《The Ultimate Weapon of the Kingdom: Enrolling in the Knight Academy as an Inferior Student》 CH 1 Chapter 1: [Nameless No. 1] There has been a frenzy over mysterious disappearances in the rural area of the Kingdom of Adia. It is said that near the abandoned village that was devastated by a monster disaster, a series of missing persons cases have occurred frequently. My mission this time is to investigate the abandoned underground space of the church, which is suspected to be the hiding place of the culprit. As I walked through the dark corridor of the abandoned underground church, I felt someone¡¯s presence. I drew my sword from its sheath and remained alert. At the end of the corridor, there was a large altar. A thin man was observing me from atop the altar. He had a bald head, pale skin, and appeared lifeless. However, the glowing red eyes he possessed showed a malevolent life. There is no doubt, he is the feared ¡°Undead King, Gnome.¡± Originally, he was an unfortunate alchemist who became obsessed with research and violated prohibitions. The number of victims who fell into his hands has reached thousands. He has been missing for over fifty years and was believed to be dead. ¡°So, you¡¯re the one standing in the way of my righteousness... judging by your appearance, you¡¯re a knight, aren¡¯t you?¡± Gnome smiled as he looked at me. I didn¡¯t answer and approached him. ¡°Hah, all alone? And without the Dragon Crest, too.¡± Gnome mocked me with those words. The Dragon Crest is a metal badge given to high-ranking knights, and they are required to wear it on their chests wherever they are assigned. There are three types: ¡°Bronze Dragon Crest,¡± ¡°Silver Dragon Crest,¡± and ¡°Gold Dragon Crest.¡± Especially the ¡°Gold Dragon Crest¡± is only given to the ten strongest knights in the Kingdom. I don''t have any association with such matters. I have never been bestowed even with the ¡°Bronze Dragon Crest.¡± And I am certain I will never receive it. ¡°You brat... let me tell you, I have killed the holder of the ¡®Gold Dragon Crest.¡¯ And if it¡¯s an ordinary knight, the number is countless. You must have thought this would be an easy investigation, but how unfortunate for you to clash with me, haha. There is no one in this country who can judge me. If you want to kill me, you should have brought at least five current holders of the ¡®Gold Dragon Crest¡¯ here.¡± Ignoring Gnome¡¯s words, I kicked the ground and leaped towards him. Gnome furrowed his brow, puzzled. He couldn¡¯t understand my intentions, it seemed. ¡°So, you¡¯re going to choose death by launching a suicidal attack, thinking you can¡¯t escape. Fine, then die bravely. This power is too excessive to be used on you, but I¡¯ll show you. Come forth, Undead Dragon!¡± A massive magic circle unfolded, and from there, a huge dragon appeared. The dragon¡¯s flesh was rotting, its eyes were absent, and its eye sockets gaped. I knew this Undead Dragon. It was a dragon forcibly resurrected from death. Lacking intelligence when alive, it had now become a puppet obedient to its master, Gnome. Moreover, its physical strength and vitality surpassed its living state. No matter how damaged its body was, it could still launch itself at enemies. Especially this Undead Dragon was enormous. It was nearly fifty meters long. It was a noble dragon that had reached a thousand years of age. Dragons are known for their exceptional longevity, and their age is closely tied to their size, intelligence, and mana capabilities. That¡¯s why the dragon hierarchy is divided by age. ¡°Be the prey, brat. Your soul will wander within the Undead Dragon¡¯s body for eternity, never to be saved, and you will suffer endlessly.¡± I kicked the ground and leaped, pointing my sword towards the head of the Undead Dragon. I channeled Mana into my arm. A beam of shimmering black aura gathered in both of my arms. I utilized this power to strengthen my body. This technique is known as [Stromon]. ¡°A Mana so dense that it¡¯s clearly visible...? And such malevolent Mana, something I¡¯ve never seen before!¡± With a swift strike of my sword, the body of the Undead shattered into pieces. Toxic blood turned green and scattered in the air. Decayed flesh, shattered bones, and crushed organs collapsed onto the floor, spreading out. It turns out I didn¡¯t need to use this much Mana just for ¡°Stromon.¡± Perhaps I overestimated my opponent... ¡°It¡¯s ... It¡¯s impossible! ! There shouldn¡¯t be anyone in this country who can single-handedly defeat my greatest masterpiece...!¡± As soon as I landed, I struck Gnome with a swift attack. With great force, I propelled the upper half of Gnome''s body into the wall of the underground church. The impact was devastating, shattering his back and fracturing his skull. Yet, despite the severity of the blow, Gnome clung to life, collapsing onto the floor below. His furious gaze pierced through me, his eyes burning red with anger. The Gnomes possessed a penchant for manipulating their own bodies through alchemical means, seeking an elusive form of immortality. It seems this Gnome falls into that category as well. Yet, his time was running out, and survival seemed improbable for someone like him in this realm. However, I knew of three other individuals, besides myself, who possessed the same extraordinary power. ¡°It¡¯s impossible... There¡¯s no way someone like this exists in the Kingdom of Adia! Who are you really?