Chapter 100
“Does Sir Karl know about the Sorset Knight Grand Tournant?”
“Roughly, I think I’ve heard the circulating stories.”
The Sorset Knight Grand Tournant was a competition famous enough that no knight on the continent would be unaware of it.
It was a venue where elites of 30 from each knight order gathered to evaluate the capabilities of their respective orders.
While typical knight tournants often consisted of individual duels, the Sorset Knight Grand Tournant focused on assessing the overall capabilities of the knight order, such as group horsemanship, group mounted combat matches, and group flag capturing.
Of course, even in the Sorset Knight Grand Tournant, there existed knight competitions where individual skills could be confird.
However, their presence was relatively less significant.
“Will our knight order be able to do well?”
“Well… wouldn’t it be worth trying?”
Karl dismounted and turned his head towards the knights following him while running.
It should be worth trying.
Because they were the ones who endured the hellish special training.
As they continued training while moving for quite so ti, a huge castle eventually appeared before the group's eyes.
A vast forest existed behind the castle, and the grandeur of the castle, built massively on an open plain, possessed sothing that overwheld people.
“The Sorset Duchy is indeed…”
This was Count Vito’s second visit to the Sorset Duchy as well.
Although the size of the County of Collo was also considerable, it couldn't compare to the Sorset family, which boasted a long history and tradition.
The mbers of the Knights of the Lighthouse were wearing surcoats over identical chainmail armor.
In a continent that preferred plate armor with higher defense, the appearance of a knight order clad in chainmail and surcoats exuded a unique charm.
“They say wearing chainmail and surcoats is trendy these days because of Sir Karl yer.”
No one thought the person leading the newly arrived knights was Karl.
This was understandable because the entire city was filled with knights, making it easy to assu that just another diocre knight order had appeared.
“But isn't the knight leading those knights similar to the Sir Karl ntioned in the rumors?”
“Hey, that doesn't make sense. Besides, they said Sir Karl operates alone.”
“That’s true, but… I heard recently that Sir Karl founded the Knights of the Lighthouse not long ago.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They said the knight order mbers also wear chainmail and surcoats just like them.”
“…No way?”
“No way…?”
The two people who had been talking while watching Karl and the knights for a while looked at each other simultaneously.
“It can’t be.”
“It can’t be…”
The two simultaneously nodded their heads and burst into laughter.
Wasn't it a world where anyone these days imitated Karl yer?
Despite the constant gazes and whispers from people, the knights, including Karl, paid no heed and simply rode their horses towards their lodgings.
***
After unpacking their luggage at the pre-arranged accommodation with the knights and coming down to the dining area, Karl approached a woman drinking alone at a corner table in the tavern and plopped down.
“Seems like you’re everywhere I go.”
As Karl smirked, Anne, seeing him, smiled brightly.
“Should I call you Viscount Reitz yer now?”
“…It feels awkward.”
“I’ll be careful, Viscount Karl Reitz yer.”
“…”
“You’re no fun. Alright.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, what else could I be doing besides my one job?”
“Information gathering?”
“People watching.”
She made a mischievous expression.
“So, do you think you can win?”
“Are you curious about that?”
“Of course. The story of the new hero making waves in the world and the knights following him excites
too.”
Karl smirked, looking at Anne who was gazing at him with her arm propped up.
“It would be best to stop acting in a way that doesn’t suit you.”
“Hahaha.”
“So… what’s about to happen here? From what I see, incidents and accidents never cease where you are.”
“This ti, I really ca purely out of curiosity. I also want to see the knights renowned throughout the continent in person.”
“I see… I hope you have an enjoyable viewing experience.”
“You’re leaving already?”
Anne shook the liquor bottle.
Karl, who was about to get up, sat back down in the chair and snatched the bottle.
“A brief mont should be fine.”
***
Since the Sorset Knight Grand Tournant was one of the most famous knight competitions on the West Continent, it wasn't possible to accommodate all participants within the castle.
Therefore, each knight order had to find their own lodging.
Fortunately, Karl and the Knights of the Lighthouse were able to stay in accommodations at least within the castle grounds, thanks to Anne’s help.
“I never dread there were so many knights on the continent.”
Kelvin, chattering excitedly, was in a state of excitent.
“Isn’t it finally ti to show the world the skills of this knight of the gale, Kelvin Manov? Isn’t that right, Master?”
The surrounding people looked at Kelvin, who called Karl Master one day, Lord the next, and Commander another day as he pleased, with expressions indicating they couldn’t stop him.
“Are you trying to show yourself getting utterly thrashed?”
Diogo, who had beco noticeably closer to Kelvin since so ti ago, placed his hand on his bouncing shoulder.
“Compared to Sir Diogo, wouldn’t I still have a much higher chance?”
“It’s not always about skill when it cos to making a na for yourself. Heard the saying, life is about real combat and experience?”
“That only holds true when skill backs it up to so extent.”
“So are you saying I lack skill right now?”
Diogo, when they first t again in the County of Collo, couldn't even speak properly because he was conscious of Karl, but now he seed comfortable.
Of course, the habit of glancing at Karl intermittently wasn't completely fixed yet.
“Hey, stop being so self-conscious. Sir Diogo is now strictly a mber of the Knights of the Lighthouse and a proper squad leader, so why are you so conscious?”
“You… didn’t see it.”
Co to think of it, Diogo had the experience of his own mbers dying at Karl’s hands.
Although he was now a knight under his command, it wasn't incomprehensible that he held a fundantal fear.
“Anyway, is the Commander with that woman?”
The mbers, completely unaware of Anne’s identity, were thinking that Karl t a woman he knew from before after coming here, and was spending a long ti with her.
