The long round of interviews was finished.

The last knight exited the receiving room with Frey.

I sank into the chair and let out a deep breath.

I was exhausted.

They really drain you.

Even as a Blue Knight, I could not treat knights carelessly.

It feels like running full speed toward the edge of a cliff.

And yet, I had convinced dozens of knights to sign onto a contract that made no sense.

The consequences were terrifying to imagine.

Whumm.

My right eye’s stigmata flared.

【Hero’s Journey — Stage 2: Warlord】

【Build your warband.】

【Failure Penalty: Death】

【Success Reward: AOE Enhancement】

【Hero’s Journey — Stage 3: (Locked)】

.

.

.

【Sub-Objective 2: King of Sword-Bearers — Completed.】

【You now command 12 or more knights.】

【Heaven-Thunder Physique efficiency +50%】

【Additional effect: +10% efficiency per extra knight commanded… (adjusting)】

【Sub-Objective 3: … (adjusting)】

The words washed away my fatigue.

Crackle—!

A blue spark leapt from the stigmata.

Electricity traveled through my mind, down my spine, and flooded my entire body.

“Ah.”

A tremor ran through me.

Nerves thickened, the heart’s maximum mana capacity increased, and my muscles adjusted to hold more lightning.

A joy no human luxury could ever replicate spread through me.

Sub-Objective 3 isn’t revealed yet. Just like before. Something must be completed first.

Which was why it took me a second longer to notice the next line.

Ten percent per additional knight. And I hired nearly fifty knights. So… how much is that?

The Thunder-Lord answered for me.

【By the clause “+10% efficiency per knight commanded,” Heaven-Thunder Physique increases by 380%.】

380%.

My eyes flew open.

My previous accumulated Heaven-Thunder Physique was around 300%. With the recent 50% boost, maybe 350%. But 380%…?

It was unbelievable.

【Warning: When Heaven-Thunder Physique rises by more than 100% at once, permanent neural and cardiac damage may occur.】

【Heaven-Thunder Physique will increase in four separate waves.】

【“…Impressive.”】

【“…It reminds me of the one before you.”】

Thunder-Lord…?

Even the constellation sounded amused.

When it rose by 50%, I nearly passed out. Then what is 100% like?

I blurted without thinking.

“My lord of thunder—wait—!”

My plea did not complete.

CRACK—!!

My entire nervous system ignited.

Consciousness surged and collapsed, surged and collapsed.

Excessive euphoria was not pleasure—it was closer to pain.

I clutched the table and arched, trembling violently.

The table cracked beneath my fingers.

“—Kgh!”

That wave hit me four times.

“Ghh!”

“—haa—!”

“Tch—!”

I collapsed forward over the desk, tears running down my face.

I thought I was going to die.

My muscles were so slack I couldn’t move a finger.

If I had drunk any water during those interviews, I probably would have disgraced myself.

After a few minutes, sensation slowly returned.

I raised a faint pulse of mana.

Crackle—!

My nerves responded instantly—sharper, swifter, stronger.

There’s almost no strain…

Originally, using Nerve Acceleration overheated the nerves like burning wires.

But now, they shone brighter—without overheating.

A body stepping beyond its former limit.

My maximum mana capacity rose accordingly.

With this…

I felt the charge gather.

My lips curled without my permission.

I can use Sky Bolt again.

It was a good day.

Sometimes the world allowed such days.

Clack.

Just as I thought it—someone opened the door.

“Kiri-kiri! Everyone’s been seen off.”

Frey returned from escorting the interviewees.

“Good work. They must have gone far.”

“Huh? Nope. They all checked into the luxury inn right outside. Said they’re setting up camp. They were introducing themselves and sparring already. ‘Let’s work well together, praise to the Blue Knight,’ that sort of thing.”

He laughed.

What?

I did not laugh.

The knights gathered together. What does that mean?

Blue Knights gathering would just mean sparring.

But knights—knights were different.

They were war’s administrators.

They thought.

They’ll choose a representative. Someone to negotiate with me. They’ll discuss the contract. And if I don’t pay… they’ll come kill me.

Predictable.

Of course. I am trying to bind elite war-leaders with a contract that says I might not pay them anything. I need to offer something. Something real. Otherwise…

I stood.

…I’ll incinerate them with Sky Bolt. I should train lightning-art again.

I trained lightning-art.

I sparred Nereus.

Then I drank the elixir given to me as an adopted son, and he drank the one given to him by his House.

After training, we crawled to our rooms and collapsed into sleep.

The stigmata boost and the sparring had thoroughly ground my body to pieces—sleep came easily.

The residence was part of the Border Patrol Corps’ administrative complex. Usually half-empty.

Not grand, but large and cool.

The temperature and humidity artifacts were nearly new.

Which meant excellent sleep.

“Oh.”

At dawn, I woke refreshed.

I ate a light meal of sandwiches and soup brought by the house servants and left my room.

“Uuuuuugh…”

“Urrrgh…”

Terrible groans echoed somewhere ahead.

Monsters?

I placed my hand on Thunderclap Blade and followed the sound.

Clack.

“You two.”

Inside, Joy and Gabeng were drowning in paperwork.

