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Chapter 36: Choice of Belief

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A man in his fifties, eyes sharp, was reading.

Fit-looking, he was not too stout, black cloak covered him.

Bearing an air of maturity, it was Arren Logansha, Kharlussian Minister of Finance. It was early morning, yet he had his spectacles on, reading a report on his desk. Crystal lamps on it illuminated the pile of papers, while the morning sun shone into the room through the windows.

A ring on his left finger vibrated.

He touched it with his thumb.

“Yes, Arren Logansha.”

“Moonlight reporting. Minister, permission to report on AK14.”

He raised his eyebrow, remembering the details.

‘Ah, that boy,’

Issue A14, something not so important, not at all.

However, he was just intrigued. He had several agents there, so he arranged one to keep a tab on the boy, just as a side job.

“…You’re clear.”

“An hour ago, he made contact with a knight. Apparently she’s hostile at first, then dismiss the whole thing as a mere test. We spoke with several witnesses.”

“Your agent didn’t see it himself?”

“Apologies, it happened a bit earlier than we thought.”

“Well, nothing to it. It’s just a side job, relate the whole event.”

“Yes, Minister,”

The caller related him what happened then, according to several first-persons’ witnesses. The knight was acting a bit strange, but they could not make sense of it. After it happened, both of them entered the academy, not coming out since.

Since the academy was well-guarded, the agent could not freely enter.

”Doesn’t matter, how many turn out?”

“For now, around fifty youngsters. There’s more coming, it’s still early. I’ll report back soon.”

“Heh, no need. It’s just a side interest, just keep me posted every morning.”

“Yes, Minister. Moonlight out.”

The ring stopped vibrating.

Arren leaned onto his wooden chair, pondering the name.

“Krone Kozak, eh… Kozak, a mere coincidence?”

The Minister went silent, in deep ponder.

…

=====

Beside the lake, two figures stood under the shades of trees.

A boy in white, and a lady in white armor. She kept her cape in her spatial ring, that thing was too much of an eye-catcher.

She was listening to his explanation, just standing there.

He was taking a risk by telling her, but he believed in his ability to tell apart trustworthy and treacherous people.

What he had told her, made her legs weak.

“…You’re serious?”

“I’ve told you, Lady Natalia. It’s not so believable, but,”

He raised his left hand in front his eyes, showing her his rings.

“You saw them. Plus, you believe in devils coming to our world, what’s so hard to believe my explanation?”

“…Beings from another world, other dimension. The Union intends to send them, here? And Julia,”

“That’s what I know.”

“…Damn,”

Natalia went silent.

After their initial confrontation, Krone explained to her his simplified version of the truth. He told her the origin of the monsters, the Union’s involvement, and his goal in gathering the youngsters, as well as his long-term goals, of defending Kharlussia and routing the invaders.

As for his own origin;

“Still, you didn’t answer one question. Who exactly are you?”

“Who? I’m Krone, Krone Kozak from Lithia village.”

“You’re still on that,”

She raised her right hand, making a pinching motion.

“Wait, alright,”

He wrecked his brain enough already.

It would be easy enough to just tell her the truth, but he knew it would not be so simple. Telling her he was from the future would not be so believable, harder to believe than anything.

He had to take detour.

“You know about soul?”

“…Soul? No, explain,”

“Well, you see, in those stories, devils could take different form right?”

“Uh-huh, ah, I get it. So you’re confessing?”

“No! My point is, while you could see me being fourteen, my soul is actually older. Let’s just say I have 20 years more experience, much of it in the frontline.”

“…Soul, older?”

Her mind was spinning.

She held her hand on her temple.

“Are you saying you’re someone else, in this boy’s body, or you changed your appearance… Uhh,”

“Easy, milady. I’m not someone else. I’d rather explain it this way, let’s just say I had a Soul Journey somewhat.”

“Soul Journey?”

“Yes, where my soul experience many things, receive a lot of information, and get in touch with spiritual being, giving me some advantages. My Artes and these rings are some of them. Compare it to a dream. Does that make sense?”

“Hmm,”

She went silent, digesting the information.

It was still too hard to believe, then again, what she believed about devils, was similar. Others would not believe her too. It involved denying what they held as truth, all their life. It shook their core belief, and that was something uncomfortable.

