5. Knight Recruitment Exam

Two days after arriving in the royal capital, the knight recruitment exam was about to begin at last.

Reet made his way toward the venue, a little nervous. He had been practicing the sword for ten years and only recently acquired Skills, but he had never fought a real opponent who possessed them before.

A knight was one of the highest positions in this country. Among those with combat-type Classes, only a select few could hold such a position. If he passed this exam, he would be recruited as a ninth-rank knight—the lowest rank—but that alone would grant him a status equal to a baron. Moreover, if he accumulated achievements and rose higher, he could even become an upper noble.

That was precisely what Reet’s father had done. He succeeded as a knight and climbed all the way to Duke—the very epitome of social climbing. For that reason, this exam would be exceptionally challenging.

Many people had gathered for the exam. At a glance, already about fifty candidates had assembled—all of them confident in their combat abilities.

“Next person, please.”

Reet stood in the reception line and was called by an official after about ten minutes. He handed over the application form he had prepared in advance.

“Alright, alright. So your name is Reet. …Hmm, the ‘Class’ field is blank here.”

The official pointed to the application form, clearly thinking it was an oversight.

“No, I don’t have a Class. I received a divine revelation, but I wasn’t granted any Class at all.”

Upon hearing that, the receptionist went blank.

“No Class…? That’s even possible?”

“Yes, it is.”

“…But then, how are you supposed to fight? You don’t have any Skills either, right?”

Reet understood the receptionist’s confusion. Knights could only be appointed from among those with combat-type Skills like Swordsman or Mage—only exceptional individuals among such people. Yet if someone without a Class—some nobody from who-knows-where—claimed they wanted to take this exam, it was only natural to suspect they had come to get themselves injured.

“I can fight, so it’s fine.”

Reet could only insist on that.

“…I see…”

The receptionist reluctantly processed the application.

Then a man who had been listening to the exchange from behind burst into laughter.

“Hey, hey, did you hear that? That guy has no Class. Is that even possible?!”

Reet turned at the loud laughter. The source of the voice was unmistakably a wealthy-looking man with long, blonde hair that stood out prominently. He wore ornate robes in bright colors and polished leather shoes that gleamed in the light. Some noble’s spoiled son, no doubt.

“That’s hilarious. How’s he supposed to fight without Skills?”

Several men around him, seemingly his entourage, agreed with his words.

“For real, right?”

Reet paid no attention to the men mocking him and turned to leave. He knew that talking back would do no good.

But the men weren’t about to let him go.

“Hey, hey. For Rogan to address you, and you ignore him? That takes guts!”

One of the entourage said so.

So the spoiled man’s name was Rogan.

“My apologies. Before the exam, I don’t have time to think about unnecessary things.”

Reet said firmly.

“What did you say, you bastard?”

One of the entourage members looked about ready to grab Reet. But Rogan stopped him.

“Now, now. A weak man without a Class putting on a brave face? How cute.”

He smiled unpleasantly.

“There are four of us, all from the same region, so we won’t face each other in the exam. That means someone will have to fight you. I’m looking forward to it.”

Rogan laughed loudly.

Reet glanced at Rogan’s eyes once more, then left the scene.