Volume 2 Chapter 78 Dark Knight I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The bathing area was set up in a corner of the waterway surrounding the garrison’s grounds.
After shedding Nightshade’s coat and scooping water from the bucket to pour over himself, it was, as expected, cold.
His heated body slowly cooled down.
He had forgotten, having lived luxuriously at Christy’s house recently, but it was normal to wash off dirt and sweat like this.
”──Sir Kian, I have returned.”
As he was washing his groin with soap given by Aliona, a girl in shrine maiden clothing knelt beside him.
”Welcome back. Did you properly give the reward to Serena?”
”Yes, as instructed, my lord, I paid for the armor and long sword, along with 3 gold coins. Here is the contract.”
”I’ll check it later since I’m wet now. Did Serena complain?”
”She said it was ‘too much’.”
”Because my partner’s equipment is too shabby, she can’t accept a decent Quest. Once I have the time, we’ll raise our Adventurer Rank as well, so we’ll end up receiving only high-difficulty Rank 6 Quests. But if we don’t have money, we can’t buy swords or staves. We can’t even repair our armor. That’s not an acceptable story.”
”It’s not just two people. There are Natras too. And Tengu and the other Wraiths too. If the Lord continues to be an adventurer, let’s aim for the pinnacle together.”
”It’s encouraging, Natra.”
”By the way, Sir Kian”
Natra leaned back and looked around her surroundings.
As the bathing area is located on the back of the building at the entrance, it is far from the main castle’s passageway.
The hustle and bustle was quite far away.
”Please be careful. There are soldiers with coats of arms that are not Baron Waterman’s.”
”──What? Is it an enemy?”
”No. The armor had the Owl crest. The armor was a typical Franz knight. They all had iron visors. There were 12 people.”
”Owl… oh, Owl?”
He stopped his hand to cleanse his body, but he resumed soon.
He was momentarily startled, thinking Azrael’s apostle had appeared again, but if it’s Owl’s knights, it wouldn’t be strange for them to come and go around this outpost.
It’s likely they were short-handed and made arrangements with the Head Magician to handle the cooking and guard the nighttime gathering.
”We mustn’t let our guard down. Those Owl soldiers seem… different.”
”Different, how?”
When Kian asked this, Natra hardened her black eyes beneath the Kitsune mask.
”I smell death. They speak rationally and move like ordinary humans, but I feel they’re not human──the sensation is undeniable.”
”Hmm…? I’ve only caught a glimpse of Owl’s knights from a distance, so I can’t say for certain. But if you feel that way, they might really not be human. Just be cautious.”
”Right.”
As Natra nodded, she sensed someone approaching from outside.
The girl in the shrine maiden outfit quickly blended into the mist, while Kian continued bathing as if nothing happened.
Then, around the corner appeared a knight, a trusted aide of Waterman.
They were familiar since they had met several times before.
Kian greeted the naked knight.
”Good evening, Lord Katze.”
”Oh, Kian. By the way, Baron mentioned I could use the bathing area. Is it okay next to you?”
”Yes, of course.”
”Sorry. I have to leave the group shortly to attend a gathering to protect Sir McCutchen. Weren’t you part of the guard for the venue?”
”No.”
”Ah, refreshing…”
Katze, lean yet muscular, splashed water over himself without hesitation.
Steam rose from the man’s body.
”Will we be colleagues from next week? The knightly ceremony should be soon, right?”
”No, I’m still unsure about enlisting.”
”Hey, are you thinking of going back to being an adventurer? That would be a waste. I want to work with you. I’ve wanted a linguistically strong junior for a while now.”
”I’m honored. But I’m still ambivalent about it.”
”What is there to be uncertain about?”
Katze patted the many scars on his shoulder with a cloth.
He snapped to attention and continued speaking.
”Ah, could it be that you’ve received offers from multiple organizations?”
”Yes. Well, I can’t say where.”
