Episode 4: The Modern Knights A Changed Kazimierz and War's Reawakening!

[Over three years have passed since the last war ended. Now, you have turned sixteen.]

[Many events have occurred in Kazimierz, but the most significant issue is undoubtedly the financial collapse of the military. This crisis stemmed from the military being forced to pay pensions and compensations to the knights and soldiers who died in the war. The number of casualties far exceeded the military's estimates, resulting in a severe shortfall in the pre-allocated budget. In an attempt to make up for this, the military scrambled to pull funds from other reserves, but even that wasn't enough.]

[The core of the problem was that the pension for a knight was dozens of times higher than that of a regular soldier. And in that war, more than half of the frontline knights were killed. Although knights were fewer in number compared to common soldiers, the amount of money required to compensate them nearly tripled the total for the entire army.]

[When it became apparent that the military could no longer honor its compensation obligations, grieving citizens took to the streets in protest. The mounting civil unrest pressured the Kazimierz military to the brink, compelling intervention from the Adeptus Sprawiedliwi. The National Assembly issued an ultimatum: either resolve the pension crisis immediately or face drastic reductions in institutional authority and forced leadership restructuring—a threat that intensified the already untenable pressure.]

[At the peak of the crisis, investors from Columbia, seeing an opportunity, stepped in. They offered to manage the military's financial troubles in exchange for being nominated by the military to the National Assembly, so they could establish an organization in the city under the name "Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce."]

[The military had no choice but to accept the deal. They suspected a third party had stirred up the public's anger, but their authority had been severely weakened after the war due to the loss of knights and political supporters. Worse still, several members of the National Assembly openly supported the investors. Though the military could have rejected the investors, they could not reject the Assembly. In the end, they grudgingly accepted the terms.]

[Once the deal was sealed, the Kazimierz General Chamber of Commerce was officially established in the heart of the capital, Kawalerielki, under the grand promise of ushering Kazimierz into a new era of legendary knights.]

[The Chamber then proceeded to buy vast swaths of land and acquired the rights to host the "Kazimierz Major League" tournament from the military with a massive sum of money—so they could run it their own way.]

[Kazimierz Major League is a historic annual tournament dating back to the founding of the nation. It was originally intended to find the most idealistic and virtuous knight through various types of competition. The winner would earn praise and the title of "Silverlance Knight," the highest rank a knight could attain in Kazimierz.]

[But once the Chamber of Commerce took over, the tournament's purpose shifted. It no longer sought idealistic knights but instead focused on finding the strongest. Winners received cash prizes, glory, fame, and even power. Ordinary citizens—even foreigners—could enter and become official knights if they won, under the Chamber's certification sanctioned by the National Assembly.]

[Due to its immense popularity among locals and outsiders alike, the Kazimierz League brought in huge profits and wealth, propelling Kazimierz to become one of the fastest-growing economic powers in the world.]

[In the three years since the war, this newly rebranded Kazimierz League has only been held once. However, counting from its original inception, the upcoming tournament will be the 19th round. It will begin in a few days, divided into three phases: the preliminary score-based round, the qualifiers, and finally, the League Championship. All events will take place in Kawalerielki, where representatives from participating cities will gather and register their contenders in person—marking the official start of the tournament.]

[You and the entire Nearl family had watched the tournament on TV, and even attended the finals once. Although your grandfather was quite disdainful of the Kazimierz League, he gave in to Maria and Zofia's pleading and took the grandchildren to see it live. Throughout the finals, your grandfather grumbled constantly, saying the fights were absurd, full of amateurs wielding weapons incorrectly, and lacking the spirit of true knights. "How can they call this a search for the strongest knight? It's an utter disgrace!" he would mutter.]

[Despite his constant complaints, Margaret, Zofia, and Maria were captivated by the atmosphere, the roaring cheers of the crowd, and the idea of becoming part of that world alongside the knights.]

[As for you, you saw the Kazimierz League more like a national sport—meant to select representatives from each city. Its popularity only proved how profitable and expansive the event could become in the future. Its open invitation to foreigners made it a potential catalyst for bringing more people and attention to the city.]

[But little did you know, beneath the sweet honey of greatness lay a venom slowly corroding Kazimierz from within.]

[About three months after the first tournament ended, the military passed a new law abolishing the old knight system entirely. Instead of earning the title of knight through virtuous deeds and three years of military service, one now only had to participate in the Kazimierz League and reach the qualifiers to be officially knighted.]

[This new rule thrilled people both in and outside the country. It meant becoming a knight was now far easier. The only ones unhappy were the "old knights," who not only lost their current titles but were reclassified as "veteran knights" and denied their remaining pensions from the Chamber.]

[However, it seemed the Chamber had anticipated this reaction. They offered a direct "apology" to these veteran knights—an invitation to join the Chamber's sponsor group, in exchange for a large sum of money and advanced combat gear. With these, they could compete in the upcoming Kazimierz League and earn back their honor, titles, and potentially even more money by defeating other contestants.]

