Knight Academy

Walking up Ares' Stair, Han Dong actually felt as though he were climbing Mount Olympus...

The reason lay in the material used to construct the stairs.

With every step he took, a fatigue equivalent to climbing dozens of meters of mountain road weighed down on his body.

Relying entirely on the newly acquired "Ghoul Arm," he forcibly dragged himself through the latter half of the climb.

To be honest, Han Dong felt this was somewhat unfair.

Knight-Errants specializing in Crusader talents possessed stronger physiques than others. Climbing stairs like these would definitely be much easier for them.

Having climbed the stairs and reached the platform, Han Dong could clearly overlook the Slums built against the outer city walls, including the Samael District where Nicholas had once lived.

It should be noted that the four major Slums had been built in the east, south, west, and north.

The Police Bureau was located near the edge of Samael... close to both the site of the accidental ghoul encounter and the Gana Commoner District, hometown of Black Rose Knight Barton Martini.

Otherwise, simply traveling between the Slums would take a great deal of time.

Before the platform stood a White Stone building with a circular domed roof. Ten-meter-high stone walls enclosed it on all sides, making it impossible to see what lay within the Knight Academy.

Entering the White Stone building was the only option.

The gate used a mechanical structure.

As Han Dong approached, steam drove pistons, setting the large and small interlocking gears on the bronze gate turning. The doors opened outward on their own.

They revealed an opulently decorated interior chamber, with brass as its primary material.

Various files on new students were neatly arranged on rows of steel steam-powered bookshelves standing against the walls.

A rather unusual person in charge sat within the steel round table at the center.

He wore a wide-brimmed hat and a great many metal ornaments... most remarkably, beneath the brim, half of his face had been replaced by brass mechanical components.

Han Dong did not know whether the man's brain was still intact.

"Please present your Knight Card."

A standard yet magnetic voice emerged from the half-metal mouth.

As Han Dong handed over the card, he carefully observed the man's metal profile. Through the hollow gaps in the brass, he could vaguely see complete brain tissue functioning normally.

"Valen Nicholas.

You passed a 'four-star difficulty novice event' and chose the relatively unpopular field of mysticism.

You have passed the interview group's review. There are no major issues with either your background or character.

Your card will now be fully activated, with the functions 'Vault,' 'Academy Pass,' and 'Bounty License' added.

The living allowance you receive during your studies, as well as monetary rewards for completing bounty events, will be recorded in your 'Vault.' You may withdraw them from any bank in the Holy City and receive priority service.

In addition, you may freely enter the Academy's ordinary areas and accept Bounty Missions occurring within the city from commission offices located within the Academy or established in the urban districts."

The golden Knight-Errant card was fully activated through a device resembling a typewriter.

At the same time, the administrator took a specially made book with a metal cover from a safe inside the iron table. It bore the same emblem of crossed sword blades and a white horse's head.

"Knight Manual (Academy Edition)"

"The Knight Manual contains arrangements for new students. Please follow its instructions to complete the enrollment process.

In addition, the relevant Academy rules are listed inside. Be sure to memorize all of them as soon as possible. Violating Academy rules will result in severe punishment.

Take note that there is only one copy of this manual. It may not be shared with others. If it is lost, you must submit a new application to the Academy administration."

"Alright."

Han Dong carefully leafed through the contents of the manual.

The opening section contained a detailed record of the enrollment process for Knight-Errants.

1. Go to the corresponding department according to your major profession, collect your course schedule, and complete the required 'certification' and mentor selection according to the requirements of each department.

2. Go to the student Residential Area within the Academy and use your Knight Card to receive a random room number.

"It is somewhat like a university... I wonder what the Mysticism Department is like. From what the administrator said, Knight-Errants majoring in mysticism seem to be the fewest."

He exited the white domed building.

Lush woodland with dense coverage,

broad marble roads,

metal kerosene streetlamps built at intervals of several dozen meters,

The fresh air he breathed in left Han Dong refreshed, giving him the feeling of having entered a paradise beyond the world.

Because the Knight Academy covered an enormous area, bus stops had been set up at all important locations... Before long, Han Dong boarded a spacious carriage free of charge and headed for the Mysticism Department.

Han Dong noticed that signposts stood at every intersection.

The five major professions corresponded to the five most important institutions within the Knight Academy... however, there were also other important and indispensable institutions, such as:

the Knight Tower, responsible for managing Knight-Errants

the Adventurer's Guild, responsible for issuing dangerous Bounty Missions in the Holy City

the Market District, where goods could be freely traded and bought or sold

as well as the Mechanical Manufacturing Association, Alchemy Association, Textile Association... Writers Association, and others involved in various technical fields.

Han Dong was very interested in the Alchemy Association... and also somewhat curious about the Writers Association.

However, this Knight Academy lacked the iconic building found in ordinary universities—the library.

"Because of the different major professions, the libraries have probably been divided up and placed within different departments according to the categories of books, right?"

The carriage arrived in the Academy area governed by the Mysticism Department.

The originally verdant Academy scenery instantly changed... Han Dong had not expected such an enormous contrast.

Densely packed black dead trees formed a clear boundary with the Academy's public areas.

Large numbers of crows perched on the dead branches,

at times, the cries of banshees could be heard from deep within the woods,

at times, the shadow of some gigantic spider could be seen flashing between the trees,

Even without walls, no one dared trespass into this forest.

A relatively broad main road ran deep through the eerie woods, winding toward the main building area of the Mysticism Department.

Of course, to set foot on the main road, one first had to verify one's identity before a black hollow metal gate... it seemed that as long as one remained on the main road, one would not be attacked by the monsters or Spirit Bodies in the forest.

When Han Dong stepped down from the carriage and took out his Knight Card, a crow from a nearby branch flapped its wings and landed atop the iron gate.

Its black eyes stared at the card and Han Dong's face.

Creak...

The iron gate slowly opened, granting him passage.