Chapter 6
Imperial Knight Order (3)
“Hmm, where should I start.”
“Just a mont.”
The Knight Commander, who had been stroking his well-grood beard, deliberately drew things out. I did not miss the opportunity and cut in.
Quests given by the Knight Commander had substantial rewards. Just as much, they carried a heavy burden. I started calculating. There were a total of seven quests given by Ethan.
‘Among them, the ones I can actually clear….’
“There is a secret temple on the southern side of Museion Island.”
“…….”
The Knight Commander blurted it out without any warning. I roughly wiped my face. A secret temple, in other words, what was called a dungeon. The difficulty was considerable. At least, for now.
“That sounds like classified information. Are you sure it’s alright?”
“Of course. It’s information only Sheila and I know.”
“Then since I’ve heard it, I’ll be put under surveillance, won’t I?”
“Naturally. If that information were to leak out, it would be a major problem.”
Is this guy insane? I would have to be monitored until the related dungeon was resolved. He hadn’t seed like a sly person.
“So there’s a reason you absolutely need .”
“You’re perceptive. I didn’t want to use such underhanded thods, but this ti, I absolutely need you.”
I recalled my mories. A dungeon on the southern side of the island would be a temple beneath the sea. What was it that was needed there again?
“Ah, you don’t have the key.”
“Hm?”
For an instant, the Knight Commander’s eyes sharpened. I made a sheepish expression. As the Knight Commander kept his gaze fixed on , the Vice-Commander stepped forward instead.
“Davide, it won’t be such a big request. According to our investigation, we heard that you possess the Holy Scripture. We only need it for a short while.”
To enter the underwater temple, a specific key was required. The episode where that key was obtained was still a long way off.
“According to what we’ve investigated, that temple reacts to Divine Power. However, Divine Power strong enough to open the entrance is not sothing easily obtained.”
It was simple. Sothing on par with the Holy Scripture was needed. But those who possessed such items were all stubbornly unmoving. Then I had appeared.
“You only need to open the entrance. Naturally, we will provide compensation, and we will also fully guarantee your safety.”
It was a bit burdenso to do in my current state. But it was a regrettable opportunity to pass up. The condition for receiving a quest from the Knight Commander was to display a certain level of martial power in front of him.
Given who he was, that standard was extrely high. Simply by possessing the Holy Scripture, the process had been skipped.
‘Above all, it won’t hurt to improve my relationship with the Imperial Knight Order.’
That made think about the imperial princess. Getting entangled with the imperial princess, who was on bad terms with the Duhein Family, would be troubleso. But beyond that, it was still useful.
“I’ll set a few conditions.”
The Knight Commander slowly nodded his head. Even so, it was too good an opportunity to let slip.
If things went this way, I would squeeze out as much value as possible. It wasn’t a place I could go with my current specs, but I could raise them as much as possible before that. On top of that, the Knight Order would be there.
“First, I want to participate in the temple exploration as well.”
“Go on.”
“Second is my safety. I will also help the exploration to the best of my ability, so please do everything you can to ensure my safety.”
“Is that all?”
“Lastly, just two more. I’ll take exactly two items found there.”
The Knight Commander slowly fell into thought. At so point, the Vice-Commander poured tea into the now-empty teacup. I wondered why she had been taking such care of since earlier.
“I’ll allow the temple exploration. Safety is a given, and I’ll also grant you the spoils. However, we have conditions on our side as well.”
I nodded. I didn’t think they would accept everything as is.
“If the expected pace of conquest doesn’t co out because of your safety, it’s aningless. You’ll have to show that you won’t be a hindrance. Also, the spoils will be inspected by our side first before being given to you. There may be items that aren’t suitable for a student to possess.”
“Understood. Then how should I prove that I won’t be a hindrance?”
The Knight Commander gestured to the Vice-Commander. She went to the desk where the Knight Commander had been working and brought back a single docunt.
“Coincidentally, sothing ca up. Originally, I was going to send only Sheila, but join in this ti and prove your skills. Of course, you’ll be paid. If you don’t et our expectations, you’ll have to train together with our Knight Order until the exploration.”
“I’ll make sure to succeed.”
I accepted the docunt the Knight Commander handed over. Training was absolutely out of the question. I had no desire to set foot in that hellish training.
“I’ll formally submit the request to the academy.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“I hope for good results.”
***
“He’s better than I’d heard.”
“That’s right. There were so many rumors, but he’s more solid than expected.”
In the quiet office, Ethan muttered. Sheila tidied up the area and chid in.
“They said he was a once-in-a-generation bastard.”
“Yes, a famously infamous piece of trash.”
As she replied, Sheila couldn’t hide her sense of puzzlent. Davide Duhein, a butcher who rampaged around backed by the power of his family. He was famous for his uniquely trashy personality.
But looking at the conversation that had just taken place, she couldn’t find any trace of that. He was perceptive, and he even had the nerve to make proposals in front of the Knight Commander.
“It’s possible the rumors are false.”
“It’s true that he stabbed a classmate with a sword.”
“Investigate that as well.”
“Yes.”
The Knight Commander didn’t trust rumors. But rumors accumulated over a long ti were different. After all, there was no smoke without fire.
For rumors that had been known by so many people over such a long period of ti, it was difficult to dismiss them outright as re falsehoods.
“Look into him carefully. I know it can’t be helped because of the Holy Scripture, but he could be a dangerous bomb.”
“Yes. I’ll examine him closely.”
“Well, it should be fine to give him a small gift.”
Ethan scribbled sothing at his work desk and handed it to Sheila. Sheila stared at it quietly, then showed a gentle smile.
“Did you like him more than you expected?”
“People can be fixed. It seed like he liked you more than he liked .”
