The Genius Blacksmith's Game
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The knights of the Parian Empire had one dream.
It means stepping onto the title of Baron to rise to at least the rank of Count.
Knight of the Parian Empire
Even just becoming a knight of the place called the Heart of Parion earns you tremendous respect in other countries.
It is a famous anecdote that when the number one ranked Heart of Parion visited a kingdom, a king ran out.
However, that is power in a foreign country, not power in one's own country.
Befitting the largest empire, Parion, there are truly many knights living in the Parion Empire.
Among them, the knights who were qualified to covet at least the title of 'Count' were now in a frenzy.
When this news was first conveyed to the knights of the Parian Empire, it came as a shock.
They are the ones who were their idols.
King Poshua of Siege rose from an ordinary knight to seize the title of Count, and King Ken of Jiangshi became like him as an ordinary soldier turned to the path of a Jiangshi.
The same goes for the werewolf Fors.
Only Olio and Roy were of noble birth to begin with.
The death of the counts came as a great sorrow, but it soon came as something else entirely.
“With the passing of the Counts, that position has become vacant. It needs to be filled quickly so that the territory can regain stability.……”
An elderly knight.
This is what a knight about to retire said while drinking with other knights at a pub.
It ignited a fire in the hearts of those who, although everyone thought the same, pretended otherwise based on the idea that 'chivalry' is noble and non-coveted.
Yes, a clear opportunity came to the knights.
A chance to become a count, perhaps.
“It doesn’t matter to me since I’m retiring now, but that’s not the case for you, is it? Go and earn merit. Just like King Poshua of Siege rose from a commoner to a Count. Just like he went from a low-ranking soldier to the master of millions.”
Advice from an elderly knight.
The knights at the scene, as well as those outside, heard the news and were enraged.
This is my chance…
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I must achieve a great feat.
"We must kill at least one high-ranking official of the State of Hyun!"
The articles were on fire.
If they become counts, their family will be praised for generations.
Just as the deceased counts did, it is recorded in history that he rose to the rank of count from a mere knight… or a mere soldier.
The knights did not want to miss that opportunity.
The knights increased their participation in punitive expeditions to earn merit and subjugated more free people.
Furthermore, if there were anyone who had insulted the Parian Empire, he immediately mounted his horse to punish them, even if they were nobles of other nations.
However, such actions by them are those in power.
There was no way it could have been conveyed to the Dukes and His Majesty.
To them, it was merely known that the knights these days 'work hard'.
If they really want to become Counts… … .
Just as Ken the King of Jiangshis transformed from a soldier into a Jiangshi sorcerer and single-handedly repelled an army of 30,000… just as Fors the Werewolf slayed over ten legendary monsters and offered up the spoils, he had to accomplish it.
However, there was no way such a thing was possible for them.
The old knight might have said that because he thought it might be better to realize it quickly and become a knight unbound by titles.
When thinking that way.
“They say there is a tree belonging to the Dragon Elder Gronit in the village of Bars, located on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Esphon. It is said that when Gronit, having transformed into an ancient dragon, died and scattered as mana, his crystals covered the entire village. Furthermore, it is said that the tree originally consisted of two ancient trees, but their roots merged through Gronit’s power to become a single conjoined tree. However, they claim this tree possesses tremendous power. They say merely looking at it invigorates one and makes worries vanish. Now, consider this. It is the very place where the ancient dragon Gronit died. Can you even imagine what kind of power this tree holds?”
The articles are hard to even imagine.
It was only natural that the tree would possess great power.
How pleased His Majesty would be if we cut down that tree and offered it to him! It is a tree that holds the power of an ancient dragon.
"A Dragon Tree, known as the Lord of Magic? If I make a staff out of that tree, it will far surpass the Zelkova Staff Lord Olio once possessed. This is an opportunity. A once-in-a-lifetime chance."
The knights headed to the Kingdom of Espon, harboring new hope.
We will take Gronit's wood.
The King of the Espon Kingdom, who was nothing more than a mere pharmacy, could not stop the more than a thousand knights of Parion.
Among them were also powerful individuals belonging to the heart of Parion, as well as promising individuals with a high probability of becoming counts.
On the battlefield, the King had heard the names of such people.
“……I understand.”
The King of the Espon Kingdom ended up giving it up in vain.
However, just because the king gave it away, it does not mean that he gave away the people living in that village as well.
A story that has been passed down as a legend for a long time.
That story was true, and this land was one they had protected for a long time, and that tree was our symbol.
“No!”
"You mean to cut down trees?"
“If you cut down that sacred tree, you will be punished!”
“Shut up. Your king has already kept silent.”
The king agreed, but it could not be called an agreement.
Even the Knights of Parion had some common sense.
I couldn't openly say that he had given permission.
Even so, they were ultimately nothing more than mere knights.
“Kill me and go!”
"Step over me!"
“Cutting down that tree is cutting us down!”
Thousands of villagers grew up hearing the love story between a dragon and a human from a young age.
