Surviving as a Knight in a Trash Game

The ambush had happened only once. After traveling quite a long distance beyond that, a towering spire finally came into view ahead of the group.

The large chapel with its bell tower, along with the priest’s quarters where the clergy resided, were built as grandly as a lord’s castle in an average domain.

The Fresco Monastery was the largest in the surrounding region and was significant enough to be guarded even by Holy Knights.

[Quest: Escort the Lady of the Tennesse House. Complete.]

As if the quest ended with her safe arrival, a system window popped up. You’d expect some kind of reward after completing a mission, but this was a trash game—there wasn’t even that.

Still, Karl thought a new quest would begin. That’s how it usually worked in games, didn’t it?

So he waited, wondering what the next mission would be—but no new quest appeared no matter how long he waited.

“This game really has no foundation.”

Not that it mattered. He’d gotten by just fine for fifteen years without any quests. There was no need to rush. With that, Karl eased his mind and looked around.

Unlike most churches, which were located within other domains, the Fresco Monastery was established in a neutral location, away from any lord’s territory.

As a result, the monastery also served as an administrative center, with believers settling nearby to cultivate farmland, and fortifications being built around it.

“Who goes there?”

At the entrance to the monastery, the guards—despite not being knights—were clad in heavy armor and wore cloaks bearing the insignia of the Church.

“Impressive.”

Karl could sense their sharp presence. It seemed these were well-trained soldiers. With some interest, Karl scanned his surroundings.

“I have come with Lady Selena of House Tennesse. I understand this matter was already discussed through letters with the Abbot. This is a sealed missive from the Lord of Tennesse.”

After verifying the document bearing the lord’s seal, the soldier bowed and rushed inside the monastery.

As the Abbot was the highest authority in this area, guests recognized by him were not to be taken lightly.

A cleric in charge soon came out and guided them to the abbot’s office. The monastery interior was simple and orderly, with not a single decorative item in sight.

After passing through the quiet and modest corridors, they arrived before the abbot’s office. The large door was adorned with various patterns, silently declaring the status of the Church in this world.

“Welcome to Fresco Monastery, Sister Selena Tennesse.”

With a kind face and a thin frame, the abbot gave off a warm impression. The word “gentle” fit him well.

Although this world was not Earth’s Middle Ages, it shared many similarities. The key differences were that the deity was called Essus, and that divine power truly existed as a supernatural force.

At the top of the Essus Order sat the Pope, followed by ten Cardinals, then Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Acolytes. Usually, even priests were considered high-ranking clergy.

Normally, abbots ranked below bishops in the ecclesiastical hierarchy, but the abbot of Fresco Monastery wielded influence somewhere between a bishop and an archbishop.

“Thank you, Abbot. However, I cannot receive your welcome with a light heart. My father, Baron Vito, stands as a candle before the wind.”

“It seems that Baron Seymour of Bolido is finally making his move.”

“Yes, Abbot. Though it is said that the Lord watches over human affairs without intervening, my father is a man who has lived his whole life without sin. He has followed the will of Essus, helped the poor, and sought salvation for himself through those deeds. Please—could you take pity on him and offer aid?”

“I’m afraid, Lady Selena, that the Church cannot intervene in the petty conflicts of the nobility.”

“…”

Selena clenched her fists tightly at Frederic’s answer, offered without a moment’s hesitation.

“I understand… Please forgive me for making such a bold request as soon as we met, amidst all the confusion.”

Knowing that insisting any further would change nothing, Selena simply bowed her head and offered her apology.

“Please rest your body and gather your strength for now. Brother Paul, please prepare rooms for Lady Selena and her companions. As for you, Brother—could we speak privately?”

Frederic dismissed the others and asked only Karl to stay behind. Though they all wondered why Frederic would want to speak to Karl, a man he’d just met, no one objected and they quietly moved to their assigned rooms.

“You must be tired after your journey. I’m Frederic.”

Despite being an abbot—a position of considerable power—Frederic respectfully greeted Karl first.

“I’m Karl, a Free Knight, wandering the world.”

Claiming to be a Free Knight in the West Continent was effectively no different from saying he was a mercenary.

Occasionally, highly skilled Free Knights did appear, but a man claiming the title alone in this rural backwater usually wasn’t taken seriously.

After Karl finished introducing himself, silence filled the office. Frederic had said nothing more and was simply staring at him.

A rather long silence passed between them, but Karl didn’t bother to break it either.

“You’re quite the quiet one, aren’t you?”

“Am I?”

