From dawn, the Astrios stronghold was a storm of voices.

“Those applying to the Royal Guard, please proceed up the main stairs!”

“Medium and heavy cavalry testing will be held outside the city walls! All candidates, move toward the north gate before noon!”

“The Border Patrol Corps orientation will take place at the drill yard below the stronghold! Please head down!”

Recruiting officers from dozens of divisions waved their banners and shouted over each other.

“It’s starting soon.”

“So it is.”

I was having lunch with Andromeda at the acting heir’s palace.
Once I left, we wouldn’t see each other for nearly two weeks.

Andromeda’s leg bounced slightly beneath the table.

“My little brother… What if something terrible happens out there on those rough roads?”

“To me? Something terrible?”

Then she reached over and grasped my arm, pretending to sob in exaggerated worry.

She’s only a few months older than me, I thought.
Anyone watching would think she was ten years my senior.

“I’ll make my opponents suffer before I ever do. You can relax.”

“You’re not going to lose to that runner-up, right? You promised.”

“He made runner-up on electrokinesis alone. In mobility, command, river crossing, and navigation, he’s no match for me. Don’t worry. He might not even make it to the Green-skin nest.”

I mimed wiping away her fake tears.

That’s not arrogance; it’s an objective assessment.

Nereus was good, but limited.
Facing him one-on-one was one thing, but within a week-long exam that required commanding a hundred soldiers across open terrain to eliminate a Green-skin settlement and return, losing would take deliberate effort.

“Really? If you say so, I’ll trust you.”

Andromeda smiled brightly, as though she’d never been pretending to cry.

You too?

There was something in her tone—too deliberate.

“Did you meet one of the examiners?”

“I’ve been talking to a few people. I can’t exert pressure, but I can make sure you aren’t treated unfairly, right?”

She smiled meaningfully.
The starlight shimmer in her eyes gleamed with both cunning and sharpness.

“Thank you.”

“And this big sister of yours brought back two very good pieces of information! The kind you couldn’t buy for gold, so listen closely, understood?”

“Of course.”

“One’s about evaluation criteria, the other about an elixir. Which first?”

“The criteria, please.”

“Smart, smart. As expected of my brother!”

Her tone grew lighter with every word.

“One of the grading standards is budget allocation.”

“Budget?”

“Mm. When you get there, you’ll find a hundred soldiers and a bag of gold coins. That’s it. You’ll have to procure everything else—horses, weapons, rations—on your own.”

Her words stunned me.

“That’s… very valuable information. Truly, thank you.”

I bowed my head before I realized it.

A budget, huh. It makes sense for a field commander, but it’s still surprising. The Border Patrol really must be short on funds.

Andromeda waved dismissively.

“Well, it’s the kind of thing anyone could find out if they asked around, so I can’t brag. The second one’s the real prize.”

“Something more important than grading standards?”

“A little bird from the alchemical workshop said there’s going to be one vial of White Lightning Elixir left over.”

That was even more shocking.

An elixir? Left over? Not even Thundercloud, but White Lightning? How—wait.

At first, it didn’t seem connected, but then I remembered Trisan’s expression a week ago.

So that was supposed to be Nereus’s reward once he completed his task. The Thundercloud Elixir was the down payment. When Trisan saw that vial in my hand, he must’ve thought Nereus failed to deliver.

A smile rose on my face.

“I think I understand why it’s still there.”

“Right? I figured you would.”

Andromeda laughed, clear as a girl’s, but a shadow crossed the light of her face.

“As you know, elixirs can’t be stored for long. They’ll sell it for fifty gold coins if you buy it within a month. Interested?”

“I’d be happy to.”

“But I can’t buy it for you. The workshop has to stay neutral among the heirs.”

Now I understood why she’d told me about the exam standards.

“So—if I save enough of the budget, I can buy the White Lightning Elixir myself.”

“Oho! Quick on the uptake! I knew you were the clever one. High five!”

She raised her palm.
I hesitated only a second before meeting it.

