The Honorary Knight Exams…

It's a series of tests that takes place in the Knight Academy, meant only for special candidates.

Basically, the cream of the crop.

Normally, to become a Knight, one has to attend the Knight Academy and pass. It's the same way you need to attend the Royal Academy and pass to become a Scholar. However, in the case of the latter, there have been many instances when Honorary Scholar Titles have been given to people.

If one makes an especially grand contribution to the field of Academia or solves a prevalent problem in the world through empirical means, the title of Honorary Scholar could be given.

Even titles like Honorary Erudite Scholar, Honorary Grand Scholar, and Honorary Supreme Scholar exist—though the criteria for obtaining them vary according to their level of prestige.

There are even Honorary Nobles in this world.

With all of this in mind, it isn't very strange that the term 'Honorary Knight' also exists.

It's quite normal.

Right?

Not only is passing the rigors of the Knight Academy not necessary, but you get a certification that is almost on par with the actual thing.

I say 'almost' because the Academy or a sufficiently powerful Noble can revoke the Honorary Title if the grounds are justifiable. It isn't like the Knight Title that can only be removed by the Royal Family or the High Nobles at the highest echelon.

Another problem is that Honorary Knights are simply not respected as well as Knights.

Especially among fellow Knights.

Why would they be?

Ordinarily, one has to spend many grueling years experiencing the hardships of the Knight Academy just to become an official Knight. But, to think someone could just pay a fee and, through referral, simply cross the hurdle and reach the finish line as well.

That would undoubtedly seem unfair to official Knights.

But, it's not like being an Honorary Knight is a walk in the park either.

There are quite a few conditions one must meet before even being considered for the role.

Firstly, the applicant must have made sufficient contributions to the Kingdom in the form of warfare. Then, the applicant must possess combative abilities higher than the average person.

There's also the application fee, the referral from a prestigious third party (advisably a high-ranking Knight), and finally… taking the Honorary Knight Exams. Once a person passes all of these conditions, they'll be given an Honorary Knight position in accordance with their performance in the Exams.

It's worth noting that one could fail the exams and simply not be given the title.

But that shouldn't happen in my case.

Not only do I perfectly fulfill all of the conditions, but I am also quite aware of the details of Honorary Knight Exams. There's also the fact that I am a Leviathan, which gives me an unprecedented advantage when it comes to this.

Thus, I should be fine.

'Now that things have reached this precipice, I should start considering my future plans…'

As I sit on my bed, all kinds of thoughts swirl through my mind.

For one, I think about the Panel that's opening up really soon. However, if all goes well with this Honorary Knight Exams, I won't have to worry about being demoted or fired anytime soon.

Being an Honorary Knight, as well as a First Rate Scholar, should give me sufficient accolades to maintain my position—especially if I offer the excuse that I wish to obtain my Bachelor's Degree while remaining a Senior Professor.

This excuse won't last forever, but at least… it should protect me from criticisms and actual consequences for the time being.

I should figure out everything else that I need to before then.

For example:

'Even though I have learned quite a bit about nutrition from Seraphina, it has only helped me with creating more nutrient-filled meals, thus reducing how many portions I need to eat every day. However, I feel that the solution is turning more insufficient as the days roll around…'

I can't delay it any longer.

I need to give an alternative route a try—Special Resources.

Potions should have more noticeable effects, but unfortunately… I don't have any recipe that will work on the body of a Leviathan.

There are Potions that help keep someone full, but I have tried to take those Potions, only for the effects to wear off rather quickly. It's like my body quickly digests the Potion, preventing it from lasting as long as it would to a regular person.

There's also the problem of impurities… but I'll leave that thought for another time.

'My biggest problem is finding Special Resources that correlate with my nutritional needs, and then getting a recipe that turns them into an appropriate Potion for me.' I sigh, casting a distant gaze at the night sky.

How am I supposed to figure all of this out myself?

'Damn…' I sigh helplessly. 'So this is the difficulty that accompanies strength.'

I always knew that being a Leviathan was too good to be true, but now I can see the problems associated with an existence such as mine.

There's always a price to pay.

The fact that I'm alone is my greatest weakness. If I had a mentor or an ally to help with these matters, the difficulty would sharply decrease. However, for the sake of my safety, I have to operate on the assumption that all other Leviathans are evil.

Even if I didn't have that line of reasoning, is it so easy to spot a Leviathan?

Throughout my several months as a Leviathan, I haven't met a single person with an existence like mine.

'But enough whining…' I fall on my bed with a soft 'plop' and gaze solemnly at my ceiling.

No one said this road would be easy.

In fact, Lady Anastasia already warned me that my path would be fraught with difficulty.

Only through perseverance can I advance to the next stage.

'There's no time. I'll have to leave for the Knight Academy tomorrow and return as soon as possible—before the Panel Session is held.' My thoughts slowly fade away as I fall asleep, my consciousness slipping into the darkness.

*************

The next day arrives, and I'm up and ready.

I leave the Academy grounds on my Cadre 2 Magivore, a Silverback Umbrella Horse. Its body is shaped like a horse, but it also has silver mushroom-like spores all around its body.

Its most noticeable trait is its size, as well as the mushroom that stands on its head like a cap. One of the mushrooms grows right behind the horse's withers, forming a natural saddle for those riding on it. The surface is smooth and soft, pleasant to the touch, and comfortable to sit on.

During special circumstances, like adverse weather conditions, the mushroom on the horse's head grows to an abnormal degree, forming a natural umbrella that protects its body from rain or harsh sunlight.

Naturally, this protects the rider as well.

As the Silverback Umbrella Horse's owner, you can also activate this reaction by hard-pressing the mushroom on its head.

Then there's the size of this Magivore…

Believe it or not, but this horse is actually three times larger than a regular horse.