“It almost seems like you don’t want to speak with me.”

“I see.”

“How amusing. You wear a blank expression, yet it’s painfully obvious you want to leave this room as quickly as possible.”

Frederic regarded Karl with curiosity.

“Abbot, I think it’s best if you get to the point.”

“…Sir Karl, you are no ordinary Westerner. I know that much. Why have you come here?”

“To escort Lady Selena of House Tennesse. That’s all.”

“And I’m to believe that a Superior-level knight came here for just that reason?”

“It’s the truth. I have nothing more to add.”

Despite Karl’s flat tone, Frederic responded with only a gentle smile.

“I believe you. Just as I believe in the goodwill of Essus, I believe your intentions for coming here are pure.”

“…”

Karl said nothing, and only Frederic’s voice continued to fill the room.

“Surely, Sir Karl, you’ve heard the phrase ‘May the blessing of Essus be upon you.’ No doubt you’ve heard it countless times—and perhaps even said it yourself.”

“…”

Karl neither confirmed nor denied it. He only remained silent.

“And I’ve heard stories of a knight touched by the blessing of Essus. I believe the man I know should still be in the desert. Yet here you are.”

“I’m not sure what stories you’re referring to.”

At Karl’s response, Frederic gave a soft, knowing smile.

“Count Kalido’s atrocities are growing worse. The noble spirit of the Holy Knights has been corrupted, and human greed has begun to outpace the will of the divine. Disorder follows.”

“Is that so.”

Even as Karl responded with disinterest, Frederic continued without pause.

“Baron Vito of Tennesse is a virtuous lord. He would rather place a handful of sugar on his people’s table than on his own. He’s long ensured that not a single soul starves or freezes in his domain. The people of Tennesse admire him deeply.

And Baron Seymour of Bolido… he was never the kind of man to make enemies carelessly. For him to suddenly wage war out of greed—something about it doesn’t sit right.”

Karl wasn’t paying attention to any of this. Still, Frederic kept talking, undeterred.

“Outwardly, Count Kalido remains silent, but he has dispatched his men and is secretly manipulating Baron Seymour. This means he’s involved in this matter.”

“Is that so.”

It was one of many possibilities Karl had already considered. So his response remained indifferent.

“Could you not lend your aid to House Tennesse?”

“No.”

Karl answered before Frederic could even finish. Then, calmly, he turned to leave.

“If we’re finished here, I’ll take my leave.”

“…Rest well, Brother.”

Karl ignored Frederic’s slow sign of the cross behind him and exited the office.

***

After leaving Frederic’s office, Karl followed a young monk to a clean, modest room. Thanks to the monastery’s well-developed water and sanitation system—made possible by basic civil engineering—it was easy to wash up.

After bathing and lying down on the bed, thoughts swirled in Karl’s head.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have taken this job.”

He had encountered people recognizing him far too quickly in this remote corner of the world. It wasn’t that unusual, but he hadn’t expected so many people to identify him so soon.

“Kalido, huh…”

He was, from Karl’s experience, a greedy man.

Even in the heart of the Holy War, he had an innate talent for securing his own interests.

Still, he was the type who generously took care of those around him, which earned him many followers.

He never stepped into situations that would cause him harm, so even his subordinates liked him.

No matter how Karl thought about it, getting involved would only bring trouble. In times like these, ignoring things was the wisest choice.

Knock knock.

Just as he was about to drift off from exhaustion, someone knocked on the door.

“This is Selena. May I speak with you for a moment?”

Karl stayed silent. He had no desire to face Selena.

Click.

Despite receiving no answer, the door opened. Karl frowned instantly.

“You know better than to ignore manners.”

“I do. I’m well aware. But I don’t have the luxury of minding manners right now. You’re leaving tomorrow, so I came to offer my thanks. Regardless of everything, you brought me this far—thank you very much.”

She bowed deeply, then pulled something from her robe and held it out to Karl.

“What’s this?”

Karl quietly examined the object she had placed in front of him.

“My mother said it was the ring my father gave her. I had no money left after paying you before we departed, so this is the only thing I have to offer.”

“…Isn’t that a keepsake of your mother’s?”

“It is. She said it has the power to clear one’s energy. I thought it would be more useful in your hands than mine.”

“You should keep it. I don’t intend to accept it.”

“Please, take it. I…”

She trailed off and lowered her head. Then, after a pause, she lifted it again.

“Anyway, thank you. I don’t know if we’ll ever meet again, but I hope the blessing of Essus follows your path.”