¡± Gnome shouted. With a crushed body, he desperately crawled on the ground and looked up at me. There was no need to answer. I had no intention to answer. Unnecessary conversation was not recommended. However, in front of a dying opponent, my mouth opened instinctively. ¡°I have no name. I am simply referred to as [Nameless No.1]¡ªEin.¡± Gnome¡¯s eyes widened at my words. ¡°Ein? So, the legends were true...! The Knight of Shadows, the kingdom¡¯s ultimate weapon... the ¡®Phantom Dragon Knight¡¯! The four hidden knights, created by the Church¡¯s dark faction, their existence concealed...!¡± I approached Gnome and raised my sword. Of course, it was to deliver the finishing blow. ¡°Ku... kuku... So, the ¡®Phantom Dragon Knight¡¯ truly existed. The kingdom has fallen indeed. You, too, are an empty being. Nameless, devoid of love, sacrificing everything without receiving honor. And so, you die without knowing the joys of being human, as a weapon of the kingdom.¡± The descending sword halted midway. I couldn¡¯t comprehend why it stopped, even within myself. My gaze met Gnome¡¯s directly. I swiftly brought down the sword. Gnome¡¯s head exploded, and brain matter sprayed in the air. I sheathed my sword, covered in the splattered blood. ¡°Nameless, devoid of love, without honor...¡± I contemplated Gnome¡¯s words. It was something I had never thought about before. I had been taught that anything unnecessary for the mission was irrelevant to me. ¡°Do I truly have nothing...?¡± I didn¡¯t understand why that was a problem. However, I could feel a vague sense of unease budding within me, gradually spreading. CH 2 Chapter 2: Cardinal Netia After defeating the undead king, Gnome, I returned to the grand cathedral in the holy capital city of Thayne, which served as our base. The ceiling boasted a large chandelier, while the walls were adorned with magnificent religious paintings. Stained glass windows depicted the angels revered in the Holy Dragon faith. At the far end of the hall stood a hulking figure with a rugged, stone-like visage. Dressed in a lavish robe adorned with gold embroidery on white fabric, he exuded an air of opulence. ¡°Cardinal Netia, I have completed the mission and have come to report,¡± I said, dropping to one knee and raising my voice. The giant turned around, his expression devoid of emotion, and directed his unfeeling gaze towards me. In an instant, his body turned into earth, crumbling and dissipating onto the floor, disappearing. The towering man vanished, replaced by a black-haired beauty. Her long, glossy black hair danced in the air. Her ethereal, porcelain-white skin possessed a beauty that instilled awe in those who beheld it. And her heterochromatic eyes, one deep crimson and the other lapis lazuli, shimmered like precious gems. Her dark-colored dress was flashy and venomous, unsuited for this solemn hall. This was Cardinal Netia¡¯s true form. She had extensively altered her own body through alchemy. I had heard that she was over two hundred years old in actual age. Regardless of one¡¯s position of power, the pursuit of immortality through alchemy was prohibited. It was considered a disruptive act against the natural order and was condemned as a taboo in any country practicing magic. Even in our kingdom of Adia, there were no exceptions. That¡¯s why Cardinal Netia maintained the appearance of that imposing man as a public facade. Netia is not her real name either; I don¡¯t even know her true name. She has used over twenty different names throughout her long life, making it questionable whether she herself remembers her true name anymore. The four of us, including me, were created by Cardinal Netia as members of the Phantom Dragon Knights. She employed forbidden magic on us, who were once church orphans, enhancing our bodies and mana without hesitation. If our existence were exposed, both Cardinal Netia and I would be in grave danger. Cardinal Netia is able to confidently stay in the grand cathedral because she has ruled over the royal family and the upper echelons of the church for centuries. She can be considered the hidden ruler of this kingdom. When Cardinal Netia laid eyes on me, she contorted her doll-like, exquisite face into a sinister smile. Just as I thought she had vanished, she appeared right in front of me. ¡°Well, well, you¡¯ve returned nicely, my child. Come on, stand up,¡± Cardinal Netia said, patting my head and touching my back affectionately. She forcefully made me stand while placing her hand on my back. ¡°Um, about the incident with the disappearance,¡± I began to report on the mission while being embraced by Cardinal Netia. ¡°It¡¯s fine, no need for a report. I¡¯ve thoroughly investigated the matter within the Order of Knights, and there¡¯s nothing about this country that I don¡¯t know. Besides, I have absolute trust in you. Or is there something unexpected that happened?