149 - Holy Order of Knights
Over a hundred adventurers had gathered for the formation ceremony held in the spacious entrance hall of the mansion.
Everyone waited in a state of nervous anticipation, chatting amongst themselves.
I stepped away from the table and watched the scene from beside the wall. I was not one of the participants, but one of the hosts.
Monica was moving about busily, assisted by the shrine maidens who had been dressed in maid uniforms.
Monica came to my side.
"As I thought, perhaps the shrine maiden attire would have been better? I felt it was far too out of place, but their individuality has been completely extinguished."
"What on earth are you talking about? More importantly, is there enough food and drink?"
When I checked, Monica nodded.
"Nothing has been overlooked. However, there is a slight problem."
"Ah, I understand that. It will be fine until this battle is over, right?"
"Yes."
She had noticed the problem we were facing. After confirming that, Monica returned to her work.
I looked over the venue. Crate-san was also participating, dressed in an exceptionally spirited manner.
I'm not deceiving them, but I don't feel great about it, as if I'm just using them.
Dreamy adventurers.
Those who, rather than seeking a sudden windfall, simply wanted to escape this kind of life.
Yes, those I had gathered were people seeking an official appointment. Among them, I had Crate-san gather those who aspired to be knights.
Birds of a feather flock together, huh?
Among them were adventurers who had originally come from knightly families. Aria was also from a viscount's family of military lineage. There were many similar adventurers.
They were people who had decided to take this offer in order to reclaim their former glory.
From within the jewel, the Fifth's voice sounded slightly exasperated.
"No matter the era, there are always those incapable of calculating profit and loss. Well, I suppose they're better off for having resolve."
The Sixth added,
"Indeed. However, they are reliable for now. Moreover, considering the future, the Saint will need people who can act as her own hands and feet."
I turned my gaze toward the stairs.
It's time.
I had them make their appearance after creating an atmosphere where some alcohol had been consumed and the tension had eased slightly.
When the shrine maidens—those not wearing maid uniforms, but the outfits Monica had made—appeared, the venue suddenly became noisy with chatter.
That noise stopped dead the moment the main attraction appeared.
Yeah, if she keeps her mouth shut, she really looks like a Saint-sama.
Aura-san appeared, wearing a white dress that clung to her skin, followed by the former Saint Selma-san and the former High Priest Gastone-san.
I looked toward Eva, and Eva nodded.
Eva also had a skill. It was a skill she rarely used in combat, and one she herself didn't particularly like.
It was [Voice]—a skill to make one's voice louder and heard by more people.
And then there was the highlight of this occasion, [Back Music]. Eva could perform music through her skill even without an instrument.
Solemn music began to flow through the venue. Eva showed no change in her demeanor, making it a complete mystery where the sound was coming from.
It's rare for someone to dislike their own skill. Or did it manifest because she didn't want it? Skills are full of mysteries.
There was a reason why Eva did not use these skills. She hated them.
She wanted to deliver her voice herself. She didn't want to rely on a skill.
Music should be played using instruments, by many people together. A skill was tasteless.
That is what she had said.
This time, since there was no time or leeway to hire an orchestra, I had asked Eva.
The atmosphere, the music, and the appearance of a real Saint—no, a former Saint Candidate—left the venue quiet but excited.
Aura-san stopped halfway down the stairs, looked over the crowd, and spoke.
"Thank you all for gathering. I, Aura, am grateful to you all."
Lacking motivation, violent—the image of Aura-san in my mind and the current image of her were so different that I almost laughed.
I endured it and listened to her speech, but to put the content simply—let's go beat the crap out of Zain's Holy Knights together. If we succeed, you'll get an official appointment and be promoted into the knightly order.
That was the gist of it.
Yes, I had gathered them this time using official appointments as bait. I couldn't pay rewards. However, it had been decided that we would provide the necessary food and supplies.
Then, Aura-san turned her gaze to me.
"To take back Zain, we shall form a knightly order here. I leave the position of Commander to Lord Lyell, who saved me."
As I took a step forward, the gazes of the gathered adventurers converged on me.
"Though it is temporary, I shall accept the position of Commander."
