Phoenix Oath and the Demon Scouts
Seeing Theresia receive the suit of armor as a gift, Anna began stomping her feet and grumbling.
"You said no to the shield I wanted!"
"...Are those the same thing?"
"Couldn't you have given something to me first!? Why her of all people..."
"Guess you just don't have the charm for it."
While Anna and I bickered, Theresia swiftly donned the armor and approached her. An intimidating aura dominated the surroundings. Considering she'd been on equal footing with Anna in just her undergarments, armored up, she clearly had the upper hand now. Anna seemed to realize it too—unlike her earlier bravado, she shrank back a little.
"Sorry for stealing away the master's favor."
"...Doesn't change the fact that you lost to us in the end."
"Right, exactly. That's why I hate you religious zealots and your so-called gods the most."
Theresia, having reclaimed the armor she'd lost forever—or so she'd thought, never to recover—sank into memories of that time. Snapping out of it, she approached me and knelt once more. A solemn demeanor, far from her initial display.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Theresia Erhart, captain of the Eresium Kingdom's Phoenix Knights."
She lifted her head and met my eyes.
"I won't ask why you possess the Phoenix Knights' armor."
Theresia rose slowly.
"Do you, by chance, know the knights' motto?"
"...From the ashes."
"The phoenix rises."
She gazed intently at my hair—gray like hers, but a lighter shade.
"It can't be coincidence that this phoenix rose from your ashes."
It was coincidence. I'd picked her purely because her heirloom came up in the random draw. But from her perspective, it was destiny. I had her armor. And I'd drawn her heirloom. It must have felt like a perfectly assembled puzzle.
"This worthless woman's life is yours. I pledge it to you."
I looked down at Theresia as she spoke. I'd given her just one suit of armor, one heirloom. Yet her eyes brimmed with unwavering loyalty. There was no summon favorability viewer, but if there had been...
Theresia Erhart
I thought that as I sent the two back to the summoning pattern.
The dining hall. The Iritz ducal estate housed hundreds of servants, so the hall serving their meals was equally massive. The kids were eating there. I grabbed my bowl and headed over.
"What're you doing here?"
"You're late."
"That so?"
I sat next to senior Dinua and dug in. The food rivaled academy grub—no, it blew that crap away. If the academy was Michelin three stars, this was four, easy.
"This is unusual."
"What is?"
"Don't nobles usually eat separately from the servants...? But here..."
The servants ate casually in the same space as Stella, like it was routine.
Stella scooped soup with her spoon and spoke matter-of-factly.
"Father's idea."
"The duke's?"
"Someday I'll lead all the servants, so better get familiar now."
As a fake noble and former commoner, I couldn't wrap my head around it, but if she said so, whatever. What did I know about this isekai world to backseat-drive? Smart folks had it handled. All I had to do was manage my summons quietly and beat the Demon King. That was whatever yanked me here wanted.
"By the way, when do we head out for practical training?"
"We're not."
"...Isn't this supposed to be a field trip?"
"This is the safest spot in the south. If we need to fight, the whole continent's screwed. Got it?"
The south's final defensive line—that was House Iritz's role. If this place got hit, the imperial capital was next. Humanity's extinction event.
"So, no attacks here, right?"
"Hmph, obviously."
Stella brimmed with confidence. This place was untouchable. I smirked faintly and glanced at Noah. I'd thought the protagonist was here because Stella meddled, derailing the original plot... but apparently not.
She's planting flags left and right.
Three words you never utter in fiction: absolute, invincible, 100%. An absolutely impregnable, invincible territory? 100% raid incoming foreshadowing.
"...So, what'd you talk about with Father?"
"With the family head?"
"Yeah."
Sipping her tea, she asked about my chat with the duke. Intrigued, Noah and Dinua perked up too. I mulled over a snarky dodge, then decided to relay his words straight.
"Don't cross the line."
"...?"
"Said you're head over heels for me, but he's not handing you over, so don't even dream it."
"Wh-wh-wh-what the heeeeell─!!"
Stella's face turned persimmon red. Her shriek drew every servant's gaze. Noticing, she scanned around, then sat quietly. Hic-hic-huff, hic-hic-huff—she regulated her breathing, regained composure, and glared daggers at me.
"Father said that?"
"Yeah."
"No way... F-first off, I've never been head over heels for a loser like you, so don't get the wrong idea!"
"I know."
"...You know?"
Her expression froze. I nodded and explained.
"Yeah. You hate my guts this much—ain't no way you're into me, right?"
"R-right..."
"I'm not an idiot."
"Idiot."
Noah, who'd listened quietly, gave me a deadpan look. Then muttered again.
"Totally an idiot."
"What're you on about, Noah? Why am I─"
"You really don't get it...?"
Noah stared at me like I'd lost it, exasperated. I just tilted my head, clueless. What the hell?
"Pleased to meet you. I am Viscount Mude, vassal to House Iritz."
A retainer of House Iritz, which commanded the entire south. A 2-star summoner who could lord over rural baronies like a king—but here, just another cog. So many like him that being assigned to tutor the duke's daughter was no complaint.
"I'm not sure a mere 2-star like me can teach you 3-stars... but I'll do my best."
"Where's everyone else? Father even took Ifrit..."
"On a routine expedition. Won't be back for at least three days."
"I see."
He was overly polite. Makes sense—we were still students, but destined for earldoms at minimum. No point making enemies now. To ease his nerves, I raised a hand casually.
"What's your summon, Viscount?"
"Ah—this is it. Come, Gale Hawk."
A hawk several meters across perched on his arm. Big enough to rip a wild boar apart.
Mude explained its traits after showing it off.
"It's fast—perfect for scouting, ambushes, reconnaissance."
"Not much combat power?"
"As a 2-star, it can take low-grade monsters solo... but its strategic value goes way beyond that."
He touted the Gale Hawk's utility. Zipping at wind-like speeds, scanning the ground with hawk vision. Solid fighter among birds of prey—could solo wyverns. Realizing its value, I thought:
...Strategic recon drone, huh?
In this near-real isekai, no rule said summons were combat-only. Fire-breathers could power plants; electric ones could generate grids. No tech like that here, but the point was versatility. Human ingenuity's no joke.
"Viscount."
"Yes, Young Master Ian."
"Young Master...? What─"
"Er... not?"
Mude glanced nervously at Stella. I pieced it together. Word of Stella's dining hall outburst had spread. Rumors warp fast—probably "Stella's smitten, Ian's the heir."
"Oh? Viscount Mude."
"Y-yes, miss."
"I'm curious too. What'd you hear to call Ian 'Young Master'?"
"N-no, it's just..."
Mude fidgeted like a guilty man. Knowing he was innocent, I tossed him a lifeline.
"Viscount?"
"Yes, sir! Young─ er, Ian."
"I'd love to see your summon in action."
"Right away!"
Straightening up, he launched the hawk and closed his eyes, sharing its vision. Hawk's Eye—an Original Art that'd get flak in a game for being useless, but here? Turned him into a recon ace.
Enjoying the flight as usual, Mude frowned at something odd. Then gaped, groaning.
"Wh-what...? What the─"
Eyes snapping open, his face hardened—unrecognizable from the simpering guy moments ago.
"Miss, evacuate now."
"...What's going on?"
"Demons."