¡± Cardinal Netia inquired, gazing at my face with her mismatched eyes from such a close distance. ¡°No, everything went according to your expectations,¡± I replied. ¡°The Undead King Gnome was there, and you made sure to kill him, right? If so, there¡¯s no need for a report. Or is there something bothering you?¡± she asked. ¡°Something bothering me...¡± I muttered, and suddenly, the words spoken by the Undead King Gnom came to mind. ¡°You, too, are an empty being. Nameless, devoid of love, sacrificing everything without receiving honor. And so, you die without knowing the joys of being human, as a weapon of the kingdom.¡± Why is that? I have never taken the enemy¡¯s words seriously before. And yet, those words won¡¯t leave my mind. When I remain silent, Cardinal Netia furrowed her brow and her expression darkened. She peered into my face. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, my child? Seems like there¡¯s something bothering you,¡± she said. ¡°No, it¡¯s unrelated to the mission,¡± I replied. ¡°Oh, really? You¡¯re troubled by something other than the mission? Go ahead, tell me,¡± she said in a dark and chilling voice. Sacrifice yourself, kill your emotions, devote everything to the mission, for the sake of peace in the Kingdom of Adia. That¡¯s what Cardinal Netia has repeatedly told me. Perhaps she didn¡¯t like the fact that I was troubled by something other than the mission. ¡°Why are you staying silent? Can¡¯t you hear my words?¡± she asked. ¡°No... I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s nothing worth mentioning,¡± I replied. Cardinal Netia let out a sigh and softened her expression. She released her grip on me and looked straight into my eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve done well on this mission as well. If you have any desires, speak them out. I truly care about you. If it¡¯s something that can be granted, I¡¯ll prepare it for you right away.¡± ¡°Cardinal Netia...¡± I hesitated for a moment, then spoke up. ¡°Well, you see, I actually want to attend that academy.¡± I decided to say it boldly. Mocked by Gnome for leading an empty life, I had been thinking during my journey back to the holy city of Thayne if this was enough for me. During that journey, I caught a glimpse of the academy in the holy city. Students were happily chatting and laughing throughout the school building. In the midst of the bustling crowd, people were engaged in friendly competitions involving minor magic spells, while others eagerly indulged in pastries. Among them were boys and girls of similar age to mine. Until now, I had never paid any attention to the academy or any world unrelated to myself. But perhaps it was because Gnom¡¯s words bothered me. At that moment, I just stared at the school building for more than half an hour. Envious. It was an emotion I had never felt before. No, perhaps it was an emotion I used to have in the distant past. ¡°Cardinal Netia, um... could you grant me a favor? Just for a week, no, a few days would suffice,¡± I said. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you, of all people, would ask for something so pathetic,¡± Cardinal Netia said, her eyelids twitching with irritation. I could feel the malevolent mana emanating from her body. She was angry. I shouldn¡¯t have said anything after all. ¡°Well... but yes, you have a point. It¡¯s true that the ¡®Phantom Dragon Knights¡¯ are quite unstable... Besides, we are treated like sensitive matter by the upper echelons of the church. If something were to happen to me, it could be irreparable. It might be better for this child, who is the most emotionally stable, to acquire at least the bare minimum of worldly and social skills. The circumstances now are different from ten years ago. Moreover, most of the dangerous forbidden sorcerers that had been rampant in the kingdom have been dealt with in recent years... Even if one person is absent for a while, it won¡¯t cause significant problems,¡± Cardinal Netia pondered, placing her hand on her chin. It seemed that she was seriously considering my request. Cardinal Netia snapped her fingers. ¡°Alright. From now on, for three years, you will attend the Knight Academy in the royal capital not as the ¡®Nameless No.1 of the Phantom Dragon Knights¡¯ but as just a church orphan named Ain. It¡¯s a bit troublesome for ordinary knight academies to accept non-nobles, but the one in the royal capital should accept commoners as long as they have a noble¡¯s recommendation.¡± ¡°Oh, really, Cardinal Netia!