And then, Aura-san said,
"I ask Lord Crate Benini to serve as Vice-Commander."
Crate-san, teary-eyed with emotion,
"...Y-Yes!"
His voice seemed to tremble slightly as he answered.
Aura-san spread her arms, then clasped her hands in front of her small chest in a prayer-like pose.
"Here, we form a knightly order—the [Holy Order of Knights]. May the Goddess's protection be upon those with courage."
To oppose the Holy Knights, we decided to establish the Holy Order of Knights to counter them. Though, the name was just haphazard.
It differed by only one character.
Well, it would be weird if it wasn't familiar... and it's a country where the military power is like Holy Knights, or rather, a knightly order for the Saint. It's temporary, so someone will probably rename it later.
It was a simplistic thought, but I wondered if something too eccentric would be a problem. Thus, the name of the order became the Holy Order of Knights.
While the venue was buzzing with excitement, I alone was grumbling to myself about the name. And then, the next move—.
Now then, tomorrow I have to meet Albano-san and the others.
The next day, I was talking with Albano-san at a tavern along with Miranda.
It was located in a complex alleyway and had a rough atmosphere. However, the quality of the food served was high and delicious.
While drinking, Albano-san looked at us.
"Cooperate on Zain's side? No thanks. I only ride the winning horse."
I gave a wry smile at Albano-san, who said such a thing so boldly, and nodded.
"That's perfectly fine. However, war isn't just about taking up weapons and fighting, is it?"
Around us, rough-looking fellows were drinking and making a racket.
Prostitutes were calling out to customers in the tavern, but they didn't approach our table where Miranda was.
Albano-san looked at us while keeping the glass to his lips.
Miranda reached for the food and said,
"What we want is for you to spread rumors in Zain. That a former Saint Candidate has risen, and that she is declaring war on Zain."
Albano-san pondered. Rather than hesitating, he seemed unable to comprehend it.
"...I know you guys are moving flashily. You intend to use Crate's blockhead, but you're going to spread the rumors yourselves?"
I nodded.
"In order to win. I have no intention of losing. In fact, it's my policy not to fight battles I cannot win."
Yes, the previous generations of my line do not fight losing battles. Only the Third lost his life to buy time, but that too was because it was necessary.
He threw away his life not to lose, but to win.
Albano-san laughed.
"I like that! I like guys like you. But what do you plan to do by spreading rumors? If that's all, there's certainly no disadvantage for us."
He seemed to be wondering if it was a trap.
"Just spreading the rumors is enough. The rest will naturally get exaggerated. Also, there are several rumors I want you to spread. Please spread them in order. Oh, I'll provide the funds for your eating and drinking in Zain. Well, as long as you come back once you've finished spreading the rumors."
Neither Miranda nor I expected Albano-san to do the job thoroughly. However, rather than him actually moving, we wanted the fact that we had requested it.
Believing that there were those watching us as we moved flashily.
"...Hmm, well, if that's all, it's fine. But I have a request too."
"What is it?"
When I asked, Albano-san took on a serious expression.
"Let us get a piece of this affair too."
Miranda became slightly wary, adjusting her legs which had been crossed under the table so she could move.
And while maintaining her smile,
"What do you mean by that? Do you want to participate? You don't look like you'd get along well with Crate-san."
Albano-san rested his arm on the back of the chair and turned his body diagonally toward us.
"Look, it's got nothing to do with the knightly order. I just want to get out of this bottom-tier life. No, we do. We're a collection of hopeless scum. But... it's not that I want to climb to the top, but I want a decent life. If an opportunity like this rolls in, it's only human to grab it, right?"
I let out a sigh.
"How will you cooperate?"
"I'll take the request. While I'm at it, let's hear what you want me to do over there."
The Third's voice came from the jewel.
"Well, we're doing this because we want the opposing side to know we're moving. I don't think it'll be a problem even if we're betrayed, but..."
I used the skill [Search] to check the other's reaction. Albano-san showed a blue reaction. And there was also a group in the tavern showing a red reaction.
When I sent a gaze that seemed to notice them, Miranda seemed to realize it as well.
