Chapter 89: The Foundation of the Knight Order

Ryo sat in his private chamber, deep in thought. His kingdom was expanding, and his responsibilities were growing at an incredible pace. Though he had strong warriors and loyal allies, he lacked a formal knight order—an elite force dedicated to protecting the kingdom and enforcing its laws. So far, the only trained fighters at his disposal were the personal guards of his fiancées, who had accompanied them for their protection. That wasn't enough.

Gathering his fiancées—Selena, Seyra, Lilith, Lyra, Hilda, and Ai—he brought up the topic.

"I want to establish a knight order," Ryo announced, watching their reactions carefully. "We need an organized military force, not just scattered fighters. What do you think?"

Selena nodded, folding her arms. "That makes sense. We can't rely on informal protection forever."

Seyra agreed, adding, "But we have to be selective. If we rush and accept just anyone, it could backfire."

Lilith smirked. "A knight order, huh? Sounds interesting. But how do you plan to recruit them?"

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "The selection process will be difficult. You can't just pick people randomly."

Ai, the only human among them and the least experienced in military matters, tilted her head. "Why not hold a recruitment event? Like a tournament or trials? That way, we can see who's really capable."

"That's a good idea," Ryo said, considering it. "We'll announce an official recruitment program in fifteen days. But there's one issue—how will I watch and evaluate all the candidates at once?"

Everyone went silent for a moment before Ryo suddenly had an idea. He stood up and walked toward his private workshop.

"I'll take care of that," he said.

Inside his workspace, he began working on a solution. Using ether technology combined with elf magic scripts, he crafted a surveillance system. He built multiple floating cameras capable of recording and live-streaming the trials. Then, he created a large screen that would display all the footage in real-time, allowing him to monitor everything without being physically present in every location.

With that settled, he moved on to selecting the testing grounds. He designated several locations where different trials would take place:

Stamina Test – To evaluate endurance, candidates would be required to run a long-distance obstacle course. Strength Test – A physical challenge to gauge raw power. Ability Test – A battle simulation to determine how effectively they could use their unique abilities. Survival Test – Dropping candidates into a wilderness area to test their adaptability. Interview – A final assessment to determine loyalty and personality.

Once the details were finalized, Ryo made an official announcement across the kingdom of Eldoria, inviting strong and capable warriors to participate. To ensure the best possible outcome, he also visited the dwarves and elves to request their assistance. He shared blueprints for a new artifact that would help during the trials and then left them to work on it.

However, there was still more to prepare. He needed a knight commander—someone he could trust to lead the order in his absence. He also needed an intelligence division to gather crucial information. Finding a minister was less of a concern; one of his fiancées could likely fill that role.

Realizing that strong warriors might exist beyond Eldoria, he decided to investigate other nations in secret. Activating his Presence Concealment, he unfolded his abyssal wings and soared into the sky, heading toward nearby territories.

As he traveled, he neared a vast lake bordering the Holy Nation. He noticed something unusual—a body lying on the ground, surrounded by golden flames. The flames danced in the air, radiating an aura of divine energy.

Ryo narrowed his eyes. "Holy flames?"

He knew he was close to the Holy Nation, so perhaps this was a common ability among their people. Still, something felt off. He descended cautiously, approaching the unconscious figure. When he got closer, he realized it was a girl, covered in burns but still alive.

The moment he reached out to check on her, the system chimed in his mind:

[Conditions met. Unlocking the Holy/Divine Skills of the Saints/Saintesses.]

Ryo froze. Saint? Saintess? What does that mean?

This was new. He had never heard of this particular title before. Could it be a rank like Legendary Names? Or was it something else entirely?

He examined the girl again. Her appearance was striking—platinum hair, and a faint ethereal glow despite her injuries. There was no doubt. She wasn't an ordinary human.

"This just got a lot more complicated," Ryo muttered.

He had come here to find potential knights, but now he had stumbled upon something far more significant. If she truly was a saintess, then the Holy Nation would surely be searching for her. Why was she here, injured and alone? And what did this mean for Eldoria?

As Ryo lifted the girl into his arms, he knew one thing—his plans had just taken an unexpected turn. And whatever was coming next, he had to be ready.

Author's Note:

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