High-ranking knight—this wasn't a position found everywhere like in the web novels Li Lin had read before.
In reality, every high-ranking knight was a pillar of Kazimierz. As the foundation upon which the Knightly Nation could be established, they stood upon the territory of Kazimierz. They were usually divided into territorial knights and honorary knights. Their positions and actions could be analyzed just from their names.
Territorial knights, strictly speaking, could no longer be considered knights; they were lords. It was only due to Kazimierz's special circumstances that every lord maintained a knightly title. They were Kazimierz's most loyal supporters and the most fundamental beneficiaries of knightly noble titles. Secondly, there were the strong knights who had distinguished themselves in the Knight Major, or simply returned from campaigns. They would serve as important components and defensive forces protecting the territorial knights.
The strong are revered, the weak perish. Beneath the fairy tale of the Knightly Nation lay a thorough survival of the fittest.
If someone played the role of a glamorous knight on the surface, then there must be a large group of people striving for this glamour. There would also be people promoting all this glamour. Nothing spreads spontaneously, unless that thing aligns with everyone's interests.
But fortunately, the high-ranking knight stationed nearby didn't seem to be the boss Li Lin imagined, coming up to taunt or something. Quite the opposite, what arrived was a valiant and heroic tall, blonde woman. Her face possessed a fortitude and strength as if seen only in comics; just one glance and you knew whom that seemingly righteous knight from before was imitating.
And this knight also seemed very quick-witted, not a rigid type.
Just looking at the group's RV, the unconscious, bloody knight on the ground, and the low-ranking knights who started wailing upon meeting, she roughly knew what had happened here.
"Stand down, Reid. Your actions have already disgraced Kazimierz."
"Lady Nearl, these people are truly very suspicious—"
"I said stand down!"
"…Your will."
The knight, whose appearance was anything but righteous, gave the blonde girl a dark look, then glanced at the group standing there, and left the scene with his retainers. However, no one present paid much attention to such a minor character.
In this kind of rigidly hierarchical society, it was quite difficult for a low-ranking knight to play tricks. Reporting your direct superior high-ranking knight would most likely result in being directly dragged away and executed by other knights, then claiming this person had lost their knightly virtue and betrayed their elder. After all, since the war began, such incidents had happened more than just once or twice. Sentient beings, only in adapting to turmoil, possessed a unique talent.
Watching the very depressed low-ranking knight lead his team away without even a greeting, anyone could tell this low-ranking knight probably already harbored some resentment, and very likely had already found a new master. And facing this completely disrespectful behavior, this blonde, ponytail-wearing woman also showed a slightly awkward expression. The knights behind her also kept their eyes down,saying nothing more. Finally, because wearing heavy armor prevented bowing in apology, this tired-faced blonde high-ranking knight still expressed her apologies in a slightly deep voice.
"…For such a thing to happen, I feel extremely sorry."
"Ah, it's okay, it's the wilderness after all."
"As the eldest son of High Knight Midir, he was originally a good child. Following me because of my ideals and actions. But original intentions are not very hard to maintain, especially in chaotic times like these. I hope such an accident will not affect your actions."
"Of course not, we are just some staff members, just happened to encounter these things."
"Thank you very much for your understanding."
"It's fine, encountering such things when out and about is very normal, we're all used to it."
Unsure why he was pushed out to be the spokesperson again, Li Lin spouted nonsense without a filter.
Smiling at the knight standing not far ahead, Li Lin chatted idly while waiting for the conclusion of this matter, carefully observing this high-ranking knight.
She had introduced herself upon arrival. She called herself High Knight Nearl, belonging to the Radiant Knight. A typical eldest daughter of a legacy knight family. How should I put it, unlike other knights seen before, who strutted like roosters in pictures, this knight calling herself Nearl—which clearly sounded like a codename—evidently had different thoughts. She seemed, due to family environment and her own reasons, to still adhere to the path of ancient knights.
That is, the so-called perfect knight. They upheld righteousness and justice, and would sacrifice everything for them. They were happy to help others, liked to punish evil and promote good, and saved what they could in this world. But because this kind of behavior was truly too foolish, and suspected of subverting other countries, such knights had recently disappeared without a trace.
Perhaps only within Kazimierz could such completely untainted knights exist.
Overall, a gentleman who could be easily deceived (- a gentleman can be deceived by an open and honest approach, often implying naivety).
However, before Li Lin could figure out how to trick this person and protect them at the same time, this stern knight saw Shining leaning against the mural on the side of the RV, resting with her eyes closed. Those pale long horns were truly too eye-catching, and her posture was too matter-of-fact, to the point that Nearl, seeing this scene, couldn't help but be stunned.
"This is…?"
"Traveling medic Shining; although a Sarkaz, she is not infected, and is a very kind and good person."
"I have heard of such people before, didn't expect to actually meet one now. Very honored."
Although slightly puzzled by the phrase 'kind Sarkaz person', the knight calling herself Nearl still nodded very gently at Shining, then looked towards Li Lin.
"Just right, I also need to return to Krolewska for handover and processing. If you are really preparing to go to Krolewska, and are not in too much of a hurry, we can rest here for a day, then go to the capital together. If you feel time is very tight, I can also dispatch two knights to guide you. What do you think?"
"Of course, no problem."
Guiding is true, but monitoring the Sarkaz is also true.
Deeply understanding the predicament of Sarkaz in this world, Shining also nodded at Nearl's seemingly enthusiastic invitation, then showed a gentle smile.
She originally didn't care about these things, much less cared about anyone monitoring her. Her easygoing personality made her not feel such behavior was anything to care about. And this kind smile also made Nearl stunned for a moment, as if she had never seen a Sarkaz smile like that before. She also returned a stiff smile, then led those knights and the RV together to their temporary encampment.
Only Li Lin, watching these two exchange looks, felt somewhat clueless.
Because he suddenly discovered he didn't seem to be so fanatically chasing after white-haired older sister types anymore.
'Could it be hormones are just that unreasonable? Or is it just white hair that matters?'
Li Lin walked back somewhat puzzled, turned Lappland's head over, looked back and forth for a good while, and only after being hit did he confirm that his inexplicable obsession had actually disappeared.
What the heck is going on?
Looking at Lappland wailing and demonstrating sword moves, Li Lin shook his head and drilled into the cabin himself.