Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys

"Lord Reine is likely to be the top nominee of Mingster Province's ennoblement examination this time, do you understand what I'm saying?" Evelyn said with a smile.

"What?" Everyone's eyes suddenly widened, mouths gaping in extreme surprise.

"The... first place? Isn't that a bit exaggerated?" Osby, the young man, stuttered as he spoke.

After a moment of tension, Osby's eyes lit up as if he had thought of something and he immediately questioned, "Even if this Lord Reine is powerful, the examination results haven't been released yet, right?"

"Exactly, and the test results are classified only as excellent, good, or satisfactory. Evelyn, how do you know Reine is in first place?" Salem also questioned from the side.

"Yeah!"

"Moreover, Evelyn, you might not be aware, but the person I follow from Dorne County, Bridget Sanchez, is incredibly impressive!"

"Along the way, I personally witnessed him kill the captain of the 'Razorhook', Bilkel Jamal, and at least five leaders of the Bloodsail pirates." Osby stretched out five fingers, gesturing as he spoke.

"Lord Reine, no matter how powerful, surely can't be better than this Bridget Sanchez!"

After hearing this, everyone nodded, agreeing with Osby's analysis.

Yes!

Killing a captain and five leaders of the Bloodsail pirates is an achievement that is nearly impossible to surpass!

Even Evelyn only managed to kill the bosun of 'Bloodsail', but of course, since 'Bloodsail' is the flagship, the significance of its bosun is higher than that of other pirate ships.

But the Bridget Sanchez from Dorne County killed the captain of the 'Razorhook'.

If this Lord Reine were to surpass Bridget Sanchez's achievements, would it mean he wiped out an entire pirate crew by himself?

That couldn't possibly be, could it!

"Eh? You all didn't know?" Evelyn first expressed surprise, then showed a look of sudden realization.

This made the nearby nobility juniors even more astounded, their gaze now focused on Evelyn.

To Reine, it looked like the expression of 'a primary school student waiting for the teacher to announce the final exam results.'

This made Reine, who was standing nearby, chuckle a bit.

But at this moment, it was clearly not appropriate for him to say anything, whether to boast or to underplay himself; neither suited his personality.

"Reine did turn the 'Shipwreck' literally into a shipwreck, didn't you hear that huge explosion at the time?" Evelyn retorted.

Although the wording of this statement was a bit awkward, somehow, when Evelyn said it, there was a sense of pride and exhilaration.

At this moment, she also felt a bit strange.

Because generally speaking, she used to be in Reine's position, referenced by friends, but now it was the other way around.

If Reine could hear what Evelyn was thinking at the moment, he would immediately understand.

It's just like if in a past life, a good friend of his had won the first place in the 100 meters at a school sports meet, then later, when someone asked, 'Who's this person beside you?' one would proudly say, 'This is that 100 meters champion, don't you know him?'

"Ah?"

"Wasn't it said to be an action caused by the imperial navy at the time?"

"Yes, the ship was literally blown in half. How could such power be possible for a newly knighted knight attending an assessment?"

Several people immediately started questioning all at once.

"If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do, but I witnessed it with my own eyes," Evelyn shrugged.

Upon hearing Evelyn's words, everyone fell silent.

Because they knew Evelyn well enough to know that she never cared to lie.

So, their gazes once again fixated on Rein.

"Lord Rein, although I believe what Evelyn has said, I find myself increasingly curious about your strength. Could we have a duel?" Salem asked with a very serious expression, speaking in a somber tone.

He was a newly knighted knight from the previous round of ennoblement assessments.

Although he had also received an "excellent" rating, he knew that between the same excellent ratings, there could be a huge difference from the first to the last.

Because some earn their excellent ratings by giving their all, but for others, 'excellent' is just the top grade they achieve with ease.

And usually, the first in ranking is among the latter.

Rein was initially startled, then his heart leaped with joy.

Indeed, he had just regretted that a wave of experience was about to slip through his hands.

But now, it seemed that the NPC with the highest 'Experience' had come back.

Since Rein wouldn't likely challenge Evelyn, the woman he had just met, the strongest in the group would undoubtedly be Salem, the second son of the Earl, standing before him.

"Of course," Rein nodded in agreement.

And to avoid Evelyn's objection, he had already started walking towards the center of the arena.

Evelyn's lips moved slightly, and seeing Rein's eagerness, her face showed a tinge of worry.

This made another female knight nearby find it a bit odd and she asked, "Evelyn, didn't you say that Lord Rein is the best? Why are you still worried about him?"

"I'm not worried about Rein... but I'm worried that Salem might get hurt badly," Evelyn spoke while recalling the scene where Rein had shattered the thick hull of the 'ship' with one blow.

That time, she had truly been shocked!

These words made the others exchange bewildered looks.

Can't be serious!

Salem was no ordinary person; he was a master who had also received an excellent rating in the previous ennoblement assessments, nearly equal to Evelyn.

Even though he might not be Rein's match, their strength couldn't be that uneven.

At this point, Rein and Salem had already reached the center of the training ground and stood their ground.

Rein took down the 'Irresistible Force' warhammer from behind his back and held it in his hand, his eyes intensely fixed on Salem, causing Salem to feel a shiver in his heart.

Because Salem had a very strange feeling, as if Rein was looking at him as if he were a thing... How should one put it, an item?

But at any rate, it did not look like the expression one would have when looking at another person....