Chapter 99
Even though the knight order was formed, Karl’s daily life didn’t change in any particularly special way.
The only slight difference was that he started overseeing the knights’ training.
‘Swordsmanship…’
Karl, holed up in his room, was diligently scribbling something.
Swordsmanship and footwork not for himself, but for the members.
That was the reason he was cooped up in his room, racking his brain.
It couldn't be too difficult, but it also couldn't be too rigid.
‘It would be good if I could study some swordsmanship.’
Even if they belonged to a knight order, leaking their secrets to the outside world was something everyone would be reluctant to do.
Just as Karl was deep in thought, someone knocked on the office door.
“It’s Definir, Commander.”
It was necessary to get used to the somewhat awkward title of Commander now.
After all, Karl was strictly the commander of a knight order numbering 80.
“You seem to have many worries, Commander.”
At Definir’s words, Karl silently held up a book.
“That is?”
“It’s a swordsmanship manual for the members… Creating a new one isn’t easy.”
“Ah…!”
“Mastering something myself and creating something for others to master seem to be entirely different problems.”
“Perhaps… it might be somewhat lacking for an expert like you, Commander, but would it be alright if I showed you my family’s Yustia Swordsmanship?”
“Is it alright to reveal such a family secret?”
“Anyway, if I’m the only one who knows it, it will just become a swordsmanship that isn’t properly passed down. I think it would be better if you could use it meaningfully, Commander.”
He was in dire need of a proper, ascending swordsmanship.
Karl nodded and decided to accept Definir’s sincerity.
“I will surely repay you with good swordsmanship.”
After the decision was made, Definir handed over the swordsmanship textbook kept by his family for generations and then came to Karl every day to teach him the family’s swordsmanship.
The Yustia family was quite an old family, dating back roughly 500 years.
Although their domain and castle were gone, the depth of their swordsmanship was exceptional, matching the family’s history.
Though not flashy, the straightforward nature of the swordsmanship greatly appealed to Karl.
He felt it was a swordsmanship that matched well with the color of the knight order he envisioned.
‘Yes, if I fuse Meyer Swordsmanship into the foundation of Yustia Swordsmanship and mix in a little of Khan’s throwing techniques to create everything from basic to advanced swordsmanship, a pretty useful swordsmanship should emerge.’
From that day on, Karl devoted himself to swordsmanship development, going back and forth only between his office and the training ground.
Approximately four months passed like that, and Karl completed a total of three swordsmanship styles.
Swordsmanship Lumentia.
It was the unique swordsmanship of the Knights of the Lighthouse, named by taking ‘Lumen’ meaning light and the latter part of Yustia Swordsmanship, which formed the backbone of the swordsmanship.
He imbued it fully with the wish that it would become a sword that illuminates the world, and the sense of satisfaction felt after completion was considerable.
“Commander, all members have gathered in the training ground.”
Even though they had vetted all the other knights who had come during the past four months and accepted only some, the knight order, which had somehow grown to 100 members, was now fully assembled in the training ground.
Karl, standing before the lined-up knights, held up three books.
“If you just put in the effort, you should be able to become Masters.”
It wasn't a long speech like other knight commanders gave, and although it was very short, it was more than enough to resonate in the hearts of the members present.
Thus, from that day on, the Knights of the Lighthouse began a period of hellish training.
As Count Vito mentioned last time, the amount of money sent to Karl from the Order, the Alcantara Knights, and the Mercenary Guild was substantial, so Karl’s knight order had sufficient funds, not needing to desperately cling to money.
Moreover, the knights’ armaments were brought by each individual anyway, and the lodging they currently stayed in was also a place Count Calido had already used for his knight order, so it could be considered that there was practically no money needed.
The only costs incurred were for hay to feed the warhorses and the food expenses for the knights.
“You’re tired after swinging just that much? If that’s all you have, you still have a long way to go. Pack your bags and go back home. Return after training in your hometown.”
Karl showed not even the slightest mercy in his training.
Even though they were knights capable of using Qi, two hours of separate physical training without using Qi were assigned, and two hours of swordsmanship training without using Qi were also assigned separately.
With the murderous training hours and Karl’s incessant reprimands, their spirits quickly became worn down.
“Trainee number 78.”
During training hours, he called the knight order members by number, not name.
They had to endure rote repetition and a grueling physical training system whose origins were unknown.
“On one, twist your legs sideways. On two, return to the original position.”
While wearing armor and even iron weights, unable to use Qi, performing the dreadful movement called full-body twisting purely with muscle strength, the knights thought of the word 'give up' hundreds of times a day.
“If you want to quit, you can ring this bell. You are free anytime. Just ring the bell, and you can go home. Hey, number 33 over there. If you want to give up and go back, come and ring this bell.”
“No sir! I can do it sir!”
Somehow, this strange way of speaking became ingrained among the members.
Thus, six months passed since the Lumentia Swordsmanship was created and full-scale training began.
***
“One!, Two!, Three!, Four! One-two-three-four! One-two-three-four!”
Without fail, at 8 o’clock, the morning combat run began in the County of Collo, with 100 knights wearing armor.
People who initially watched them curiously now simply thought morning had begun, seeing the scene that had become routine, without much thought.
