The howling north wind stirred up snowflakes all over the sky, leaving traces of them disappearing and appearing on the floor-to-ceiling windows. Griffith stood in front of the window, looking at the heavy snow outside the window and the snow-covered city below the mountain. The living room of Larmore House on the hillside overlooks the magnificent world capital, offering a unique and refreshing view all year round.
After spending an unforgettable first semester, the first-year students of Homemonworth have returned to their homes to spend the New Year's holiday in the year 1444 of the Second Era.
The servants of the Larmore family were busy in the room in an orderly manner, and from time to time someone cast a look of respect and envy at the trainee knight in front of the window. When he first came to Larmore House, he made a joke because he licked the plates too clean, but things were different now.
The terrible events of the previous winter at Homemonworth were already well known in Bayerland society. The courage, wisdom and good luck of Griffith, the apprentice knight of the Larmore family, occupy a large space in this story - the determined pursuit and brave rear battle protected Miss Sonia de Larmore and many others. The life and reputation of a noble heir, but in the end he was able to escape alive from the pit of mutated creatures. It was really incredible.
As the most important reward, Griffith received the precious Paladin Path Sequence 8 "Agent" potion, obtained the inheritance of the Paladin of Al de Nova, and was officially promoted to Extraordinary. He has already touched it. The threshold of knighthood. At the dinner at the Earl's Palace, everyone praised and lamented Earl Larmore's generosity and justice.
Being able to get rid of the promotion limit of the spellbreaker path within reach and become a paladin with unlimited possibilities and favors is not the good luck that every Shutoral can get.
What everyone didn't know was that Griffith had already drank the potion. In addition, not long after drinking the potion, he was infected with the extraordinary characteristics of a fallen vampire baron. The inheritance and favor of the Paladin were completely lost...
Griffith, who had been more or less contaminated by darkness, pretended that it was no big deal and played with a small crystal on his fingertips. This is a small gift given to him by Galadia on the Frost Festival - the Insight Crystal. By imbuing this crystal with spiritual power, the holder can observe things that would otherwise be invisible.
"Vitality 19, strength 19, agility 17, perception 15, spirit 15." Compared to the state when he first drank it in the Whispering Forest, Griffith found that his agility and perception had improved. These data make people feel strange, but they also provide a very intuitive reference, allowing extraordinary people to have a clearer understanding of themselves.
This small piece of insight crystal ripples with pleasant fluctuations like running water, from which Griffith's own five-dimensional information and colorful psychic ripples can be seen. According to Galadia, if Griffith is blessed by magic, blessed by gods, or polluted by evil, the crystal should also be able to appear.
Physical strength, which represents self-healing and physical strength, has obvious problems. Even for a relatively powerful Sequence 7 Beyonder, having a physical strength of 15 is already a very high value. For humans, it is natural to rely on potions and armor to heal or strengthen defense. There is no need to strengthen the fur and body like beasts.
Griffith's skin and muscles have not become like steel, but his self-healing ability has been greatly strengthened, which has approached the limit of inhumanity. If it increases any further, it will become very dangerous and may cause him to mutate into monster.
However, Griffith did not see the vampire characteristics in himself. Although this characteristic has significantly enhanced his self-healing ability, the crystal just doesn't show it. The characteristics of the Holy Light also remain somewhat. These two extraordinary characteristics actually exist. The failure to detect them is probably due to the lack of accuracy of the insight crystal.
This insight crystal was probably bought from some shady businessman... Griffith remembered that the divination pendant bought by the elf girl was very unreliable. By the same token, she might have been deceived when she bought this crystal.
The problem now is - after drinking the potion, the physical attributes have been unreasonably enhanced, but the most precious inheritance has no trace. Griffith doesn't know how to explain it to everyone. Although Knight Al de Nova is not high in rank, he is a knight who specializes in holy protection and defense. The Larmore family seems to have paid a lot of money in order to inherit his extraordinary characteristics.
Fortunately, it takes time to fully master the characteristics after promotion. At the moment, no one is confused about Griffith not being favored by the Holy Light, and no one is testing his body for the time being.
He was filled with worries and annoyances.
Lana and the others actually said they didn't remember Krista. After showing them the watercolor of Krista and everyone else, they still insisted that there was no such person.
Griffith immediately told them the names of his squadron partners one by one. There were 17 armored cavalry including Krista and Commander Second Class Assault Squadron Captain Valkyrie. They were very clear.
