Vol. 1 - Ch. 2 - The Beginning - Day 1

"Brother, you know, it is tomorrow. Are you nervous?" Felicia called out to me during a family dinner. "No, not really. You know, things are going to turn out exactly the way they are supposed to." I replied.In the Kingdom of Rondosius, in May, of the year of turning fifteen, almost everyone, regardless of status, goes to the church for a ceremony. It is performed by a priest and is called Sangso Shinso no Mutsu. 

Through this ceremony, one acquires magical power. It is said that, by having a soul connection with the goddess Yona, one can receive magical power from the goddess. 

The amount of magical power obtained differs from person to person. And the amount of magic power is directly related to the state of prosperity. That is why it seems that everyone is nervous just before the ceremony.

"Rolf, you don't need to worry. I'm sure you'll receive a lot of magic power and become a great knight." Felicia said, beaming at me.

"Don't let the pressure get to you. You're a first-class swordsman and military strategist. Even if you don't have a lot of magic power, you'll be able to play an active role as a knight." my parents said with a smile.

"The amount of magic power is certainly important, but it should not be the only thing. The most important thing in Sangso is to have a connection with Yona-sama. Do not forget that."

"Yes, Father."

As I responded, I remembered the origin of the Secret of Sangso, which everyone in this kingdom knows.

It is a secret that the saint Lacriamelec learned through a divine revelation six hundred years ago. By applying this to a person, a soul connection is established with the goddess Yona, and magical power is given.

Lacriamelec was a kind-hearted young man who lived in a village in the mountains while taking care of his mother, who had a limp. 

One day, while he was working in the fields in front of his house, the village was attacked by a demon tribe. Unable to escape with his limping mother, Lacriamelec desperately tried to drive the demons away with a farming hoe, but he was powerless to do so and went down, with a spear thrust into his body. 

Miraculously, Lacriamelec woke up a few hours later. 

He learned that his life had been saved, he also understood that this fortune had been given to only him. Right before his eyes, his mother had been mutilated beyond recognition. 

Lacriamelec wailed, his wounds opened and blood gushed from his body at the sight of the cruel death of his only living relative.

From that day on, he spent most of his days in prayer. 

He tended to his fields for minimal sustenance, and he spent the rest of his time by a large tree, praying to God. At that time, there were only indigenous beliefs in very few places, there was also no Yonaism, the unifying theism of today. 

Lacriamelec did not know much about God, he did not know what to pray for nor how to pray. But he could not help but pray for the peace of his mother's soul. 

I don't know if his mother was headed for a place called heaven or even somewhere else, but wherever it was, he wanted her to find peace, somewhere she could no longer be hurt. 

And of course, he couldn't help but ask for the strength to fight the demons, so as to not let the sorrow repeat itself. He wanted to know how to resist the irrationality of suddenly running over people who were living in peace, without fault.

So he prayed to the most majestic tree he had ever seen, he saw it as a god and continued to pray to it every day. There was no one there to criticize him, no one there to tell him that acquiring the strength to fight would have been better than praying. 

The difference in power between humans and demons was so obvious that it was not something a person could train to fight. Therefore, the only thing Lacriamelec could do was to pray. Prayer is supposed to be a gentle act, but Lacriamelec's prayer was very intense. Whether there was snow, a storm, or unbearable heat, Lacriamelec prayed without wavering.

The days that he spent in the fields became fewer and fewer, and his life became a life of prayer. It is said that the sight of him praying for days on end, without eating, drinking, or sleeping, was so unnerving that he could hardly be called a saint.

One day, Lacriamelech finally had a revelation. He heard a voice in his mind that was warm, and powerful, albeit intermittent. 

"...Hear... Can you hear... Can you hear me?" 

Lacriamelec immediately understood that the voice belonged to God. He didn't know why, but he was sure it was God's voice.

The voice said, "O gentle one, the one who prays... in the name of the goddess Yona, I give you the secret of salvation." 

Lacriamelec then felt something flowing into him. Suddenly, he knew how to form a bond with the goddess. This was the secret of the Goddess. 

"Please pass this on to the people. And take a stand... against... evil." 

The voice grew fainter and fainter. 

"Please... please use your power to restore the world as it should be.........." .............. 

As the voice of God faded away, Lacriamelec slowly stood up under the great tree. He felt that the voice of God sounded somewhat like his mother's. 

Lacriamelec then traveled around the world, offering the people the secret of his magic bestowed to him by Goddess Yona. The people who had gained magical power used it to protect their families and their lives from the demon tribe. People were deeply grateful to Lacriamelec and offered him status and wealth, but he refused all of them. 

He said that it was the goddess Yona who was to be thanked, and that he had only acted as a mediator between the gods and the mortals.

After Lacriamelec's death, he and those who loved the goddess Yona, founded the Yona religion. The secrets to create a connection with the goddess Yona were firmly handed down, and the priests of the Yona religion continued to offer them to the people. 

The secret mysteries came to be called the Secret of Sangso. 

Considering the burden of connecting the soul with God, the priests of the Yona religion decided to impart the Secrets of Sangso once at the age of 15 years old. They continued to bestow the secrets in various places to give power to the people. 

The people's counter-offensive against the demon tribe gradually became organized, and cities were built and countries were established. 

In particular, the Kingdom of Rondosius, which was founded in the birthplace of Lacriamelec, became the largest country in the human race. 

And so it is to this day. 

Tomorrow, I will receive Sangso's secret and establish a bond with goddess Yona. Then, I will gain magical power, the power to fight against the demon tribe. 

Demons. 

An existence that opposes human beings. 

They innately possess strong magical power. 

It is said that during the time when people did not have magical power, mankind was overrun by the demons.

However, since being given magical power through the saint Lacriamelec six hundred years ago, people have continued to fight against the demons. 

In the Kingdom of Rondosius, all those who have received the secrets of Sangso are qualified to join the Order of Knights. In fact, many of the nobles join the Knight Order as soon as they receive the power. 

The people who fought against the demon tribe formed an organization, and eventually the Kingdom of Rondosius was established. Therefore, it is the duty of the nobles of this kingdom to fight against the demon tribe.

And so, it was decided that Emily and I would join the Order as well. However, children of nobles rarely venture all the way to death. Usually, after being knighted and gaining a bit of military experience, they return to their lands. 

In short, they go to the Order to make a career. 

But I had a different idea. Ever since I can remember, I have loved knight stories and have always dreamed of becoming a knight. That is why I have swung a sword more than anyone else. I will eventually rule a fiefdom, but for now, fortunately so, my father is still in good health.  sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

However, I want to be a knight. And I want to be a knight for as long as possible. 

And actually, I have no intention of belittling Emily and her feelings. I intend to marry her before I take over the family. In fact, I've actually heard that some nobles get married while they are knights. 

And when I become a knight that I can be proud of, I will return to my lands.

That was my wish.