The number of knights belonging to the Huang Palace—that is, the knights of the Huang Palace who serve the Emperor as their lord—was nearly a thousand.
This number clearly demonstrated why the Empire was the hegemon of the Continent and a superpower. Even though it included special units and skill users, it was still a formidable number.
However, not everyone belonging to the Huang Palace stayed within the palace itself. Aside from a few main knight orders, most were responsible for guarding and managing the Kingdom’s Capital and its surrounding areas.
Even excluding the knights, the resident staff of the Huang Palace numbered over a thousand, so it was rare for all the Huang Palace knight orders to assemble in one place unless it was wartime.
And right now, that rare event was taking place within the Huang Palace. A general mobilization order had been issued to every knight order in the Huang Palace.
“Actually, a knight like me who stays in the Huang Palace can be called a true knight of His Imperial Majesty. This gathering order might be confusing, but you’ll be fine as long as you’re by my side. Don’t worry too much.”
At the words of Dorman, a member of the Imperial 3rd Knight Order, Claire gave a slight nod.
“I see.”
It was the second day since she had arrived at the Huang Palace for her internship when the mobilization order was issued. Dorman had stuck by Claire’s side since the first day, explaining various things simply because she was from the Imperial Academy, but a large portion of his conversation was filled with bluster. It was what one would call hitting on someone.
“Hahat. You don’t have to be so nervous. This is already the fourth mobilization this month. Well, it’s a familiar occurrence for me.”
“The fourth? Didn’t you say that the entirety of the Huang Palace knight orders wouldn’t gather unless it was wartime?”
The surroundings were bustling with knights moving to find their positions and gather under the banners representing their respective orders. Every single person here was a knight. These were the elite knights of the Huang Palace, a place that was famously difficult to enter. Such people were now lining up in order in front of the entrance to the vast Grand Envoy Palace.
In response to Claire’s question as she looked around, Dorman let out what he thought was a manly and cheerful laugh and reached out to pat Claire’s head. Of course, Claire, with a deep frown, lightly dodged his hand.
“Hahahat! That means there have been four matters important enough to require the assembly of elite knight orders like us.”
“…So, what are those matters?”
“Hahat! It’s an important meeting held by very high-ranking people.”
“What kind of meeting?”
“Hahathat! Th-that is a secret, so it shouldn’t be leaked carelessly…”
“Are we attending the meeting too?”
“Well, no.”
“Then why do so many troops gather every time a meeting is held?”
“Um, that’s…”
As the questions continued, the confidence in Dorman’s voice gradually faded. In truth, he didn’t know anything either. No matter how important a meeting was, the entire Huang Palace knight orders had never been summoned like this. Yet, hadn’t it happened four times this month alone?
All he had managed to find out in the meantime was that the meeting was related to some sort of expedition and that the Sword Saint, who had been the commander of that expedition, was participating personally. He also knew that they had to be prepared because some kind of forceful demonstration could occur during the process.
But he couldn’t tell her the truth. Hadn’t he felt it immediately after meeting Claire yesterday?
‘Ah, this is the woman.’
He felt he had met his destined partner. She was a rare beauty, and they were from the same Imperial Academy. This was an angel sent by God for his marriage. He had even planned their happy future less than a minute after meeting her.
‘Two reliable sons and two cute daughters like rabbits. And the first one… combining our names, Kloman would be good. Then the second would be Kroman, and the third Saloman…’
Therefore, he squeezed out as much of his knowledge as possible to tell her. As a senior and a man, it wasn’t cool to admit he didn’t know something, especially since Claire, who had been indifferent since yesterday, was showing strong interest for the first time.
“The party they’re meeting with is from the same expedition—ah, an expedition is a group that went directly into those strange gates where monsters popped out to defeat the source—ah, of course, I was also offered a spot, but I was too busy so I had to refuse. Ah, since I’m older, you can comfortably call me older brother. Anyway, so this meeting is actually…”
If you stripped away about half of the useless talk and another half of the nonsense from what remained, some semblance of the truth could be heard.
Claire focused on two things. The unit called the expedition that went into those black Gates, and the fact that Sword Saint Vitalianus was directly participating in this meeting.
“Ah? Vitalianus? Hahahat! You must admire Lord Vitalianus too. Well, he is great. I see him almost every day in the Huang Palace, so I’m used to it now. If you want, I can speak to Lord Vitalianus…”
While Dorman was losing his mind and spouting nonsense, a shout finally rang out.
“Dorman! You stupid brat! What are you dazing out for? Get over here now!”
It was the vice-squad leader of the unit Dorman belonged to.
“Ah, Vice-Squad Leader. It’s not that, I was just answering the intern’s questions…”
“You dimwit! Is that important right now? Shut your mouth and stand straight!”
“Ye-yes!”
A startled Dorman took his place, and Claire also had to stand at attention beside him in the confusion. Dorman might look a bit dim, but he was an elite knight who had been in the Huang Palace for six years. Yet, this was his level. Even after graduating from the Imperial Academy and serving as a knight in the Huang Palace for six years, he was still at the very bottom.
It probably wasn’t just because Dorman was lacking. Most people would be the same. The Huang Palace was that vast, and talent was overflowing.
…As expected! As expected, I can’t do it like this. Following the flow like everyone else would only result in following the same steps. Doing this, it would take six, seven, or ten years even to reach the highest point—to a place where I could simply see him.
At that rate, when would I be able to see the same things and stand by his side? I need a more bold and certain decision.
“…It is time. Do not move!”
At someone’s shout, the area in front of the Grand Envoy Palace, which was already quiet, fell into total silence. Despite nearly a thousand knights gathered, there wasn’t the slightest movement, a sight truly worthy of the Huang Palace knight orders.
A tension began to rise slowly from the very front. Claire couldn’t understand it at all because she knew nothing. She didn’t know why so many knights, including the famously strong Huang Palace knight orders, had to be fully mobilized for a single meeting.
She didn’t know what the senior knights at the front were so tense about or what they were guarding against. Since she knew nothing, she couldn’t know the reason.
Some time passed like that.
The Grand Envoy Palace was a palace for receiving important envoys from other countries. A group of people appeared to enter the palace, for whom the knights had lined up to make a path.
As the flags representing the knight orders fluttered high, Claire’s eyes widened when she saw the figures approaching the entrance, passing each flag one by one.
The reason was that the face of the person at the very front was very familiar.