Albano-san said,
"There are adventurers here who will participate on one side or the other. Those guys are on Zain's side. They might go sell our information. While I'm at it, we'll handle those kinds of people for you. You guys look like you're not good at that."
It was true that we weren't particularly skilled at it.
"...And the reward?"
"Money, status, honor... I'd say all of it, but I want something appropriate. Even if I can't get an official appointment in Zain, any medal that others would recognize is fine. If I can escape from a status like... a former thief."
Seeing his serious expression, I nodded.
And then.
"Speaking of which, Albano-san."
"What?"
"Are you aware that Zain's knightly order... has an elite unit?"
"The ones who do the dirty work? I know, but why?"
"From our perspective, it's enviable. Even if they do dirty work, they're the 'elite' of the knightly order."
"Are you not interested in that elite unit?"
Albano-san had a look of incomprehension on his face.
Miranda seemed to understand what I was thinking. She looked at Albano-san with her hand on her chin and nodded a few times.
"Well, it might be just right. Though they're like oil and water."
That is what she said.
It was two weeks later, while I was proceeding with these preparations, that Alette-san came to me.
Alette-san, who visited the mansion, brought a letter.
Receiving it in the drawing room, I looked at Alette-san's face.
"I look forward to meeting the Princess."
When I said that with a smile, Alette-san had a subtle expression.
"Investigating and then acting so brazenly... Lyell-kun, you really have a wonderful personality."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Alette-san probably hated that it turned out this way. However, when it came to a meeting with the three people who were the cards I held, she thought the Princess would meet.
Even if it was due to someone's suggestion.
Alette-san looked at my face.
"...I'll confirm this in advance, but if you do not come under Rolfis's umbrella, we cannot provide support. We can cooperate, though."
I knew that Rolfis did not have the leeway to provide funds, supplies, and manpower.
That's why I hadn't relied on them.
"That's fine. What we desire is for us to move effectively together. I believe it will also be to your benefit."
Then, Alette-san said to me,
"On their end... probably, they will tell you to hand over the former Saint Candidate, Aura-dono. I hear there are such movements."
Looking at Alette-san, who muttered irritably, I nodded.
"Ah, the Prince, her fiancé, was staying there. What a nuisance, right before a war."
They likely shared the same opinion, but Alette-san did not agree.
"I don't think it will result in the outcome Lyell-kun thinks it will, though."
While I remained smiling, a voice could be heard from within the jewel.
It was the Seventh's voice.
"Outcome? That is something one seizes. Besides, our preparations have already moved to the next stage. We can no longer stop."
The Fourth added,
"Stopping here would be a great blow. ...Sigh."
Ignoring the depressed Fourth, I spoke to Alette-san.
"Well, I'll manage somehow."
"I see. By the way, that maid isn't here today."
I nodded with a smile to Alette-san, who was looking around the room.
――It was a fort located on the frontier of Zain.
It had been used in the past, but now it was merely garrisoned by dispatched knights. The soldiers were in a state of having scraped together men from the surrounding villages.
It had been constructed because there was a border with Rolfis, but now that Rolfis had been pushed back, it had lost its purpose.
Still, nearly fifty personnel were stationed there, merely maintaining it. The reason there were so few people relative to its size was that its importance was low.
A sentry soldier yawned atop the fort's wall. A soldier from the same village.
"What, gambling until late again yesterday?"
The yawning soldier looked displeased.
"It's the only thing there is. Even if we get money, there's nowhere to spend it. The knights have no motivation. There's no point in training. They should just destroy a fort like this."
It was no wonder the young soldiers felt that way.
At [Fort Noineel], which had become meaningless, the exiled knights were unmotivated and smelled of alcohol from the morning.
The soldiers under them also had morale that was practically non-existent.
"Sigh, even though there's a war with Rolfis... it's peaceful here."
As the soldier muttered that while looking into the distance,
"Huh, is that a horse in the sky... Hey! Isn't that a Kirin!"
"No way! Where! ...It really is flying. Even without wings."
The soldiers were excited to have seen something rare. And it was the same for the soldiers in the fort. In a boring fort with no topics of conversation, the discovery of a Kirin immediately caused a stir.
