Chapter 1

The two of them urged each other on as they ran towards the backyard. As Link ran, he excitedly shouted, "I will charge into battle with the shining knight's sword. For the glory of the Empire, the knights of the imperial capital are truly impressive."

"Gold coins, I've struck it rich, this can cover quite a bit of drinking money," Starl mumbled as he slowly made his way to the back room, his steps somewhat unsteady, as if he truly appeared to be drunk.

He lowered his head, as if only now realizing the state of his muddy appearance. He wrinkled his nose, but when he lifted his head again, he seemed happy, grinning mischievously and saying: "But at least this time the work wasn't in vain, Old Dad, Young Dad, Bal, what do you think this is?"

"Yeah," Link suddenly jumped up, putting the bag of silver coins into his pocket while handing the bag of gold coins to Pavel. "Here, aside from paying for Bal's tuition, there are still eight gold coins left. Big Dad, Little Dad, when Bal and I leave, since there will be fewer people in the shop, you should take on less work. Use these gold coins to support your living for now, so Little Dad won't blame us for leaving and causing him to have no money for wine. I originally thought it would take a while to earn enough, but I didn't expect someone to bring the money to us this time. Hehe."

After a while, Starl extended his hand to take the gold coins from Pavel, weighing them in his hand, and exclaimed, "Tsk tsk, nine gold coins plus one hundred silver coins, this is at least half of their reward for this mission. This mercenary group is quite conscientious."

When Baweier did not look back at all, he simply swung the large iron hammer and struck heavily on the glowing knight's sword, sending sparks flying.

Link took out a gleaming gold coin from inside and placed it in Bal's large hand, exclaiming: "That's right, it's a gold coin. That mercenary group said that this time their mission was completed by me, and my life was saved by me as well. So not only did they give me one hundred silver coins, but they also gave me an additional nine gold coins. Bal, we have struck it rich! This time, not only can I register as a knight apprentice, but I've also earned enough for you to pay the registration fee for the school you've always wanted to attend. Bal, you can soon go to school and meet the Miss Tamir you've always been thinking about."

Shh! A young man, as strong as a wall, hurriedly tossed a freshly forged, red-hot horseshoe into a nearby bucket of water. He quickly approached and lowered his voice, saying: "Link, Old Man wants you to help me finish these 500 horseshoes, yet you haven't returned all night..."

Bavel looked at Star, but his gaze gradually became stern: "Give me a reason!"

Link recalled today's encounter and couldn't help but feel excited, completely unaware of Pavel's unusual expression. He said, "Yes, yes, last time when Little Old Dad took me to the forest to catch the Fire Beast, he explained to me the principles of several trap mechanisms. This time, I followed his example, and indeed, I managed to catch the Fire Beast effectively. If it weren't for that little girl being so frightened by the Fire Beast that she didn't know to hide, I wouldn't have been caught by the Fire Beast while running over to pull her away. Otherwise, how could things have turned out like this!"

He did not wait for Pavel to speak, turning his head to push Bal: "Let's go! Let's go! Let's take a shower together!"

He looked at Star and chuckled, "Don't worry, little old man, I've noticed that mercenary captain has a simple mind, so the night before taking them to find the Fire Beast, I had already set up a few traps using the mechanisms you taught me."

But this disheveled youth seemed completely unaware of his current appearance, as he rushed into the store like a whirlwind, loudly calling out to himself: "Knight directly under the Imperial Capital, Knight directly under the Imperial Capital! Bal, Knight directly under the Imperial Capital!"

He raised his head, looked at Link, and smiled sincerely: "That's great, Link, this time you can sign up to be a knight apprentice, there is enough here to pay the tuition."

One hundred silver coins! That is the income that an entire blacksmith shop would take three to four months, no, it would take almost half a year to earn. Bal has never seen a full one hundred silver coins laid out before him in his life.

The firelight flickered on his face, uncertain and variable

He returned the coin to Link's hand and shook his head: "I won't be going to school anymore; there aren't enough people in the shop, and I need to help Big Dad and Little Dad with their work"

"Fire Beast?" Two middle-aged men emerged from the blacksmith's workshop, holding a pile of knight swords and knight helmets. Upon hearing Link's words, they frowned, exchanged glances, and approached.

"I did not teach him the art of mechanisms," said Sidal with a shrug. "I have never taught him those principles by rote; I only demonstrated it once, and he remembered it.

