Kiyotaka and Emilia arrived at the Karsten Estate as they found Wilhelm waiting for them.
Kiyotaka: [Wilhelm.]
Wilhelm: [I've been expecting you since that letter. Welcome Emilia-Sama... Kiyotaka-Dono.]
Wilhelm turned to Kiyotaka.
Wilhelm: [I heard of your accomplishment of defeating the『Sin Archbishop Of Sloth』on your own. I sincerely congratulate you. That is a very impressive feat.]
Kiyotaka bowed.
Kiyotaka: [I thank you for your praise.]
Kiyotaka: (The『Sword Demon』Wilhelm『Van』Astrea. You were not as lucky as I, yet you achieved a similar feat. You're far more impressive right now.)
Kiyotaka: [While Emilia discusses with Crusch, might we have some sparring?]
Wilhelm: [Of course.]
Wilhelm stepped inside the building and stepped out with wooden swords, handing one to Kiyotaka, who took it in his hand. Emilia looked to him, concerned for Kiyotaka after learning about his past, but headed inside.
Wilhelm: [Your face is much softer than before.]
Kiyotaka: [I've heard.]
Kiyotaka got into a stance and then rushed in swinging his sword at Wilhelm as they went into a bind. Kiyotaka moved his blade, attempting a thrust from the bind position as Wilhelm jumped back.
Wilhelm: [As always, your swordsmanship is superb.]
Kiyotaka: [And as always, I wouldn't be able to win if you were going all out.]
Wilhelm rushed it, swinging his sword with such speed that it shouldn't have been possible for Kiyotaka to dodge, but he did. Just barely, but he did. Wilhelm's eyes widened at this.
Wilhelm: [I was going to stop my sword before it hit you, but still for you to be able to avoid it...]
Wilhelm smiled.
Wilhelm: [I am shocked to see that you've so clearly improved in your ability to react to attacks.]
Kiyotaka: [I just... felt your... intention.]
Kiyotaka: (Haven't I been doing this for a while now? Ever since the 50 thousandth death? That's right. Is that not normal?)
Kiyotaka: [I pulled in a steady amount of mana from the air, and whenever I felt the mana in my surroundings get disturbed, I could tell that something was moving through it.]
Wilhelm: [You what? That's unheard of. It must have taken years of practice to sense the mana so closely.]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: (Yes, years of... practice.)
Kiyotaka: [Shall we continue?]
Wilhelm: [Alright.]
Kiyotaka: (Drawing mana into my gate to use this ability is dangerous. Is there a way to use it without that? A way to gain a better connection and perception of the mana in the air around me? Focus of the mana around me...)
Wilhelm rushed in as Kiyotaka closed his eyes, and he instead poured parts of mana imbued with Yang magic into the air, intermingling with the pure mana in the air as strings of mana formed around Kiyotaka in layers connected like a spider web, layer after layer filling the space 3 meters from him all around him, with the centre being his gate.
Kiyotaka: (It's set up.)
He felt the strings snap as Wilhelm approached, swinging his blade. Kiyotaka side-stepped the sword, holding his sword in both hands, and then thrusting, hitting Wilhelm square in the chest as the blade cracked and splintered apart, as the wood broke apart and fell to the ground.
Wilhelm: [Hm!?]
The blow hadn't even hurt him. Not as if Kiyotaka had meant to, but still.
Wilhelm: [That was spectacular, Kiyotaka-Dono.]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: [I figured something out, but... It's a prototype at best.]
Wilhelm: [Prototype?]
Kiyotaka: [It's nothing. Don't worry about it.]
Kiyotaka: (I have to set it up manually, and if I move, I'll accidentally snap my own mana strings. For now, it's purely a counter-strike ability, but it is quite definitive.)
Kiyotaka: [Thank you for the help, Wilhelm.]
Wilhelm smiled.
Wilhelm: [It's nothing. Don't worry.]
Kiyotaka: [I think it's time to head inside.]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Kiyotaka knocked on the door.
???: [Come in.]
Kiyotaka opened the door, walking in with Wilhelm to see Emilia and a green-haired girl who must have been the Duchess of the Karsten estate, Crusch Karsten.
Kiyotaka: (So this is her.)
Kiyotaka bowed.
Kiyotaka: [It's an honor to meet you Dutchess Karsten.]
