Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

Three weeks until the black rain falls.

We didn’t have much time.

Physical skills, including swordsmanship, aren’t the kind that improve significantly in a short period.

Even three months might not be enough, and now we had only three weeks. Turning someone into the strongest in such a timeframe would be questionable even with doping.

The Knights had to enter intensive training as soon as possible. Therefore, the mental stress test disguised as an exam needed to end today.

Thus began the third assembly of the Royal Knights. This time, it was conducted under my name as the Captain, so everyone, including Pan Ray, gathered at the Training Grounds.

Even those who had been on duty guarding the Inner Wall had all returned.

Everyone waited tensely for my words.

‘Hmm.’

Was this going to proceed in a circle, with everyone surrounding me?

Unlike before, when the swordsmen gathered at the front, they now formed a circular encirclement.

Without being told, they already had wooden swords in hand—an impressive sight.

“Do you wonder why I keep calling you here even after saying that those who fail would be dismissed?”

I had clearly stated during the first and second assemblies that those who failed the test would be expelled.

So, it might seem strange to call them again for a third time. Ignoring the nervous ones, I continued.

“Since some were on duty and the Three Sword Squads were absent, today is another chance. The problem arose when most of you were being swept away by one person.”

As I coolly observed their varied reactions—gritting teeth and reddening faces—I adjusted my wooden sword.

“This is the last time. Come at me with no regrets.”

After that statement, I jumped into action.

In the encirclement, I couldn’t possibly stay still.

The knights, with good momentum, charged at me. But starting with Pan Ray, whom I chased down and hit on the head, they were quickly defeated.

*

As the sunset slowly descended, its rays illuminated the Training Grounds of the Foreign Palace.

Walking through the chaos of fallen knights, I spoke softly.

“You are trash.”

At my harsh words, the knights lying on the ground struggled to rise.

“You aren’t merely trash; you’re useless trash.”

Clutching their fists, the knights seemed indignant, but no one contradicted me. They couldn’t—I had personally beaten them.

Even though this was a many-against-one battle, you only needed to hit me once. No one succeeded.

There were a few moments when Pan Ray and the upper-level knights of the Three Sword Squad approached success.

Mostly, it was Pan Ray or Ronia, the captain of the First Sword Squad, who created opportunities. But the upper-level knights couldn’t follow up on the openings, letting me escape easily.

“I’ve met many knights since arriving here. They were all exceptionally skilled. But you?”

The knights surrounded in a circle, without practicing their coordination, failed to stop me as I rampaged through them.

The three brothers from Braiden’s forest, despite not being mana manifesters, used organic attacks in a trio to successfully counter me.

Even the knights secretly patrolling under Lord Norman’s order never neglected their self-training.

The Royal Knights are the empire’s best swordsmen and the ones who guard the Imperial Palace.

They need to block any threat that may appear, whether alone or in a group to eliminate the danger.

Isn’t there a superhuman who completely dismisses the disadvantages of a many-against-one battle with a mana manifesting enemy? Knights must practice defensive formations against such insurmountable foes regularly.

We don’t lack the time for training, nor should such situations arise.

The Royal Knights’ schedule is already well-known.

Dispatches and field trips have decreased significantly compared to the past, so these guys have ample free time. However…

“I haven’t seen anyone training while patrolling the Imperial Palace. The only consistent ones are Vice Captain Milene and the First Sword Squad. That’s why the First Sword Squad lasted longer.”

Thud.

I slammed my wooden sword into the Training Grounds. The heavy sound reverberated slightly in the ground as the knights’ gazes turned nervously toward me.

“I’ll ask you one thing. Did you come here to become trash?”

No one replied to my rude question.

It didn’t matter if they didn’t reply. I didn’t ask expecting an answer; I was just shaking up their thoughts after this terrible defeat.

“Why did you apply to the Royal Knights? Power? Fame? Money? You all must have had something you desired to achieve here.”

Rarely does someone without any aspirations arrive here.

Everyone must have a goal, even if they haven’t voiced it, and they joined the Royal Knights for that achievement.

“Only your martial skills can prove your worth. A swordsman who gives up on training doesn’t grow, and those who fear defeat don’t advance.”

To achieve goals, and proudly display the name of the Royal Knights to elevate our honor, we must ultimately demonstrate unmatched martial prowess.

