Chapter 10

Sunrise came when official knights gathered at the forest exit waiting for the first pair to come out. The head knight already heard the news that most of the trainees were killed inside and it made him turned chafed.

He did not plan to release the Orc if it were not for that woman. The past month he had to find ways how to kill that murderer but failed because she always disappeared during the day. Although it is a fact that the survival test's purpose was to eliminate bad knights, it doesn't end without trainees getting killed. It just so happens that for this test a lot were killed than the usual numbers they were expecting. Among all the names of the trainees that died, he did not hear her name.

The day came for the survival test to end and the head knight gathered a few official knights to welcome the five pairs.

"Sir, I see people getting out!" A Knight announced

The first pair to come out was Cain and his companion Caleb, followed by Lady Dorothy and Lilith.

Whooo! The head knight was pleased to see them, two pairs of nobles right out the bat. I guess it does not matter if a lot were killed as long as the strong survived.

The third pair to come out was Ann and Adam, they were trainees sponsored by Viscount Claren.

When the passers gathered at the side of the exit the Knights were anxiously waiting for the fourth and fifth pair to come out. It took them quite some time until they see shadows.

The fourth pair to come out was Albert and Linden, the head knight was surprised to see them.

How the hell did those two morons passed? The head knight thought. Two lazy sons of rich merchants passed? How? He asked himself again, he knew Albert was with someone who always protected him.

Where is he?

"Sir! The last pair are coming out!"

The head night walks towards the exit that made all passers look to his direction. Albert and Linden who was already resting at the side did not bother to look anymore as if they already knew who it was.

When the head knight was already facing the exit, to his surprise he saw Albert's slave - wounded and supporting him was none other than that woman.

His face became dark when he sees her. Not just him but everyone around the area looks at her with disgust.

"H-how did you manage to survive!? You cheated!" The head knight screamed

Catori was about to respond when she was stopped by Gin.

"Sir" he uttered

The head knight looks at him.

"She and I are a pair now - if you have a problem with her passing this exam I expect you doubted me as well?"

What the hell is this slave saying? The head knight wanted to rebut his statement but he could not lose his temper now when all eyes were on him.

"Whatever - this test is over," he said and turned his back on them.

"Sir Gin" Catori whispered as she continued to support him from walking

"It's the least I could do for saving our lives" he whispered back

Both of them look at Albert and Linden who were staring as well, Albert looks at them with loath in his eyes when Linden notices him he just pulled him and together they walked away with the others.

"I think he's mad at me," said Catori

Gin laughed at her statement "He's always mad but don't worry he won't do anything now because he's ashamed a woman saved him" he looks at her "Actually, I'm ashamed as well"

Catori tilted her head "Why?"

Gin just smiled at her. [Of course, you dummy, you just killed a horde of goblins and hobgoblins plus an Orc alone while I was sitting behind feeling so helpless] he thought but did not bother to say it because it's too embarrassing

--

"Shit! Shit!" FURIOUS, the head knight toppled every table and chair he could reach inside his room the moment he arrived.

How did she manage to survive!? The sentence keeps on repeating inside his thoughts.

When the test was over, he ordered a few of his knights to search for survivors inside the forest and kill the Orc he released. The five pairs were resting in a safe area including that woman. The head knight did not want to believe but she found a pair while inside!? He knew that Albert's slave was someone to observe due to his good control of mana and coming from the Ward family who were known earth wielders.

How did she convince him? Tst. To think that a slave and a murderer together taking the exam is blasphemy! He walks back and forth across the room trying to think of ways for the two of them to be eliminated and was suddenly interrupted by a Knight.

"Sir! We're already done rescuing the remaining survivors!" He reported

"What? That fast? It's only half an hour!" Surprised, the head knight questioned

"There were fewer monsters left" the knight replied

"Fewer?"

"Yes, sir!" The Knight shouted but bit his lips showing that there's still news he wanted to tell him

Head Knight, "What? What are you fidgeting about and tell me!"

"Y-yes, sir! It's about the Orc you wanted us to eliminate"

Head Knight "Yes, what about it? Do you have trouble killing that monster?"

"Actually sir, we could not kill " IT" anymore..."

Head Knight, "And why is that?"

