Quitting with a Bang (2)
The Agnes Knights kept flexible hours — with one exception.
Anyone who had been in the order for less than two weeks was required to train for the duration of that period, the better to settle in. Officially it was called training. In practice, it meant trailing after senior knights and learning the work by watching.
The Agnes Knights handled policing within the territory and manned the walls that ringed it. From time to time they also mounted large-scale hunts against magical beasts. The two-week grace period existed so new blood could absorb all of that properly.
In plain terms: they were the rookies.
"This the place?"
Orion made his way to the spot Heily had told him about the day before.
That Albert fellow had shown up first thing in the morning, given Orion a once-over as if sizing up his combat strength, and then walked off. From Orion's point of view, the whole thing had been absurd.
"That's the one who came in yesterday?"
"He's an outsider, isn't he? What's an outsider doing here…"
"Does he even know where he is? Some nobody waltzing in like he belongs. Doesn't know his place."
When Orion reached what looked like a drill yard, three other newcomers already there were tearing into him.
Wow. Like I begged to join.
Orion felt wronged. Being strong-armed into enlisting was bad enough — now he had to stand there and take front-facing backtalk on top of it?
"Come on, just leave him alone. Why bother? It's a pain."
"Arnold. This is a matter of a knight's pride. Enough talk — step aside."
From a distance, the man Orion had seen that morning approached with a bespectacled fellow in tow. The thug trio gazed at them with open worship.
"C-Commander!"
They stared as if a celebrity had walked in.
I don't get it.
Orion could not begin to understand what was so impressive about that slick-looking guy.
Albert ignored Orion standing off to the side and went straight to the three.
"You lot joined last week, I take it."
They gasped at being recognized, so overcome they could not even open their mouths.
"Today I shall personally test your combat strength."
"Th-the Commander himself?!"
Their jaws dropped as if a once-in-a-lifetime chance had just fallen into their laps. Afraid he might change his mind, they scrambled into stance.
"Settle yourselves. I will match your level, so there is no need to worry."
"Y-yes, sir!! Please take care of us!!"
The result: all three lasted less than a minute against Albert. To Orion it looked like pure toying with them, yet they stood there grinning ear to ear as if it had been a gift.
"Commander, you truly are incredible!"
"Even if you were holding back, just being able to cross blades with you like this was an honor!"
"I joined the knights because I want to become as strong as you, Commander! I look forward to learning from you!!"
"Haha. Fine prospects, the lot of you. I look forward to the days ahead."
A warm, cheerful atmosphere settled over them.
Hmm. So this is what passes for knighthood.
Setting aside that cringeworthy display, the actual fighting had looked decent enough. Those thugs who could not last a minute had simply been outclassed — their form itself had not been bad. And that so-called Commander… for all his greasy image, he seemed to know what he was doing.
Then Albert walked over to Orion.
"You as well. Take up a sword. Fair is fair. I should not say so myself, but you are a lucky man."
That smirk alone was enough to set Orion's blood boiling. He steadied himself and kept his face carefully blank. The man was his superior now — he could not exactly unload a string of curses on him.
"I'm fine, thank you. No need to trouble yourself over a chick who just got here. I'm sure you're busy — please, go about your duties."
Orion declined with a flat, unreadable expression. Albert's face twisted.
"Your superior extends goodwill, and that is the attitude you take?"
"Pardon?"
He was offering to spare him a hassle, and the man was insisting on it anyway. What was he even supposed to say? Orion blinked in pure bewilderment as Albert raised his sword.
"Enough. No excuses. Take up a blade. I knew you were a lowly outsider, but I did not realize your mind was just as base. No matter. Educating even worthless members is a Commander's duty."
What a load of crap.
It was such garbage that Orion could not even be bothered to argue. He sighed, drew the wooden practice sword he had been issued, and stepped forward.
"Who does he think he is?"
"Right? He should've just accepted it when it was offered. What's he playing at? Does he think this makes him look cool?"
"Hey, don't be too hard on him. He's going to look real stupid when the Commander wrecks him while he's striking a pose."
