#51: 47. A Trap — The Heroic Tale of the "Classless" — Banished by a Duke's Family, He Discovers He Can Steal Skills with His Fists and Becomes the Continent's Greatest Hero (WN)

Ten days remained until the third match of the Platoon Leader Appointment Exam.

Reet was summoned to Commander Ursu’s office.

“I apologize for calling you in before the match. I’m sorry, but I need you to go on a dispatch.”

During the Platoon Leader Appointment Exam period, examinees were customarily exempted from missions as much as possible.

That’s why, over these past two months, Reet had been able to spend most of his time training.

But of course, he couldn’t avoid all assignments.

“It’s a long distance. There’s a town called Crand a day and a half away from the royal capital where you’ll exterminate monsters. Some Central Knight Order knights got defeated there. We need you to cover for them—five days of dispatch.”

“Understood, sir.”

“This time, go on the mission with Larg.”

“Very well.”

Larg was also taking the Platoon Leader Appointment Exam, but he had been defeated in his second match.

So—unfortunate as it might be—he was free to focus on the mission.

“The round trip will be four days, and the mission itself five days. The exam is in ten days, so there’s only one day between your return and the exam, but I apologize. We’re understaffed.”

“No, it’s not a problem.”

“Then I’m counting on you.”

†

Following orders, Reet and Larg made their way to Crand and eliminated monsters in the area. On the fifth day, the Central Knight Order sent reinforcements, and their dispatch ended as promised.

“All right, let’s head back.”

“Yes.”

Reet and Larg mounted their horses and began the journey back to the royal capital.

It would take a day and a half to reach the capital. Along the way, they would need to spend one night in the village of Shint.

Since they had departed earlier than expected, they arrived at Shint village by evening.

But then, Reet noticed something odd—the village was wrapped in a strange atmosphere.

The entrance to the village was sealed off by a fence.

“Hey, what’s—”

As Reet and Larg approached, the villagers called out and rushed toward them.

“Knights! Knights are here!”

“We’re saved!!”

Relief flooded the villagers’ faces.

“What happened?”

“Three days ago, Trolls and Goblins came down from the mountain and attacked the village.”

“Trolls?”

“Yes. A group of them. They attacked all at once.”

Reet and Larg exchanged glances.

Trolls weren’t supposed to inhabit this region at all.

Then why were they here?

“But knights, what happened to our messenger?”

The villagers asked, and Reet and Larg tilted their heads in confusion.

“A messenger?”

“We sent a messenger to request reinforcements from the knight order, but… didn’t you come after hearing from him?”

“No, we only happened to be passing through on our way back…”

“Is that so? Then our messenger… surely they should have returned by now…”

Reet and the others furrowed their brows deeper.

The nearest Central Knight Order office was only about a day’s journey from the village at most.

Yet the messenger hadn’t returned… which meant that person had probably been killed.

“But in any case, we’re saved. If you knights hadn’t come, we would have all been slaughtered.”

One villager said this, and the surrounding people began thanking Reet and Larg in turn.

But then—

“Reet. You have an exam. Your time limit is one day.”

Larg spoke in a low voice.

“Yes, that’s right.”

They needed to eliminate all the Trolls and Goblins within a day.

Even then, whether he would make it to the exam in time was cutting it dangerously close.

But they didn’t know how many enemies there were. And eliminating all of them from somewhere in the vast forest would be quite difficult.

“In any case, let’s get started.”

Reet and Larg removed their baggage from their horses and left it with the villagers.

“Are there any Swordsmen or Mages in the village?”

Larg asked, and a villager answered.

“There are some, but they’ve been defeated. Only one Swordsman remains… but…”

“That’s… problematic.”

The village was nestled in the mountains with two entrances.

If one was guarded by the village’s Swordsman, they would need another person to protect the villagers at the other.

One of the two knights would need to stay in the village to keep watch, while the other would have to enter the forest to eliminate the Trolls—and it was uncertain whether one person could accomplish that in a single day.

“Either way, I guess we have to try.”

Reet said.

Larg watched his figure with concern.

†

First, Larg stood guard at the village while Reet went into the forest to defeat the Trolls.

Then, after half a day had passed, they switched places, and now Reet guarded the village.

Time was slipping away relentlessly toward Reet’s deadline.

“Guaaahhh!”

“Kyaahhh!!!”

Screams echoed out.

Reet, guarding the north gate, immediately headed toward the south side of the village upon hearing those cries.

Three Trolls had appeared on the village’s south side.

The village Swordsman had tried to stand against them, but proved unequal to the task and lay collapsed on the ground.

Reet immediately drew his sword.

“—Sacred Blade!”

He cut down one Troll with a single strike.

The remaining two he disposed of with:

“Dragon’s Breath Nova!”

Magic incinerated them.

“Knight! Thank you so much!”

The villagers who had been pursued thanked him profusely.

But he didn’t have time to acknowledge their gratitude.

“The Swordsman!”

The village’s only remaining Swordsman had been struck by a Troll and rendered combat-ineffective.

Looking closer, he was still breathing, but he was in no condition to fight anymore.

“This is bad.”

Reet instructed the villagers to light a smoke signal.

It was a call for Larg.

Then, some tens of minutes later, having seen the smoke signal’s flames, Larg returned to the village.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“The village Swordsman got taken down.”

Hearing this, Larg bit his lip.

“This is getting bad.”

With just the two of them, they could barely protect the villagers.

“In any case, let’s stop going into the forest and defend the village with both of us. Reinforcements will arrive soon.”

With Reet and Larg’s instructions, they had also sent a messenger to the royal capital requesting reinforcements.

With reinforcements, they could protect the villagers while eliminating the Trolls completely.

“But Reet. You’re running out of time.”

“Yeah…”

Reet had the third match of the Platoon Leader Appointment Exam tomorrow.

If he was late for any reason other than a mission, he would be disqualified.

At this rate, Reet would forfeit by default.

“Right now, I’m not going to think about the exam.”

Reet declared this firmly to Larg.

“Wait! You’re one win away from Sixth Rank! Most knights never become platoon leaders, no matter how long they live. You’re this close!”

Larg grabbed Reet by both shoulders and shouted at him.

“I’ll handle this somehow. So you go to the capital.”

Larg tried to convince him.

But Reet shook his head.

“If Trolls and Goblins appeared at the same time, one person wouldn’t be able to protect all the villagers. Someone might die because of that. That’s why I’m staying here.”

“But so far they haven’t appeared at the same time, so it’s probably fine!”

“Just because it hasn’t happened until now doesn’t mean it won’t. If there’s even a one percent chance that villagers will die, I can’t abandon my post.”

“—Come on, you’re too softhearted for your own good!”

Larg didn’t actually believe it was right to abandon the villagers and return to the capital.

But he felt frustrated that the man in front of him was willing to throw away his own advancement.

“Regardless, let’s wait for reinforcements.”

Reet’s resolve was unshakeable.

That was the kind of man he was.

“Ugh… do whatever you want.”

Larg had nothing more to say.

†

“—K-Knights have arrived!”

A villager shouted.

Two full days had passed since Reet and Larg arrived at the village.