Chapter 775: Chapter 605 Sword Knight Sonia
Dazzling Star, Sword Flower University.
“From today on, I am a noble,” Sonia exited the administrative building, flipping open the red velvet box in her hand to reveal a hefty Sword Star Badge resting on pink silk satin, made of stainless steel, without any superfluous patterns or jewels.
Despite its simple appearance, this Sword Star Badge represented the very foundation of the Kingdom of Stars: Sword Knight.
A million Sword Knights, guarding the Star Cluster.
Although it was just a line used by those in Upper positions to motivate and pacify the lower nobility, it indirectly showed that one could only be considered to have officially stepped onto the stage of Dazzling Star if they became a Sword Knight.
Commoners, who were not nobles, were like crops that needed shielding, cattle that needed raising, components that needed maintenance, but certainly not persons able to have a voice.
Besides her title, Sonia had also gained a part-time job as a ‘Sword Art Researcher,’ with Professor Trozan remaining her Master, or rather, this was a special position for her arranged by Professor Trozan to fleece national benefits, allowing her to apply for certain subsidies each year, which included miracles and Technique Spirits, not much, but too good to turn down.
The greatest significance of being a ‘Sword Art Researcher’ for Sonia, besides elevating her status in the school, was that it unlocked faculty forum privileges for her.
Although she couldn’t ban accounts, gagging someone for 24 hours was definitely within her capabilities—regretfully, now it was nearly impossible for anyone to insult her in the forum.
Following the Meteor Disaster, all of Sonia’s detractors vanished without a trace, and the forum was full of praise and speculation about which lucky man might become Miss Sevi’s lapdog.
“Even as just a Sword Knight, a Holy Sanctuary Mage can rake in money from serving as noble Advisor, national research, and commerce consultancy,” Professor Trozan spoke candidly about these matters: “I can help you make contacts, but you can also figure it out yourself—or wait for someone to give you money.”
Sonia initially thought that, as a Mage who wished only to remain a Sword Knight and who resisted the Stars Blessing, she would face society’s invisible excommunication. But after discussing it with Sister Trozan, she realized that Mages like her were not uncommon—rather, it was natural for Holy Sanctuary Mages not to want to be restrained.
No matter how marvelous the effects of the Stars Blessing or how righteous it might be, it still forcibly turned people into slaves. Putting aside how much a Holy Sanctuary Mage valued the concept of homeland, anything that became ‘compulsory’ was enough to evoke annoyance and resistance.
Not to mention that Holy Sanctuary Mages were a group capable of ensuring their own safety with tactical weapons—before the Holy Domain, even with the sturdiest skull, a Mage could not withstand a gun bullet; after the Holy Domain, despite furious bombardment, the sanctuary would still stand unassailable.
Of course, some would wonder, can’t the nation control you, a new Holy Sanctuary? If it were against the nation’s machinery, Sonia had no chance of resisting. But the nation’s machinery was also made up of individual components.
Not to mention a Sanctuary like Professor Trozan who was close to her, even unfamiliar Sanctuaries had no reason to object to her.
It was precisely because of ‘wild fox Sanctuaries’ like Sonia, who did not accept the Stars Blessing, that Sanctuary Mages like them, the domesticated type, seemed more valuable to persuade and incorporate.
Even the most forced righteousness has gaps for selfish interests.
Not only Sonia, but even Demi, the eldest son of the Cast Star noble family, was now just a Sword Knight. Even though he might not be able to directly inherit the family title, obtaining the highest-order Guard Palace title ‘Armor Knight’ certainly wouldn’t be a problem, yet he was delaying his reception of the Star Cluster Blessing.
High-ranking Mages resisting the Stars Blessing, it was almost an unspoken consensus.
If the great nobles were doing it, why couldn’t Sonia?
Who doesn’t want to control their own fate?
As for the royal family of the Dazzling Stars, they likely didn’t care much. They held the most core social resources. “Wild fox Sanctuaries” could flourish without any problems, but if they ever encountered a bottleneck, they would naturally turn their gaze to the Stars Blessing and advanced resources.
Even if, by a long shot, a wild fox Sanctuary really evolved into a wild fox legend, the royal family of Dazzling Stars naturally had other means to incorporate them.
In an age when kingdoms were separate and not interconnected, all talents could ultimately rot in their own pot; they were in no rush since no one could escape anyway.
Nevertheless, owing to the proliferation of Sword Knights, there would naturally be no serious investiture rituals, and a village girl could simply visit the school’s administrative building to collect her badge and researcher contract, and from then on, she was a state noble.
Sonia looked at the badge within the box. While others may not consider the mere Sword Knight rank as significant, only she knew how crucial this title was for her.
Even if it was not exactly the fulfillment of a lifelong pursuit, the Sword Star Badge was enough to console her: “You did not let down the hardships you endured.”
But for some unknown reason, Sonia felt no happiness at all, and even lacked the interest to don the badge.
She returned to the dormitory, and Adelle, who had been eagerly waiting, immediately took the box to examine the Sword Star Badge, “Why does this look even more exquisite than my father’s…”
“Because this is a newly made badge, and the sheen of your family’s Bow Star Badge has worn off with time. It just needs a bit of maintenance,” Lois said while reading a book.
Ingrid also came over to take a look, “I’m going to get one before I graduate.”
“If you get a good ranking in next year’s Meteor Disaster, maybe you’ll get one,” Lois closed her book and turned her head towards Sonia, “Is it really just a Sword Knight?”
“The Thousand Star Commerce has a movie offer from Moon Nine with a minimum requirement of Bow Knight…” she said softly, “They have ways to apply for cultural titles for you.”