48. Each Person's Scheme

Reet returned to the royal capital and reported the incident to Commander Ursu in detail.

“Trolls and Goblins appearing in the village, though… That’s troubling.”

Commander Ursu’s expression darkened.

Monsters that were never supposed to inhabit the region had appeared. This could only mean one thing: someone had deliberately released them there.

The more troubling issue was that only a handful of people possessed the resources to acquire and deploy Trolls and Goblins.

In other words, there was a powerful figure orchestrating events from the shadows.

“When word arrived that you and the others were protecting the village, I immediately petitioned the Personnel Bureau to postpone your exam. But they flatly refused, insisting that any absence outside of official duties results in automatic disqualification—no exceptions. I’m sorry, Reet.”

Ursu’s apology sounded genuinely remorseful.

“No, Commander. Please don’t worry about it. I can always take the exam again.”

“I’ll ask the Company Commander to speak with you again, but… don’t expect much.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll conduct a thorough investigation into why the Trolls and Goblins appeared in that village. The Central Knight Order will assist with a joint investigation.”

†

Welzley Duchy.

“Eastern Knight Order Commander, you’ve done excellent work.”

Duke Welzley’s smile finally broke through his composed expression as he praised the knight commander.

“Reet was unable to participate in the exam. This clears away all of Kait’s previous failures.”

“This time was… admittedly quite difficult,” the knight commander replied, relief evident in his expression.

“Acquiring Trolls and Goblins to assault the village proved to be no small feat.”

“I am truly grateful for your efforts, Commander.”

“No, Your Grace…”

“For now, we can rest assured. Things have settled down.”

†

The Imperial Palace.

“Princess Camilla. I have a report.”

The Sage-class palace guard knight William Argyle appeared before the Second Princess Camilla.

“William. So you’ve already caught them red-handed?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I have the evidence.”

“Excellent. This way, we can gain leverage over him.”

“I’ll notify the Military Police immediately.”

“Do so. This way… the Eastern Knight Order becomes ours.”

Princess Camilla’s smile was bewitching and enigmatic.

The Sage William observed her silently.

†

Two weeks later, Reet trained intently at the training grounds.

“Reet.”

It was Princess Iris who called out to him.

“Your Highness. Is something the matter?”

“Come with me for a moment. There’s something important I need to discuss.”

Reet was startled by Iris’s sudden mention of something “important.”

“Yes.”

For now, Reet silently followed Iris without question.

“Where are we headed?” Reet asked.

When Reet inquired, Iris simply replied, “Just come along quietly,” without revealing their destination. Reet followed her in silence, though puzzled.

The destination was the Knight Order’s lecture hall.

It was a venue where various ceremonial events and appointments took place.

Several members of the various knight orders had gathered there.

At the front of the hall stood the commanders of the Eastern Knight Order, Western Knight Order, Central Knight Order, and Palace Guard—the leaders of each knight order assembled together.

So today was the investiture ceremony for platoon leaders and other appointments.

The appointment of personnel above the rank of Platoon Leader was conducted in the name of the king.

Therefore, the king was present on the dais as well.

Reet should have been here too, under normal circumstances.

Reet felt a small pang of regret.

The princess led Reet to the back of the hall and instructed him to wait with her there.

“Thus concludes this year’s appointments.”

The investiture ceremony was officially declared complete.

Those appointed took turns leaving the hall in order.

And once all the regular knights had exited—

“Now then, Knight Commanders. There are two important matters I wish to discuss with you today,” the king addressed the knight commanders.

Reet watched with bated breath to see what would unfold.

“First, there is the matter of the palace guard knight of Seventh Rank standing here at the back—Reet.”

Reet was suddenly called by name, and he straightened his posture.

“Reet, and Iris. Come forward.”

Reet walked forward as instructed, still uncertain what this was about.

“Don’t worry. This is good news,” Iris assured him as he nervously advanced.

The knight commanders regarded Reet with puzzled expressions.

The king regarded Reet briefly, then spoke.