Madness.

Technically, that alone was grounds for discipline.

“Anyway,” Andromeda said, her tone lowering, “you can do it, right?”

The starlight in her eyes trembled faintly.

“Yes.”

I didn’t hesitate.

“For you—and for myself—I’ll enter as top recruit.”

At the same time, my mind recalled the glowing text etched across my Stigmata.

【Twelve-Stage Hero’s Journey】

【Stage 1: Adoption】
Join the main line of House Astrios and end your life as a bastard.

Failure: Death.
Reward: Thunderstrike.

‣

【Sub-Objective 1: Top Graduation, Top Entrance】
Join the Border Patrol Corps as top recruit.

Success: Heavenly Thunder Body efficiency +25%.
Failure: Heavenly Thunder Body efficiency –10%.

Even at 150%, the Thundercloud Elixir had boosted my power greatly.
At 175%, what would the White Lightning Elixir do?

The Border Patrol orientation took place at the drill yard below the stronghold.

Thanks to Nereus’s threats and duels, the remaining candidates were all those too low-ranked for other elite units.

“…Now, the exam will begin! You’ll each receive a map and a command baton—proceed beyond the walls to take charge of your assigned troops. Evaluation will consider budget management, Green-skin extermination rate, casualties, and mission duration. Be advised that examiners are mixed in among your soldiers, so mind your conduct!”

Still, I couldn’t relax.

Ten units, maybe.

Even so, every one of them had risen through thousands of lightning-born nobles and natural electrokinesis talents.

As soon as the commanding Border Patrol Knight—an astral-ranked officer—distributed maps and batons, I left the stronghold.

Riding my horse, I crossed from inner to outer walls and out the gate.
In the distant fields, the heavy cavalry candidates were conducting mock battles.
Beyond them, other divisions drilled; on a gentle hill, lines of tents stretched to the horizon.

There it is.

The Border Patrol banner fluttered at the center.
I spurred my horse toward it.

Nereus and the other candidates followed close behind.

I checked the number engraved on my command baton.

“Fifth company? No—second? Damn it, how do you read this thing?”

One candidate held his baton upside down, reading the number backward and heading to the wrong camp.

The ornate side faces forward.

I found my assigned unit.

“Seventh Company! Where’s the Seventh Company commander?”

“Forever like thunder! Vice-captain Jo, reporting!”

“Vice-captain? The captain’s absent?”

“You, sir, are both captain and commanding Blue Knight. I’ll serve as your adjutant with utmost loyalty throughout the mission.”

A young man wearing a black forage cap and quilted armor rushed up and saluted.
From horseback, I studied him carefully.

The adjutant looks competent.

He had slightly long brown hair brushed back, bright yellow eyes full of sharp wit, and a steady, sun-darkened face—refined features, yet trustworthy.

“Kyrie. Kyrie of Astrios.”

I dismounted, removed my leather gloves, and extended a hand.

“Good to work with you.”

“Eternal blessings to the chosen.”

Jo clasped my hand in both of his and bowed deeply.
Polite but not servile—something about him reminded me of myself.

The others, including Nereus, were already shouting orders.
Not necessarily a good sign.

“Where’s the evaluator?”

“We leave in thirty—no, fifteen minutes!”

“You! Fetch a supply wagon! You, weapons and provisions! If we’re not ready by sundown, I’ll have you court-martialed!”

One candidate, named Karl, issued impossible orders like securing a week’s rations for a hundred men before sunset.

“Tonight we dine in hell! Move out, move out!”

Even that was preferable to Nereus—who simply barked, “We march now!”

“What do you mean we can’t afford it? Get the ballistae and carts! You expect me to face ogres without artillery?”

Someone had already drawn a whip.
That was their version of restraint, since examiners were mixed among the troops.

The academy did focus more on personal combat than command training. It breeds aggression.

No wonder Nereus was runner-up.

“Jo.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Our destination’s the village near the Triplet Lakes, about a week south.”