Those two ancient trees are over 2,000 years old.
To them, it was like their very lives, and it held memories.
Sometimes I gave them sweet fruit, and sometimes I became their shade during their childhood, providing a place for them to take naps.
You ask if it's nothing more than a tree?
no.
It became more precious because I realized that the legend was true.
It is not that the villagers are being greedy and want that tree.
I simply wanted to protect their noble love.
Did he know that feeling again?
Magic crystals scattered as the ancient dragon Gronit scattered.
It was not heard as a notification, but when it reached the villagers, those who were sick were completely cured.
Some people decided to make a marriage promise in front of that tree said to grant love.
“To think you cut down that tree just because of greed!”
An old man shouted.
At that moment.
S-e
“Then are you saying you’re blocking my path just because of a tree?”
The knight at the front struck the old man's neck.
Rolling
“Aaaargh!”
“Uh, sir…!”
“You bastards!”
A scream echoed loudly through the village.
The village was an incredibly peaceful village on the frontier.
The death of the old man shocked them.
The name of the knight who just beheaded the old man is Revas.
He is the one most likely to become a count.
Actually, everyone came here together, but they noticed.
That if that tree is cut down, it will fall into Rebas's hands.
Therefore, it was better to make a good impression on him now and plan for the future.
After all, Revas was someone who knew how to bestow immense amounts of gold and treasure upon them.
The knight grabbed a woman by the hair and dragged her across the ground.
“How dare a lowly thing block the path of the Knights of Parion?”
The knights swung axes and saws at the villagers.
Psseo-eok-!
A young man's head was smashed.
They turn the village into chaos and speak.
Parion is the master of all things.
Even the owner of this tree is Parion.
That's a stretch.
It is merely the powerful trying to take away what the powerless are trying to protect.
Greed filled Levas's eyes.
The conjoined tree I had just looked up at was so beautiful.
Rebas's face flushed at the thought of hurrying to present it to His Majesty.
“I will cut them all down and return today.”
“What are we going to do about the men and women of this village?”
While making an example of the villagers by beating them up or killing a few, the knight asked
Even Revas realized that their recent behavior had gone beyond the bounds of propriety, considering that Parion was the true master of the continent.
If I become a Count, rumors like this certainly wouldn't be good.
“…Kill him. It would be no good if there were witnesses.”
“……I obey your command.”
“Kill them all!”
The other reporters also knew that their behavior was not lawful.
The knights approach to kill the villagers.
at that time.
“Stop itttttt!!”
A knight shouted.
The knight's name is Jas. He grew up in this village.
He admired the knights of the Parian Empire and was finally able to join them.
They were his idols.
When they said they were going there, they assured us that they would only cut down trees and would not cause any harm to the villagers.
However, it was different from the truth.
From the start, Jas had no power to stop the knights.
“The Black does not raise toward the weak!”
The discipline of the knights.
At those words, everyone looked at the villagers.
You must not raise your sword against the elderly, children, those who do not know how to fight, or those who have surrendered.
They swore an oath.
The reporters hesitated for a moment.
However, it was only for a brief moment.
"Aren't you going to make it big?"
“You said you grew up as an orphan in this village, right? Aren’t you going to climb higher?”
You pathetic fool.
The knights did not listen to what Jas said.
When one of the knights was about to strike the child, Jas instinctively ended up attacking the knight.
Rustle-
The knight's face contorted as his arm was severed.
“……This damn bastard.”
Jas was pushed back hesitantly.
I didn't want this to be an article like this.
I did not want to become a knight who takes things away like this.
Now he too would die here.
However, Jas gripped the sword tightly.
“It is an order. Zas. Step back.”
Levas spoke last.
But he himself is a knight.
The second rule of the knight.
I uphold conscience before commands.
Reciting it, he says he will fight to the very end.
The knights rush in.
Now he was nothing more than a 'witness', not a colleague.
Jas inwardly recites the eighth rule of the knight.
Even at the last moment, a knight does not abandon chivalry.
Therefore, when attempting to clash with them.
“Human, you are weak. Kuruk, stand back.”
An ogre appeared.
The red-skinned ogre looked at Jas and the villagers.
“Rumble, Lord Gronit’s final command. Protect Gronit and Margaret. As your guardian, as a knight, I carry out your order.”
He was a knight.
He was an ogre, but he was a knight who upheld the most loyal mission.
Chapter 3 of the Knight's Discipline.
A vow is longer than life.
Even though the master is dead…
Like Chapter 3 of the Discipline… … .
Even if the owner has already left.
He is a loyal knight who carries out the orders he left behind by any means necessary.
and…….
Rumble-rumble-rumble!
Magical power springs from the axe he holds.
Dragon Blood Tribe
Among them, a knight with natural talent.
The ogre…
"You handle magic?"
The moment his axe is swung once, punishment is delivered.
The blood of the false knights burst forth at the knight who upheld true chivalry.
