It was after finishing the duel with Alexia, I thought I should change gears and give everyone some instruction.
Then, with hurried footsteps, the doors to the training grounds burst open.
“Evans. What’s wrong?” I asked.
It was Evans Jean, a young knight of the Order of Rebelio.
His age is about the same as Kuruni. He is neither tall nor short, has a good build, and in a nutshell, he is expected to become a rising star.
You could say that he is a lively and skilled boy with slightly drooping eyes and short-cropped hair.
Like everyone else admitted into the Knights, Evan’s muscles aren’t half-bad.
Being able to train such young people is a feeling that I couldn’t really experience at the local dojo. Of course, there were such students in the dojo, but for some reason, most of our classes were made up of kids. It was fun, though.
And now, it seems that Evans is in a hurry. I’m also interested in what happened.
“The Knights of the Suphine Faith wish to see her…!” Evans said.
“Hmm,” I said. “Do you know their rank?”
“I, heard that their Knight-Captain is with them…” Evans said.
“… So that’s it,” I said.
Oops, a top dog suddenly came out.
Alexia does not move even when the news is relayed. After the news had a bit of time to spread around the training grounds, Alexia asked:
“Where are they now?” Alexia asked.
“They’re, they’re waiting for you in front of the main gate,” Evans replied.
“Understood. Henblitz,” Alexia said.
“Roger!” Henblitz replied.
Apparently, it’s time for the Knight-Captain to make a direct appearance. Furthermore, she’s in perfect stance as she brings the Vice-Captain to accompany her.
I think this was probably all about the upcoming delegation’s visit. There’s no mention of Bishop Lebios, but that’s a dark business, it feels like it doesn’t make sense to mention it now. Besides, I don’t think they will move publicly like this because it’s a problem that can’t be addressed out in the open.
No, wait. It just hit this old man.
""
“Alexia,” I said. “Is it okay for me to follow, too?”
“Yes, I don’t think it’s a problem,” Alexia replied.
I was worried there would be resistance but it was approved without difficulty.
Alright, maybe I’ll be able to do something about this.
“Well then, let’s go,” Alexia said. “Evans, thank you for your hard work.”
“Thank you, Ma’am!” Evans replied.
“Oh, wait a minute. Isn’t it bad to keep important officials waiting in front of the main gate?” I asked.
Alexia stopped as she was about to move.
It’s unlikely that the other party is faking their title.
In that case, whoever is waiting at the front gates almost certainly has the Knight-Captain of the Suphine Faith with them. Evans, I wonder how you thought to make such a person wait in front of the main gate.
“… Right,” Alexia said, after a short pause to think. “Well then, Evans: please guide them to the drawing-room.”
“Un-Understood!”
Yeah, I think it’s good too. Even if it’s a short time, you can’t make them wait outside, and you can’t talk outside, either.
As a Knight, the fact that there was such oversight in handling such a situation would normally warrant reprimanding. Well, I think he was suddenly confused and nervous about this situation.
Whether Alexia and Henblitz knew it, it wasn’t the place to punish Evans specifically.
“We’re sweating too, so let’s wipe it off before we go,” I said.
“Yes, we are,” Alexia said. “I’m sorry, Master, this is my doing.”
If the opponent is the Knight-Captain of another country, even if there is no appointment, this should not be taken so clumsily.
We’re training now and everyone is sweating a lot. I thought it would be a little rude to enter the drawing-room as is. So, let’s make ourselves as clean as possible.
Then, Alexia, Henblitz, and I left the training ground and headed for the drawing-room where the Knight-Captain of the Suphine Faith would be waiting.
“Does this kind of thing happen often?” I asked as we walked.
“No, it’s not normal,” Alexia said. “We were expecting the delegation itself to visit, so I thought we would meet them then.”
“Hmm,” I went.
So it’s not normal. Well, this is about right.
Even in another country, the Captain of a Knight Order is a higher-ranking official. It’s not good if such a person regularly suddenly rushes in without an appointment.
“By the way, why did you wish to come, Master?” Alexia asked.
“Oh, no, it’s nothing much,” I replied. “I think I should just say hello.”
I was answering vaguely, but I was also intending to say hello.
Alexia said she would set up a meeting to formally introduce me to the delegation. I would like to refrain from doing that if possible.
So, I thought that if I made a connection here now, I wouldn’t have to bother to go through that song and dance.
It’s best not to say hello while awestruck at all the top executives assembled.
If I have to do it eventually, I’ll do it, but I’d like to make my acquaintance here and keep the chances of that as low as possible.
