A Knight's Resolve

Facing an evaluation where limbs could be lost, it felt strange that Rian, the weakest among them, remained so calm.

'Well… he was like that back then too.'

The two had become close during their probation period.

Swordsmen were naturally drawn to battle, and with three hundred hot-blooded youths gathered, the atmosphere was fierce from the very first day.

Whether intentional or not, the instructors didn't interfere much with what happened inside the barracks.

As expected, a few wolves bared their fangs.

The hierarchy was established in an instant.

Those who had mastered Schema were in the first group, those with superior physical abilities in the second, and those who fit neither were in the third.

The problem was that there were cadets who couldn't even make it into the third group.

They had no interest in swords but had been forcibly enrolled by their families' expectations and pressures.

Richard Piger, the leader of the first group, relentlessly tormented such boys.

Naturally brutal, he believed such actions would solidify his authority.

Tess didn't care.

Though she had the skills to be in the first group, she, along with the mere ten females among the three hundred, was exempt from the men's power struggles.

At the time, Rian was positioned in the middle of the second group.

That was a safe enough rank to avoid being bullied, yet Rian kept to himself.

There was only one reason he joined the swordsmanship school.

He didn't care about graduating—his only goal was to become strong enough to be a swordsman worthy of standing beside Shirone.

"Hey! Run! Faster!"

"Heehee! Heehee!"

After their hellish training, the first-group cadets would ride on the backs of weaker cadets in mock horse races inside the barracks.

Some frowned at the sight, but most were too engrossed, cheering as if they were watching an actual race.

Since real money was on the line, no one dared to show disapproval—otherwise, they could end up being the next 'horse' themselves.

"Faster! I'm winning! I'm winning!"

Piger, leading the race, was exhilarated.

No matter the situation, he never tolerated defeat, so even in a game like this, he gave it his all.

As the finish line came into sight, he struck his 'steed' even harder with a club.

The cadet serving as his racehorse shed tears, his knees bleeding as he crawled forward.

"Heehee! Heehee!"

"Yes! I'm first—!"

Just as Piger was about to cross the finish line, a foot struck his ribs from the side.

"Ugh!"

He tumbled off his 'horse,' allowing the trailing cadets to surge past him to the finish line.

"Enough. Do you think this is a playground?"

Piger, momentarily stunned, glared at the blue-haired boy who had kicked him.

"This crazy bastard…"

Ogent Rian.

Piger knew him as a member of the second group.

The fact that someone who couldn't even open his Schema had landed a blow on him turned his anger into murderous intent.

"You want to die?"

"..."

Rian remained silent.

If he had nothing to say, he didn't bother making up words.

"Look at this bastard."

Piger took a step toward Rian.

Even in a tense, explosive moment, none of the other cadets intervened.

Some watched with interest, while others found it amusing. Tess was one of the latter.

'Looks like the hierarchy isn't fully established yet.'

This was a swordsmanship school.

They had all gathered to learn the art of war, so until the selection process was complete, everyone was an enemy.

No one wanted to go to battle with weak comrades.

"Oh? It's Rian. Finally got yourself into trouble, huh?"

Tess turned to see a female cadet who was a head taller than most men.

"You know him? He doesn't look strong."

"He's weak. But he's stubborn. A while ago, the second-group kids collected money for Piger's birthday. Rian was the only one who refused to contribute."

"Hah! So that's why he's being targeted?"

"They probably had it out for him already. But for Rian to strike first… that's surprising. Turns out he's hot-blooded."

"Hmmm…"

Tess observed Rian more closely.

He still kept his mouth shut, but he didn't look like he was going to back down.

'He's calm. If he's in the second group, that means he can't use Schema. The kingdom truly is vast.'

But her curiosity ended there.

She had grown up seeing countless eccentrics under her father, a military governor. From that, she had learned that no matter how strong one's beliefs were, without strength, they would eventually break.

"Keh! Did you lose your tongue? You think you can just walk away from this?"

"Let's take this outside. If the instructors find out, it won't look good on my evaluation."

Piger was dumbfounded.

The brat should be begging for his life, yet he was trying to take the fight out of sight.

"Fine. Have it your way. Everyone, follow me. I'll show you what happens when you mess with me."

The two moved to an open space behind the barracks.

Cadets from the first to third groups stood behind Piger. On Rian's side, only those who didn't belong to any group stood.

Not that they were supporting Rian—they simply hadn't been accepted into Piger's faction.

In truth, many of them resented Rian for escalating the situation.

"Hey! If you don't want to get beaten, step over to this side."

At Piger's offer of immunity, the cadets didn't even hesitate before rushing over to his side.

"Hahaha! Pathetic. So, Rian, what now? You're all alone."

"You're no knight."

"What was that?"

"A knight fights when he must. He doesn't weigh advantages. Someone like you has no right to call himself a knight."

Piger scoffed.

In the end, war was just men tearing each other apart like beasts.

Chivalry was nothing more than a word survivors used to glorify themselves.

"Fine. Let's see if your fists are as strong as your mouth."

Rian silently raised his fists, while Piger casually strolled forward, as if on a walk.

"Come on. I'll let you land one hit."

The moment Rian dashed forward with a punch, Piger twisted his body and slammed a fist into his abdomen.

"Guh!"

Rian's eyes widened in agony.

So this was the power of Schema…

"You idiot, why would I let you hit me?"

Mocking him, Piger unleashed a flurry of blows. Each impact felt like being struck by a hammer.

As Rian's consciousness wavered, Piger roared.

"Die! Die! Die!"

His strikes became ruthless, intent on breaking Rian completely.

Yet, even as his body crumbled, Rian did not yield.

In that moment, his bloodied lips curled into a smile.

"Is that all you've got?"