Together with Aurora, we headed to the Holy Knight Order’s detachment as usual.
As I was about to enter the branch manager’s office, I found about ten soldiers inside, being berated by the chubby Holy Knight Marco.
“What are you people doing! Are you, mere soldiers, going to argue with me, a Holy Knight!”
“B-but Branch Manager Marco. We’re all worn out. If we keep working without rest, something serious could happen due to fatigue…”
“There’s no ‘but’! Didn’t I give you a whole day off half a month ago! Frankly, you all lack the spirit of self-sacrifice and devotion! Why can’t you bring yourselves to work yourselves to the bone for the peace of the people!”
“B-but…”
It seemed the soldiers had come to protest Marco for withholding their days off, but as usual, Marco was completely dismissive.
It wasn’t just Aurora who had been overworked.
However, another soldier placed a hand on the shoulder of the one talking to Marco and shook his head.
“Hey, let’s drop it. It’s useless to say anything to Branch Manager Marco. We soldiers have no choice but to do as the Holy Knights say.”
“B-but… there are already some who have collapsed from poor health.”
“Even so. We are nothing more than disposable, cheap pawns for the Holy Knight Order. If you don’t like it, you can just quit. We have no choice but to do our best.”
“Hmph… You seem to understand well, you there. If I wanted to, I could easily find replacements for you soldiers. Those who lack the will to protect the people’s peace even at the cost of their own lives are unnecessary in the Holy Knight Order. If you don’t like it, get out now.”
Marco smirked triumphantly and leaned back in his chair.
Listening to their exchange, I felt a surge of anger.
Perhaps, as an outsider, I shouldn’t meddle in internal organizational matters, but frankly, I found it extremely disagreeable.
Just as I was thinking of at least making a snide remark—
Suddenly, Aurora, who was beside me, moved.
The young Holy Knight strode into the branch manager’s office and addressed Marco with a clear voice.
“Branch Manager Marco. What is this discussion about?”
Marco, noticing her, twisted his face in displeasure.
“Tch, Aurora. — This doesn’t concern you. I am educating these impertinent soldiers on their responsibilities as members of the Holy Knight Order.”
Marco replied brazenly.
But Aurora didn’t back down and responded with a dignified demeanor.
“It concerns me greatly. The only ones of Holy Knight rank in this branch are you, Branch Manager Marco, and myself. — Branch Manager Marco, I am the only one who can stop your tyranny.”
“Wh-what!? Tyranny…!?”
Marco exclaimed in surprise.
The soldiers, too, looked at Aurora with astonished expressions.
“A-Aurora…sama…?”
“Everyone, I apologize for what happened until now. If I, as a Holy Knight, had been more diligent, I could have prevented Branch Manager Marco from acting with such tyranny. — But from now on, if you have any troubles, please consult me. Even if I cannot solve everything, we should be able to improve things little by little.”
Aurora said this, smiling at the soldiers.
Her appearance truly seemed worthy of the title “Holy Knight.”
Aurora, standing with her back straight, seemed somehow different from how she was yesterday.
It was as if a chrysalis had emerged as a magnificent butterfly overnight.
My wives also leaned in and whispered to me.
“…Hey Douglas, Aurora seems to have a different aura about her, doesn’t she?”
“She looks so mature all of a sudden, nya…?”
“Is that resolve? She seems so composed. — Douglas-sama, is something the matter?”
“No, nothing in particular. I don’t know why, but I think Aurora changed on her own.”
Looking at the young Holy Knight’s dignified demeanor, I thought:
Aurora is fine now.
The girl who seemed like she might break if I didn’t protect her was no longer there.
I might have been mistaken about her being a “bad girl” or anything like that.
***
It was decided that Aurora would handle the matter of the soldiers’ days off and discuss it with Marco.
The soldiers exited.
As they left, I heard some of them say:
“Damn, I might become a fan of Aurora-sama.”
“Whoa, dude, you have a wife and kids. Aurora-sama is my angel.”
“Idiot, wives and idols are different categories!”
“With Holy Knight Order Vice Commander Luna-sama, that makes two angels in the Holy Knight Order. It’s hard to choose between them.”
…What were they even talking about.
Well, I was glad they seemed to be in good spirits, one way or another.