"It's already dead sir..."

The head knight's eyes widen instead of his mouth "Dead? You mean one of those trainees killed that monster?"

The knight nodded.

The head knight smiled. An orc can only be defeated by a level b knight or more than that. To think someone at that level is in his guidance. "Where are the passers?" He hastily asked

"They are currently in the medical ward sir"

"Let's go meet that special trainee eh?" He said

The Knight Selection Exam is one of the biggest events in the kingdom. This was highly celebrated after the First King, King Marcus won the great war. It was at that time knights became famous. This selection chooses young knights to serve seven houses that consist of nobles and aristocrats, and if some of these 10 passers will be able to pass and got chosen by a powerful house, his rank will skyrocket and will no longer be a Head Knight anymore! He will become a commander or better a general! The head knight thought while secretly smiling, this is his chance to get away from this run down village!

When they arrived at the ward all eyes were on him.

"Trainees! I just found out that one of you here killed an Orc that was lurking inside the forest, may I know who was responsible?" He blurted

The people inside looked at each other.

"You don't have to worry, I just need to know who that person is to thank him or her for exterminating that monster"

Gin who was lying down in bed far from the others together with Catori pulled her bloodsoaked shirt.

"This might be a chance to get into his good side..." He whispered

Catori looks at him and shakes her head.

Cain and Caleb who were before them were eavesdropping

"Do you think that her clothes were bloodied because she killed an Orc?" Caleb asked

"I don't know, but how can she kill an Orc? She looks weak." Cain answered back

"Why are you all silent!? I'm only asking who was the one responsible for killing the Orc that's all!" The head knight asked again but this time he was getting agitated because no one inside the room was answering until he sees a hand raised from behind.

"You?" The head knight raised his brows and groaned "Tell me you're lying"

Everyone looked to the direction where the hand was and Gin could not believe his eyes when he saw who the person was, he looks at Catori and she had a serious look on her face as well.

"No Sir I wasn't lying, I was the one who killed the Orc, maybe you have seen how I've killed him by piercing through his neck?"

The head knight looks at the official knight with him "Is that true?"

Official Knight "Y-yes! The Orc was killed with a sharp object pierced through his neck"

The head knight massages his forehead and released a huge sigh "Of all people, why you - Albert?"

---

"Albert! What are you doing!?" Whispered Linden "You did not kill the Orc that woman did"

"Shut up or I'll beat you up"

"Do you want us to be a laughing stock among these groups who passed because some murderer rescued us!?" Albert whispered back

Linden, "B-but"

"If you don't want to bring shame to your family I suggest you follow me - even if that woman confesses no one will believe her anyway" Albert happily explained

Linden went silent but bit his lips, he knew they were wrong but he could not let down his pride. When Albert confirmed his agreement he patted Linden's back "Great, we're in this together then!"

Albert glared to where Gin and Catori were and saw Gin looking at him, furious.

He replied with a smile "Idiots" he muttered

"Then will you and Linden follow me to my office? We need to discuss this further" the head knight said to the Pair

Linden and Albert both nodded.

Head Knight, "For the rest of you...Once you're done being treated training will resume"

Now together with Linden and Albert, they went out.

"Pheeew!" Adam whistled

"To think that a loser like him can kill an Orc that big? Wow, we never can underestimate someone" he laughed while staring at Gin

"Right Gin? To think you have such a reliable master"

Gin did not respond

"What's wrong? Is your wound that painful you can't speak?" Albert teased

"Shut up" Gin replied

"Hahahaha! You ordered me to shut up now slave!?" He goes near to Gin and was stopped by Dorothy "C'mon Adam don't stoop that low" she said

"Let him bark all he wants, because no matter what he says he will always be below us" she smiled "both of them are"

Gin can hear Adam grumbled as they went back to their beds.

"And I thought I was the one having issues" Catori breaks the silence

Gin looks at her and laughed "Hahaha, I guess we're alike in some ways"

"You should change your clothes- I'll be fine" he offered

"It's fine, all my clothes were inside the forest anyway"

Gin, "Are you going back?"

"I don't have a place to stay here, so yeah"

Gin, "Will you continue to train there?"

Catori nodded

"Then please take me with you"

--- End