Volume 2 Chapter 38 The Ceremony Of Honors
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”No, I think I said this before, but I was born and raised as Franz. My mom is mixed with people from many different countries. Maybe, there’s some Shin blood in me too.”
”Maybe, Ms. Christy’s mother is──”
”She’s not a noble.”
Christy looked from a distance at a group putting on a show for the crowd beyond the red gate.
”My dad fell in love with my mom at first sight.”
”Wow… That sounds like a story from a bard’s song.”
”It’s not such a nice story. At least, I don’t think it’s something to tell others. ──Well! We finished eating. I’m going to the castle now to attend the knight’s ceremony. What will you do? If you want to take a nap, I can show you to the waiting room.”
”Can’t I walk around inside the castle?”
”If you wander around the castle, I have to follow you from behind.”
Christy frowned, looking annoyed.
(If I can just get inside the castle, I can figure it out. Even if I can’t get permission to walk around, I can sneak out from the waiting room. If I get caught, I can use Christy’s name, and I shouldn’t get thrown in jail.)
’You might pass by where the equipment are sleeping before you get to the waiting room.’
”If you’re free, want to peek at the ceremony?”
”Is it okay for me to join the ceremony?”
”You’ll be fine if you’re with me. I hate to say it, but there are knights who look just like bandits joining us.”
”Oh”
”This isn’t the royal capital, it’s merely the capital of the frontier. If you ask me, the banquets here are no different from the drinking parties of barbarians. They drink from barrels of mead and fight with fists as a sideshow, they wipe their fingers on the tablecloth instead of using finger bowls, they cut meat by slicing it with their own knives, they fart, it’s really unbelievable. In that respect, you have a refined way of eating, which surprised me in a good way.”
”It’s not about whether or not you need dignity, but since it was Azraelian who attacked Her Excellency before, I thought it might be troublesome if I joined.”
”Hmm… But you did protect Manon, right? I think it’s okay to say that you are the Azraelian who defended Manon. Well, if you don’t want to join, that’s fine. But you have to stay in the waiting room and not leave for any reason.”
”No, if I can watch the ceremony, I would like to do that.”
”That would help me too.”
Christy said this and jumped down from the stone wall onto the stairs.
She picked up the staff she had leaned against and closed one eye.
”I can keep an eye on you while I am at the ceremony. You better not go for a walk somewhere.”
”Earlier, Ms. Christy said to avoid going for a walk.”
”Yes. But you don’t plan to listen to me, do you? If you were someone who listens, you wouldn’t ask if it’s okay to go for a walk.”
The witch with black hair took the empty plate from Kian and snapped her fingers to send it away with teleportation.
”Let’s go.”
And she quickly started down the twisting stairs.
Kian hopped down from the stone wall and followed her closely.
* * *
The main castle looked a lot like the walls of Izerland Fortress.
Tall towers were everywhere, and strong castle walls surrounded the living area of the Margraves.
The water moat was quite deep and larger than the one around East End.
Not only Margrave’s associates but also the Western Church temple are visible, so it may be that both sides are contributing money to strengthen the defense of the castle.
Looking at the state of the castle, it was hard to imagine that the Margrave family was in financial difficulty.
There are many guards guarding the large gate.
Everyone has a strong core and seems to be quite skilled.
Kian thought they would get into a fight before they entered the castle, but after Christy spoke to a man who seemed to be the commander of the garrison, he let them through, muttering, “Ah, that guy… he protected Her Excellency.”
He never had to give up his Windsong Blade, but when he entered the knight’s ceremony, he was told to leave his weapons with the guard at the entrance.
This is a normal thing to do.
”Many people are attending the ceremony while wearing their swords, though,”
”You’re still a suspicious Azraelian.”
”Suspicious, or weird?”
He smiled at Christy’s rude words and kept walking.
He then passed through a large gate, which was about 3 times the height of Kian’s familiar tengu, and entered a beautiful hallway with colored glass letting sunlight in.
After going through some doors, he found himself in a big hall.
He gave his Windsong Blade to the guard waiting at the entrance and went inside.
In front of the hall, there were lots of people.
They wore silver armor that looked fancier than the guard’s armor.
He smelled a strong scent, and when he looked to his right, he saw big, muscular warriors with animal skins over their shoulders, staring straight ahead by the pillars.
I see, just like Christy said, there are more than just regular knights and soldiers at the ceremony.
The huge hall should be bright from the light coming through the stained glass, but because of the big men, many parts were shadowy, making it feel dark.
”This way.”
Christy whispered to him, and he walked along the left side of the hall with the wall.
A few guards and knights looked his way, but since Christy was holding his arm, no one said anything.
Soon, a husky voice could be clearly heard from ahead, and he reached a thinner part of the crowd.
At the very back of the hall, large, faceless knights, their faces hidden by silver headgear and face guards, and white cloaks draped over their shoulders, were lined up on either side of the red carpet, their long swords hanging low in front of them and bowed.
In front of the large, faceless knights was a curtain made of thin fabric that was almost transparent.
Behind the curtain, 3 young men in white clothes are kneeling with their heads bowed.
Before them stood a female knight in golden armor.
”That is…”
”Knights of the Sun”
Christy whispers softly.
Kian blinked and looked at the golden knight behind the curtain.
That is──.
Knights of the Sun, defeated by Oswald.
He had seen her on a horse a few years ago, and now she is behind the thin curtain.
”Where is Her Excellency?”
”Behind the Knights of the Sun, on the throne.”
He looks behind the Knights of the Sun as told.
The curtain is thick at an angle, making it hard to see, but he could see the throne and a chubby old man with curly hair standing next to it.
(So Maribel is sitting on that throne. The fat old man standing next to her is probably the steward named McCutchen.)
He was someone that Oswald thought very lowly of.
He called him ‘stupid steward,’ but is it really true?
”This is just perfect. It looks like I can see the best part of the boring ceremony.”
Just as Christy said, the main part of the knight’s ceremony seems to be starting now.
Behind the curtain, a woman knight in golden armor was walking toward a young man in cloth, who was kneeling and holding a big knight sword.
A clear voice of the woman echoed in the quiet hall.
”Do not be afraid, face the enemy.
God loves courage and justice.
Help the weak.
Never abandon your friends.
Even if it means my own death.
Defend Margrave Izerland.
Continue to be the guardian of law and conscience.
Do the right thing.
Yes, swear to me.”
”I swear” “I swear” “I swear”
The 3 kneeling young men answered in unison.
The Knights of the Sun took a step towards the young man in front of them and smacked him across the cheek with all his might.
”Ugh…”
”This is a warning to you so that you do not forget your oath. ──Knight, stand up!”
”Rise, knights!”
The portly old man beside the throne also barked in a husky voice.
The giant, faceless knights lined up, clashing their swords.
The Knights of the Sun placed the flat of their swords on each of the young men’s shoulders in turn, and spoke again.
”Your name is Guillaume of Izerland, the ‘Knight of the Young Horse’! Knights, stand up!”
”Ha!”
The young man at the front sits up.
When he gets the sword from the Knights of the Sun, cheers and claps fill the room.
”Haha! Thank you! Thank you!”
The young man shouts this with a loud voice after receiving the sword.
The Knights of the Sun quietly clap their hands from behind.
”────”
Kian watches this from far away, feeling like he is looking at a painting.
Now, a knight’s ceremony is happening right in front of him.
A new knight has been born.
There are no land or rewards, but that young man received honor from the Margrave family.
Kian knew that honor wouldn’t fill his stomach, but deep down, he couldn’t help dreaming.
He wished to have that honor too──.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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