The farther Joshua followed the boy, the more the distance between them grew.
“Galev.”
Even when Joshua called his name, Galev did not respond.
He was clearly avoiding him.
‘…I will have to find him and speak to him privately later.’
As the time of the Induction Ceremony approached, all the successful applicants appeared.
Lunae remained quiet, but at least she did not avoid Joshua.
Freya arrived through Teleportation Magic, as lively as ever.
Hannibal, who had passed the second examination, ground his teeth and openly displayed his hostility.
‘…Why does he hate me so much?’
Most of the other successful applicants were also boys and girls Joshua had encountered during the survival examination.
STEP, STEP―
When the magical Crystal Orb indicated noon, the sound of perfectly synchronized footsteps shook the ground.
The Training Hall, which had been filled with noise, fell silent in an instant.
Hundreds of knights clad in majestic ash-gray dress uniforms entered the grounds.
FLAP―!
Galahad’s banners, each bearing the image of two swords, unfurled in unison.
Although they whipped violently in the biting wind, they never bent.
“O you who walk the Path of the Knight, become one whom death and cold fear.”
They recited the creed together, altered to suit the changing times.
Brass instruments began a magnificent performance.
It was the grandeur of Galahad that Joshua had briefly forgotten.
A distant nostalgia stirred his heart.
It felt as though he had once again encountered a woman he had dearly loved.
When the performance ended, Yukail stepped forward from among the knights.
“Allow me to introduce myself formally. I am Yukail Laporte, the Head Instructor overseeing your education. It brings me sincere joy to meet all of you here again.”
“Yes, Instructor!”
Enthralled by the overwhelming atmosphere, the Squires answered with voices full of determination.
“First, on behalf of the countless Stars of the North, I ask you this. As seeds from which future knights shall grow, can you swear complete loyalty to Galahad and protect the people of its territory?”
“Yes, we can!”
“Can you despise injustice and cowardice, and fight for the well-being of all?”
“Yes, we can!”
“Can you show the weak mercy like that of a god, while severing the temptations of evil as decisively as a blade?”
“We will uphold those vows with our lives!”
“Good. Comrades-in-arms who shall carry Galahad within your hearts and share both life and death, I welcome you into our ranks.”
Fire Magic shot into the air and blossomed like flowers.
The senior knights presented their juniors with new dress uniforms.
Everyone changed with excited hearts and recorded the glorious moment with Crystal Orbs.
The 352nd Cohort of the Galahad Knight Order.
It was the moment when the heroes who would one day restore their fallen house were born.
“Next, the Squad assignments will be announced. You were selected based on your performance during the examination and how well your abilities complement one another. If you are dissatisfied, you may leave the Training Hall immediately.”
Naturally, no one objected.
“First, the 1st Squad. Its assigned Instructor, Light Kalstein, will announce its members.”
He was a man who wielded both the sword and magic, and who had confronted a demon without fearing death.
Joshua secretly hoped to be placed under his command.
“Those whose names I call will step forward and stand before me.”
Heria, Lunae, Alvan, and Galev.
The comrades with whom Joshua had survived the examination were called forward one after another.
There were also many unfamiliar names, including Batir, Verdi, and Ivali.
“And… finally, Joshua. That is all.”
Joshua released a relieved sigh and joined the formation.
Sezelin was responsible for the 2nd Squad, though Yukail would take her place while she served her Disciplinary Confinement.
Jemar, Freya, and Hannibal, whom Joshua had previously fought as enemies, were assigned to that Squad.
As soon as the Induction Ceremony ended, each Squad began its assigned training.
The 1st Squad was taken to a snowfield swept by a dense blizzard.
“Everyone, your first objective is the Joint Training Exercise that will take place in two months. Therefore, unlike the usual curriculum, we will place greater emphasis on combat training.”
It was a Joint Knight Order Combat Training Exercise in which the participating Knight Orders received varying levels of support from the Imperial Family according to their results.
