The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 223

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 223
223
A thunderous roar erupted from the crowd, and the knights couldn’t help but click their tongues in amazement at Yoo Sung-hyun’s display.
Half of them had dismissed him as a foreign knight, while the other half, though not dismissive, had doubted his actual capabilities.
Yet his performance was more than sufficient to overturn all their preconceptions.
And that wasn’t even the extent of it.
Several knights questioned each other about that single strike.
“Did… did you see that!?!?”
“I… I lost track of the movement!!!”
“I saw it shoot forward, but… I could only follow until he reversed his grip on the sword…”
They were comparing how much of the movement each had managed to perceive.
The knights of Sysvalt were those who operated in these regions.
Their levels were comparable to those of players.
Yet they were strong enough that even players without Unique-grade classes wouldn’t dare approach them.
For such knights to unanimously gasp in admiration and lose track of his movements—it spoke volumes.
Among the young knights present, not a single one had fully comprehended Yoo Sung-hyun’s technique.
The three Division Commanders observing from the platform clicked their tongues and spoke.
“The championship will be his.”
“Indeed.”
Aizel Rictbert, Division Commander of the Solaris Knights, spoke first.
Adrian Roswell, Division Commander of the Valkyrie Guard, responded.
Even their eyes couldn’t help but marvel at his prowess, which transcended that of the other young knights by an entirely different dimension.
At that level…
“He would be an immediate combat asset if he joined the Knights Order right now.”
“Without question.”
Ragna Ecrion, who had been observing Yoo Sung-hyun with an enigmatic gaze, nodded in agreement with similar sentiments.
“I’m curious which one he’ll choose.”
“…Hmph.”
“…Hmm.”
Both Aizel Rictbert and Adrian Roswell displayed displeasure at Ragna Ecrion’s confident tone.
Yet truthfully, both watched Yoo Sung-hyun with evident anxiety.
After all, the Equinox Knights currently held the strongest position.
The two of them, excluding Ragna, gazed at Yoo Sung-hyun through the lens of that unease.
Ragna, meanwhile, watched Yoo Sung-hyun with covetous intent, swallowing greedily as he thought to himself.
‘He would make an excellent sacrifice.’
His desire for Yoo Sung-hyun to choose his Knights Order was the same as the other two.
Only his purpose differed.
Simultaneously, Ragna reflected.
‘With swordsmanship at that level, he poses no threat to me whatsoever.’
He never once considered that Yoo Sung-hyun might be concealing his true strength.
He had already demonstrated himself to be the strongest at that level.
Much less.
The thought of him being a Dark Mage never crossed anyone’s mind.
4.
After all the knight examinations concluded.
A rest period was granted under the pretext that scoring would take time.
Yet even without scoring, there was one who had distinguished himself in every category.
Not merely distinguished, either.
The sole existence to record the highest marks across all disciplines.
Yoo Sung-hyun.
Initially, there were quite a few who dismissed and looked down on him as a foreigner.
But now, not a single soul harbored such thoughts.
To dismiss someone who demonstrated the most outstanding abilities among all the young knights gathered here?
That would be a matter of intelligence.
Fortunately, among the knights assembled here, there were scarcely any with such deficiencies.
“Sir Yoo Sung-hyun, if I may ask—how do you normally conduct your training?”
“How can you be so strong despite being a foreigner? Is there a secret?”
“P-please, would you be willing to spar with me once?”
“I retract my earlier dismissal of you as merely a foreigner.”
All of them crowded around Yoo Sung-hyun, speaking in unison and busily seeking to glean even the smallest tip from him.
Yet Yoo Sung-hyun paid them no particular mind.
By now, this level of attention had become quite familiar.
And besides, it was difficult to explain such things.
He merely expressed his gratitude and spoke of his diligent training all this while.
And as he did so.
‘Even now, there are quite a few who feel jealous.’
While some sought to gain even the smallest thing from Yoo Sung-hyun.
