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Chapter 18
The fountain at the center square shot its streams of water high into the sky, as if they knew no limit.
It was a tribute—an ovation—for the children who had found the courage.
Beneath that fountain, the people gathered so densely that there was no space left to move, their presence thick as clouds.
From those who had already secured their spots on the terraces to children perched on their fathers’ shoulders, everyone was focused on a single sight.
The carriages descending from the Pador estate.
They were the sole means of transport heading for the Valley of Trials.
The carriages would soon stop in front of the central fountain.
Then… the boys and girls who would challenge the Valley of Trials would step aboard.
Hiiiiiing…!
The horses neighed sharply before coming to a halt.
More than ten carriages ended their rotations, their wheels finally grinding to a stop.
With crisp, precise movements, the coachmen stood and declared loudly:
“Those whose names are engraved upon the stone monument—board these carriages!”
It was the same for everyone.
Equality—that was one of the creeds of the House Pador.
That was why the locals called these the Golden Carriages.
Carriages that would carry them to greater heights.
In truth, children who stood out in the Valley of Trials were often brought back to the House, where the family nurtured them, raising them into knights with unwavering support.
But such children were few and far between.
Most of those stepping onto the carriages had been carefully pre-selected beforehand.
Like the son of that merchant, stepping forward on his carpet.
“Hmph… these carriages are a little disappointing, aren’t they?”
He clicked his tongue, acting as though he wasn’t here to take an exam but to purchase a new carriage.
“What’s this seat made of?”
The coachman gave a curt, almost dismissive reply to the fussing boy, Einstein.
“Don’t know. Just get in.”
“What—what did you say?! Do you know who I am?!”
“Just get in.”
“Tch, unbelievable…!”
He was the kind of rich brat who would fuss over the quality of a cushion even for a short ride. In contrast—
“This is paradise on earth…”
Andrew had already sprawled across a seat as though it were a soft bed. For someone used to sleeping rough on the streets, wasn’t this heaven itself?
Starting with the two of them, countless boys and girls boarded the carriages.
There were children of noble lineage, but also beggars clad in rags. For this opportunity was equal to all.
Among them… a frail hand, its sleeve conspicuously long, reached out as a boy stepped forward.
Deyan Pador—a name known by all in this region, the misfit of the Pador family.
“Young master…! Please don’t get hurt!”
“Would you like to take a packed lunch with you?”
Marianne and Nerlin each offered their own words of support.
How embarrassing.
“Nerlin, I’m not going on a picnic.”
“But you might get hungry?”
“I won’t.”
“Then… um, can I eat the lunch Marianne made instead?”
“Go ahead, eat it.”
Nerlin—forever thinking about food, whether awake or asleep.
I quickened my steps and climbed onto the carriage. Immediately, murmurs erupted from every side.
Their words were predictable.
Reckless challenge. Boyish arrogance. Most people were doubtful of my attempt.
A few clapped, saying at least my spirit was admirable, but it wasn’t particularly pleasant to hear.
As I boarded, there he was—sitting right in front of me. A very familiar face.
“Why is it you again, Ralph?”
Ralph Pador narrowed his eyes at me as if ready to sting like a wasp, clearly displeased that we were in the same carriage.
And what can you do apart from glaring?
No… perhaps I should have a little fun instead.
“What about you…? Are you trying to challenge it, too?”
“Yeah. I’ll give it a try.”
Just as Ralph was about to snort in derision, I sent my voice directly into his mind.
― Shut it. Let’s ride quietly.
“Wha…?! You!”
Ralph blurted out in shock.
“What did I do, Ralph?”
“You just—you just said something!”
“What did I say?”
― Stop buzzing, you insect. Stay quiet before I crush you underfoot.
“See! You’re doing it again, right now!”
Ralph tapped at his own ears and glanced wildly around.
He must never have experienced this before, huh?
It’s called sound transmission, you fool.
And there’s something else you should learn.
In a public setting like this, you must never reveal your true thoughts.
“Ralph, are you okay? Weren’t you supposed to be all better?”
