The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 129

What Is a Knight in This World?

Si-on was a 21st-century Korean. So, when he first arrived in this world, he viewed and understood knights from a modern person's general perspective.

An image full of romance—upholding chivalry, staying loyal to kings and lords, and protecting the weak.

That was why, when he first encountered the knightly class in this world, he had a slight admiration for them.

However, it didn’t even take a year for that admiration and romance to be completely shattered.

Ninety-nine percent of the knights in this world were nothing more than ‘high-class thugs’—a little better with a sword or from slightly wealthier families.

And this stemmed from the social structure of this world.

If a nobleman was lucky enough to be born into an aristocratic family but not lucky enough to make it to the capital for education or secure a position as a lord or administrator, the only option left for the younger sons of noble families was to pick up a spear and sword.

In fact, ninety percent of these younger sons never even got the second stroke of luck—the chance to be educated in the capital.

Why? Because getting an education in the capital (no matter which country) required an enormous amount of money.

Only nobles at least at the lord level could afford to make such an investment (a reckless waste of money) on a second or third son who wasn’t even the family heir.

That alone filtered out the vast majority, leaving only ten percent of younger sons to receive an education in the capital.

Among them, only about one or two in ten were lucky enough to become lords or administrators.

So, what about the rest?

They either spent their days idly wasting their lives, or they picked up a spear and sword early to become knights.

Of course, even those who chose to laze around were eventually kicked out of their homes by their elder brothers—who had become the family heads—once their parents passed away. Then, they either died begging on the streets or picked up weapons at a later age.

In that case, though, they were more likely to become bandits or robbers than knights.

Anyway, because of this social structure, most knights in this world were ignorant, impulsive, and quick-tempered.

To put it simply, they were just a bunch of brutes with strength.

Huh? Sure, they might be ignorant, but isn’t calling them brutes a bit of an exaggeration? Aren’t there also knights who have age, experience, and dignity?

Yes, such knights did exist—but they were only about ten percent of the total.

Among the ‘living’ knights, roughly ninety percent were no different from immature teenagers with severe middle-school syndrome.

That’s right.

Ninety percent of knights died young or retired after suffering severe injuries while playing the role of ‘high-class thugs’—before they ever had the chance to gain experience or dignity.

Just like today.

***

“……”

Apologizing. Admitting mistakes. Asking for forgiveness.

Knights who did that were almost nonexistent in this world. The knight Si-on had met in Cheolsan, Longlive, was an extremely rare exception.

Think about it. They were born into noble families but weren’t particularly educated or cultured. Since childhood, they had spent all their time learning how to wield weapons and kill people.

What were the odds of them being humble?

Almost zero.

Knights only became humble in two situations.

One, when they got stabbed and died.

Two, when they were completely overpowered by someone.

And for most young knights in their early to mid-twenties, the only time they had been completely overpowered was by their own fathers or older brothers.

Any knight who had been utterly beaten down by someone outside their family had already either become a cripple or retired.

In other words, the knights currently standing in front of Si-on had spent their entire lives beating and killing both people and monsters, yet had never once experienced being overwhelmingly defeated. (The one exception had already fled earlier.)

That was why, even after hearing the name of the Janstrick Mercenary Group and seeing Crown Prince Philon in person, they stubbornly refused to back down and kept glaring at Si-on, even in their sobered-up state.

And the immortal ancient monster had seen and dealt with such knights countless times before, so he felt nothing in particular.

“So, what you’re saying is that my troops and I are only thinking about making money while the northeastern region is in crisis?”

“Your Excellency’s words may be a bit blunt, but yes, that is what we mean.”

“Is it not true? You, Governor, are the one putting money above human lives.”

As two of them stepped forward, the others soon followed suit, sneering and smirking.

“I believe Your Excellency is also a knight. Shouldn’t a knight prioritize responsibility and honor over money?”

“That’s right. If not, you might as well be a merchant. At least merchants only care about gold and don’t pretend to have honor.”

“Your Excellency, even at this moment, the people of the northeast are suffering from the threat of monsters. As the governor of this territory, and as a knight of the kingdom, it is not too late to set aside gold and pursue something even more radiant—honor—”

“Hey.”

“……!?”

At the sudden informal speech, the knights’ eyes widened in shock before they quickly scowled.

“No matter how high your rank is as governor, this is—”

“You bastards, can you say those exact words to your own lords?”

“……!”

“Don’t just think about making money or indulging in luxuries—take care of your people first. Isn’t that something you should be telling your own lords first?”

“T-that’s….”

“You there. How many people live in your territory?”

“Uh… About twenty thousand, I believe.”

“Then how many standing troops does your lord have? How many soldiers has he personally armed?”

“……”

The knight, who had unconsciously answered the first question, clamped his mouth shut at the second. He was too embarrassed to say that the number wasn’t even a hundred.

“Not answering? Let me guess—it’s not even a hundred, is it? Is that why you’re too ashamed to say it?”

“……”

If the population was twenty thousand and the standing army was a hundred, that would be a 0.5% ratio.

Numerically, it wasn’t terrible.

