translated by A013
Relin didn't went too far that night. She wandered around just outside the town, even though her companions wanted to leave this shitty place as soon as possible. But Relin had something else on her mind, a hint of hesitation on her face. She sat there and held on her knees staring at the moon the whole night.
The next day, Duwei continued on the road. Though this time, a ox drawn cart followed behind his group. Inside the cart was the tied up magician. The poor magician looked exhausted and soaked wet. The knights dutifully completed Duwei's order, to give him a cold bath every once in a while.
Duwei kept up with his routine and started reading in the carriage once they were on the road. You couldn't feel much vibrations even on bumpy roads with a high quality carriage.
A light knock on the window, followed by Mard's voice. "Master, there's something you need to see. Those adventurers from the tavern yesterday are following behind us."
Duwei startled for a moment then stuck his head out the window. Indeed, that girl and her two companions were following them a hundred feet away.
The knights saw this and had a weird expression on their face. They were trying their best to hold their laughter. Yesterday, that girl came out of the master's room, and now she's following, huh.
"Stop the carriage. Go and fetch that girl."
Relin had been following Duwei's carriage the whole morning. Her head was in chaos. She didn't know why she wanted to follow him. Was it because she's worried about that magician? Probably not, she wouldn't care about that magician's life.
Then the carriage stopped and two knights rode their horses over.
"Miss, our master wants to see you, please come with us." Due to the possibility of this girl having a relation with the master, the knights said their words politely.
Relin was still dazed. She nodded and rode her horse over subconsciously. Her companions were worried and followed.
"Why are you following me?" Duwei didn't get off his carriage. He opened the door and looked at Relin.
Relin got off her horse and bit her lips. At that moment, she decided on an answer to the question she was struggling the whole night. Why? Perhaps it was that devilish smile.
She took a deep breath and kneeled down on one knee. She lowered her head and said in a serious voice. "I, Relin Muen, pledge loyalty to you. I am willing to become your subordinate. I will use my blood and life to uphold my pledge with the rest of my life! Will you accept my loyalty?"
Duwei was silent for a while. He inspected the girl and said. "You want to pledge loyalty to me? Why?"
"I don't know." Relin said what's in her heart. "Maybe you are right. I am tired. I am starting to feel I don't have the ability to maintain my life. Perhaps I need to find someone to depend on."
"And you think I am that person?"
"Yes. Even though I still don't know your identity, but you give me the feeling of... of someone extraordinary. Or you are destined to become an extraordinary person."
"That's a difficult decision." Duwei sighed and turned to Mard. "Mard, I think I have the eligibility to recruit my honor knights right? How many knights can I recruit?"
Although Mard was a stable hand, he had done his homework since being promoted to Duwei's servant. "Yes master, you are the son of the Earl, even if you don't inherit his title, according to the law, you can receive the title of Baron. The kingdom allows those with this title to recruit ten honor knights."
"Thank you. Only ten, although a little bit low, but knights can recruit squires right? A knight can have a few squires, then ten knights and the squires aren't too bad."
After receiving confirmation from Mard, Duwei turned to Relin. "Ok, I will accept your loyalty. From now on, you are my honor knight. You are the first one that received this title from me, and a female knight too."
"Thank you, then since I pledge my loyalty, will you tell me your identity? Master."
"Oh my identity, the first son of the Kingdom's vice general Earl Raymond. Duwei Roland is my name. And I forgot to tell you, i have a rather famous nickname in the imperial city. They call me retard."
"Re... retard?!" Relin widened her eyes in shock.
Heck, if this kid is a retard then there are no geniuses in this world! If he was a retard then 90% of the world's population was mentally defective.
Relin wouldn't dare to laugh. She stood up and pointed to her companions. "Master, these are my companions, their names are..."
"No, no, no." Duwei interrupted her. "Sorry but I am not interested in their names. And as you heard I am only allowed to have ten honor knights. I am not going to waste those slots. I am saving them for a few high level knights or swordsmen."
Duwei didn't even look at those two.
Don't joke around! That bulky warrior only had higher strength, and that archer... a few hundred gold could recruit four to five. Even this female knight. If she wasn't a beautiful girl, given her level, Duwei wouldn't be interested in her.
"Knight Relin Muen, now that you are my honor knight, your companions can count as your squires. About your knight badge and equipments, I will give them to you when we arrive at the destination. Now lead your people and join our group. If nothing goes wrong we will arrive at my mansion tonight."
Relin remained silent. Though her companions were rather sad that they didn't become a knight.
There were three ways to become a true knight. One was to be high enough level and be evaluated by the Knights Guild. Second was to be a believer of the Light Temple at a young age, these people would be raised and trained then pass a series of assessments to become Templar. Third was to pledge loyalty to a noble and obtain the Honor Knight title.
These two guys were low level and not part of the Light Templar, their only chance of becoming a knight was to be recruited by a noble. But nobles with the eligibility to recruit knights wouldn't want these people.
Relin could only say a few words to comfort them. She's feeling complicated. Once she pledged loyalty, she's no longer independent. This group that she spent so much effort to maintain would broke up. She's no longer a leader but a subordinate.
She didn't know that this day will be remembered in history.