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Chapter 350: The Royal Guard's Entrance Test!
🕑 Added 2024-10-25 10:01:05 +0000 UTC"You didn't mention your cup of tea would cost three gold dragon coins, and I believe I only offered you tea, not an entire meal," Wood said, a pained expression on his face as he looked at Priscilla, who was sipping her tea gracefully. Sitting in front of her was an extravagantly delicate-looking cake that seemed far too lavish.
Wood had become familiar with the local economy back in the small town where he met Emilia.
Frankly speaking, the common currency used by civilians and merchants was typically copper dragon coins, with silver dragon coins only used on rare occasions.
Gold dragon coins, the highest denomination, were so valuable that even poorer nobles might only have a few dozen in their coffers.
But here they were, with Priscilla having just brought Wood to an incredibly luxurious establishment, where a single cup of tea had cost him three gold dragon coins.
And that cake, which wasn’t even large enough for Wood to take a proper bite out of, had set him back another two gold dragon coins!
In total, this afternoon tea with Priscilla had cost him five gold dragon coins.
To put this into perspective, five gold dragon coins equaled fifty thousand copper dragon coins—enough for an ordinary family to live in a small town for ten years!
"What's so strange about it? This is the capital of the Dragon Kingdom, where the nation's nobles reside," Priscilla said casually. "This establishment is the finest pastry shop in the capital. The price is entirely reasonable."
"Or, could it be that the gentleman charming the ladies has become so poor that he can't even afford to treat someone to a meal?" she teased. "If you'd like, I could cover the bill for you. But then you'd owe me a debt..."
Wood cut her off with a wave of his hand, his expression firm. "No need. I'm not some wealthy noble, but I can afford five gold coins."
Wood silently thanked the treasure he had looted from "Mother" after taking her down—at least her little stash had yielded dozens of gold coins.
He was also relieved that Priscilla had only invited him for tea and not dinner. At her level of spending, a full meal might have left him washing dishes to pay off the debt.
Priscilla raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised that Wood could actually afford to pay such a sum.
Although she lived lavishly, she didn't usually spend to such extremes. She had chosen this place specifically to challenge Wood, hoping to make him work off the debt in her service.
To her surprise, Wood had more wealth than she expected.
“Thank you for dining with us. Your total is five gold dragon coins and three silver dragon coins,” the smiling waitress said, handing over the bill.
Wood’s face went blank as he pointed to the line for water on the bill. “This place is a rip-off! Charging for plain water is bad enough, but three silver dragon coins for it?!”
The waitress remained composed, her professional smile unwavering. “Sir, our water is no ordinary water. It comes from the snow of the highest mountain peaks. Due to transportation costs and labor, the price is quite reasonable.”
For a moment, Wood seriously considered flipping the table, but in the end, he paid the bill without causing a scene. Under the waitress’s sweet smile, he cursed the decadence of the noble lifestyle in his mind.
“There’s no need to push yourself so hard,” Priscilla said with a chuckle. “If you were to work for me, I could pay you twenty gold dragon coins a month. The Royal Guard, while prestigious, only offers five gold dragon coins a month in comparison.”
Leaning slightly forward, Priscilla straightened her posture to better display her impressive curves, adding with a coy smile, “Besides, I am the head of the Barielle family, one of the five royal candidates, and… still single.”
“Hold it, hold it,” Wood quickly interrupted. “You’re the infamous ‘Bloody Bride.’ I’m not looking to die young, thanks. We’ve had our tea, and I’ve upheld my end of the deal. Now, Lady Barielle, are you going to fulfill your promise?”
Though Priscilla typically shrugged off the title “Bloody Bride” without hesitation, for some reason, hearing Wood use it left her visibly displeased.
Her fixation on Wood stemmed from more than just a passing interest. She trusted her instincts, or more precisely, her blessing, which always seemed to guide her toward good fortune.
Priscilla’s real name was Priscilla Benedicta, once one of the many princes and princesses of the Holy Vollachian Empire.
When she was a teenager, she had participated in the Empire’s “Selection of the Emperor” ceremony but was outmaneuvered by her half-brother, the current Emperor Vincent, and lost.
Priscilla only escaped assassination afterward by faking her death and relying on her knight, Al.
When she first met Al in the gladiatorial arena, Priscilla had a strong feeling about him, which is why she saved him.
Her instincts proved correct, as it was thanks to Al’s protection that she had been able to fake her death and escape the Holy Vollachian Empire.
Now, that same instinct was telling her that Wood was even more significant than Al had been.
With the 42nd Dragon Kingdom's Royal Selection about to begin, Priscilla felt that Wood’s presence could very well affect the outcome of the ceremony.
Unfortunately, unlike when she recruited Al, winning Wood over wasn’t going as smoothly as she had hoped. The earlier incidents had clearly soured Wood’s opinion of her, and if she pressed him further, she feared he might walk away for good.
After some hesitation, Priscilla finally decided to honor their agreement. She took Wood to the Royal Guard's headquarters and, using her noble status, personally recommended him to Captain Marcus.
