Chapter 43

The carriage that arrived at the back gate of the Imperial capital passed a brief inspection by the guards and was directed to the place where the knights were gathered.

The Empire's knighting ceremony, held twice a year. It is the day when knight cadets who have honed their mana and martial arts for years proudly step forward as the vanguard of the Imperial Army, their efforts and abilities finally recognized.

"Hey. Over there..."

"Ah. I see him too."

"Why is someone from the Penal Corps receiving a knighting...!"

However, the mood among the knight cadets gathered here today was not so comfortable.

It was because of one man who entered under the guidance of a guard trembling like an aspen.

"Excuse me."

"Ah! N-no, it's fine."

The man bowed deeply, threading his way through the knights to find his place.

In the black-haired, black-eyed man's gaze there was none of the hope or vitality befitting a newly appointed knight, only dense fatigue and languor clung thickly.

Along with the decadent air he exuded, the Penal Corps brand on his shoulder.

Unless one were extraordinarily bold, no one dared speak to him.

Creak-

"Knights. You will enter in five minutes. Please prepare yourselves."

The guard who opened the door to announce the entrance time also flinched the moment he finished speaking, spotting Yaan's brand.

Having once again confirmed for himself what place the Penal Corps held in the Empire, Yaan let out a wry chuckle and tucked the ceremonial sword he had been issued into his belt.

White gloves and a gold-trimmed scabbard.

And newly appointed knights wearing cavalry sabres at their waists.

Soon the doors opened, and countless spectators lining both sides welcomed them with cheers.

"Waaaaah!"

"Glory to the knightly order! Victory to the Empire!"

"Sir Knight! Smash Alfraia to pieces!"

The knights, waving slowly in answer to the people's cheers, walked proudly; the crowd responded by scattering flower petals at their smiles.

"What do you think of the knights added this time, Count Belkuth?"

A group of nobles watching the grand parade from a high vantage point.

Among them, the younger nobles clustered around one man, surveying the knights walking through the petals.

"In terms of aptitude they are beyond reproach, but capability remains the issue."

"Their mana output surpasses the previous generation of knights, yet instruction in colossus operation has been cut off..."

"Is the Lorenz knightly order still in seclusion?"

"It is lamentable. With resources like theirs, to be so obsessed with power struggles that they refuse to share their knights!"

The young nobles' conversation centered on the ducal House of Lorenz, hailed as the greatest knightly house.

The Duke of Lorenz had hidden his order on the frontier under the pretext of frontline deployment, a move the others found most unwelcome.

"Enough. The House of Lorenz is our comrade in fighting the common enemy Alfraia. If we splinter among ourselves when cooperation is scarce, that is exactly what the elves desire."

"Count Hiram!"

"As expected, you view the situation with such breadth."

"We are humbled...."

The mentor to these young nobles was the rising symbol of the new aristocracy, Count of House Belkuth-Count Hiram Belkuth.

His long hair tied back and sharp features combined to evoke a hawk; he calmed the indignant nobles and watched the knights with satisfaction.

"By the way, remarkable as ever. This time fifteen of the fifty newly appointed knights hail from House Belkuth!"

"Now no one can deny it. The greatest knightly house in the Empire is House Belkuth!"

"Exactly!"

Listening to the shameless flattery, Count Belkuth smiled modestly.

"It was merely good fortune-or the blessing of the Creator."

"Where is the need for modesty in such a moment? Hahaha!"

The nobles burst into loud laughter.

Yet Count Hiram Belkuth's thoughts, as he watched the knights, were far from tranquil.

'Indeed. The "greatest" in number, never the "best".'

As he mused inwardly, his gaze crossed the crowd and fixed on the opposite balcony.

There, greeting high Imperial officials with a radiant smile, stood the golden-haired noble scion.

Cain Lorenz.

'As long as that man exists, House Belkuth can never reach the top. To be recognized by the Imperial House, we need at least a knight equal to Cain Lorenz!'

Already the knights of House Belkuth had insinuated themselves into the Empire's core, forming a faction.

