kscans

Trial

1

“Let the final match begin!”

At the referee’s signal, Bard stepped forward powerfully. His opponent, Wallmont Expengler, stood motionless. Wallmont’s swordsmanship surpassed Bard’s. Unlike Bard, who was self-taught, Wallmont was a first-class swordsman who had studied formal technique since childhood. Bard took a deep breath to gather his strength, opened his eyes wide, and charged forward, determined to end it in one strike.

2

While practice battles between knights and squires were common in the Pakula domain, this particular contest was different. First, they had been summoned on a specific date. Second, it was being held in the castle’s great hall rather than the training grounds. Third, all twelve of House Tercia’s finest knights were participating in an elimination tournament rather than the usual round-robin format. This was clearly no ordinary contest.

For Bard, who aspired to become House Tercia’s Head Knight, this battle felt like a divine trial. He had set this goal three years ago, not for himself, but for Julelan’s sake. The tyranny of Lord Caldos Gwendell of the Dorba domain continued to torment House Tercia’s knights. The hatred towards Julelan, who carried Caldos’s blood, would likely explode after the death of House Tercia’s current head, Hydra. To protect Julelan, Bard had to become the Head Knight.

Yet this seemed impossible. For Bard, merely the son of a rural warrior, to desire such a position would be considered not just presumptuous but potentially treasonous. The Head Knight position demanded not only strength but also sophisticated judgment in military strategy and domain management. Furthermore, noble lineage was required for negotiations with other houses.

The Expengler family, which had produced generations of Head Knights, was one of the most distinguished families in the eastern frontier. Their ancestors were among the “First People” to settle on this land. The Expengler name carried great weight in the frontier and had long been House Tercia’s backbone. It was impossible for Bard to replace the Expengler family, let alone outperform them.

Therefore, Bard’s wish to become the Head Knight wasn’t so much about attaining the position as it was about accumulating enough military virtue and achievements worthy of such a role. Having made his pledge to the gods, he had to make every humanly possible effort. Looking at what he could do, nothing had really changed. Preventing demon beast invasions, ensuring his lord’s peace, and relieving people’s suffering.

The only way to get closer to becoming the Head Knight was to fulfill his duties even more diligently than before. Bard performed his duties, honed his martial skills, and devoted himself to the people’s happiness. He lived each day believing that eventually, his accumulated virtue would catch the gods’ attention, and when his efforts moved them, a miracle would occur.

This was different from power struggles or career competition. He didn’t compare himself to others or try to bring anyone down. Bard simply did his best at what he could do. From his perspective, these days of effort were no different from what he had been doing since joining House Tercia in his youth.

However, others saw it differently. Originally, Bard was someone who quietly handled all duties alone. While he valued cooperation in battle, in other situations, he tends to kept to himself, focusing only on what he should and could do. But after making his pledge, Bard changed subtly. He began to look at House Tercia as a whole, ensuring all retainers were fulfilling their roles collectively. He started considering not just tactics but strategy as well. He naturally became able to guide and encourage everyone.

Though these were subtle changes, they held great significance for House Tercia, which was fighting desperately to hold back the demon beasts breaching througg the gaps in the Great Barrier. Lord Hydra possessed the keen sensitivity to notice these subtle changes. And so this contest came to be held.

3

Who is House Tercia’s strongest knight? If asked, all knights of House Tercia would name Bard Rowen. However, that strength was against demon beasts, not necessarily in human combat. Moreover, that strength was showed in life-or-death battles, not in matches. In terms of technical skill against human opponent, several other knights were superior. Previously, Lord Hydra and Head Knight Rogmont were such examples.

Now that they had aged, Rogmont’s son Wallmont was unanimously considered the strongest in human combat. Wallmont was the epitome of a noble knight. Beautiful, refined, and cunning. However, he was slightly too slender to consistently stand on the front lines against demon beasts. In other words, he lacked endurance. His health wasn’t perfect either. Because of this, Wallmont had honed his techniques. Now at thirty-two, two years younger than Bard, his swordsmanship was unmatched among the knights. Even Bard had consistently lost to him in recent practice matches.

For this match against the formidable Wallmont, Bard chose the largest practice sword, a two-handed greatsword. Wallmont held a moderately long practice sword and carried a shield in his left hand. As Bard charged in, he brought down the greatsword from the upper right. A fierce steel wind assaulted Wallmont. Wallmont dodged by stepping back and left, attempting to counter, but Bard whirled the greatsword around and attacked from the upper left.

With amazing reflexes, Wallmont jumped backward and then kicked off the stone pavement hard to launch forward, aiming to exploit the opening created by Bard’s two consecutive attacks. But Bard’s fighting spirit that day enabled impossible movements. He whirled the greatsword around again and brought down a terrifyingly powerful strike aimed at Wallmont’s head.

Even to this, Wallmont reacted. He instantly shifted his body left and raised his shield at an angle to deflect Bard’s attack. Bard’s overwhelmingly powerful attack barely grazed Wallmont’s shield. Yet that grazing blow was enough to send Wallmont flying. When Wallmont bounced up from being slammed into the stone pavement, Bard’s sword was already pointed at him.

“That’s enough! The winner is Bard!”

4

The following month, Head Knight Rogmont’s retirement was announced, and Bard was appointed as the new Head Knight. Wallmont inherited the Expengler family leadership and, as a noble vassal of House Tercia, would assist in managing the entire Pakula domain. Thus, Bard became the Head Knight of House Tercia. The miracle had occurred.

Wallmont made one request of Bard.

“When my son Cedermont turns ten, would you oversee his training?”

Cedermont was eight years old that year. Julelan was four years younger at four years old. Since the next head of House Tercia, Vola, was thirty-six, Cedermont and Julelan would end up supporting Galliera, who would become the head after that.

“If you’ll have me, I’d be honored,” Bard replied.

Lord Hydra, who had appointed Bard as the Head Knight, passed away the following year at the age of fifty-six. For the next twenty years, Bard would serve as the Head Knight of House Tercia, and his reputation echoed throughout every corner of the eastern frontier.

Under Bard’s guidance, Cedermont and Julelan would grow to possess such capability and dignity that they commanded everyone’s respect. Eventually, Cedermont would succeed Bard as House Tercia’s Head Knight, and Julelan would distinguish himself as an advisor to the lord. Needless to say, Idora watched over all this with warm eyes.