Count Vito and Karl, standing atop the castle wall watching their run, each held a cup of warm tea in one hand.
“Sir Karl, you have truly done the impossible. Five Superior-grade knights in just six months.”
“It’s the result of their effort and passion. They were individuals already on the verge of Superior anyway.”
“You are too humble. Doesn’t it mean the newly created swordsmanship is that remarkable?”
“…All I did was slightly modify the existing swordsmanship and oversee the training a bit, nothing more.”
Count Vito smiled, looking at Karl’s back as he gazed at the distant mountains.
He truly is an amazing person. To react like that after achieving such results.
Knowing Karl’s reaction wasn't false modesty, Count Vito felt the man before him was even greater.
He held no greed for power, wealth, or fame.
The cause held by the man named Karl lay solely with people.
Count Vito knew well that the reason he trained the members so harshly was to prevent them from dying on the battlefield.
‘Thanks to that, I also received much help.’
The 50-man knight order Count Vito had separately raised also trained alongside the Knights of the Lighthouse, and their skills improved by leaps and bounds.
Karl also imparted the swordsmanship he created, called Lumentia Swordsmanship, to them.
Being a Count who knew well how rare it was to pass down secret swordsmanship, he could only thank Karl once more.
“The world is chaotic. It will explode soon, won’t it?”
Various warlords who had been conserving their strength until now were rising up in various places.
Not only Tarantula, who suffered damage because of Karl, but also numerous powers like Marquis Baltimo, Duke Ellenhower, and Duke Edmond would start to move.
“In these chaotic times, we don’t know what we should do.”
Geographically, the County of Collo was located between Duke Ellenhower and Marquis Baltimo.
Meaning it was best to align with one of the two powers.
Since Count Vito wasn't someone greedy for the Emperor’s throne, it was difficult for him to advance as an independent power.
“As it happens, Duke Ellenhower has invited us to the Somerset Knight Grand Tournament. Would you be able to accompany me on this occasion?”
If one had to join someone, it couldn't be chosen recklessly.
Since he wouldn't get involved with a man like Marquis Baltimo, the only option left was Duke Ellenhower, but still, there was a need to ascertain what kind of person he was.
Karl nodded and took a sip of his tea.
“I shall do so.”
It was also necessary to make the name of the Knights of the Lighthouse known to the world once anyway.
History proved how important a unit's reputation was in battles in this kind of world.
Because when a famous unit appeared, the opponent's morale would drop sharply, significantly affecting their spirit.
Thanks to his efforts so far, Karl's reputation had spread widely across the continent, but no one knew of the Knights of the Lighthouse.
There was a need to reveal the results of 10 months of arduous training once.
Only then would others hesitate to carelessly touch the County of Collo and his knight order in this age of chaos.
Thus, a few days later, Karl and Count Vito, along with a handpicked elite force of 30 knights, departed towards the Somerset Duchy.
***
“They say the Knight of the Lighthouse is coming this time?”
“Yes, Your Grace the Duke.”
Viscount Jennings, who had previously gone to bestow the middle name Reitz upon Karl, was chatting with Duke Ellenhower beside him.
“Can I finally see his skills, which I've only heard about in rumors?”
Duke Ellenhower, now in his early 40s, had the appearance of a benevolent man at first glance.
Though he couldn't call himself a knight, perhaps due to continued training, his shoulders were broad and his physique was robust.
With the appearance of a sturdy and well-maintained middle-aged man, he was smiling while talking about Karl.
“Are you that pleased?”
“Of course, why else would I have gone so far as to bestow a middle name?”
Viscount Jennings thought it was good just to see his master, who had recently been troubled by various matters, smiling happily.
“Can he win?”
“…That cannot be known. Our Somerset Knight Grand Tournament isn’t decided by one person’s skill, is it?”
“Indeed… It was created in the first place to see the organizational skills of knight orders.”
“Isn’t it interesting? We can also gauge the level of his knights that Sir Karl is bringing this time.”
The Duke nodded at Jennings’ words.
Watching him would be interesting, but watching the knight order he supposedly newly created would also be interesting.
“Knights of the Lighthouse, was it?”
“Yes, they say it’s a newly formed knight order, less than a year old.”
“No matter how outstanding a knight he is, a knight order is a different matter now… It might be difficult to achieve good results.”
“That is correct. The skill of a knight order is different from simply the sum of individual abilities. They need years to synchronize their movements, so how well their coordination has developed is something to watch.”
“Indeed… That too will be interesting.”
Viscount Jennings, too, although speaking somewhat analytically, held a slight admiration for the knight named Karl Meyer.
A figure who appeared suddenly and rose as a hero of the West Continent; he greatly hoped Karl would achieve good results in the Somerset Knight Grand Tournament as well.
He also thought that his liege, who acted like someone infinitely distant from power despite being closest to it, and the hero saving the world were a very fitting pair.
“You’re making that strange face again.”
“What face did I make?”
“That face, you always make that face when you’re plotting something.”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“No, it’s definitely the face I know.”
The two joked, laughed, and chatted more like friends than master and servant.
Thus, with someone’s anticipation and someone’s tension, knight orders from various regions began to gather in Somerset.