“Anyway, the group mounted combat preliminaries are starting now, when is the Commander coming?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Diogo diligently moved his mouth.
“To be honest, during training, only we rolled around like dogs. Did the Commander ever roll around like that? Right?”
Diogo spoke towards the mbers standing beside him as if seeking agreent, but strangely, unlike before, the mbers’ reactions were lukewarm.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Honestly, even now, it’s our knight order’s first official event deploynt. Does it make sense for the person called Commander to be late alone because he’s eting a woman? Doesn’t it? Seriously, he’s slacked off too much. It’s because people around him praise him as the Knight of the Lighthouse, Knight of Salvation, Saint of Schwerin, isn't it.”
He chattered excitedly.
And the mbers beca quiet.
Amidst the silence, only Diogo’s mouth moved ceaselessly.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Usually you nod along, but today I’m the only bad guy?”
“…”
Just then, one mber, keeping his mouth tightly shut, signaled by rolling his eyes upwards several tis.
Diogo instantly felt a dreadful chill run down his spine to his toes.
His body naturally flinched, and like a wooden doll, his body creaked as it slowly turned around.
“Commander…?”
“You look quite surprised.”
“Ha… haha….”
“From the looks of it, you seem dissatisfied with my training volu. As soon as we return to Collo, let’s conduct separate training with . I’ll set an example, so make sure never to fall behind. Absolutely never.”
“…Yes.”
Karl smiled, and Diogo’s expression beca utterly gloomy.
“We’re departing. Show the results of the hellish training you’ve endured to your heart’s content.”
“Yes!”
Thus, the Knights of the Lighthouse departed with a resounding response.
Anne, who had followed Karl, watched them receding into the distance.
“What do you think will happen?”
“What?”
“Will the Knights of the Lighthouse be able to win?”
“Well, nobody can know that. Still, if it’s that person, mightn’t it be possible?”
“Well… that’s true too.”
Sancho fully sympathized with her words that it was possible because it was Karl.
Because the things Karl yer had achieved so far were that remarkable.
Since outsiders were restricted from viewing the preliminary rounds, the two sohow hoped for the main tournant to start quickly, filled with anticipation.
***
Even among the diverse knight orders gathered at the group mounted combat match venue, a few particularly stood out.
The Lily Knights of Marquis John Aspinal, flaunting their lily emblem, and in complete contrast, the Skull Knights, well-known as half free knights, half plunderers.
“Those are…! Those Nautilus Knights bastards, aren’t they?”
The knights’ gazes gathered towards where one knight quietly pointed.
The Nautilus Knights, renowned for their strength throughout the continent, were individuals who pursued profit even more blatantly than Alcantara.
Recently, there were rumors ranging from connections with slave traders to even carrying out contract killings for money, sparking controversy among knights whether they could truly be called a knight order.
“It’s the Golden Knights!”
On one side, figures clad in gleaming golden full plate mail appeared.
Similarly one of the Continent's Top 10, they were knights called the Sword of the rchant Federation.
The Golden Knights were created by rchants to survive in the current lawless continent.
With the rchants' full support and imnse financial backing poured into them, not only the knights' level but also their equipnt was overwhelmingly superior.
“What on earth is happening with this tournant? Why are such knight orders participating?”
Although Sorset was a famous knight tournant, it was rare for such high-profile figures to participate.
This was because they already enjoyed widespread fa even without the tournant.
“Isn't it because of Sir Karl yer?”
“The Knight of the Lighthouse? Why Sir Karl?”
“They say the Knights of the Lighthouse are participating. There’s a lot of talk about needing to include Sir Karl yer among the new mbers of the Continent's Top 10. Especially since the rcenary King, who was one of the Top 10, died, leaving a spot vacant.”
“So, many ca to defeat Sir Karl and claim the honor?”
“Well, that’s about the gist of it.”
It was a plausible story.
Though reluctant to admit it, the faces of those belonging to diocre knight orders turned ashen as they looked at the lineup of knight orders that had appeared.
Originally, the Sorset Knight Grand Tournant was a great opportunity for moderately well-known small and dium-sized knight orders to make a na for themselves.
But looking at the knight orders present, they doubted whether they could achieve good results.
“Sir Karl might be an amazing person, but why do you think Sorset is called the battle of knight orders? It’s not an individual competition here.”
“True, no matter how great the Knight of the Lighthouse is, victory in a knight order battle requires the level and coordination of all 30 mbers to match.”
“And that Knights of the Lighthouse was founded this year, wasn't it?”
So were intimidated after hearing Karl’s heroic tales, but yet other knights forcibly downplayed the recently founded Knights of the Lighthouse.
As various knights were murmuring and looking around, a group of knights entered the preliminary match venue.
Since most knight orders had already arrived, they could be considered almost the last to arrive.
Clip-clop. Clip-clop.
Perhaps because they were the last to arrive, the gazes of all knight orders turned towards the incoming knights.
Chain mail and white surcoats. And the black diagonal cross mark revealed who they were.
And the black-haired man riding a proud and fierce-looking dark brown horse at their lead was the figure everyone was curious about.
“That person… Karl Reitz yer.”
An indefinable energy flowed from his figure as he slowly rode in.
In addition to the aura exuded by soone who had reached Master rank, it was an aura that made approach difficult.
Combined with his black hair and dark eyes, his presence beca even stronger.
Gulp.
The sound of swallowing could be heard from the throats of several knights.
‘Isn’t it cheating for a Master to participate in a knight tournant?’
Knights who, just monts before, claid Karl alone couldn't change anything, began to completely change their stance upon actually witnessing Karl.
The thought that perhaps one knight could indeed change the course of the entire tournant began to surface in people’s minds.
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