6. Holy Knight Skills

“Let us now begin the knight recruitment exam!”

The examiner knight declares the start of the exam.

The exam format is practical combat. Candidates engage in mock battles against one another, with examiners scoring them based on their performance.

However, they don’t fight to the death. Instead, combatants wear items called “protection rings” that create barriers around them. A contestant wins by landing a single strike that shatters the opponent’s barrier.

“Block A, Round One. Reet—”

Reet’s name is called unexpectedly.

And his opponent is—

“Rogan Bentley!”

The spoiled noble who had confronted Reet earlier is called as his opponent.

Reet recognized the family name immediately.

“Bentley… as in the Earl Bentley family?”

The Bentley family is a noble lineage—unmistakably prestigious.

“Go get him, Rogan!”

“Crush that Classless bastard!”

His entourage shouts encouragement.

“You’re really unlucky, you know. What are the odds you’d face me right off the bat?”

Rogan grins with contempt, supremely confident.

But Reet doesn’t rise to the provocation. He simply draws his sword from his waist and readies his stance.

It doesn’t matter if his opponent is the heir to a prominent noble house.

He would fight fair and square.

“Then—let the match begin!”

Rogan moves first.

“Fire Lance!”

Rogan’s Class is Mage.

His Skill manifests in a lance of flame at supersonic speed, hurtling toward Reet.

But Reet doesn’t move an inch.

He draws his sword at the precise moment before the spell reaches him.

Burst.

The flame magic tears clean in half, splitting left and right before it can reach him.

“W-what!?”

Rogan is shocked at seeing his magic cut down in a single sword strike.

At the same time, Reet is slightly amazed by his own capability.

It’s incredible, really. The power of Sacred Fortification.

Reet is astonished by the strength of the Skill Sara had given him.

Right now, Reet’s every stat is enhanced by the Holy Knight Class’s enhancement Skill, Sacred Fortification.

Of course, his dynamic vision has become extraordinary as well.

From Reet’s perspective, Rogan’s magic looks like a ball a child had kicked.

“…I see. Your swordsmanship shows decent practice. But there’s no way you can defend against this without a Skill.”

Rogan shows a hint of panic as he casts his next spell.

“—Fire Lance Rain!”

An advanced Skill that rains Fire Lances down like precipitation.

Countless spears materialize above Rogan’s head and descend upon Reet all at once.

Rogan is right—there’s no way to defend against this without a Skill.

So Reet does use one—despite being Classless—

“—Sacred Blade!”

The sword in Reet’s hand glows with divine light.

“The Sacred Blade!?”

Rogan—no, everyone watching the match cries out in shock.

Reet swings his sword once. All the descending flame spears are repelled, sent flying back into the sky.

An explosion echoes overhead. Flames scatter like fireworks.

The wind from the blast sends Rogan’s long hair flying up, exposing his look of utter astonishment.

“Th-that’s impossible! The Sacred Blade is… that can’t be! You’re a Holy Knight!?”

Rogan’s understanding is wrong.

True, the Sacred Blade is a Skill exclusive to the Holy Knight Class. No one other than a Holy Knight can use it.

That is the law.

But Reet is different. He received the ability from Sara, who is a Holy Knight.

He is not a Holy Knight himself, but he can use Holy Knight Skills.

“Damn it! Nobody said anything about this!!”

Rogan loses his composure.

And with good reason.

Those who possess the Holy Knight Class are exempted from the knight recruitment exam.

Therefore, a Holy Knight’s Skills should never manifest during the recruitment exam.

And yet, “Sacred Blade” has been activated right before his eyes.

Moreover, the person using it claims to have no Class at all—to be “Classless.”

“Damn! ‘Dragon’s Breath’!”

In desperation, Rogan unleashes his most powerful flame magic.

But it proves meaningless against Reet.

Reet charges forward with Sacred Blade still active, diving straight into the maelstrom of flame Rogan has created.

He cuts through the inferno produced by advanced magic with a single swing, closing the distance to Rogan.

He judges that a Sacred Blade slash would penetrate the protection barrier and kill Rogan outright, so instead he drives his left fist into Rogan’s solar plexus.

“Ugh—!!”

Even though it’s an unarmed attack, the dual enhancement from Sacred Fortification and Physical Enhancement amplifies the impact enough to shatter the protection barrier.

The barrier dissipates, but the momentum doesn’t stop. Rogan’s body is sent flying backward through the air.

“The winner is Reet!”

The announcer’s voice rings out, and the arena erupts.