There were simultaneously those who felt inferior.
By now, Yoo Sung-hyun understood well that this was unavoidable.
After all, he could not control the hearts of others.
After being worn down somewhat by the various knights in this manner.
Word came that scoring was complete, and everyone was summoned.
The three Division Commanders had assembled once more, and they confidently announced the rankings.
Naturally, Yoo Sung-hyun placed first.
Everyone spoke in unison about how remarkable he was.
Yet several harbored displeasure at his achievement.
As Yoo Sung-hyun was called out as first place.
Aizel Rictbert, the Division Commander of the Solaris Knights with the longest knightly career, stepped forward and spoke.
“As first place, Yoo Sung-hyun may choose to join one of the three Knights Orders. Which will you select?”
A predictable question.
Yoo Sung-hyun’s objective had already been determined.
So when Aizel Rictbert posed his question, Yoo Sung-hyun answered immediately, as though it were obvious.
“The Equinox Knights.”
“We of the Equinox Knights welcome you.”
At Yoo Sung-hyun’s answer, Ragna Ecrion broke into a victorious smile, while the other two Division Commanders each released a disappointed sigh.
They had hoped such talent would join their own orders.
Their regret seemed profound.
Yoo Sung-hyun was curious about the other orders as well.
But the Quest left him no choice.
Of course, even without it, he wouldn’t have remained with any order for long.
Thus, with the first-ranked candidate declaring their desired order and each Division Commander approving their enrollment, the induction ceremony came to a close.
The successful candidates gathered in processions with their chosen orders.
Five of the Young Knights who had passed the examination chose the Equinox Knights.
More than half of the ten successful candidates had selected the Equinox Knights.
What was amusing was this:
‘Most of them dislike me.’
Young Knights with rough temperaments and deep-seated inferiority complexes had congregated here in great numbers.
Apparently, as the Equinox Knights had grown stronger recently, such rough-natured individuals had come to prefer them.
It seemed to be true.
It was all the influence of the new Division Commander, Ragna Ecrion.
Already, I could sense a rough energy emanating from them.
One of the Equinox Knights who had come to guide them was similarly inclined.
More like a warrior or mercenary than a knight—rough and crude in bearing.
And that killing intent, or whatever you’d call it?
He displayed such raw aggression without restraint as he addressed the recruits.
“Follow me, recruits.”
He was displaying his rough nature.
Perhaps it was because he’d received orders from the Division Commander?
Regardless, he led them without incident, as best he could.
To the headquarters of the Equinox Knights.
Upon arriving at the Knight Barracks,
quite a grim sight greeted us.
Training matches conducted with real blades, casualties mounting everywhere.
It resembled actual combat more than sparring.
‘Hmm.’
I myself believed practical experience was paramount.
But not to this extent.
Blood sprayed in every direction.
Seeing the Training Grounds awash in sweat and blood,
all the newly arrived recruits stiffened visibly.
I hadn’t expected it to be this severe.
Yet the Senior Knight who had guided me here showed no consideration whatsoever.
“Puhaha! Your body goes rigid from just watching a sparring match like that? You’ll be cut to pieces before long.”
The Young Knights fell silent at the Senior Knight’s mocking words.
Regardless, Yoo Sung-hyun asked the Senior Knight a question.
“Where do we receive knight assignments?”
“…Huh?”
The Senior Knight tilted his head slightly, as if taken aback by Yoo Sung-hyun’s bold inquiry.
Though he was initially flustered.
The Senior Knight soon let out a small chuckle.
Yoo Sung-hyun didn’t seem to be acting out of mere bravado.
And since this Senior Knight had also witnessed Yoo Sung-hyun’s examination.
He nodded with certainty and murmured.
“So the first-ranked one really is different, huh?”
The Young Knights who followed the Senior Knight’s words trembled slightly.
The fact that differences showed even in these aspects seemed to wound their pride.