For Galahad, which was suffering from severe financial difficulties, and for a once-prestigious house whose honor had fallen to the ground, it was an opportunity they could not afford to lose.
‘If I encounter those bastards from House Murginu, the current ducal house, I may learn the truth behind Galahad’s downfall.’
Joshua did not believe that such a glorious house had fallen merely because the sword had become obsolete.
His thoughts lasted only briefly before he focused on Instructor Light’s voice.
“Since this is your first day, we will conduct a Mock Combat Exercise to select the Squad Leader.”
He pointed toward the ruins standing behind him and continued.
“The examination site is a Dungeon owned by the house. You are to assume that the enemy’s strategy has separated you from one another. Regroup with every member of your Squad and return to this location. I and several other knights will evaluate your performance and select the Squad Leader.”
In truth, this Dungeon had been conquered more than a hundred years ago.
It was a remnant left behind by ancient Dark Mages, once known as ‘Tomb of the Undying.’
Joshua had personally participated in its conquest, making it a battlefield preserved within his memories.
‘They are using this place as a training ground now.’
After briefly marveling at the revelation, Joshua put on a blindfold and allowed a knight using Flight Magic to lead him away.
“Count to one hundred, then remove it.”
“Yes.”
By the time Joshua finished counting, the knight had already disappeared.
Joshua instinctively surveyed his surroundings.
Geometric patterns covered the walls, and graves had been excavated throughout the area.
The presence of the dead lingered in the air alongside the frigid blizzard.
‘Against sightless Undead, I must conceal my presence.’
Joshua followed the maze-like walls while silencing even his breathing.
By retracing his memories, he found the entrance to a collapsed burial ground.
‘My comrades are probably inside.’
He stepped forward without hesitation.
After he had taken several steps—
GROOOAN―
A horde of man-eating monsters resembling blackened corpses—ghouls (Ghoul)—charged toward him while spewing their hatred of the living.
‘What a grand welcome.’
A chaotic melee erupted.
Joshua was accustomed to battles in which he was surrounded on every side.
SHING―
He drew the iron sword that had remained with him since the survival examination.
With a lightning-fast draw, heads fell one after another like grains of wheat scattered by the wind.
However, these were creatures that did not die.
Even without their heads, they continued charging forward to devour Joshua.
‘It has been so long since I last saw them that I forgot.’
Creatures that knew no death possessed no vital points.
However, they could not regenerate. His best option was to sever their limbs as quickly as possible and leave the area.
SLASH―!
The blade carrying the bitter cold danced.
Soundless groans filled the air.
Dark chunks of flesh littered the ground where Joshua had passed.
He continued running along the outer wall.
After an unknown distance, an unseen arrow rode the fierce wind and grazed his cheek.
The wound was minor, but before long, his fingertips began to grow numb.
‘…Paralytic Poison. It must be a Skeleton Archer.’
The instant he identified the enemy, three more arrows flew toward him.
Joshua quickly leaped over the outer wall and took cover.
‘This is dangerous. I cannot determine its location, so I do not know where the enemy will appear from. I need to regroup with my comrades quickly.’
Just as he caught his breath, something seized his ankle.
GROOOAN―
It was a ghoul that had been sleeping beneath the ground.
‘Damn it.’
Joshua gritted his teeth and severed the wrinkled hand.
However, another enemy immediately grabbed hold of him.
What miserable luck.
The place he had chosen while fleeing the arrows was a mass grave filled with ghouls.
To make matters worse, the Paralytic Poison continued spreading, restricting his movement.
‘…Do I have to open the Sacred Eye again after all?’
After a moment of deliberation, he shook his head.
That would allow him to escape his immediate predicament, but in the long term, he would never make it through the training.
More importantly, he could not afford to spend three days bedridden when further exercises awaited him.
‘If I lack strength, I will overcome it through willpower.’
Joshua gripped his sword hard enough to crush its hilt and leaped over the outer wall once more.
TWANG―
As though it had been waiting, the monster released its bowstring.
Joshua gauged the arrow’s distance by the sound of it cutting through the air, then lightly swung his sword.