This time, she knew she had experienced the same. That feeling of your world view being shredded apart, and you had to piece them back together, was terrible.

As though you did not sleep for three days.

She held both temples on her head, then covered her face. Some moment passed, she seemed to come to term with it, somewhat.

“Still, you didn’t explain about your self-healing,”

“I will, it involved the core of these beasts you saw,”

“Core? You mean, like a dragon’s core?”

“That’s right, though most are way weaker. There’s a core in each of these beasts. What I had was a trait from one of the rarer beasts, the same level as those giant beasts you saw. If you can follow me, I’ll prove it to you in the coming days… No, I’ll prove it to you tonight.”

“Follow you,”

She placed her hand on her chin, considering.

Soon, she nodded.

“Fine. Krone, I’ll set this aside for now, but uhh, I still can’t completely,”

“It’s alright, but for even you to find it hard to believe, what about others? Hope you’ll keep this under wrap, at least for now,”

“I know, it’s foolish to share this with others. They’ll just think I’m crazy… Oh yeah,”

“What?”

“Mind if I see your third ring again? Didn’t get good look last time,”

“Sure, look as much as you want.”

He took out the small ring, handing it to her.

…

===

Krone and Natalia walked out of the academy.

Even from afar, she had a look of being mesmerized, apparently lost in thought. One might even thought she had her soul sucked. She barely kept up with him, not even looking on the pavement. The view inside his third ring was too shocking, she almost petrified in fright.

And that, despite her being ready.

She kept mumbling.

“Behemoth, mammoth, then that wraith-thingy, then…”

“L-lady Natalia, keep yourself together!”

“Oh? Oh yeah, forgive me.”

Stopping outside the gate, they took a good look at the square.

Near the fountain, a hundred youngsters gathered with their parents. It was not yet 8.00, so Krone wished to wait for more. That would be just before 9.00 am, when these youngsters and those who passed the test would be all gathered.

He noted who had arrived.

He saw Athea, accompanied by three Sisters from the Aurenburg Cathedral. Near her were the twins along with their mother, a blonde with simple yellow one-piece. The twins were in white uniform and black boots, with red ribbon on their chest. To their side, Doran, with a short bald man and his chubby wife, busy making a lively conversation with the others.

Seeing him and Lady Natalia coming out from the academy, they and many others wondered.

Then again, none asked.

Nodding to him, Natalia sat outside the gate, on a bench near the guard house. Her legs still felt weak, she could only stretch them out after much effort. She, after all, was a woman before being a knight. Seeing all those beasts at once, up-close, was just too much.

Leaving her be, Krone went toward the crowd, greeting his former teammates.

“Morning guys.”

“Morning bro!”

“Mm, morning.”

“Krone,”

“Good morning…”

The twins’ reply was a bit hesitant. Even with just a glance, he knew what disturbed them. Yet he did not poke around, for he wished them to make their own decision.

It would not suffice otherwise.

‘If they aren’t ready, it’s better not to force them.’

After greeting the parents and exchanging pleasantries, he saw familiar figures.

Coming from further distance, it was Julia’s team. The brunette wore a white uniform with black lines, with black collars and boots. On her chest, red ribbon. By her side, Ron, Ryan, Kyril and Shana wore similar attire, with the boys having a red tie instead of ribbon.

Noticing him, they closed in.

“Krone, morning.”

“Morning, Julia. You’re fine already?”

“Yeah, thanks, for the fruits you send,”

“Don’t mention it,”

After exchanging pleasantries, he excused himself.

He went straight to the centre of the square, the fountain. Along the way, there were some parents approaching him, determined to ask him what he was planning. For them, he simply raised his hand, then pointed to the clock above the academy’s gate.

Meaning, to wait.

He sat by the fountain, legs stretched out, soon falling asleep.

People could see he was tired, yet many still raised their eyebrows. Some, looked at his sleeping expression in interest. A thought crossed their mind, it was as though he was used to sleeping outside.

…

Dong…

Soon, the clock reached 9.00 am. Krone stood up.

No hesitation, he took a handful of water from the fountain, washing his face. By that time, more than three hundred youngsters and their guardians had assembled. The knights, and those who witnessed the tests, also came to have a look. Within the academy, behind the fence and near the gate, senior academy students also gathered to witness the occasion.

