How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 32

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 32

Chapter 12. Ilia Frost

After finishing my conversation with the Count, I headed straight to the Knights Order.

“Young Lord, what brings you here?”

“I’ve come because I need a squire.”

“A squire, you say?”

“I have the Lord’s approval.”

I immediately met with Gilian and presented him with the paper stamped with the Count’s seal, to which Gilian nodded.

“So, you’ll be joining the Duke’s escort to Capital City.”

“That’s right.”

“Then you’re looking for a squire to assist you until you reach the Duchy, correct? Is there a specific trainee knight you’re looking for?”

Gilian’s question made me pause to consider.

‘I don’t know anyone besides Ruth. But I can’t just sit idly by and take anyone.’

‘I need to set a few conditions.’

Might isn’t a consideration. The Duke’s delegation will be overflowing with powerful knights anyway.

Then I figured a squire skilled in etiquette would be better than raw strength. To handle the trivial tasks on my behalf, they’d need to have some finesse.

“I’d like a trainee knight who is well-educated.”

“Since you’re heading to Capital City, after all.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

“Also, if you’re going to recommend scions of noble families, could you exclude a few?”

There’s no need to get involved with noble families under Dane and Seine’s influence.

Fortunately, Gilian seemed to understand my thoughts, nodding silently.

“Understood. I’ll select a suitable trainee and send them to you by the departure time tomorrow.”

“Ah, there’s no need to summon them here.”

“Pardon?”

“If you give me the list of trainees, I’ll look at it myself and choose.”

“In person, you mean?”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”

“Of course not.”

Gilian shook his head with an awkward expression.

It’s not that I don’t trust Gilian. It’s just that you can’t entrust the task of choosing people to others.

“I hope you don’t misunderstand. Who else do I have besides the Commander? It’s just that since it’s someone I’ll be with for quite some time, I want to see them in person and choose…”

“Not at all. Misunderstanding? Don’t mention it.”

Finally understanding my intention, Gilian smiled and briskly moved his pen to create a list, handing it to me.

“Here you are, Young Lord.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Don’t mention it. As always, the Knights Order is at Lindayer’s service.”

* * *

The Knights Order’s barracks were filled with heat, enough to ward off the cold.

Trainee knights were gathered in one corner of the training ground.

Facing them, I scratched the back of my head.

‘They’re all…’

Perhaps because I asked for someone well-educated, all the candidates were scions of noble families.

Of course, I wasn’t averse to them simply being nobles.

How should I put it?

To handle all sorts of trivial tasks on my behalf, they’d need to be somewhat resilient, but they all felt like hothouse flowers because they were nobles.

‘Seriously.’

Their trainee knight uniforms were pressed with knife-like precision.

Their appearance seemed to shout, ‘I’m a fresh chick.’ It brought a sigh from me.

Feeling a familiar sensation, as if I were receiving new recruits back in my days as a platoon leader, I opened my mouth.

“I need a squire for the journey to Capital City with the Duke’s delegation.”

“…….”

“The task is simple. Eating, dressing, and taking care of personal needs are all things I handle myself. I didn’t come looking for help with that. The only thing you’ll have to do is the trivial tasks that come up during the journey. It’s not really a squire’s job, so just think of it as being an attendant.”

The trainee knights’ eyes sparkled as they listened to my story.

It’s understandable.

They’re all at an age where their blood is boiling. Being cooped up in the Knights Order barracks, focusing solely on training day after day, must be frustrating.

The destination is Capital City. And since I said I wouldn’t make them do strenuous squire duties, what better conditions could there be?

Strutting around the magnificent capital in a Knights Order uniform is a dream that every trainee knight has. They’d be beside themselves.

“Capital City? I volunteer!”

“I’ll go too!”

“I’m confident I can serve you with all my heart!”

Sure enough, at the mention of Capital City, most of the trainee knights raised their hands, filled with excitement.

Good. There’s no time to listen to self-introductions from guys who are all about the same anyway.

I was about to pick someone at random when I raised my hand.

‘What?’

Amidst everyone raising their hands and showing enthusiasm, there was one trainee who caught my eye.

A trainee knight standing silently in the corner with a nonchalant expression, as if they had no interest at all.

‘A woman?’

Her hair was barely shoulder-length, but she was definitely a woman.

It’s not that her being a woman is surprising.

Anyone can become a knight, regardless of gender.

But what’s clear is that it’s not easy to see a noble family’s daughter walking the path of a warrior.

After all, a noble family’s daughter is a very important asset for arranged marriages.

Unless they have exceptional talent, it’s usually not allowed.

‘Yet, she’s here as a trainee knight, which means…’

I glanced at the list Gilian had prepared. Then, as I read down, I found the personal information I was looking for at the end.

[Ilia Frost]

‘Age 21. Commoner. Orphan. Joined the Order two years ago. Joined on the recommendation of Knights Order Commander Gilian Esteban.’

She wasn’t a scion of a noble family.

It was an unusual background. I clearly asked for a well-educated trainee, but she’s a commoner. An orphan, no less.

It didn’t make sense. I wondered if he had made a mistake in recommending her, but the fact that Gilian had personally admitted her bothered me.

‘This is getting interesting.’

What if it wasn’t Gilian’s mistake?

A new question arose. What about her captivated Gilian?