But I was valedictorian.
Years of studying war and strategy beyond my lowborn stigma had taught me that barking orders wouldn’t raise you to the clouds.

Top entrance. Fifty gold saved. Keep Nereus in check. I’ll manage all three.

With Jo beside me, I walked leisurely toward the command tent at the center of the Seventh Company’s camp.
The soldiers and sergeants looked at me with a mix of awe and fear.
Kyrie, top graduate, Physical Sacrifice Vow, the acting heir’s knight—whispers echoed all around.

I made sure to meet each gaze as I passed, slow and deliberate.

A feral superhuman commander terrifies even his own men. They need time to get used to me.

I pinned the issued map high on the blackboard inside the tent.

“For transport, should we use wagons or pack animals?”

Jo studied the map thoughtfully before answering.

“We could march on foot halfway, then use boats along the Sagem River. The terrain near the Triplet Lakes is swampy and forested; I recommend packhorses and donkeys over wagons.”

Smart—and economical.

That saves me money.

My impression of Jo rose another notch.

“How should we arm the troops?”

“For mid-scale Green-skin bands, we should expect orcs and possibly ogres. We’ll need to distribute equipment by unit strength.”

“And if I handle the ogre myself?”

Ballistae were expensive.

“Sir? Even for a Blue Knight, that’s far too dangerous. We should still assign artillery and heavy infantry—”

Jo hesitated.

“Jo. I asked what armament would suffice if I handle the ogre personally.”

I rephrased gently but firmly.

“For goblins, quilted armor should suffice for most. But to handle orcs, at least three platoons should have chainmail and spears.”

Jo glanced at my covered right eye, then gave his answer.

“Good. We’ll do that.”

“Are you sure we don’t need ballistae or heavy infantry?”

“Are there any knights here?”

“No, sir. I’m not one either.”

“Then it’s fine. Stock plenty of javelins instead.”

Relief flickered across his face.

“If anyone thinks of sending ordinary soldiers to charge an ogre, he should retake the Anti-Beast Warfare course. I’d rather swing my sword twice than waste lives on stupidity.”

I smiled as I said it, but made sure the point stuck.

“Did you hear that? The Blue Knight will handle the ogre himself!”

Murmurs spread among the troops.

“He was top of the academy, right? Must be strong as hell.”

“At least we won’t be spending the day pushing wagons out of the mud.”

“Better than getting wiped out, that’s for sure.”

Not bad, as morale went.

“You idiots! I said get those wagons and ballistae! If funds are short, rob a merchant!”

Right on cue, Karl’s voice boomed from the neighboring camp.

My men traded glances between his chaos and my calm.

I spread my arms playfully, gesturing for applause.

“Hail Captain Kyrie!”

“Hail, Sir Kyrie!”

“Our gracious Blue Knight! Thank you!”

Laughter broke out.
I smiled. You should be thanking me. No ballistae, no heavy infantry—every coin saved goes in my pocket.

An ogre or two would be tough, sure, but with an elixir in me, I could handle it.

I gave Jo another order with a small grin.

“The bakery street in town should still be open. Send men to order a week’s worth of hardtack. Will we be ready to depart by tomorrow evening?”

Jo bowed even deeper than before.

“By tomorrow morning, sir.”

I smiled, satisfied.

Nearby, Nereus’s unit was already pulling up their tent poles to move out.

“We might leave last,” Jo said cautiously. “Is that all right?”

“We’ll be the first back,” I said, laughing. “Well—unless someone gives up halfway.”

Then, noticing the strip of bandage peeking from his side, I added,

“If you’re injured, use unit funds to visit the church and receive a priest’s prayer. Take any other wounded with you.”

Jo’s eyes widened.

“N-no, sir! It’s nearly healed. Thank you.”

“Go anyway. Others may be hiding injuries.”

I patted his shoulder lightly and stepped into the commander’s quarters.

That was a pretty good line, actually.

The next morning, Jo entered with a report.

“Sir, the hardtack is ready.”

“Already?”

Chapter 9

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