He pushed off the ground with his stiffening legs and charged directly toward the enemy.
“I found you.”
Before the enemy could draw its bowstring again—
SLASH―
Joshua’s sword split the rotting bones in half.
He then severed every joint. Even if the creature could not die, it would no longer be capable of moving.
“Haa….”
Joshua leaned against the wall and breathed heavily.
However, when he sensed a powerful vibration a moment later, he immediately regretted doing so.
GROOOAN―
Drawn by the commotion, a horde of ghouls tore down the wall and charged toward him.
His heart dropped.
Joshua realized that he would fail the exercise, yet his eyes instead opened wide with determination.
His pride would not permit him to fall here.
‘My comrades are waiting for my help.’
He could not collapse.
Joshua bit his lip hard enough to split it and forced his mind awake.
He moved his rigid body with mana.
Even as the flesh was torn from his body, he paid it no heed and continued swinging his sword.
BOOM―!
Miracles always came at the end of a desperate struggle.
“…Are you alive?”
Dense darkness exploded and blew the ghouls apart.
According to Serena’s teachings, it was Enhancement Branch Magic.
Its overwhelming destructive power had saved Joshua from the wave of ghouls.
“Lunae!”
“…You do not need to shout so loudly. I can hear you.”
Joshua staggered toward the girl.
“Thank you… for helping me.”
“I only repaid my debt from before. So lean on me without hesitation, even though my body is small.”
Lunae spoke calmly as she supported Joshua with her slender shoulder and arm.
“…I was struck by Paralytic Poison.”
“Then we need to find Alvan quickly.”
“Did you come from deeper inside the Dungeon?”
“…I do not know. I was merely running in every direction until I heard the sound of metal striking metal.”
Joshua was about to answer with difficulty, but he abruptly changed his words when another sharp whistle passed his ears.
“Danger!”
He deliberately hooked his foot around hers and threw her off balance.
Two arrows narrowly passed over their heads.
“…You are heavy.”
“I had no choice.”
The white mist escaping their mouths mingled together.
Perhaps the blood from Joshua’s cheek had splashed onto her.
The pale girl’s skin appeared slightly redder than before.
Joshua barely managed to untangle their bodies and rise.
“O darkness, explode.”
Immediately afterward, Lunae chanted a spell.
The immense shockwave scattered the snow resting upon her short hair.
BOOM―!
The Skeleton Archer was reduced to bone dust where it stood.
“Your skill is remarkable.”
“…Save your breath. You have no strength.”
“Surely a compliment is acceptable?”
“No.”
Lunae firmly shook her head and placed Joshua’s arm around her shoulder.
“…I do not think I am helping very much.”
“That is not true. I am leaning on you quite comfortably.”
“Do not answer. I was talking to myself.”
Joshua awkwardly closed his mouth.
A natural silence settled between them.
The two followed the outer wall toward the center of the Dungeon while remaining alert for the sounds of battle.
CLANG―!
The sudden sound of metal rang through the air.
It began once, then twice, then three times, followed by the violent screams of ghouls.
Joshua’s own sword remained in its sheath, so the ringing blade had to belong to Galev.
After exchanging a glance, they quickly headed toward the source of the sound.
“Galev!”
Just as expected, a pair of pointed ears twitched.
However, the moment the elf boy saw Joshua’s face, he once again disappeared into the dense snow.
Galev’s behavior made him appear almost like a guilty man.
‘Why is he avoiding me?’
Lunae answered the question Joshua had asked only within his mind.
“…It is all because of you.”
“What do you mean?”
The girl offered no detailed explanation.
Even when Joshua questioned her again in frustration, she remained silent.
‘Whatever the reason, a leader who causes his comrade to flee is unfit for the position.’
Joshua recalled the small kindness Galev had shown him and the battles they had fought together.
He also remembered that the path Galev had taken led toward the deepest reaches of the Dungeon, where its master lay dormant.
This was serious.
“Lunae, we must catch up to Galev, no matter what it takes.”