Bavel, who had originally furrowed his brow and was about to speak, finally let out a long sigh and said to Link in a deep voice: "Go wash up in the backyard and change into some clean clothes. You look like a mud person right now, not at all like a knight."

Only then did he clearly see Link's disheveled appearance, and he couldn't help but shudder, exclaiming: "Heavens, how did you end up like this? Did you sneak over to Aunt Koval to steal some earth fruits again? You're done for; no matter how I try to cover for you, it won't escape the old man's notice. You're finished. Uh, you seem to be injured as well; what is this..."

It seems somewhat reminiscent of... It seems somewhat like what I observed today in the knights of the Silver Moon Order, that kind of noble and elegant aura

"Link, have you really earned one hundred silver coins?" Bal raised his voice, looking at Link in disbelief.

After years of being a blacksmith, Pavel's body was muscular, draped in a somewhat worn robe, resembling the most ordinary blacksmith. However, Link always felt that his father possessed a certain quality that set him apart from others, an indescribable feeling.

In the Misty Night Forest? Stardell pulled out a bottle of wine from somewhere, took a sip, and stepped forward to examine Link's wound. He exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, this is indeed a scar left by a Fire Beast. I must ask you, young man, what kind of place is the Misty Night Forest? Is it a place one can enter casually? Do you have any idea how many magical beasts are inside? If you encounter a Fire Beast, how could you possibly return? You are truly fortunate. Uh, where are you injured? Let me see if you’ve lost any fingers or something like that."

So you went?" Star sighed helplessly and said, "When did you become so money-driven and reckless? Is it that easy to hunt a Fire Beast? That is a magical beast with a rank, smarter than you.

"How can that be?" Link shouted, "I am not a mercenary; I am Link, destined to become the greatest knight. It is my duty to protect every citizen of the Empire. How can I walk away when the citizens of the Empire might be under attack by the Fire Beast?"

Bavel stood silently for a moment, then suddenly bent down, picked up a knight's sword from the ground, turned around, pulled up the bellows, and placed it over the fire, slowly forging it. After a while, he spoke in a deep voice: "Did we not already agree that we would no longer ... ... "

"Cut it out," Link ignored his father's frown upon hearing the words "knight apprentice," which revealed a look of disdain on his face. "Is it really that exciting to be happy over just one hundred silver coins? Bal, look at this, what is it?"

The difference lies in the fact that the younger father behaves like a big child, enjoying playful antics, and interacts with the two children in a lighthearted manner. Link and Bal have never been afraid of him. In contrast, the older father is much stricter; although he also loves the two children dearly, he gives off an impression of being very methodical and serious. Link's playful nature is largely influenced by his younger father, while Bal's approach to tasks resembles that of his older father, Bawel. Oh, what a complex family they are

Just then, the recently quiet Starl looked at Pavel, his eyebrows slightly raised, as if he were about to get angry. He hurriedly stepped forward and gently patted Link on the head: "The knights of the imperial capital, their people are all like us two. You shouldn't run around the mountains all day; learn from Bal, master a skill, so you can support yourself in the future." "I don't want to," Link glanced at his father, lowered his head, and said somewhat aggrieved: "Last time, Grandpa said that as long as I can earn enough tuition with my own hands, he would let me sign up to be a knight apprentice and wouldn't interfere with me anymore. Grandpa always keeps his word." "You shouldn't run around the mountains all day; learn from Bal, master a skill, so you can support yourself in the future." "I don't want to," Link glanced at his father, lowered his head, and said somewhat aggrieved: "Last time, Grandpa said that as long as I can earn enough tuition with my own hands, he would let me sign up to be a knight apprentice and wouldn't interfere with me anymore. Grandpa always keeps his word."

Uh, how did I realize that I was being so convoluted? He took out a flask and took a big swig: "It seems I've had too much to drink today, so I'm going to rest first. I'll leave those pieces of armor to you, okay?"

A faint smile just blossomed on Bal's honest face as he looked up at Pavel and Skar standing beside him, then lowered his gaze again

Link and Bal's families have lived together since they were old enough to understand, so initially, they called each other's fathers in a casual manner, referring to them as "old dad" and "old man". It was only later that they standardized their terms of address, calling Link's father "Big Old Dad" and Bal's father "Little Old Dad". As for whether others found this way of addressing strange, they did not care at all and did not pay attention to it. In the eyes of the two young men, both individuals before them were as dear as their own fathers. They called Bal's father "Little Old Dad", and as for whether others found this way of addressing strange, they did not care at all and did not pay attention to it. In the eyes of the two young men, both individuals before them were as dear as their own fathers.