The thug trio, true to form, kept running their mouths. Behind them, the glasses-wearing man lifted a flag with a look of pure exhaustion.
The instant the flag dropped—
Crack—!!
The wooden sword in Albert's hand went sailing into the sky.
Orion slid his own practice blade back into its sheath as if the whole thing had been a waste of time, yawned, and spoke.
"I can go eat now, right? I'll head out first."
And those who had watched it all unfold—
"What…?"
—were the thug trio, eyes and mouths stretched wide as chestnuts.
Noon. Sunlight fell straight down from overhead.
The place was the same drill yard where Orion and Albert had clashed that morning. And now, standing in front of Orion, was Knight Commander Albert himself.
"What's the matter? Already hanging your head? Have you finally learned your place?"
Some knight Orion did not know had dragged him out while he was resting after his meal. And the first thing out of Albert's mouth was that. Being able to put on a brazen face in a situation where any normal person would be red with shame — that took a special kind of talent.
"Allow me to make a personal proposal. Insulting me, the Knight Commander, is a crime that deserves punishment. But if you kneel here and now and beg forgiveness, I shall mercifully pardon you."
What kind of situation produced nonsense like that? Orion tuned his ears to the soldiers murmuring around them.
"I heard the Commander lost to that outsider this morning?"
"What?! Is that true?"
"Come on, has to be a rumor. Our Commander, losing to some chick who just joined? No way."
"You think so?"
Orion got the picture. The thug trio and their loose mouths had clearly spread the story. He left the spectators behind and looked at the man in front of him.
Unlike that morning, Albert had come in full kit — pure white armor, a blue cloak, and a silver longsword. Fully armed for the occasion.
Anyway. That was that.
"I'm afraid I don't follow. I haven't done anything wrong."
At Orion's words, Albert's face flushed red. Then, as if forcing himself calm, he steadied his breathing and tossed a sword toward Orion. It stuck in the ground at his feet — a real blade, edge keen and ready.
"I expected you would say as much. Give a lowly outsider a chance and he still cannot take it."
Albert leveled his sword tip at Orion.
"Regrettably, I lack the authority to expel you. So I will make a proposal instead."
"Which is?"
"I challenge you to a duel. If you lose to me, I want you to walk out on your own two feet. As Knight Commander, I cannot acknowledge a lowly outsider like you."
Orion considered it. For a split second he thought, If I just lose and leave right now, isn't that a massive win? — then reality caught up a beat later.
…If I get kicked out, don't I immediately get a bounty on my head?
Win, and it would be a headache of its own. Lose, and he was out — with a bounty slapped on him the moment he left. For Orion, the second option was worse.
So he thought of something else.
"Fine. I don't know what I did to earn the Commander's dislike, but let's do it that way."
"You still fail to grasp the situation, it seems — judging by how full of yourself you sound."
"Haha. Frankly, Commander, I don't much care what you think. But if those are the terms, then naturally if I win, you resign. Right?"
"…What?"
"Why so shocked? I put my resignation on the line. You should do the same. 'Fair is fair,' as you like to say."
If you pick up a gun, you had better be ready to get shot. And this way, even if he won, he would not have to walk on eggshells around the man afterward. Two birds, one stone.
"He's completely insane. Does that guy actually think he can beat the Commander?"
"Works for me. I never liked outsiders anyway."
The watching knights all assumed Albert would win. Sensing his subordinates' eyes fixed on him, Albert agreed to Orion's terms.
"…Very well."
"Great. Then let's get started."
Spectators kept pouring in. Orion studied Albert's bearing. He had wondered if the man had prepared something special, but the only thing that had changed was the flashy outfit. Best guess: Albert had rationalized the morning away as a moment of carelessness and left it at that.
The referee appeared to be the glasses-wearing man from that morning.
"The duel will now begin."
He raised the flag.
"On three. Three, two, one—"
On "one," he swept the flag down.
The instant it dropped, Albert kicked off the ground and charged.