Chapter 6. History of Knights

“Achoo!”

Someone must be talking about me…

Whether they were or not, I was currently reading the history of knights.

[…omitted… The knight who used a Mana Circle pledged to be a servant of the gods, just like a mage. This made the use of mana more efficient. It became possible to use magic through a sword as a medium. They had evolved into Magic Swordsmen. …omitted…]

Looking at the book, it was only natural for the knights of this era to use Mana Circles. As Chris had said, the convenience and efficiency were unbelievably good.

'Alfred was really a smart bastard.'

History had flowed exactly as he had predicted.

-Mana Circle knights will become the mainstream.

-We must adopt it before other countries do.

-You morons with brains made of muscle!

That’s why Alfred hadn’t given up on introducing Mana Circle knights. Even when public opinion about him kept getting worse.

[…omitted… It took a lot of time and money to train a Mana Heart knight. …omitted…]

The book didn’t specify the exact reasons. It was probably because it was written after the Mana Heart had disappeared.

Mana Heart knights weren’t immediately deployed to the battlefield just because they obtained a Mana Heart or reached the 1-star level. They had to build their own stories and achievements. That period was quite long. It was the reason why wandering knights existed.

‘Shortest was 5 years, longest was 10 years.’

Sometimes, there were knights who took 15 years. A considerable amount of money was needed to endure this period.

‘That's why we even considered forcing a time limit.’

Because there were quite a few who couldn’t endure the period and gave up their qualifications as knights.

[…omitted… However, a Mana Circle knight required less time and money compared to a Mana Heart knight. …omitted…]

According to the book, deployment to the battlefield was possible in as little as a year, and at most three years. This changed the aspect of war.

The number of knights was very important in a war. Battles were centered around knights, and the side with more knights had the advantage. Of course, the quality of the knights was also important. But as they say, there’s no business in a gang fight, and it was difficult to hold on when pushed by numbers. Unless there was someone of my skill level.

[…omitted… Immediately after the appearance of Mana Circle knights, the number of them deployed to the battlefield was similar to the number of Mana Heart knights deployed. In terms of ratio, it was about 3 Mana Circle knights deployed for every 1 Mana Heart knight. However, as time passed, this number widened rapidly. It went to 10 to 1, 15 to 1, and just before the Mana Heart knights disappeared, it went as high as 50 to 1. …omitted…]

The advantage of the Mana Circle was not just the training speed. Because they had a Mana Circle, they could also play the role of a mage. This brought about a change in unit operations. It was because it was no longer necessary to put mages in combat units. The remaining mages were deployed to medical units or engineering units.

For these reasons, the number of Mana Heart knights decreased. On the other hand, the number of Mana Circle knights increased. And so, after 100 years, and then 200 years, the Mana Heart knights disappeared into history.

So, I thought about whether I would have accepted Alfred's proposal if I had known these facts and gone back to the past.

“I wouldn't.”

Accepting a Mana Circle meant swearing an oath of servitude to the six gods who created the world (earth, fire, wind, water, thunder, and healing).

“How can a knight accept this?”

A knight is a being who holds a sword to challenge the gods. Not a being who praises the gods and borrows their power, but one who creates their own story and draws out their own power. That is why they cannot accept the Mana Circle. Even if Alfred called me a fool.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was a knock on the door. It was the sound of Chris announcing his arrival.

“Is it worth reading?”

“So-so. But what brings Count Dorléans here?”

At the question, Chris furrowed his brow.

“You’re speaking so formally, unlike before? It doesn’t suit you.”

“That was then, and this is now.”

“You can just be comfortable.”

“That's the plan. Why are you here?”

For a very brief moment, Chris' face contorted.

Really, I don't know why he says things he doesn't mean and can't even get his money's worth.

“Ahem!”

Chris cleared his throat needlessly once, then took out something wrapped in cloth.

“What's this?”

“It’s something Your Highness needs.”

“So, what is it?”

“You can unwrap it and then bring it out.”

I asked what it was, but he gave a different answer. He spoke in a formal tone, but it was practically an order. And before I could react, he had already gone out to the training ground.

Really, once I find my strength, I’m going to give that one a good scolding.

“Shall I unwrap it for you?”

Elliot, who had just come up, asked with a trembling voice.

“It’s fine. I can do it. You, as soon as you finish cleaning the room, prepare a meal. I have a feeling something big is about to happen.”

“What? A-a big something?”

“Why are you so surprised? Don't get any strange ideas. It’s just like an exercise.”

“Ah! Yes! Exercise.”

“Right, exercise. So prepare a meal. With some delicious meat.”

“Meat! I understand. Meat, not vegetables.”

Elliot made a determined face and clenched her fists. Then she headed to the kitchen, saying she had to check if there was any meat. I told her to do it after she finished cleaning, but that girl has a dazed side to her too, if you look closely.

I collected my breath and slowly unwrapped the object Chris had thrown and left behind.

Since there was no wriggling feeling, it wasn't alive. Looking at the size and length…

“A wooden sword?”

I was just thinking of asking Rodrigo to get me one, how strange.

“Do you like it?”

As I stood in the training ground with the wooden sword, Chris asked.

“It’s not bad. But how did you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“That I needed a wooden sword.”

At the question, Chris gave a strange smile.

“I have a good sense because I'm a mage. How is the sword?”

At Chris' question, I raised the wooden sword to be level with my shoulder. It was a wooden sword, so the blade was blunt, but it was straight without any bends. The guard, which prevents your hand from slipping and getting cut by the blade, was also adequate. The balance of the handle in my hand was also good.

