Chapter 44:　Examination Day

On the day of the examination, Amyl is facing the barracks for the Capital City’s Knight Corps. Showing the letter of recommendation at the gate entrance, we proceed through the gate.

That’s right, ‘We’. Amyl, Lelena and me, as well as four of the guild staffs. If you ask why we’re also there with Amyl, the reason is that the guild staff is sent by the guild to see if there is any injustice from the kingdom side. And as for Lelena and me, it’s because the people who take the test can bring two people with them during the exam.

That is because it seems that before this there’s an adventurer who got extremely tense and unable to show his true ability, so this is something like a countermeasure. Since the disqualified adventurer played an active part afterwards in an organization, the kingdom side really don’t want to miss that kind of human resources again. It’s a kind of system that we’re thankful for.

Although it seems that generally all the knight seems to be stationed at the castle, that was a wrong perception. The defense of the town and the castle gate are the job of the soldiers, and rarely a knight does it. The knight is given the right to order for the soldiers, as it is likely that the knight could move a platoon of soldiers when it became a war. If you compare it to Japan’s Self Defense Force, a knight is like an Official Cadet. I guess the soldier is like a general Cadet?
[T.N: Can’t really make a good one for the JSDF comparison. The knight one is “幹部候補生” which I think might be correct. But I’m not really sure about the soldier, which is “一般曹候補生”.]

Naturally, their positions are high,  as you can rarely seen one of them passing by. According to the guild staff that came with us, the successful applicant for Gold-rank adventurers is about 40%. It seems to be quite difficult.

When I visit the barracks, a stern ossan came out, and another one short and chubby ossan also came out, as it seems that these 2 are the examiner. First would be the interview and a simple written test. According to the guild staff, the details of the test are the calculation problem as well as general transaction, and an essay afterwards. I don’t know how much of Amy’s head would be useful, as it doesn’t seems like he will make a mistake in an easy addition and subtraction, he should be fine.
[T.N: Ossan is referred to the old man around their 40s. Can’t really call them old man, so I’m sticking with that.]

After a while, Amyl returns with the ossan. His expression is tense. Did it not go well?

“The test is so-so. The interview however…” (Amyl)

I wonder if he managed to say some unpleasant things? But he need to endure it here. When I head to the training ground that is next to the barracks, the stern ossan throw a training sword to Amyl.

“Now, shall we have you show your skills?” (Captain)

“Wait a minute, Captain! You don’t need to go out of the way yourself just for him. A boy of this degree, I could have handled him easily.”

That bearded ossan… it seems that he’s the knight’s Captain. The plump one objects the decision of the Knight Captain. When I confirm his status, the knight leader is level 48. The plump shorty is level 20. Amyl only slightly concerned, just where do he get that confidence from, I wonder?

“However, Vice-Captain. An opponent with the skills of this young person will be difficult for you.” (Captain)

“There’s no way that’s possible! To be a Gold-rank while still that young, he should have done some shady things. I’m sure he just follow other person at the back getting all the benefits.” (Vice-Captain)

I’m offended. What is this fatty saying? Did you know that Amyl is our main force? He is way stronger than you many times over.
[T.N: The vice-captain is always referred as plump and short most of the time, but as that is annoying to use every time, I’ll just use fatty. Sucks to be you, vice-captain.]

“If you say it like that, I’ll let you handle him first. I’ll go afterwards.” (Captain)

The fatty take over once the Captain said that. Will the fatty go first? I wonder how many seconds he could last? Amyl silently sets up his sword. He seems a little tense, but there’s no hardness in his movements. It’s okay.

“Begin!” (Captain)

Once the Knight Captain gives the go signal, the fatty starts charging towards Amyl. when he slowly approach with loud sound, he swings his sword towards Amyl. Amyl seems to have no intention of avoiding it, as he just swings a single slash with a yell from his stomach. The fatty’s sword then parted with it’s owner, as it pierced the ground slightly further away.

“Match over!” (Captain)

Around 5 seconds I guess? Actually, the time that they really fight is just 1 second. It seems that the fatty can’t accept the reality, as he muttered something while looking at both hands that had lost the weapon.

“Impossible…to me, so easily…I’m sure he had cheated somehow…” (Vice-Captain Fatty)

You can still say things like that after seeing that yourself? For a guy that gives priority to his desire over facts to be the vice-captain, will the Knight Corps be alright? Pushing the objecting vice-captain aside, it seems that this time the Knight Captain will be the one against Amyl.

“A youth with such wonderful skill. I can’t hold back here.” (Captain)

To the Knight Captain that is level 48, it’s definitely higher than the level 39 Amyl. but the winning rate is not zero. He’s trained so many times with me, you shouldn’t give up, Amyl.

“The preparation is done. Come at me any time!” (Captain)

As he steeled himself, Amyl closed in on the Knight Captain. He greatly swings his sword with a right timing. He’s using the Bamboo Splitter he’s so proud of right from the start. Amyl swung down his sword with intense force, as the Knight Captain twist his body and exchange the blow. And then towards the Amyl’s side that is full of openings, he sends a single sharp blow.

Using the force of the swung down sword, Amyl do a somersault as it is to avoid the attack. However, the Knight Captain pursued the attack. The first strike to head is avoided, the second strike is warded off with his sword, and he prevented the third strike by hurling himself towards the Knight Captain.

“Not bad! There’s no one here in the Knight Corps that can do that.” (Captain)

Although the Knight Captain praises Amyl joyfully, Amyl has no leeway to answer. Attacks from the Knight Captain came without giving him any chance to breathe, as it seems like he’s looking for a chance to counterattack with a desperate look.

And then, the Knight Captain’s attack pattern changed. The attacks start getting faster, as he starts aiming towards the parts of Amyl where his defense is thin. This ossan is quite skillful. It’s like he’s a different person now.

Although Amyl got puzzled by the sudden change of the attack pattern, on the contrary, he thinks that it was a chance. While the Knight Captain could see that it was a trap, he was going to accept all of it with all of his power.

Amyl swung down his sword, and it seems that it managed to scratched into the Knight Captain’s trunk. However at the next moment, the Knight Captain’s sword came from below and deflect Amyl’s sword, and then the sword was pointed at the scruff of Amyl’s neck in an instant. With this the match is over.

“…it’s my lost.” (Amyl)

Amyl seems to have a mortifying expression. He must have think that with this he had failed his exam. But I wonder about that? There’s no condition that said you need to win against the Knight Captain to pass the test.

“You pass, Amyl-kun. No, Amyl! From today onwards you are a member of the Knight Corps.” (Captain)

Amyl is surprised that he had an expression like a pigeon getting shot by a peashooter. Lelena is also surprised as she covers her mouth with her hands. As for me, there’s no need to be surprised. There’s no way that they would refuse a man that could defeat the vice-captain with a single blow.

“I did it! I did it Lelena! Did you see how I did it just now!?” (Amyl)

“Yes, yes… I saw it properly.” (Lelena)

Amyl rushed up to Lelena and lifted her. Lelena is deeply moved and shed tears. Isn’t it great, both of you? Their hardships till here are rewarded. You should savor the joy now. Let’s make a feast tonight. It’s going to be my treat!

Although the Knight Captain is looking at the two with pleased eyes, he suddenly glanced at me.

“You who’s the observer, you look like you have a considerable skill too. Even the level is also near Amyl, wanna try sparring with me once? (Captain)

…This ossan is saying some troublesome thing. How to decline this…