Sir Kent also came, sitting beside Natalia.

Over a thousand people assembled around the square. Among them, the hundred candidates passing through the test before, in white uniform, black boots and red tie or ribbon on their chest.

Krone jumped, standing beside the fountain’s statue; a fully-armored knight in low stand, bearing a shield and a lance.

By right, his action should be reprimanded, yet none did so. The guards guarding the academy were a bit troubled, yet since the knights were there as well, they dared not comment.

Krone took a good look at the audience, and they, at him.

Silence, attention was all on him.

He took a deep breath.

“For answering my call, Kharlussia thanked you!”

He began his speech.

“Any question, leave it until I open the session. The reason I call all of you, let me explain…”

He made it simple, letting them know his intent.

His clear intent, was to train defenders of Kharlussia. It was a training camp, lasting for a week. For the first five days, he would organize it in the White Swan resort in the Northern District.

He however, could not take so many. His camp was only for forty people, yet those who were interested were more than three hundred. For these forty people, he would personally train them in secret methods, some only Grandmasters knew. He would also spend precious medicine for them, medicine he personally took as well.

He went silent, so the audience started to murmur.

“Training, so it really was training after all.”

“He’s clearly a successor of a grandmaster, so this chance,”

“It’s a freaking rare chance!”

“Medicine, what kind of medicine…”

“Still, he’s just a boy…”

“Fool! Didn’t you see his skills back then?”

“Will the Grandmaster be there as well?”

Krone, waiting enough, raised his hand. The audience went silent, giving him way.

He continued, this time with a heavy tone;

“I only need those who are ready to lay their life for the homeland. This training camp is not for weaklings, whiners, or slackers. It will not be easy. As for guardians and parents, prepare to blame yourself for any mishaps.”

His tone, made the surrounding people shuddered.

Indeed, it was no walk in the park. Those who sent their child to any training camp, ought to be ready to shoulder responsibility as well. His was no exception.

“And so, for those who were in doubt, I advise you, in the most polite yet stern way, make up your mind in one minute! If not, you’re not welcomed. We only need those with a resolute mind, well-disciplined. These will be the true defenders of Kharlussia!”

He paused, giving them one minute.

Hearing this, the twins looked at each other.

A full ten seconds gazing at each other’s eyes, they turned to their mother. Face resolute, they informed her of their decision. Hesitant for a moment, yet seeing their resolution, she nodded. Soon, the mother and daughters embraced each other, despite eyes witnessing.

‘So they made up their mind,’

Krone did not miss this.

In addition, among Julia’s team, there was dialogue, heated dialogue lasting the whole minute.

Seeing no one leaving, he wasted no time. He requested the area in front of him to be cleared, then directed the youngsters who wished to join, to form ranks, each group five lines with ten per line.

Recalling him mentioning discipline before, they formed ranks immediately. Doran, Athea and the twins too, joined in without hesitation. Within a minute, everyone stood still. Overall, there were seven groups.

Each fifty people except for the last, missing a few.

‘All 343… More than I thought,’

He had 343 candidates.

Among these youngsters, he noted several with white uniform. Among them were the twins, and…

‘Ron? Good, eh, Kyril?’

Surprisingly, the one he faced during sparring test made the same decision. Krone eyed Julia’s team. He caught Ryan sighing, Shana frowning, while Julia’s eyes on him, pondering.

Ron and Kyril knew how risky their decision was.

Yet they chose to join Krone’s camp instead of Aurenburg Knight’s Academy. The first year’s initiation week would be held tonight. If they did not report in today, and go through the whole week, they would lose this year’s qualification. While they could still join in next year, they must retake the Apprentice Knight’s Test again.

Next year, would be their sixteenth birthday, thus their last chance. However, Ron and Kyril made the choice, to risk it with Krone.

Meanwhile Ryan and Shana chose the academy, for whatever reason.

Krone did not judge them, he paid them no heed anymore.

‘I already laid out the options, it’s their choice. Then again, the journey to be better has many paths.’

He turned his attention to his candidates.

These people would be his future army, the youngsters who made the decision to believe in him. However, for this day, he could not take everyone with him.