“…”

Just as she turned to leave—

Thump.

Without another word, Selena suddenly turned on her heel, dropped to her knees, and looked directly at Karl.

“I can’t hold it in any longer. If there’s even the slightest chance you might change your mind, please—help my father.”

“Do not kneel so easily.”

“I could kneel a hundred, a thousand times over if it would help.”

“…”

“I can’t do anything right now, and yet I have to do something.”

There was blood-stained desperation in her voice, in her eyes, in her trembling hands. And Karl felt her words scratching at something deep inside him.

[I can’t do anything now, but if I don’t do something, I’ll die.]

Karl had felt the same. Thrust into this world without warning, he had no choice but to swing his sword to survive. He always had to do something. If he didn’t, he feared he might go mad in this alien world.

After kneeling for some time, Selena finally left the room. Karl was once again alone.

By now, the system should’ve popped up a quest window—but no new mission appeared.

Perhaps this was truly the end of his connection with that woman. Karl thought as much, then sank into his bed.

“I’m tired…”

A short sigh, heavy with fatigue. Karl, wanting to shut off his thoughts, soon fell into a deep sleep.

***

“Abbot, why are you so interested in this knight named Karl?”

One of the attending priests voiced his curiosity. Frederic had never shown such interest in knights before, so his behavior seemed especially unusual.

“The Lord often sends people into chaotic times. We priests search for such ones chosen by Him.”

“Are you saying Sir Karl was chosen by Essus?”

“No, I wouldn’t go that far. But I do believe he is someone special—possibly chosen.”

“I don’t quite understand.”

Frederic smiled kindly.

“If you serve your duties as a priest long enough, you’ll understand one day.”

The priest’s face only grew more puzzled by Frederic’s cryptic words.

“Give this to him before he leaves tomorrow.”

When the priest saw the item in Frederic’s hand, his eyes widened in surprise.

“Abbot, this is…! That’s a symbol given only to the benefactors of the Order—why would you give it to a wandering Free Knight?”

“Just tell him it may be needed. And tell him: Let your heart and your feet walk the same path.”

The priest, still confused by the cryptic message, took one of only two such tokens in the entire monastery and walked toward Karl’s room.

As he watched the priest’s back, Frederic quietly made the sign of the cross and offered a prayer.

Now nearing sixty, Frederic was considered quite old by this world’s standards. Having served the Church for so long, he had gained some insight into truths that others could not see.

One year ago, when the Ghost of Chevalier—Karl—had returned to the West Continent, Frederic had heard the news through the Church’s most secretive information channels.

To the Essus Order, the ghost from the East was a hero. He had returned quietly, like a real ghost, without asking for anything in return. Some in the Church's upper ranks believed they owed him a great debt.

The token Frederic had given him was not a personal gift. It was a small gesture of gratitude from the Church to one of its benefactors. Of course, it wasn’t given purely out of goodwill.

Are you still a ghost? Or a hero who will end the chaos?

Either way, Frederic felt certain that a storm was coming to the West Continent. In that maelstrom, the token he offered was not his will—but the will of God.

The light of the divine was already shining upon Karl, and Frederic could only hope that Karl would walk a path that would benefit all.

He knew well that the will of God was lofty and profound—beyond the simple understanding of man.

“O Lord, please bring peace to this chaotic continent.”

***

The next morning, Karl left the monastery without looking back.

What irked him, though, was that the token Frederic had given him now sat in his pocket.

He had tried to refuse, but the priest insisted that he had to take it no matter what.

“He looked like he wanted to give it even less than I wanted to take it.”

That priest clearly hadn’t wanted to hand it over.

Still, Karl had ended up accepting it. And now, he could feel the subtle glow of the token making his thoughts more tangled.

[Surely, you’ve heard the greeting: ‘May the blessing of Essus be upon you.’]

As if echoing, Frederic’s voice rang again in Karl’s mind.

[Let your heart and your feet walk the same path.]

The message delivered by the priest stuck with him, as if he had heard it directly from Frederic himself.

It was a mix of emotions—but Karl had already decided which direction he would take.

And so, his horse moved forward… in the same direction he had always gone.

After riding for a while, Karl pulled two items from his coat.

One was a platinum ring, the other a golden, subtly glowing token.

[You have obtained your first Named Item. Item Appraisal feature has been unlocked.]

As Karl looked at the Church’s token, a message window he had never seen before appeared.

Items were one of the most important elements in a game. The question was—how could he actually make use of this feature now?