Power Leveling (3)
Power Leveling (3)
After conversing with Dojin, the Lord realized the fact that Dojin hadn't given the elves such great help, and that no matter what, he himself couldn't receive that kind of help.
However, the Lord was already a monster who had built up political prowess through countless experiences, and politics has always been about extracting the next best option when the best isn't possible.
"Then, Dojin-nim. Couldn't you protect the knights so they don't die?"
"......Protect the knights from dying? What are you talking about?"
"Exactly as I said. I won't ask you to hunt monsters for them or level them up. Just watching over them from the side is enough."
The Lord said that and bowed his head. But for Dojin, it wasn't something he felt like doing.
What benefit would he get from doing that? Waste time more precious than platinum?
However, the Lord didn't give up and expressed his opinion.
"If you help us like that... I won't forget that favor and will definitely repay it."
"With words alone?"
"......May I ask what it is you desire?"
"Nothing in particular that I need."
At that moment, the image of one person flashed through Dojin's mind. A woman working as a city soldier, who had once vowed to become a knight someday—.
"One person."
"Pardon?"
"For that group, can you add one more person?"
Seeing a positive response from Dojin, the Lord, seizing the opportunity, rubbed his hands eagerly and nodded.
"Of course. Not just one person, any number is fine."
"Yeah, is that so?"
"Is there someone you want?"
"Yeah."
Dojin thought of his first woman. The first person from the Otherworld with whom he had shared love after falling into this world.
"Ilone, from today onward, go to the Knights Order."
"......Pardon? What do you—"
"Enough, it's decided, so pack your bags quickly."
Ilone looked at the Guard Captain, who had suddenly appeared and was kicking her out, with a dumbfounded expression.
Where was she, the captain of the Guard Force, supposed to go? Not even being dispatched to another territory's guards or anything?
To the Knights Order?
'No way, why would I go there......?'
Of course, she had dreamed of becoming a knight when she was young. But honestly, doesn't everyone have such pipe dreams in childhood?
The boys from the same village had kids who wanted to be Heroes, so dreaming of becoming a knight was extremely realistic and achievable by comparison.
......She only realized later that it wasn't like that at all after coming up to the city.
"What's going on all of a sudden...?"
If it was just for investigative consultation, there was no need to pack bags and transfer her affiliation there.
If they needed a guide to lead them through the dungeon for training, they should have hired an adventurer, not a Guard Force member.
No matter how she thought about it, there was no reason to call her—grumbling like that, Ilone packed her belongings.
Changing out of her Guard Force armor into her uniform, Ilone headed to the Knights Order building in her dress uniform.
After walking a long way to arrive at the Knights Order building, Ilone let out a hollow laugh at the grand structure, looking utterly ridiculous.
'Hold on, these punks......'
At best, they'd be here one or two months, heading back to the Royal Capital once winter passed and the snow melted, yet their building looked better than the Guard Force headquarters.
How much tax money went into that place, and how much does it cost to maintain and clean it?
Cursing the knights inwardly, Ilone cautiously opened the door and entered.
At the same time—the gazes of the knights waiting inside all turned toward her simultaneously.
'Ugh—.'
Ilone, who had rolled in the field dealing with criminals for years, still found it hard to withstand the knights' gazes.
Even though they were just Knight Candidates, not full-fledged knights, she could easily tell the difference between knights and non-knights.
But she couldn't act scared since she was the one invited. Ilone puffed out her chest confidently and walked inside.
"What brings you from the Guard Force?"
Fortunately, before she could stupidly wander around looking lost, the training instructor approached and asked first.
Ilone pulled out the orders given to her from her luggage and handed them to the instructor.
"I'm Guard Captain Ilone Arhas from the Guard Force. I've received orders to transfer my affiliation here......"
"Ah, so you're the one......"
The instructor scanned Ilone up and down and nodded as if he understood.
Regardless of how the instructor looked at her, Ilone, still clueless about why she was here, stood stiffly waiting for his words.
"This way."
Guided by the instructor, Ilone was assigned a private room right away. After getting the room? She was told to wait and then left hanging.
Being left alone for hours didn't feel great. But wandering outside meant bumping into unfamiliar Knight Candidates, which was burdensome.
As the sun set and her stomach growled loudly, the instructor finally came back.
"......No way, you've been like that this whole time?"
"......Yeah, pretty much."
"You must be tense coming to the Knights Order, but no need for that."
Ilone thought it was just polite words to reassure her. How could a mere Guard Force captain with no backing not be tense in the Knights Order?