As the head of the Barielle family and one of the royal candidates, Priscilla had the right to recommend a knight.
However, Marcus, as the captain, didn’t want the Royal Guard—the kingdom’s most elite force—turning into a dumping ground for noble connections.
Wood, who had been brought in earlier under suspicion of being a scoundrel, hadn’t left the best impression on Marcus, either.
But given Priscilla’s status, Marcus couldn’t outright refuse, so he said, “The Royal Guard is the kingdom’s strongest military force, composed of its most exceptional knights. Lady Barielle’s recommendation is valid, but we have our own rules. Anyone wishing to join the Royal Guard must first pass our entrance test.”
Priscilla frowned, clearly displeased. The captain’s response was essentially questioning her judgment.
However, Wood had no objections and calmly agreed to undergo the test.
After all, this was the Royal Guard, the kingdom’s elite. It would be strange if they allowed anyone in without some sort of examination.
Wood was also curious to gauge the Royal Guard's strength. If he recalled correctly, Lainhardt had mentioned that he, too, was a member of the Royal Guard. Surely, not all the knights in this force were as overpowered as him?
Setting Lainhardt aside, Wood had encountered Captain Marcus twice now.
While Marcus was clearly skilled, Wood could tell that he wasn’t on Lainhardt’s level by any stretch.
“The test is simple: you’ll engage in a ‘Knight’s Duel’ with one of our Royal Guard knights. If you can hold your own without losing, you’ll qualify to join.”
The ‘Knight’s Duel’ was a special magical scenario used by the Royal Guard for training.
It was somewhat similar to PvP in RPG games, a one-on-one duel in a controlled environment.
In this space, fighters would still feel pain if they were injured, but even if they were to die in the duel, they wouldn’t die for real. Instead, they’d be ejected from the scenario, with only mental fatigue to show for it. This facility was commonly used for the Royal Guard's intense training sessions.
“Julius,” Marcus called out, scanning the group of knights before him, “you’ll be the one to test him. I trust you’ll be fair.”
The man named Julius, a handsome knight with elegant manners and violet hair, stepped forward, causing a stir among the watching knights.
“Is this for real? The captain actually chose Julius to test the newcomer? That’s like sealing the gates to the Royal Guard!” one knight whispered.
“With the ‘Kingdom’s Finest’ as his opponent, this guy doesn’t stand a chance,” another muttered.
When Priscilla saw that Marcus had chosen Julius to face Wood, she was visibly angry. “Captain Marcus, are you telling me that the Royal Guard’s entrance standards are now so high that an applicant has to face the ‘Kingdom’s Finest’ and not lose?”
“As far as I know, Julius is your vice-captain. How many knights in your entire guard can even beat him? I doubt even you could, Captain.”
Priscilla was genuinely furious, feeling that Marcus was deliberately undermining her by throwing such an impossibly difficult test at Wood.
The ‘Kingdom’s Finest,’ Julius, was renowned, even back in the Holy Vollachian Empire. Pitting a newcomer against him was absurd.
If all the knights had to pass such a rigorous test, the Royal Guard wouldn’t have nearly as many members, and even the captain might not qualify.
“Of course,” Marcus said, knowing that choosing Julius was a bit much, “when Julius is the opponent, the rules are adjusted accordingly. If your friend here can last five minutes without being knocked out, we’ll consider it a pass.”
Before Priscilla could protest further, Wood spoke up. “No need to lower the bar. Let’s stick with the original rules.”
He glanced at Marcus, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. “But I do have one question—what happens if I beat the ‘Kingdom’s Finest’? Is there a special reward?”
The entire hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted into laughter.
The knights, especially those who had fought alongside Julius for years, couldn’t contain their amusement. They thought Wood must be a country bumpkin, someone who might have been a big deal in some backwater place, but was completely out of his league here.
“I’ll tell you this,” Marcus said, not laughing but clearly skeptical. “If you manage to defeat… no, even if you manage to avoid defeat against Julius, I’ll make you a captain of one of our squads.”
Marcus knew Julius’s skill level all too well. Like most of those present, he figured Wood was just another overconfident fool from some remote corner of the world who had no idea who he was dealing with.
As Wood and Julius stepped into the magical dueling arena, the ‘Knight’s Duel’ officially began.
A shimmering barrier formed around them, separating them from the spectators. Marcus, Priscilla, and the rest of the knights moved to the viewing area to watch.
“My name is Julius Juukulius,” the violet-haired knight said, his voice calm and polite. “Please, do not hold back. Unlike the others, I’ve never underestimated you. From the moment you stepped into this arena, the spirits around me have been warning me of your presence.”
Julius’s expression grew serious. “They’re telling me you’re a dangerous man. And that means you’re not just skilled with a sword—you must also possess considerable magical power, correct?”
Julius Juukulius, with his noble birth, flawless manners, and unparalleled skill, was the embodiment of a knight. He excelled in swordsmanship, magic, and strategy, earning the trust of his fellow knights.
It was no wonder they called him the ‘Kingdom’s Finest,’ for in every way, he was the very definition of a true knight.
