Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: I Become a Royal Knight (7)
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Is there any value in defeated soldiers?
Anyone with a functioning brain would probably say yes.
No matter how you slice it, the most important thing in war is the number of troops.
Sure, they may have lost, but rounding up the survivors saves time and money on training new ones. Armies are money pits, after all.
Especially considering the massive cost of raising soldiers.
Exaggerating a bit, recovering stragglers is like reclaiming lost treasure.
Plus, the intel they bring can't be ignored.
But even if defeated soldiers have value, there's no way these women would accept it.
To them, the Royal Knights were a path of glory.
They'd pledged to walk it without hesitation, even at the cost of their lives. Never to run.
But this was the result.
Out of all those knights, only three survived.
And one of them couldn't conquer her fear and fled. With no external pressure, even.
She'd drawn her sword first, too.
Yet she ran because she feared death.
If only... she'd died alongside the captain back then.
Maybe she wouldn't feel this pain now.
She couldn't sleep properly. Her hands were sometimes stained with blood. Her dead comrades beckoned from the shadows.
The guilt of surviving alone. The despair of losing all her comrades.
Those crushed her like a heavy mace, gnawing at their minds.
Even walking the streets felt like everyone was blaming her.
Why did you run? If you'd fought together, the captain might have lived.
What? You think you'd have died too?
Are you scared of dying together?
It's your weakness that's to blame.
Excuses just turned into sharper whips, boomeranging back.
She couldn't even beg for help. Because they were Royal Knights.
Royal Knights.
The proud blades guarding the continent.
All for the continent.
Worn down to nothing, that last shred of fragile pride barely held them up. They knew it was presumptuous.
We're stragglers.
Ones who abandoned their comrades and fled.
No choices left for the likes of us.
It was a bone-crushing truth they couldn't ignore, even if they wanted to. Still, she wanted to at least confirm it. The strength of the one to succeed the captain.
[Why do you two always fight the second you see each other?]
[There's no way I can get along with a puny dwarf like you!]
[I agree! No way I can get along with a gnome like you!]
[Come on, don't be like that. We're practically family in the end.]
The captain was like that. Fiercer and braver than anyone before enemies, but a total softie with her own people. She always emphasized family.
[I have no memory of becoming family with a short little stump-dwarf!]
[I'd rather the ruins be my family!]
[When you're in the same boat, you help each other out.]
[......]
[We all gathered here for peace in the end, didn't we?]
If not for that incident, the captain's authority wouldn't have hit rock bottom. No forced expedition either. Some might call her soft.
But at least...
To her, she was the best captain.
So, no matter how shameless or overstepping, she had to do it.
No, she must. If you're the successor, prove your worth.
She focused every nerve ahead.
Ready to unleash sword or even magic the instant her opponent moved.
The dwarf was the same.
They hated each other's guts, but oddly acknowledged each other's skill.
What do you call that? They probably didn't know either. And right then.
"Come at me with everything you've got. Or else..."
Nothing registered. No wind. In less than a second, the man vanished from sight. Then, a voice from behind.
"...you might die."
He was behind her.
Helmet on, clad in cheap armor, he casually sheathed his sword. Like he was heading out on patrol. Too casual.
"Wh-what...?"
"When did he get behind us...?!"
"If this were real combat... you'd know without me saying."
Her face drained of color.
Especially for her, who'd returned from hell. Those words hit like a gut punch. If this were real? If he were the enemy?
She'd be dead.
Just like her comrades in that hell.
"You'd know without me saying."
Yeah, she'd be dead for sure.
Me killing her in one time-stopped strike? Maybe. But against Royal Knights? Landing a fatal blow in one hit's tough. The next would just clang off, and she'd die anyway.
Recalling the earlier fiasco.
She struggled just to pull my sword out. Facing Royal Knights? Laughable.
But this wasn't a head-on fight. Just snag the sword from behind. Simple.
To pull it off, I threw in ridiculous bluffs and even took risks to provoke her.
Especially when the gnome glared mid-way... whew, thought I was done for. Her killing intent was no joke.
Ended well, though. Averted the worst—dismissing the Royal Knights.
"In the end, we couldn't even hold onto the captain's seat."
"We're just stragglers. Know your place."
"...?"
Why are they suddenly despairing? Makes the winner feel guilty.
Thinking about it, it's like losing to a regular guard. Natural to despair...?
Plus, they lost all comrades on expedition.
Royal Knights take pride in their skills, so the backlash must be massive guilt.
Some odd lines raised questions, but before asking, better pep them up first.
If they break and retire, Knights disband. Then I'm screwed too.
But how to encourage them?
No experience here. Eh, whatever. Trust the protagonist!!
"But it's still okay."
"What?"
"You know nothing, yet empty cheers just make it worse."
Whoa, prickly.
"Even if our roles differ, we're in the same boat in the end."
"...!!!"
"How can this uncle just stand by while comrades hurt and struggle?"
Improvised against the sudden venom, but solid response, I think.
I'm no Royal Knight, just a guard. But fighting demons? Same for both.
I hit that blind spot. Not for nothing the protagonist calls it "same boat."
"We really can't beat him."
"Tell me about it."
"So? How's the acknowledgment going?"
"Why ask? We have to acknowledge it."
Yes! Finally acknowledged by these lunatics. Recognition via mediation-duel, huh.
Makes sense for elite Royal Knights. No way I could keep up.
"Call anytime if it's tough. This uncle will gladly lend his shoulder, over and over."
Sadly, that's all I can do now. Words only, but I'll cheer from behind with all I've got.
"Lend your shoulder?! Like we're lovers or something?!"
"Here she goes again. Drop the virgin act."
"You too!"
"At least my coop's not empty."
I chuckled watching them bicker. Guess this is their default mode.
Not pulling weapons murderously like before. Feels like old pals. That level's nice. Then, an earlier question popped up.
"But what was that about the captain's seat...?"
"As expected! Knew you'd handle it perfectly, Sir Hans!"
Clapping from behind, with a voice. Turned to see a young man in modest noble attire approaching. Far from flashy.
More commoner than noble, unpretentious. But I knew him instantly. Knights nearby.
"What brings the king of men here?"
"He's the talent I recommended. Gotta see for myself."
"Definitely no lacks as the new Royal Knights captain."
"Skill's one thing. His values really click!"
"???"
New Royal Knights captain? Who?
...Me?