Showing My Skills
It was just another ordinary day. I was heading to school and then to my part-time job like always... but when I opened my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar world. The confusion didn’t last long. I’ve always been a quick adapter. It didn’t take me long to figure out that this was the world inside a romance fantasy novel. The only problem was that I couldn’t remember the actual plot at all…
Still, luck was on my side. By some stroke of good fortune, I became the Knight Commander of the empire that ruled this romance fantasy world. Thanks to that position, I’ve been living a very comfortable, laid-back life. Even now, a full month after transmigrating, that hasn’t changed. Actually… I have even more free time now than I did right after the transmigration. Back then I had to handle everything myself, but these days I’ve handed over most of my duties to my dedicated secretary.
I turned my head and glanced at the woman sitting in the left corner of the office. Neat ponytail, prim and tidy appearance. She was Yuria, the personal secretary I had hand-picked two weeks ago. Her standout qualities were exceptional competence… and a very blunt personality.
She must have noticed my stare, because she looked up at me.
“Is there something you need, sir?”
“Just making sure you’re working diligently.”
“…You should worry about doing your own job properly, Sir Harold.”
I chuckled and teased her.
“Why should I, when my capable secretary handles everything?”
“…So you really are just dumping all your work on me.”
“Hey, it’s not like I don’t do any work at all.”
I do at least handle some of the documents.
“Out of ten documents, you take care of maybe two. The other eight you leave entirely to me while you just sit there playing around…”
“Come on, handling those eight is literally your job. That’s why I hired you.”
“No wonder you grilled me so relentlessly about my work efficiency during the interview.”
Yuria’s eyes narrowed.
“If I had known this was coming, I would have gone to a different interview.”
“Whoa… Hey, you can’t quit. The entire Knight Order would collapse without you!”
“It wouldn’t be the Knight Order collapsing. It would be you, the commander. You lazy bum.”
“I’m not lazy. I’m being rational.”
You should rest thoroughly when you have the chance. Regretting it later when the workload piles up is pointless.
Yuria lowered her gaze.
“You certainly have a silver tongue… But Sir Harold, why do you stay inside the office all the time? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you step outside since the day I was hired.”
“Hm? Do I have to go out? The office is cozy and comfortable. Besides, I have a capable conversation partner right here.”
“I am not a conversation partner… Never mind. As Knight Commander, aren’t there external duties? Patrolling the area, maintaining public order, that sort of thing.”
“Ah, that stuff?”
I shook my head as though it were trivial.
“There’s no need for me to handle that personally. I have knights under my command. The first and second division captains will take care of it on their own.”
“Wow… So I handle the paperwork, the lower knights handle the field work… Then, doesn’t that mean the position of Knight Commander is completely unnecessary?”
“…There was a little sincerity mixed into that comment, wasn’t there?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Completely.”
“Ahem.”
Yuria turned her attention back to the documents.
“…Hey, if it’s really too much, I can help with more of the paperwork.”
“It’s fine.”
“…What? And you were just complaining about me not working.”
The corner of her mouth curved up ever so slightly.
“Still, this is my responsibility.”
“Oh. I really chose the perfect secretary. Past me, well done.”
“…And what if I leave the work to you and something goes wrong, Commander?”
“Hey. I may slack off, but I’m actually pretty good at paperwork.”
I have the know-how of a modern person, after all.
“Hmm… That’s true, I suppose.”
“…Why do you sound so skeptical?”
“…It feels like you’re trying to trick me somehow.”
“This has gotten all twisted.”
I shook my head and rose from my chair.
“Huh? Where are you going, sir?”
“It’s a secret.”
“…”
“And don’t slack off just because I’m gone.”
“…Understood.”
Leaving behind Yuria’s faintly sharp gaze, I stepped out of the office. I walked down the corridor. The building I was in was the Imperial Headquarters Building. Both the administrative offices and the Knight Order were housed together in the same structure.
“Good afternoon, Sir Harold!”
Occasionally unfamiliar faces would greet me like that. I returned the greetings and continued on my way.
I was heading for the building’s balcony. The Imperial Headquarters Building stood right beside the Imperial Castle, and directly in front stretched a wide-open plaza. The view from the high balcony was genuinely impressive. Since I was only going to be sitting in the office anyway, I figured I might as well enjoy the scenery while I relaxed.
Just as I reached the balcony with that thought in mind, voices drifted into my ears.
“You’ve been working hard.”
“No, you’re the one who’s been working hard.”
I don’t have any creepy hobby of eavesdropping on others. However… since my name came up, I couldn’t help but overhear.
“Um… I heard it by chance. You know the Knight Commander, Sir Harold, right?”
“…Yeah. Of course I know him.”
“They say he might get fired?”
“What…? Sir Harold?!”
The voices dropped to a whisper after that.
“Hey, keep it down…! What if someone hears? This is supposed to be classified information.”
