"That was a bit harsh…" muttered the apprentice knight, looking at Giselle with a wounded expression.

Recommending someone from the Wardanaz family—a prominent magic family representing the Empire—for knighthood was indeed uncommon. However, if anyone from that family had the qualities needed for knighthood, it was I-han. After all, he had recently fought alongside knights from the Beechwood Order against anti-magic insurgents, showing that he’d elevate, not tarnish, the honor of whoever endorsed him.

But I-han intervened for Moradi’s sake, explaining, "Moradi just doesn’t want to give the impression that his family is too close with mine."

After all, associating his family’s name with another was a delicate matter for any noble. A recommendation was no light matter, as it implied deep connections, and it could be an issue if things went awry. But Giselle disagreed immediately.

“That’s not it! Why would I reject a connection with the Wardanaz family? What are you talking about, Wardanaz?”

Giselle, politically savvy as she was, could never allow such a misperception to take root. Even though she wasn’t from a knight’s family, a close connection with a prestigious noble family like the Wardanaz would always be beneficial.

“Uh… hey…”

I-han, who was trying to smooth things over, was baffled as the conversation circled back to where it started. Giselle, too, seemed equally exasperated as she glared at I-han.

‘Why would he imply that my family wouldn’t want ties with his? What if the Wardanaz family takes it the wrong way?’

‘It’s not like my family would even care—they don’t even read the Imperial News, so they wouldn’t be bothered.’

Seeing no end to this, Dergieu stepped in. “Wardanaz has always said he has no interest in joining the knight order. That’s why Moradi reacted the way he did. It was blunt, but I’m sure you understand.”

“Yes, exactly,” I-han agreed quickly, nodding along.

This explanation seemed to satisfy everyone, and both I-han and Giselle relaxed a bit.

For I-han, there were very few things worse than being mistaken for someone wanting to join the knights; after all, there were few jobs as grueling and thankless as a knight’s.

The apprentice knight, still curious, shifted the conversation. “But Wardanaz, you’d do well as a knight. Plenty of magic users serve in the order and are greatly respected. Moradi, doesn’t your family serve in the northern orders?”

‘Shut it, clueless fool,’ Giselle thought, suppressing her irritation this time.

If he wanted to endorse I-han, he could do it himself. Why drag her into it?

Luckily, Dergieu responded again. “Wardanaz plans to stay at Einroguard after graduation to continue his research with the professors.”

“You’ve lost your mind, Dergieu?!”

This time, I-han gasped, visibly horrified. Dergieu looked hurt.

---

It took some time for the misunderstandings between the apprentices and students to be cleared up, but eventually, they gathered around to discuss the trial.

“So, we six need to survive in these mountains for a day,” one of the apprentices explained, to which I-han cautiously asked, “Do you know where we’ll be starting?”

“Of course not, Wardanaz! Where’s the challenge in that?”

‘Clueless fool,’ I-han thought to himself, feeling irritated.

Unlike the Einroguard students who’d been cooped up inside, these knights had ample opportunity to learn some information along the way. Professor Engeldel would have been more lenient with them, too.

“Wardanaz, we’re in trouble,” Giselle muttered, pulling him aside.

“Why?”

“I thought we’d just shelter in the cabins overnight.”

“Right…”

“But does it look like these guys will let that slide?”

I-han stopped short, noticing the earnest and determined expressions on the apprentices’ faces.

“Oh.”

He decided to test the waters. “I mean, I have friends who planned to set up cabins in advance as a place to retreat to during this trial.”

The apprentices’ expressions turned to disgust. “Would they stoop to such tricks? Who would do that?”

“Wardanaz, you should tell the professor immediately. Who is it?”

“Well, I only overheard it…”

I-han looked grim. He excused himself and gathered his friends privately.

“Are all knight family members like this? Setting up shelters in advance is part of the skill, isn’t it? Do they know how much trouble we went through to prepare supplies?”

Speaking earnestly, I-han poured out his frustrations. The apprentices, who had only arrived from the city recently, had no clue how much work went into hiding cabins all over the mountains. I-han and his friends had snuck out at dawn, stayed up late on night shifts, and scoured for supplies to make it all work.

