member to the cult's command post.
Passing by floating islands, the building used as the command post came into view.
The security personnel were nowhere to be seen and red chaos unfolded. A blood-soaked girl chased fleeing groups of cult members. Silver sword strikes butchered people. Blood flowed down pink hair.
"The Craft family head is already here?!"
An instinctive sense of threat came.
Gilberto hurriedly pulled the reins. The bird about to land rose in panic. Wind gusted.
Was there really Craft's scheme?
Camelot and Bellamont openly came to the Knight Order organizing ruins as usual. They were with a giant chick.
Melissa Camelot declared with a cold face.
-Hand over command authority. I will summarily execute according to military law.
-I agree. Though I have no authority.
It was a move abusing military authority guaranteed to Camelot by imperial order as official successor.
-What military law did we violate?
The Knight Commander was puzzled.
-Collusion with the cult designated as main enemy by the former emperor.
How old is that military law.
-This bird is a messenger sent by the Craft family head. It was sent to inform about the cult's base located underground in these ruins.
-Piyo? Piyo piyo.
-It says that's right. The Craft family head originally planned to just investigate, but purposely sending a messenger pigeon means a plan to summarily execute the informant and attack the cult.
-Piyoo? Piyo piyo.
-Knight Commander, hand over command to Camelot. The southern command will manage this place for now.
Melissa Camelot did as she said.
Camelot family's special interrogation continued. Magic bullets mercilessly killed military law violators.
When the interrogation turn came to himself as vice commander beyond subordinates of the same faction, Gilberto immediately fled.
To think Craft's hand reached even here!
It was hard to believe but he had to believe.
Because the pink-toned girl was finishing a massacre on the ground right now.
The last opponent fled. Bloody footsteps followed. A scream rang out then fell silent.
Gilberto hurriedly took out his bow. He drew the bowstring and focused his mind in the sky overlooking the cult's command post.
The girl became dazed after finishing combat. The moment of carelessness as she blankly looked around then moved her hand as if greeting somewhere in the sky.
The arrow left the bowstring. The arrow shaft curved like flowing water and flew silently. The back view grew closer.
The girl's hand moved back from the greeting posture. Her hand grasped and the arrowhead arrived. A tense trembling occurred once. The arrow was caught in her hand.
The girl completely turned around. Her gaze looked up at the sky where Gilberto was.
Pink eyes smiled drowsily. Moist lips moved.
-Are you the leader?
Gilberto's spine chilled. Information about the Craft family head flashed through his mind. The bird's reins moved.
"Higher!"
A sense of gravity rushed. An arrow was taken from the quiver and nocked. Consecutive jumping sounds were heard. When he aimed at the ground, a pink form that had already arrived filled his view.
"Hello~"
The girl caused a shockwave and jumped from the knife. A silver sword strike flashed. A red sword wound appeared on Gilberto's neck as he avoided. A faint blood stream spurted.
The bow aimed at the target. The bowstring was released and the arrow was fired.
Wind wrapped around the arrowhead creating a vortex. The arrow shaft coated with magic stone powder caused flames. Mixing with the vortex, it formed a flame stream.
The huge flame arrow passed right by the girl who pretended to be aimed at. Its trajectory accurately hit the magic stone knife flying to support the girl's feet. A roar rang out. The knife bounced away.
An arrow was pulled from the quiver.
"Humans."
The bowstring aimed at the falling girl.
"Cannot fly in the sky."
The arrow was fired. Flames arose and rank of existence moved. The flame vortex twisted and changed into a dragon form. The flame dragon curved.
The girl looked drowsily then reached her hand towards somewhere else. Flames raged and covered the view. Gale winds shook hair.
Suddenly a leisurely voice was heard.
"A broom."
A white form flew from one side of view.
A broom?
"Flies in the sky."
Gilberto hurriedly aimed his bowstring. Belatedly the identity of the form entered his mind. It was a white handkerchief.
He hurriedly turned his head and saw the girl jumping out of the flames. A magic stone pepper shaker used for jumping fell from her feet.
Pink eyes smiled.
Fake.
A sword strike bisecting in one blow swept through view.
A blood fountain arose.
***
Pastel slowly descended stepping on the pepper shaker. The magic stone powder inside supported the girl's body weight.
"It's the power to control magic stones not equipment control."
She rubbed her eyes as if not fully awake. Hazy eyes examined the air.
"Knife friend, where did you fly off to~"
Can't see it at all.
I'll have to find it after this is over.
She reached the ground and shook the pepper shaker. Magic stone powders that lost energy and became tasteless from brief use were visible.
Regrettable.
"Oh, young Your Excellency. You fight extremely well? Aren't you becoming the youngest knight-class at this rate? I wonder if my name will be in that biography?"
There was a man quietly facing off against the demon even amidst the massacre. He had a relaxed appearance holding a dagger.
Pastel blinked slowly. Memories were retraced.
Huk.
This person is the knight-class villain who toyed with me saying oh my oh my during the first semester terrorism!
He's knight-class!
Demon! Demon!
Uwang!
Pastel looked for demon then realized that demon was facing off against that man and calmed down.
Oh yeah.
The demon opened his mouth.
『If you're going to attack, hurry and attack. I'll give you the first move.』
Totally a strong person's composure.
Is this the dignity of a great demon?
"Tsk."
The man scratched his head with the dagger tip.
"Great Demon. Even if it's holy land, your seal isn't fully released, right? The condition, young Your Excellency, is perfectly alive."
Huk.
Demon's bluff is exposed.
Super crisis.
『Hah.』
The demon frowned. He took one step forward.
『My dignity is really ruined.』
"Whoa whoa."
The man hurriedly retreated two steps.
"I'm not saying I'll test it."
Both hands were raised.
"It's a status quo proposal. I'll just stay here so Great Demon please stay here too. Young Your Excellency is an exception."
Oing.
『What are you trusting? It looks like only high-ranking civilians who can't fight are in that building.』
"I go around on guard duty for that person."
The man supported his head with interlocked hands then walked leisurely.
"If the guard target isn't in danger, there's no need to block. Ah that's right!"
His gaze turned to the girl.
"Young Your Excellency, do you perhaps like killing relatives?"
Pastel was dumbfounded.
"No...?"
"Then you can go."
His gesture pointed at the building.
"It's a chance to talk with your father."
Oh my.