“It seems usable.”

“That’s a relief. Then would you try swinging it once?”

“Like this?”

I swung it casually from a standing position. Whoosh! The sound of it cutting through the wind was pleasant to hear.

“…Would you please perform a proper downward cut once?”

Chris requested with a strange look in his eyes. I took my stance. Then I collected my breath and let the sword hang low. Oops!

‘Didn't he say everything about me was taboo?’

Mages have a habit of doubting everything. And Chris' eyes as he looked at me were unusual. He might get annoyed by doubting every little movement and giving it strange meanings. So let’s use the sword from here. The strongest one in Poinus…

‘Was it Philip III?’

Among the guys I had encountered, he was in the top tier. Both as a knight and as a leader.

He was one of the few I respected.

“Why did you change your stance?”

See? Mages react sensitively to even the smallest things.

“It felt awkward. I must have taken a different stance from what my body remembers.”

“Is that so?”

Chris observed my face minutely. I don’t know what he was reading from me, but it wasn’t very pleasant. You sly mage.

“Should I continue? Or not?”

“Please continue.”

Chris withdrew his sharp gaze and smiled. I made a displeased face and slowly breathed.

‘How did Philip III's sword go…’

I searched my memory. It felt like the sword path was heavy and rough.

“Aren’t you going to do it?”

“Hey, just wait a minute.”

The sword that Philip had wielded on the battlefield… was it this?

Swoosh!

The sound of cutting through the air echoed thickly. A fleeting memory brushed past my mind. Philip III, covered in blood, his eyes flashing as he swung his sword, and his indifferent gaze at the dying soldiers. He was a truly tenacious bastard.

“……”

Chris was silent. It didn’t seem like he was silent because he had nothing to say. Because he looked surprised.

“Hmm! It's not perfect, but the tip of the sword is alive.”

Chris, feeling my gaze, composed his expression. And he gave a harsh evaluation of the cut.

“Is that it?”

“What do you mean, is that it?”

“...Never mind.”

I was about to say something about him being petty, but I changed my mind. Philip III's sword was based on a Mana Heart. But now, it's a world based on Mana Circles. The perspective on swords could be completely different. And my current body wasn't in a perfect state to wield Philip III's sword either.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Chris approached me and pressed down on my arms and legs.

“What are you doing?”

It was so sudden that I jumped in surprise.

“Your muscles are developing, but they're still not enough to wield a sword.”

“I know. Get away! You’re gross!”

I used all my strength to push Chris' hand away. Chris laughed out loud, as if he found me amusing.

“You shouldn't overdo it, but a little overdoing it wouldn't be bad.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Literally.”

A long time had passed, but there were some things that never changed. The bad habit of mages twisting their words was one of them.

“You have to go back to school in a month. Are you aware of that?”

“Rodrigo told me, so I know.”

“It will be difficult when you go back. It could be dangerous.”

He seemed to know something about the accident that happened at the academy.

“Do you know who did it?”

“Well. There's nothing yet.”

“'Yet'?”

“It’s not the stage to worry about it now.”

“You mean I’ll have to worry about it later?”

“……”

“If you know something, why don't you tell me?”

“Are you thinking of revenge?”

Chris' mood, which had been lighthearted just a moment ago, grew heavy. The aura of a Margrave faintly emanated from him. Anyone else would probably have been crushed by that aura and unable to say a proper word.

“There's no reason I can't.”

But not me.

“…Are you really thinking of revenge?”

He’s flustered. Did he think I would be intimidated by that?

“Why? Am I not even allowed to think about it?”

“It’s impossible for Your Highness in your current state. I’m not talking about a health problem. Even if your body returns to normal, you won’t be able to handle it with your strength. You might really die this time.”

This, this, he definitely knows.

“You don't know until you try.”

“Your Highness, you said something similar before. But what happened?”

“I don’t know, I lost my memory.”

“……”

A muscle in Chris' face twitched. He seemed to have realized his slip of the tongue.

“Stop trying to scare me and just tell me what you know.”

“There is nothing. So forget about revenge.”

“Why?”

“Even if Your Highness can wield a sword like before, you can't get stronger. No, you’ll be weaker than before.”

I don’t know what kind of far-fetched claim this is.

“Why do you think so?”

“What do you think you can do with a Mana Heart?”

It seems he went and studied the Mana Heart while he was gone for the past few days. But it doesn't seem like he studied properly. Seeing how he's convinced that a Mana Heart is inferior to a Mana Circle.

“A lot.”

“Don’t be so rash. A sword that uses a Mana Heart is ultimately an old sword. In the face of a developing sword, it will only hasten your death.”

A sword using a Mana Circle is a developing sword, and a sword using a Mana Heart is a dead sword…

“Since when?”

“What do you mean?”

“Since when was a sword using a Mana Heart a dead sword?”

“Not a dead sword, an old sword…”

“Same difference.”

Chris' brow furrowed tightly.

“Didn’t you read the book properly?”

“I did. Very carefully.”

Even thinking about what wasn't there.

“Then you should know. Why the Mana Heart knights disappeared, and why the Mana Circle knights are stronger than the Mana Heart knights.”

“Stronger? Who? The Mana Circle knights?”

It seems he's the one who didn't read the book properly, not me.

“Are you denying history?”

“I don’t think I’m the one who doesn’t know history properly.”

Chris burst out laughing as if it were absurd. His laughter was tinged with a look of condescension.

“Count Dorléans. You’re saying that because you’ve never seen a proper Mana Heart.”

If you go to a house with a well-carved Mana Heart, your thoughts will change.