Game World: I Can Share Talents

Chapter 93: The Spirit of the Knightly Path

"I learned something from Rafati earlier that’s been on my mind. It seems you were exiled from the Country of Yonglan... Ah, don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to pry into the reasons for your exile, I just wanted to ask what your plans are for the future."

Westheid continued. Although he was extremely curious about the reason for her exile, he’d only met Mivana a handful of times and didn’t want to commit the faux pas of prying too deeply into the affairs of a new acquaintance.

"Me? My plans...? After leaving the Country of Yonglan, I’ve just been continuing my Trial of the Knightly Path. I wander wherever the road takes me, as long as I can walk the path of chivalry. Some time ago, I heard the Imperial Holy Tree Festival would be hosting a Trial, and since I considered it another facet of the Knightly Path, I signed up to participate."

Mivana said softly, a hint of frustration clouding her features:

"However, I can’t stay in the Imperial Capital for much longer after the Holy Tree Festival ends. The cost of living in the Holy Root System is just too high. Even staying in an inn in the Outer City District, my savings have been completely wiped out. Now I’m considering whether I should accept an enrollment offer from the Imperial University."

Westheid: "What enrollment offer?"

"A university in the eastern part of the Imperial Capital. They invited me to enroll, offering a full fifty thousand silver leaves in scholarships and stipends for just one semester. They also said I wouldn’t have to worry about daily life, as they would provide a personal assistant, a study partner, and things like that."

Mivana frowned. "The terms are incredibly generous, yet I don’t have to perform any duties in return. Is this some kind of common scam within the Empire?"

"Oh, that. It’s not a scam, it’s all real."

Westheid smiled with understanding. He lifted his teacup, blew gently across the surface, and said,

"The Empire is fond of recruiting members of the Alien Races for prestige. You’re a foreigner, a member of an Alien Race, and, on top of that... I apologize if I’m offending you, but the reputation of Beastmen..."

Mivana nodded and sighed. "There’s no need to apologize. I’m well aware of my people’s reputation in the Mortal World: crude, barbaric, instinct-driven beasts who have not fully evolved. It’s... not even much of a prejudice, really."

Westheid: "In short, while you might be ostracized in the other Realms of Order of the Mortal World, the Empire is enlightened and inclusive. They’re especially accommodating to Beastmen. The fact that you’re one of the Yonglan People was enough for them to offer you generous terms as an international student. Being a Beastman on top of that makes you even more of a prize."

’To Westheid, Beast-eared Maidens with their fluffy ears and tails were incredibly cute.’ But to the people of the Mortal World, Beastmen—born from what they considered a filthy experiment—were seen as rather uncivilized.

However, thanks to their powerful "instincts," Beastmen were still sought after in many circles. For instance, Westheid knew that well-built Beastman men were quite popular among the Empire’s noblewomen.

Mivana’s eyes widened in understanding. "So that’s why. Ever since I arrived in the Empire, I’ve found everyone to be quite friendly. The Empire truly lives up to its name as a great power of the Mortal World. It’s so civilized and tolerant."

After this moment of reflection, the Wolf-eared Knight’s expression turned serious once more. "But even if it isn’t a scam, the Knightly Path I follow forbids accepting reward without merit. How could I use my own race as a tool for personal gain?"

"The Trial of the Knightly Path includes asceticism. This is a perfect opportunity for me to learn how to travel in utter poverty."

The Knightess sat bolt upright, the beast ears atop her head standing stiff and alert.

Westheid shook his head. "Your spirit is admirable, but blind endurance and self-restraint are not what the Yonglan Riding God promoted. The spirit of the Knightly Path is not the same as the way of an ascetic monk... By the way, your version of the Knightly Path seems quite different from that of other Yonglan Knights."

The Knightly Path is an interpretation and imitation of the Yonglan Riding God’s life. By practicing it, Yonglan Knights believe they can draw closer to their Divine Ancestor.

And to be blunt, the true core of the Knightly Path consists of only one thing.

Fighting. Pure bliss.

The Yonglan Riding God’s life was a life of combat. If he wasn’t fighting, he was on his way to a fight. His was an epic of ascension to godhood, built upon the corpses of countless ghouls, Monsters and Strange Beasts, and Chaos Demons.

Even the blessings the Yonglan Riding God bestowed upon his mortal descendants all revolved around "combat."

Every other tenet—knightly ceremonies, the law of the jungle, attaining enlightenment through asceticism, the sanctity of oaths—was added by later generations.

Each interpretation had its own reasoning, much like the doctrine of justification by faith.

In any case, the Yonglan Riding God never intervened, so it was all tacitly approved.

Mivana’s golden eyes narrowed. Gripping the hilt of her sword, she said, "To never, for a single moment, forget to practice justice and chivalry—that is my Knightly Path. It is the legacy I inherited from my master. How could I possibly betray her expectations?"

’Her master?’

’So Mivana really does have a Grand Knight as a teacher. I just don’t know who it is.’

’Since both Mivana and Rafati are so guarded about the topic, it means I won’t get anywhere by asking directly. I’ll just have to find out more over time.’

By now, however, Westheid had a complete grasp of Mivana’s personality. He knew exactly how to stroke the Wolf-eared Maiden’s fur the right way.

"A Knightly Path that emphasizes chivalry? How rare."

The young man, handsome as a Celestial God, offered a gentle smile and steepled his fingers.

"Among the Yonglan Knights, who have become almost pathologically obsessed with achievements and fame, very few still embrace the once-glorious spirit of chivalry. There was a time when Yonglan Knights were considered paragons of virtue. And yet, those Rangers once celebrated throughout the Mortal World are now known only for being bloodthirsty and warlike."

Westheid sighed. "It’s a true shame. The chivalrous knights are the ones who best represent the spirit of Yonglan."

At his words, Mivana’s calm, somewhat simple-looking expression instantly broke. Her gold eyes flashed, and she leaned forward.

"Exactly! Yonglan Knights should be noble emissaries of justice, punishing the wicked, eradicating evil, and protecting the weak... It may be difficult now, but one day, the world will understand that only true justice endures!"

The fluffy wolf ears atop the Knightess’s head quivered with emotion. She thumped a fist against her ample chest and declared solemnly,

"And a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step! As a successor to the path of chivalry, I will spread and practice this way through my actions, whether I am in the Country of Yonglan or not!"

’Does "practice" mean... lowering the nearsightedness rate across the entire Mortal World by sixty percent?’

’Is the way to achieve justice to simply slaughter all the unjust people in the world?’

Westheid looked at the Knightess before him, her face radiating sincerity and righteousness, and then connected that image to the future deeds of the Heaven-Devouring Wave. He nearly lost his composure.

Forcing back a laugh, Westheid began to applaud.

"Well said! Worthy of a noble Yonglan Knight, indeed. Knowing you possess such a sincere and chivalrous heart, I have a commission I must ask you to accept."

Duke Qinghui revealed his true purpose.

"I wonder... would you be willing to join us in our campaign to retake the Qinghui Territory?"