Isn't that the wrong story? Princess Iris, Your Highness. I was told by your father that the selection of the knights of the guard would be impartial, and that you would see only two of them.

　The taller boy said.
　It was a red-haired boy. He wore a gold thread sewn dress with the crest of a fire-breathing dragon on his chest. He fixed his red hair with his fingers and looked at me and Odette, the duchess, intently.

''I think the one who is suitable for being a knight of Your Highness is this Girvan-Keels. I thought the selection ceremony was a waste of time to begin with.
That's disrespectful to Your Highness. Mr. Girvan.
Shut up, Gaile. Do you think you're on par with me, Countess?
No, no, no. I didn't mean to.

　Behind Zirvan is a boy with gray hair.
　He is a small boy with glasses, and he is hiding behind Zirvan's back, as if frightened.
　If the other one is Zirvan of the Marquess family, then this one is Gaiel-Wolfgang of the Count family.

　Odette-Slay said that the other two knight candidates have formed an alliance.
　So it's these two. It's easy to determine at a glance which one is higher.
　So this is the power relationship between the nobles. Humans are fond of this kind of thing....

What I don't understand is that the bastard of the baronial family is here.

　Me?
　I mean, is it the rule of the higher nobility to point at others?

"How about a little respect for yourself?　The bastard child of the rising glossy baronial family. Just because you've nibbled a little bit of 'Ancient Magic', how can a lowly nobleman become a knight of His Highness the Princess?　Why don't you turn it down before you embarrass yourself?
"Thank you for your concern. "Mr. Girvan, son of the Marquess.
Hmm. You seem to know your place.

　I know that. I'm a Nosferatu reincarnated monster.
　I can't become a human no matter how hard I try.
　This is probably the first and last time I will ever go to a human educational institution. From now on, for the next 200 or 300 years this will only be a brief memory.
　So...

I understand. I know that this meeting with Mr. Girvan will only be for a short time. And that soon we will have to say goodbye to Mr. Girvan.
What?
'So I'm not going to turn it down. Whichever one of us ends up being embarrassed, it will be a good experience. Eventually you'll be able to forget it as a memory.
Wait a minute. Which one of us is more ashamed?　Do you think I'm going to be embarrassed?
'So I'm satisfied with the knight selection exam. What is the test? 'Princess Iris, Your Highness.'

　I turn to Her Highness and kneel on the floor.
　Odette-Slay does the same.
　Countess Gaiel-Wolfgang, while nudging Zirvan next to her - Zirvan was reluctant to do so, and knelt on the floor as well.

''The test will be the one chosen by the 'Magic Guild'.

　Her Royal Highness placed a piece of parchment in front of us.
　There was a map of the cave on the parchment.

''Do you know that there is an entrance to the 'Ancient Magical Civilization's Capital (Elysian)' in this royal capital?
I have heard that there is a passage that can only be accessed by the Sorcerer's Guild.
"...Gaile. You, I'm the one who's supposed to be answering the questions here.

　Gaiel replied with a pout, and Girvan poked him in the back.

It's just as Gaiel-Wolfgang says. This royal capital was built in the first place to manage 'Elysian'. The one who is responsible for managing it is the 'Magic Guild'. This exam will be for the 'Magic Guild''s novice trainees.

　His Highness Iris looked at me.
　I bail lightly and then continue.

''The purpose of this examination is to investigate the cave marked on that parchment. The location is the upper layer of 'Elysian'. There are reports of the undead appearing in the cave there.
　You will be asked to check if the holy sword at the back of it is safe or not. On that day, you will be accompanied by Demeter, a C-class sorcerer, and General Barnes. The first one to reach the holy sword will be appointed as my guardian knight. That is all.

　A holy sword........
　This is the ancient artifact that the Sanctuary Church discovered a large amount of 200 years ago, and it's also the weapon that killed me in my previous life.
　It's disgusting.
　I'm allergic to long swords because I was stabbed by that thing.

"Will you excuse me for asking?
Go ahead. Odette Slay.
'What happens if two people reach the Holy Sword at the same time?
'In that case, we will have a final. If the two of you are comfortable with each other, we will consider appointing one of you as a guard knight and the other to a similar role.
Yes, sir.

　Odette Suley looked at me.
　A confirmation of the alliance.
　As long as it's OK for both of us to reach the Holy Sword at the same time, I guess that means we'll cooperate during the exam.

''I'll have the person in charge explain the other details later. Is that alright?

　Princess Iris asks again.
　No answer. Me, well, not really.

''The exam starts in three days. Please make sure you're in good physical condition until then. I wish you good luck.






I'm home.

　After receiving an explanation in the guesthouse, I returned to my quarters.

Welcome home, Yuki-sama. Welcome home, Yuki-sama.
I'm home. Has Remy been a good boy?
I was.
'It's amazing, Remy. I've learned to fold laundry.
But I'm sleepy.

　Remy yawns next to Martha in her maid's outfit.

