Life in a Simulation - Chapter 17

One day in the sweltering month of August.

A young and handsome blonde knight, bearing a flag with a golden face on a red background and a black eagle emblazoned on it, arrived at the Granling Castle with a proud expression.

Baron Connor’s eldest son, Edward, had graduated from the Royal Knight Academy in the capital with the rank of First-Class Honorary Knight. The flag he brought was the Royal Eagle Flag personally granted by the king. Among the hundreds of knights graduating from the Royal Knight Academy each year, only the top ten most outstanding individuals were awarded this flag.

Baron Connor was extremely delighted and held a grand celebration banquet, inviting numerous guests, including his arch-rival from the west, Baron Garcia, to admire the Royal Eagle Flag his son had brought from the Royal Knight Academy. He beamed with pride as he praised his son’s prowess.

Baron Garcia, on the other hand, was visibly displeased. His own son, who had gone to the Royal Knight Academy two years prior, had spent his days chasing after women and indulging in the capital’s various pleasures, and had yet to even earn the badge of a squire. Seeing his rival’s son achieve such distinction, he could not help but feel envious. He ordered his squire knight, Sean, to challenge Edward to a sword duel.

As a result, Sean, a middle-aged knight renowned for his exquisite swordsmanship, was defeated by the young and vigorous Edward by a mere half-move. This outcome so enraged Baron Garcia that he drained his mug of mead and stormed out, while Baron Connor laughed triumphantly.

Among the common folk and the lower nobility, the most discussed topics regarding Baron Connor’s eldest son, Edward—who was destined to inherit the Granling territory—were not only his character and preferences but also the selection of his squire.

A squire is a servant who provides various services for a knight, such as taking care of horses, helping to don armor, and carrying weapons into battle. Essentially, they perform tasks akin to those of a menial servant.

Despite this, the position of squire was a highly sought-after occupation among commoners and second sons of lesser nobility. This was because, while serving the knight, a squire had the opportunity to learn cultural knowledge, combat skills, and courtly etiquette—subjects essential for a knight. Although nominally a master-servant relationship, it was more akin to a mentor-apprentice bond.

Moreover, during battles, squires who provided auxiliary services to knights and stepped in when needed often constituted the majority of the knightly class. Thus, every squire had the potential to become a knight themselves. This was the primary reason why so many from the commoner class and second sons of lesser nobility, who did not have inheritance rights and faced limited prospects, aspired to become squires.

Upon learning that Edward still lacked a squire, Zhou Ming, who had been quietly observing, felt a strong urge to apply.

Squires were typically selected from boys aged 12 to 16, and Zhou Ming, being just over 12 years old, was within the eligible age range. Using the pretext of delivering a basket of cream cakes to the lady of the manor, Zhou Ming entered the castle and met with Lady Madeline.

Over the years, Zhou Ming had left a favorable impression on Lady Madeline as a clever, well-behaved, and sensible boy. During every festival, he would bring thoughtfully crafted gifts—such as cream cakes, cheese, biscuits, and mooncakes that he had invented—to show his respect. Lady Madeline had come to regard him almost as her own son.

Even Lady Madeline’s younger son, Donny, who had previously been indifferent towards Zhou Ming, began to see him as his best friend and playmate after tasting the birthday cake Zhou Ming had given him.

“Layne, you’ve brought me another delicious cream cake. I’m going to pick a big piece!”

Spotting the basket of cakes on the table, young Donny quickly reached in, took a large bite, and marveled inwardly. The castle’s cook could make cakes, but for some reason, they never tasted as good as the ones Layne brought.

“My little darling, eat slowly,” Lady Madeline said affectionately, patting her younger son’s back, worried that he might choke from eating too quickly.

However, noticing Zhou Ming standing nearby, looking somewhat anxious, a hint of difficulty flickered across Lady Madeline’s usually gentle face.

“Lady Madeline, please help me. I want to become a squire. I want to better serve the lord!”

Thump!

Zhou Ming suddenly knelt before Lady Madeline’s long dress, pleading with a look of longing.

