The Tin Knight

During the week it took to build the Smith & Sinc Doll Workshop.

The Tin Knight wasn’t just quietly guarding the surroundings.

He was constantly on the move.

If the Tin Knight had possessed three bodies, he could have distributed one each to Dorothea, Adelaide, and Sophia to run wild, but the Tin Knight only had one.

This was quite fortunate for the City of Clockwork.

Tik-Tok, befitting a big city, could somehow manage one deranged doll, but even so, three would have been overwhelming.

It was also fortunate for the Tin Knight.

After all, his share of content would have been reduced to a mere third.

And so, with his undivided presence, the Tin Knight was, as always, focused on clearing yet another challenge today.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs Adel to jump to the right!]

Whoosh!

[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs Adel to step on the opponent’s left foot!]

Crunch!

[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs Adel to grab the opponent’s waist and roll!]

“Hup!”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs Adel to step on the opponent’s left knee, jump, and strike the back of the head with the sword!]

“Eh, ha!”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ shouts ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A!]

“Eeeeeh!? Kyaaah!”1

Adelaide, hit by a heavy halberd—despite it being blunted for training, it was still deadly—flew with a whoosh and crashed into the ground face-first.

The Tin Knight, staring blankly at this sight, shook his head.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ laments the premature use of the legendary command!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ sighs that it’s disgraceful for an isekai’d noble lady hero to be defeated like this!]

Adelaide, still face-down, tried to push herself up, arms trembling, but ultimately collapsed with a thud.

Her body shook as if she had a lot to say, but the Tin Knight, lacking a human heart, did not heed such trivial matters.

“...How terrible.”

René von Lennart, watching from the side, shook his head.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ agrees that it was indeed a terrible defeat!]

“I don’t know what you’re saying, yet I want to disagree with you. Why is that?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages that mutual understanding is originally difficult!]

“...”

René’s mouth twitched.

The other party wasn’t making any sound and was just staring at René, and yet, an inexplicable anger was rising from deep within him.

“Well, I thought it was an amazing achievement to clear the 5th level without handling mana, but to think you’d push all the way to the 6th level like this. I’m not sure if it’s that the human body can naturally exert this much ability without mana, or if she’s just extraordinary.”

René looked at the magic doll that had just been in fierce combat with Adelaide.

Countless minor injuries covered the doll’s body, which stood motionless after recognizing the match’s conclusion.

If asked whether he could win against a 6th level magic doll, René could casually answer, “Yes.”

But if asked whether he could win without mana, he would answer, “That’s impossible.”

No, forget about winning, it would be a struggle to even put up a proper fight.

After all, what could one do when their attacks only left scratches while a single hit from the opponent would end it all?

Yet Adelaide was achieving this seemingly impossible feat in real-time.

Moreover, she was doing it without taking a single hit from the opponent, using the brute force method of piling up scratches—again and again—until they accumulated into victory.

“Hmm.”

This was Adelaide’s third attempt at the 6th level test.

Even René, who at first thought she was merely good at dodging attacks, could be certain by this point.

That Adelaide, or rather, the Tin Knight beside Adelaide, was anticipating the magic doll’s attack patterns in advance and issuing instructions in advance.

Without that, there was no way to explain why the match was dragging on so long when the magic doll was superior in strength, speed, durability, and skill.

I’ve heard that magic dolls’ movements follow set patterns, so they’re easier to read compared to skilled humans of the same level... but is it really possible to do this remotely, and even calculate the response time of the one receiving instructions to move accurately?

“Ugh, it hurts...”

Adelaide’s whimpering voice brought René’s mind back to reality.

Although she looked disheveled and her body was in tatters, she was surprisingly fine for someone who had just been hit by a giant halberd.

Before that, a normal person wouldn’t even be able to get up after being hit by such a thing.

The Tin Knight approached Adelaide and patted her shoulder.

At a glance, it seemed like a simple gesture of encouragement, but Adelaide’s body flinched.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says it seems Adel still has some energy left, so let’s try one more time!]

“No, no, no, it’s impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

Adelaide recoiled and wrapped her arms around herself.

It looked as if she had just been told, “Hehe, you’ll serve me tonight,” by some corrupt official.

To be fair, apart from the difference between protecting her chastity and her life, broadly speaking, it wasn’t all that different.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ evaluates that originally 7 out of 10 instructions were successful without error, but Adel is now up to 8 out of 10 successful instructions!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that if Adel achieves a 100% response rate, she can win!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ expounds his theory that fatigue should be consumed to 0 to avoid waste!]

“Even so, there should be a limit!!”

Adelaide screamed.

Compared to how she used to just stammer and do as she was told at first, this was tremendous growth.

Although Adelaide herself would vehemently deny it, in some twisted way, this was proof that the Tin Knight’s crazy philosophy about whatever didn’t kill Adelaide would only make her stronger was true.

The Tin Knight lamented.

He should have pushed her more when she didn’t know anything!

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says if that’s the case, he’ll reluctantly modify the training plan!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ accepts that sometimes it’s necessary to indulge a pupil’s whining!]

“...”

Although René couldn’t hear the Tin Knight’s words, looking at Adelaide’s dead-fish-like eyes, he felt an inexplicable pity rising within him.

Clearing his throat, René decided to intervene.

“Ahem, I’m not sure what you two are discussing, but let’s stop here for today. I have places I need to be, so I’m planning to close the dojo in the afternoon.”

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

The gazes of the teacher and pupil turned to René.

Adelaide asked on behalf of the Tin Knight, “Places to be?”