'I took a lot of naps and I'm sleepy.'
He's still a child. I tell him it's okay to sleep when he's sleepy.
Remy is an old man's errand boy.
Just go to bed. Remy.
"Whew.

　Remy went straight to the corner of the living room, curled up in the corner of the living room and fell asleep.
　Martha picked her little body up and moved her to the bed in the bedroom.
　Then she came back to me.

So how did the exam go?
We're going to investigate a dungeon with undead in it.
...Oh, my God.

　Martha gets a sympathetic look on her face.

'That's a big deal, isn't it?'
I hate them. The undead.
I was there before, when Yuki-sama and Lumia-sama went to visit the grave with Martha. Skeleton.
That was a really tough time for me.
Lumia-sama started crying, and Yuki-sama had to deal with the undead herself...
That was a secret.
I understand. Please don't take it easy.
It can't be helped. If I decline, it will be a problem for my father and brother Xellos. I'll just go along for the ride, and if I fail the test, that's fine.
Yes. Martha is with us.

　With that, Martha headed for the kitchen.

''Today I'll make pancakes of Yuki-sama's choice. I found some cheap honey at the market in King's Landing.''
Tomorrow if you can. It's the day before the test. I'll try to motivate you.
Yes?

　That's how me and Martha spent the day of the exam.






　And the day of the exam.

　Me and Duke's daughter Odette, Marquis' son Girvan, and Count's son Gaiel were standing in front of the 'Magic Guild'.
　In front of us, there were a number of towers.
　Large ones, small ones, oddly twisted ones, and one story ones.
　In the middle of it was a box-shaped building with many people coming and going. General Burns tells me that that's the guild headquarters over there and the other towers are the sorcerer's research facilities.

''It's been ... a long time.''
It's been a long time.

　Just before entering the guild, Mr. Barnes said in a whisper.

'I'm sorry for the trouble this has caused you. I have no doubt that I and the Princess have recommended you.
The other nobles didn't agree, did they?
'But if another is chosen, I will not do him wrong. That I promise you in the name of this Barnes. For I owe you a debt of gratitude.

　Then Mr. Barnes laughed.

　We were led to a one-story tower at the foot of the mountain.
　Mr. Barnes and the robed sorcerer in the lead opened the door and found a staircase that led to the basement.

'Be careful. The place is twisted in here.
You might want to close your eyes and hold on to the soldier next to you if you're not used to it.

　Mr. Barnes and the sorcerer said.
　As I started down the stairs, I felt strange. Like I was going straight down, but at an angle. When I think about it, it's like I'm going up the stairs in reverse....

''........What is this place?''
...It's a weird place.

　Even though it looks like a stone staircase, I feel like I'm walking through a large creature.
　It seems that this is the only passage that leads to 'Elysian'.
If I join the 'Magic Guild', do I have to pass through this place every time I investigate?

　Odette-Suray clutches her mouth and clings to my arm.
　Zirvan is managing to walk with soldiers walking on either side of him. Gaile-Wolfgang is wobbling down the stairs. He looks like he's going to fall down at any moment.

"....Why are you........unconcerned.......Yuki.
I'm not okay with it.

　I've been flying normally since my past life.
　I would spin around and fly upside down in the wind. I'm used to it.

Get used to it. Herr Odette.
Okay.
...and yet...

　I never thought I'd come to the 'Capital of Ancient Magical Civilization (Elysian)'.
　Two hundred years ago, the 'Sanctuary Church' managed it, and ordinary people were killed just by approaching it.
　It's an unpleasant place but it's still very exciting.
　It's true that sorcerers have a lot of talent.

We're almost to the inside of Elysian, so keep your eyes open. Keep your eyes open.

　After Mr. Barnes said that, the stairs ended and the view opened up.



　What was beyond was a huge, large hole.
　The crater of a volcano........not. It was a spiral stairway-like passageway in the mortar-shaped terrain.
　We are at the top of the mortar.
　In front of us is a pathway with a handrail that leads down the side of the mortar. The pathway is all the way down. It runs along the outer wall of the hole, creating a spiral path. Down, down. I can't see what is at the bottom at all from here.

This is Elysian.

　Mr. Barnes said, holding a long-handled axe in his hand.

''It's an underground labyrinth that hasn't been fully understood, even after 220 years of discovery. You trainees are only allowed to enter the upper levels. If you go below that, you will not be guaranteed life.
I'm a legitimate son of a noble family. Even though I'm a general, the way you talk to me is...
'You don't say such things until you can walk properly.
.....
'Well you seem to be nothing to it. Yuki-Grossaria. That's quite something.

　No, it's not just me who's not moving, but Gaiel-Wolfgang too........
　And then I thought, he's crouched in the corner of the aisle, shivering. I guess I was just putting up with it.

''The Cave of the Holy Sword is just around the corner. Only those who can follow us should come.

　With that, Mr. Barnes started to walk away.
　I gave Odette-Sleigh a shoulder and decided to just follow him.