¡± I exclaimed in delight. I had voiced my wish, but I never expected it to actually come true. ¡°Yes, I know the academy headmaster personally, so I¡¯ll send a letter on your behalf. However, if by any chance your identity becomes known, it will be a disaster. So, please try not to stand out too much,¡± Cardinal Netia said. ¡°Yes, understood. I¡¯ll make sure not to stand out,¡± I replied. Of course, it was only natural to try not to attract attention. Both my physical body and mana were endlessly enhanced by forbidden sorcery. They far surpassed the limits of an ordinary person. I learned magic from Cardinal Netia, the strongest magician in the Adia Kingdom. I learned swordsmanship from the first knight commander of the Adia Kingdom, ¡°Sword Saint Siegfried,¡± who was resurrected by Cardinal Netia as an Undead Knight. If I were to unleash my true power, the academy would go into a panic. Moreover, if it were revealed that I was a member of the ¡°Phantom Dragon Knights,¡± it could cause a major uproar throughout the kingdom. Of course, I was aware of that. If I kept it in moderation, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems. ¡°However, in that academy, those in the higher classes tend to attract attention. Even the official knight orders would take an interest in them. That¡¯s why, regardless of the entrance exam results, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re assigned to the inferior class. Even if something happens, the academy headmaster will handle it appropriately. Well, you¡¯re skilled, so you should be able to manage even without going to such lengths,¡± Cardinal Netia explained. It seemed I would be assigned to the lowest class, but it didn¡¯t matter to me. I wanted to attend a peaceful academy and experience a normal youth with my peers. After graduation, I would disappear and return to being a member of the ¡°Phantom Dragon Knights.¡± Classes and evaluations didn¡¯t matter to me. ¡°Thank you very much, Cardinal Netia!¡± I expressed my gratitude. Cardinal Netia looked at me, smiled kindly, and placed her hand on my head. ¡°It will be a series of unfamiliar experiences, but do your best, Ain. I believe in you.¡± CH 3 Chapter 3: Duel Before the Entrance Exam (Part 1) I arrived in the royal capital, Redante, with one clear objective: to take the entrance exam for the Knight Academy. The academy I was about to join was officially known as the Royal Redante Knight Academy. It was a boarding school where I would spend the next three years of my life. At the moment, nobody recognized me as "Ein the Nameless No.1 of the Phantom Dragon Knights." To everyone else, I was simply Ein, an orphan from the church. In this country, only nobles had family names, so I didn''t have one. I grew up in a poor village church, where I honed my skills by battling monsters. During one of those missions, a knight who visited the village noticed my talent and recommended me for the Knight Academy. That''s the backstory I created for myself. Regardless of the results, the headmaster of the academy has arranged it so that my exam will automatically pass with their intervention. However, just to be on the safe side, I have also prepared for the exam. If I didn''t study extensively, it would seem odd to the other students. As I gazed beyond the towering stone walls, I could see a sprawling complex of buildings. The roofs had pointed peaks and were painted in a deep blue color, each adorned with a clock. It almost resembled a castle. Until now, I believed that this world had no connection to me. However, once the exams were over and I entered the academy, my new life would begin. I felt a familiar stirring in my heart, a sensation that I had long forgotten. ¡°Oh, a letter of recommendation? So what if you have one? Huh?¡± As I walked along the academy walls, I overheard an angry voice up ahead. ¡°Hmm...?¡± Turning my gaze, I saw two men blocking the path of a young girl. ¡°The Royal Redante Knight Academy isn¡¯t meant for lowly commoners like you! Your presence here would tarnish the academy¡¯s reputation and even my own dignity. Can¡¯t you understand that you¡¯re nothing but a bother by being here?¡± The man with blue hair and a disdainful look hurled his words at the girl. The plump man beside him chuckled and remarked, ¡°He¡¯s absolutely right, just as Candela-san mentioned,¡± indicating his agreement with the blue-haired man¡¯s statements. It seemed that the blue-haired man was named Candela. The girl being confronted was a small girl with a short bob in a cherry blossom color. She appeared scared by Candela¡¯s aggressive behavior. ¡°Um, excuse me... Please let me pass. I understand your perspective, but I can¡¯t just turn back without taking the exam... My grandmother was so happy to see me off...¡± The girl carefully chose her words and spoke to them. However, it seemed that they were unwilling to listen. It appeared that they had also come to take the entrance exam. I looked around. There were others who seemed to have come for the entrance exam, around the same age as me, about fifteen years old. However, they were all keeping their distance and avoiding getting involved. ¡°Sigh... It seems like my kind advice was wasted on this arrogant commoner who doesn¡¯t listen. Hey, break her arm. That way, she won¡¯t be able to take the exam.