Now that the soldiers had left, it was just Branch Manager Marco, Holy Knight Aurora, and us remaining.
Aurora discussed the soldiers’ days off with Marco.
Aurora smoothly deflected Marco’s incessant complaints and offered constructive proposals.
It seemed that most of the defense-related issues around this detachment had been resolved by yesterday, and Marco was planning to send reinforcements to other branches.
Marco let slip, “My evaluation—” and then quickly covered it up, “All the other branches are struggling too! We can’t just be comfortable here!” It was quite the scene.
Once that matter was settled to some extent, Marco brought up the next agenda item.
“Aurora, you have received a direct summons. It’s from Holy Knight Order Deputy Commander Luna-sama, personally.”
“From me, Luna-sama…?”
Marco handed Aurora a letter.
Aurora opened it, read its contents, and spoke aloud.
“Requesting aid from Holy Knight Aurora, the ‘Holy Sword Wielder’… Fifty-two members of the subjugation unit under Holy Knight Luna’s command engaged with a mass murderer, a ‘Whip User’—and were annihilated!? Only Holy Knight Luna managed to escape and return… Is this true!?”
Aurora exclaimed in shock.
Meanwhile, I picked up a word in Aurora’s words that I couldn’t overlook.
“Aurora, does that letter say the opponent they engaged was a ‘Whip User’?”
“Yes. …However, a unit directly commanded by Luna-sama being annihilated… Could it be that girl with the dagger from back then…? No, but it says ‘Whip User’…”
Aurora muttered, her hand to her mouth, deep in thought.
Elen then spoke up.
“Hey, hey Aurora. Is this Luna-sama person strong?”
“Y-yes, she is strong. Holy Knight Luna is one of the most skilled individuals in the entire Holy Knight Order of this Holy Kingdom.”
“The strongest class in a kingdom’s knight order. If we’re talking Adventurers, that’s at least B Rank—no, probably A Rank equivalent.”
I mumbled to myself, thinking.
If she’s an A Rank equivalent, she’d be comparable to Gilram, the Wolf Fang Clan Monk I fought in the arena, or Aurelia, the Elf Swordsman known as the Fairy Sword Princess.
And she led fifty soldiers into battle and they were wiped out.
If that story is true, the opponent is undoubtedly one of the “Ten Dragons Divine Artifact Generals.”
And Netsah, a Club Wielder and also one of the “Ten Dragons Divine Artifact Generals,” had warned to be especially cautious of ‘Whip Users.’
—As I was thinking this, the chubby Holy Knight Marco addressed me.
“However, Adventurer, you will be dispatched to support a different branch than Aurora. You heard the situation, so you understand that all branches are struggling, right?”
He said this, leaning back in his chair.
He’s still the same, isn’t he…
I responded to Marco’s demand without a moment’s hesitation.
“Is that so. But I refuse.”
“Mhm mhm, it’s good you understand. Now, Adventurer, the place you should head to next is— What did you say!?”
Marco shot up from his seat.
Honestly, he’s so annoying.
“Y-you… what did you just say…!?”
“I said I refuse. This time, I will accompany Aurora.”
“Wh-what… Why! Do you think you can just do as you please!?”
“It’s not about whether I can do as I please, I’ve always acted on my own initiative. Besides, I haven’t even received my payment for previous work yet.”
“Guh-gununu…!! All of you are just doing whatever you want! What is going ooon! Is this a rebellious phase!?”
The chubby Holy Knight wailed.
That’s what I should be saying.
At this point, he’s almost admirable.
It’s just that there are quite a few people who, without any real authority, try to manipulate others by exploiting their sense of responsibility, duty, or desire for fulfillment.
It’s a simple matter of refusal, but people can get swept up by the atmosphere.
“Well then— Shall we go, Aurora?”
“Y-yes. But I’m not a child anymore…”
“I know. I can clearly see how much you’ve grown, Aurora. But when it comes to military strength, it’s a different story. Let’s go defeat that ‘Whip User’ together.”
“—!”
“Yes, Uncle!”
The young Holy Knight’s voice, filled with joy, bounced with excitement.
She’s still a child in some ways.
And so, Aurora and I left the branch manager’s office.
As we departed, my wives stuck out their tongues at Marco, and the chubby Holy Knight’s incessant wailing echoed around us.