Since the Knight Academy isn't very far from the Royal Academy, one could wonder what I would need such a hefty horse for… but I have my plans.

The Silverback Umbrella Horse easily carries the small load I loaded on it. Including my weight, it's clear that it can take a lot more as a burden.

That's good, because I will be using the horse for a lot of that during this trip.

I spend two days on the road before deviating from my path and entering one of the largest rainforests in the Kingdom. Dark Willow Forest—an uninhabited area famed for containing many wild animals and strange plants.

Most importantly, it is a breeding ground for a lot of Magivores.

However, the resources to be obtained there are rather sparse, and without the proper know-how or an overwhelming force, the Magivores occupying this forest will give anyone a run for their money.

Unless one is at least a Mid-Rank Knight or a sufficiently powerful Mercenary Force, treading this forest isn't advisable.

I'm neither a Knight nor a Mercenary, but I still feel no worry venturing deeper inside.

After all… I'm something more.

—A Leviathan!

After advancing to a sufficient extent in the forest, far beyond the fringe where I know many would have attempted to explore, I stop for a moment and look around me.

All I see are tons of wild plants and strange-looking foliage.

Many of them could be dangerous or poisonous plants, but some of them could be unique.

—Special Resources!

"Huu…" I inhale sharply and turn on my Aego Sight.

Then, I open my eyes to witness the world filled with absurdities—ripples, threads, and transparent-looking existences.

I look at my Cadre 2 Magivore and notice its existence appearing more defined than most of the plants and soil in my line of sight. It looks more tangible and real, with a glassy structure that isn't entirely transparent.

However, after taking my gaze away from it and scrutinizing my surroundings, I spot a few other things that hold a resemblance to the existence of my Magivore.

They are Special Resources.

'Good. I intentionally went this deep into the forest because I might not have found much just by staying at the fringe…' I slowly nod, advancing in the direction of the Special Resource in sight.

This is one of the benefits of being a Leviathan.

Normally, it is very difficult to spot Special Resources without testing or deep investigations.

This is why there are professionals who operate in this field, and without sufficient expertise, one could get mistaken very easily.

Unlike Armaments and Potions, Special Resources do not leak out Trace Elements.

They only do so when they react with one another through the use of Spells or Divination, but on their own, they maintain their uniqueness and stabilize their special properties without leaking out Trace Elements.

It is only when they are harvested and processed that they start giving off Trace Elements.

Think about it—

Most Special Resources exist in the wild, right? If they constantly leak out Trace Elements, wouldn't they eventually run out of their uniqueness? Also, wouldn't they be much easier to find by Nobles and Kings?

A common denominator when it comes to Special Resources is that they appear… strange.

They don't resemble regular objects or materials.

But, there are many poisonous plants that also have weird shapes, or soils that possess different appearances. It can get confusing distinguishing the two.

This is why Sir Jerome Sirius and his army were fooled into believing the North had Special Resources, when it was only a scheme in the end. The entire Kingdom was deceived by the prospects of Special Resources, but this wouldn't have happened if it were so easy to spot them.

Even with Magivores—the same logic applies.

The only reason they are so easy to identify, other than their weird appearance, is their blatant use of special prowess, which other animals do not possess.

If one ran into an unidentified animal, it would be easy to mistake it for a Magivore. But, when the animal uses a special power, it becomes clear that this is indeed a Magivore and not a new species of regular animals.

Even in the Academy, I studied the basics of these concepts, and I'm sure they are expanded on in University Education.

This is why Magivore Experts and Special Prospectors exist.

But—

'As a Leviathan, because I can easily detect existences, it is easy for me to tell what is a Special Resource and what is a Magivore. I can even determine the Rank or Cadre just from a single glance, as their existence gets more defined the higher they are in the food chain.' A smile forms on my face as I chuckle softly.

It's the same when it comes to Potions and Armaments.

I can easily detect Potions and Armaments, even if they are sealed and do not leak out Trace Elements. However, others need these items to be unsealed and utilized so they can spot the Trace Elements.

These are all small details that make me appreciate my new prowess.

'With my ability to detect Special Resources, I should be able to advance with ease and gather as many of them for my experiment. The deeper I go, the rarer the Special Resources I will encounter. Hopefully, I can gather some Rank 3 or even 4, but maybe that's too hopeful…'

Most Special Resources require special conditions to grow. The higher the Rank, the more this condition applies.

As such, even a vast rainforest like this might not contain a single Special Resource.

But, there's a reason behind my confidence.

—Magivores.

Where there are Magivores, there are bound to be Special Resources, since most Magivores require special environments to thrive, and that usually comes in the form of Special Resources.

When Magivores die, their bodies decompose in special ways, thus helping Special Resources to thrive. This creates a symbiotic system between the two, and it has been largely proven that wherever you see Magivores existing in bulk, there are bound to be Special Resources there.

Of course, not enough to make Special Resource Points—which provide Special Resources that can be exported in bulk—but enough to act as ingredients that can be foraged or used for individual consumption.

Since Magivores exist here in abundance, Special Resources must as well.

In fact, I can also harvest the vital parts of the Magivores I encounter, which also give me Special Resources… so it isn't a bad situation at all.

As I kneel to harvest the first Special Resource in my line of sight, I immediately feel several presences closing in. They warily near my position, their bodies glistening with partly defined existence not inferior to my Cadre 2 Magivore.

Some even exceed it.

Their numbers are staggering, in the dozens, and their growls fill the air with unmistakably aggressive noises.

Despite them getting closer, I remain calm—unmoved.

Eventually, they fill my line of sight, and I quickly recognize that I have been surrounded by their immense numbers. Still, instead of panicking, an air of relief leaves my lips.

Then—

I smile.

'So they're finally here, huh? The Magivores…'

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