The problem was that, in this world, soldiers also served as local law enforcement (police) and as private guards for the lord.

Even in South Korea, known for its exceptional public security, the combined number of police officers and private security personnel reaches around 300,000.

That figure only accounts for officially registered personnel—if unregistered ones are included, it means nearly 1% of the total population is solely dedicated to maintaining order.

Yet, in this world, not a single lord could be said to maintain even 1% of their population as a standing army or security force.

"Isn't it your damned lords, the ones you serve, who have spent generations sucking the blood of their people for wealth while neglecting to replenish their forces?"

Si-on spoke, his gaze as sharp as frost, sweeping over the knights and even the envoys, who were at a loss for what to do.

"Responsibility? Honor? The lords of the Northeast swore to uphold those values as knights of the Kingdom of Obla. But the moment you sought me out, the moment you stood before me and begged for help, pleaded for your lives—"

In the heavy silence, Si-on uttered his final words.

"You confessed to having abandoned your responsibility and honor."

"……."

"……."

Dozens were present, yet none could speak.

The envoys and knights were silenced by shame.

Si-on’s soldiers, by swelling pride.

The crown prince and the royal knights, by sheer shock.

After a brief yet intense ten seconds of silence, Si-on spoke again.

"The moment you admitted to forsaking your responsibility and honor, you ceased to be knights. But I am a generous governor. So, I will give you a chance."

"……!?"

"Responsibility and honor—aren’t you so-called knights always declaring those with your swords? Then I’ll grant you an opportunity to reclaim and uphold them. Defeat me, prove your so-called sense of duty and honor. Don’t just run your mouths like cowards."

With an impassive expression, Si-on drew two swords.

And on that day, over ten knights from the Northeast, just like 90% of their predecessors over the centuries, had to either die or retire before they could acquire true wisdom and dignity.

Si-on was not a psychopathic murderer who killed indiscriminately.

Most of the people he had slain in this world were those who had openly displayed intense hostility or murderous intent toward him.

And "most" meant there were a few exceptions.

Today was one such case.

These were not individuals who had personally threatened him, but ones who had sought to intimidate and attack the group he belonged to.

Count Pamel, Gede, and Baron Botan had been prime examples.

And today, the knights of the Northeast, who had blatantly threatened the Peregrine Division—whom Si-on had deemed "his people"—were added to the list.

If someone was reasonable, capable of recognizing their mistakes and offering an apology, then a simple lesson was enough.

But hadn’t someone once said—

"The civilized are ruder than savages because their heads do not get split open for speaking rudely."

That applied just as well to the nobles and knights of this world, who stood somewhere between civilization and barbarism.

They never truly realized the gravity of their actions until their heads were actually split open.

Especially knights.

Having survived by splitting the heads of others, they never entertained the thought that they could meet the same fate—until the very moment their own skulls were about to be shattered.

Why? Because being a knight meant being stronger than others.

Thus, even when encountering someone stronger than themselves, most knights failed to recognize it.

They would act rudely, unaware, until their skulls were crushed—and only in that moment would they regret it.

Si-on had spent long years in this world witnessing, experiencing, and executing this truth firsthand.

And he knew all too well just how effective a "rehabilitation" method it was.

Not just for those whose heads were split open—but also for those who had to watch.

"Ughhh…."

As mentioned before, nobles in this world rarely witnessed the murder of their own kind—especially those of the ruling class.

Though they were somewhat accustomed to corpses, given the frequency of violent crimes, wild beasts, and monsters, actually seeing someone killed in front of them was an entirely different matter.

And witnessing an already dead body was nothing like watching someone become a corpse before their very eyes.

Especially if that process involved skulls being split, limbs severed, and entrails spilling out.

"Uweeegh!"

Some of those who had just watched over ten robust men instantly turn into grotesque corpses—or be permanently maimed—could no longer hold back their nausea.

Yet, though they emptied their stomachs, their heads were now filled with proper etiquette.

That applied to everyone present—the envoys from each territory, the crown prince, and the royal knights alike.

Crown Prince Philon, without realizing it, had straightened his posture and neatly folded his hands in front of him.

Meanwhile, Si-on—who had just instilled "etiquette" through the sword—turned to the trembling envoys.

Several had already wet themselves and were slowly retreating, but to them, Si-on spoke in an eerily detached tone, as if he weren’t the very man who had just butchered people moments ago.

"Lords, you seem to have quite a few complaints. Shall we continue our discussion?"

"N-No! Not at all!"

"Come now. If your guards reacted that way, it’s clear you have grievances. When you return and report to your lords, they’ll surely be displeased as well. And then, things will become tiresome for everyone. Wouldn't it be better to air out your concerns now? Follow me."

"Ah…."

Si-on flicked the blood off his blade before turning away.

As he passed the frozen newcomers, the Peregrine Division veterans clicked their tongues and began gathering the corpses and tending to the wounded.

Meanwhile, the envoys trailed behind Si-on like convicts being led to the gallows.

These men, who had once stood between civilization and barbarism, had now truly become civilized—courtesy of their newfound "etiquette."

Their footsteps were noticeably restrained.