“Layne, what do you need my mother’s help with? Tell me, maybe I can assist you,” Donny said, thinking Layne was a decent person. Seeing that he seemed to be in a bit of trouble, and considering the delicious cake, he might be able to offer some help.

Lady Madeline pulled Donny to her side and shook her head, “My dear, you can’t help with this.” She then addressed Zhou Ming, “Alright, Layne, let me take you to meet my husband, Connor. He’s the one who can make decisions on such matters.”

“Thank you, my lady! Thank you so much!”

Zhou Ming expressed his gratitude.

…

In the castle’s knight training ground.

Baring his upper body and showing off his muscular arms, Zhou Ming stood among a group of boys aged 12 to 16.

Zhou Ming’s arms bore several red marks that had turned slightly purple. These were the marks left by Edward’s wooden sword just moments ago—facing Edward’s fierce attacks, he had barely managed to block and endured six or seven heavy blows from the wooden sword.

Zhou Ming’s performance was quite commendable. Among his peers who had come for the “interview,” he was the one who lasted the longest in the circle. The others were knocked out of bounds within three or four rounds.

“Not bad, kid. You’ve got the potential and qualifications to be my squire. Who are you, boy?”

Taking the towel handed to him by a servant, Edward elegantly wiped the sweat from his hands and looked at Zhou Ming with appreciation.

“Master Edward, please don’t choose this boy as your squire! He’s the son of a lowly farmer and is not worthy of being your knight’s squire! If word gets out and the nobles hear about it, they’ll mock you behind your back. Your nobility and honor must not be tarnished by this baseborn son of a farmer!”

Brunold, the steward who had been standing aside, suddenly stepped forward with short, quick strides, pointing at Zhou Ming and lodging a complaint against him to Edward.

“What? You’re the son of a farmer? You, a baseborn son of a farmer, dare to aspire to be my squire?”

Edward, who always placed great importance on the dignity and honor of the nobility, felt deeply humiliated and ridiculed. His face turned crimson as he pointed at Zhou Ming and raged, “Who? Who let this wretched creature in here? Who is mocking me in such a manner? Who is it? Show yourself at once!”

Edward had assumed that the young men who came today for the squire selection were mostly second sons of other noble families, without inheritance rights, and of similar status to him. He never expected that among them was a baseborn son of a farmer!

And yet, it was this son of a farmer who had defeated all the competitors and become the only promising candidate in his eyes…

Who on earth is playing such a malicious prank on me? I’ll wring their necks!

“My dear son Edward, it was I who asked this boy to come and try. I didn’t know you would be so angry. For my sake, please forgive the boy’s audacity.”

Lady Madeline stepped forward and pleaded, hoping her hot-tempered eldest son would not be too hard on young Layne.

Baron Connor, who had been silent, also spoke up: “Let this ambitious boy go. He is not suited to be a squire.”

Baron Connor was actually not very fond of Zhou Ming either. Nobility has its dignity, and how could a son of a farmer be involved in the affairs of the nobility?

Had it not been for Lady Madeline’s plea just now, he would not have given this somewhat clever boy the slightest chance.

“Get out of my sight, I never want to see you again, you despicable and filthy wretch!” Edward shouted at Zhou Ming, then left the training ground without looking back, clutching his helmet.

…

At the castle gate.

Zhou Ming stood there woodenly.

His face was ashen, and his heart was as cold as ice.

He still hadn’t recovered from the severe blow just now.

“Damn you, wretch, do you dare to dream of becoming the squire of the noble Master Edward? Is the noble Master Edward someone you, a wretch, are qualified to serve? Let me tell you, even if you work hard for a hundred years, a thousand years, you will always be a damned wretch! Forget about becoming a noble knight!” Brunold, the short and fat steward, chattered incessantly.

“Shut up!”

Zhou Ming suddenly turned his head and growled, glaring at him fiercely. Then he left without looking back.

Steward Brunold took a half-step back, feeling somewhat intimidated by the ferocity in his eyes, then became furious: “Damn you, wretch, just you wait!”

Life in a Simulation - Chapter 17

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Hate that cliffhanger, don’t you?

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