Chapter 83 : The Initiation Ceremony

“Judgment? Are you kidding me right now!”

“A sharp tongue to match that face.”

“Profit!”

With skin so thin that the blue veins showed clearly, and an appearance that screamed he was no ordinary man, anyone would question the sudden appearance of someone like this.

But right now, Galvin was too furious to think clearly.

Whoosh—

The rusty longsword swung wildly, but Glenn dodged with ease and struck upward with his palm against his opponent’s jaw.

“Kuh-hyuk! You, you bastard!”

Galvin staggered back and shouted, but his subordinates were also busy with the situation.

“What, what is this! Where did these guys even come from!”

“It’s an ambush! Everyone, fight—ugh!”

Glenn’s action was the signal; the Lion Knights lying in wait suddenly attacked.

The outcome was already decided since these enemies had been distracted by the duel judgment.

“Capture them all alive. Kill them if they resist.”

Raising his cold green eyes, Galvin felt an instinct that something had gone terribly wrong.

***

Thanks to Sophia, Glenn kept his cool and distributed rations to the refugees.

Still, the Lion Knights’ spare rations were clearly insufficient to fill all the starving mouths.

That was when young Tessa stepped in, sharing some supplies she had kept for trade.

“Is this alright?”

“It’s what I brought for this very purpose. Don’t worry about it.”

“…You were planning from the start to distribute that much food?”

“Of course. Have you forgotten what kind of family I come from?”

Tessa Lindelway, Count Lindelway’s daughter.

Her family held influence over almost every ship arriving in Ariane.

In the river trade alone, even Isabelle Stauffen’s Stauffen House had to step back before them.

In other words, this amount of supplies was trivial for her.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

“May the goddess bless you, noble ones!”

With her help, the refugees finally had full stomachs for the first time in a long while.

But that didn’t mean Glenn had time to rest comfortably.

“Bandit Knights?”

“Yes, those guys have been trailing us for a while now. They’re likely close to our location by now.”

According to Huckle Brew, the captain, this so-called Bandit Knights were truly despicable.

“They collect taxes, and if you disobey, they make examples of you… They’re more than just ordinary bandits.”

“Indeed. Lately, the northern part of Riberton Domain is practically ruled by them.”

“The enemy’s pursuit party, huh? Alright, we’ll deal with them.”

“…Yes?”

And so, Glenn and the Lion Knights set out first.

Not long after, they encountered a group of bandits, struck a surprise attack, and routed them—just the day before.

Glenn extracted information that another group was waiting in a nearby village.

Moreover, although weak, they were reasonably armed and quite numerous. There was a reason they dared call themselves a knight order.

And so the story continues.

Because the foolish enemies were all distracted, suppression was achieved in an instant.

“Captured them all?”

“Except for a few who escaped, they’re all caught.”

Glenn nodded once in response to Nedian’s report, then looked at the upright man before him.

“Your name is Baenhardt?”

“…Yes.”

“I’ve been watching since you first fought. Have you ever rebelled against your unit?”

“…I was with the Quinshia region for about a year.”

That figures.

Quinshia was currently embroiled in a civil war involving the second prince.

“Hmm, then were you a deserter?”

“I was left behind during a mission. The deserter is the more accurate term.”

“Your family?”

His previously expressionless face twitched slightly.

“…They were killed by the enemy.”

Glenn, however, remained calm.

As if talking to an old friend.

“That’s tragic. Have you taken revenge?”

At the word revenge, the gray eyes shimmered with a flicker of hatred.

… Huh, this guy actually shows quite the range of emotions.

“I killed three bandits nearby with my bare hands.”

“Good. And after that?”

“…Now I just live as a woodcutter.”

“Pity. Don’t you want to follow me?”

“…I hate nobles.”

A snicker.

To openly say that in front of a noble like him…

Is he pure or just rude?

Nedian, who had been listening, seemed to have made up his mind: coward.

Shling—!

“How dare you! Are you insulting Doryeon-nim?”

“…I’m just stating facts.”

Baenhardt’s sword blade hovered just beside his throat, but he didn’t flinch.

