A knight—a spear of the nation, honing oneself to protect the people.

As a military force, they must never wield their power recklessly.

Knights fight for the king, for their lord, and for the people.

To uphold the order of the nation and serve as its spear, they dedicate themselves to rigorous training day and night.

The city of Azazel, a port town located north of Cinnamon.

It is several times larger than Cinnamon, with an expansive continental shelf. Here too, a fierce battle between monsters and humans was unfolding.

With monsters already pouring onto the continental shelf, the lord of Azazel devised a plan.

He intentionally abandoned the waterfront defense and instead lured the monsters onto land before engaging them in battle.

The strategy was working as intended.

Without the advantage of water, the enemy, which could move freely in the sea, lost its primary strength.

Moreover, Azazel’s city structure, a remnant from past war-torn times, was designed for urban warfare, with its intricate layout.

As a result, multiple defensive lines had been established, and so far, the strategy was proving highly effective.

"Tch, Blast is down!"

"Healer, we need recovery over here!"

The ones fighting at the frontlines were adventurers.

Summoned through an emergency request, they were struggling against the aquatic monsters.

The monsters they faced were primarily of fourth and third rank.

Water Dolls, which enveloped themselves in water and wielded water magic.

Blue Slimes, with their azure bodies, also employing water magic.

Alongside them, Lizardmen and Mermen engaged in close combat, forming a well-coordinated assault akin to a proper battle party.

However, their coordination was inferior to that of the adventurers, who had honed their skills through countless life-and-death battles.

Thus, despite suffering casualties and injuries, the adventurers held the advantage.

Just as exhaustion set in among them, the deep, resonant sound of a war gong echoed through the battlefield.

Understanding its meaning, the adventurers began a strategic retreat.

As they withdrew, they cleared a line of fire for a specially assembled unit of powerful spellcasters.

Following the open path, the mages unleashed their pre-prepared magic.

"Gyaaahhh!!"

Having released their carefully honed attack, the exhausted mages quickly retreated.

Ordinarily, this would have been the perfect moment to press the attack, but the monsters, thrown into disarray by the strike, lacked the composure to capitalize on it.

Then—

Step, step, step.

Advancing in perfect unison, a terrifyingly disciplined army stepped forward.

Marching like a single living entity, clad in gleaming silver armor—these were knights.

"Show these monsters the might of the Third Knights Order!"

"Ooooohhh!!"

As the knights unsheathed their straight swords, the metallic whisper of steel sliding against steel filled the air.

The blades, forged from mithril, a metal rich in magical properties, bore the engraved crests of their noble houses.

Even as they quickened their pace, their formation remained immaculate, closing in on the enemy with precision.

"Ooooohhh!!"

Some fought with swords, some with magic, and others with martial techniques, turning the monsters into lifeless corpses.

The monsters attempted to fight back, but their attacks were effortlessly dodged, while the knights' strikes found their marks with deadly accuracy.

Though the monsters vastly outnumbered them, the knights overwhelmed them completely, allowing not a single one to break through.

"Hah!"

With ease, their sword techniques sliced through the monsters’ tough hides, severing arteries and dealing fatal blows.

"Flame Lance! Flame Lance! Flame Lance!"

The knights' Flame Lances, infused with immense magical energy, were single-action spells.

Their fire-spears, enhanced for greater power, not only struck their targets but also sent shockwaves and heat waves radiating outward.

"Grand Severance!"

A knight’s martial technique felled three monsters in a single sweep.

Without pause, he struck twice, thrice more, wiping out the surrounding enemies.

The ferocity of the knights’ onslaught made the adventurers' earlier efforts seem like child’s play.

The bodies of slain monsters piled up in mere moments.

Knights are combat specialists.

The path to becoming one is neither easy nor welcoming.

Upon reaching adulthood at fifteen, those who pass the rigorous selection process endure relentless foundational training and military exercises—a life of constant hardship.

Not only do they forge their bodies, but they also master both martial and magical skills, achieving combat prowess worthy of the knightly title.

The Third Knights Order, dispatched to Azazel, is composed of the finest warriors among them.

The kingdom has twelve knight orders sworn to the king, each with its own strengths and responsibilities.

The Third Knights Order specializes in monster subjugation.

Their meritocratic nature is evident, with many among them being former adventurers and skilled warriors recruited from the wilds.

They are experts in monster extermination.

Under royal command, they marched day and night to reach Azazel, the most beleaguered of the port towns.

Despite the grueling march, not a single knight fell behind. Every member stood ready for battle.

Fighting in tight-knit squads, the knights maintained optimal spacing while covering each other seamlessly.

No matter how many spells they cast or techniques they unleashed, they never faltered.

When one exhausted their magic, another stepped forward to take their place. When their magic returned, they rejoined the fray.

Unlike the adventurers, who quickly succumbed to exhaustion, these knights fought tirelessly, proving their superiority on the battlefield.