Crusch looked at Kiyotaka, inspecting him.
Crusch: [Are you truly a mere manservant? You don't seem like the type.]
Kiyotaka: [I myself feel I have the potential for more than that.]
Crusch's eyebrow raised for a second.
Kiyotaka: [Have you and Emilia discussed the hunt?]
Crusch: [I find these terms and plans acceptable. We were already planning to hunt it, so we will join your efforts.]
Wilhelm: [Crusch-Sama, did they come to discuss...]
Crusch: [Indeed Wilhelm. They want to hunt the pest that has been laying waste to the world for 400 years. The『White Whale』hunt will be accomplished with the joint effort of the Emilia, Anastasia and our camp.]
Wilhelm smiled.
Wilhelm: [Name anything for me to repay you with. I'll give you anything you desire.]
Emilia: [We already arranged the terms, though...]
Kiyotaka: [Might I ask for something?]
They looked at me. Crusch seemed to be intrigued.
Wilhelm: [Of course, Kiyotaka-Dono.]
Kiyotaka: [I would like you to train me to become a knight.]
Emilia looked shocked as her expression hardened. She was concerned as to whether he was falling back into the tool mindset.
Kiyotaka: [I've decided I want to be a knight.]
Kiyotaka: (As proof of my resolve to become a good person.)
Wilhelm looked ecstatic.
Wilhelm: [Of course.]
Crusch: [You're sure about this? Training to become a knight can take years.]
Kiyotaka: [I don't think it will take me years.]
Crusch inspected Kiyotaka closely.
Kiyotaka: (Her eyes are scanning the air around me... I wonder...)
Crusch: [Wilhelm, what do you think?]
Wilhelm: [From his accomplishment of killing a『Sin Archbishop』, he is already qualified to be an honorary knight.]
Crusch: [And about the official path?]
Wilhelm: [ I believe that with training, he will pass with flying colours.]
Crusch: [Very well, but this training will not be your priority. Understood?]
Wilhelm nodded, bowing.
Wilhelm: [Of course.]
Felix then entered the room.
Felix: [What's going on here nyow?]
Wilhelm: [Kiyotaka-Dono is going to train to become a knight.]
Felix: [Oh? Joining our ranks, are you Kiyotaka? Julius and Reinhard will be excited.]
Kiyotaka: [Well, I hope that one day I can stand beside them.]
Felix: [I'll give you some tip so don't wo...]
Crusch: [You will not. This is Wilhelm's task, he has put upon himself.]
Felix sweated.
Felix: [Okay. Sorry.]
Wilhelm: [We'll begin tomorrow.]
Kiyotaka nodded as he observed him.
Kiyotaka: (It looks like Wilhelm is using me as a way to replay events in his past, like he was trying to make up for something.)
Crusch: [You may have your pick of the guest rooms.]
Kiyotaka and Emilia nodded, but Emilia's gaze locked onto Kiyotaka, still filled with concern.
Kiyotaka: (Well, I'm on my way now.)
Kiyotaka walked outside as Emilia walked over to him.
Emilia: [Why are you doing this? You're not trying to be a tool again, are you?]
Kiyotaka shook his head.
Kiyotaka: [Not at all. This is how I'm showing my resolve to become a good person. After there's a certain kind of behaviour that a knight has to adhere to.]
Emilia: [But you didn't need to...]
Kiyotaka: [You're the one who told me to go against my nature. I'm holding you responsible for that decision. The decisions I make will reflect on you, so I hope that your bet on my ability to change pays off.]
Emilia took a deep breath and sighed.
Emilia: [Alright. I believe in you.]
Kiyotaka got on one knee.
Kiyotaka: [That day, you said things that made no sense. It felt like it was nonsense. That I could never achieve the things you were asking me, but... You just kept barrelling forward stubbornly.]
Emilia pouted.
Kiyotaka: [With that, my mind has never felt so light and heavy at the same time.]
Kiyotaka gently took her hand.
Kiyotaka: [I'll be in your service from here on.]
Kiyotaka kissed her hand, causing her to blush.
Emilia: [I'm going to go send the letter to Anastasia now, okay?]
Kiyotaka nodded, getting up as he walked towards a guest room.
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Kiyotaka woke up, walked to the dining room where he bowed and sat down next to Emilia.
Kiyotaka: [Good morning, Emilia.]
