Raising Paladins

Episode 28. Dawn Bridge without being crazy (3)

“Then, from now on, I will guide you through the examination process. It’s only once, so please listen carefully. I will take questions after the explanation is over.”

Greg, a veteran battle priest at the Noon Shrine in Tournoble.

People around him nicknamed him ‘Old Greg’.

Thanks to the successful completion of various missions while serving as a combat priest for over 20 years.

To that extent, within Tournoble, Greg was recognized as a competent person.

“To see Greg at the test site… … !”

That’s why all the applicants looked at him with envy in their eyes.

Of course, I didn’t even breathe while listening to him.

Except for one person.

chuck!

“I have a question.”

The man standing furthest behind raised his hand before Greg could finish his sentence.

A small wrinkle formed between Greg’s brows.

‘Even though I just said that I’ll answer the question when it’s over… … .’

In order to pass the exam, it is essential to listen carefully to the examiner’s guidance.

But that skinny guy completely ignores Greg’s words and immediately asks a question.

But Greg wasn’t the kind of man to lose his composure this much.

“The examiner said he would accept the questions after the explanation. After waiting for a while and all the guidance… … .”

“No, not like that.”

Quick!

There were two lines of wrinkles between Greg’s forehead this time.

‘Whoa… … .’

Greg let out a deep sigh.

As the representative priest of the Tournoble Noon Shrine, selecting a new priest is very important.

The temple runs well only when we select the right talent.

To do so, it was necessary to check the applicants’ skills directly, so Greg was thinking about going ahead with the test.

However, as the idiot kept interrupting him, even the patient Greg became more and more angry.

“Hey, can’t you see the others are waiting? What is a priest applicant doing without basic consideration… … .”

“I am an aspirant for the Battle of the Dawning Church.”

“… … ?!”

Suddenly, Greg’s eyes widened.

That wasn’t all.

Everyone in the testing room turned their heads to look at Carl.

It’s like finding a mysterious animal.

“Didn’t you just say Dawning?”

“Battle priest of Dawning? Do you still have it?”

“Ah, you must have heard it wrong. Is that a ruined tribe? Will you apply to the Dawning School without going crazy?”

The spectators whispered in unison.

Greg and the supervisors were also constantly exchanging glances with each other, wondering what the situation was.

Then Carl spoke.

“Just now, the examiner clearly said that it was a noon school combat priesthood test. Since I’m an applicant for the Dawning School, isn’t it right to tell you in advance before any other misunderstandings arise?”

“… … That’s right.”

Carl’s argument is very logical.

Because Greg was supervising, thinking that the people in this exam hall were, of course, noon school applicants.

It’s an unexpected situation that there are applicants for the Dawn School, so it’s easier for everyone to tell them in advance.

Greg nodded.

“By the way, are you sure you are an applicant for the Dawning? Not a research job, but a combat job?”

“you’re right.”

“… … hahahaha.”

Greg burst into laughter.

I see applicants for the Dawn Bridge Battle Priest in decades.

Even Greg, a veteran priest, has no choice but to burst into an embarrassing laugh.

He raised his hand to calm the commotion in the hall.

“Everyone please be quiet. I think we need to discuss it with the examiners for a while.”

Greg and the other examiners put their heads together.

Then he flipped through an old booklet he had brought with him.

It was an old book with rules for the battle priesthood exam.

While they were doing this, the candidates were still glancing at their knives and whispering.

“You said he wasn’t serious from the first impression, after all he’s insane.”

Terry, the leader of the group of nobles who teased Carl by calling him a gardener earlier.

At his words, the blonde female test taker next to him shook her head and said.

“why? I’m cool.”

Blue eyes and long hair like a deer.

She is a beautiful woman who will draw attention to anyone passing by.

When that woman said Carl was cool, Terry got angry.

“What’s so cool about that guy?”

“You have a belief. You have to have the courage to go down a path that others don’t go.”

“Big… … .”

Terry listens to everything she says.

Terry and she were descendants of Tournoble’s leading aristocratic families, so the odds of them having to promise a future were very high.

Besides, it’s hard to believe that a person from the eastern countryside of the Empire has such an elegant figure!

All the while, Terry listened to all of her opinions and followed most of them.

But this time it was hard to get over.

‘… … He seems to have fantasies about a country boy.’

Well, I can fully understand.

Even in the outskirts of the empire, nobility is definitely nobility.

Since I was young, I only met the upper class and enjoyed high-class culture, so I might be curious about such a country boy.

But a country boy is just a country boy.

Terry had intended to use this opportunity to shatter her illusions.

“Meisa, beliefs and courage are all words suitable for nobles. I’m going to carve a mindset befitting that country guy, so keep an eye on it.”

“Are you going to hit me?”

“No way.”

Terry dismissed the woman’s gaze lightly.

“At the battle fuse testing ground, it’s not violence, it’s a fair confrontation.”