Giselle sighed in agreement. “It’s true. Knights who joined young tend to be rigid and uncompromising.”

“Indeed. Though the White Tiger Tower kids are quite flexible,” I-han added.

“…What?”

“They’re more agreeable than others, aren’t they?”

Both Giselle and Dergieu couldn’t help but protest. Being from knight families, they didn’t take that as a compliment.

“What makes you say that?” Giselle asked, indignant.

“Well, one of your Tower mates was selling training swords on the black market last time. A few kids probably don’t have swords if you check.”

‘Damn idiots,’ Giselle cursed silently. It was embarrassing to think of them anywhere.

“Maybe… they were really starving,” she suggested weakly.

“Choi, just stop talking,” Giselle told Dergieu’s Orc friend with a gesture, realizing every word seemed to drag them deeper.

“Right now, it doesn’t matter how flexible our Tower is,” she continued. “What matters is dealing with those apprentices. The test will begin soon, and we don’t have time.”

I-han mulled it over, finally speaking up. “Only one solution comes to mind.”

“Same here.”

“I’ve got one idea too.”

They looked at each other, surprised. Had they all thought of the same thing?

Dergieu felt a surge of hope. ‘A year of fighting together has paid off!’

The tense relations between Giselle and I-han had always worried him, but this showed some real camaraderie.

“Let’s say it together. Three, two, one…”

“Put them to sleep, then tie them up.”

“Knock them out and secure them.”

“Defeat them honorably in combat… huh?”

Dergieu was stunned. His friends’ responses hadn’t matched his at all. In situations like this, didn’t you just accept the help and make the best of it?

Giselle and I-han exchanged looks, considering the peaceful route. “Can we put them to sleep?”

“I have a sleeping potion my friends and I made. I’ll tell them it’s for the cold.”

“Oh, much gentler. Sounds good—let’s go with that.”

They quickly settled on a plan: knock out the apprentices and carry them through the test.

Dergieu, realizing he’d been outvoted, sighed.

---

Clank, clank—

“We’re moving by carriage!” Lavda from the Enghe family exclaimed in awe.

She hadn’t expected to travel by carriage through the mountain range. Einroguard was truly a school of mages.

“Lavda, I heard you’re an expert with the absorption technique, right?”

“I wouldn’t say an expert. I still have a long way to go.”

But her humble answer couldn’t conceal her pride. The swordsmanship of the Enghe family was focused on the unique art of “absorption,” a rarity even within the Empire.

“Impressive. I’m also practicing the absorption technique, but applying it to swordsmanship like that is hard to imagine,” I-han complimented her.

“Thank y—wait, what?” Lavda was confused.

How was he practicing absorption?

“Here, drink this,” I-han handed them all a round vial, watching as the apprentices eyed it curiously.

“What’s this?”

“A potion to help with the cold.”

“Oh, thanks.”

One by one, the apprentices drank it, and I-han smiled.

“Any idea where this carriage is taking us?” he asked.

“Not at all. This movement doesn’t feel like anything ordinary,” Giselle muttered, frowning.

The carriage had no windows, and since they’d started, it had moved in impossible directions—sometimes climbing steep inclines, other times descending sharply, and at one point, they’d even seemed to fly or teleport.

Thud, screech!

The carriage halted, and the door opened, signaling them to disembark.

I-han and his friends carried the sleeping apprentices out one by one. The driverless carriage then spun around and disappeared down the slope.

“The snowfall’s getting heavier…” Dergieu noted, shivering as he looked around.

The flurries thickened, promising a harsh journey ahead.

“I heard giants inhabit these mountains. We won’t run into any, right?”

“Don’t worry; there are no giants here,” I-han reassured.

“Good to know… Wait, I-han, how do you know that?” Dergieu asked.

I-han didn’t respond, too focused on locating their position on the map.

“Got it. If we walk for about thirty minutes, we’ll reach one of the cabins I set up.”

“Oh… what’s happening…?”

Lavda, dazed and

 beginning to wake, struggled to sit up. Giselle responded by firmly knocking her out with the pommel of her sword, sending her back to sleep with a yelp.

“What’s going on?” I-han asked, looking up from the map.

Giselle shrugged nonchalantly. “Nothing important. Let’s get going.”