“Alright. Everyone, I wish to do the selection now. Stay your position, activate your mana in any way,”

Hearing this, their mana surged, all of them.

The people surrounding them stepped back, startled by their enthusiasm.

At the same time, Krone activated his Aurelian Arte.

And discreetly, he channeled mana into his eyes, just a little bit. With all the mana surrounding him, even the knights and the few magicians there did not notice, much less common folks.

Natalia however, frowned.

To her, it was as if someone she knew shouted with their nose in a busy market. While the voice was drowned in the murmurs and conversation, she still could hear it.

In this case, sensed it.

Krone unsheathed his sword.

Mana surged from him, and he waved it towards them. A thin mana wave passed through, a tingling sense waved through their skin.

The knights and magicians pondered what he was doing.

Yet he knew exactly what he was doing. His eyes observed everyone’s mana pool, thus able to see whether or not his thin mana wave made their mana flickered.

It was too quick and too many subjects to be sure by just once, so he repeated it. Second wave passed through them, then the third, and forth. He was not too strict, so tiny flickering was fine. He was weeding out the weaker ones, those without stable mana flow.

Seventh mana wave, done.

Finally sure of what he was seeing, he sheathed his sword.

‘There’s more than enough, good.’

Since there were more than enough, he could focus on those with characters.

Or at least, acceptable values.

“Alright, I will now go through all of you. Close your eyes. Those I tap your shoulder, open your eyes and stand here, by this fountain.”

Following his command, everyone closed their eyes.

Many had their heart thumping, wishing to be selected. While Krone’s warning did pressure them, the return investment was too tempting for them to just give up before trying. A way to become strong, so early in their life? Who’s the idiot who would refuse such a chance? Even if they had to puke blood, the future return would make it all worth it.

Krone went through the first group.

Tap, tap…

As time went on, a few taps could be heard.

The more time went on, the more anxious the candidates. Quite a few actually counted the taps, noting the direction of Krone’s steps and sounds of tapping.

As for Krone, he was observing each of their face.

A person’s face had more meaning than just beautiful or not, handsome or not. It carried with it the whole person’s personality, inner values and daily activities. A liar would have the face of a liar, contorted. A naïve person would have a baby’s expression, obvious. An idiot would have his mouth and nose as if hard to shut, due to them always blabbering. A mature person would have an air of maturity, hard to grasp their thinking.

And telling whether a person came from a rich or poor family, was way too easy.

For normal people, they could not observe this often, only sometimes. For veterans, they could observe some of these, to a certain degree. For capable leaders or generals, they could observe more of these, to a larger extent.

For Krone, he had learned from his experience, bitter experience on the frontline.

Some people boasted among their peers before battle, only to turn tails and run when faced with terrible adversity. Those beasts from the rifts, with their ferocious fighting spirit, provide him ample opportunities to observe. This was especially so during his early years and later, when he led or was tasked to protect rookies in their first battle.

Later, he reinforced this ability further, thanks to General Shurran’s guidance. He had confidence in this, especially so in term of determining loyalty.

Loyalty.

He put that criterion as the most important, no matter what.

He had seen too many people abandoning their comrades or mission for fear of their life. People like this did not live long, not in the battlefield. They turned their backs to the enemy, in disgrace.

Such people were simply preys for the beasts, or target practice for the Union’s army. To avoid this, he had to choose the best among those with stable mana flow.

Yet for the people gathered there, he was pleased.

‘Good. They were assembled by the call for protecting the homeland, and I did not promise much. It turned out well,’

With them staying close, he tapped Athea, Doran and the twins’ shoulders in succession.

Opening their eyes, they smiled, nodding to him. They walked to the front, while he kept looking. Soon, he stopped before Ron and Kyril. His gaze turned to Julia, Ryan and Shana afar. Should he not accept these two, they could just report themselves to the Knight’s Academy.

Joining their team again.

So what should he do?

…

“Ron, Kyril,”

He initiated the conversation.

“Are you really sure?”

“I am.”

“Yeah,”

…

Both answered almost the same time. Passing through, he tapped their shoulders.

They opened their eyes, walking to the front.

Not looking back.

…

==== Chapter 36 ‘Choice of Belief’ End ====