The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

Chapter 68

The map competition unfolded within the confines of the Colosseum.

Simultaneously occurring across ten practice arenas, a gigantic magical screen installed for observers and spectators magnified each arena, displaying them for all to see.

The method to pass this map competition was simple. Withstand 3 minutes against a examiner!

The examiners were knights from the association, all of whom were experts of intermediate level or above.

Although participants would face only one main examiner, two assistant examiners were appointed to address any unforeseen situations and to prevent unfair examination.

Clang! Thud.

“Ugh!”

A participant, unable to receive the examiner’s sword, fell bottom-first. The examiner, placing his sword near the participant’s neck, spoke dispassionately.

“Regrettably, you’re eliminated. Your ability to maintain your center of balance is inadequate. I hope to see you strengthen your lower body and challenge again. What do the other examiners think?”

“I agree.”

“I also agree.”

With that, the eliminated participant, his head hung low in disappointment, exited the arena. While there were those who faced the bitterness of elimination,

Clang. Clang!

“That will do!”

“Exemplary. Your mastery of the basic swordsmanship is solid. You’ve passed! Examiners?”

“I agree.”

“Congratulations. You’ve passed.”

When all three examiners announced the pass, the participant clenched his fist, leaving the arena with pride.

The second assessment proceeded smoothly in this manner, and before long, more than half of the participants had completed their evaluation.

The pass rate did not even reach one-third. The association’s principle was clear: no appointment would be given to the unworthy.

As such, the assessment was strictly conducted, and passing by luck was out of the question. Then, a buzz began among the audience members.

“Wow! It’s the First Knight Order!”

“Finally! I even took a day off just to see the members of the First Knight Order!”

“Go, First Knight Order!”

Indeed, the popularity of the Knight Order in the capital was no myth, as cheers and applause erupted from the citizens.

“Hmm. Do they really live up to the rumors?”

“It’s obvious what the capabilities of a newly founded Knight Order would be.”

“All members participating, including the trainee knights? Would’ve been better to stick to knights…”

“You must be young and still lacking in political acumen. Choosing the wrong master, it seems the members are in for a tough time.”

The nobles seated in the spectator section had many skeptics regarding the knight order’s capabilities.

No matter how much the count’s household supported the knight order, the young average age of its members and their mostly commoner origin were seen as detracting factors.

In reality, aside from Philip, all members of the First Knight Order were of commoner origin. Initially, when Raul was recruiting members, knights from noble families rejected his offer due to family or political issues.

There was simply no reason to follow the youngest prince who was far removed from succession.

However, thanks to this, the First Knight Order could truly become Raul’s own. Even Dalton was surprised at the knights’ absolute loyalty to Raul, which stemmed from this very aspect.

The person who was to make the First Knight Order’s first appearance was none other than Jake, the vice-commander of the order.

The arrangement was made to ease the tension of the squires and to leave a strong impression of the First Knight Order.

‘Hmm, nice.’

Jake, having entered the arena, leisurely basked in the cheers of the crowd with a smile on his face.

Honestly, when he had set out with his master half a year ago, he never imagined encountering such a situation.

Swinging his sword amidst the cheers and support of countless spectators was beyond his expectations. If he had stayed with the Golden Bear Knightly Order, he would never have had such an experience.

‘I would have aged as an ordinary knight among mediocre peers.’

But now, he had become a completely different person. He had reached the expert senior level, became the vice-commander of the knight order, and turned into a celebrity receiving the cheers of the citizens.

Therefore, he intended to show them exactly who Jake, the vice-commander of the First Knight Order, was.

Thud.

ake unfastened the huge sword strapped to his back and lowered it to the ground, causing the arena floor to vibrate with a heavy sound.

It was the ‘Two-Handed Broad Sword,’ a giant sword given to Jake by Raul when the knight order was established. The blade was 1.7 meters long and 30 centimeters wide – a monstrous large sword.

Made of mithril alloy, it was lighter than a steel sword but still weighed over 15 kg, making it impossible for ordinary people to wield.

The examiner on the opposite side, aware of this fact, asked with a slightly hardened voice, “Are you sure you want to use that sword?”

Jake nodded and replied, “Of course. And it’s better to give it your all from the start. I intend to use my full strength.”

Despite telling Raul he would go easy, it didn’t suit Jake’s temperament. Raul knew this well enough not to insist. Sensing the formidable aura emanating from Jake, the examiner also felt tense and swallowed hard, preparing for the duel.

* * *

“Jake, huh? Do you know who he is?”

When the name appeared on the magic screen, Viscount Jayden asked, and a family member who was well-versed in the house’s information hurriedly spoke up.

“Born into a peasant family, he roamed under a knight as a squire for 15 years since he was a child. Five years ago, he happened to connect with a count, joining the Golden Bear Knights, and is said to rank about midway within the order. Currently, he serves as the vice-commander of the First Knight Order and is known to be a close confidant of Raul.”

“And, how is his skill rated?”

“He is considered to be around the lower to intermediate-level expert.”

“An average fellow, then. No need to worry about him.”

“Indeed. Within the First Knight Order, there’s no one else you need be concerned about besides Philip.”

“Titus. What’s your take?”

As Lord Jayden asked, Titus, who had been observing Jake, confidently responded.

“A typical country knight filled with bravado. Choosing such a weapon in an attempt to leave a strong impression, but it’s a foolish and arrogant mistake. Personally, I could cut off his windpipe before he even swings that sword.”

“Right, that’s what I thought too. Judging by him, the standards of the First Knight Order are predictably low. He was never cut out to be a lord, tsk tsk.”

“We can start to make things right from now on, can’t we? Once father passes, proper knights will flood in!”

“Cough. You! I’ve repeatedly told you to watch your mouth!”

“I apologize. I’ll be more careful.”

Despite their words, neither seemed particularly concerned. It felt as though, by now, nothing they said could pose a problem.

In the midst of their conversation, Jake’s demonstration finally began.

Boom!! Swoosh~Boom!!!

And just like that, it was over.

“…”

“That guy is Jake? Not Philip??”

“…”

Silence enveloped Lord Jayden and his party for a while.

* * *

All demonstration matches were temporarily suspended.

Such was the impact of the shockwave unleashed in the arena, it had even affected the adjacent training grounds.

Even the spectators had stopped their cheers, and silence filled the arena as Jake stood alone, asking,

“Shall we continue?”

From his greatsword, extended nearly 3 meters of sword qi, shimmering right in front of the slumped examiner’s throat.

With the seated examiner in the middle, two deep and sharp gorges formed a V shape, extending far into the distance, their depth unknowable.

“N-no need, you pass!!”

The other examiners, having regained their senses, quickly shouted and rushed forward.

Only after the slumped examiner managed to nod his head, drenched in cold sweat, did Jake’s immense mana blade disappear.

Whoosh, click!

Effortlessly lifting his greatsword to sheathe it behind his back, the moment Jake turned around.

Woaaaaah!!!

As if they had been barely holding back, a roar like thunder burst forth, filling the coliseum.

“Sir Jake, you’re the best!!!”

“Wow~! What did I just watch??”

“As expected of the First Knights! The best!!”

“Kyaa~! Sir Jake is so cool!!!”

The citizens in the stands leapt to their feet, one and all, throwing their voices into cheers and reveling in their joy.

The battle had been decided in a flash, leaving barely anyone who could grasp the entirety of the scene. However, the massive shockwave and the large, beautiful yellow sword qi were more than enough to showcase Jake’s strength.

While the spectators were caught in excitement, the observers’ seats maintained a comparatively calm atmosphere, with soft applause trickling through.

But, contrary to appearances, a fierce exchange of information was taking place.

“Did I see that right? That surely wasn’t a Sword qi emission, was it?”

“The information was completely wrong. If it was Sword qi emission, it’s a technique that only the highly skilled among the expert ranks can use….”

The knights in the observers’ seats, unlike the citizens, could properly observe the battle scene.

From the moment the duel began, the examiner had first drawn his sword qi to thrust at Jake.

Yet, Jake, moving belatedly, had swung his greatsword with explosive power and speed, sending both the examiner and his sword flying to the edge of the training ground.

Right after, Jake swung his greatsword twice in mid-air, sending out two sword qi. The moment the examiner fell to his knees, these energies grazed by him, shattering the ground of the training area.

And before the dazed examiner could regain his senses, Jake’s sword qi reached right under his chin.

This was the whole story of the duel that didn’t last even 5 seconds.

“To think the skill gap is this overwhelming! Was he really just an intermediate-level expert swordsman until half a year ago?”

“With that kind of skill, isn’t he qualified to lead a knights’ order anywhere? And he’s only thirty-one! A fearsome knight has emerged from the Ashton county.”

“Could it be that he was a hidden gem in the Ashton county? Such skill, and yet he was unknown and unmarked.”

“Maybe so. After all, if they’re promoting a 15-year-old son to the forefront, they’d need to attach such a knight for sure.”

Everyone was surprised by Jake’s unexpected skill. But that was entirely possible. Still, many harbored doubts about the First Knights’ overall level.

“They put a lot of effort into a newborn knights’ order. If the commander and deputy commander are skilled, even mediocre knights could save face somewhat.”

“It seems they’re using their heads. With such an overwhelming skilled figure appearing, the remaining knights could be tested leniently, and the naive citizens would clap their hands in approval, after all.”

However, something happened that silenced those critics…

The second to appear from the First Knights was Pierce. Pierce didn’t conclude the fight instantly as Jake had.

Holding the Flamberge, a two-handed sword with a wavy blade given as a gift from Raul, he calmly demonstrated the Ashton county’s swordsmanship, ‘Bear Crush’.

It was as if he was leisurely explaining, “This is our sword skill,” while facing the examiner and, with less than a minute remaining, sent out consecutive fiery sword qi, receiving the examiner’s surrender.

The emergence of two knights transcending plunged the coliseum’s spectators into a cauldron of excitement and left the observers in shock and silence.

“What on earth is the identity of this knights’ order??”

But that was not the end. Leaving everyone’s curiosity behind, the examination of other First Knights members was yet to come.

(To be continued)