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The members of the Pelas Knights were having their last sparring in front of Pelas' eyes.
With the addition of Owen to the total number of seven, there are now eight in total.
Pelas had to choose the last one from among them to take part in the successor test.
Several people caught his eye.
Owen was the first to enter.
As expected, they showed excellent skills.
Meanwhile, Owen meets Fellas.
Pelas clapped and smiled at him.
clap clap clap!
Seeing that, Owen grinned.
If you didn't know, you wouldn't have known, but now Pelas could clearly see the true intentions behind that smile.
"You're fucking."
Robben, who was standing next to him, had the same reaction.
"It really is."
Pelas looked away and started looking for a real starter.
First of all, the first thing I noticed were those with high levels.
'That friend who is fighting against Owen is level 13. In terms of level alone, it's the highest.'
The majority of the Pelas Knights were still staying at level 12.
Pelas looked at him and asked Robben.
"That friend. How is it?"
Robben nodded and replied.
"Do you see anything different even from the young master's point of view? Certainly, his physique is the same, and his physical ability alone is the highest level within the Knights."
Even in the midst of such a conversation, he was pushing Owen with the strength of his sparring opponent.
In the end, Owen managed to get out flexibly, but as if he had struggled quite a bit, sweat formed on his forehead.
"As you can see, he's a great talent. In my opinion, I'd like to see him as the last player."
"Really? Hmm..."
Pelas was watching him closely, touching his chin.
Certainly, there seemed to be nothing wrong with a sense of power immediately right now.
No, maybe it was the best option.
Because there were few things as intuitive as the level.
But something was missing.
Should I say it's too straight or plain?
It was a type of combat where the next attack was expected.
In the gaze of the late Pelas, something a little, a little regret lingered.
He turned his head to look at the other knights as well.
But a decent person...
'Ohh?'
A plausible figure appeared.
With his flexible body movements, his eyes flashed to predict the opponent's next move.
Unusual distance control ability.
With that sense, it seemed like a third-year player who had been playing Winter War 3 consistently.
Felas tapped Robben and asked again.
"Who is that friend?"
"Ah, are you talking about Werner? That guy has some sense too. But he's a newcomer who just became a knight, so he's not as good as the guy you saw before..."
Pelas knew that too.
First of all, because the level is different.
This side was level 12, the other side was level 13.
The level gap was something that could not be narrowed no matter what.
I just had to work hard to level up.
Of course, that's why the level was important, but that animal sense was also a very important part.
In the end, those senses gathered and leveled up faster than the other person.
And that was a talent that had to be innate, not something that could be easily acquired.
'The cotyledon is already a talent trap. If I grow it well... I'm sure it could be put to good use.'
In the long run, Werner seemed a better fit in Pellas' eyes.
Pelas said to Robben.
"Hey friend, tell me I want to see you."
"Yes? Werner? Oh, yes. I see."
Robben quickly moved his big body and stopped Joe's sparring with Werner.
Then he said something to Werner.
When he finished speaking, Werner's gaze returned to Pelas.
The two met eyes.
Werner quickly lowered his eyes.
However, Pellas caught that fleeting glance.
The dead person's senses were giving signals with all their might.
'Your eyes are alive. You can't avoid my eyes.'
Pelas looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
* * *
Werner sitting opposite Pelas.
Even Pelas could see that it was still frozen solid.
A face that still has a youthful look to it.
mid teens?
It was a child who seemed to be about the same age as Ethan.
In fact, all the Knights of Pelas were of that age.
From the beginning, the expedition was composed of low-ranking average knights, so it was only natural that they were young.
Pelas asked Havertz to serve him a cup of tea to help him relax.
Pelas pours tea directly into his cup.
Squeeze.
Werner was startled and didn't know what to do.
"Ah, Pe, Mr. Pelas! I'll do it!"
Pelas waved his hand and said.
"It's okay. Just sit down."
Pelas filled Werner's teacup and held it out in front of him.
He bowed his head and accepted the cup with the utmost respect.
"thank you!"
Pelas filled her own teacup with tea and studied him quietly.
Compared to the other knights, he has a slightly slender physique.
Of course, that didn't mean he was small.
He, too, had a physique similar to that of Pelas or Havertz, in direct comparison.
It was only because of the large size of the other knights around him that he only looked like that.
Pelas asked while sipping tea.
"Hmm. How long has it been since you became a knight?"
"Yes. It's been about a year and a half now."
"How is it? A knight's life, is it worth it?"
To that question, Werner answered with eyes shining.
