Where Did You Even Find the Knight Commander...?
"Where on earth did you bring the Knight Commander from...?"
"Ah, well... After that desperate battle with the Observer..."
"We ended up falling into some other space, and there was this woman isolated there. So I just brought her back with me..."
"And that woman turned out to be the Knight Commander, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much..."
Leaving the Hunter behind as she split off to check for more Outer Gods near Rondan, I found myself walking back with Mu Yeon, the Immortal Witch, and the Knight Commander, casually spilling the tale without even realizing it.
"But... how long is this gonna last...?"
Mu Yeon had been clinging tightly to my wrist ever since, for some reason. She was gripping it so hard my wrist actually hurt a little. I tried asking in an awkward tone, but she whipped her head away to the opposite side.
"Mu Yeon...?"
"U-uh... Just think of it as punishment, please. I'm begging you..."
"Punishment? I don't think I've done anything wrong to you..."
She grumbled like that, and only then did Mu Yeon finally look at me. Her eyes were glistening with tears.
"...Huh?"
Surprised, I let it show on my face, and Mu Yeon squeezed her eyes shut, shouting in a loud voice.
"I-If we're being technical, it's your fault for scaring me! Just stay quiet!"
"Yes, ma'am."
They say a woman's tears are stronger than anything. I really couldn't say a word.
On the other hand, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible. Think about it from a third-party perspective—what I'd done. For Rondan's sake, I'd charged at a massive wolf tearing through space, ready to die blocking it, only to tumble into another dimension. Even I'd be freaked out.
"J-Just to make sure..."
"Ask away!"
Mu Yeon seemed a bit calmer now, speaking with a cheeky expression.
"After you went through that space with the... Observer..."
"Yeah."
"You were totally fine, right?"
"More or less?"
"S-So..."
Mu Yeon's face flushed slightly as she said,
"Don't tell me you... did that with other Outer Gods..."
She blurted out the phrase that had become my panic button ever since possessing Snow Castle, as if it were nothing.
"I didn't! I swear!"
"Eek!"
I practically yelled it in a frenzy, and Mu Yeon flinched, shrinking back again. Do these people enjoy poking at me whenever they get the chance?
"G-Good... I'm relieved..."
"What was that?"
"Nothing! Sorry, I was just curious..."
...Sigh, fine. What good would getting mad do? It was all karma piled up by this Leydan Tantun guy.
Still with Mu Yeon gripping my wrist, we headed to the Hearth. Following her lead, we went underground and soon arrived at what I assumed was the Vice Captain's office.
"Oh!"
"Hm? Is something coming back to you now?"
The Knight Commander let out an exclamation like she'd remembered something, so I thought maybe her dementia was finally clearing up.
"Food!"
...She pointed at a moldy bread chunk stuck in the gravel wall nearby. Yeah, no way. My faint hopes crashed and burned pathetically.
"Hold on a sec."
Mu Yeon knocked on the Vice Captain's door.
Knock knock.
"Vice Captain. It's Mu Yeon."
"What is it?"
A deep, heavy voice rumbled from inside. This guy's as steadfast as ever. Wonder if anything's changed in the few days since.
"Th-There are some people here I need to explain about..."
"Come in."
At the Vice Captain's words, Mu Yeon finally released my wrist and opened the door. She went in first, and we followed.
The first thing that caught my eye was the insane stack of documents piled on the Vice Captain's desk. He scanned them quickly with his eyes, stamped them, and shoved them aside—his movements were so precise it was like watching performance art. But maybe because of that bear mask armor...
Poof.
Every stamp came with a soft sound. Looking closer, he'd already finished most of that mountain of papers; he breezed through the remaining pile and looked up at Mu Yeon.
"So, who are these people you need to explain?"
"These two here..."
"What kind of people would require..."
The Vice Captain trailed off, shifting his indifferent gaze to the Knight Commander and me. At that moment, the eyes on his bear mask literally went perfectly round. Who knew a mascot head could change that dramatically? It felt like a physics engine glitch.
He didn't stop there. He slowly rose from his seat, walked forward step by step, and ended up right in front of me and the Knight Commander.
What was he about to say? Based on his image so far, I figured it'd be something like, "This is who you needed to explain? Just take him back to the barracks."
But his next action was enough to throw me off completely.
He dropped to his knees right there.
"...?!"
Mu Yeon was just as shocked, her mouth hanging open. The Vice Captain, of all people—suddenly kneeling?
Ah, right. I came in with the Knight Commander. Obviously, her superior went missing and returned, so he'd bow to her.
"...Rondan's hero, Leydan Tantun, and the Knight Commander's return— I sincerely welcome you both."
Or so I tried to think, but he was emphasizing me even more than putting the Knight Commander second.
I shot Mu Yeon an uneasy glance, mouthing, "What the hell is this?!" But she mouthed back something like "I have no idea!" and shook her head vigorously.
"Hm? Who's kneeling all of a sudden?"
Meanwhile, the Knight Commander spouted nonsense again, but the Vice Captain ignored it, rising slowly and turning his gaze to her.
"Your office will be cleaned promptly, Knight Commander. In the meantime, please follow Alpha and Beta's guidance."
"Huh? I'm the Knight Commander?"
"...It's odd your memories are intact after all that. Escort her."
At his shout, those two androgynous figures I'd seen before rushed in, gently took the Knight Commander's hand, and led her away. The door closed behind them, and it hit me too late.
Wait. What about me?
"...Ahem."