“Ah, no, it’s just… it’s so sudden───.”
Well. I suppose I have been playing around a bit too much lately.
The Eskal Bandit Group. A criminal organization that had been growing its power near the capital lately. There was no need to worry, though. No matter how much they expanded… they were still just a backwater outfit. If they had been a major group, the Knight Order would have wiped them out long ago.
“Sir Eskal…! Are you really sure this is okay?”
“I told you it’s fine. The Empire doesn’t bother paying attention to small fry like us who only handle pocket change. …They act like they don’t see us, just like rats in the sewers. Since they can’t eradicate us anyway.”
So Eskal truly wasn’t worried at all. Even though right now… he was in the middle of holding a hostage.
“Mmph!”
“Hey, stay still.”
“Mmmph!!!”
The hostage—wrists and ankles bound with rope, a cloth gag stuffed in his mouth—thrashed around wildly, but Eskal simply sat there calmly. The four men beside him were the ones making a bigger fuss.
“No matter how much of a trash group we are… kidnapping people is crossing the line───.”
“Ugh! You’re killing the mood!”
Eskal frowned.
“Have we killed anyone? Have we sold their organs? We’re just holding him nicely and trading him for money and goods.”
“That’s still kidnapp───.”
“Hey. Want me to kidnap you instead?”
“N-no, boss!”
Eskal ground his teeth. …At least it got quiet. The person bringing the ransom would arrive soon anyway. Take the money, hand over the hostage, and slip away without leaving a trail. They’d be happy once they got the money too.
Then, from far off… the sound of footsteps. Slowly drawing closer. He shot to his feet.
“…That you? Where’s the money?”
“…”
Why wasn’t he answering… The shadows cast by the lightless ruins made it hard to see the other person clearly. From what he could tell, the figure didn’t seem particularly large, so Eskal stepped forward instead.
Then suddenly… light flashed. From the opponent’s waist. Because he had drawn his sword.
What the hell. Eskal reflexively jerked backward.
“H-have you lost your mind! Do you know who I am? Boys! Take care of him!”
“Yes, sir!”
“On it, boss!”
His subordinates behind him drew their swords one by one. The opponent, however, kept walking forward. Even with four blades pointed straight at him.
Step. Step.
Then… when the shadow finally lifted from the man’s face, Eskal and his gang froze, their minds going blank. It was only natural. The person who had stepped out of the darkness was none other than the Knight Commander, Harold.
Wait, what… Eskal’s eyes clearly caught the black pupils of Harold’s eyes.
“…Y-you! Why the hell did you suddenly show up here!”
“Because I’m at risk of getting fired soon.”
Fired? Eskal couldn’t make sense of the man’s words. He simply drew the sword at his waist. The number of blades increased from four to five. Even so, Harold charged. Straight ahead.
“I need some achievements so I don’t get fired.”
“Hey! Fight him! We outnumber him! No matter if he’s the Knight Commander…!”
Eskal’s subordinates all rushed Harold at once. However…
Clang! One strike per person. They dropped faster than falling leaves. Harold dodged their attacks with ease. Even though the assaults came from every direction at once, to his eyes… they looked unbearably slow. Dodge, then strike. Clang! Clang! Clang!!! Before long, the only ones left standing were Harold and Eskal.
“T-this…! You monster…!!!”
“Monster? That’s a bit harsh. I may not work much, but I’ve kept up with my training.”
“Hiiik…!”
Eskal threw away his sword and bolted. My achievement. Harold chased after him immediately. Thwack! A hand strike to the back of the neck knocked him out cold. In an instant, he had annihilated an entire bandit group.
Oh…! Then his eyes landed on the bound hostage as well. That would count as an achievement too. Harold tied up the unconscious bandits in one spot, then promptly freed the hostage. The hostage’s eyes trembled faintly. The scene he had just witnessed was far too surreal.
“…Th-thank you!”
“No need for thanks. Instead, tell the people around that I was the one who saved you.”
“Why…?”
“I need it to be obvious that I actually did something so I don’t get fired.”
“Uh, um…”
The man nodded for now.
“I understand.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
What was that about? After that, the man could only stare blankly as Harold dragged the bandits away and disappeared into the distance.
“…”
Endlessly.
The already dark night sky grew even darker, and the stars shone more vividly. The man who had been the hostage was still sitting blankly in the ruins. It was truly a bizarre turn of events. Not only had he been kidnapped, he had even been rescued. The man—no, the woman—let out a soft, involuntary chuckle. The appearance of the hostage sitting on the ground began to change. Short hair gradually lengthened, small eyes became large and round. The body transformed into a feminine shape. Her name was Linetta. She belonged to the Spirit Race, a clan that was supposed to have gone extinct. She was also the master of the Magic Tower, the tallest tower in the world. And such a person as her…
“His name was Knight Commander Harold, right?”
Had found someone who piqued her interest.