The notice for the new knight recruitment exam in Brunhild has been posted in the guild and other places, and seems to be attracting a good deal of attention.
　It's a good thing, because our salaries are cheap. In addition, there's not much of a rise in the ranks, and if you're going to choose one based on the quality of its income, it's probably better to go to another knight's club.
　Adventurers and the like are hit and miss with the magical beasts they hunt and the treasures they obtain, but even so, even a second-rate adventurer should certainly make more money than a member of our knightly order. I'd like to raise their salaries when the country becomes more prosperous, but right now it's impossible.
　The only advantages are that I can get a somewhat stable income and that food and clothing are free. Also, there's not as much danger to your life as being an adventurer. There are some knights who don't ride frame gears, although they do fight the Frays.
　Because of that, I thought that at most, only about a thousand people would be able to attend the same as last time (but even so, it's still quite a large number of people), but contrary to my expectations, more than three times that number, or more than three thousand people, came to take the test. It was a bit of a surprise.
　We're planning to hire about 150 of them, so the ratio is about 1 in 20.　
　It would be difficult to hold the test in the courtyard of the castle, so we gathered the candidates on the Great Plains in the northern part of the castle.
　A few ordinary visitors came for some reason. It's a bit of a spectacle. Well, it's more convenient for what we're about to do if the residents of the city are there.

''I am Rain Netherland, Commander of the Brünnhilde Knights. I will now conduct a recruitment examination for new Brünnhilde Knights.

　On the platform built on the plains, Ms. Lane came through the speakers with her phone switched to a microphone and announced her name to the candidates.
　By the way, one of the deputy commanders, Nicola-san, had a family name of Strand, but Rain-san and the other deputy commander, Norn-san, did not have a family name.
　That didn't look good for them, so I came up with a family name, and Rayne was named "Rayne Netherland" and Norn was named "Norn Siberia". They are both from the rabbit and wolf species, but the people in this world wouldn't understand unless I told them, so it's probably safe. I think it's a good fit for these girls who are beastmen.
　In case you're wondering, I'm not officially out in this test because I think it's best not to be out in the open. But I'm taking part in the test by putting on a "mirage" and pretending to be a test taker. I wanted to check things with my own eyes. It's a good thing my face is well known in the castle, so it's a hassle if there are candidates who know me.
　I've informed all the current Order members of this, so they won't be suspicious. I've told them to treat you as an ordinary examinee.
　Besides, I can see the other candidates clearly from here. It's early days, but we've found a few non-conformists.
　The fact that Rain-san on the stage is a woman and a beast, there are several people who are either licking their chops or not willing to listen to me properly from the beginning. Even if I'm wrong, they won't pass the test.
　Looking around at the candidates gathered, it seems that most of them are women. I think it's close to 40 percent. Well, there aren't many knightly orders that employ female knights, and what's more, most of them are from noble families. I don't care if you're a commoner or not, I can't understand why they'd come to our house.
　Besides, there are more beastmen and demons than last time. It's fine for the beastmen, but the demons don't think the Demon King sent them to us, do they? Is it because they want to get all the information about their daughter Sakura? That's a bit of a pullback, no matter how stupid parents, or even parent idiots, are. I'd like to think I'm a normal candidate.

Now for the first test. Watch your back.
Huh?

　Along with Rain's words, there was a sound of flapping wings from behind the examinee 《bokusha》. The one that was reflected in their vision as they turned around was the figure of a giant dragon glaring at them in the air.

''Gogaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

　A sapphire-glowing dragon roars to the heavens. Oh come on, isn't that too much? I said scare me, but come on.

Hi!
Li-li-li, li-li-li, the dragon! Why are you here...!
Run! He's going to kill me...!

　Like spiders scattering spiderlings, the majority of candidates fled to be the first to escape. The dragon that floats in the sky──Ruri stared at it in silence.
　Of course, they were disqualified for running away. We don't want them to be the first ones to run away, leaving the general visitors there as well.
　Hmmm, I guess that's about two-thirds less?
　After a while, when Dozen and Ruri landed on the ground, Rain-san opened her mouth.

''Those who do not protect the people they are supposed to protect and put their own self-preservation first are not knights of our country. Congratulations. The rest of you have passed the test.''

　With Rain's words, the candidates finally realized that this was an exam. Some of them collapsed from their hips with a limpet. It seems that there are some people who were too surprised to escape, but it's to be expected. In any case, such people will be rejected in future exams and interviews.
　Some of those who escaped said that they were trying to make excuses to return to the city to fortify their defenses, or that they were swept away by their surroundings and ran with the flow, but the examiners, Norn and the others, didn't take any action. Still, some of them were biting back, so I asked Ruri to give me a bark with a telepathic message, and she left at the speed of the wind. There was no excuse for this.
　After finishing her role, Ruri went back to the sky with a buzz. The examiners who were looking off at her with a pout, heard Rain's voice again.

''Now, the second exam, you will spend three days in the forest west of here. No food is allowed to be brought in, and there is a river running through it, so there is no need to worry about water. You will also be provided with a water bottle. Anyone who leaves the forest before the deadline is reached will be disqualified. In addition, there are a few members of my Order who have played the role of "demons" in that forest. You can't be killed by the Ogres, but if you lose consciousness, you will be thrown out of the forest, so be careful.

