~Chapter 37~
‘How did it…’
I blankly stared at the training ground where the dry wind blew.
‘…end up like this?’
There stood my mage friend, the Part 2 male lead, the mercenary boy.
“Then let the entrance test begin.”
Senior Oberon, back before I realized, spoke in a solemn voice. Two other nervous young men stood beside Khalid.
“Three applicants at once!”
Grandpa snorted excitedly, unable to hide it.
On my other side, Uncle Leviathan sat with the stern face of a school disciplinarian. He had appeared without warning, taken Khalid’s bloody application, and asked a few questions.
“Mercenary experience? At twelve?”
“Yes.”
“You… don’t tell me.”
“……”
“Were you a child soldier of the kingdom?”
Only Khalid would know the cold sweat running down my back at that moment.
“I’m no mage. I just ran a few errands for wandering mercenary groups.”
“I see. And you met Ruby in Eosia?”
“That’s right.”
“Then answer this…”
“Yes.”
“What food does Ruby hate most?”
“Green peppers.”
“What does Ruby like most?”
“Baths. And a cozy bed.”
“What does Ruby—”
“Excuse me, is this a quiz show?”
“…Seems you really are his friend.”
Somehow the interview turned strange midway.
Meanwhile, two more applicants had arrived. Uncle said everyone had to pass a simple entrance test.
‘But I don’t remember taking one?’
Maybe I was a special case.
Honestly, I felt uneasy. Having Khalid close was good, but two kids hiding their true identities meant—
‘Twice the risk of being exposed!’
Leviathan glanced at my sulky face and spoke.
“Ruby, sorry, but our Order doesn’t take people through connections.”
What wonderful words! No nepotism!
“Of course! Everything should be strict and fair—”
“Anyone who submits an application gets accepted.”
I shut my mouth. Uncle shrugged.
“Short on manpower.”
Damn. I forgot about that.
Grandpa looked like a boiling pressure cooker now.
Oberon stepped to the center of the training ground.
“It’s a simple process, but necessary to gauge your skills. Don’t be nervous.”
“Yes, sir!”
The applicants answered with stiff shoulders.
Khalid just stared at the ground, indifferent.
“Take a wooden sword. It’ll be a mock duel.”
He handed out wooden swords dusted with white powder.
“The rule’s simple. Whoever gets more powder on their clothes loses.”
All three wore black padding. A safe way to test skills without real injury.
“You, Khalid…? And Edwin, right?”
“Yes! Edwin Cowell! I came all the way from the East, inspired by the hero Leviathan!”
That hero was beside me feeding me walnut pie.
“Good to know. Now take your sword.”
“Yes, sir!”
Khalid and Edwin faced each other, wooden swords ready.
“Kiddo, what do you think of that brat’s skills? Worth anything?”
Grandpa leaned forward. I thought carefully.
“Hmm… at least the basics.”
Actually, more than basics. Khalid was an unregistered mage of the Magic Kingdom. To avoid their eyes, he had learned long ago to survive without magic.
‘He always seemed more interested in swordplay than restricted magic anyway.’
I screamed silently in my head.
‘Hide your strength and take it easy, got it?!’
Of course, no reply came from the boy standing in the wind.
At Oberon’s signal, the match began.
‘Just don’t suddenly rush in like a storm and crush him instantly—hm?’
I blinked.
Plop. My walnut pie fell from my hand.
“Kiddo? Didn’t you say he at least had basics?”
Grandpa’s puzzled voice.
“Uh… right?”
“That’s not even basic.”
Uncle handed me another walnut pie, adding calmly.
So…
“What’s he doing…?”
The wind blew.
Khalid was covered in white powder, happily getting beaten.
Round one ended in Edwin’s overwhelming victory.
I stared blankly at Khalid brushing off his clothes.
‘Has his sword skill… regressed?’
I didn’t know. But his furrowed brow said something wasn’t going right.
Strange. He wasn’t like this.
I knew Khalid’s skill better than anyone—he’d secretly helped me countless times on the battlefield.
‘We killed so many dark beasts together.’
The Magic King, criticized for using child soldiers, had at first pretended to keep young mages in the rear. But later, no.
‘He just used us more cunningly.’
Sending us ahead to detect traces of dark mages or scouting hidden lairs of dark beasts.
In the end, I had done both rear support and secret missions.
Until I realized this was a novel’s world, I had been a brainwashed puppet—never even realizing how harsh it was.
‘That makes it all the more cruel!’
To live exploited without knowing it. How unfair!
I sighed shortly and shook my head. Nothing would change by dwelling on it.
‘Still, something’s really off with him today.’
I even forgot to eat the pie, frowning seriously.
Round two began.
This time, against a bigger youth named Delmon.
And once again…
“Start!”
Khalid became a white mess.
“His movements are dull.”
Uncle murmured beside me.
“Doesn’t look like it.”
Delmon shouted and swung. Khalid hesitated, taking a hit on the shoulder. With padding, it wasn’t painful, but his face showed deep frustration.
As if wondering himself, ‘Why am I like this?’
“Hm…”
Uncle Leviathan straightened up from his slouch.
“Said he was in a mercenary band?”
“Yeah.”
Grandpa clicked his tongue.
“With that skill, surviving in a band is a miracle.”
“Could it be…”
That mutter came from Sir Leon, watching behind them.
“Sir Leon?”
He glanced around, then focused on the walnut pie in my hand.
“What? Hungry?”
“Lend it for a moment.”
Puzzled, I handed it over. Without hesitation, Sir Leon hurled it forward.
Sharp killing intent infused it—like throwing a dagger.
“…!”
At that instant, Khalid’s head snapped up, eyes meeting mine.
In his drooping gaze flashed a sharp light.
At the same time, he kicked Delmon’s shin, breaking his balance, and drew a hidden knife from his ankle.
Thwack!
The knife pierced the pie dead center and flew straight back toward Sir Leon.
“That lunatic…”
Clang! A knight’s drawn sword knocked it aside.