But when she followed the instructor to the dungeon, Ilone realized his words weren't a joke or mere formality.
"You're here?"
"......Dojin?"
"Long time no see, Ilone."
There was her first man.
"What are you...... doing here?"
"What do adventurers do in dungeons?"
"Hunting...? Hired by the Knights Order?"
"......Hired? Ilone, don't you know what kind of person I am?"
"Uh... adventurer...?"
Honestly, seeing Dojin, Ilone couldn't help but be a little flustered. She vaguely knew he was amazing, but......
'This much......?'
The guild was always full of stories about him, and amazing people like the Saintess or the Elf Queen came looking for him.
But those were stories from a world too distant to really hit home for her.
Would anyone think their acquaintance is close to the president just because the president is looking for someone they know?
Similarly, in Ilone's mind, Dojin was impressive, but she didn't quite know what made him so impressive—he was an adventurer on that level.
'To think he'd be at the level of being hired by knights......'
But the Knights Order was her dream from childhood, and still an entity she maintained an organic relationship with.
For a mere adventurer to be hired by such a Knights Order meant Dojin had considerable credit and skill.
The Knights Order, living off the kingdom's payroll, wouldn't hire just anyone.
"You really don't know?"
"Yeah. I know you're strong, but......"
"Pfft, alright. Then I'll save that fun for later."
Saying that, Dojin passed by Ilone and looked at the knights. Surveying them, Dojin pointed at a few and began selecting.
"You, you, and you. Just these three stay, the rest go back."
"—!?"
Ilone was horrified seeing Dojin boldly ordering knights around.
And seeing the knights obediently follow his command, she nearly fainted.
'What, what the hell!?'
Did he get a hypnosis scroll or something? And now he's freely manipulating the Knights Order?
Nothing else made sense.
Moreover, all the remaining knights were women, right? The moment she suspected he kept only female knights to satisfy his sexual desires... Dojin naturally entered the dungeon.
"Huh, wha?"
Seeing that, Ilone felt bewildered. Entering the dungeon? Like this?
No matter how strong an adventurer Dojin was, he couldn't do shady stuff in a dungeon.
That would be suicidal, even with ten lives.
So had she misunderstood? Was Dojin really there purely on merit?
'How on earth......'
It was hard to believe. For a foreigner from afar, with no basic common sense, to gain enough skill to sway the Knights Order in less than a year?
Moreover, when Dojin had first met her, he wasn't even a level 1 adventurer yet.
Such rapid growth—men change completely after three days apart, sure, but this was way too fast.
"Ilone, what are you waiting for?"
"R-Right, coming."
Ilone followed Dojin into the dungeon. Inside, Dojin looked at the four people he had chosen and spoke.
"Alright, now fight on your own."
"......What do you mean?"
"We're in the dungeon, so fight monsters."
"Without any advice......?"
Dojin frowned at the Knight Candidate's words. What advice do you need just to kill monsters?
But he couldn't just tell them to figure it out themselves when the Knight Candidates were fidgeting with first-time nerves.
Dojin taught them the truth of battle.
"Just don't get hit and land your attacks. Done."
The candidates seemed a bit flustered by the absurd advice, but they were Knight Candidates through and through, even if doomed.
They drew their weapons and charged straight at the monsters.
Late at night, when there were more monsters than people entering the dungeon.
Enemies were everywhere.
"What should I do?"
Left alone with Dojin, Ilone asked while looking at him. Dojin gave her a gentle smile, worlds apart from how he treated the Knight Candidates.
"Hunt the same way, Ilone."
"M-Me too?"
"What, didn't you hear why you're here today?"
"Uh, um."
Not wanting to admit she'd been dragged here without knowing the mission, Ilone mumbled, but her attitude said it all.
Dojin burst out laughing as he looked at her.
"You, level up."
"......What?"
"Level up."
At those words, Ilone stared at Dojin with a what-are-you-saying expression.
Leveling up isn't some corner store item you can just decide to do, right?
But after hearing the next words, she quietly shut her mouth.
"Hunt with the knights, and you'll level up eventually."
"Hunt with the knights...? How could I......"
"Ilone, you've already got years of experience fighting as a Guard Force member, haven't you? You can do it."
That one sentence—fight with the knights—made Ilone's heart race.
Her childhood dream revived.
The dream of becoming a knight riding a white horse across the plains with other knights.
......Even if it didn't involve riding horses or fighting on plains.
"Ilone, being a knight suits you."
That one phrase awakened her.