The Tin Knight-Chapter 60: The Tin Knight and The City of Clockwork — Act 3 (2)

— Make the disciples feel like learning.

At the Tik-Tok lord’s challenge, the people of the Lennart dojo each frowned.

They couldn’t help it.

Who were they?

The Lion Duke’s bloodline, a lineage that boasted immense prestige in the Empire.

Weren’t they the strongest martial group on the continent, symbolizing the Empire’s ‘military power’?

Countless people flocked from all directions, trying to form even a small connection with the Lennart name. The dojo’s job was to appropriately sift through these individuals, selecting only those who suited their taste as disciples.

And yet, rather than bowing their heads in gratitude when told they would be accepted as disciples, they were being asked to put on a show to prove their worth as masters?

Not only the conservative faction led by Gerhardt but also many in the new faction led by René felt displeased with the lord’s challenge.

Even the youths couldn’t help but sense this tense atmosphere.

With all the prospective masters and senior candidates glaring at them with harsh faces, they could only look around nervously, unable to do anything.

At that moment, René stepped forward.

“Everyone, do you want to become disciples of the dojo? Then don’t hesitate. Our doors are wide open!”

A tall military cap with a brim. A red uniform with striking gold buttons.

As René, whose appearance was reminiscent of a marching band, raised his voice with smooth movements, it alone drew many gazes.

“Monotonous, repetitive training! Rigid hierarchy! Endless lectures and guts theories! Such things do not exist in the dojo I lead! Various magic dolls will engage one-on-one to help with your training, allowing you to gain a diverse set of battle experiences that you normally couldn’t have! Don’t you want to feel the sense of achievement of clearing challenging tasks established step by step?”

“Oh, ooh.”

Seeing the youths starting to light up their eyes one by one, a smile formed on René’s lips.

Bring in disciples through promotion? The lord has given us an excellent rule to play with.

From the beginning, René was someone who never shied away from taking bold steps, such as remodeling the dojo into something like an amusement park, or pretending to be a receptionist to enjoy others’ honest reactions.

He had no reason to dislike the lord’s request to appeal to the disciple candidates about which method was better—rather, he welcomed it as an opportunity.

Above all, René had noticed that this moment, which seemed like a preliminary skirmish at first glance, was actually the final battle.

As that old man said, proper training is impossible in a mere week. Even if we teach them various things, the improvement from that will be minimal. In other words, the innate qualities the disciples already possess are far more crucial.

The key was to attract as many candidates as possible and bring out the best among them.

René was certain that this was the surest strategy for victory.

Glare.

While showing a smiling face towards the youths, René simultaneously glared at his subordinates with fierce eyes.

How long are you going to keep putting on airs? After driving out the old fogeys, are you trying to act like old fogeys yourselves now?

It was said the eyes were the windows to the soul.

The subordinates, who directly received the terrifying will contained in René’s eyes, trembled as if having a seizure.

“T-that’s right! If you come to our side, a fun and promising dojo life awaits you!”

“If you have any questions, ask away! We’re all Lennart disciples, so there’s no need to worry about rigid hierarchies!”

“The dojo holds various events to ignite the enthusiasm of disciples. Those who clear the beginner course even receive special equipment! Don’t you want to get your own beloved weapon?”

As the new faction actively promoted themselves, the youths also began to show interest one by one.

It was natural to want to learn among kind and gentle masters and seniors if they were going to learn, anyway.

“Hey, shouldn’t we do something too?”

“You want us to fawn over a bunch of kids?”

“Ugh. No, for a master to beg and plead to disciples. Do those guys really have no pride?”

Seeing the disciple candidates slowly gravitate to the other side, the conservative faction grew restless.

If they left things like this, they would lose before even getting a chance to properly compete, but their face and pride wouldn’t allow them to beg the candidates to come to their side.

It was then.

“—How pathetic.”

Fluttering his grizzled white hair and showing off his upper body with rough muscles twitching, the old warrior Gerhardt stepped forward.

Thud!

He merely stomped his foot once, yet the impact resonated throughout the area, silencing the commotion.

After confirming that the surrounding gazes had gathered on him, Gerhardt asked the lord, “Count, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

The count answered with an inscrutable smile, “What is it?”

“That thing over there. Would it be alright if I use it a bit?”

Saying this, what Gerhardt pointed to was the large statue in the center of the square.

While people were bewildered, not understanding how he intended to use the statue that seemed to depict a soldier-shaped magic doll, the lord readily gave permission.