“It was quite a beautiful sword.”
Ethan waved his hand. Taking it as a dismissal, Sheila bowed her head slightly. The hallway was quiet. After a brief mont of hesitation, Sheila stepped forward with light footsteps.
If she went back again, would it burden him? Sheila recalled that neat yet indifferent face. The way his calm expression crumpled, even in front of a Guardian, had been rather amusing.
The place she arrived at was the club room. She had heard it was called a chapel, but at a glance, there seed to be nothing inside. After straightening her clothes, Sheila knocked on the door.
“W-who is it?”
The one who opened the door was a short girl with white hair. It was clearly the child who had been hiding herself in the corner when Sheila visited earlier in the day.
Seeing her up close, she was even smaller. Looking at the girl’s tightly hunched shoulders, Sheila gave a gentle smile.
“Is Davide here?”
“Uh, Senior went out earlier and hasn’t co back yet.”
“I see. Ah, I’m late with my introduction. I’m Sheila, the Vice-Commander of the Imperial 6th Knight Order.”
“Huh! You’re the Vice-Commander? Ah, hello! I’m Winter, a Seraphist!”
Davide must have ntioned it when they visited earlier. Her reaction, as if she was hearing it for the first ti, was cute. A smile naturally ford on Sheila’s face. She didn’t seem to match well with that blunt and seemingly indifferent man.
“We were assigned this chapel today, so….”
“That’s fine. Co to think of it, what kind of relationship do you have with Davide?”
It seed she felt uneasy leaving a guest standing outside. Maintaining a bright tone, Sheila continued speaking.
“Senior is, um, the Cult Leader, and I serve as a priest.”
“I see. The reason I’m here is that our Knight Order has seen Davide’s potential and would like to invest in him.”
“Pardon?”
Sheila held back the laugh that nearly escaped at the vacant response. She took out a docunt from her chest and handed it over. Winter’s eyes widened as she accepted it without thinking.
“Oh my.”
“From now on, the Imperial 6th Knight Order will sponsor the Anaye Order, and I will be the one in charge.”
“Thank you very much!”
A bright smile followed. The amount was far greater than expected, and though she was taken aback, Winter did not forget to express her gratitude.
Only after Sheila hurriedly stopped her did Winter’s thanks finally co to an end.
“Forming a religious order won’t be an easy task.”
“Senior is very capable, so I think it worked out easily.”
“Is that so? Standing around like this feels a bit awkward, so shall we go shopping?”
“Pardon?”
“At the very least, you’ll need furniture, won’t you? Don’t worry about the cost. Our side will cover it.”
Winter’s eyes darted back and forth. She clearly looked conflicted. She wanted to accept, but sothing seed to be holding her back. Sheila added that there was no need to refuse.
“Davide is already aware of this as well. From the standpoint of a sponsor, this environnt is hard to overlook.”
“Th-that’s true. I suppose so.”
“Let’s just buy so basic furniture today. If you need anything else later, you can send a letter through the academy.”
With an easygoing manner, Sheila led Winter along. She looked like a skittish small animal, which made Sheila smile. Winter was quieter than expected.
Especially when it ca to Davide, she did not say a single word. Seeing that, rather than feeling disappointed, Sheila felt impressed.
They walked through the shopping district, knocking on countless shops. Sheila’s positive deanor and gentle smile were clearly effective.
“So sothing like that happened.”
“That’s right. Thanks to Davide and Bereninche back then, there were no major casualties.”
Sheila spoke first, sharing stories. From trivial matters to the incident that had recently drawn her attention to Davide.
Though Winter looked pressured at first, by the end she wore a proud expression. A strange sense of maternal affection arose. As if responding to Sheila’s efforts, Winter also began to open her mouth.
“The symbolism of the Holy Scripture is incredible.”
“That’s right. Most people know the Holy Scripture is valuable, but they limit their thinking to the book itself. What truly matters is the fact that soone has co to possess it.”
Winter possessed a wide range of knowledge. Sheila, who was ignorant of religious matters, deeply admired the words coming from that small mouth.
“I’m not very familiar with religion, but what kind of furniture would be needed?”
“Uh, even if it’s a chapel, the number of believers is small, so it should be fine. As long as we focus on the altar for the deity we serve, the rest can be, um, like a normal office.”
“Should I ask Davide separately?”
“Pardon? Ah, no. Senior entrusted that to .”
Sheila nodded. That sea-colored boy who looked so strict seed to trust Winter quite a lot.
After purchasing furniture to suit Winter’s modest tastes, the group prepared to head back.
“Hm?”
Then Sheila spotted a familiar figure. The sa sea-colored hair as Davide, with a healthy-looking build. A beauty with a sullen expression that left a strong impression.
Bereninche was walking while swinging a wooden spear this way and that. Then she sharply turned her head. Caught unexpectedly eting her gaze, Sheila gave a small bow.
“We keep running into each other.”
“That we do. It looks like you got yourself a new weapon?”
“Thanks to you.”
“We also received a lot of help.”
For so reason, Bereninche approached them. She strode over and spoke first. Sheila returned the greeting as calmly as possible.
Winter was frightened by the sudden appearance of a stranger. Apologetic though it was, she hid behind Sheila, who was larger in stature.
Sea-colored hair and tanned skin. A face that strongly resembled Davide. She did not have quite the sa infamy as him, but she was definitely not soone you wanted to associate with lightly.
“Who’s that behind you?”
“Hic.”
With a face suddenly filling her vision, Winter froze. If Davide was like a calm but cold winter lake, then Bereninche was like relentlessly crashing waves. eting those gleaming eyes, Winter instinctively lowered her gaze. She felt like she might die of fear.
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