Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Chapter 107: The Trainees’ Mission

On the 20th day of January, three days after the baronʼs birthday celebration, House Silversword welcomed another Elite Knight under their banner.

”Congratulations on your advancement, Sir Arthur.” Alaric was genuinely happy for this man.

”Itʼs all thanks to you, my lord. If it werenʼt for you, I might be stuck as a peak Knight for a decade more.” Arthur muttered emotionally.

He was glad that he bent his knee to Alaric that day. It was the best decision he had made in his life.

Arthur no longer looked like an old man. He looked as if he had returned to his forties. This was one of the perks of being an Elite Knight.

Alaric tapped his shoulder. ”Great timing, Sir Arthur.”

”The newbies will be sent to the Evergreen Forest to eliminate the rampaging monsters that are harassing the travelers and the townspeople.”

”I need an experienced warrior to watch over them during their mission. Do you think you can take care of this task?” Alaric stared deeply at him.

He had thought of sending Rigor or another Knight for this job, but he felt that sending Arthur was a better idea.

The latter had been confined in his house for almost a week so it was a great opportunity for him to breathe some fresh air.

”Sounds good to me, my lord. Iʼll take the chance to exercise my bones.” Arthur chuckled while flexing his arms.

”Good! You better get ready. They will leave after breakfast.” Alaric reminded him.

”Yes, my lord.”

”Oh, wait! I almost forgot something.” Alaric beckoned to him.

”Someone will help you with this task, but he is mainly responsible for recording the newbiesʼ performances.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow. ”Who is…”

”Youʼll know later.” Alaric waved his hand and laughed lightly.

Seeing that he had no intention of telling him, Arthur didnʼt bother to ask. ”I understand.”

”Then Iʼll leave them in your hands. I still have things to settle in Vale so Iʼll take my leave first. You guys be careful out there.” Alaric tapped the Elite Knightʼs arm.

”You can rest assured, my lord. Be careful on your way to the city.” Arthur bowed to him.

After Alaric left, Arthur went back to his house to prepare for the trip. Although his task was only to oversee the newbiesʼ mission, he felt that it was necessary to bring his equipment.

The Evergreen Forest might be relatively safe, but there still existed some dangerous monsters inside.

As soon as he had prepared his equipment, Arthur immediately left to look for the newbies.

At this moment, the trainees had already gathered outside the gates of the estate, waiting for the signal to leave.

They stood in neat rows, their backs straight like a spear as they respectfully looked at the instructor in front of them.

The instructor, a thirty-year-old Knight with a scar on his upper lip, announced with a stern look.

”Today is your first practical combat training. Your task is to eliminate the monsters located on the map provided to your group leaders. Each monster you kill will give you a corresponding amount of points and the points you get will depend on your overall contribution…” He told the trainees about the rules of the mission.

Everyone listened carefully, afraid to miss a single detail. To them, this practical combat training wasnʼt just a simple mission, but a chance to prove that they were ready.

Among the trainees was Aliya. She was the only girl in the group. She had the least experience, but her desire to learn wasnʼt any less compared to the hot-blooded young men in the group.

Lord Alaric has already taught me the basics of swordsmanship. I must use all that I have learned from him to keep up with these guys.

She muttered to herself.

She was one of the victims of Liamʼs cruelty and fate brought her to Alaric. She didnʼt want to waste the opportunity given to her and she also wanted to prove to Alaric that she could be a warrior too.

While she was immersed in her thoughts, a middle-aged warrior suddenly came out of the gates.

The instructor looked visibly surprised to see this man. ”Are you, Sir Arthur?”

Arthur nodded at the stunned instructor. ”I donʼt recognize you. Can you tell me your name?”

”Itʼs an honor, sir! Iʼm Owen. I recently became a Knight with Lord Alaricʼs support.” The instructor introduced himself.

Hearing this, Arthur smiled. ”So you are one of the warriors nurtured by Lord Alaric. Itʼs a pleasure to meet you.”

”I feel deeply honored, Sir Arthur. By the way, are you the person sent by Lord Alaric to oversee the mission?” Owen asked.

”Thatʼs right.” Arthur nodded.

The two chatted briefly before they went to the topic.

”Since everyone is here, letʼs depart.”

Aliya stared at the middle-aged warrior.

Sir Arthur looks much younger now. Did he successfully advance?

Everyone was aware that Arthur was in the middle of advancing to the Elite Knight realm. Now that he was here to oversee their mission, this could only mean that he had already advanced!

For this mission, forty trainees were sent and they were divided into four groups with each group having a group leader.

The four group leaders were the best in the batch and Aliya even heard that two of them were already close to becoming Knight Apprentices. Her group leader was one of the two, a man named Rasmus.

Now that weʼre heading to the Evergreen Forest, Iʼm starting to feel nervous.

Aliya had never been in a real fight before. She only had sparred with the other trainees and instructors, but other than that, she was a complete novice.

”Just relax, Aliya.” A concerned voice drifted into her ears.

She turned her head and saw her group leader staring at her.

”Mind your own business.” She muttered coldly.

After her experience with Liam, she developed intense hatred towards the opposite gender. The only exception to this was Alaric and some of the instructors.

Rasmus smiled bitterly while shaking his head.