“Do as you please. I won’t complain, no matter what the result is.”

“I’m grateful for your generous consideration.”

Stride, stride.

With heavy strides, Gerhardt approached the statue.

And then.

“Oh-ah!!”

─Crash!!

As Gerhardt’s Shattering Fist made contact, a deafening crack resounded from the statue.

The stone soldier’s head, arms, and legs flew off in different directions, and numerous fragments scattered around.

A mere human, using nothing but a body made of flesh and blood, achieved such a feat.

Many were left speechless, their mouths gaping open at that single strike that inspired awe.

Gerhardt casually retracted his extended fist, then turned an intense gaze towards the Tin Knight.

The Tin Knight’s will-o’-wisp-like blue eyes flickered with excitement.

Gerhardt turned his gaze away from the Tin Knight, briefly scanned the surroundings, then declared, “This is martial arts.”

It was a short and powerful statement.

“What did you dream of when you came to Lennart? What did you hope to gain by seeking strength? If your goal is merely to strut around and put on airs in a small, narrow neighborhood, then go to those brats’ side. I don’t need such people either.”

“Hup,” Gerhardt took a breath. “—But!!”

Then, he released it all at once.

His resounding voice filled the square.

“If you’re dreaming of something greater! If you seek to carve your name into this very continent’s history, even at the cost of coughing blood and breaking bones! If you’re a man with such ambition! Come to me! I’ll show you the way!”

That was the end.

As if he had said everything he needed to say, Gerhardt sat down on the ground cross-legged and folded his arms.

Faced with this spirited presence, the largest youth among the candidates approached and opened his mouth with a determined expression.

“I, too, wish to carve my name into this continent’s history. Is it possible?”

“Hmph. That remains to be seen. If you’re willing to learn, sit down there.”

“Yes!”

The youth sat down on the ground without hesitation, facing Gerhardt.

Seeing this, a few candidates with seemingly boiling blood sat down around the youth with determined expressions.

“Hahaha! Good, good. This won’t be a trivial result.”

While many were looking around nervously or lost in thought, only the count was laughing heartily, seemingly greatly amused by something.

***“Wow. That’s amazing.”

Adelaide marveled, looking at the statue that was shattered beyond recognition.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ evaluates it as a fairly decent level!]

“Come on, fairly decent? Isn’t that level of skill incredible?”

As Adelaide blinked and asked back, the Tin Knight stared at her blankly.

She didn’t notice the strange emotion contained in that gaze.

She had no idea that just a few days ago, the Tin Knight had performed a similar feat while carrying an unconscious Adelaide on his back.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ asks if that old man looks strong!]

“Huh? Yes... I think so?”

Not understanding the intention behind the question, Adelaide honestly expressed her impression.

The Tin Knight nodded in response.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ declares that he accepts his pupil’s challenge!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ vows to show the dignity of a teacher!]

“Huh? Eh? What?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ requests to relay a message to that cheerful count over there!]

“A message? What on earth are you trying to say?”

The Tin Knight explained his “plan”, and the more Adelaide heard, the more her expression stiffened.

“You’re... joking, right?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that hidden routes usually have the best rewards!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs Adel to hurry before it’s too late!]

“Ah, no. Even so, eek!”

Pushed forward by the Tin Knight, Adelaide looked back several times as if asking if she really had to do this, but the Tin Knight just kept giving thumbs up and sending messages that she could do it.

After letting out a deep sigh as if she had seen it all, Adelaide awkwardly approached the count.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

“Oh, do you have some business with me, young lady?”

“No, um, well. I’m terribly sorry to bring this up, but...”

“Haha, what’s there to be sorry about? Speak freely. To be honest, I find the current situation quite amusing.”

Encouraged by the count’s friendly smile, Adelaide squeezed her eyes shut and forced out her words as if wringing them out.

“Um, you have the right to decide who will be the owner of the Lennart dojo here in Tik-Tok, right?”

“That’s right. None other than Duke Lennart himself delegated that right to me, so no one can deny it.”

“Then, um. Since I’m also a person inheriting Lennart blood, could I... possibly... enter as a candidate? No.”

Thinking it was an unreasonable stretch, even to herself, her voice became almost inaudible at the end.

Adelaide bowed her head deeply, her face as red as an apple.

She couldn’t raise her face due to embarrassment, imagining how bewildered the count must be looking at her.

“There’s no reason why not. It sounds interesting.”

“Huh?”

Adelaide doubted her ears when she heard the answer from above.

