SK CH 542: SMALL TEST (Patreon)

Sitting on her nightmare horse, wearing bright red armor without any helmet, Lilin looked up at the gigantic fortress standing up in front of her.

This place was legendary for many reasons. This was the place where nobles could make their prof and act as warriors while fighting for the kingdom most of the time.

Though there were some cases where the noble in question cheated, this did not change anything. Because even when they cheated, they had to ask their knights to fight for the achievements they would steal, making this a win-win for the fortress in every way possible.

“Princess, the gate is not opening.”

“One. Call me Captain here and Two, wait.”

She was calm. The blood and the flesh on the walls had long since darkened, giving a terrible aura of might and danger to this place.

This was Godfall Valley. The legend said that long ago, long even before the start of the Kingdom era. Back when there was no limitation, many kings Rank, and Demigods died in this place.

Whether this was true or not, this place was beneficial for enlightenment and all those who fought in this place would see their power grow one way or another. Some said it was because of the blood of those who died. Others said it was because of the pressures.

Either way — This place was ideal for fostering powerful warriors and this was why she was here.

This was a very important place both for Lustburg as a whole and for her particularly.

After all — This was the place where the Nightmare Queen died.

.

.

.

A few minutes later, when Lilin ended her contemplation, she finally spoke,

“I am Lilin Luxuria. Captain of the newly created Scarlet Knight division. Demanding permission to enter.”

She could see the soldiers standing on the wall of the fortress but she showed no impatience in her voice or actions.

She could wait. Even if they decided to keep her standing in this place all night, she would not mind.

Currently — She was not in this place as a Princess. In the first place, as a princess, she had very little actual authority.

She was coming as a soldier and a partially independent mercenary group. She wished to train and grow her knight and leave her legend like her mother did in the past.

Lilith Luxuria became King at 18 years old.

Lilin was already 18 and she was only a Duke.

—This was not enough at all.

She needed to grow. Faster, far faster, and for that — She would risk her life.

“Open the Gate!”

A loud voice filled the air and soon, the earth rumbled slightly as the gate opened.

Those gates were not all there was to see. They were gates entirely created and forged with Dwarven steel.

This was a huge project which began with the Bloody Queen and took two generations to complete.

Not only those large gates were resistant, but the entire wall was created by mixing rare materials of powerful monsters and adding magical seals and runes all over the walls to create a super barrier that stopped all entry from below and above.

This place in a way was even more sure than the capital itself if you did not take into account the existence of the Supreme Daughter.

When the gate opened wide to welcome her, Lilin could feel a certain pressure on her shoulder. It was as if she was about to enter the mouth of a large beast.

‘How magical.’

Her horse started to move and her knights followed her as they entered, all around she could feel the gaze of soldiers, mercenaries, and even some citizens.

None of them were in the Duke rank. If there was a fight, she was sure that she could slaughter all of them without the slightest problem in an instant.

Even so, her alarms were ringing and telling her that those people were dangerous. She had a feeling that if they fought, even if they won it would be at a steep cost.

The knights behind her stiffened slightly. Some paled in fear and some were nearly paralyzed.

Even though they were knights and received systematic training for years, the greatest experience they had as soldiers was killing the bandits during the last operation.

Compared to the Veterans who had shed blood, tears, and sweat for years on this battlefield, they were nothing more than young chicks who knew nothing of the world.

The blood lust they were emitting was enough for them to feel faint and weak. The only reason Lilin wasn’t too concerned was because she had trained all her life while under the bloodlust and pressure of her mother.

Compared to Lilith, those soldiers were nothing.

She could see and feel the struggles of her knights. But she did not intervene nor ask to stop.

This was not done out of malice.

This place was the eternal battlefield. A place where life had no value and death could happen at any moment. If those knights could not even support the current bloodlust then — They would only become liabilities that would stiffen at the most important moment or flee in fright during a combat.

Soldiers did not fear smart enemies. What they feared was having stupid teammates fighting alongside them.

Finally, after a long walk that should have taken only a few seconds, the scarlet knight gasped slightly when Lilin stopped in front of an old woman and the pressure weighting on them from all sides vanished.

“You have good seedlings.”

Rose spoke quietly as she eyed the knights with critical eyes before gazing at Lilin with a warm smile.

“Your Highness. I am moved by your presence. I feel like I am once again standing alongside Her Majesty and about to march for war.”

“You are too kind.”

Lilin spoke quietly, hiding a bitter smile behind her words.

Sol was not the only one who had to live in the shadow of his parents all his life.

The same went for Lilin. She could see it.

In their eyes, she was not Lilin Luxuria the Princess of Lustburg, or the Captain of a Knight company.

She was the Daughter of the Hero Queen. The sword Saint amazed the world with the sharpness of her sword.

Lilin did think of it negatively nowadays since her relationship with Lilith was on good rail. She was proud of the achievements of her mother and was proud to be the daughter of such a legendary woman.

But —

“I hope that… No. I do not hope.  One day — You WILL be moved by me. Not because of my mother. Because of me alone.”

She smiled. Borrowing the easy confidence she had seen Sol show so many times.

Rose was surprised. But soon, the warm smile returned to her face.

She was happy.

She had wondered what she would do if the princess was a wastrel like those nobles who were ready to cheat for achievements.

But — Listening to her words and looking at the knights behind her, Rose felt nothing but joy.

There were few things more joyful than to realize that the rulers of the countries she served were all worthy of her loyalty.

“I pray for this day to come soon.”

She helped with this endeavor with all her might even if she had to give her life.