“Haha, that’s it! Victory for us on Team A is sealed!”

The five mechs with the highest kill counts on Team A and the boy who took them down burst into loud laughter.

His name was Sigma.

A boy whose abilities were at a level where becoming a Holy Knight wouldn’t be out of place—top-tier in offense, defense, and strategy.

“Still, that was a close one. At first, I thought we were done for…”

He recalled the strategy meeting.

When they tried to pick a commander, everyone rebelled against letting that one guy dictate a favorable plan, so Team A ended up just fighting haphazardly as a group.

Meanwhile, their opponents moved with perfect coordination, making defeat seem inevitable.

But now? What a turnaround.

“Total domination! That’s our army for you!”

They knew their own kill count, so it was clear Team B had only a handful of mechs left.

Team A had taken heavy losses in the chaotic brawl, but they still had about twenty mechs remaining.

And then, finally.

48… 49!

Team A’s kill count hit 49.

“Alright, just one more to go. Where’s it hiding…?”

“Hey, has anyone actually fought it?”

A transmission came in from one of his comrades.

“Fought who? What’re you talking about?”

Sigma shot back.

“No, I mean, isn’t there supposed to be one on the enemy side?”

Sigma had forgotten.

In the face of overwhelming victory, he’d completely overlooked that boy’s existence.

He’d been in high spirits, already savoring the sweet taste of triumph.

“What the hell are you on about? Spit it out.”

“You know, that one… What’s his name again…?”

A single white KOG flew right up to the twenty-strong KOG squad, including Sigma.

(Hah, could’ve stayed hidden. But it showed itself—I’ll take it down and become a Holy Knight!)

Sigma charged at the white KOG.

Sword drawn, ready to cleave it in two.

Mistaking this knight—who’d wandered onto a battlefield where the outcome was already decided—for someone who’d given up on victory.

“His name is…”

“Die!!”

“Sword Silfield. Knight to His Highness Road.”

“…Huh?”

In the violent shudder that followed, the next thing Sigma saw was a catastrophic damage message.

He couldn’t even comprehend what had happened. Having entered Kenya’s range, Sigma was sliced down in an instant.

(What? What just happened? Why am I losing?)

Unable to process it, Sigma exploded on the spot, defeated.

Of course, it was Kenya who’d cut him down—with a strike as fast as lightning.

One KOG descended onto the battlefield.

Before him lay a massive force of about twenty mechs, along with his wrecked allied KOGs.

(Wait… Did Team B get wiped out? No way… While I was on standby? …Don’t tell me I…)

“I got screwed!? That Blue guy! I knew something was off about him!”

It didn’t take long to realize he’d been set up by Blue in this situation.

The battle had started without him, leaving him isolated so he couldn’t rack up kills.

“S-Surround him and take him down!! He’s just one mech, even if he is His Highness Road’s knight!”

Kenya was encircled by twenty foes.

Team A’s knights lunged at him all at once.

“Sigh… Guess I’ll pick up some tips from Road… Nah, pointless. I’m no good at that stuff. All I can do is…”

He drew his sword and sent the five charging KOGs flying with a single sweep.

“This. And if I take ’em all out, I might even become a Holy Knight. Result’s the same either way!”

…

“N-No way… Is B Team seriously turning this around? From here?”

“Gahaha! As expected of Sword! Stupidly strong! You got experience with multi-target fights or something? This ain’t like one-on-ones!”

“To this extent… His Highness’s knight is…”

Sword mowed down enemies one after another.

In less than a minute, ten KOGs were combat-ineffective.

The examiners watching the feed were left slack-jawed.

This was what it meant to not even entertain the idea of defeat—one mech standing out clearly from the rest, its movements uniform yet superior.

Of course, specs were identical across the board.

It was just drawing out the maximum potential.

“Even as a prospective knight of His Highness Road… This surpasses Holy Knight level easily. Reminds me of Jin.”

“No, he was a monster too, but this is 20-to-1 with no sign of struggle… First time I’ve seen anything like it.”

The examiners stood dumbfounded, while one boy knelt, laughing heartily.

