Surviving as a Knight in a Trash Game

Chapter 165

With a single strike that tore through space, the Door of Strength crumbled.

Karl, having returned to the plaza, placed a book and a pair of gloves on the floor before leaving the cave.

[Daekan’s Throwing Manual: A throwing manual created by the master of combat who boasted an undefeated legend, containing comprehensive content from physical combat to the use of all types of weaponry.]

[Daekan’s Gloves: Gloves used by Daekan, the master of combat who boasted an undefeated legend. Indestructible. Increases attack power. Increases defense power. Binds to user upon equipping.]

Whether it was a coincidence or some kind of consideration (?) from this trash game, Daekan’s throwing art and his gloves became Karl’s possessions simultaneously.

The gloves were a result obtained after completing the mission to rescue Saraban, which had been finished a short while ago.

Since Karl had experience learning Khan's Throwing Manual before, it didn’t take him long to understand Daekan’s Throwing Manual.

Moreover, the intellectual ability and insight he had gained by opening the Door of Wisdom this time were a great help in learning the throwing manual.

“Let’s see….”

Wearing Daekan’s gloves, Karl followed the movements described in the throwing manual.

Although the details of each movement were slightly different, they ultimately shared a similar pattern in the grand scheme, as there was an essence to the movements discussed in the throwing manual.

Paaang!

Karl’s fist, now definitively beyond Master level, struck the air, and stones from the cave ceiling exploded.

“Good.”

With a refreshing smile, Karl continued to the next movement.

Each time Karl moved, intense impact sounds strong enough to make parts of the cave explode struck the surroundings.

Whether it was built exceptionally sturdily or not, the cave plaza did not collapse despite Karl’s continuous martial practice.

After several days and nights of such practice, when the throwing art had adapted to his body to some extent, Karl walked out of the cave.

He hadn't counted the days precisely, but Karl guessed that the time here would be different from the outside.

After all, a time difference had always occurred in places prepared by the system.

“Ughm….”

Having been inside the cave for what felt like about 100 days, Karl momentarily frowned as he was suddenly exposed to the light.

His monstrously changed body quickly adapted even to the light he hadn’t seen in a long time, and after a very short while, the stinging sunlight turned warm.

“Commander!”

When he had somewhat adapted to the light and his vision cleared, Kelvin and 10 knights were standing before him.

“You came out quickly?”

“How much time has passed?”

“It seems like about a full day?”

“A day, huh.”

He had expected it, but a much shorter time had passed than he had experienced before.

“…What on earth happened in the cave?”

“Why?”

“Even before you went in, I couldn’t gauge your level, Commander, but now it’s so distant I don’t even know what I can see.”

Kelvin, who had been a Master for quite some time, expressed the feeling he got while looking at Karl.

And Karl could vaguely sense why he was saying that.

The current Karl had, albeit slightly, dipped his toes into the unprecedented realm called Grand Master.

So, even he himself couldn't gauge his current level.

“Did you destroy the source of the monsters?”

“Probably.”

He had guessed that monsters would no longer be generated once the gateway here was completed, but it seemed confirmation was needed for the details.

“First, let’s rendezvous with Rogério.”

With him leading the way out of the cave, Kelvin and 10 knight-members mounted their horses and began to gallop quickly in Rogério’s direction.

***

Contrary to Karl’s guess, Rogério was still diligently swinging his sword against the monsters.

The monsters appearing here were so diverse in type that they were forcibly experiencing various combat situations.

“Knights, about-face! Re-charge!”

Under Rogério’s command, the knights, who had instantly changed direction, once again launched a charge in a wedge formation.

Dudududududu.

With the sound of hooves, they charged in unison and at some point collided with the monsters.

Peopeopeopeopeok!

The sound of monsters’ thick hides bursting was heard everywhere, and the surroundings became filled with their corpses.

After several charges, the knights, having cleared all the monsters in the area, removed their helmets.

