Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Welcome to Our Family-Like Knight Order! (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even if I'd been laboring under some ridiculous misunderstanding up until now.
The reason I'd kept my mouth shut and stayed quiet despite it all? That was to hide the existence of my time stop ability. Except for the times when my stamina ran out and it deactivated on its own, of course.
I had to keep the time stop under wraps as much as possible. When I caught those demons, I'd planned to explain it away somehow. But before I could, they'd gone ahead and hyped me up on their own, and I missed my chance.
And honestly, isn't that just human nature? When everyone around you is singing your praises, how can you not puff up with pride a little? But not this time. Absolutely not.
"No way! This uncle guy is the captain of the Royal Knights?!"
I was so worked up that even my speech had slipped into casual mode. But now wasn't the time to worry about something as trivial as that. I was in the royal palace's audience chamber. Before me sat the throne.
And in front of that throne was a shabby wooden table. His Majesty the King, seated on an equally rickety wooden throne, rose to his feet. Then he bowed his head.
In this sudden situation where the king was bowing to me, I was so startled that I clamped my mouth shut. What? What the hell? The king was bowing? To me, a mere guard?
"First, allow me to apologize to Sir Hans. I'm sorry."
"Uh, huh?"
"Due to my oversight, your input wasn't properly conveyed."
"Well, that's true, but..."
No matter how weak the kingdom's power was said to be, for its king to bow his head so readily like this? That was when it finally hit me—the reality of my current situation.
Right now, I was throwing a tantrum in the king's private office. Even if I'd been nominated as the Royal Knights' captain, this was an unforgivable breach of etiquette.
Now that I'd realized that, I stopped talking for a moment. I stepped back and took a deep breath to calm my nerves. That was close. I almost screwed up big time.
"Sorry about that. This uncle got too flustered and let his mouth run."
"It's fine. That's understandable."
"......"
Maybe I'd overcorrected. My uncle speech pattern slipped out again. Being the Time Stop Breeding Uncle really never helped me in life, not even once. Anyway, my stance hadn't changed.
"This uncle absolutely cannot become the captain of the Royal Knights."
"And why do you think that, sir?"
"Because I'm too damn weak."
Just becoming a regular knight order captain was something I wanted no part of. And now they were asking me to lead the Royal Knights on top of that? That was way beyond my pay grade.
The position of Royal Knights captain wasn't something you could just shrug off with a cocky lift of the shoulders. That golden generation had just gone out on an expedition and gotten completely wiped out, hadn't they?
But look at me now. Never mind demon-level threats like the Gourmet Eaters or the Fighting Ghosts. I could barely handle a Blade Wolf without wheezing. And this guy was supposed to lead the Royal Knights?
Even a stray mutt passing by would laugh its ass off and break into a poppin' dance. And crucially, I had zero confidence in leading the Royal Knights properly. The pressure alone was driving me insane!
"Certainly, from Sir Hans's perspective, the current Royal Knights might look like a tiger without teeth."
"I'm not talking about them—I'm talking about me. This uncle just isn't cut out to be a captain."
"Such humility."
I shut down any room for misunderstanding completely. In this situation, I couldn't back down. Sure, it was hard to shake off excessive expectations from those around me.
But there were limits to what I could accept. No matter how I thought about it, I absolutely could not take on the role of Royal Knights captain. Confirming my stubborn resolve, the king nodded.
"Understood. If Sir Hans insists that strongly..."
"Phew~ That's a relief. That burden's way too heavy for this uncle."
"No helping it, then. Of course, it's unfortunate for the ladies..."
"Huh?"
"Didn't it strike you as odd? Those elves and dwarves with their deep-seated grudges, sticking together like that."
Come to think of it, yeah, it was a little weird. Seven years from now—in the original story timeline—that might make sense. But right now, the Royal Knights were completely fractured due to political reasons.
Especially between species with such bad blood as elves and dwarves, hanging out like best buddies? But I quickly realized why. No one but an idiot wouldn't figure it out.
"Because their comrades got wiped out."