”I understand. Of course, anyone would want you. But…, I hope you’ll come to us. After Baron retires, I’ll likely take over the duties, and I could help you get promoted to lieutenant. All you lack are achievements and lineage. That’s something I can easily assist with.”
”Thank you. With that said, I have no choice but to think positively.”
”Well, I don’t intend to rush your decision. There must be those in the Adventurers’ Guild who need you as well. ──But, ha ha, if you join, I won’t be the best swordsman in the knight order anymore.”
”That’s not true.”
”Oh come now, I know my own ability. But one day, I’ll become a knight stronger than you. My dream is to bring Lord Oswald down to his knees in a one-on-one.”
”I believe that one day you can achieve it, Lord Katze. Just by looking at your physique, it’s clear how much you’ve trained.”
”Ha ha, thank you.”
Katze smiled, pouring water over his head from a bucket.
After bathing, Kian parted ways with Katze and changed into the elegant noble attire that had been prepared for him.
If he had been steadily advancing his career as the eldest son of the Twelve Divine Generals, he wouldn’t have been moved by clothes that Waterman had prepared, but coming from a life of extreme poverty until last month, he was quite touched.
After having Natra check his outfit, he returned to the front of the barracks, where he noticed several pale knights lying on the floor inside.
At the entrance, Waterman was shouting at the visor knights.
Those visor knights were probably Owl’s subordinates.
He couldn’t tell what they were discussing, but it would be unwise to involve himself.
Kian left a note at the barracks and quietly stepped outside the premises so as not to interrupt Waterman and the others’ conversation.
When he stepped outside, Katze and his squire were waiting, so they headed to the southern hall, the venue for the evening party.
”Once we arrive at the southern hall, we part ways for a moment. We’re scheduled to pick up Sir McCutchen in the northern district.”
”Understood. ──By the way, what was Baron Waterman discussing with Mr. Owl’s subordinate?”
”Ah…”
Dressed in splendid party attire, Katze wore a sour expression.
”This afternoon, many who ate the bread Lord Owl provided ended up with stomach issues. They claim they will handle the night’s security themselves, but that just won’t do, right? Baron is not only requesting supplies but is also protesting for the troops to retreat immediately. For now, it seems Lord Owl hasn’t heard; his subordinates are scattered everywhere.”
Katze’s gaze turned toward the white stone steps in front of the palace.
It appeared that the knights under Waterman were arguing with Owl’s subordinates here as well.
”Is it not permitted for Lord Katze to check on them?”
”Even if I went to check, there’s little I could do. It’s Baron’s job to protest directly to Lord Owl, and I have the crucial role of guarding Sir McCutchen. I cannot leave.”
”──Lord Owl’s interference is quite troublesome.”
Katze’s squire frowned.
Another squire shook his head, wearing a displeased expression.
”Given that some are incapacitated from stomach issues, Lord Owl’s voluntary cooperation is greatly appreciated. Moreover, if Sir McCutchen and Treasurer Mankovich Baron paid Lord Owl for security assistance, we can’t really complain.”
”Well, we are merely knights hired through a contract.”
Katze shrugged as he said this.
”So you are contracted to Sir McCutchen as a military head?”
”Indeed. Our country has no standing army. However, without military strength, it is impossible to protect our rights in court or the privileges of the nobility. Nobles possess their own power and often can use magic, making them strong. Duel as a means to defend one’s rights exists in the court, but if everything devolves into self-help, it becomes a lawless land. We are here to maintain order and ensure Her Excellency’s safety.”
Perhaps there was an intention to strengthen Kian’s resolve to become an official.
Katze spoke fervently about this.
It feels as if they are more about protecting McCutchen than guarding Maribel, but it is understandable since McCutchen holds the purse strings of the public funds.
Kian parted ways with Katze in front of the southern hall and stepped alone into the flickering candle-lit interior.
He was led to a different hall than the venue of Guillaume’s knighthood banquet.
Maribel’s (or rather, the Danofen family’s) residence is old but spacious, befitting the king of the borderlands.
”Thank you. Please convey my regards to Mr. Owl.”
”……”
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply