Date: July 13, 1195
Location: Continent of Hayat – Vorgodia, Capital of the Kingdom of Vorgod
Arth began getting dressed in the room he had rented at the tavern.
Afterward, he looked over at the girl who had fallen asleep on his bed.
A genuine smile spread across his face before he quietly left the room.
Arth (thinking):I don't want to be late on my very first day. Getting there a little early shouldn't hurt.
Arth made his way toward Sir Visky's training grounds.
Arth (thinking):Visky... I really wonder what kind of person he is. He doesn't seem to be very well-liked... In fact, people seem to fear him. But...
As he walked, Arth closed his eyes and spread his Negative Do throughout his surroundings.
Arth (thinking):There's another problem right now... I think someone's following me...?
Spotting a narrow alley, Arth turned left.
He continued walking calmly.
Arth (thinking):They turned with me as well... From what I can sense through Negative Do, it's a woman... though I can't be completely certain. Why is she following me...? Could she be connected to the nobles who want me dead...? But making a move right now wouldn't make much sense.
As Arth continued down the road, he noticed another alley.
This one seemed to lead somewhere much more deserted.
Arth (thinking):Then let's just ask her directly.
Arth suddenly turned into the alley.
The hooded girl following him quickened her pace and entered after him.
But when she looked ahead...
Arth was nowhere to be seen.
In the next instant, someone appeared behind her, pressing a sword against her neck.
Arth: Why are you following me? Who are you?
As he spoke, Arth quickly pulled back the girl's hood.
The sight before him caught him so off guard that his grip on the sword loosened.
The girl noticed immediately.
She instantly coated her fist with Do and punched the blade away before retreating several steps and turning to face Arth, putting some distance between them.
Arth: The Kingdom of Vorgod may be populated mostly by humans, but it's still a multi-racial kingdom, so seeing an elf isn't surprising.
But someone as pure-blooded as you...
You...
You have nothing to do with this kingdom.
You're one of the pure-blooded elves from the Continent of Elviaf.
The green-haired elf girl smiled.
Elf Girl: That's right...
When I heard people calling someone other than me the most talented Do user in human history, my curiosity got the better of me.
Appearing behind me all of a sudden...
That was thanks to your Do Talent, wasn't it?
You're Level 3, just like me.
So you must have awakened a Do Talent as well.
For a moment, Arth simply stared at the girl speaking with such overwhelming confidence.
Finally, he sheathed his sword and composed himself.
Arth: You...
You must be Kiria.
I've heard your name before.
Kiria: Of course you have.
Because I'm the most talented person to have ever lived.
It was obvious she had said it just to provoke him.
Arth, however, remained completely unfazed.
Arth: Yeah... yeah...
You're the most talented.
You've seen me now, so could you please go back?
I've got somewhere to be.
Kiria's face reddened with irritation.
Kiria: What's with that attitude?! At least take me seriously!
Arth looked at her, let out a sigh, then simply turned around and continued walking.
Kiria: Hey! You're going to regret acting like this!
Listen to me...!
HEEEY!!
Receiving no response whatsoever, Kiria finally gave up.
Kiria: Fine. I'm leaving for now.
But trust me...
I'll make you regret this.
As Arth walked away, he sank into thought.
Arth (thinking):I never imagined someone from the Continent of Elviaf would come all the way here just to see me.
Much less that the infamous Mischievous Kiria herself would show up...
Feels like she's going to become a real headache.
Well... she doesn't seem like a problem for now.
Arth turned back toward Sir Visky's training grounds.
Arth (thinking):Thank goodness I left early and didn't stray too far.
If I pick up the pace a little, I'll still make it on time.
Some time later, Arth arrived at the training grounds without any further trouble.
He saw ten people dressed in the same Knight Apprentice Assistant uniform as himself.
The moment one of them—a blond-haired boy—noticed Arth, his eyes widened in surprise.
Blond Boy: Y-You're Arth...
Academy Rank One... Arth...
Arth put on a polite, artificial smile.
Arth: Please, relax.
Right now, we're on the same level.
Arth (thinking):A Level 2 Do user... and he's very close to reaching Level 3.
That's actually quite impressive.
I recognize most of the people here.
The weakest assistant is that black-haired boy over in the left corner.
Looks like he only recently reached Level 2 Do.
When I heard about Visky's reputation, I assumed they'd assign him the worst students...
But every single assistant here is at least Level 2...
There are only thirty-two people in the academy who've reached Level 2 or higher...
And ten of them are here.
How is that even possible...?
Arth: You're Leorio, aren't you?
Leorio's expression instantly brightened.
Leorio: You know my name...
It's an honor.
Arth: Don't be like that.
Just relax.
You graduated twenty-first in the academy, right?
Why is it only us?
Where are Sir Visky and his apprentices?
Leorio: One of Sir Visky's apprentices, Liz Heristing—the Level 6 Do user—came by earlier.
She said they'd all be here soon.
While Arth and Leorio were talking, the other apprentice assistants glared at them with obvious hostility.
Arth (thinking):Now I understand why Leorio was so happy.
The two of us are the only commoners here.
Everyone else is a noble...
And I've beaten almost all of them before.
Suddenly...
An overwhelming wave of Do Pressure engulfed the area.
Every apprentice assistant felt an enormous weight pressing down on them.
The concentration of Do in the air was overwhelming.
Arth (thinking):This... Do Pressure...
If you simply spread your Negative Do around, no one notices.
It lets you hear better... sense things beyond your sight...
But if you merge that Negative Do with the Positive Do filling nature...
You create an immense amount of Do power.
If your Do greatly surpasses your opponent's...
You can knock them unconscious instantly.
Arth rapidly coated his body in Negative Do before merging it with Positive Do.
His Do Armor formed instantly.
Even so...
The incoming Do Pressure slowly began piercing through his armor.
Arth (thinking):No...
I'm going to pass out...
Then—
The pressure vanished.
Arth dropped to one knee in relief.
Looking around, he realized something astonishing.
Every apprentice assistant had collapsed unconscious.
Only he remained awake.
Arth: So this...
This is the power of a Knight...
Then a formal voice, carrying the faintest hint of mockery, called out to him.
"If that had truly belonged to a Knight... do you really think you'd still be standing?"
Arth turned toward the source of the voice.
He didn't recognize the tall man with brown hair.
He had never seen him before.
But the magnificence of his uniform—far grander than the others'—immediately revealed who he was.
Arth (thinking):That's Declon Grenywood.
The eldest son of the Grenywood Duchy.
A Level 7 Do user.
The leader of Sir Visky's Knight Apprentices.
The man closest to becoming the Kingdom's Twenty-Fifth Knight...
And... the Knight Apprentice I've been assigned to.
Declon: Hah...
Just as expected from the academy's top graduate.
A faint grin crossed Declon's face—one completely at odds with his otherwise formal demeanor.
Declon: We're going to have a lot of fun together...
Arth.