However, I said to you, "You rascal," and he straightened his face, glaring at Link: "You have already led them to the Fire Beast and received your commission, which means your task is complete. Why are you still lingering here instead of making a quick escape? Are you just standing there to watch the excitement? It’s truly a stroke of luck that you weren’t eaten by the Fire Beast and managed to come back with your life.

This child is truly bold to the point of being numb

It is fortunate that nothing happened upon returning; what would we do if someone were truly injured

Pavel thought with a hint of helplessness

He was covered in filth from the waist down, with dark, dirty water continuously dripping off him. Many clumps of mud had solidified and stuck to his body, and his sleeves and half of his pant leg were torn and ragged. Through the layer of mud, numerous bruises and claw marks could still be seen on his skin, making him appear as if he had been rolling in a muddy pit all day and had been trampled several times by a wild boar.

Seeing Link in his current state, he knew that the matter was not going to conclude so easily

It seems that I possess a noble lineage well-suited for being a knight

Bavel and Star looked at each other as the figures of the two half-grown children disappeared into the backyard. They exchanged a glance but said nothing. For a moment, the blacksmith shop fell silent, with only the flickering firelight casting shadows on their faces.

Let him finish first!" Pavel interrupted Bal's question and turned his gaze back to Link, saying: "And then?"

"And the swords in their hands, tsk tsk, each one is so large," Link gestured, only then realizing that Bal was poking and prodding him, as if afraid he was missing some part. Impatiently, he swatted Bal's hand away and exclaimed, "What are you doing? I was just caught by a Fire Fiend, it's nothing to fuss about."

Stahl, feeling somewhat embarrassed, touched his nose, turned his head away, and pretended to pick up a knight's sword from the ground. He shook his head and sighed, "Alas, Bal, this sword is quite damaged. We need to stoke the fire in the furnace a bit more and add some good steel before we can forge it properly again"

"Cough, cough," Starl choked on the wine that had gone down his throat, awkwardly glancing at the looks that Pavel and Bal were giving him: "Children, they really believe everything they hear, haha, truly..."

Sparse raindrops fell on the narrow streets of Koloburg. Under the jurisdiction of the Third Border Defense Corps of the Bavarian Empire's Kansa Province, Koloburg is located near the boundary river with the Sakara Empire and serves as a secondary continental passage into the Bavarian Empire. It is home to a border garrison of 5,000 troops and an elite cavalry unit of 200 soldiers. Thanks to friendly relations with neighboring countries, commerce is relatively developed, making it the largest residential hub in the vicinity. With a population of nearly 80,000, the scale of this border city is considerable.

He pulled a bag from his pocket and with a "thud" tossed it onto the nearby table, causing the surface to tremble under its weight

Baal and Link, who were in the midst of a commotion, immediately quieted down, bowing respectfully to the middle-aged man and calling out, "Father!"

Link, however, seemed to have not heard the young man's complaints at all. His light blue eyes revealed an extreme excitement as he exclaimed to himself: "Bal, I have seen the imperial knights directly under the empire. The knights of the Silver Moon Order. Their armor is truly beautiful, shining like the moon in the sky. They are so majestic and - picture - book-like, and those horses are twice as tall as the ones in our border defense knight regiment."

He cautiously took out a small pouch from his pocket again. Bal leaned in quickly, peering at the opening of the pouch that Link had carefully opened. Suddenly, he raised his head, pointing at the small pouch: "Is this... gold coins?! My goodness, I actually see gold coins?! Link actually has gold coins?!"

At this moment, even the previously noisy Star had quieted down, and the gazes of the three individuals converged on Link.

He took out the wine flask and took a big gulp, his face once again displaying that half-dazed, half-mocking expression: "If you need a reason, perhaps it is because I see in Link the shadow of a person in their youth, with innovative battle strategies, the courage to keep promises, and the awareness to protect the weak"

Another middle-aged man placed several knight swords he had in his hands on the ground, and at that moment, he turned his head and gently cleared his throat

Given Link's typically lively and carefree nature, he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed under the gaze of the three individuals. After a brief pause, he continued, "A mercenary group arrived in the city a few days ago, claiming that whoever could guide them to the Misty Night Forest to help them capture the Fire Blaze Beast would receive a reward of one hundred silver coins, one hundred silver coins indeed!"

