EMATEC Chapter 112

 

 

 

 

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The news of the Emblem Knights’ visit spread quickly among the students of the Continental Academy.

 

“The evaluators for this year’s graduation exam are from the Emblem Knights!”

 

“Ah, if only I could catch the attention of the Cherrya Emblem during this test and get an offer to join!”

 

The Swordsmanship Department of the Continental Academy was so competitive that only those who could surpass a 1,000-to-1 acceptance rate were admitted.

 

These were individuals who had picked up swords as soon as they could walk.

 

Instead of fairy tales, most of them grew up reading stories of the valor of the Emblems and the Gray Knights, enduring grueling training with dreams of becoming knights.

 

Passing this test would mean recognition from none other than the Emblems themselves.

 

“If you get an offer to join and become an official knight, you don’t even have to take the graduation exam. This year, though, everyone seems determined to participate.”

 

The graduation exam for the Swordsmanship Department was conducted through real combat.

 

Failing it would mean deferring graduation—essentially attending the academy for another year, which was a costly setback.

 

There were two main ways to avoid taking the graduation exam: receiving an invitation to join a knightly order and being knighted officially, or giving up and deferring graduation.

 

“This is a chance to catch the Emblem Knights’ attention—there’s no way we can miss it!”

 

“Starting today, it’s hellish training time!”

 

The students couldn’t contain their excitement, some even stripping off their shirts to run laps around the training ground.

 

Amid this fervor, only Kane remained unaffected, meticulously polishing his sword.

 

As if the feverish atmosphere had nothing to do with him, Kane seemed to exist in another world. This attitude irked some of his peers, prompting them to approach him and pick a fight.

 

“Does our junior have no urgency to graduate? Once you’re out in the world, you won’t enjoy luxuries like this anymore. Wouldn’t it be better to savor the academy life a little longer?”

 

“If you train and attend classes with us, it’s easy to forget reality. But let’s face it, once you’re out, you won’t have anywhere to go, will you?”

 

They laughed mockingly at Kane’s circumstances.

 

“So stop acting all high and mighty. If you get an offer, take it—no need to push yourself to the graduation exam, right?”

 

“Ah, don’t tell me you’re hoping to catch the Emblems’ eye during the exam? You’ve been shadowing Enoch Gray these days—did things not work out with the Gray Knights like you’d hoped?”

 

Kane stared impassively at the two seniors who had approached to provoke him.

 

He recalled that when he, a junior by one year, consistently held the top rank, these very seniors had once begrudgingly acknowledged his skills despite his status as a commoner.

 

However, now that they were to be evaluated together for the graduation exam, their attitudes had drastically shifted.

 

It was one thing to fall behind Enoch Gray, but to be outdone by Kane? That was a different matter altogether.

 

“Wake up. Just because the Emblems treat people without regard to status doesn’t mean you should get delusional. At the end of the day, they’re still a knightly order tied to noble families. A place like that isn’t somewhere a nobody like you can join, no matter how skilled you think you are. Why do you think they call it prestigious, huh?”

 

As the scathing words poured out, Kane blinked slowly before responding.

 

“It seems I irritate you, seniors.”

 

“Ah, so you’ve finally realized? Yeah, you irritate us,”

 

“Yes, I’ve only just come to understand,”

 

Seeing Kane’s composed reaction, the two seniors smirked slyly.

 

“I thought that as long as your confidence was based on skill rather than status, you wouldn’t find me irritating,”

 

“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you implying that I find you irritating because I’m less skilled than you?”

 

“Is that not the case? Senior Enoch himself once explained this distinction to me.”

 

At the mention of Enoch’s name, the two seniors stiffened.

 

With a sigh, Kane slid his polished sword into its sheath and stood up from where he had been seated.

 

“Sir Enoch told me that it’s easy to identify those who have nothing going for them besides their noble status. He also said there’s nothing to learn from them, so I don’t need to treat them as seniors.”

 

“You little—!”

 

“Well then, excuse me,”

 

Kane said with a casual nod before walking past them.

 

He could feel their searing gazes on the back of his head, but he paid them no mind.

 

Having mentioned Enoch Gray’s name, Kane knew they wouldn’t dare retaliate.

 

They would have to weigh the possibility that Kane might truly have ties to Enoch or even secretly be affiliated with the Gray Knights.

 

Even if neither was true, they would need to consider the repercussions if this encounter reached Enoch, including the icy disdain they might face.

 

‘I now have one more reason to join the Gray Knights,’

 

This loathsome hierarchy of nobles who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. Even the mere mention of Enoch Gray’s name cast an enormous shadow.

 

For now, Kane could find some solace under the protection of that shadow. If he joined the Gray Knights, he envisioned crushing these petty nobles beneath him, once and for all.

 

Grinding his teeth in determination, Kane suddenly heard the sound of clapping from someone nearby.

 

“Wow, that was incredible!”

 

A student Kane hadn’t even noticed was standing next to him clapping. Startled by the sound he hadn’t anticipated, Kane frowned and turned to look.

 

“Those seniors are terrifying! They’re from a new noble faction in the Kingdom of Pavan!”

 

The student had light brown hair and a freckled face. While his frame might have seemed sturdy outside the academy, here it appeared relatively slight.

 

His youthful features still bore traces of boyhood.

 

Kane, unable to recall ever seeing this face, remained guarded as he responded.

 

“…I don’t care.”

 

“Of course, you wouldn’t. You’ve never cared about anyone.”

 

“And you are?”

 

“Me? I’m your classmate….”

 

“Oh.”

 

Kane’s reaction made the freckled boy smile bitterly.

 

“I get it. I’m not exactly noticeable. Honestly, I doubt anyone in our class remembers me. Even the servants in my household sometimes forget I exist—they clean my room while I’m still in it and clear the table before I’ve finished eating.”

 

“…I’m sorry,”

 

Kane said, flustered, offering an apology despite himself. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t place this boy among his classmates.

 

“Actually, I’ve always admired you. You walk around confidently even when you’re alone—it’s impressive. That’s why I’ve worked hard to graduate early, like you. My grades are barely good enough, but I managed to qualify for the graduation exam. If it feels like I’m copying you and it bothers you….”

 

“It doesn’t bother me.”

 

“Thanks! I’m glad I mustered up the courage to talk to you.”

 

As the boy smiled brightly, Kane felt something unfamiliar stir within him.

 

In this academy, the only person who had ever treated Kane, a commoner, with normalcy was Enoch Gray.

 

Though the boy was barely noticeable, Kane thought that if they’d had even one conversation like this in the past four years, they might have become something akin to friends.

 

Just as Kane was about to ask the boy’s name—

 

“Hey, Kane! Hurry up! The professor says we’re meeting at the large training ground, not here!”

 

A fifth-year student, panting heavily, called out to Kane from a distance.

 

“Understood!”

 

Kane responded loudly before turning back to the boy.

 

“Let’s head to the training ground. We can’t be late for the final joint practice before the graduation exam.”

 

“Okay!”

 

Kane sprinted toward the large training ground, with the boy following close behind.

 

Watching Kane, the fifth-year student tilted his head in confusion.

 

“Why is that guy talking to himself in the air?”

 

Seeing Kane speak as if in conversation with someone else gave the fifth-year an eerie feeling.

 

“Ugh, whatever,”

 

He muttered, dismissing the thought as he cleared Kane’s strange behavior from his mind. After all, the class was about to start, and he had no time to concern himself with a commoner.