Chapter 288: Academy of Glory Knights

“The most fundamental requirement for a Virtue Knight was Faith in the Lord, and only then came the upholding of virtue.” Odysseus said.

Yet, merely understanding the Lord was already difficult for knights, let alone having Faith in Him and steadfastly upholding virtue.

Jeven naturally knew this. Even now, both the Oath Knights and the Doyle Knights were transitional, evolving from the traditional knights of old to the knights the Church required.

As for those knights whose hands were drenched in blood, it was already impossible for them to treat commoners with an ordinary heart, let alone anything higher.

When a man faced a life he could end with just the lift of his hand, how could he ever view such people as equals?

Thus, Jeven said, “Indeed, it is as you say—difficult. But the world must first know what virtue is, so that they may seek it, and so that they may uphold it. If virtue is not spread, and one relies only on people to willingly listen, then when will the world truly come to know of virtue?”

“Moreover, without knowing virtue, how would people know of the Original Sins opposed to it?”

Odysseus understood Jeven’s meaning. He then asked, “Once we march south, what of Rod City’s defenses?”

When Leo and Vito went, they had already taken their warriors with them.

Jeven replied, “Graywind Fortress is not far from Rod City, and besides, Rod City now already has city guards.”

Odysseus said, “Those guards are under Jared’s command. He was once a vassal noble of the Corlay Family.”

The people from the last lands of the Corlay Family had all been relocated here, and knights who once served Grand Duke Raymond, persuaded by Jared, chose to join Rod City and became its city guards. Along with warriors recruited from among the commoners, they now formed Rod City’s warband.

There were over twenty knights, and three hundred warriors.

Ever since Raymond’s death, Jared had loyally dedicated himself to Jeven’s service, and naturally, Jeven rewarded him accordingly.

Odysseus was from the Theocracy, and so he naturally distrusted nobles.

Jeven said, “You need not worry about him. He is trustworthy.”

Of course he was. Jared had, even before Jeven’s signal, taken the initiative to kill several of the nobles who had followed over, thereby severing his own ties to noble circles. Furthermore, he had sent all three of his children to York Territory.

Jeven continued, “Those remaining nobles want to try their luck in the Eastern Expedition, hoping to formally become nobles of the Kingdom. I have granted them this. After you march south to join the Eastern Expedition, they will also depart.”

Now, the Diocese of Rod was extremely impoverished, its supplies dependent on a handful of merchants. Those nobles could not tolerate such living conditions.

Moreover, Jared dealt harshly with them, seizing on any excuse to cut them down.

Though his actions had not been explicitly ordered by Jeven, since Jeven did not punish him afterwards, the nobles understood the choice they had to make.

Odysseus nodded.

A few days later, four Virtue Knights departed from Lever Town by boat and arrived at the newly built lakeside port.

Adrian Port.

After Salvador had cleared this entire region, it was granted as Richard’s fief. Several kilometers away was also the construction site of the Adrian Academy of Magic.

Upon arriving, Odysseus raised the banner Jeven had given them for the Virtue Knights. The purple banner bore a white cross upon it.

This signified that the Virtue Knights were a knightly order officially recognized by the Church, just as the Oath Knights bore the golden eagle and deep-blue cross banner, and the Doyle Knights carried their black banner with the red horsehead cross.

Though they were only four men, when they raised their banner and rode toward the southeast—the direction of the main battlefield—passersby, even if they did not know which knightly order they belonged to, gazed upon them with awe.

…

The sight of just four Virtue Knights was enough to shock the Eastern Expedition army when they first appeared in view.

Dragging behind them was the enormous head of a Fishman Deep Diver, which they brought straight into the frontlines at Astrid Fortress Town.

The town, under ample supplies and labor, had already taken shape and now served as the main base of the Eastern Expedition.

This was the first Deep Diver ever slain by a knightly order. Prior to this, only Richard’s Oath Knights had encountered a Deep Diver, but without the aid of the Dragon-Eagle, it had escaped after gravely injuring two knights.

Thus, when these four Virtue Knights entered Astrid Fortress Town, seemingly unscathed, carrying the Deep Diver’s head, it was as though they had thrown blazing fuel into the already roaring fire of knightly spirit.

In no time, the Oath Knights, Doyle Knights, and Virtue Knights became known throughout Greenwood as the “Three Great Knightly Orders.” Under the subtle direction of young men who styled themselves bards, every tavern in Greenwood had the same hottest topic—the knightly orders.

First, an Oath Knight was enfeoffed by the Senate for his merits, becoming a Lord with his own fief. Then, a Doyle Knight, through valor in battle, was rewarded by Earl Gregor with a fertile manor. Finally, a Virtue Knight won the favor of a noble daughter.

Glory, wealth, and beauty—it seemed that joining one of the Three Great Orders made them all easily attainable.

Yet even the Doyle Knights, the most lenient of the three, demanded that their knights charge fearlessly, even against foes stronger than themselves. Thus, the Doyle Knights suffered the highest casualties.

According to a bard, more than once, had the Oath Knights not arrived in time to support them, the Doyle Knights would have been annihilated.

Though Earl Gregor firmly declared this was merely coincidence, that the two orders had simply been hunting the same prey, who cared? People only wished to hear what they wanted to hear.

