Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

23.

Knight Captain Palmer of the Three-Sword Brigade.

Origin: A hunter’s family from the Millar village near the Southern Grand Forest. A commoner with no family.

Discovered for his exceptional swordsmanship by a southern noble’s recommendation, he joined the knights, quickly rising from Novice Knight to Knight Captain due to his outstanding talent – an elite.

This was written in the Knight Roster.

However…

“Panray Vishman.”

He had been a planted spy for the Sylvester Empire for a long time.

Though the novel did not describe the Altain Empire in detail, Panray remembered.

It’s rare to see a man with pink hair in the capital.

Furthermore, he was tall and muscular, and he was the only man in the Altain Empire’s Royal Knights named Panray Vishman.

“Hmm… I came because the vice-captain kept calling. What’s going on with everyone?”

The young man looked around bewildered as black-uniformed knights approached him casually.

Were they the senior knights of the Three-Sword Brigade?

Though they wore knight uniforms, their unkempt hair and pale faces made them resemble office workers suffering from hangovers after drinking too much the night before.

As these senior knights entered the training grounds, the other knights subtly distanced themselves.

It was as if they were clearing a path for the Three-Sword Brigade, but the expressions on the senior knights’ faces were far from pleasant.

The novice knights were tense and avoided eye contact, while the senior knights just shook their heads in disapproval.

Standing nearby, Milene fixed a stern gaze on the Three-Sword Brigade before speaking.

“Knight Captain Palmer and the senior knights of the Three-Sword Brigade. You’re late. The notification time has long passed. I personally informed your quarters.”

At Milene’s words, Panray spread his arms wide.

“Our beautiful and earnest Vice-Captain Milene! If you wanted to see me so badly, you should have said so earlier. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have gone out yesterday.”

“What… you went out? So you ignored yesterday’s assembly call.”

“I just went out to patrol the outer wall. And while I was at it, we did some team-building with the knights. Should I have invited you along, Vice-Captain?”

Panray chuckled, stepped closer, then stopped and turned his head.

His hazy gaze met another.

“Who is this fearsome-looking person? A new recruit?”

“You lunatic!”

Ignoring Milene’s surprise, Panray examined me with apparent interest.

Considering I had caused quite a stir in the capital, there were still people who didn’t recognize me.

Or he could be pretending not to know.

‘This guy is as flashy as he looks.’

The others seemed unaware of his reckless attitude and behavior, but though he acted carefree, his smiling gaze was piercingly sharp.

His scrutinizing gaze met mine, and he smirked in surprise.

“Knight Captain Palmer! Cease your rudeness and show proper respect immediately. This is Duke Macbilian!”

“What? Duke?”

All traces of probing disappeared instantly as he looked at me in feigned surprise.

He hid his true feelings remarkably quickly.

Seems this spy isn’t just a figurehead.

Though everyone else seems unaware, I saw everything.

You can’t just brush off the clear message that you’re up to something.

Spy fail, Sylvester’s Panray.

‘Now it’s confirmed.’

No need to worry about mistaken identity.

The senior knights standing behind Panray were equally surprised to see me.

Observation phase complete. Time to test his skills.

I tapped the nervous Milene on the shoulder and stepped forward.

“Knight Captain Palmer and the senior knights of the Three-Sword Brigade. Pleased to meet you all.”

“Knight Captain Palmer! Greet His Grace the Duke!”

Flick.

I threw the wooden sword I was holding to Palmer, who looked confused as he alternated his gaze between it and me.

Ignoring his questions, I gestured toward the armed guards behind me.

“The senior knights should also retrieve the wooden swords from the back.”

The senior knights collected their wooden swords and gathered behind Panray.

Taking the wooden sword Milene offered, I surveyed my surroundings.

“I’ll now test the Three-Sword Brigade’s qualifications. Other knights, please move as far back as possible.”

With that quiet declaration, the knights dispersed in整齐 formation.

In the circular formation like during formal duels…

The knights of the Three-Sword Brigade faced me with their wooden swords.

“Now that the Three-Sword Brigade has arrived, I’ll announce the Royal Knights’ matters later. Knight Captain Palmer and the senior knights, prepare.”

“Uh… could you explain what’s going on, Your Grace?”

“You can call me Captain.”

Indeed, it’s about the wooden swords from the Grand Forest.

I lightly shook the familiar wooden sword and continued.

“The state of the knight order is unacceptable. I’m personally checking if you deserve to protect the royal family. I was the one who summoned the knights.”

“R-really? We apologize if we…”

I pointed my wooden sword at him, cutting him off.

Looking around, he rolled his eyes.

The senior knights, sensing the unusual situation, tried speaking to the surrounding knights, but received no responses, only silent stares.

“The test is simple. From now on, you will all fight me regardless of numbers. If you so much as graze my collar, you pass. If you can’t even touch me, you fail. And if you fail…”

Both Panray and the senior knights tensed, waiting for my next words.

“I’ll personally dismiss the不合格 individuals. If you wish to remain in the knights, give your all.”

“What…what did you say?”

“What is this…!”

