The knight order members realized that the first successful candidate had emerged. While conducting the entrance test, they had been periodically checking Osian's expression, and they saw him smile.
'Finally, we're getting junior members too!'
The frustration they had been holding back burst through all at once in a surge of exhilaration. Honestly, they had thought they wouldn't find any successful candidates today. Even to them, who were still immature as knights, there was no one who caught their eye. But they couldn't compromise and lower their standards either.
The Starlight Knight Order had worked harder than anyone to become knights. They were determined not to select anyone unqualified, even if a thousand or ten thousand people came.
And then, finally, the long-awaited first successful candidate appeared. The person in question had already collapsed from exhaustion, but that didn't matter. What was important was the fact that they had caught Osian's eye.
They had finally found a pearl in an endless swamp. It was just one for now, but the results might be different when this whole process was over.
'Hehe. Yes, there was someone after all?'
'Well, it seems our efforts weren't in vain.'
'Now, who else among the remaining ones!'
It was the same for Osian.
'There really was someone. Someone with the qualifications.'
The Starlight Knight Order would have seen the knight's qualities in that collapsed young man. It was his willpower and his heart that never gave up. Osian saw more than that. For instance, something like a pure white flame burning in the young man's chest at the end.
'The world forgot about knights. And external enemies secretly tried to cut off the lineage of knights. Through those schemes and persecution, knights disappeared. But after a long time, knights were reborn.'
No matter how much they try to break it. The continuing will never disappear. Just confirming that was enough for Osian to feel hope in this world.
Ueoeoeoek! Keuaaak!
Screams filled with pain echoed everywhere again. The motivated knight order pressed the applicants relentlessly without mercy. Even dried squid would spit out ink if squeezed like that.
Occasionally, there were those who tried to cause trouble, saying they couldn't take it anymore.
"Damn it! You think I came here to do this kind of thing? Do you know who I am!"
"Oh yeah. Then get out."
The applicants who boldly challenged were immediately subdued. A single wave of the hand was enough.
Those who fainted were carried out on stretchers. Ronald and Reginald returned after throwing the applicants on stretchers outside like garbage.
Some applicants who witnessed this scene swallowed their complaints. They had newly realized the might of the Starlight Knight Order. They worked hard as instructed. An interesting person caught Osian's attention as he watched with interest.
'A woman.'
Most of the people who came here to become knights were men. Most were lower-class fixers, and besides that, there were only middle-aged people who came looking for something to gain. If not that, then youngsters who knew nothing and just came after hearing rumors.
Naturally, there were almost no women. Just looking at the faces of those lined up outside, women wouldn't even want to come near this place. Adding a bit of humor, it wouldn't be strange if a gang member contest was being held here.
'But she made it this far. She must have stood in line for quite a long time at the entrance. There would have been stares from those around her too.'
Seeing that she didn't give up in the middle and endured, there must be a reason she absolutely had to come this far. Osian watched the woman carefully.
Her hair reached down to her waist. Her bangs were also long enough to cover her eyes. For a woman, she was tall with long arms and legs. Perhaps due to the sharp eyes glimpsed between her bangs and her expressionless face, she had a somewhat androgynous beauty. It might be funny to make this comparison, but if she had been on Earth, she would have looked like a volleyball player.
However, even so, there was nothing particularly special about her physically. Yet she caught Osian's attention. He realized this was what they call a knight's intuition.
There's something there. Osian kept his eye on the woman.
David was the one assigned to her.
"Hmm. Yes, let's start right away."
David was quite surprised by the fact that she was a female applicant, but soon nodded calmly and proceeded with the test. Knights don't only accept men. Even if you're a woman, you can become a knight if you want to. Osian agreed with that point.
'Men may be naturally superior in physical ability, but that's only an advantage seen in the beginning.'
In a world full of superhumans, women can also reach the realm of superhumans. Even if the starting point is different, the destination is the same, or the speed of reaching it might be faster. This varies according to individual differences, so dividing by gender and age is meaningless.
'Besides, when playing the game, you could choose the character's gender.'
