Chapter 103: The King’s Secret Command

Expectation, or worry, for tomorrow.

The pain, or resentment, of the past.

Ahead of the first day of the new year, when he would turn seventeen in this life, he tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep due to complex thoughts.

Knock, knock.

- Sir Muno, are you awake?

The voice from outside pushed away even the faint drowsiness.

“Huuph.”

Muno immediately got up, washed his face lightly with the prepared water, and tidied his hair.

Then, with his armor deactivated, he looked at the ‘Red Heart’ embedded in the center of the bracer on his left wrist.

The Red Heart, compressed to a much smaller size than its original form, looked like a small jewel.

The red jewel, which was said to have not a single scratch even from the attack of an ancient Seven-Star, was embedded, changing its size at will.

This meant that the Red Heart had completely integrated with his armor.

An infinite source of energy that holds the mana of metal.

‘As expected, it feels like it was made just for me.’

Of course, that couldn't be true, but there was no way to know for sure right now.

The fact that the Red Heart was currently a source of growth and combat power for him was more important.

“What’s good is good.”

He shook off the distracting thoughts, threw off his pajamas, and activated his armor.

Chwareureuk.

Chak.

“……This is the most comfortable.”

With this, he could say goodbye forever to the uncomfortable clothes and shoes of this fantasy world.

Kung.

Once again, he tapped the carapace, no, the armor, to express his satisfaction, and opened the door.

Then, instead of the now-familiar Steel Knight, he saw an unfamiliar face in red armor smiling broadly.

He had a gentle impression, but the incredible sense of mass contained within a physique similar to his own was enough to snap him to his senses.

At least 5-Star, no, 6-Star?

“……Who are you? So early in the morning.”

He asked with a voice as chilly as the dawn air, filled with caution.

“It’s early, but you’re already fully armored. Excellent.”

The middle-aged man’s strange nonsense came back as an answer.

“Pardon?”

“Ah, His Majesty the King is looking for you. We can talk about the details on the way.”

The attitude that assumed he would naturally follow was unpleasant, but.

‘I have no choice but to follow. Tsk.’

Why would the king suddenly be looking for him?

Sighing, he stepped out of the room.

“Ah, I haven’t introduced myself. My apologies. I am Rantor Selden of the Red Iron Knightly Order. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

After receiving the polite greeting from the knight who seemed much older, he couldn't help but let go of his slightly displeased feelings.

“……I am Muno Drasen. It is an honor to meet a member of the kingdom’s strongest knightly order.”

“Why are you so tense? You've seen our vice-commander, haven't you? I heard you even won in the competition.”

……It’s because you don't look that different from that vice-commander.

Instead of answering honestly, Muno gave an awkward smile and observed the man.

“You’re making me feel burdened. We were only competing in our ability to search for magicians.”

A middle-aged man with brown hair and an ordinary, gentle impression.

Without the armor, just looking at his impression, he looked like a slightly well-built uncle, but every time he moved, he felt like he was pushing the air with heavy force.

‘Not 5-Star. 6-Star…….’

He hadn't met many 6-Star knights, but he felt a sense of wonder from each of them who had reached that level.

“Still, a win is a win. It’s been a long time since our young vice-commander was bested, so it was quite a topic of conversation among us.”

Even his kind smile felt heavy.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but are all the members of the Red Iron Knightly Order 6-Star knights?”

“Oh? You can even guess your opponent’s level? That’s amazing. As expected of a genius.”

Another awkward smile was his only response to the embarrassing compliment that came back instead of an answer.

“Even if Iron is the kingdom of knights, it's impossible for all fourteen members of the Red Iron Knightly Order to be 6-Star. Well, the details are confidential.”

A strong sense of confidence was felt from Rantor, who winked and dodged the question.

It was as if he was indirectly saying that even the members who were not 6-Star had that level of combat power.

Or.

‘Is he saying that you have to be at that level to be called the kingdom’s strongest…….’

The royal knightly orders were divided into three ranks: Red Iron, White Iron, and Steel.

He felt as if he was indirectly experiencing the true skill of the most elite knightly order, which was composed of a very small number and only carried out national operations or the king's secret commands.

‘As expected…….’

Even excluding the honorary commander, the Seven-Star Dragon Sword Duke, their power must be formidable.