The knights of the Three-Sword Brigade looked around in shock.

Glancing around with distorted expressions, they were met with silent headshakes from the other senior knights.

Panray and his team clenched their teeth at this seemingly genuine attitude.

“Not difficult. Just catch me off guard once. Just one successful attack and you’ll pass.”

Hooooon-

A soft breeze followed my casual swing.

Staring into Panray’s blue eyes, I continued.

“Fight for your lives.”

Bang!

Cutting through the rising dust cloud and debris, I launched myself forward.

According to the knight roster, Knight Captain Palmer is not a mana awakened individual.

But spy Panray is.

While other knights swing their wooden swords with restraint, there’s no need for that with him.

He’ll react to my sudden attack just fine.

In unexpected situations, the only thing to rely on is the habits ingrained through constant practice and training.

Without using mana, a slash infused with killing intent will still elicit a reaction.

An ordinary knight wouldn’t be able to react at all.

The still scenery warped as Panray’s pink hair appeared before me in an instant.

In that frozen moment where no one else could move, I swung at his neck.

With obvious killing intent, I aimed for his neck.

Even if he couldn’t react, I could stop just in time.

The cutting sound pierced my ears.

Accelerating to the point of leaving faint afterimages, my wooden sword connected with his neck.

A gale blew as the wooden sword was deflected.

Clang!

A powerful explosion of sound and shockwave spread.

In that instant, his expression sharpened briefly before showing surprise.

A fleeting change, but I read it.

After shattering the cracked wooden sword, I kicked him as he tried to hide his accidental slip.

Pak.

He barely blocked the kick in the nick of time.

Panray rolled across the training grounds, kicking up a cloud of dust.

As the dust slowly cleared, his sharp gaze locked onto me.

“Guh… what…!”

“You showed an opening. Now’s your chance! Attack!”

Smirking at his serious glare, I lunged forward.

“Aaaagh!”

“Keh…! Whoaaa!”

The senior knights of the Three-Sword Brigade were easily thrown aside.

The training grounds quickly became messy from the senior knights vomiting their guts out, causing the spectators to turn away with disapproval.

The senior knights of the Three-Sword Brigade didn’t even react properly.

That’s why I’m only hitting their stomachs. Annoying bunch.

I mercilessly beat them until they couldn’t move, then turned to Panray as the senior knights passed out.

‘Good. Decision made.’

Looking down at Panray clutching his stomach and vomiting, I thought:

“You choose your fate – honorable death or miserable death.”

There were other spies too.

The Royal Knights are one of the groups closest to Iris in the palace.

No need to keep dangerous elements around.

*

On the second day late at night.

In the dark audience chamber with only small candlelight, I raised my tea cup and spoke.

“Sir Alberto, how much longer until the Black Rain?”

“According to the meteorologists, three weeks.”

“And preparations?”

“We’ve sent advance notifications and coordinating documents to all regions about the predicted Black Rain date. Everyone’s focusing on defense according to the documents, and the church has instructed pilgrims to stay in their respective locations.”

I took a sip of the steaming tea.

The characteristic aroma and slightly bitter taste spread in my mouth. Ugh, it’s not tasty.

Though not delicious, it was warm enough to slightly chase away the chilly cold of the audience chamber.

As I sipped my tea while reviewing the documents on the desk, Sir Alberto holding his tea cup spoke.

“Your Highness. Is this about training with the Three-Sword Brigade using more practice wooden swords?”

“They break quite easily during training. I used the knights’ budget for more since we’ll probably need them.”

“Break easily… the special wooden practice swords are specifically made for knight training and are extremely durable.”

I looked at Sir Alberto after putting down the document.

They’re breaking extremely easily despite their supposed durability.

“Didn’t we use those in the formal duel? Even though they held up well against regular wood, they eventually broke.”

“Ah… well. Perhaps it’s because you’re the apprentice of an overhuman.”

Though he seemed to have a lot to say, Sir Alberto just quietly drank his tea.

For a while, only the gentle slurping sounds filled the audience chamber.

Looking at the tea refilling the empty cup, I spoke softly.

“Sir Alberto. When the Black Rain falls, I’ll lead the knights out.”

The tea stopped refilling.

Meeting the silent gaze of the chamberlain, I continued.

“The knights need some accomplishments too, don’t they?”

“Are you starting with the knights?”

“Yes. We need to normalize the palace first. What about those who poisoned during the selection ceremony?”

“We’ve identified the tail. We’re still searching for solid connections, so we’re proceeding carefully.”

At Sir Alberto’s response, I nodded.

If we’ve found the tail, we need to be cautious. If we sever it and they escape, we’d have to start over.

Watching the tea in the cup stop shaking, I spoke again.

“I plan to deal with someone when the Black Rain comes.”

“…”

“Some people sent mercenaries to my village. Likely a central noble’s doing.”

I quickly drank the cold tea from early winter, then turned to Sir Alberto.

“There are quite a few spies within the empire.”

“So…”

“Just prepare the connections properly. The wedding isn’t far, so let’s settle this unrest quickly.”

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