I was intrigued. But there were too many eyes to ask directly, and I might regret taking her without knowing anything about her.

After pondering what to do, I came to a conclusion.

I folded the list and put it in my pocket, then crossed my arms and looked at the trainee knights.

“Since there are so many applicants, I’ll give you a simple test.”

Then I walked to one side of the training ground, grabbed a wooden sword that was placed there, and opened my mouth.

“I don’t intend to just sit around and do nothing during the long journey. You need to have the skill to spar with me briefly during your free time to make it worthwhile to take you.”

The faces of the assembled trainee knights stiffened with tension for a moment, then quickly relaxed.

They clearly thought my swordsmanship was obvious [inferior].

True, even though I subjugated the Blade Clan, most people, except for a few who know the truth, would think that Gilian and the Rangers did most of the work.

They probably think I just watched and reaped the rewards.

“Come out one at a time.”

As if my thoughts were correct, a large trainee knight grabbed a wooden sword and came forward as soon as I finished speaking.

“What are the passing criteria?”

“Well, there aren’t really any criteria, but if you defeat me, wouldn’t that be obvious?”

“How could I possibly harm the Third Young Lord…”

“I promise on my honor. I won’t hold you responsible for this duel in any way.”

“Really?”

“Do I need to say it twice?”

“…….”

Clack!

The trainee knight, after giving a light bow, took his stance.

Thud!

He took a heavy step, befitting his size, and charged in.

Of course, to me, he just felt like a big wild boar.

“Ugh…”

I lightly sidestepped and tripped him.

Whoosh!

The trainee knight’s body floated in the air, then fell roughly to the dirt floor.

“Kuh-erk!”

The trainee knight, who collided strongly with the ground as much as his weight, groaned.

Regardless.

“Next.”

At my call, a slender, lanky trainee knight came out.

The lanky one, sneering at the trainee knight rolling on the ground, raised his wooden sword and stood facing me.

“Come in.”

The lanky one kept a good distance and swung his sword. He meant to start with a probing attack, keeping a sufficient distance.

But I had no intention of dragging things out.

Clack! Clack!

In an instant, I dashed in, lightly deflected the lanky one’s wooden sword, and then spun it around to send it flying.

“…Huh?”

The lanky one stared blankly at the wooden sword spinning in the air.

“Next.”

After simply issuing an eviction order.

After that, trainee knights challenged me one after another, like a tag match.

How many minutes had passed?

Only when a pile of broken or cracked wooden swords had accumulated on the training ground floor did most of the turns end.

“…….”

“Good heavens.”

And the result.

Everyone had a look as if they were dreaming. The trainee knights opened their mouths wide, as if possessed by a ghost.

Their thoughts were revealed in their expressions.

‘Wind Knights? [A prestigious knight order]’

What kind of group is that glorious Wind Knights? Aren’t they the elite of Lindayer, a prestigious family and martial arts clan that is one of the best in the Midland?

Being able to join the Knights Order as a trainee knight meant that their talent was recognized anywhere on the continent.

They must be dumbfounded by the fact that they were helplessly defeated by me. Especially by the incompetent Third Young Lord, who was starved of women and wine until only half a year ago.

“Next.”

That being said, I don’t have the slightest intention of comforting them.

I erased those who were out of their minds from my sight and pointed to the last remaining trainee knight with my wooden sword.

It was Ilia Frost.

Even though her peers were being broken and falling, there was no change in her expression.

She just silently lowered her head and opened her mouth in a monotone voice.

“I am not qualified to be the Young Lord’s squire.”

What is this? Is she being sarcastic? Or is she putting herself down?

As I tilted my head, she continued, with a face that meant she had no other intentions.

“The national foundation day event held in Capital City is a gathering of prestigious families. I am concerned that if I were to attend as the Young Lord’s attendant, my humble status might cause harm.”

Look at this one.

If you only listen to her words, it’s clear that she’s saying it out of concern for me. But I can feel it.

‘Since you’re not going to take me anyway, I don’t want to sweat unnecessarily?’

I laughed.

Who said so?

“There can’t be two rejections.”

Knowing that, she bit her lip and stepped forward.

The wooden sword in her hand was raised forward. When I nodded, signaling her to come in, she stepped forward.

Thud!

The result was anticlimactic. The deflected wooden sword flew weakly and fell to the floor.

As if admitting defeat, she bowed and turned around.

‘This is a funny one.’

The surrounding trainee knights had faces that said, ‘Well, of course,’ but I could tell.

That woman, she missed on purpose.

I was quite doubtful because she seemed more skilled than she looked, but considering her previous actions, there was enough suspicion.

“Ha.”

She’s saying she won’t go on a journey that others are desperate to go on.

Is she hiding something?

Pretending to lose is also a skill. If you don’t have the skill in the first place, you can’t even pretend to lose and will just be miserably defeated.

Considering that, it means she’s more skilled than the dimwitted trainee knights around her.

“Ilia Frost.”

I’m curious about her dark intentions.

And her skills seem to be the best among these trainee knights.

Then there’s no reason not to take her.

“Pack your bags. We’re leaving early tomorrow morning. Come to the Lord’s Castle before sunrise.”

“Pardon?”

“Go to the Knights Order headquarters for a detailed briefing. Remember. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

Her expression finally changed at my unexpected words.

“…….”

“…….”

The surrounding trainee knights also looked equally dumbfounded.