She looked to him and her face turned red for a second, but she took some deep breaths, calming herself.
Emilia: [Good morning... Kiyotaka.]
Kiyotaka: (It seems she was remembering last night when I pledged myself to her. I suppose Kei was the same at the beginning... wait, but I'm not dating Emilia.)
She was unable to meet Kiyotaka's eyes as Crusch entered the room.
Crusch: [It seems like some developments have begun already.]
Felix smiled smugly.
Felix: [Indeed.]
Wilhelm looked at this questioningly.
Wilhelm: [Once we're done eating, we'll head outside to begin to train, okay?]
Kiyotaka nodded and began eating.
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Kiyotaka walked outside to meet Wilhelm.
Wilhelm: [You and Emilia-Sama seem close.]
Kiyotaka: [I guess...]
Kiyotaka sighed, forming a more definite voice in his throat.
Kiyotaka: [We are.]
Wilhelm: [If your goal is Emilia-Sama, then remember she is one with the potential to become the sovereign of this country.]
Kiyotaka: [I never really implied that, though.]
Wilhelm sighed, putting aside the thought.
Wilhelm: [Let's begin your training, alright?]
Wilhelm began training him through strenuous activities to increase his physical strength, as Kiyotaka felt his body developing slowly.
Kiyotaka: (All of the limitations of human biology are falling away, but still, for significant improvement, my effort has to be proportional to the results I want, which means that the key to improving my body is more sheer willpower than anything else.)
Kiyotaka was training while talking with Wilhelm.
Kiyotaka: [Um Wilhelm. You have the same last name as Reinhard. Are you related? Perhaps grandfather and grandson?]
Wilhelm: [I don't think I'm worthy of calling myself his grandfather, but yes, he is my grandson.]
Wilhelm's face changed to a guilty one.
Kiyotaka: (It seems he has made some mistakes in the past... wait, is he comparing me to Reinhard?)
Kiyotaka: [I'm sure that Reinhard doesn't feel that way.]
Wilhelm: [What I did. I don't think I can forgive myself, let alone be forgiven by Reinhard.]
Kiyotaka: [I see.]
Wilhelm: [This is not the time to be talking about my personal issues, Kiyotaka-Dono. We must make sure you pass. The Knight Academy Selection begins in a week. We need to train you as much as possible. If it were anyone else, I'd say it was impossible.]
Kiyotaka nodded.
Kiyotaka: [I understand.]
The training intensity increased, and it was more intense than the White Room, but there was no physical or mental punishment for failure. Just that he would have to do it again until he got it right.
Kiyotaka: (My muscles feel sore, but there's some definite improvement. Still, I know I'm still weak compared to someone like Julius even without having to fight him.)
Kiyotaka sighed, wiping the sweat from his body as he sat down with his shirt off.
Kiyotaka: [How's my progress?]
Wilhelm: [You're progressing twice as fast as I expected, and I had already expected you to progress faster than most.]
Kiyotaka nodded.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
A week had passed as they stood in front of a building where many young men were entering.
Kiyotaka: [Wilhelm. Do you think I'm ready?]
Wilhelm: [Yes, but you may be, physically speaking, on the weaker side in comparison to the other students. I believe you'll still manage to pass.]
I entered the building with Wilhelm when I came across Julius.
Julius: [Ah Kiyotaka. We received the letter from...]
Julius observed Kiyotaka.
Julius: [You've become stronger. Wait, are you?]
Wilhelm stepped up from the stairs as Julius' eyes widened, and he bowed.
Julius: [Lord『Sword Demon』, it's an honour.]
Wilhelm: [Ah yes Julius-Dono.]
Julius: [Is Kiyotaka here to...]
Kiyotaka: [I'm here to take the entrance exams for the Knight's exam.]
Julius smiled at this.
Julius: [I will be one of the examiners. I look forward to seeing what you're capable of.]
Kiyotaka nodded as Julius walked into the building.
Wilhelm: [Kiyotaka-Dono. I have no doubt that you're capable of passing.]
Kiyotaka: [I thank you for all your training, Wilhelm.]
Wilhelm smiled as Kiyotaka walked towards the examination area, opening the door and entering as he came to an assembly hall, where he looked around to see many young men standing and then Julius, Reinhard and another man with red hair and blue eyes standing up at a podium waiting to address everyone in the hall.
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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