It didn't take long for the hungover knights to come outside and look up at the sky to see the Kirin.
"Kirin bring good luck, right? Then, something good will happen to us too..."
But then, one person shouted loudly.
"E-Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"
They hurriedly rang the bell to notify the knights and soldiers in the fort, but everyone looked outside the fort in surprise without even putting on their armor.
There, a large box made of iron with a round cylinder attached to the side was moving, even though there was no horse.
"W-What is that! Hey, why did you let it get this close!"
The hungover knight woke up and grabbed a soldier by the collar. However, the knight was dressed in just trousers and a shirt... he wasn't even carrying a weapon.
"W-We were distracted by the Kirin."
Then, one of the soldiers screamed.
"Hey, look at that!"
"No way..."
Atop the metal box was a girl in a white dress. Her face was hidden by cloth. Wavy brown hair was visible.
"Is it the Saint-sama?"
The fort's soldiers had never seen a real Saint. After all, they had only seen the former Saint Selma a few times.
The knights could immediately judge that it wasn't her. The outfit was different, but the aura was there.
At that point, they remembered the rumors.
One knight said,
"...Is it Lady Aura!"
There had been rumors that she had escaped from Zain and was gathering soldiers to rise up in Beime. However, the knights hadn't expected her to come to the frontier.
"Why in a place with nothing like this..."
A soldier asked,
"What do we do! Are we allowed to shoot arrows!"
While the confused soldiers were unable to receive instructions, the large metal box carrying the Saint arrived in front of the gate. In front of the closed gate, the large cylinder was pointed at the center of the gate.
"What do you intend to do. Damn! Put on your armor immediately! They are fakes! Here, we shall—"
As the knight spoke, the fort shook with a violent explosion and impact. Several soldiers collapsed on the spot, and smoke was rising from around the gate.
When the knight immediately looked outside, nearly a hundred people were streaming into the fort. As fully armed soldiers poured in, the knight hurriedly remembered he was unarmed and tried to go inside the fort.
Then, a girl wearing clothes that exposed her shoulders, stomach, and thighs—with loose sleeves but a tight fit around the chest and waist—descended.
"W-Who are you!"
He put his hand on his hip, but he had left his sword behind. As the girl giggled, one of the knights thrust a spear he had snatched from a soldier.
The girl dodged it and immediately sent the knight flying with a roundhouse kick.
The kicked knight rolled across the ground, crashed into the wall, and lost consciousness.
"S-Strong."
When the knight said that, everyone gathered on the wall was surrounded by enemies rushing up the stairs.
Judging that they were outmatched in both numbers and equipment, the knight said,
"...I surrender."
That was also based on the calculation that if it was Aura claiming to be the Saint, she wouldn't do anything cruel to them.
The girl spoke.
"Bind them quickly. Lady Aura is coming. Also, send out troops to procure food in the surrounding area as they are. Gather soldiers too. The battle is won by completing preparations before the enemy arrives."
Hearing that, the knight was convinced as he suspected.
Damn, to lose without even fighting...
Thus the knight was bound, but he noticed that the skill of the person binding him was sloppy. As they were disarmed and the soldiers were bound one after another, the knights were moved.
While descending the stairs, a voice called out to the enemy soldier who had bound him.
"Hey, help me over here too."
"No, I have to take this guy to the cell..."
To the troubled enemy soldier, the knight said,
"I've surrendered. I won't run. Besides, I'm tied up, so I can't run."
Then, the enemy soldier pretended to hesitate and walked up the stairs.
The knight grinned and, while still bound, descended the stairs and untied the ropes.
"Amateurs. It seems they've scraped together some adventurers, but conversely, they could only gather about a hundred. It seems they're short on supplies too."
Moving through the fort while hiding so as not to be found, the knight headed toward the place where his horse was tied.
Then, after putting on the saddle and mounting, he galloped his horse straight toward the destroyed gate.
The enemy saw him and shouted something, but the knight ignored them.
If I take this information back, I'll be saved. I'll say I fought the enemy and put up a good fight but was defeated. And that I only managed to bring back the information...
The knight galloped his horse toward the capital of Zain――.