He wasn’t the type to fear death. Direct, taciturn, and one who proved himself through actions rather than words. He was naturally a warrior through and through.

“Ha, this one’s interesting. What do you think, Nedian?”

“…He has potential. Do you intend to accept him?”

Nedian agreed.

“Then we should ask him. Hey, Baenhardt. Do I look like an ordinary noble to you?”

The unwavering green eyes met his own. Baenhardt held his gaze for a moment, then unconsciously twitched his eye.

“…At least not the foolish noble I know.”

“Good. Then I’ll ask again. Do you intend to join the Lion Knights?”

At the mention of the Lion Knights, Baenhardt’s eyes widened slightly.

After some hesitation, he spoke.

“Why make me this offer?”

“I need warriors. And many of them. I believe you can be an excellent warrior.”

“I can’t promise high rewards. But this I guarantee: even if you die, you’ll be buried with honor. A fight defending something is always like that.”

“…Defending what?”

“Something precious. My country, my family, my people.”

For a moment, their eyes met with a subtle change.

Then Baenhardt nodded.

“It’s an honor… no, a privilege.”

“It’s too early to be happy. You still have to pass the entrance test.”

“I also hope for that.”

He was a promising candidate in many ways.

Glenn smiled broadly and turned his gaze back to Nedian.

“Bring all the captured enemies here.”

***

Glenn proposed the same procedure the enemies had tried to use earlier.

A duel judgment.

If they won, their crimes would be forgiven and they would be released.

It wasn’t much of a choice anyway, as the enemies had no say in the matter.

So the first judgment was set as a duel between Galvin and Baenhardt.

But this time, it was different: both were given the same weapon.

It was still just a cheap longsword, though.

The duel was short.

It ended in only five exchanges.

“W-Wait! This is invalid! L-Let me live—kuh-hyuk!”

Baenhardt’s longsword pierced Galvin’s throat.

Though rough, it was clearly better swordsmanship than the self-proclaimed knight.

“Ugh… ugh… I yield.”

“Good, you pass. You’re accepted as a squire.”

Glenn nodded his approval, and only then did Baenhardt kneel.

He couldn’t withstand the shock of back-to-back duels.

“…Doryeon-nim, are you alright?”

“Why? The more capable people, the better.”

“That may be so, but… is there really a need to recruit so urgently?”

Glenn had been searching for capable squires whenever he could find a moment.

Nedian couldn’t fully understand this.

“Trust me. I assure you, if we don’t prepare now, it’ll be too late.”

He didn’t ask what it was too late for.

Sometimes, Doryeon-nim said things that were beyond understanding.

Like preparing for a great storm.

He might as well have been a prophet.

But his seriousness made it hard to argue.

“And if they can’t endure it, then so be it. ‘Either endure and grow stronger or break apart.’ Isn’t that right? There’s no loss there.”

“Understood.”

One of the Lion Knights’ mottos was just that.

Because the weak could never stand beside them.

“In that sense, Nedrun, it’s time for your initiation ceremony.”

Nedrun.

The older brother of the vagrant siblings from Niran whom Glenn had saved by chance.

After the civil war, he had come to the Lion Knights.

Glenn accepted him as a squire, and his younger sister Serin was sent to Saintess Monica’s disciple.

By now, the sister had probably returned to Lepent with her.

“…Isn’t it a bit early? I’m only fifteen.”

“You’re only three years younger than me. What’s the problem?”

“You’re using Doryeon-nim as your standard?”

It was a bit cheeky, but Glenn was currently only eighteen.

Just half a year ago, he became a full knight and won consecutive duels against a Sword Expert and an Honor duel.

It wasn’t just luck or coincidence.

He had watched Glenn closely himself.

Thanks to that, Nedian had come to believe Glenn was on a similar level.

Of course, that was just in swordsmanship; the odds were higher with his blood magic.

He no longer mocked him.

Watching Glenn’s monstrous growth was nothing new.

Though Glenn himself didn’t seem to realize it.

“Why?”

“…Nothing. I’ll pass on the message.”

There were things he wanted to say, like “Your standards are ridiculous,” but he kept silent.