Suddenly, Osian had the crazy thought that if he had raised a female character, he might have become a woman.
'I'm truly fortunate that I did customization I could immerse myself in when playing the game.'
Nothing would be more troublesome than suddenly becoming a woman after living as a man your whole life. Of course, the same would apply to hardcore gamer customization like pink skin and a wrinkled spatula jaw face.
Osian was newly relieved that he didn't have such tastes. He was really fortunate to have normal tastes.
Meanwhile, the test began. As always, it was a basic physical ability check procedure. There was no special consideration for being a woman. The weight was adjusted according to maximum performance capability, but the required numbers themselves were the same as for others.
"Hup!"
The first female applicant began the physical test as David instructed.
'She's enduring better than expected.'
It's not something to say to someone who passed, but honestly, she was doing much better than that young man. Looking closely, her palms were full of calluses. She must have done work related to quite arduous physical labor.
'But still, the limits of stamina are approaching.'
The female applicant began to pant as she grew tired. Her hair glistened with sweat, and the emotion of dismay appeared on her previously expressionless face.
Is this where it ends? Osian watched her carefully. At that moment, his eyes met with the female applicant's.
She opened her eyes wide, then gritted her teeth and began to focus on the test again.
'She must be tired, but she's squeezing out more strength from there?'
Osian's discerning eye was rarely wrong.
'She's already at her limit, but moving like that means she's moving with mental strength, not physical.'
Even David, who was watching from the side, looked nervous. He was ready to help immediately if her strength gave out even a little.
"Keuk."
The female applicant let out a slight groan. It seemed like the limit, but it wasn't. The sight of her closing her trembling lips and gritting her teeth felt both pitiful and noble.
At that moment, Osian saw a bluish aura flowing over her body.
'That's...'
As Osian felt it, David, who was closest, also seemed to notice and opened his eyes wide. Without even going through a confirmation process with Osian, David immediately spoke.
"Pass. Stop."
-Thud!
As soon as those words ended, the heavy barbell that had been pressing down on the woman fell to the floor. She panted heavily, catching her breath. Her blurred gaze turned toward David. Though she said nothing, she was asking if it was really true. As soon as David nodded, she seemed to lose all strength and fell backward.
"Oh no."
David hurriedly caught her. An automaton immediately approached and placed the woman on a stretcher.
David cooled the fever on the woman's forehead with the coldness of Moon Scar.
Osian, who had been watching the entire scene, quietly admired inwardly.
'To think someone with the qualifications for Moon Scar would appear.'
He had thought just finding someone with Starlight would be a great harvest. Who would have thought he'd go one step further and find someone with Moon Scar qualifications? This was profit beyond expectations.
The entrance test didn't end until long after sunset. Even then, not all applicants had been checked. Everyone had gone home because the night was too deep.
When tomorrow began, the test would continue again. Looking at this trend, it seemed like it would go on for over a week. At this rate, there wouldn't be time for personal training. But the Starlight Knight Order showed clear signs of joy rather than complaint.
"Finally, we're getting junior members too!"
David's expression was particularly bright. He was officially part of the Starlight Knight Order, but the power he wielded was not Starlight but Moon Scar.
Since he alone handled a different power, he had many inner worries, but those worries proved meaningless as he found an excellent talent.
"Um. Did I really pass?"
The female applicant who had regained consciousness, Layla, seemed quite awkward, as if she couldn't believe she had passed.
Had the sharp impression from when she first appeared been created by nervousness? Now she was just a tall, timid woman, nothing more.
The passed young man, Mark, was equally bewildered.
"I, I passed too? Really?! This isn't that thing, right? You're not keeping the cocky brat nearby to beat him up directly..."
Mark asked while watching Osian's reaction. He must have said this with the conflict from the entrance in mind.
'But to ask that so openly.'
Doesn't he think that would make the other person feel worse? He seemed to have a personality that spoke his mind without keeping his thoughts to himself. Well, you couldn't expect such things from a youngster.