"Thanks to Pellas-nim, I became a low-ranking knight from an ordinary knight so quickly! I became the youngest low-ranking knight in Count Dimeo's family! I'm so satisfied."
"That's very fortunate. But, do you know why I called you separately?"
"That's... Actually, I still don't know why you came looking for me."
"You know that in two days, the successor test will be held to succeed the Dimeo Count family, right?"
"Yes! I am praying earnestly every night that Mr. Pelas will get good results."
"Really? Of course, I'm grateful for your prayers, but if I want to get good results, I think you'll have to do it yourself instead of praying."
"...Yes? What do you mean by that?"
"You know that the successor test is a best-of-three duel, right?"
"Yes. I know that."
"I intend to put you at the forefront of the test for the successor."
"yes?!!"
Werner was silent for a moment and had a face like a goldfish.
Pelas asked, tilting his head.
"Why? You don't like it?"
Werner suddenly comes to his senses at the sound of that voice.
"No! That's not it... Now that Uncle O has joined our knights... Besides, if I lose, it will be a situation where Mr. Pellas and Mr. Robben must win unconditionally... "
"What? Are you thinking of losing before you even try?"
"Absolutely not! If I go out, I'll risk my life to win!"
"Then do you think I will lose?"
Werner shook his head.
"This is absurd. We are the ones who saw Pelas-sama's performance up close in the battle against the orcs. It is a well-known fact that Pelas-sama is above our level."
"Hmm. Then you said that Robben would lose."
"No, that's not it either..."
"That's half talk."
"sorry!"
Fellas burst out laughing at the sight of his military discipline.
"Then what's the problem? If all three of them win, isn't the next heir to be separated?"
"Yes, that's right. But Mr. Oeon..."
"What about that son of a bitch? If you follow the order in which you joined my knights first, aren't you the senior?"
"No, that's right."
"Okay. Then there's no problem. Then I'll entrust you with the vanguard. And with the post of deputy captain of my knights."
Werner had never met anyone in his life who believed in him so much.
Someone who believes in you even more than yourself.
It was Werner who didn't want to disappoint Pellas even more.
If he showed his ugly side, he feared that Pelas' trust would disappear.
However, Pelas believed even himself who was trying to avoid it.
It was Werner who didn't want to show the ugly side of avoiding anymore.
Werner, who had now put away any thoughts of avoidance, turned into a stern face.
"I will risk my life to carry out my mission!"
"Hmm. The momentum is good. But save your life. From now on, you won't be allowed to die unless it's my order."
"All right!"
"The items I've ordered separately will come tomorrow, so please come to my room at that time. These are the things I prepared especially for you."
"Yes. Mr. Pelas. Thank you!!"
Werner made up his mind as he answered with a firm expression.
Pelas told me to spare my life, but I never would.
With all my heart, I will risk my life.
* * *
Finally, on the day of the successor exam.
From the outside, Count DiMeo's house was no different from weekdays.
But when I looked inside, I could see that all the personnel were moving frantically.
It was the same in Pelas's room.
"Brother. This is Havertz."
"Uh. Come in."
"Are you ready?"
"It's almost done."
The servants of Pelas clung to him and clothed him in armor.
It was inconvenient to put on and take off by myself, so someone always had to help me.
This was the reason why only knights of noble families did not wear full body armor.
However, Pelas is now the eldest son of an aristocratic family.
I was thinking of using everything that could be used.
Whether it's money, personal connections, servants, or armor.
Because life is precious.
Finally, the attendants retreated as if the finish was over.
"Thank you."
At Pelas' words, the attendants bowed their heads.
They, who were surprised at first, seemed to have gotten used to the changed Pelas.
If he was still out of the family, he had a strong image of a maniac, but now there were very few people who avoided him inside the mansion.
It was to the extent that more and more people were expecting him to be the next head of the family, not a madman.
Ethan was also a fairly new person, if not as much as the old Pelas.
In a way, it was natural for public opinion to flow like that.
Although public opinion could not change the outcome.
So, the number of people who were just silently cheering for Pelas was Count DiMeo.
Havertz smiled heartily at Fellas.
"Bocchan. It's time to leave."
"Um. I see."
Pelas opened the door himself and left the room.
The Knights of Calat, heavily armed, lined up left and right.
The tension just before going to the battlefield circulated gently and made Pelas' heart beat.
Pelas raised a corner of his mouth.
"Let's go! Guys!!"
"Yes!! Mr. Pelas!!"
Now, it was time to go out and eat the Dimeo family with these hands.
< Episode 32. Talented rookie. >end