Nedrun couldn’t delay any longer by citing his age.

***

“Ha, you expect me to face off against such a brat?”

After Galvin’s death, Volt, who had been tense, laughed contemptuously when he saw his opponent.

A soft-headed boy who still looked inexperienced.

Nedrun was bewildered.

The subordinates had hinted about an ‘initiation ceremony,’ but he didn’t expect it would be like this.

“Ugh.”

His heart pounded wildly.

Could he win? Doubt and fear surged.

He felt the gaze of the other knights and Glenn upon him.

He didn’t want to disappoint them.

The boy murmured to himself, “I can do this,” gripping his sword’s hilt tightly.

“If I win, you’ll really spare me?”

“Of course.”

Glenn, calmly watching from the side, nodded at Galvin’s question.

At the same time, he said to Nedrun,

“Nedrun.”

“Y-Yes?”

“You’re stronger than you think. Try feeling it.”

Looking into those gem-like green eyes, Nedrun unconsciously recalled his first meeting with Glenn.

The powerful words still etched into his heart.

“Precious things must be protected by yourself. No one will do it for you. The weak only scream when they have things taken away.”

He had to protect Serin, his sister. No one else could do it but him.

Glenn’s advice ignited a fire in Nedrun’s heart.

From Niran onward, he had trained hard every day without missing.

The Lion Knights’ training was no joke.

Broken lips, vomiting, tears shed in secret from exhaustion.

Still, they endured it all.

Because they had a goal, something worth protecting.

Without the experience of the vagrant siblings, he might have given up long ago.

“Okay.”

Tristan could also be seen on one side.

He was the one who had taught Nedrun swordsmanship.

“Kill if you can. We don’t need anyone who can’t kill a man.”

His usual cold, blunt tone.

But there was no hint of hesitation about his own defeat.

Seeing this, Nedrun unconsciously gained courage.

His heart that had been pounding slowly settled.

“Understood. May I begin?”

Nedrun’s eyes grew calm and kind.

He stared coldly at his opponent.

“Don’t open your eyes wide, brat.”

“…Victory to the master.”

A preemptive strike was always the best choice, if possible.

Momentary carelessness meant death even for sword masters.

True to the lesson, Nedrun charged directly at his opponent’s careless guard.

His speed and attack angles were perfect.

“You little—!”

Startled, Volt swung his sword diagonally.

But the boy stepped back just before the clash, slicing only air.

Whoosh—!

Volt swung again horizontally, just wildly slashing.

It wasn’t real swordsmanship, just aimless waving.

“Too slow.”

Nedrun was used to facing Tristan’s sword.

This opponent’s speed was slow enough to counter.

“I can do this.”

With newfound confidence, Nedrun lunged at Volt.

When striking vital points, always aim for the throat.

Heart, neck, spine, head.

Right now, the most suitable target was the throat.

“Ugh?”

Thanks to missing twice, Volt was in a clumsy stance, surprised.

He instinctively raised his arm to protect his throat.

Of course, his arm was sliced through.

Muuk!

“Argh! You damned brat!”

Volt wildly swung again.

Nedrun rolled on the ground, targeting another angle.

He already had a dagger drawn, gleaming in his hand.

“Wait a minute!”

Volt shouted, sensing he couldn’t avoid it.

But it was useless.

Nedrun’s eyes were those of a ferocious beast hunting prey.

“Spare me! Please, please—ugh….”

Mu-wit

The dagger gripped by Nedrun pierced Volt’s throat.

“Ugh… ugh…”

As Volt collapsed, he finally looked around.

Glenn chuckled at the sight.

Truly the skill of someone who had been a sword master in his past life.

“Handle the rest yourselves.”

***

In conclusion, none of the surviving bandits from the duel judgment lived.

Glenn had no intention of sparing them and just wanted them to experience the same fate they had dealt to others.

However, Glenn deliberately spared two bandits, hoping the rumor would spread.

“Hey, friends. Go to your leader and tell him my message clearly. Then I’ll spare you. Understand?”

“Yes, yes! Just say the word!”

The message was both a warning and a declaration of war.

“The Red Wolf will come to bite off your heads.”