Chapter 136: Chapter 94: Promotion! Lynch, the Half-Step Noble
A rich aroma drifted on the night breeze, chasing away the damp chill in the air.
Beside the campfire, the young Vampire, Esther, now in a brand-new black lolita dress, was sprawled lazily across Lynch’s lap, dozing with half-closed eyes.
She seemed to be enjoying this sense of tranquility and protection, occasionally nuzzling him gently like a kitten.
Not far off, at Lynch’s request, the Mermaid Princess, Sea Song, dressed in commoner’s clothes, was softly singing a beautiful tune, adding a lively touch to the tranquil night.
All around them, Skeletons stood as dense as a forest, guarding the small encampment.
They were now a considerable distance from Saint Roland City.
It was a long story as to why Lynch was here.
He leaned against Red Rabbit, who had grown noticeably more robust and whose Soul Fire burned even brighter. In his hands, he fiddled with a high-level Magic Mailbox.
Theoretically, it could support long-distance correspondence, but the immense distance was clearly affecting the stability of the magical channel, making it work only intermittently.
Thankfully, after a few moments of tinkering, the mailbox began to glow, and a letter suddenly materialized inside.
Lynch picked up the letter and saw it was from his mentor.
In the letter, his mentor first explained that the Viscount Golding incident had concluded. Then, she mentioned that, based on his significant contributions during the event and his status as a Tier One Necromancer, the academy had pulled some strings to secure him the title of "Imperial Knight."
"While this doesn’t make you a formal noble just yet, this title gets you halfway into their circle. You’ll enjoy certain rights and minor privileges, but you’ll also have to fulfill the corresponding duties. The official investiture documents and ceremony will be processed once you return to Saint Roland City."
His mentor also mentioned that, as a new Knight and in accordance with custom, he would be granted a small fief.
The fief he was granted was the "Silver Sand Bay Fishing Port and its surrounding villages."
This territory had originally been one of the fiefs belonging to his senior, Amadis. She had voluntarily offered it up after learning about his situation.
Of course, Amadis wouldn’t be left at a disadvantage. The Noble Council had considered her other recent contributions and compensated her with a larger, more resource-rich territory.
’So I’m... halfway to being a noble now?’ Lynch lowered the letter, a smile playing on his lips.
He wasn’t even nineteen yet, and he was already an Imperial Knight.
’At this rate, will I be a duke by the time I’m twenty-nine?’
Of course, he was just kidding.
In truth, from the moment his Magic Talent was discovered and he was admitted to the Hurst Royal Extraordinary Academy, Lynch had already been considered a candidate for the nobility.
In a world where Extraordinary Power was paramount, powerful individuals were themselves a symbol of privilege.
As long as they weren’t complete failures, academy graduates who worked diligently at their posts and steadily improved their strength all had the chance to earn a title and officially enter the ranks of the nobility.
However, it was still exceptionally rare for someone so young, who hadn’t even graduated, to have already secured a knighthood.
Lynch wrote a Magic Letter in reply to his mentor.
He reported that he had entered the Red Ridge Mountain region and was about to reach his destination: the Red Ridge Territory.
"I will be sure to remember your teachings. Upon my arrival in the Red Ridge Territory, I will do my utmost to assist my senior, Raymond. I will train diligently within the legion, strive to earn merit, and live up to your expectations..."
As it happened, this was quite a coincidence.
This senior, Raymond, was the previous occupant of Lynch’s luxurious student dormitory—a remarkably talented Necromancer from a noble family.
He had graduated decades before Lynch and was now a high-ranking officer in the North Wind Legion, one of the Empire’s three main legions. He served as the Commander of a mixed-unit division.
He was currently stationed in the Red Ridge Territory, tasked with quelling the rebellion of the Draenei Brotherhood in the area.
Raymond had recently written to the academy, hoping to recruit a few promising juniors with clean backgrounds.
When his mentor, Annabella, heard about it, she saw it as an excellent opportunity and recommended Lynch for the position.
’Of course, I have reason to suspect my mentor was afraid I’d stir up even bigger trouble if I stayed in Saint Roland City, so she simply had me exiled...’
Lynch, for his part, had accepted the arrangement for a few simple reasons.
For one, he really did need to get away from Saint Roland City.
For another, the Red Ridge Mountain region wasn’t far from the Mist Forest and the Angelo Mountains, where his kinsman, Lester, had left him an inheritance. ’Maybe I can use this opportunity to claim some of that inheritance,’ he thought, ’and see if I can find a solution for the hidden threat of the Pale Elegy.’
After sending the reply, he stretched and prepared to enjoy his dinner, which had been stewed until it was tender and fragrant.
But just as he was about to, a rustling sound came from the edge of the camp.
He saw one of his top commanders, the Fish Priest, brandishing a new Water Magic Staff. It strode back imperiously, directing several Skeleton Guards and Skeleton Mages as they dragged something behind them.
The Fish Priest was a far cry from what it had been three months ago.
In recognition of its meritorious service, Lynch had funneled a great deal of resources into it. The Priest had successfully advanced to Tier One. Now, its Soul Fire burned brightly, and its bones faintly shimmered with a moist sheen. Even its gait carried an arrogant air that screamed, "I’m the shit."
What they were dragging was a pile of corpses.
There were several Green-skinned Fishmen, two emaciated Gnolls, a wild boar that had been dead for days and was starting to reek, and various small animals like squirrels and foxes... and, hm, the corpse of a human male, caked in mud and blood.