“Hoo… It seems somewhat fun, though.”

“Shouldn’t we record some information about their characteristics? From the looks of it, I don’t think these guys will only appear here.”

The members, now fully adapted to combat with monsters, exchanged words with faces that didn’t look particularly troubled.

Rogério took out a notebook he had been carrying in his breast pocket for some time and began to write down information about the fallen monsters.

As a member had just mentioned, there was no guarantee that these creatures would only appear on this island.

It was possible that they were appearing all over the West Continent right now.

Just as he was busy organizing things about the monsters, the sound of hooves was heard from afar, and about 10 people appeared.

“You returned quickly.”

Familiar black hair fluttered in the wind, and his dark brown warhorse, larger than ordinary horses, approached at high speed.

As Karl approached those who had offered a military salute, Rogério reported on the battles that had occurred during the day.

“I thought the monster generation would stop, but it seems that wasn’t the case.”

“There’s no sign of it ending. And… news has arrived from Anne. Fortunately, it seems they haven’t appeared in the West Continent yet.”

Karl glanced at the notebook in Rogério’s hand and then nodded.

“Not just the Vice-Commander, but all members will record the characteristics of these creatures. We will stay here for about 30 days and thoroughly identify even the most trivial things like their characteristics and eating habits.”

Perhaps the continuous generation of these creatures on this island was a good opportunity to understand them.

For about 30 days, Karl and the Lighthouse Knights helped Saraban Island establish a foundation to defend itself against the creatures and meticulously compiled the monsters’ characteristics.

“Is all the organization finished?”

“Yes, the ships for our return are also ready.”

It had been quite a while since they arrived here, and they had become quite friendly with the people of the island, so the domain’s citizens and soldiers had gathered around the Lighthouse Knights who were about to leave.

“Your Lordship, Saraban will forever live as a vassal of the Arthur Domain.”

“Zaved, your role is crucial. People from the domain will arrive soon, so if you cooperate well with them, you will be able to enjoy a better life than before.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

During Karl’s stay here for about 100 days, everyone in Saraban had requested to become his subordinate.

The spirit of true noble sacrifice they had never experienced before, and the way Karl treated people, had moved their hearts.

As they became vassals of the Arthur Domain, the infinitely generating monsters here transformed into usable resources.

Byproducts from monsters were processed, and edible meat from monsters was used as food.

Monsters like the Sabertooth Tiger were so useful that nothing from their hide, meat, teeth, to bones was wasted.

“Let’s see each other again soon. Stay well until then.”

“I will pray that the blessings of Malua and Essus be with Your Lordship.”

Karl acknowledged the religion believed by the people of Saraban.

With the recent emergence of various races and faiths on the continent, even the monotheistic faith in the West Continent had become quite diluted, so it wasn't a major issue.

“Set sail.”

Thus, ending the long journey on Saraban Island, Karl and the knights returned to the Arthur Domain.

***

“Amazing!”

Anne’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the records about monsters that Karl and the knights had compiled.

Although she was the lady of the domain, she was still the head of the organization that handled the most information on the continent.

“These things haven’t appeared in the West Continent yet. They don’t reproduce, but regenerate… and the cause is unknown. This needs to be investigated too. We’ll need to set up a branch on Saraban Island and devise various communication methods.”

Before her words even finished, she issued instructions to her subordinates and began dispatching intelligence agents to Saraban Island.

At the same time, she quickly resolved issues regarding constant and periodic communication methods.

“And, you said we’d also dispatch some of our domain’s troops, right?”

“We’ll rotate them in shifts. It would be good to focus on those who need training experience.”

Real combat against humans wasn’t always available, but if they could experience real combat against monsters, they could sufficiently increase efficiency.

It seemed like a good idea to rotate soldiers, thinking of it as training in approximately 3-month cycles.

‘It really will become like a hunting ground.’

Equipping them with gear made from the byproducts obtained there and letting the monsters provide training experience made it no different from a hunting ground.