"Yes, exactly. No matter how deep their grudges, they were comrades who'd fought together until now."
"......"
"Thanks to Sir Hans, they've rallied a bit now. But before that, the mood was indescribably dark."
Yeah, that makes sense. Their comrades all died overnight. And not long after the Royal Knights' annihilation, they're already pushing to appoint a new captain?
I'd have opposed it fiercely too. For real.
Of course, they'd understand logically. But who can act purely on efficiency? They couldn't ignore the emotions bottled up in their hearts.
Not even heroes.
Hold on. If I just leave them like this, won't they really fall into depression? Their comrades died right in front of them? But what did I say to them earlier?
[No matter how different our roles, aren't we ultimately in the same boat?]
Ah.
[How could this uncle just stand by while such comrades suffer and struggle?]
Ah.
[If it's tough, call me anytime. This uncle will gladly lend his shoulder as many times as needed.]
Tweeeeng!!!
Wait! There's a serious misunderstanding here! No, I just saw they looked exhausted and threw out some words of encouragement! Anyone could say that!
No, no.
Okay, truth be told.
I figured I'd never see them again after this.
Because they're heroes.
They're gonna be insanely busy from here on out!!
I was worried, sure. All their comrades dead—how would they cope? But they're heroes. I vaguely thought they'd pull through on their own somehow.
And now this?
"They're a bit better now, but they're still on the edge of the cliff. Leaning on each other despite being like mortal enemies."
"......"
"And now a new focal point appears... If Sir Hans truly refuses, there's no helping it."
Each of the king's words stabbed me like daggers.
Yeah, who can I blame?
My karma for flapping my mouth carelessly, assuming I'd never see them again.
Fuck.
In the end, the negotiation succeeded.
In exchange for Sir Hans becoming the Royal Knights' captain, the kingdom would provide substantial support. That much was expected. The king had intended to offer aid anyway.
The now-vacant position of Royal Knights captain was like a poisoned chalice. If mishandled, they'd tear the occupant apart to shift the blame for past failures.
Politics is like that. Avoid responsibility at all costs and sink your teeth into another target. More hyena than jungle. But put another way...
It also meant opportunity.
Of course, intentionally not briefing Sir Hans was something to apologize for eventually. But thanks to that, things had worked out unexpectedly well. The king nodded.
"Sir Hans truly is a hero."
He'd planned to negotiate the moment Sir Hans arrived at the palace. But to think he'd rally and control them like that right away. As if he'd known all along.
[This uncle absolutely cannot become the Royal Knights' captain.]
[Because I'm too damn weak.]
[I'm not talking about them—I'm talking about me. This uncle just isn't cut out to be a captain.]
It was probably a test. By downplaying himself, he was probing the king. Testing if he'd fall for clever words or not.
"But Sir Hans, you've overlooked one thing."
One with power who downplays himself for others' sake is no ordinary man. Sir Hans undoubtedly had some incredible backstory.
But the situation was gravely serious. Quorens had reported the expedition party's wipeout—and the one who'd predicted it was none other than Sir Hans.
Honestly, the king had half-doubted it. But he'd announced it at the alliance council without hesitation. The jeers were predictable, but it had greatly helped.
[What is this?]
[A teleport scroll. One of the kingdom's few remaining treasures.]
[Why give something so precious to me?]
[Just in case, right?]
He was king of humans. Thus, he trusted humans. He'd even provided the royal treasure, the teleport scroll. And this was the fruit of that trust.
But it wasn't time to celebrate yet.
To think the Royal Knights really would be annihilated. Only three survivors, one a deserter. A desperate crisis with no answers in sight.
Yet the king's resolve didn't waver.
He'd repelled demons and masterfully mediated the nearly fractured Royal Knights. Sir Hans had proven his worth, solidifying the king's faith.
"Now's the time."
Believing the opportunity would come someday, he'd forcibly banned luxuries despite noble backlash, amassing resources. Now was the moment to use them.
Opportunity only favors the prepared.
The king knew that down to his bones.