Only two people passed today. But as the first day's result, it was quite encouraging. There might be other successful candidates in the upcoming tests.
"Congratulations. You two have the qualifications to become knights."
Osian praised Mark and Layla. Both were bewildered but soon realized the reality and bowed their heads as if moved.
"I hope you continue to work hard. Your seniors will guide you on what to do from now on. Since it's late at night, you may go home for today."
Osian dismissed the assembled knight order members. Of course, he didn't just send them away. Since they would be seeing each other often, he told the Starlight Knight Order to escort them home.
The Starlight Knight Order, who had gained junior members, disappeared together with them, laughing cheerfully.
"Asmer. You may go too."
"Hmm. Successor. No matter what, I don't think I can listen to those words."
Asmer chuckled and shook his head. Normally, he would have followed whatever Osian said, but the current situation was not favorable.
Swoosh.
Ominous movements could be felt from between the alleyways. Though they tried to hide, a bloody hostility still wafted over.
"If I didn't know, that would be one thing. But now that I know this, how could I just leave?"
Asmer drew twin swords from both sides of his waist. Even in the darkness, his swords shone sharply.
"Do you have any idea who they are?"
"Rather, there are too many, that's the problem."
The news that Osian had appeared here would have spread. And those who viewed the famous fixer with displeasure would have taken this moment as an opportunity to move.
"Still, aren't you a hero?"
Asmer's tone suggested he didn't understand.
"A manufactured hero."
"Fake or real, you're officially a hero on the surface, aren't you?"
"To them, even the real thing must be a fake that's irritating. Rather, if the famous guy is found as a cold corpse in the middle of the night, that would be good for them."
Questions about where they came from are meaningless. They could be sent from anywhere.
For instance, the Tirna City government. They made Osian a hero. But would all departments have the same thoughts?
'Tirna has the city government and military separated. And the guards aren't completely identical to the city government either.'
The military had bad feelings toward Osian because it was Osian who interfered with the Princess Orlea assassination incident. It wouldn't be strange if they tried to eliminate him, fearing he would grow larger.
And another example would be corporations. Not all corporations are identical. Some corporations are skilled in dirty business.
For instance, the defense industry. They who make and sell weapons are flooding the military and markets with large quantities of bullets and guns. And in situations like now where chaos reaches its peak, weapons are lifelines and sell like hotcakes.
In such situations, if a hero who stabilizes society appears, that directly leads to a drop in sales of their 'products'. To prevent that, the hero must disappear. Even if they have to erase him with their own hands.
'Besides that, there are many other unsavory organizations. Illegal criminals, or remaining remnants of heretics, or it could be fixers who hate seeing me succeed.'
Well, he doesn't expect the latter. The ones moving now were more systematic than expected.
'Well, that's not what's important.'
Whether it's the military, city government dogs, or corporate lackeys. They bared their teeth at this side, so he'll just fight. Could there be anything simpler and clearer?
He had vaguely expected this to happen. They had made him too famous as a hero.
Those hiding in the alley began to reveal themselves one by one. They all wore the latest brass masks on their faces. They were painted black, probably to hide in the darkness.
-Click.
They aimed their gun barrels at Osian and Asmer. Just as they were about to pull the trigger.
-Bang!
With the first gunshot, an assailant fell, spraying blood.
The gunshot wasn't just once. It occurred simultaneously from all directions. Each time, assailants fell.
There were those who resisted. But when several shadows dropped from building rooftops and attacked them, they died with eerie sounds as their limbs broke.
Kwaang! From another location out of sight, an explosion sounded. It seemed they had used bombs too. From the situation, it was clearly an attack by a third force.
It took less than 5 minutes for those who tried to attack Osian to be subdued. They were swept away pathetically, making their appearance meaningless. But Asmer and Osian didn't sheathe their drawn swords.
A red visor light flowed from the darkness. Soon, with trudging sounds, a man revealed himself. A man in heavy armor reminiscent of special forces.
"You."
Osian recognized him before he could even introduce himself.
"You're the aide who was under Mayor Deliphiros."