“Hahaha, worthy of a KOG nut like you. It’s over. Twenty knights and apprentices won’t stop you.”

(Not even a hundred would.)

His expression was pure delight, shocking the examiners.

No one had ever seen Road laugh so innocently.

And the battlefield’s victor was decided.

49, 50!

Team B’s kill count reached 50, with Sword claiming the most at 20.

As the sole top scorer in kills from a single fighter across all blocks, Team B claimed the field.

“Congratulations, Your Highness. Sword is now your knight in name and deed.”

“Yeah, had a few tense moments, but it was inevitable. Reina got 10 kills steadily too—this is in the bag.”

Reina, fighting in another block, had fought normally… and dominated normally.

Not quite on Kenya’s level, but she showcased overwhelming power all the same.

And the Holy Knight exam concluded.

…

“Now, announcing this year’s Holy Knight exam passers!”

The thousand examinees gathered in the venue.

Passers were called one by one, ascending the stage to receive their Holy Knight certificates.

“Next! Reina Silfield!”

(Good, Reina passed too. Glad she didn’t get schemed against like me…)

He’d figured her skills would carry her through no problem, but since she seemed vulnerable to tricks, he’d worried.

“And! The final one!”

Colonel Star, who’d been announcing, stepped down and handed the mic to a boy.

A golden-haired, slightly long-haired, petite young man—yet his charisma and aura were unmistakable even from afar, drawing applause from the examinees.

“Future pillars of the Earthguard Empire, you all fought splendidly. I felt the last one deserved my personal announcement, so if I may.”

It was Road Earthguard taking the stage.

And whom he called was, naturally.

“The final passer. Come forth, my knight—Sword Silfield!”

The silver-haired boy ascended amid murmurs and thunderous applause.

The rumored prospective knight of Road was officially acknowledged here, in public—a grand performance.

Kenya bowed and took the stage.

“What, you’re giving it to me?”

“You got totally played, didn’t you? Honestly…”

“Ugh. I passed, so it’s fine.”

“Heh… Well, for now, good job. Thanks—and well done. One step closer.”

Their private exchange on stage.

Overheard, it might spark cries of disrespect—like banter between friends.

Since learning of Road’s past that day, their bond had deepened further.

For Road, for Kenya.

They’d become each other’s first true friend they could let their guard down around.

Descending amid roaring applause and a firm handshake.

Road handed the mic back to Colonel Star.

“That concludes this year’s Holy Knight exam! Oh, and that bit about never being able to retake? Total lie—sleep easy!”

“…”

“Whaaaaat!?”

The venue erupted in its loudest roar yet.

Nearly half the students cried out in relief.

“All’s fair in war—or you’d all be dead! Gahaha! Dismissed—train hard for the next one in half a year! Oh, passers stay behind!”

…

The remaining Holy Knight passers.

“Ten in total… One per block, huh.”

Kenya and Reina among the ten.

Colonel Star spoke up.

“Second round of congrats! You’re now officially guardians of the Empire… But actually, interviews start now.”

(Huh? Interviews?)

“Yep, but don’t sweat it—no failing unless you do something stupid. Probably!”

The ten were led away.

The word “interview” brought tension.

In his old world of Japan, he’d heard of brutal pressure interviews that broke students’ spirits.

Just from the rumors, Kenya had zero positive associations.

“Next. Sword!”

Kenya and the others waited in a classroom.

One by one, they were called into the interview room.

Finally, his turn.

He entered, nervous.

(Knock three times? Twice? Whatever, twice it is.)

“Come in.”

A reply from within; Kenya opened the door.

A vast room.

The back wall was floor-to-ceiling glass, bathed in sunlight—high enough for a full view of the capital Valhalla.

Before him, an opulent long desk faced a single chair—his seat, no doubt.

Three military men sat at the desk.

One spoke, introducing himself.

“Pleased to meet you, Sword Silfield. I’m Osiris Halberd.”

The man smiled warmly, but his deep-set, handsome features pierced with a sharp gaze.

“Jin’s been under my care.”

He was one of the Three Heroes’ father.