They sat across a massive table under a mountain of documents.

“Sir…”

Joy looked up at me with the expression of someone who had seen death.

In one night, the shadows under her eyes reached her lips.

“I think I'm going to die, sir.”

“What happened?”

“We’re organizing the company structures, supply logistics, and pay for the soldiers you hired. It was manageable with a hundred. But with several thousand, it’s impossible. I don't know when this will ever end.”

To be fair—this was my fault.

I had slept comfortably while Joy handled the mess I created.

If I had conscience, I would feel guilt.

But I did not.

“So you roped him in too.”

I glanced at Gabeng.

Gabeng had been dragged along half as a prisoner since the 117th Hundred was disbanded.

Maybe Trisan cast him aside—maybe not. He hadn’t caused trouble yet, and killing him now was wasteful, so we just kept using him.

“He’s educated, so he's good with paperwork. But he passed out.”

I looked at sleeping Gabeng.

“…Hm?”

Something felt wrong.

His breathing was too steady. He didn’t move.

It looked like feigned sleep.

I found my solution for assisting Joy.

I gathered a thread of lightning into my hand and placed it on Gabeng’s shoulder.

Crackle—!

Electricity flowed into him.

The sensation of reading another’s body from the inside.

“AAAHHHHH!”

Gabeng jerked upright.

“W-what are you doing!?”

“Latest electrical therapy. I bestow grace upon the weary. Be grateful.”

“Your adjutant and a Blue Knight are tormenting a government examiner together?! I’m deducting points!”

“Deduct as you like. If I succeed at the House Lord’s mission, I’ll be rewarded even if I destroy everything else. If I fail, I’ll die even if I accomplish everything else.”

Gabeng opened his mouth, closed it again, and sighed.

“I never awakened lightning-art. If you insist on this ‘therapy,’ please be gentler. Otherwise I will develop new medical conditions.”

A weary, hollow humor crossed his strict face.

“You trained at the Blue Knight academy then?”

“If you have enough talent to be a sworn officer, you go once. I had none for lightning-art, so I left quickly. But yes.”

Only briefly.

Then Gabeng grit his teeth again, glaring.

“If you’re going to grant the Thunder-Lord’s baptism, I would genuinely appreciate it. Just… please be careful. If I receive baptism like this, I might actually die.”

I ignored his expression and listened to his words.

Baptism.

Come to think of it, maybe there was something I could offer the knights.

Anyone who trains for Blue Knight qualification undergoes electrical baptism.

Lightning is poured deep inside the body, expanding the nervous system so the body can hold thunder-force.

It is called the Thunder-Lord’s Baptism.

If the lightning can be absorbed as mana, the road to becoming a Blue Knight opens.

If not, the path ends there.

But the baptism itself works even when absorption fails:

It increases reflexes, sensory clarity, muscle elasticity, and overall physical performance.

So even non-Blue-Knight lightning practitioners performed baptisms for knights to make a living.

But they were weak.

Not like me.

In the Border Patrol residence, I summoned the knights into the reception hall one by one.

“Why must we go this far?”

Nereus muttered beside me with faint irritation.

“A knight deserves to be treated with respect.”

“That’s not wrong.”

“If I ask them to give their lives later—I must be able to say I gave everything first.”

“…Give their lives?”

His expression twisted.

“If I give everything I can, then when I demand everything they have, I do it with legitimacy.”

“I’ve known you over ten years and still don’t understand you.”

He sighed.

“Call the first one in.”

Something in my words had triggered his competitiveness—his irritation vanished.

Creaaak.

“Will you truly grant us the Thunder-Lord’s Baptism?”

“Yes. Enter in the order of your victories in sparring.”

The reaction was immediate.

“OOOOOHHHH!!”

“Kyrie! Kyrie! Kyrie!”

“Glory to the Son of Astreios!”

Their shouts shook the windows.

I let lightning flow into their bodies, one by one, smiling inwardly.

Baptize the ones who come often. Turn them loyal. If they try to unite over unpaid wages, this will plant the seeds of division.

One by one, I granted lightning.

“HAHAHA! I look forward to fighting beside you!”

“Yes, Sir Nereus!”

Oh, Nereus, of course, was suddenly enthusiastic—already watching the knights like prized warhorses.

Knights are bold and violent, yet deferential to Blue Knights. I knew they’d love this.

Just as expected.

“Next.”

“Peijin, reporting.”

The next knight sat before me.

“I remember. Peijin of the New Moon, was it?”

“Hearing you say it is a little embarrassing.”

She was memorable during the interview.

Like Joy, her sun-darkened face and silver hair tied to one side gave her a dignified, dangerous beauty.

“You manage many field ballistae and taught swordsmanship.”

But I remembered her not for her face—
but for the ten field ballistae she commanded.

“I can use lightning-art, though only weakly. I spent quite some time in training.”

She met my eyes.

I realized I would now remember her face as well.

Exotic features—and a storming hunger behind her eyes.

I knew that look.

I had once worn it.

“Born commoner, isn’t that right?”

“Yes.”

I thought of Joy still drowning in paperwork.

“I can grant baptism once per day. But there is something I need from you in return.”

“Say the word.”

Chapter 53

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