Demon Prince 58

Test

Chapter 58. Document Screening

The new year began.

By the time the flow of visitors bringing New Year’s greetings to the castle ceased.

I was summoned by my father, Aslad.

He said the decision for the captain of my personal guard had been made.

When I arrived, I found my sword mentor waiting.

“Master? You’re going to be my guard captain?”

“Yes, Jun-sama. I volunteered myself. I look forward to working with you again.”

“Kaien has experience in personal protection as a royal knight.

He’s familiar with you and knows your temperament to some degree.

His skills are impeccable. I think he’s the perfect choice.”

“I see. I look forward to working with you, Master.”

“Yes. However, Jun-sama, this isn’t training time. Please just call me by name.”

“Oh, right. I’ll have to get used to switching between formal and informal, won’t I, Kaien?”

“That’s a necessary skill for someone in a leadership position. You’ll get used to it. Try dropping the formalities too.”

“Got it. I mean, yeah. By the way, Dad, is the captain the only decision made?”

“That’s right. The selection process is dragging on.”

“Is there some problem?”

“There are too many applicants. We’re conducting background checks on all of them. Even long-serving subordinates might betray us if someone exploits a weakness. Trust and reliability are essential, but we can’t be careless. Especially since you’ve already been targeted once.”

“There are that many applicants for my personal guard?”

I don’t see the appeal of guarding someone like me.

Though I appreciate the sentiment.

“Don’t be surprised. We’re already over two thousand applicants. And that’s not counting the ones we’re recruiting from other territories. The number will only grow.”

“Two thousand? For a hundred available positions?”

“You’re surprisingly popular for my son. I imagine it’s the healing magic you used to treat people across the land.”

“Add to that your ability to slay dragons, and your appearance. It’s no wonder you’re attracting attention.”

Please, don’t flatter me too much.

“Apparently, an unusually high number of applicants are women.”

“That’s true. Normally, these types of recruitment drives have few female applicants. There are fewer female knights and soldiers compared to men. Yet nearly half of the applicants are women. You might as well build a harem.”

“I’m not doing that.”

Even if I tried, I couldn’t manage something like that.

“Anyway, we’ve asked the applicants to submit detailed resumes, including their reasons for applying. Take a look at those documents and make your selections. Kaien, you’ll also be involved since they’ll be under your command.”

“Understood.”

“Yes, sir.”

The first round is document screening.

The second round will likely be interviews.

Still, screening two thousand applicants with just three people sounds tough.

“Dad, this involves Yuu and Ai as well. Can’t we ask them to help?”

“Hmm? Well, they are also part of your personal guard. Fine. Sebas, fetch them.”

“At once, sir.”

And so, Yuu, Ai, and even my mother, Eliza, who was free at the time, joined in to help.

“This one’s married. Out.”

“This one’s measurements are amazing. Let’s keep her for now.”

“Oh, this one’s known for liking men too much. Out.”

Isn’t the selection criteria a bit off!?

And why are things like measurements even listed?

“All three of you, please be more serious.”

“How rude! We are serious.”

“I’m serious too.”

“I’m totally serious~.”

It doesn’t feel that way to me.

“This one bears the Lance Crest. Keep.”

“What’s this reason for applying? ‘To be popular with women’? Why would they think joining the guard would make them popular? Out.”

“Oh, I know this one! A former adventurer skilled in reconnaissance. Keep~.”

When selecting men, they seem serious.

I wish they’d apply the same standards to women.

“Huh? Is this Christia Ruger? The daughter of Ruger-dono?”

“Oh, her? She’s like me—part of the Royal Guard. She’s skilled with both sword and magic, quite capable. I believe she’s the third daughter of the Ruger family.”

Is it okay for a noble’s daughter to join the guard or knight corps?

Shouldn’t she have responsibilities in her territory?

“Oh, Christia? She’s rumored to be the most beautiful woman in the Royal Guard. When she became a knight, her parents asked us to keep an eye on her.”

“Ah, right. Ruger has many children. She said she wanted to support the kingdom by working in the capital instead of staying in her territory.”

She seems serious and capable.

She even holds the Sword, Shield, and Fire Crests. That’s impressive.

“Then we’ll keep her. Or maybe we should just hire her outright?”

“Investigate her first. Treat her as a ‘keep’ for now.”

“Understood.”

I guess no special treatment. Fairness is important.

After the first round, 500 applicants remained.

Next up should be interviews.

“We might need to hire a thousand instead of just a hundred to meet the demand.”

“Hmm. I intended to gradually increase the numbers, but…”

“But dear, there are still applicants coming from other territories, right? Even if we ask the lords to narrow it down, how many will there be in the end?”

If we add a martial tournament, there’s no way it’ll stay at a hundred.

“No choice. Let’s raise the cap to 500 for now.”

“What will we do with those who pass the document screening?”

If this were a company, it’d be a written test or interview.

“They’ll compete in matches. Winning isn’t necessary, but we’ll pass those who show promise.

Then, we’ll conduct interviews.”

I see.

Practical exams and interviews.

“I should join too! As the mysterious masked beauty fighter!”

“But if you’re wearing a mask, no one will know you’re a beauty.”

“Come on~! I need real combat practice!”

“Can’t you practice on magical beasts?”

“Fighting humans is completely different. I need matches to keep sharp.”

“True. You’ve been training me and Yuu in martial arts, so you probably haven’t had time for yourself.”

I feel bad about that. Maybe I’ve been relying on Ai too much.

“Oh, not at all! I enjoy training with you and Yuu, and I do get my own practice. I just need matches to stay sharp for human combat!”

“Agreed. Jun-sama, I’d also like you to gain experience in human combat through the tournament.”

Hearing that from my mentor makes me feel obligated, but the entry deadline has likely passed.

“Then Ai, let’s join the knight corps training and do mock battles. That’s okay, right, Dad?”

“Sure. I’ll make arrangements.”

“Thank you, Father-in-law. And thank you too, Jun.”

Ai’s bright smile made my heart skip a beat.

Hard to believe she’s just ten.

“Ahem, anyway, that’s it for today. Next up is the matches, right?”

“Yes. After that, we’ll review the applicants from other territories.”

“Make sure the lords send only carefully selected candidates.”

How many applicants will there be in total?

I still think being part of my personal guard sounds dull.