Chapter 422 - The Show Goes On
The training field was quiet, and Arthur was about to reveal his selected knights when one of them knelt. Arthur only needed to see his head to know it was the ass-kisser from earlier. If there were one quality that Arthur admired, then it would be his inability to accept rejection.
"Great Seika," the knight looked at the ground as he shouted. "I am willing to swear the oath, even if it meant going against the world for you! My arms will be your sword, and my flesh will be your shield!"
The man said it so heroically that Arthur was tempted to accept, just to see if he would indeed do as sworn. However, despite being late, the rest hurried to do the same.
Arthur sighed when the knights knelt on the ground, each saying their piece. However, only a handful of people didn't do as such, and they were ironically the ones Arthur selected.
"I appreciate your devotion to serving this kingdom, but I have already chosen my knights," Arthur was about to reveal their identity until he realized he had no idea what their names were.
It would be a bit disrespectful to point at someone and say 'I choose you' without actually saying their name. Arthur didn't think that his little dramatic show of selection could have such a hole in planning.
However, the show only goes on.
Arthur raised his hand upward, and the golden mana made a stunning contrast against the light of sunset. Then, as the knights were confused, the mana exploded from his hand toward the sky.
"Those who are selected, please tell me your answer."
As the clouds parted again, Arthur guided his mana to descend like a golden pillar on the female knight with dark hair, surrounding her harmlessly. The knight was startled before she looked at Arthur in the eye, but more pillars of light descended before she could answer.
The pillars descended on the giant man, the female wave rider, and the demi with wings. Then, as the knights nervously waited for the final selection, the pillar descended on the back of the crowd.
The crowd gasped, and many shouted in shock as the selection was made. The first to answer Arthur's offer was the giant man, who chose not to kneel earlier and unsheathed his sword.
Holding the sword by both hands, the knight took a step forward and presented it to Arthur. The next one to do the same was the demi with wings, and then came the wave rider.
All of the three accepted his offer with both flattered and weirded-out expressions. Arthur didn't choose them based on their strength but on how they behaved with others and how much potential he could see in them.
"What is your decision?" Arthur asked the remaining two. The Mad Prince closed her eyes while the oddball seemed to be unwell. Then, the Mad Prince stepped forward and offered her sword as well, accepting to be his knight.
"I will serve you, My Lord," the knight said. "However, it is not honor that I seek, but strength," her words made the crowd grow noisier, as that wasn't something a knight should say. However, Arthur simply smiled in response.
"That's what I intend to give you," Arthur turned toward the last knight, who was sweating and pale.
The countenance of the oddball made Arthur suspect something, but he simply waited for his response. Instead, the oddball looked at Kaza, who wasn't one of the few selected and took a step forward.
"Can my master come with me, Seika?"
Arthur turned toward the blonde Red Nose, who seemed to be equally worried about his friend. The fact that he was a noble who befriended commoners left a favorable impression on Arthur, but his strength was mediocre.
"I'm afraid not," Arthur wouldn't promise resources for someone he didn't see their potential. "You can visit him from time to time, but otherwise, it would be difficult to have him as a knight."
Arthur didn't choose nobles because they could be spies for the Knight of Nobility and knew they wouldn't be close to the people. However, it wasn't the only reason because he genuinely saw no potential in them.
They have grown vain, surrounded by resources to strengthen them and an environment that cares about politics rather than personal strength. Arthur might need a noble as an ally in the future, but not as a knight.
"Then I refuse," the oddball shook his head as he took a step away from the light. Most of the knights looked at him as if he was insane for turning down an offer of strength.
"Are you certain?" Arthur noticed that the knight's complexion was getting better after he got away from his mana. This discovery made him more interested, and he began to link the dots.
'This oddball is apprehensive of my mana?' Arthur realized that this knight might have portrayed an image of a great friend, but this might not be the only reason. If his mana indeed made the knight uncomfortable, then Arthur's nemesis might be involved.
Enders.
"Very well," Arthur nodded. "I admire your loyalty, so I will give your friend a chance to prove himself as long as you agree."
Arthur could see that Kaza's expression brightened at the offer, and he grinned like a child. Then, however, the knight's expression grew uncomfortable, but he simply sighed and knelt when he saw how happy Kaza was.
"I will serve you, My Lord."
***
The show was over, and the knights returned to their rooms. The people left were Arthur and his six knights, awaiting the orders from their new lord.
"Great Seika," the Captain Knight of the academy stepped forward. "It is an honor to meet you at last," he said with a slight bow. "Might I recommend a few knights that you might have overlooked?"
Arthur glanced at the knight with interest and knew who he was going to recommend. This knight acted politely, but he doubted Arthur's ability to judge, which seemed to anger Big Bear.
"If I intend to raise more knights, I'll make sure to choose them," Arthur refused politely. "But for now, may I have a word with my new knights?"
The captain's face betrayed nothing, and he simply nodded. Arthur was followed by the young knights toward a hall where they would hold their ceremony.
After finding a private office, Arthur asked everyone to wait outside except for the Mad Prince. Now, he would do a one-to-one interview where he would make sure none of them were spies.
"Why did you choose Veran?" the Mad Prince spoke as if Arthur's identity changed nothing of their social standing, but Arthur preferred this attitude more than blind respect.
"I truly have no idea who that is," Arthur shrugged.
"That short knight," she said with unease. "I know that you noticed the stench of blood on him. He is abnormal," there was fear in her voice.
'As attentive as I thought,' Arthur smiled.
"Why do you think I chose him? That's the exact reason," Arthur stood up from his seat. "You have no say in this, so might as well shut up."
"What?" the knight frowned.
"I know that you pursue strength and that I need knights, but you have lost your place as the number one in the academy. From now on, you need to prove yourself to grow stronger."
Arthur's words made the knight paused, and she nodded slowly. Even if he didn't mind if someone spoke rudely to him, he didn't tolerate arrogance. After all, she had no authority to lecture him on who to choose.
"What is your name?" Arthur stretched his hand for her sword, and she knelt after giving it to him.
"My name is Hilda Greenwood," the knight presented her sword, which Arthur took. "I swear loyalty to the Lord of Hidden City, Seika of Living Beings."
"Before I appoint you as my knight, I have a question to ask of you," Arthur's eyes began shining in the dim room. "Are you going to betray me?"
***
The rest of the interview followed the same procedure, and Arthur now had one of the two friends as his guest. Before Arthur appointed the oddball as his knights, he would test Kaza.
"Seika," Kaza knelt on the floor. "I apologize for the disrespect that I've shown you in the room."
"Veran told me about your reasons," Arthur smiled and gestured for the knight to stand. "I hold nothing against you, but I still need to ask you something."
"Anything," Kaza stood up and straightened his back.
"If the circumstances demand it, would you kill Veran?" Arthur asked and saw the knight's face slowly morph into horror, but he didn't say anything.
"What kind of circumstances?"
"For example, if I ordered you to kill him. Another example is that Veran harmed innocent people, or threatened the safety of my city, others, or the world."
"How... did you know?" Kaza's face was pale as his body trembled.