This is the Dragon Slayer Guard!

On the top floor, the white-robed Yanar nodded repeatedly as he watched.

“I see now.”

“The Pirate class compensates for the disadvantages of underwater combat, the Swordsman provides agility, and the Knight’s skills deliver the fatal blow…”

Beside him, Hawkins, who was as stout as a stone pier, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“Brilliant! Whether it’s the timing of his attacks or the combination of his skills, it was all perfect! This young man’s combat sense is truly remarkable!”

Rosie remained silent, her arms crossed as she stared at Black emerging from the water, her thoughts unreadable.

The examiner took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and announced loudly.

“Black, combat assessment, passed! Rating… Superior!”

Having passed two consecutive trials, the candidates who had originally doubted Black were now silent.

Black dried his hair with a towel and looked toward the final trial.

The final trial was the Integrity Assessment.

Compared to the previous two, the format of this trial was much simpler.

He only needed to face a Dragon-Slaying Guard examiner proficient in lie-detection magic and truthfully answer a few questions.

The answers would be recorded and graded, making it a highly subjective process.

However, simple in format did not mean easy to pass.

It was precisely this trial, which concerned personal loyalty and conviction, that eliminated most of the candidates who had passed the first two.

The sharp-eyed examiner stood before Black and, without any pleasantries, directly posed the first and most important question.

“Black, are you loyal to the Dragonheart Empire and to the Imperial Family?”

In an instant, everyone’s gaze focused on Black, and an invisible pressure filled the air.

On the top floor, Rosie and the other two unconsciously sat up straight.

Even Noa, who had been composed all along, gently closed the book in her hands, picked up her teacup for a sip, and fixed her eyes on Black.

If there was a problem with this question, then all the stunning performances before would lose their meaning.

He would instantly go from a “rising star” to a “traitor in need of elimination.”

Black met the examiner’s gaze without any hesitation and answered calmly.

“Yes.”

The examiner activated his lie-detection magic, his black pupils turning white. He observed Black for a few moments but found no abnormalities.

The examiner nodded slightly.

On the top floor, several people breathed a sigh of relief in unison.

Pascal whispered.

“Thank goodness…”

The examiner continued with his questions, the second being just as pointed.

“In a moment of crisis, would you be willing to sacrifice your life for the Imperial Family, for the Empire?”

Hearing this question, Black’s heart skipped a beat.

He finally understood why the elimination rate for this trial was so high.

Anyone could shout slogans, but when truly faced with a life-or-death choice, how many people could place their duty above their own lives?

They might speak of loyalty, but deep down, the line between work and sacrificing one’s life was very clear.

However, for the Dragon-Slaying Guard, this question was of utmost importance.

They were not a Knight Order; they were the shield and sword of the Imperial Family, soldiers who had to be ready to shed their last drop of blood for the crown at any moment.

Black took a deep breath and answered slowly.

“Yes.”

He had, after all, faced Jörmungandr for Alice’s sake, which could be considered sacrificing his life for the Imperial Family.

A satisfied expression appeared on the examiner’s face as he nodded.

Now, many of the observing candidates looked at Black with reverence.

They admitted to themselves that they would have found it difficult to sincerely say “yes.”

Powerful, exceptionally talented, and willing to lay down his life for the Empire…

If such a person didn’t join the Dragon-Slaying Guard, who would?

After answering several more questions, the examiner asked the final one, a question filled with deep meaning.

“Black, in your opinion, what is the difference between us, the Dragon-Slaying Guard, and the Knight Orders of the Empire?”

The figures on the top floor cast expectant gazes his way.

They were very curious to see how Black would answer this question.

Most candidates would give answers like “more loyal,” “stronger,” or “more disciplined.”

Unremarkable, bland, and boring enough to put them to sleep.

Black pondered for a moment, recalling some of the lore and plot points about the Dragon-Slaying Guard from the game.

He then raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the Dragon-Slaying Guards and candidates present, and spoke words that shook the heavens.

“The difference between us and the Knight Orders is…”

“Matters the Knight Orders dare not handle, we the Dragon-Slaying Guard handle.”

“People the Knight Orders dare not kill, we the Dragon-Slaying Guard kill.”

His voice was not loud, but it carried a resolute firmness that spread clearly throughout the hall.

“In short, what the Knight Orders can handle, we handle. What the Knight Orders cannot handle, we especially handle!”

Finally, he spoke each word with weight and force.

“Execute first, report later! A privilege granted by the crown!”

“This is the Dragon-Slaying Guard!”

“Boom!”

His words struck everyone’s mind like a clap of thunder!

After a brief, dead silence, the entire hall erupted in thunderous applause and cheers!

“Well said!!!”

“That’s right! This is who we are, the Dragon-Slaying Guard!”

The Dragon-Slaying Guards present were all fired up, their faces flushed with excitement.

Black’s words had precisely and powerfully articulated the very essence of the Dragon-Slaying Guard!

They were the sharpest blade in the hands of the Imperial Family, unbound by ordinary laws.

“Where the crown’s authority points,” is “where their blades are aimed”!

Whether it was a rampaging dragon, a corrupt noble, or a powerful enemy from another nation.

As long as the Empress gave the order, they could cut them all down!

On the top floor, Pascal slammed his hand on the armrest, exclaiming in awe.

“What spirit! What a magnificent ‘Execute first, report later! A privilege granted by the crown’!”

The other three five-star Dragon-Slaying Guards were also moved and began to applaud involuntarily.

Noa, who had been sitting quietly, stood up for the first time in an age.

She said nothing, her deep gaze locked tightly on Black below.

Her eyes were filled with an unprecedented surprise and a trace of imperceptible emotion.

With that, Black passed all three assessments for the Dragon-Slaying Guard with an indisputable performance.

The candidates who had doubted him were now filled with nothing but sincere admiration and a sense of their own inadequacy.

Black didn’t take this opportunity to mock them in return.

He simply gave a calm bow to the examiner and his surrounding colleagues.

“Everyone, we’ll be taking our leave.”

He then followed the ecstatic Leon and Land out of the headquarters.

Watching Black’s retreating figure, the white-robed Yanar sighed with emotion.

“Her Ladyship’s judgment is, as always, flawless. It is our good fortune to have such a prodigy join the Dragon-Slaying Guard.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Noa sat down again, picked up her lukewarm tea, and took a gentle sip.

Her gaze drifted out the window to the bustling city of Servia as she silently thought.

‘Black… the one to break the game…’

Black followed Leon and Land to “The Alchemic Rose,” Servia’s most famous tavern, for a welcome feast.

The meal consisted of the finest ingredients and cost a full one hundred gold coins.

Fortunately, Leon was treating, otherwise Black would have had to dine and dash.

His most tragic problem right now wasn’t some Dragon King of Madness.

It was that he had no money!