But even if I told Alexia all that, she would just nod. Rather, she’d feel even more intent to push me out to the spotlight. So, for the time being, I ended up claiming that I just wanted to say hello.
“Do you know the Knights of the Faith?” I asked.
“I do, we meet every year. Unless I have someone as a substitute,” Alexia said.
It seemed that Alexia knew them.
Well, they would meet at national affairs, so it would be strange if they didn’t know each other.
I should have lived a life unrelated to such a world. But before I knew it, I was thrown into center stage. I don’t have a grudge or a bad feeling, but I still don’t feel like I can relax.
As I thought about that and exchanged light conversation, we arrived at the drawing-room.
As the doors opened, there is one big silhouette and one medium-sized silhouette. Apparently, there are two visitors.
“Sorry to have made you wait,” Alexia said, the two silhouettes react and stand up as we enter.
“Hmm? … Hey, Citrus! It’s been a long time,” one deep voice says, I realized it was from a large man.
The man seemed to be quite raucously happy to see Alexia.
As I described, he was a big man, and his being big was the standout feature to me. He is clearly taller than Valder. If going for the most generous estimate, he might be close to two meters in height. 1
He’s armored in heavy full-plate I have seen somewhere before, the dark brown long hair tied behind his head is eye-catching. His beard is clean and my quick once-over tells me he’s not bad.
How about age? He looks younger than me, and he’s in my age range. He’s the type whose difficult to pin down due to his fearless look and physique that may have been from training.
“Good to see you well, too, Raison,” Alexia said.
“Hahaha! I’m sorry to have arrived so suddenly,” Raison said, shaking Alexia’s hand. “It’s been a long time since I saw you too, Draught.”
“Sir,” Henblitz said. “It may have been a year.”
Since I learned about the Suphine Faith at Ibroix’s request, I couldn’t read what kind of reaction would happen, but it seems that the knight-officers are not on bad terms with each other.
By the way, “Draught” is Henblitz’s family name. It’s a little new to me because no one calls him by that.
“I don’t recognize you…” Raison said. “Nice to meet you? I am Gatoga Raison, Captain of the Knights of the Suphine Faith.”
“We’re meeting for the first time,” I said. “I’m Beryl Gardenant, Special Instructor for the Knights of Rebelio.”
Greetings are important.
Especially since I had a goal here, I will state the words I had prepared in my head.
The sharp look in Gatoga’s eye could be described as a glare. Coupled with his physique, he’s really intimidating. But I shouldn’t be scared. It’s not like we’re going to fight.
Then, twitch.
I felt that the person standing next to Gatoga reacted to my words.
“Oh… the Special Instructor?” Gatoga asked.
“Yes,” Alexia replied. “He’s quite strong.”
""
“Hahaha! Is that right?!” Gatoga laughs.
Alexia, stop hyping me at every possible opportunity. This old man’s having a hard time.
“By the way, what about Hinnis? I thought he would be joining you,” Alexia said, looking at Gatoga curiously.
Gatoga looked annoyed at the question, he spoke with determination: “Ah… Hinnis has a lot of things going on right now. This is our Vice-Captain now. She’s my younger sister.”
With that, Gatoga tapped the back of the woman standing beside him.
“Geeze~. Captain, stop already~!” the woman complained as she glared at Gatoga, but she sighed a little in resignation.
Clear blue hair. Her sighing and gentle look make her feel graceful, somehow.
Is she about the same height as Alexia? She’ll be older than Alexia. There aren’t any wrinkles on her face, but this bewitching atmosphere isn’t something that every young girl can wear. By the way, she also has a unique way of speaking, with a stilted, distinctive accent.
Although she is dressed in the same full plate as Gatoga, the pure white kite shield in her left hand is even more eye-catching. It is rare for a knight to be carrying a shield here.
And then:
All elements except the pure white shield.
It was very similar to the only Suphinist I knew.
Uh oh. I have a bad feeling, but hey.
“I’ll introduce you,” Gatoga said. “Our new Vice-Captain, Rose.”
“Mm-hmm-hmm,” Rose giggled. “I’m Rose Marbleheart, a pleasure to make your acquaintance~!”
She shakes hands with Alexia and Henblitz in turn.
And after that, as she reached out to me with her right hand:
She smiled even more.
“… It-It’s been a while, huh, Rose?” I said.
“Yes~!” Rose said. “It’s your beloved disciple, Rose Marbleheart~.”
… Can, can I go home?
T/N: If it helps any, imagine Rose as constantly speaking like a US Southern Belle, or perhaps a very posh Frenchwoman from the countryside and old money, to be more regionally appropriate. Rebelis and its neighbor, Supheniardvania, seem to be a mishmash of French and English influences.