“Who are you mocking?!”
― Good, you understand. Then remember it well.
Ralph shot up from his seat, fuming.
“What did you just say?! What did you say, huh?!”
He was about to grab me by the collar when the carriage door opened once again.
Well then… should I put on a show for the audience?
“This bastard! What did you say to me?!”
“Ralph, what’s wrong…?! Calm down, Ralph.”
“Do it like before!”
“All I said was that I hoped you wouldn’t get hurt. Is that such a crime? Ralph, why are you acting like this?!”
“When did you ever say that?!”
Ralph thumped his chest in frustration, but who among the crowd would believe him?
“L-Look at him, he’s…”
“Poor Master Deyan…”
“Strange… why doesn’t Lord Ralph resemble Lord Ian at all?”
“Well, if he did, he wouldn’t be acting like this.”
Ralph’s face stiffened at the murmurs, and only then did he look around to hear what people were saying.
Took you long enough to notice, you fool.
Ugh, now I’m embarrassed for him.
Thud!
Ralph flopped back into his seat, glaring at me with eyes sharp as a predator’s—or at least, that was what he aimed for. In truth, they weren’t even as menacing as a jackal’s.
Grinding his teeth with a loud creak, Ralph muttered lowly so only I could hear:
“Just wait and see, you bastard. Even last time when you visited me in the infirmary—you’re plotting something, aren’t you…?!”
“When the head’s empty, the body suffers. That phrase was made for you.”
“You son of a—!”
Ralph twitched as if to rise again but sat back down with a nervous jerk.
Why bother standing if you can’t even strike?
Pathetic. Truly pathetic.
Leaving Ralph to his endless muttering, I turned my attention to the others boarding the carriage.
Now then… won’t you show yourselves?
I expanded my sense, scanning the children climbing aboard. Most were ordinary, unremarkable. Among them were those whose only asset was courage, with no skill to match.
As I was scanning the faces of several children…
“Of course, you’re getting on too.”
“What do you mean, getting on…?!”
I completely ignored Ralph and turned my eyes to the window.
A crimson-robed figure slipped aboard the carriage, almost without a presence.
For a moment, my gaze brushed against the one wearing that robe.
What a vicious glare.
Clatter, clatter…
With the crimson-robed figure now aboard, the carriage began its departure toward the Valley of Trials.
At the entrance to the valley.
Our carriage rolled to a stop in a wide clearing.
The moment the door opened, the banner of Pador unfurled proudly, greeting us.
And then—
Chaaang…!
The knights lined on either side simultaneously raised their longswords, each blade adorned with Pador’s banner, forming an arching path.
It was a ceremonial welcome for the boys and girls who would walk the sacred road.
Yet many of the children froze, hesitant to step forward.
Their legs must have been trembling.
Perhaps they even considered turning back.
It no longer felt like a game.
While all hesitated—
“Hah! Look at you cowards. Afraid already? Now you understand! This is Pador’s way!”
That fool Ralph, oblivious to his place, tried to march forward first.
I slipped another telepathic whisper his way.
― Stop embarrassing yourself.
Ralph’s eyes darted sideways, as if to say, You’re doing something strange again, aren’t you?
I only answered with a bright smile.
And what will you do about it?
I strode forward first, and as I did, the others behind began mustering the courage to follow.
Of course, Ralph refused to be left behind and planted himself at my side, though it was nothing more than childish defiance.
What a hopeless display of bravado.
Passing through the solemn welcome of the knights, we soon came before three figures awaiting us.
They were the three commanders of Pador’s knightly orders.
To me, all too familiar faces: Janitz; Fernando, the commander of the Red Eagle Knights; and Luke, the youngest among them and captain of the White Lion Knights.
All three were high knights, the very core of Pador’s military might.
As their gazes bore down upon us, the children shrank back in unease.
At the center stood a knight.
A man with crimson curls—Fernando—stepped forward.
At once, the children’s eyes widened.
“Look at that greatsword…”
“How heavy must it be?”
“That’s the Fernando of the Greatsword…”
“I’ve never seen him in person before.”