　As Rain explained the content of the next test, questions flew from the candidates one after another.

"Is it possible to resist the 'demon'?
"Yes, of course. Of course you can take him down. Of course, I'd prefer you not to kill him.
Maybe a few candidates could form a clique in the woods?
''That's fine, too. Just remember that the more you stick together in a group, the easier it is for the 'demons' to find you.'
How many 'demons' are there?
''I can't answer that; it could be one person, or it could be a hundred. But they are all wearing 'demon' masks, so you'll know it when you see them.'
Are we allowed to use magic?
"Unfortunately, the use of magic is forbidden at this time. Be careful, the forest has a special warding system that prevents you from using any of your magic.

　If the forest is burned down by fire-attribute magic, it's a disaster. It's a good idea to get away from the demons for three days, so you should be able to get away with it even if you don't have any magic.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. There's no limit to the number of people. There's no limit to the number of people you can have. Also, if your life is in danger due to an accident or you decide to abandon the exam, you can transfer to this place by taking off the badge that will be handed out from now on and discarding it. If you think you can't make it, don't be afraid to move on. By the way, even if you go out of the forest, this badge will work and you will be transferred here. Of course, you will be disqualified.''

　They hand out the transition badge that I used on the last exam. When I received my badge at the end, it was number 1192. It's a good omen to try to make a good country. Huh? Well, that's a different year now, isn't it? Well, I don't really care.

Lastly, it is forbidden to intentionally take someone else's badge or drive them out of the forest. Of course, if you do so, you will be disqualified. You will be expected to behave in a manner befitting of a knight.

　Ms. Lane gets off the stage and Nicola leads the candidates to the west forest.
　As I was walking along with the candidates walking slowly, a lightly armed, black-haired woman who was walking next to me called out to me.

''Everything is ready. We're ready to move at any time.
Let's see how he behaves for a couple of hours first. I want to see how they behave. Oh, but if anyone cheats, just throw them out of the forest, no questions asked.
"As you wish.

　Tsubaki-san, walking next to me, gives a small nod. She's an infiltration team just like me. In fact, she's not the only one, there are several Knights of the Order members mixed in with the candidates. Mostly, though, they're under Tsubaki-san's command.
　We don't have any food and we don't know when we will be attacked. It's in situations like that that a person's true nature can easily come out.
　It's not always the case that there aren't people with bad ideas. Besides, there are a good number of magical beasts in that forest.
　I'm looking forward to seeing how many of them are able to keep their heads above water. Hahaha.... Oh, I can't help it, I'm starting to sound like a bad person. On reflection, on reflection.
　The western forest is quite large, and the trees are also deeply overgrown, reducing the visibility considerably. Originally Brunhild was a land with many demonic beasts, but I wiped it out, but even so, the number of demonic beasts living in this forest again has become quite high.
　Occasionally, there are only adventurers who enter the forest to acquire materials at the request of the guild, but it's not usually a place for humans to stop by. Since it's far from the streets, there's almost no damage, but since this is the time of year, I've been thinking about hunting down any dangerous-looking magical beasts.
　When I was thinking about that, before I knew it, we were approaching the forest.
　Nicola-san stops everyone and begins to explain.

'This is the testing area. You will receive a canteen, and you will be asked to enter in the order of your number, but those who abstain at this point should present themselves when their turn comes. Also, if you don't have any weapons at all, we will lend you a normal weapon if you ask. Once you enter the forest, you are free to go as you please. The demons are already in the forest, so be careful. Now it's number one, number two...

　Nicola took a picture of a person entering the forest with her phone and checked to see if they had indeed entered.
　Norn starts checking as well, and after more than 30 minutes, he finally gets my number, the last number. I don't have to take a picture with my camera, but I'll get one.

It's a good idea to make sure you have someone who can use recovery magic and Flora in reserve at the transfer point. Well, were Nicola-san and Norn-san also playing the role of 'demons'?
Okay. We're going into the woods after this.
I'll go in, but what if I meet His Majesty and all the infiltrators in the woods, what am I supposed to do?
You can attack me in the same way when other candidates are around. I'll resist to the extent that they don't notice. And at night, I'll be on the devil's side.

　Norn-san gave a drawn-out smile at my reply.

''Well please cut me some slack, okay? It's not safe for me to keep His Majesty company.

　Well, everyone in the infiltration team will be able to get around there as well.
　Most of the "demon" roles were taken by the knight's group, minus the in-house group. Baba's old man Baba and Yamak Prefecture's old man also participated. By the way, if you think the "demons" have something to see, I've also told you to intentionally miss it. If there's something shiny in them, I'd like to interview them.
　I've given everyone playing the "demon" role a stun rod with a "paralyzed" grant, so it shouldn't hurt the candidate. If you take them down, you can just let them off the hook if there are any highlights, and if not, you can take their badges and transfer them and disqualify them.
　Morohana wanted to participate in this "demon" role, but I managed to appease her and got her to decline. This is no joke. Not a single person is going to pass the test.

Well, I'll go in, too. Well, if you need anything else, just call me on my phone.
I understand.
Have a nice day.

　I stepped out into the dense forest, with Nicola bowing her head folded and Norn buzzing her arms in the air.