And if even the Doyle Knights were so demanding, then the Oath Knights and Virtue Knights were even stricter. The result was that recruitment for all three knightly orders remained painfully slow. In fact, the Virtue Knights remained only four men from start to finish.

This made many aspiring knights impatient.

Thus, the nobles of the former Ackerman Principality, once their defensive lines had stabilized, began forming their own knightly orders to gather these eager men.

At first, they thought to add the cross motif to their banners, but after receiving a stern warning from the Glory Knights, none dared raise a cross again.

This reminded everyone that before the Three Great Orders, there had already been the Church’s direct knightly order—the Glory Knights.

“The Three Great Orders… such a grand name. No wonder it has tempted so many.” said Knight Brand on horseback.

Borien said, “They have yet to be formally recognized by the Church as true, regular Glory Knights. Naturally, they feel discontent.”

Knight Brand frowned. “So, you intend to approve their requests to withdraw? If they all leave, the Glory Knights will only have the three of us left.”

Borien said, “That is their choice, and their freedom. It was precisely because of the Glory Knights’ leniency that they joined us. Now that they have found better places, we should bless them.”

“Or perhaps you too are tempted?” Borien asked with a smile.

Knight Brand fell silent, then sighed. “Wealth, glory, status… even the most steadfast knight can be shaken by such things.”

Borien nodded. “Yes. Even I have been shaken.”

Brand said, “And yet you have never sought to join the Eastern Expedition.”

Borien said, “Indeed. If I acted upon mere temptation, then I would have followed Knight Bode when he left.”

Brand said nothing more.

Borien continued, “Glory Fortress has sent out a summons. After this mission, we must return there.”

Brand asked, “Did they say for what matter?”

Borien replied, “No. Only that we return.”

Brand pressed, “And you still plan to dismiss the others?”

Borien said, “Of course. Their hearts already lie upon the road of the Eastern Expedition. Why should I hinder a free knight’s pursuit of glory?”

Brand reminded him, “They are still listed in the records of the Glory Knights.”

Borien said, “If blame is to be assigned, let it fall upon me alone.”

However, when Borien dismissed the others and returned to Glory Fortress with Brand and Knight Geick, Vito, who received them, said nothing of those who had left. Instead, he told them simply to rest for the night.

The next day, Vito brought the three of them to the first floor of the Clock Tower.

Present were only the three Glory Knights, along with Guardians Leo and Vito, and Monk Agamemnon.

Though few in number, the three knights, aware of the Clock Tower’s significance, could not help but feel tense.

“You have worked hard, knights.” Agamemnon said with a slight bow.

The three hurriedly returned the salute.

Agamemnon said, “The fame of the Three Great Orders grows ever brighter, while the Glory Knights, who were founded before them, seem forgotten. Commander Borien, I imagine you must have some feelings about this.”

Borien hesitated, then admitted, “Indeed, I feel some resentment. I do not believe the Glory Knights are inferior to them.”

Agamemnon said, “Do you speak of strength? Of oaths? Of being directly under the Church? Or simply because the Glory Knights were founded first?”

Borien said, “Only out of pride as a knight.”

Agamemnon said, “Pride as a knight… And yet, what is it that you take pride in?”

Borien replied, “Nothing more than being a knight.”

Agamemnon shook his head. “The monasteries of Greenwood have already classified much of the knightly ranks. Out of nearly six hundred thousand people here, more than four hundred are already fourth-rank knights. Around two hundred seventy have been ennobled. And as the Church’s reach extends, with better food supplies, more and more will attain the fourth rank.”

“On this land, blessed by the Lord, and under the influence of the Three Great Orders, knights will no longer be only those enfeoffed by nobles. Each order has its own creed—whether upholding virtue, remembering the oath, or charging without fear. Their glory will no longer be only of strength and loyalty. They will embody the beauty of humanity. They will be humanity’s pride. They will represent the brilliance of civilization. But the Glory Knights? If your pride is only that you are knights, then what of it?”

Borien said, “For now, that is all we are.”

Agamemnon said, “When His Holiness granted you the title of Glory Knights, it was an expectation.”

Borien lowered his head. “I have disappointed His Holiness.”

Agamemnon shook his head again. “No. His Holiness has never once been disappointed in you. He has been most satisfied with what you have done these years.”

Borien froze, unable to understand.

Agamemnon looked at him. “Now His Holiness needs you to do something.”

Without hesitation, Borien dropped to one knee. Behind him, Brand and Geick followed, kneeling with bowed heads.

Agamemnon said, “Knights should represent humanity’s pride. Yet those who join orders for wealth, honor, and fame—do they truly join out of pride?”

“Even the strongest wall will collapse if too many of its bricks are poor.”

“Thus, as Glory Knights, you must shoulder the true glory of knights. You are to study all knightly orders, whether under the cross or outside it. Be they noble or base, they are all sparks of human will.”

“You must preserve these sparks of humanity, and you must ensure they are passed down.”

“At Odo Village’s port, where your old outpost once stood, a knightly academy shall be established. This academy shall bear the name of Glory, and it shall inherit all the brilliance of knights.”

“Guardians Leo and Vito will assist you. And the warriors within Glory Fortress shall become the academy’s first apprentices.”

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