Yet no matter how many knights they increased, gaining the political standing of a single exceptional knight remained elusive.

Just look at Cain Lorenz himself.

Before the age of thirty he had become the only knight granted the right of private audience with His Imperial Majesty.

Even if they brought hundreds of Belkuth knights, the Emperor would not lend them an ear.

'Someday... someday I will surely bring down the House of Lorenz.'

Count Hiram Belkuth clenched his fist inwardly.

'All the means are ready. Only the timing remains...'

At that moment, a chilling sensation from below made the Count flinch and look down.

'Killing intent!?'

He looked, but the eerie feeling he had sensed a moment ago was gone.

"Count Hiram, what is the matter?"

"Ah, it's nothing. The knights below..."

At first he thought it might be Cain Lorenz.

But no. The man he had observed all these years could not harbor such deep, visceral hatred.

Glorious ancestors and countless mentors.

With teachers always ready to correct his faults, his life had forged a spotless, noble soul.

"Ah, the knights? I heard there is an unusual fellow among them."

"I heard as well. One bearing the Penal Corps brand..."

"The Penal Corps?"

At Hiram's unexpected question, the noble nodded awkwardly and continued.

"Yes. I heard he piloted a colossus on the front lines and earned distinction-Sir Cain's recommendation, they said..."

'Cain recommended someone from the Penal Corps? What nonsense is this?'

How tirelessly he had driven him from one frontier to another to keep him away.

Yet the victor who returned from the very edge of death, leading an impossible battle to victory, had become a greater monster than when he had been exiled from the capital.

And now he was from the Penal Corps?

"What could his motive be?"

"A man overflowing with mercy, collecting lost strays."

"Haha, that's our territory's specialty!"

"Hahahaha!"

While the nobles exchanged easy jokes, Count Belkuth kept turning the matter over in his mind.

'He granted a favor to forge a hunting dog that obeys only his command. But why? The sole heir of an already pre-eminent house dabbling in such messy affairs?'

Dozens of hypotheses sprang up.

Perhaps to funnel capital illicitly, or to eliminate rivals like himself.

But proof-indeed, samples-was lacking.

With this level of information, nothing could be achieved.

'Still mere suspicion. Digging further would be premature.'

With that, Count Belkuth beckoned discreetly.

"You called."

"I believe I must meet separately with the one receiving knighthood-Yan Verkut. Arrange an audience."

"Understood."

The confidant vanished swiftly. None present noticed.

'Indeed. Soon he will come to me.'

Save for one man brushing flower petals from his shoulders.

***

"Attention! Presenting His Imperial Majesty, sovereign of the Vailsar Empire, Chairman of the Federated States of Rubra Vailsar, lord of all Imperial lands, and Grand Marshal of the valiant and glorious Vailsar Imperial Army-His Majesty, Cardias van Vailsar!"

Trumpets blared-

The knights, having received their knighthood and begun their march, halted at the main gate of the Imperial Palace.

By beholding His Imperial Majesty's face here, they become true knights who pledge Loyalty to the Empire.

The military bands packed tightly on both sides of the knights raised their trumpets in unison for the Emperor approaching from afar.

Boom-! Boom-!

Soon, cannons fired skyward.

Fifteen ceremonial rounds fired into the sky proclaimed once more the identity of the one now approaching.

The spectators knelt as one.

Commoners on both knees, knights and nobles on one knee, the Emperor's guards and royalty bowing deeply, offering boundless respect and reverence to the father and master of the Empire.

"We behold His Imperial Majesty!"

"We behold His Imperial Majesty!"

"We behold His Imperial Majesty!"

The moment he appeared outside the palace, every soul in the capital halted their work and bowed toward the Imperial capital's gate.

The one surveying the scene and nodding was none other than the master of the Empire.

Emperor Cardias.

"All of you, raise your heads."

The guards were the first to lift their heads.

Yet, save for them, no one dared raise their head until the second command.

"By my name, Cardias van Vailsar, I command every subject of the Empire to raise your heads."