“… … .”

There was something about her that she didn’t like.

But it’s hard to refute Terry’s words.

For the selection of a combat priest, sparring is essential for candidates.

Of course, the odds of Terry going up against that Dawn School applicant would be slim.

But there could always be an if.

If the two of them ever face off, that skinny Dawning School aspirant will be beaten up by Terry.

‘Did I say something useless?’

Meisa felt a little guilty in her heart.

I knew men were excited about things like this, but it was like adding oil to it.

‘wooden sword… … ?’

Besides, that man in the back row brought a wooden sword.

A wooden longsword carved from a tree.

Terry, by comparison, had a steel longsword forged by the finest blacksmith in town.

This is a game you can try.

She said to Terry with a slightly apologetic look.

“Is there even a need for that? My father said that the strong should also know how to show generosity to the weak. what do you think about it?”

“hmm… … .”

Maysa reached out and stroked Terry’s pauldron.

Terry’s raging spirit seemed to fade a little at her soft voice and touch.

but.

“no. It might be necessary for such an arrogant bastard to know the difference between an aristocrat and a commoner. I need to look after your hand.”

“phew… … .”

Meisa was frustrated.

Maybe Terry and he should get engaged.

But why is this man excited about opponents weaker than him?

That’s not cool at all… … .

But contrary to her heart, Terry had already made up his mind to punish the country boy.

At that time, the examiners who had put their heads together turned their bodies toward the test taker in unison.

“I will give you an answer.”

chin!

Examiner Greg covered the old rulebook he was holding.

He looked at the knife.

“This rule book was revised 50 years ago, and here it says. ‘If the test takers are from a tribe with a significantly reduced number of test takers, they take the test together with the test takers from the tribe that can afford it. The rules for scoring practice and handwriting also apply the criteria of the tribe with ability.”

The candidates whispered again, but Greg didn’t care.

“So, candidates taking the battle priest of the Dawn Bridge must take the exam together with the Noon Church applicants. Applying the same rules. Do you understand?”

“Enough.”

To sum it up, there’s nothing wrong with Carl taking the test with the other applicants.

There was someone more delighted with Greg’s announcement than Carl, who was involved in it.

It was Terry.

‘I can legally punish him!’

Now all I have to do is sparring with that countryhead.

That’s not difficult for Terry, the eldest son of the most aristocratic family in Tournoble.

Greg and I are acquainted with each other, so it might be enough to just hint in passing.

‘It’s to properly show my strength in front of Meisa!’

This is the eastern border city of the Empire, Tournoble.

For Terry, who is far from the capital and has difficulty entering the knight academy, being a battle priest of the Noon School is the best job with guaranteed honor.

A skill that was taught by the swordsmanship teacher my father gave me as soon as I started walking!

I wanted to show it without regret today.

If you become a battle priest confidently, Meisa’s gaze will change a lot!

Terry was envisioning such a rosy future.

“We will continue the interrupted guidance. The Noon School Combat Priesthood Test is largely divided into practical and written sections. Only those who pass the practical test are eligible to take the written test. So, you have to pass the practical test first. The practice method, as everyone knows, is sparring.”

***

After each candidate has been given time to warm up.

People gathered in front of the test tube again.

The examiners had brought tables and chairs and were ready to score.

“The battle priest is in charge of the sacred security of the region. Sometimes you have to deal with dangerous warlocks or undead. In that case, it is natural that the ability to protect oneself is a top priority. Therefore, the practical exam is a sparring with other test takers.”

Everyone nodded at Greg’s remark, which was so obvious.

So was Carl.

‘This test method hasn’t changed.’

To become a battle priest, show your fighting skills first.

This is something Carl takes for granted.

I have to fight all kinds of crazy things and monsters, and it doesn’t make sense that I can’t beat the same human.

“If the opponent surrenders or if the examiner thinks the match has been decided, the confrontation is over, and if you win against a total of 3 applicants, you will pass. And I’m just saying this for now… … .”

Greg, who was talking about the delivery, smiled and looked at the test takers.

“After winning against 3 test takers, if you win the match against one of the test takers, you will be appointed as a combat priest immediately after the test without any preliminary procedures. However, I believe that no one will take on such a reckless challenge. Whoops, right?”

When it comes to the examiner’s representative at this testing center, it means Greg himself.

Greg is a veteran combat priest with 30 years of experience and has a history of fighting warlocks.

It is clear that no one will rush to him out of sympathy.

Everyone burst out laughing.

“If you attack Priest Greg, you won’t be able to find a bone.”

“Although the immediate appointment without preliminary procedures is attractive, there is no need to risk one’s life.”

“It is an impossible rule in the first place. hehehe.”

however.

“Oh, was that rule still alive?”

One person gets up from his seat with a very welcome shout.

It was the Dawn School applicant in question, Carl.

“Let’s fight with me!”