¡± ¡°Understood, Candela-san.¡± The chubby man approached the girl. ¡°Eek! P-Please stop!¡± I couldn¡¯t just stand there and watch. I quickly stepped in and grabbed the chubby man¡¯s arm. ¡°I may not know the details, but it seems like you¡¯re being quite unfair in your speech.¡± The faces of the onlookers, who had been watching from a distance, twisted in surprise. They seemed quite shocked. ...What? Did I do something really wrong? ¡°Do you not know who I am? Are you also a commoner, or are you deliberately provoking me?¡± Candela raised the corner of his mouth and stared at my face. ¡°...Indeed, I am a commoner. And I don¡¯t know who you are either. I apologize for my lack of knowledge about noble matters.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re also a commoner. Well, that works perfectly. I¡¯ll make sure both of you are unable to take the exam.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry, please let this person go! I can¡¯t let them get involved because of me. I¡¯ll, um... quietly go back...¡± The girl pleaded with Candela. Candela chuckled at her plea and turned to me. ¡°You said you don¡¯t know who I am? Let me enlighten you. I am Candela Kamersen, from the Kamersen Marquis family. My family has produced many outstanding knights for generations. I can¡¯t stand it when commoners like you try to infiltrate the world of knights.¡± Candela leaned closer to me. I had heard that most of the knights in the prominent knight orders were from noble families. It was likely that the Knight Academy itself was filled with noble students. ¡°H-Have you become intimidated after hearing about my family? If you had just passed by, you could have taken the exam without any issues. But because you had to show off and get noticed by me, your life is going to be ruined. Well... even if you manage to enter the academy, I¡¯ll put pressure on them and get you expelled.¡± Candela continued to press on, seemingly interpreting my hesitation as fear. However, I couldn¡¯t imagine that the Kamersen Marquis family held more power than Cardinal Netia, who controlled the royal family and the upper echelons of the church. That person was quite short-tempered and self-centered. If they meddled too much, the marquis family might just disappear... ¡°Does that girl also have a letter of recommendation? The academy has recognized it as the primary qualification for admission. You don¡¯t have the authority to reject her based on personal preference.¡± ¡°Sigh... Do you understand? Knights are all about lineage! The nature and amount of mana, the source of power, depend on bloodline. Swordsmanship, magic, and magical techniques, you all just did them your own way, right? But we nobles are different. We were born to become knights and have undergone rigorous training. Especially here, at the Royal Radante Knight Academy, it¡¯s a top-notch prestigious school that nurtures the finest knights. Don¡¯t you dare meddle, you worthless trash. Don¡¯t you understand that you¡¯re tarnishing our dignity and causing inconvenience?¡± ¡°...I understand your point, but isn¡¯t that what the exams are for? If you have any grievances with the academy¡¯s policies, you should address them directly to the academy. Each individual has their own circumstances. There are commoners blessed with talent and practical experience, and there are nobles who aspire to be knights but haven¡¯t been able to make use of the advantages you mentioned due to negligence. And there may also be those with undisclosed circumstances.¡± Ultimately, it comes down to the individual. Prioritizing one¡¯s birth is just one perspective. However, there are academies that exclusively admit nobles. In that case, they should attend those academies. Based on my initial research, the Royal Radante Knight Academy doesn¡¯t prioritize birth. It is known for its strict merit-based system. ¡°You still don¡¯t understand... sigh. There¡¯s no need to rely on exams or the academy. It¡¯s futile to continue talking. Moreover, neither of you has the right to take the entrance exam. I have decided it here and now. I tried to give you gentle advice, but you, insignificant commoners, had to confront me. Therefore, I have no choice but to teach you a lesson through physical means. It¡¯s an undeniable display of overwhelming and insurmountable power.¡± After saying this, Candela paused to catch their breath. I could sense mana circulating within Candela¡¯s body. Mana, known as the power of the human soul, the essence of life itself. Mana is also the energy required for practicing magic. By channeling mana through the body, one can greatly enhance their physical abilities. It¡¯s not just about increasing raw strength, but also about hardening the body or improving healing capabilities. The technique of using mana to strengthen one¡¯s own body is known as ¡°magecraft.¡± ¡°Hey, Depp, step back. I¡¯ll be the one to discipline this arrogant commoner.¡± Upon hearing Candela¡¯s words, the overweight man quickly moved away from me. It seemed his name was Depp.