But they couldn’t step forward and say anything, overwhelmed by the Senior Knight’s presence.
Only Yoo Sung-hyun met the Senior Knight’s gaze boldly.
The Senior Knight nodded approvingly.
“Good. Your name is Yoo Sung-hyun, right? You follow me, and the rest of you go to the Training Grounds and warm up your bodies.”
“Yes.”
“…Yes, understood.”
“…Understood.”
…
The other Young Knights, their pride wounded, lowered their heads and moved to one side of the Training Grounds, while Yoo Sung-hyun followed the Senior Knight.
At the same time, I thought to myself.
‘Usually, there’s a hazing ritual in situations like this.’
Though I had ranked first.
If the Knights Order was this rough and harsh.
It seemed more than sufficient grounds for them to conduct a hazing.
That’s what I thought.
But nothing of the sort happened.
Rather.
“Here, this is where you receive assignments.”
He introduced a building within the barracks.
Then we entered together.
Like a Quest board, various wanted posters and request documents were posted everywhere.
And seeing that there was a staff member at what looked like a counter.
It seemed you picked what you wanted from the Quest board and brought it to the staff member to register.
The system resembled an adventurer’s Guild somewhat.
Yoo Sung-hyun felt quite delighted and satisfied.
Quite autonomous, it seemed.
After all, hadn’t Leon mentioned that there was nothing better than a mission to showcase something about the Knights Order here?
Of course, that didn’t mean he should rush into missions immediately upon joining.
Yoo Sung-hyun hadn’t thought that far ahead.
‘What kind of mission should I try?’
Either way, if he wanted to stand out and make a good impression, it was something he’d have to do eventually.
As Yoo Sung-hyun eagerly moved toward the counter.
The Senior Knight blocked his path.
I wondered if perhaps I couldn’t do it right away, so I looked at the Senior Knight.
The Senior Knight, looking at me, spoke.
“Your first mission should be assigned by your senior.”
“Ah, I see.”
I hadn’t known that until now.
I accepted it as such.
It certainly made sense—to understand a junior’s capabilities and dispatch them to appropriate missions.
It was better to have the senior assign it.
Yoo Sung-hyun looked at the Senior Knight with such expectations.
The Senior Knight, looking at me with a scornful smile, glanced at the Quest board, selected a mission that seemed appropriate, brought it to the counter, and spoke.
“Assign this one to him.”
“This mission, sir? Understood.”
The staff member said so and performed some magical processing.
Then nodded.
Text about the mission appeared before Yoo Sung-hyun’s eyes as well.
[Hidden Linked Quest, ‘Equinox Knights Entrance Examination’ cleared.]
[Hidden Linked Quest, ‘Equinox Knights’ First Mission’ has been created.]
[Equinox Knights Order Mission, ‘Defeat the Blade Wolf, Rugalnias’ has been created.]
‘Equinox Knights’ First Mission’
→Complete the mission, ‘Defeat the Blade Wolf, Rugalnias’.
‘Oh.’
So it worked this way.
I smiled and nodded while checking the Quest window that appeared simultaneously.
At the same time, I thought the senior had picked a good mission for me, so I answered immediately.
“Thank you. I’ll be on my way then.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Yoo Sung-hyun took the mission and left.
The counter staff member spoke carefully, watching the Senior Knight.
“…Isn’t this mission too difficult for a newcomer?”
The Blade Wolf, Rugalnias, that the Senior Knight had just selected was a mission that required five senior knights to resolve.
Yet he was entrusting it to just one newcomer?
Anyone could see something was off.
The Senior Knight chuckled and spoke.
“There’s nothing quite like this for breaking in new recruits. Well, since he’s a foreigner, at least he won’t die—makes it convenient.”
Watching the Senior Knight grin cunningly after saying that, the staff member shook his head inwardly.
Truly despicable.
But not long after.
“I’ve returned from a successful mission.”
“…What?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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