“Please find some craftsmen.”

“That won’t be difficult.”

“Dwarves would be good.”

Although rumors of seeing dwarves circulated throughout the continent, few knew specifically where they were yet.

Anne was also looking for their whereabouts, but she hadn’t had much success so far.

“I’ll look into it, but I don’t think it will be easy.”

“It’s fine even if it takes time, please.”

“There are many excellent craftsmen among humans too. I’ll bring someone I’m acquainted with.”

“Please do.”

If Anne was saying this, it was clear they wouldn't be an ordinary person.

About 10 days later, a group of craftsmen passed through the gates of the Arthur Domain.

***

In front of the Arthur Domain’s castle gate, Anne and about 10 escorting knights had been waiting for someone for a little while.

Anne’s expression, as she waited for the person, was peculiar, as if she were a little nervous and also excited.

“Uncle Verokov!”

“Lady Anne!”

At the head of the group of craftsmen who passed through the gate stood a man who was now past middle age and approaching old age.

Seeing the man pass through the gate, Anne ran to him as if flying and hugged him.

“Oh my, my lady is still no different from a child.”

“Uncle… Uncle, why have you aged so much…!”

She showed tears, clinging to him with a childlike demeanor she never usually displayed.

“Everyone ages as time passes, my lady. By the way, how could you just get married like that without even telling this old man?”

“I asked you to come so many times, Uncle, but you said no!”

“It’s because I’ve reached an age where I should distance myself from the world.”

“Distance yourself from the world, what do you mean! Even Marquis Bastien and Marquis Nigel are here.”

“I was also very surprised when I heard that story belatedly.”

The man standing before her was Verokov Anthony, the continent’s foremost craftsman.

Once renowned as an Imperial Meister, he had vanished from the continent at some point.

He, who had not shown himself to the world and had devoted all his energy solely to training disciples, had broken his seclusion at Anne’s request.

“All these people?”

“Yes, that’s right. These are the disciples I’ve raised. It’s embarrassing, but I’m proud to say they are craftsmen who can hold their own anywhere.”

“Welcome, everyone. The Arthur Domain will treat you all with the highest regard.”

The number of disciples he had trained over the past few decades amounted to a staggering 20.

Verokov had come to the Arthur Domain with all his disciples, trusting that Anne would ensure they were treated properly.

In the West Continent, craftsmen were objects of respect, but in some cases, they were often treated as inferiors by knights or nobles.

In terms of status, craftsmen were mostly not nobles, and only those with the title of Meister, like Anthony, received at best a lower noble rank.

Even if they received such a title, it didn't make much difference in terms of being looked down upon by nobles.

“I can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at your expression, Uncle. You don’t have to worry. Karl is different. If you can’t trust him, trust me. You’ll know once you experience it while staying here. Anyway! Welcome, Uncle!”

She took Verokov’s hand and shook it eagerly.

A short while later, Verokov and his 20 disciples were given a house to stay in and a workspace prepared in the castle.

“Master… is this really the place where we will be staying…?”

Looking at the enormous estate given to them, Verokov was momentarily speechless, then, for the sake of his disciples, he tried hard to maintain a composed expression.

“That’s right…. Hmm… It means we have a lot of work to do in the future, so steel your hearts.”

When he and his disciples entered the mansion, butlers and servants had already finished all living preparations for him and his disciples.

“I am Marco, and I will be serving Baron Verokov from now on.”

A butler and maids, who seemed to be from the same region as him, bowed in unison to him and his disciples.

The next day, when they went to the workshop, they had to gape in amazement once more.

“Is this… a workspace, Master…?”

A workshop equipped with facilities comparable to the imperial forgery was located there.

A space where the financial power generated by the Arthur Domain was unsparingly invested.

Furthermore, a place equipped even with monster byproducts not yet supplied to the West Continent was another paradise for craftsmen.

Thus, with the joining of the craftsmen, a new phase began in the Arthur Domain.