He stood quietly for a moment, watching Pavel's eyes gradually fill with many unknown emotions, and gently sighed: "You clearly know that Link is not the same as Pavel. Link is like you thirty years ago; who could have stopped Pavel thirty years ago from doing something? I fear even Pavel himself would not have been able to do it, right?"

"Not bad," a rare serious expression appeared on Sidal's face. "The current knights are no longer like they used to be; they have strayed from the glory of knighthood and have become mere wastrels who only flaunt their appearances. But don't you think that precisely because of this, they need someone who can lead them in their quest to regain the glory of the knights?"

However, Starl smiled and made a face at Pavel's back, saying: "Don't you think having two blacksmiths in this forge is already too much? Young people should have their own world"

Link ignored Scalar's nonsense and directly explained to his father: "I am going there to hunt the Fire Beast"

The result is that her magic level is too low; not only can she not freeze the Fire Blaze Beast, but she also ended up freezing the swamp, allowing the Fire Blaze Beast to crawl out. Is that right?" Starl began to moan again: "Heavens, are today's magic instructors all idiots? How did they end up teaching such worthless individuals?

Link shrugged indifferently: "It turns out they have also lured the Fire Beast into the swamp. I thought we could wrap things up soon, but then a little girl from that mercenary team cast some kind of spell, freezing the ground solid, claiming she wanted to immobilize the Fire Beast. As a result..."

Bavel turned his gaze away from Star and asked Link: "So you really went?"

Pavel frowned and said to Link, "You haven't been staying in the shop these past few nights; where have you been going?"

Wow! Baer ran over, opened the bag, and was dazzled by the shimmering silver light: "Silver coins, they are really silver coins, so many silver coins!"

He raised his head, and his eyes sparkled with golden light

"Hmph," Pavel did not turn around: "Do you think that just by paying the registration fee, you can definitely become a knight apprentice? Even if you become a knight apprentice, so what? In the current knight order, do you still believe that anyone can grow into a true knight? Star, do not forget the time when we..."

"Hush, hush, hush..." A 14-year-old boy with flaxen hair, slightly dark skin, and light blue eyes, with a lean and sturdy build, rushed in like a gust of wind through the city gate, scattering the poultry on the street, and dashed into a small blacksmith shop beside the road.

One middle-aged man, resembling Bal, looked at Link and his eyes lit up, exclaiming: "Ha, you little rascal, how did you end up looking like a little mud monkey? Have you been sneaking off to steal soil fruits from Aunt Koval again"

Of course, Link raised his head and stood tall: "I led them to find the Fire Beast and pointed out the location of the muddy swamp to them. I told those mercenaries that as long as they could lure the Fire Beast into the swamp, it would be considered a great achievement. Then I took the silver coins they gave me and prepared to leave..."

"What a trick!" Pavel's gaze shifted from Link to the brother standing beside him, his face displaying a speechless expression: "Second brother, you..."

He picked up Link's arm, which still bore several claw marks, and examined it carefully

Link felt a bit smug as he looked up at the expression on Old Man's face and stuck out his tongue: "I went to the Misty Night Forest"

Indeed, indeed," said Bal, who was beside him. "I remember the old man saying that the Fire Beast is a Tier 4 magical beast, and even the captain of our fortress's knight order cannot defeat it

This is Bal's father, Starl, who is also one of the partners that opened this blacksmith shop together with Link's father. He has a naturally playful disposition and is never as strict with the two young men as Link's father is. Therefore, Link is not afraid of him at all. Upon hearing his speculation, which is the same as Bal's, Link couldn't help but frown and mutter: "Little old man, I only stole a soil fruit from Aunt Koval when I was six years old. Why do you and Bal always bring that up? Now I am going to be a knight! How could I possibly engage in petty theft? I want to become a knight, a knight of the imperial capital, a knight of glory, oh oh yeah!"

This middle-aged man bore a faint resemblance to Link, yet his face was marked by the wear and tear of over twenty years. He was Link's father, Bawel, and the true owner of this blacksmith shop

"There is no reason," said Starl, sniffing as he tossed the money pouch back to Pavel. "When you promised Link that he could register as a knight apprentice once he earned enough registration fees, you must have anticipated that it would be impossible for him to earn that amount of money in such a short time."

"Is it really that impressive?" Link looked at Stardust with suspicion. "But, little old man, when you took me to the Misty Night Forest to catch the Fire Blaze Beast for a barbecue last time, didn't you say it was just a big rat that could shoot fireballs, and that it was only good because of its delicious meat, especially when grilled with drinks?"