"No, your squadron only has 16 armored cavalry, and you are missing one person. How could we not know," Lana and Murat insisted, "Could this be a girl from the auxiliary or logistics team? Every squadron has a girl." Where are the hundreds of people, you remembered wrongly."
Damn it, how could I remember it wrong! Griffith simply gritted his teeth. The scene where Krista died was not such an ambiguous memory.
Lana and Murat must know Krista. Everyone in the armored cavalry regiment knows each other! However, Lana and the others still insisted that Griffith had stayed in the Whispering Forest for too long and lost too much of his sanity. The delusion was because he had not recovered yet.
"Mr. Apprentice Knight," the butler Ashford walked out of the earl's study and nodded to the apprentice knight who stood upright, "the earl is waiting for you in the study room in the courtyard."
Griffith immediately put away his messy thoughts, adjusted his collar and cuffs, and made sure that the small medal on his blue ribbon was in the right position, and then walked into the study with his head held high.
Loud and steady footsteps echoed in the empty corridor. Passing through the long bookshelves leaning against the wall, Griffith came to an independent two-story circular building in the courtyard. The tall walls of the Earl's Palace cut off the noise on the streets, leaving only the occasional refreshing echo of the bent branches of the snow in the garden.
A young man in a bank uniform hurried past. Griffith caught a glimpse of him holding a provincial government bond subscription agreement. The long string of zeros seemed to be 500,000 silver francs.
So much money is really confusing. Most of the good brothers in the legion had a monthly salary of 50 silver francs, and a bond subscribed by the count allowed them to work for him for a month.
Count William de La Mole was immersed in papers and books. As a result of wearing a heavy helmet all year round when he was young, his once thick and beautiful blond hair has become somewhat gray and sparse. Fortunately, the count's valet took great care in styling his master's hair, and you couldn't tell it unless you looked carefully.
After hearing the footsteps of the apprentice knight entering the study, the earl slowly raised his head.
"How do you feel about the past six months? Second-level squad leader." The count took off the glasses on his nose and looked at his subordinates.
"Your Majesty, I have drafted a report, which is about the complete process of the Northern Passage ghost ship Kono and the incident at Fort Watch," Griffith said to his employer in a smooth and solemn tone. "In addition, Homon I benefited a lot from studying at Watts, and I achieved certain results in the examinations in basic logistics, standard camp and infantry command subjects."
"Then if a war breaks out, I will remember to send you out into battle as a military officer in charge of logistics." The earl smiled slightly and shook the quill in his hand. "How do you get along with my daughter?"
She and I have made a soul contract that can complement each other's psychic abilities, but I dare not say...
"Miss Sonya is a wise, courageous and noble leader, and it has been an honor to serve her," Griffith paused, "and a great pleasure."
Let’s not talk about establishing a soul contract for now, well, let’s not talk about it for now.
While the trainee knight was speaking, Count Larmore stood up, walked to Griffith and looked into his eyes. Griffith was at a loss for a moment and could only stare at the count quietly.
"I was once a Shutoral," the tall, charming and majestic Earl said while gently waving his right hand, as if to drive away some thoughts, "For this kind of people, it is necessary to There are two aspects of striving to improve. One is the knowledge you learn in school and practice on the battlefield."
"Yes, sir." Griffith agreed heartily.
"Secondly, as a Sequence 8 Beyonder, you must continue to strengthen your strength. Extraordinaries must always be prepared to fight against secrecy and chaos."
After saying this, the earl turned around and took out a letter from the desk and handed it to the trainee knight: "After the recent war, the south of the kingdom is not peaceful. As a loyal vassal of His Majesty the King, I need to proactively fulfill my obligations. , to share your Majesty’s worries.
"Neopolis Island, that's your birthplace, right? I'll give you a mission for two weeks. During the mission, you can go home and say hello to Knight Brandon for me."
The count was talking to himself, leaving no room for Griffith to interrupt. In fact, the Brandon family has moved to the new territory of the Southern Province.
The trainee knight who received the letter looked at the envelope sealed with wax in his hand, thinking about whether he needed to ask a few questions.
Count Larmore noticed the confusion in Griffith's eyes, thought for a moment and added: "Some fallen mages are smuggling dangerous black magic items. I need you to find out the situation so that I can understand the troubles I deal with every day." Learn more about things.”
"Yes, Lord Earl," Griffith put his feet together without hesitation, raised his right hand and hit his chest.