The royalty, nobles, and knights raised their heads.

Soon, as the guard's spears struck the ground twice, the commoners raised their heads in unison and gazed upon the Emperor's face.

"All of you, thank you for coming to this glorious gathering."

After surveying his people, the Emperor began his address.

"Today is a vital day, welcoming the Empire's new vanguard... hm?"

The Emperor's voice, carried by the loudspeaker taken from the colossus, abruptly paused.

For he had spotted something among the knights arrayed before him.

"What is this? What are they doing?"

"What on earth is that fellow doing now?"

Royalty, nobles, knights, commoners.

At the moment when every subject of the Empire, so self-named, raised their head to meet the Emperor, only one man kept his face to the ground and did not look upon the Emperor's face.

"Knight Yan Verkut! What are you doing!"

"By His Imperial Majesty's command! Raise your head at once!"

The moment the shouting guards lunged to seize Yan and lift him-

"No."

The Emperor lifted a hand to stop them, and the guards froze, returning to their posts.

Yan, head bowed, did not stir.

The Emperor approached him slowly, standing before Yan with the sun at his back.

"A knight who will not raise his head before the master of the Empire. What is your name?"

"Yan Verkut, Your Majesty."

The knight spoke his name slowly.

Yan kept his head pressed to the ground as he answered the Emperor's voice.

"Count Belkuth, what is the meaning of-"

"...Oho."

The nobles murmured as well.

Refusing to meet the Emperor's gaze despite his command was an enormous act of disloyalty.

"Knight Yan Verkut. Then tell me, why do you not raise your head to look upon me?"

"Because Your Majesty has not yet commanded me."

The Emperor had said:

Every subject of the Empire, raise your heads.

"And yet you do not raise yours-an utterance tantamount to denying your place as a member of the Empire."

Hiram Belkuth muttered with a smirk.

"Depending on interpretation, that could even be seen as treason."

Cain, clenching his fist, watched Yan intently.

"...Ah, I see. The brand."

The Emperor's eyes lit for an instant as he regarded the Greyhounds' unit emblem on Yan's shoulder-and beneath it, the Penal Corps brand.

"Cast out from my bosom by that brand, you knelt before me as a knight. Thus you may kneel, yet you cannot look upon me."

A curve formed on the Emperor's lips as he spoke.

It was a smile so clear that even the royalty trembled in fear.

"Your reasoning is sound."

With those words, the Emperor bent his waist and met the eyes of the still-bowed Yan.

"Knight Yan Verkut. Raise your head and look upon me."

The instant the command fell, Yan raised his head.

Even as the Emperor's face appeared directly before him, neither tremor nor hesitation could be found on Yan's visage.

"Do you see me...?"

The Emperor's lips opened and a voice spilled out.

A soft voice audible to none save Yan.

"Yes. You are neither my subject, nor do you bear loyalty to me."

With that preface, the Emperor's face drew within arm's reach of Yan.

Reflected in his eyes was Yan's left eye-replaced by that of an Ancient.

The smile on his lips loomed so near, so vast, it seemed ready to swallow Yan whole.

"How can I call a man who harbors a monster within him my subject?"

"..."

"How can I make one who cannot embrace the Empire my knight?"

Yan's voice, answering, remained unchanged.

"I merely follow Your Majesty's command."

A brief silence.

Then the Emperor laid a hand upon Yan's shoulder and spoke.

"Very well. I understand. I shall accept it."

The expression he wore as he spoke was the gentlest smile in all the world.

The Emperor patted Yan's shoulder two or three times, rose, and addressed the courtiers arrayed behind him.

"On this truly joyous day, let a grand feast be held for the new knights! They shall be the very cornerstone of the holy war that will bring Alfraia to ruin!"

At the Emperor's shout, the knights' cheers swept across the capital.

The unprecedented measure, never seen during any knighting ceremony, triggered an emergency even among the nobles watching from above.

While all were bewildered by the Emperor's sudden declaration, Yan alone slipped from the banquet hall and quietly vanished into the cheering crowd.

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