The Vice Captain cut off my thoughts. Can't you just let me go without a word? I hate this atmosphere!
"Can you forgive how I've treated you all this time, Leydan Tantun?"
"Wh-What do you mean? What did you do?"
Forcing my stiff throat to work, I managed that, and he continued in a flat tone.
"No need for excuses. I didn't trust you, so I treated you harshly. But in this Hearth rift incident, you've proven it. That you're ready to give your life for Rondan!"
He raised his voice suddenly, and I could tell it was a reprimand aimed at himself.
"I thought you were dead. The thought that I couldn't even apologize properly made me feel utterly pathetic. But not only did you return unscathed—you even brought back the Knight Commander. You're a saint repaying enmity with grace."
...Why is this guy acting like this all of a sudden? Honestly, when I fell through the rift, I figured he'd think, "Finally rid of that pest."
He's just strict by the rules, but endlessly kind to his own people, huh.
After saying that, he stared at me blankly, lost in thought, saying nothing. As his gaze started feeling burdensome, he finally spoke.
"So, for this incident and rescuing the Knight Commander, I want to repay you. Anything you need? Speak freely. I'll grant whatever I can."
His expression suggested he'd approve most requests.
Come to think of it, I don't have a decent weapon.
"Then, could you recommend a good forge?"
"Hm? Why a forge?"
"Need a weapon."
"Didn't you get one from the Hearth's Weapon Arsenal?"
Oh crap! Right.
I flailed my arms frantically.
"No, uh! It got smashed fighting the Observer! So I need something usable made."
"...The Observer, huh. Destroying a weapon that wouldn't even scratch from normal impacts."
His deifying tone amid all this just flustered me more. Stop it suddenly like that! You're making me feel like I'm about to die!
"There's a good place. Go there with Mu Yeon's guidance later."
"M-Me?!"
"Your gear was made there too. You remember the way?"
"Yeah, but..."
He nodded at Mu Yeon's response.
"Good. Anything else besides that?"
"Really, I'm fine... Haha. I didn't do anything that special."
"...Still so humble to the end. This throws off the balance."
"Really! I'm good."
This guy's making it so awkward. Stop, just stop!
Thankfully, he seemed done and headed back to his seat. But right before sitting, he removed his headpiece, draping it over his arm. The face turned toward me was scarred from countless battles, looking tough yet humanely respectful.
"...I sincerely congratulate your return, Tantun. May your knighthood shine brightly henceforth. Rest today."
With that, he saluted me first. Bewildered, not knowing what to do, Mu Yeon signaled to return it, so I hurriedly did.
Only then did he lower his hand, piling yet another mountain of documents on the desk and resuming work. Probably okay to leave now.
I slipped out, riding the momentum.
Mu Yeon followed, muttering something.
"Y-You two alone..."
"Reminds you of when we went to deal with the Gardener, huh."
"Y-Yeah!"
For some reason, she bowed deeply to me in surprise and vanished somewhere. She was always a bit scatterbrained, but especially today.
Mu Yeon's forge, huh. Her current gear had impressive durability, so I had high hopes.
With the Cook's food boosting my physical stats, now I just need to up defense and attack directly. Sword? Axe? Gun? To live most comfortably right now, axe like Mu Yeon seems best—learn from her.
...Can't ask the Hunter after that stuff. I'll decide at the forge.
For now, like the Vice Captain said, I just wanted to zone out in my room and recharge mentally.
Only the sound of stamps thudding quietly filled the Vice Captain's office. Having finally conquered the towering stack of papers, he leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh.
Knock knock.
A knock echoed at that moment.
"Who is it."
"It's me."
"...Come in."
White Mask entered at his words. Her mask hid any expression, but her somewhat clumsy movements betrayed a hint of dissatisfaction, which the Vice Captain picked up on.
"What's the matter."
"Can't I visit without a reason?"
"You're being so obvious about your displeasure."
White Mask paused at his words, then let out a heavy sigh.
"That guy's back, right?"
"Tantun, you mean."
"Yeah. Exactly."
She sat in a chair in the corner, falling silent as if pondering, then spoke again.
"You should promote him. He's the hero who stopped the Hearth rift."
"I was planning to report to the Princess. She's endlessly generous—she'll reward him more lavishly than we expect. Maybe even make him a high officer, fitting our merit-based knights."
"Sure, whatever. Then I can train him?"
"...First time you're volunteering as a mentor."
White Mask shrugged, half-denying his words.
"I'm not that cold-blooded."
"That's your call. And?"
He sighed deeply.
"That wasn't your real business."
"...Right. I wanted to chat more, but you're still no fun."
"Since when do you like chit-chat?"
"Heh. True enough."
The faint warmth in White Mask's demeanor chilled instantly.
"I heard the Knight Commander's back. That guy brought her?"
"Yes."
"Good. We even formed a special elite search team for her."
When everyone else had given her up for dead. The Vice Captain snorted at her nonchalant tone.
"So, what do you want to say?"
"...Word is her memories aren't fully intact. You really putting someone like that back in command?"
"Knights follow rules. She never got an official retirement order from the Princess."
"...You really have a saintly personality sometimes."
White Mask stood and headed for the door.
Before leaving, she said,
"Forgiving the main cause of the Frost Mountains expedition disaster so easily. Or do you still have feelings for her?"
"...No time for nonsense like that, Stationmaster."
"Yeah, yeah. Got it. That was what I came to say. Just curious about your thoughts."
White Mask left, and the quiet crinkle of paper was all that remained in the Vice Captain's office.