SSS-Knight in a Hero World

The abnormally cold air woke Ferris a bit earlier than expected. He had set his alarm at the start of dawn, but he woke about five minutes before 5 a.m.

Even at this time, Soleil wouldn't be awake. Even though she was a city away, the orphanage was located on the outskirts between City 16 and City 17. And with Prin's home also near the border, the time zone difference wouldn't be so significant.

Knowing this, Ferris had no need to open his phone, only taking it off its charger and setting it aside.

He got out of bed and went to wash his face with cold water using the personal bathroom inside his room.

After that, he planned on heading out to do some needed exercise and stretching. As he neared the entrance, he was eventually spotted by Magpie, who still looked fresh despite wearing the same clothes as last night.

It's not like she needs to sleep. Ferris envied her for a second. If he didn't need to sleep, he would just spend his time training to advance as quickly as possible.

"Good morning, Ferris. Would you like me to prepare you breakfast?"

?!... I thought your chef skills were for Prin only? Ferris almost stepped back.

I just planned on asking Marie if she was willing to stop by for breakfast. Ferris thought, though he didn't account for the situation if Marie didn't allow it.

If that were the case, she'd get a 1-star review from me. Food is a right!

Ferris became more willing to accept Magpie's good deed.

Noticing that Ferris took longer than usual to reply, Magpie switched tactics to increase the probability of him agreeing. "My Dame prefers a heavy dinner when she's about to sleep."

She's been awake all night?

Ferris suddenly felt ashamed.

I get it. She's working a night-shift schedule. Last night was her breakfast, which was my dinner. And right now is her dinner, when it's my breakfast.

That's still no excuse to have such a messy room! Ferris retorted in his mind.

"Thank you. I'll be back in around ten minutes, I'm heading out."

After leaving Magpie, Ferris went off the paved road in front of Prin's house and looked up at the relatively flat mountain slope.

He tapped his shoe on the dirt to test its durability.

It was a great call to buy so many running shoes. Thank you, Prin. he silently thought, smiling to himself.

Upon scaling the mountain, he released his essence restrictions and began jumping upward at a staggering rate.

While jumping, running, and leaping over fallen logs and boulders, he thought about how Soleil was doing with her training.

That regimen I gave her doesn't suit her weak constitution. Maybe she can complete a day or two of it, but going to day three would take a toll on her body.

In order to compensate, she has to make it easier for her body to accomplish the goal I set for her by using her blessing.

That way, she can train her physical body and her blessing at the same time.

After praying for Soleil to understand that, he wondered about the differences between essence and blessings.

Maybe I'm thinking about it wrong.

Ferris began combining the idea of essence layers and blessings.

All blessings are unique in their own right, with the occasional overlap.

Our essence layers also bestow unique abilities.

Ferris thought of his 8th-layer ability of storing things inside his body.

Even though it was niche, there was no doubt that some knight might have a similar ability, even if they unlocked it at later layers.

So just like blessings, layer abilities had similar characteristics.

For fuel sources, it was obvious that they both used essence. He recalled Artemis' devastating fire breath, and he remembered how he could clearly notice the buildup of essence.

As for Artemis' father, Tianqin, he was blatantly using sword essence and essence steps.

In fact, that was all Tianqin used in their fight with Ferris.

He could only wonder what the 'heaven-defying demon' had as a blessing.

He was sure it was something ridiculous.

After his monologue, Ferris made one last jump and landed perfectly at the highest peak.

Excluding the base of the mountain where Prin's house is, I'd say I traveled 500 meters high.

The cold air seeped through his sweating pores. The feeling reminded him of his old citadel, located alone in a snowy mountain range, and his training on the flattened mountain that almost always had a blizzard.

Compared to that, this mountain felt like a tiny hill.

Not wanting to break his ten-minute estimate to Magpie, he only took five seconds to enjoy the pink dawn before him, and the remote town below that momentarily looked like an ocean under the blue light.

Returning to the comfort of Prin's home, Ferris sat before the table, in front of a feast.

He gratefully savored every swallow and sensation.

He was uncertain how the trip would go.

I only packed a portable stove and some canned goods. Should I rush back to town and buy more? He quickly thought while swallowing a piece of roasted duck.

The juices overflowed in his mouth, and he couldn't help but feel the urge to open his mouth and let it spill out.

To put it simply.

This dish was too rich for him.

Don't go overboard, Magpie. You should look after Prin, if that's what Yaromech truly wanted for you to do.

Give her some exercise. If she refuses, threaten her by no longer cooking.Ferris thought with a slight smile. He could see that Prin had already fallen in love with Magpie's culinary skills.

After politely excusing himself, he took a lengthy shower before checking his personal items to see if he missed anything.

He left his room wearing his oversized backpack and passed by Prin and Magpie, who were still in the dining hall.

Seeing Ferris dressed differently, Prin couldn't help but swallow her food early. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes. I won't be here for maybe a week."

"I'll send a text every day if I'm able," Ferris answered, pulling out his phone.

"Please watch over me, since I'm heading to City 19." He showed the custom-made phone she gave him. "Oh, there's no need to drive me there, by the way."

Prin understood. "...Okay."

"Farewell, Sir Ferris," Magpie said, lifting her skirt and bowing in a perfectly mimicked courtesy.

A chef, now a maid? Try not to develop multiple personalities... or programs... Ferris worried before saying goodbye and leaving.

He released his restrictions and started running toward the remote town.

He also focused his essence around his stomach so it would stay settled. He didn't want to accidentally vomit the food he had just eaten.

Ferris followed the pin he placed on the map he sent to Marie. It was a bus stop on the outskirts of the remote town.

Arriving about a minute early, Ferris saw an old white van idling.

Obviously, it wasn't a bus.

Since the town near Prin was remote, buses rarely stopped to pick up or drop off passengers.

Is that her?

Ferris picked up his pace and stood by the driver's window.

The window rolled open, revealing a yellow-haired woman with a round face and delicate features.

Behind the van were various camping equipment. If this weren't a bodyguarding commission, it would've looked like a field trip.

"Marie Trenst?" Ferris asked.

"Knight of Prophecy?"