Whispers spread among the children.
But Fernando, unaffected, simply let his gaze travel slowly across them. His cold eyes alone silenced every tongue.
“Are there any who wish to forfeit?”
No polite greetings, no introductions—just a blunt voice cutting the air.
The children stiffened under his gaze.
“I will strike this greatsword three times. Before the third strike, any who wish to give up, do so. We’ve no desire to watch needless deaths.”
Boom…!
He slammed the greatsword into the earth. The ground trembled violently.
“……!”
The children scrambled to keep their balance.
As expected of Fernando.
Once more—
Boom!
“The Valley of Trials cannot be conquered with courage alone.”
This time, the vibrations ran up through our legs, churning in our stomachs.
Hot-blooded, indeed.
“If you die, we will not be held responsible.”
His greatsword was about to strike again when—
“I-I give up!”
“M-Me too…”
Several children could not endure the crushing pressure. They raised their hands or stepped back.
Fernando nodded faintly.
“A wise choice. That too is courage.”
Slowly, he raised his greatsword again.
“This will be the last.”
As the blade came crashing down like a colossal nail into the earth, more children broke, fleeing one after another.
And then—
Boom…!
The greatsword came down one final time. Did his warning strike home?
Before the trials had even begun, nearly half of the children fled in fear, trembling as they abandoned their place.
The eliminated ones were escorted back by knights, climbing into the carriages that would return them home.
For the rest of us, there were no more carriages left.
Truth be told… this was nothing more than intimidation.
Would Pador ever truly allow casualties here?
Never. It was simply a threat—no, a gesture of warning.
A message not to challenge the valley lightly, a form of consideration, even.
Yet even if everyone knew it was only a warning, that didn’t make it easier to set one’s feet firmly forward.
These were children, not yet of age.
Psychological fear is not something that disappears just because you know it is baseless.
In that sense, every child who remained here had already proven their worth simply by standing.
“You are all commendable.”
Fernando returned to his place, his demeanor no longer radiating that frostbitten aura.
While the children tried to suppress their trembling bodies…
Someone walked slowly onto the platform.
Eyes like an eagle gazing down from above, a well-kept beard lining his firm jaw, a nose straight and proud.
The face of a general, and a body that seemed as solid as armor even in casual clothes.
And upon his chest—the insignia of Pador’s greatest knight, a silver emblem of a sword entwined with vines.
Without a word of introduction, without a single proclamation, his mere presence on the stage was enough to draw every gaze.
The pressure was overwhelming, leaving some nearly spellbound.
This was no cultivated charisma.
It was not an aura forced outward, nor intimidation through action—simply by existing, he commanded silence.
With him here, the place itself felt like a hall of triumph.
Step. Step. Step.
“……?”
The participants tilted their heads in surprise.
For instead of remaining on the platform, he descended to the ground where we stood.
And there, he placed a hand on the shoulder of a boy in the front row.
“Welcome.”
Unlike Fernando, his tone was gentle, paired with a warm smile.
His voice carried both depth and reassurance, steadying trembling hearts.
It was a simple act—descending from the stage—but it shattered the icy tension and filled the children with calm.
Every movement he made was dignified.
He encouraged each participant with a pat on the shoulder. And each time, drooping shoulders straightened, chests lifted, and hesitant lips curled into grateful smiles.
At last… he came to stand before me.
“You’ve come.”
His hand rested on my shoulder.
Though I was not his son, the touch was that of a father’s.
“Deyan, I have always believed in you.”
Warm words of encouragement.
Words that could have moved anyone who heard them.
This was Ian Pador, the acting head of the Pador household.
A man lacking in nothing.
The father of Ralph, and the one admired by all.
Yes… I, too, once felt the same. I trusted this man more than anyone.
When I was troubled, it was him I sought. When I was in danger, it was his name I cried out—before even my own father’s.
To me, he had been such a figure…
But now, I would never trust him again.
“Yes. Thank you, Uncle.”
For he was a leader of the Black Society, the evil society…
The very culprit who destroyed my family.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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