“I believe it would be wise to promote this man to Sixth Rank and appoint him as a Platoon Leader.”

Unexpected words.

The knight commanders immediately wore expressions of confusion.

The Eastern Knight Order Commander, in particular, made his discomfort visibly apparent.

“Your Majesty, if I may ask—why? The Platoon Leader Appointment Exam has only just concluded, and today the appointments from that exam were finalized. Why are you considering a promotion for this man?”

The Eastern Knight Order Commander questioned the king.

“There are two reasons. First, Reet faced interference twice during the exam.”

At these words, the Eastern Knight Order Commander’s face tightened slightly.

He maintained composure and feigned surprise at the mention of “interference.”

“In the second round, he was poisoned. And in the third round, he happened upon the village being attacked on the way back from his mission, which caused him to miss the exam entirely.”

The Eastern Knight Order Commander furrowed his brow and played ignorant.

The king continued.

“However, his strength is unparalleled. In fact, poisoned as he was, he defeated a Holy Knight in combat. And he alone took a dwarf—someone everyone else abandoned—and made her into a knight. There is no one more suited to be a Platoon Leader than him.”

“But Your Majesty. The appointments are already concluded. Advancement to Sixth Rank requires either passing the examination or achieving notable accomplishments. Since he has neither, we cannot grant special treatment.”

The Western Knight Order Commander raised an objection to the king.

To this, the king replied,

“However, he fought for the people. He prioritized the people over the exam. Should we not reward such a man? Without doing so, the knight order loses its sense of justice. Therefore, as king, I would like to recommend him for Sixth Rank.”

The Personnel Bureau ultimately decided the knight order’s personnel affairs.

However, the king’s “recommendation” was effectively an order.

None of the knight commanders could object.

Save one.

“Begging your pardon, Your Majesty.”

It was Reet who spoke.

“Your Majesty’s grace is a blessing beyond measure. However… I do not believe I am suited to be a Platoon Leader.”

At those words, everyone around turned to look at Reet in surprise.

“…Not suited?”

The king stared directly at Reet.

It was the gaze of someone trying to discern the truth.

“Yes, Your Majesty. When that incident occurred, I already knew I would be late for the exam. And yet I still chose to protect the village. I do not believe that decision was wrong.”

“That is precisely why I am rewarding you.”

But Your Majesty, I had no choice—I had to choose between the exam and the villagers’ lives. That was only because I lacked the strength. If I had possessed sufficient power, I could have rescued the village instantly and still made the exam. Therefore, this failure is my own responsibility. Please, allow me to bear the weight of my own choices.

The knight commanders silently observed Reet’s words.

While they could follow his logic intellectually, they could not empathize with it.

For men who had climbed the ladder of advancement their entire lives, the notion of deliberately discarding a path to promotion was utterly incomprehensible.

But—

“Hehe……”

At that moment, there was one person present.

One person alone who let out a sound at Reet’s words before laughing openly.

“Hahaha!”

It was none other than King Richard III.

“Splendid! Your spirit impresses me!”

The king was genuinely moved by Reet’s stance.

What an ungainly man.

Stubborn indeed.

Not the type one would expect to find active at court.

And that was precisely why the king liked him all the more.

“Very well. I spoke out of turn. Forgive me.”

“N-No, that’s not necessary!”

“No, I was wrong. I may have underestimated you. Perhaps I should not have interfered at all.”

“That’s far too kind, Your Majesty.”

“You will become a Platoon Leader soon enough—exam or no exam. And perhaps you shall rise even higher still.”

The king said this while laughing heartily.

“Knight Commanders, forget the previous discussion.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The knight commanders nodded.

But.

The matter did not end there.

“However, everyone. The true reason I called you all here is to address a second matter.”

“Yes, and that would be?”

The king, who had been smiling moments before, suddenly took on a solemn expression.

There was regal authority present in his countenance.

And the words that emerged were—

“The second matter concerns the interference that Reet received.”

His gaze was directed straight at the Eastern Knight Order Commander.

†