[Among those veteran knights who received this "apology," reactions were mixed. Some accepted the offer, while others were indignant. Your grandfather was firmly among the latter.]

[Your grandfather believed that the merchants' guild had gone too far. It wasn't just about disgracing the names of the current knights anymore — now they were trying to drag the legacy of knights like him through the mud by calling them part of the "old era." These were people who had risked their lives to protect Kazimierz for most of their lives, who had built reputations and earned honor. And yet, with just a few words from the guild, all of that could be destroyed? Your grandfather was furious when he saw the invitation letter at the mansion's doorstep. He tore it up and burned it to ashes after reading only a few lines.]

[You didn't comment on your grandfather's words, but deep down, you agreed... What the merchants' guild was doing now felt like a slap in the face to every knight who had once fought to protect the nation. On top of that, they were trampling on the dignity of the knights by labeling them as "old era" and throwing pocket change at them, inviting them to crawl through the mud to boost the merchants' prestige.]

[The military's recent decisions clearly showed they had been completely taken over by the merchants' guild. And perhaps not just the military—Kazimierz's capital and the other three mobile cities might also have been partially seized by the guild through the financial system known as the Kazimierz League.]

[Even knight groups once brimming with honor had changed after joining the Kazimierz League. Driven by greed for money and fame, they now chased after glory from defeating a single opponent. Even the people had been blinded by this entertainment, unable to tell the difference between knights of the "old" and the "new" era anymore.]

[You thought perhaps your grandfather had been right all along—maybe the age of knights really would have to end someday... But you never thought it would end this soon, and in your own lifetime. What a shame.]

Just then, shocking news appeared on the TV screen — the image of the Ursus army invading across Kazimierz's border. This time, however, the Kazimierz authorities hadn't warned the citizens in advance. They didn't want to cause mass panic like before.

"Kazimierz has now deployed elite knights and soldiers to take control of the situation. We ask all citizens of Kazimierz not to worry and to await good news."

Bang!!

"What is this nonsense! Buldrokkas'tee!!"

As the news anchor finished, the TV remote in your grandfather's hand shattered from how tightly he was gripping it in fury. He shouted a name you'd never heard before. Wang Fei, still shocked by what he saw, suddenly snapped back to reality as he remembered something important.

"Grandpa! What about Uncle Młynar!?"

Młynar was currently serving as a knight in the army. He no longer lived in the mansion, having moved to a military apartment. He rarely returned home, only coming back occasionally to play chess and teach you swordsmanship in your grandfather's place, now that his health was failing.

Your grandfather seemed to regain focus when he heard that, immediately rushing to grab the phone and dialing faster than he ever had in his life.

Beep!

"Amos—" The call was quickly picked up. Your grandfather opened his mouth to speak, but froze, his face growing paler by the second.

"I see... It's not your fault. I understand..." He slowly put the phone down, covering his face with one hand as if to hide his shame from Wang Fei.

His hand was visibly trembling, and Wang Fei immediately knew the news hadn't been good.

"Młynar... That foolish boy left with the army two days ago... His superior said that Młynar had already written a death letter and ordered it to be sent to the three of you in case he died."

"..."

Your grandfather let out a long sigh and turned to look at the Neer family photo frame, as if making a decision. Then he stood up and faced Wang Fei.

"Ray... I want you to take care of Margaret and Maria for me. I'll go bring that foolish boy back myself."

Wang Fei strongly disagreed.

"Grandpa, stop! Your knight title was revoked, and the military won't accept a retired elder like you!"

"That's okay. I still have a few contacts in the military. If I ask—"

"And then what!? With your condition, you'd only burden Uncle Młynar! You're not strong like you used to be!" Wang Fei knew that his grandfather's body had deteriorated badly after overexposure to demonic energy during the last war. If he returned to that battlefield — a place full of demonic presence — he would surely die, sooner or later.

"Even so, I have to go... If not me, then who else can bring that fool back?"

"Who else, huh? I'm right in front of you."

Wang Fei spoke, looking directly at his stunned grandfather.

"Ray... Don't tell me you're planning to—"

Wang Fei nodded.

"Grandpa... I'll go to the battlefield and bring Uncle Młynar back myself."

"This time, I won't let another member of my family die. Never again..."

Wang Fei stared at the TV screen, which now displayed an advertisement for sign-ups to the Kazimierz League, his gaze locked onto one especially eye-catching message:

"The top 10 scorers in the preliminaries will be granted the title of knight."

To join the war as a regular soldier, one must be at least 18 years old. But Wang Fei was only 16 this year — meaning he had to become a knight first in order to be eligible for the military.

"Kazimierz League... Joining it is the fastest way for me to get into the army!"