In the past, the Knights were probably one of the best places for knights to shine.

But that’s not the case now.

The capable ones have moved to places that offer more. Those with the means haven’t chosen the remaining knights of the group, leaving behind only the dregs.

“Let me ask again. Did you come here to become trash?”

Now, only those who can no longer shine on their own or those who have been rejected remain—but that’s a good thing.

I’ll show the way, and it’s up to them to follow it.

I may not be entirely sure it’s the right path, but if the three-day chaos helps them a little in their choices, it’ll be worth it.

Another life for 30 years, this one for 20 years.

Living a cumulative life of 50 years has made me experience just about everything.

Since I have a significant amount of life ahead, it seems like all things must happen sooner or later.

A cool breeze blew through the knights slumped on the floor.

Silently, I waited for their reply. Surprisingly, it was the Novice Knights who broke the silence first.

“I came here to become an honorable knight.”

“To become the best knight, like Sigfried’s guardian knight, someone strong. So…”

The Novice Knights’ quiet voices.

Though their faces were swollen and their elegant uniforms were in disarray, they clenched their fists and expressed their determination.

Impressed by their juniors, the Senior Knights stood up.

Shaking from the pain, they gripped themselves tightly and stared at me with resolute faces.

“No one came here to become trash.”

“Even when we lost and were belittled by knights of other families, even as we gradually left the group, we endured.”

“Even if everyone left, we stayed until the last. We didn’t stop training. We always reminded ourselves that we are part of the Royal Knights. Yet, why…?!”

It was an intense cry of frustration from the Senior Knight of the First Sword Squad.

The words, spoken with force initially, gradually turned into sobs.

Watching each of the knights answer the question, I slowly spoke.

“I’ll give you one last chance.”

The fallen knights looked at me.

A chilling winter wind circulated between us.

Calmly locking eyes with the many knights, I continued.

“It doesn’t matter if you have talent or not.”

No one knows the form of that talent until they realize it.

“The way you charged at me without hesitation, with that tenacity—even if you don’t have the talent, as long as you carry this spirit and follow through to the end.”

The persistent drive toward our goals is the mindset that those setting off on the long journey of swordsmanship must have.

My teacher, Landeck, instilled this in me through rote instruction with various family sword techniques.

“Trust me and follow. Keep breaking, shatter, push to the point where there’s no regret, and fall honorably. And then…”

When you’ve become too solid to simply crumble,

When you take pride in your efforts,

“Challenge me again.”

After the long speech, I looked around at the knights.

The knights, who had silently listened to me, struggled to rise despite their shaky bodies.

The fading light behind the knights was unnecessary to gauge their spirits—their shining eyes said enough.

As I made eye contact with each one to remember their faces, I smiled faintly.

“Vice Captain Milene has requested, putting her knighthood on the line, to give you this last chance. The sight of the First Sword Squad also moved me.”

“Your Majesty…”

With shimmering eyes, Milene, who had been quietly watching, flinched.

“Spare her if you fail to grow properly, and she’ll be returned to her hometown. So, work hard. Do you understand?”

“Yes! Understood!”

The knights’ booming replies echoed across the Training Grounds.

‘Reacting well.’

The words I spoke today were what my teacher used when teaching certain knights.

Occasionally, when my teacher was drunk, he would share various stories, and his tendency to repeat himself while intoxicated made those phrases stick firmly in my mind.

Never did I think I’d use them here.

Looking forward to what lies ahead. I wonder how many will follow through to the end.

“Everyone, except those on duty or with tasks, gather at the Training Grounds.”

Turning away from the knights, their eyes glowing as they tidied up the Training Grounds, I headed back to the Imperial Palace.

The next day, I shouted at the gathered squadron in the Training Grounds.

“From now on, we run full force across the Training Grounds!”

Confused by the sudden command, but breaking the silence of the Training Grounds with a sudden rush, the upper-level knights bolted out first.

As the senior knights ran desperately across the Training Grounds,

The Novice Knights also began moving their feet slowly.

When countless footsteps resounded loudly within the Training Grounds, I shouted again to the Novice Knights.

“The first 10 get to rest! The rest run again!”

The Novice Knights started running frantically.

---