René answered, “Those damn old geezers have finally made their move. We’re going to have a showdown at the lord’s estate. You’re welcome to join, if you’re interested, of course. You do seem somewhat curious, after all.”

The Tin Knight nodded, and Adelaide followed suit.

Unfortunately, there was no one to tell the tattered Adelaide, “Shouldn’t you rest a bit after being rolled around like that?”

The saddest part was that she herself didn’t even realize there was a problem to begin with.

***Tik-Tok.

In front of the lord’s office square.

The new faction led by René and the conservative faction led by the old man were in a standoff.

Normally, the juniors would have been cowering, unable to overcome the momentum of the seniors led by the old man, but the current situation was a bit different.

A considerable number of the conservative faction were shrinking back with uneasy expressions, while the new faction stood tall and confident.

Seeing this, the old man clicked his tongue.

“Damn brat. Are you going to bring outsiders into the dojo’s affairs now? So the result of barking like dogs about reform and whatnot is disciples hiding behind dolls and putting on airs. It’s pathetic beyond words!”

It was a sharp verbal assault, but René didn’t back down easily.

“Ha, if our side putting on airs is an eyesore, what about your side cowering in fear of magic dolls? You people over there, didn’t you say magic dolls are nothing more than toys? Was the warrior’s mindset you always preached about so passionately just about being scared of toys?”

“You brat, you dare to run your mouth like that!”

“It’s nothing compared to the stench from an old man’s mouth!”

Watching the two forces growling at each other like sworn enemies, the Tin Knight felt impressed.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ evaluates that the people here are fighting quite politely!]

“Politely...? That?”

Adelaide raised a question mark next to her head.

No matter how she looked at it, their words were far from polite.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ generously evaluates that at least they’re not touching on family!]

“I think your evaluation standards are strange.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ assesses that in a place where heads get split open for lacking manners, it’s only natural for rude people to be few and far between!]

“...???”

Before Adelaide could say, “No, the only one who suddenly splits heads for rudeness seems to be you, Sir Knight,” a vassal of Tik-Tok’s lord stepped in to mediate.

It seemed he could no longer tolerate the escalating squabbling of the two groups.

“Enough, all of you. Please save some face! Even if you are members of the distinguished Lennart family, what is this commotion in front of the lord!?”

“Ahem. My apologies.”

“I apologize for the rudeness.”

The old man and René closed their mouths sheepishly.

It was true that the influence of the Lion Duke’s bloodline was great within the Empire, but that didn’t mean they could disregard all other nobles and cause trouble.

Moreover, when it came to a count who owned a large city as his domain, his status couldn’t be taken lightly.

“Haha, no need to worry about it. Isn’t this all because you’re fighting so passionately to establish yourselves in this city? As the lord of Tik-Tok, I’m not displeased, rather, I’m delighted.”

With a manner of speaking that was unclear whether it was praise or a backhanded compliment, the lord opened the conversation.

The effect of seizing the initiative was clear, as the expressions of the old man and René subtly changed.

After glancing at the two, and for some reason also glancing at the Tin Knight and Adelaide standing a bit apart, the lord continued, “Duke Lennart has entrusted me with mediating this dispute. I formally accept this request and am prepared to arrange a fair contest, staking my honor and that of my family. Therefore, if you do not wish to disregard the authority of the Duke and myself, you must abide by the results of this contest.”

The lord first asked René, who was on the left, “Do you agree?”

“René von Lennart. No matter the outcome, I will accept it cleanly and refrain from showing an unsightly appearance.”

The lord’s gaze then turned to the old man on the right, “Do you agree?”

“Gerhardt von Lennart. I stake my honor on accepting the result.”

The lord clapped his hands.

“Good. Then let’s reveal the content of the contest.”

At the lord’s signal, a group of people began to swarm out from inside the mansion.

Their number was about fifty, and they were all youths—no older than twenty at most.

“When it comes to the quality of an instructor, isn’t it about how well they teach their disciples? I’ve recruited these young people who aspire to the path of martial arts. You will each train then.”

Towards the murmuring people of the Lennart dojo, the lord said with a mischievous smile, “The preparation period is one week. Afterward, each side will select five representatives judged to be the most outstanding among their disciples for a mock battle, and I will recognize the victorious side as the owner of the dojo.”

“Please wait a moment, Count Tik-Tok.”

The old man, Gerhardt, frowned and said, “I have no objection to the method of teaching disciples and deciding by competition. However, a single week is far too short. That’s not even enough time to establish the basics.”

“Of course, it will be difficult. But isn’t that why it’s more of a test of the master’s ability?”

“Hmm.”

Gerhardt seemed a bit uncomfortable, but he didn’t argue further.

Instead, René opened his mouth.

His gaze was directed at the prospective disciples.

“Has it already been decided which disciples will go to which side?”

“How could that be? We’re going to decide that now.”

However, the lord added meaningfully, “It would only be meaningful to let the individuals themselves decide which side they wish to join. Well, don’t worry too much. Surely all 50 won’t flock to one side, right?”

“What?”

“Huh?”

Seeing Gerhardt and René’s faces full of bewilderment, the lord said with a seemingly delighted laugh, “Well then, why don’t you try some enthusiastic promotion? Convince these young people that you are the right master to follow. I must say, I’m quite curious myself.”

While the faces of those around changed in various colors, only the Tin Knight nodded his head.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ applaudes the masterful moderation at hand!]

1. ED Note: Some of you may recognize this famous cheat code but for the uninitiated, this is the Konomi Code, which often appears as an easter eggs in Konami games as well as with other developers.