Vol 5: Chapter 38
Even though the tent was big enough for multiple people to sleep in, Friedrich sat on a chair in the center of the tent with his arms crossed and looked as if he was feeling cramped.
And Dante-san, who was inferior in terms of height but not so much in terms of physique, was shrinking back due to an invisible difference called “social status”.
As Friedrich opened his mouth, you could clearly see the muscles connecting to his jaw bulging.
「I shall be straightforward. Come to the Saint Knight Kingdom.」
「Ah, yes. That was my intention.」I said.
「I see. Then Wilhelm will take care of the rest.」
Friedrich then stood up and left the tent with lumbering footsteps together with his knights.
Eh? It’s already over?
「Oh, it’s over?」
Dante-san said in a plainly relieved manner, but Wilhelm and the bearded knight—Johann-san still remained.
「By the way, Dante-san, this young knight is also akin to a noble.」
「Eek.」
Dante-san seems to be allergic to nobles. To be exact, Wilhelm is “a distant relative of the royal family”, but if I said that, Dante-san’s allergies would get worse.
「Ah, well… I would rather you treat me just like any other knight.」Wilhelm said.
「No, that’s not possible. I know you are a diplomatic representative of the Saint Knight Kingdom, after all.」I said
「I suppose.」
Wilhelm dropped his shoulders disappointedly. Johann-san said “Well, it can’t be helped”, in a consoling manner. …What is going on? Does he want a casual relationship with me? That’s impossible. I’m just a commoner. A simple commoner who learned the noble etiquette during his escort employment.
「By the way, about the thing that Friedrich-sama talked about earlier… Is it true that you will come to the Saint Knight Kingdom?」Wilhelm asked.
「Yes, that is my intention.」
「I-I see… I was sure that being an adventurer was second nature to you.」
「Huh? Well, I am going to continue being an adventurer for a while.」
「That would be difficult. A knight being an adventurer is…」
「Eh?」
「Huh?」
Somehow, it didn’t feel like we were on the same page.
「Wait a minute, Reiji. You will come to the Saint Knight Kingdom, right?」Wilhelm asked again.
「Yes, that’s what I’ve been saying.」
「You will become a knight, right?」
「Come again?」
Why?
「Don’t tell me, are you coming to our country because you have some business there?」
「You’re exactly right. That’s why we’re preparing for departure in a hurry.」
「…………」
Wilhelm put his hand on his forehead and looked up, while Johann-san sighed.
「W-Wait a minute. Why does “going to the Saint Knight Kingdom” have anything to do with “becoming a knight”?」
「About that… you received rewards from the Empire today, right?」
「Well, yes.」
「In that same meaning, if Friedrich-sama, one of the “5 Knights” of the Saint Knight Kingdom, asks you to “Come to our country”, it means “We will promote you to knighthood”.」
「Wait, what?」
That is too big a stride. In the first place, there is no reason for me to receive anything from the Saint Knight Kingdom. And that large knight could have used a little more words to explain properly.
Besides, even a foot soldier is a ”knight” in the Saint Knight Kingdom.
「Haa… Just in case, would you like to hear about the position and salary prepared for you?」
「No, it’s fine.」
「I see… We were considering promoting you to a seat of the prestigious “11 Knights”.」
「Hah?」
…Even if you look at me excitedly, I don’t know what that position means. It sounds like a managerial position.
「It’s a prestigious position, you know? At the very top is the “King’s Knight”, under them comes the “5 Knights”, and following them is the “11 Knights”. They are the central figures of the Saint Knight Kingdom. Friedrich-sama evaluated you so highly that… well, nevermind.」
Perhaps because he noticed that I didn’t seem interested at all, Wilhelm cut short the explanation. As expected, Johann-san smiled wryly at this.
「I suppose it can’t be helped, then. Johann, let’s go.」
「Yes, sir.」
As Wilhelm stood up to leave, I stopped him.
「I’m sorry, I have something to ask you.」
This was an opportunity to ask about the way to the Saint Knight Kingdom.
The road that Lark would have most likely taken.
Wilhelm kindly answered. It was almost a straight road, and if we’re in a hurry, we just have to follow the main road.
「Thank you very much.」
「It’s no problem. Well, if you’re going to our country, shall I lend you one of the military carriages?」
「Is that alright?」
「We have a carriage which prioritizes speed but comfort is the worst, and a carriage which rides at the same speed as a civilian carriage but comfort is the best. Which would you like? My recommendation is of course the latter–」
「The faster one!」I exclaimed.
「I see… okay. I shall arrange for a ride at dawn.」he said, making a disappointed face.
「Thank you very much!」
「Uh, um… Reiji, well… no, it’s nothing. Goodbye.」
「Okay.」
I gratefully bowed to Wilhelm for providing what I needed most right now. Wilhelm then left the tent.
「Wilhelm-sama actually wanted to talk more with Reiji-dono, seeing as how you’re both teenagers. If there is another opportunity, I hope you will give him a chance.」
Johann-san said in a soft tone, and left.
「Teenagers, huh…」
The sun had already set beyond the horizon. The two of them soon disappeared into the night.
(Even if we’re close in age, our situations are completely different. I wonder if people of high social status have normal worries too… Well, I suppose they do. Even Lady Eva was secretly worried that she didn’t have any friends. Though, now she seems to have found a friend in Lady Mira.)
While I was thinking about that,
「Huff… A-Are they all gone?」
Dante-san took a deep breath, as if he had been holding his breath up until now.
On a side note, Mimino-san and Non-san did not approach the tent because of the “knight atmosphere” inside, and Zerry-san went to the gambling den and lost.