Ah, come to think of it.

“……When I meet His Majesty, it’s alright to wear my armor, right?”

“Ah, of course. His Majesty actually loves it when knights wear their armor in their daily lives. He says it's reassuring.”

Eh?

At those words, Muno recalled the situation when he first had an audience with the king.

“But why at the Great Hall before……?”

“That was before His Majesty had seen you in person. He believes there is a big difference between a skilled knight wearing armor and an unskilled person just trying to look cool.”

“Ah…….”

In short, it meant that once the king said ‘you pass,’ he could have an audience wearing only his armor without formal wear next time.

Which meant.

‘The reason the Dragon Sword Duke dines with the king while armed wasn’t because he was disregarding the king or was above etiquette.’

He learned several new things, but that wasn't what was important right now.

“So why are you looking for me?”

“You will find out when you meet His Majesty in person.”

Tsk.

Rantor, who showed a friendly attitude but didn't answer the important questions.

Unlike his kind-looking smile, his personality didn't seem to be a pushover.

So Muno decided to just change the subject with some idle talk.

“It would be so convenient to go to the party in armor too.”

But an unexpected answer came back.

“Oh? Sir Muno, you may do so.”

“Pardon?”

“For a renowned knight, it is not against etiquette to attend a party in armor.”

Oh.

“Thanks to His Majesty's disposition, the party culture in the capital has changed like that a long time ago. Well, as the Black Knight, you are the hottest topic in the capital recently, so you will be even more welcomed if you go in armor.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Assa.

He was happier than anything else that he no longer had to wear that ugly formal wear with the excessively protruding shoulders and crotch.

“You seem to really like armor. Even if it’s an artifact, it must be more uncomfortable than regular clothes. It looks quite heavy too.”

“Ah, I find armor the most comfortable. It has become a habit now.”

This state was virtually the same as being bare-bodied, so wearing other clothes was actually more uncomfortable.

Since he couldn't answer that honestly, he had to make do with a light lie.

But at those words, Rantor’s smile deepened.

“Indeed, Sir Muno will be a model for young knights. Excellent.”

……He felt a slight prick of conscience.

And from that point on, Muno began to pay the price for his lie.

“As expected, a knight, even if not a Holy Knight, should protect the weak according to the teachings of the 7 great gods……”

As if something had struck him, Rantor began a long speech about chivalry.

“……Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. Yes. That’s right.”

“So, chivalry is about reflecting the will of one's lord while also…….”

Ugh.

‘I wish he would just shut up.’

Muno’s pupils began to blur faintly.

‘I think my ears are going to bleed…….’

By the time he even had the illusion of hearing ringing in his ears, his admiration for the Red Iron Knight he had first met was also slowly fading.

How long had he been trapped in that one-sided chatter hell?

“……We’re here. This is the place.”

“Yes. Yes. You are right……”

“Hm?”

“……Ah. This is……?”

Snapping out of his daze, he saw the Armored Palace, the living quarters of the royal family located behind the main palace, the Steel Palace.

“……Is the audience here?”

“His Majesty is also busy. The Great Hall is only opened when the ministers gather for a state council meeting.”

So, why would that busy person?

He became curious again about the reason the king had summoned him.

“Well, let’s go.”

Rantor’s unhesitating steps led him.

Soon, Muno had to go through a total of three security checks—at the entrance of the annex, the entrance to the king’s area inside, and at the king’s office—before he could meet the person who had summoned him.

King Lockhart Iron I, with two Red Iron Knights, including the Blood Knight Anthony, behind him.

‘As expected.’

The Blood Knight was one thing, but the other Red Iron Knight with a stern impression also exuded a truly murderous weight.

‘I don’t even know his name.’

This must be why it was okay for any knight to meet him while armed.

“Muno Drasen greets the Master of Steel.”

Kung.

He lightly knelt on one knee and paid his respects.

“Your greetings are getting shorter. Well, I don’t dislike it.”

Feeling a pang of guilt, he thought he should speak longer next time.

“I also like that you dislike empty formalities. So I will get straight to the point. I have a job for you, Muno Drasen.”

Eh?

“For me. And for this country.”

“……Pardon? Me?”

Feeling the hot gaze on the top of his head, he raised his head without permission.

Fortunately, the king did not point out his rudeness and smiled gently.

“Yes. No matter how I think about it, you are the right person for the job. Why, do you dislike it?”

How could he say no here?

“……Of course not. Please command me, Your Majesty.”

Surely he wouldn't ask him to do something unreasonable.

He bowed his head again, hiding his inwardly uneasy feelings.

“Yes, I knew you would……”

“Your Majesty, you haven’t told him what the job is.”

“……Ah. I was so engrossed in talking with you that I got confused. Hoho.”

He was slightly dumbfounded by the voices of Anthony and the king.

“Hmph. Muno Drasen, do you happen to know what day it is today?”

“……I know it as the first day of the new year and Founding Day.”

“Yes. So the nobles of the capital usually hold a Founding Day party that also serves as a new year's event. And this year, something a little special will be added. Have you heard of it?”

The war of succession.

At that moment, Muno instinctively shook his head right away.

“……I am not well aware.”

“Hhmmm. I heard you met with the third son.”

Ow, damn it.

As expected.

“……I have an acquaintance with Grand Princess Roanna, who is betrothed to His Highness the Prince, so I just stopped by to say hello. Your Majesty.”

“Given the relationship between Drasen and Trian, I know you also have a personal connection with the Knight of the Gale. I also heard that you are scheduled to attend the party on that side today.”

Damn it…….

Just when he was thinking he should have just been honest.

The king gave him some breathing room.

“Can I take that as a polite expression of your unwillingness to get involved in the war of succession?”

“……You have seen correctly.”

“Does the young man lack ambition? Or does he lack discerning eyes?”

“Pardon?”

“I say this because the probability of Christopher's victory is quite high.”

Is it okay for the king to be this honest?

No, before that.

‘Is the king considering the 3rd Prince?’

His mind became complicated again, but there was only one thing he could say anyway.

Be honest, without twisting words.

“……I have something I want to take care of first and foremost. Therefore, I have no intention of getting involved in the contest of the esteemed ones, Your Majesty.”

“As expected, so it was.”

……As expected?

Just as he was tilting his head inwardly.

“You want to chase those evil cultists right now, don't you? Because they are your enemies.”

At the king’s following words, Muno unknowingly raised his head with a jolt.

Evil cultists?

“The reason you are still in the capital is either because you haven't found a direction to chase them, or because you want to finish handling things so as not to be disliked by the princes, right?”

No, how…….

“Why, am I wrong?”

The king just had an amused expression on his face, but.

‘How…… did he know?’

Setting aside his origins, he knew that Trian had decided to cover up the fact that the subjugation of the demon cult was a failure.

‘The king shouldn’t know that those magicians were evil cultists.’

But how…….

As if guessing his confused state of mind, the king smirked and added.

“Count Enoch Trian is truly a loyal subject. He confesses his own faults as they are and only worries about the crisis of the kingdom.”

Ah……. that old man really.

He finally understood, but was still bewildered.

“Thanks to that, I was able to clearly decide on the goal and the means.”

Seeing the king's cold smile, he snapped to his senses.

“Didn't you think it was strange?”

“Pardon?”

“A king who opens a war of succession, a contest of virtue that will throw the kingdom into the most chaos, at a time when magicians have deeply infiltrated the kingdom. Isn't that too foolish?”

“……Ah.”

Honestly, he hadn't thought about it deeply.

But.

“When the kingdom becomes chaotic, the loaches will come out to stir up more trouble. I am waiting for that.”

“……Don’t tell me the job you want to entrust me with is…….”

“Yes. It is the job of chasing your enemies. Together with the Red Iron Knightly Order here.”

Ha…….

At that moment, all bewilderment disappeared, and something hot began to boil in his chest.

“……With all my heart, I will do my best to carry out your command!”

Kung.

At his heartfelt answer as he beat his chest, the king smiled again.

“Yes. A person with the ability to root them out, and a clear motive as well. There could be no more suitable candidate.”

“Yes, I am truly grateful.”

“Good, I'll look forward to it. And you can look forward to it as well.”

Hm?

“You know that I am not stingy with rewards, don't you, Muno Drasen?”

The king’s gaze turned to the Red Heart in the center of the armor.

“If you play your role properly, a reward that is not disappointing will follow. A much bigger reward than before.”

Soon, the gently smiling king's smile lit a more definite fire in his chest.