Regardless, the count calmly raised his voice and declared, “Everyone, listen! A third challenger has just requested to enter this match to decide the representative of the Lennart dojo, Tik-Tok branch! I believe this young lion should be given a chance, and I would like to ask for your opinions! Gerhardt von Lennart. René von Lennart. Will you accept this challenge?”

Murmur, Murmur. Whisper, whisper.

At the count’s shocking announcement, the surrounding murmurs exploded.

Naturally, most of the content was negative.

“It’s absurd. What qualifications does she have to interfere, we can’t accept such a thing.”

Denial, hostility, suspicion, derision.

Faced with these various gazes, as Adelaide was flustered and at a loss...

“It’s not bad. I owe a debt to that one, anyway. If I can repay it all at once, that’s even better. I, Gerhardt, will recognize that little one’s participation!”

Once again shocking those around him, Gerhardt glared at the Tin Knight standing behind Adelaide.

The old warrior’s eyes were burning with competitive spirit.

“Ah, this old man, really.”

René sighed as if tired of this situation, but thinking that denying it here would only make him look cowardly, he eventually nodded.

“Fine. I’ll recognize it too. But in that case, how will the match be decided? With a three-way battle, the existing rules won’t work, right?”

The count responded as if it was no problem at all.

“We’ll have five 1:1:1 matches, and recognize the side with the most points as the winner. Isn’t that simple?”

“What if there’s a tie?”

“Then the representatives of each team can have a final match.”

“Alright.”

As the new rules were decided, people grew livelier.

Those enticed by the free-spirited atmosphere and easy-to-understand rewards headed towards René, while those with ambition and desire for honor sat down in front of Gerhardt.

And the number of people heading towards Adelaide... was 0.

In fact, this result wasn’t strange at all.

Compared to the two groups, each with their own intense characteristics and charm, Adelaide lacked strong charisma, background, and even legitimacy.

“Ugh, see, it was impossible after all, Sir Knight,” Adelaide whined in a resentful voice.

She herself had no interest in the title of dojo representative, and this situation came about purely because she couldn’t resist the Tin Knight’s insistence, so she couldn’t help but feel that way.

However, the Tin Knight was confident.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that if we can’t break through the 7th level with the orthodox method within the time limit, it’s good to become the side administering the test!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that while the title of ‘Recognized by Five Dojos’ is good, the title of ‘Conqueror of One Dojo’ is even better!]

“That might be true, but even so, if we can’t win—“

“Um, excuse me.”

“Yes?”

Adelaide turned her body at the voice coming from beside her.

There stood several young men.

“Um, can you accept us as disciples?”

“M-me too!”

“Please accept me too!”

“Eh.”

Adelaide was flustered.

It was good that candidates had appeared, but she couldn’t understand why they had come to her, or even what they saw in her.

Worried that they might have made some big misunderstanding, or that they might suffer because of this choice, Adelaide carefully asked back, “Um, well, accepting isn’t a problem, but why here of all places...?”

To Adelaide’s question, the young men answered in confusion, “Ah, that! We saw that knight fighting in front of the dojo the other day! He was incredibly strong, so we thought it would be good to learn under him.”

“Ah, I see.”

Adelaide nodded.

Now she understood the situation.

She thought.

Right. Come to think of it, this might be an opportunity. Sir Knight is also skilled at teaching others! Maybe, just maybe, if we can get the representative position here, it could be a great help when I return to my domain later!

Of course, Adelaide couldn’t stay here permanently, so she would have to appoint a proxy, but the difference between having even a nominal title and not having one was enormous.

Adelaide grabbed the hand of the young man at the front.

“Alright! Let’s do our best together!”

“Y-yes, y-y-yes!” the young man answered, stammering violently with his face bright red.

Meanwhile, the faces of the other young men beside him twisted with jealousy.

C-close! Her face is so close!!

Damn it. I should have been the one to step forward first!

Who cares about the latest facilities, who cares about the extremes of martial arts? A cute girl is giving lectures directly!!

That was right.

Adelaide thought she had no weapons to wield in this match, but in fact, she did have a weapon.

An absolute weapon that was bound to work if the opponents were hot-blooded youths.

Some who hadn’t decided where to go yet glanced towards where Adelaide was.

Damn, should I go there too?

It’s not like I’ll gain anything even if I win this match, anyway. Isn’t the path where I can enjoy the process of the match itself the most beneficial?

The Tin Knight nodded with satisfaction.

Everything was going according to plan.

Let’s just ignore the fact that he conceived this plan less than ten minutes ago.