Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Welcome to Our Family-Like Knight Order! (6)
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I could say without a doubt that Cluna was the toughest adversary.
With my current skills, all I could do was pry open her mouth with words or stage a performance to look as strong as possible using time stop. But my opponent was a monster who'd lived for at least a few centuries.
Naturally, no amount of smooth talk would work against her. And on top of that, she even had the justification of taking her family back. Of course, as the captain, I had my own justification too.
But now that the Royal Knights had been wiped out, her reason for retrieving her family would resonate far more than whatever claim I, the captain, could muster. So I gave up on persuading her.
Instead, I chose to provoke her into a performance. In simple terms, it was settling things with a duel. Fortunately, she was confident in her abilities and accepted right away.
"To think I couldn't even react... and against a human, no less."
"……."
"Movements beyond imagination. It's been centuries since anyone got the drop on me from behind..."
Cluna sighed in lamentation. Thanks to that, I realized she was an even more remarkable woman than I'd imagined. Well, she'd been fighting since the demons first appeared, after all.
Not only did she have centuries of experience, but technically speaking, I couldn't even hold a candle to her pinky toe. But luckily, I had time stop, which was fair to everyone. That's how I barely managed to win.
I sheathed my sword and stepped back. Someone of her caliber wouldn't press me to fight again just because I put my weapon away. And honestly, I didn't want to fight anymore either.
"You're surprisingly quick to withdraw first."
"I can't help but understand a parent's worry for their child."
"You're not calling it ugly? You could criticize me for blurring the lines between personal and official duties."
"How could I criticize a parent's love for their child?"
Of course, if it went too far, I'd have no choice but to condemn it. But no need to say that here and now. Clara, who'd been hanging back, finally approached.
"See? That's our captain right now."
"So you've acknowledged him as captain."
"Yeah, the captain's insanely strong. And... there's something different about him compared to any race I've seen before."
I could gloss over the part about me being strong, but thanks to Clara grabbing Cluna's hand and persuading her, I could feel Cluna's heart starting to sway.
"I wondered why a human was acting as captain. With skills like these and character to match, you're more than qualified."
"This is hardly anything impressive."
In truth, it was incredibly impressive. But I couldn't go strutting around with a stiff neck about it. Here, it was better to rack up points with some humility. Cluna chuckled softly.
"Too much humility can be poisonous, you know."
"Right? Mom, no one's ever pierced your magic and snuck up behind you in the last few centuries?"
"……Magic?"
"Yeah, I'm a swordsman, but also a mage and an archer."
According to Cluna, while pretending to take the bait, she'd used magic to restrict my movements. If I'd taken even one step, it would've triggered immediately.
Hearing that sent chills from my head to my toes. If I'd moved around probing for an opening like I'd planned, I'd have been done for by her magic.
"You're more versatile than I imagined."
"Of course! Mom's been a warrior since the hero's era!"
"Hero? You don't mean the original hero, do you?"
"That's ancient history."
I couldn't help but be stunned by Cluna's slightly blushing, embarrassed response. Long before the demons descended from the demon realm, monsters naturally existed.
And there were heroes who vanquished those monsters, earning the title of "hero" out of respect and awe. That was from the records you could find in the game.
The original hero even appeared directly in the game. Activating the DLC unlocked a dungeon called the Tomb of Beginnings, where you could fight him.
Beating the original hero and earning his recognition granted massive skill and stat boosts. I'd check that out later at my leisure. Right now, there was something more important.
"Cluna, I have a proposal."
"What kind of proposal?"
"How about joining the Royal Knights?"
"Pardon? Join the Royal Knights?"
Cluna was shocked, of course. Even Clara, who'd been listening beside her, looked stunned. It was out of left field, but truthfully, she was exactly the talent we desperately needed.
In this world's lore, magic held an overwhelming importance. It was the only counter to the demons' blood arts. No mage? That's suicide.
In the game, even the strongest party would get wiped out in seconds without a mage. In other words, mages were humanity's ultimate insurance policy.
And this one wielded a sword better than most knights, could support from range with archery to conserve mana? She was practically a self-insert dream character.
"I-I'm grateful for the offer, but I have duties to attend to..."
"Right! Mom has responsibilities as a sentinel!"
"Then let me be direct, Cluna."
I knew I was being pushy. But to revive the Royal Knights as they were, we needed talent. So I'd push as hard as it took to recruit her.
"Are those duties more precious than your child's life?"
"……!!! "
"Probably not. Despite the risks, you led troops all the way here. Am I wrong?"
"……What are you trying to say?"
Good. I'd braced myself for a slap, but Cluna seemed willing to hear me out. No more tricks. Time to go straight at it, no holds barred.
"Protect your daughter yourself, right by her side."
And while you're at it, please protect me too, lurking in the back!
[What are you drawing so intently?]
Back when she was still a novice. She asked her adventuring companion. He loved drawing and would always doodle on paper whenever he had a moment.
His skill wasn't the greatest, separate from his passion. But after hearing her question, he thought for a moment and handed her the paper.
[Here. A gift from me to you.]
[It's just a doodle. I don't need it.]
[Doodle... But I put my best effort into it...]
[Fine! I'll take it! I'll take it!!]
He was someone who pushed forward bravely no matter the situation, but he'd deflate only when she mocked his drawings. It was oddly fascinating and amusing.
She'd unconsciously belittle his art every time for that reaction. Then one day, curiosity struck—why give the drawings to her? She sought him out and asked.
[But why give the drawings to me?]
[You're asking about something from decades ago, now?]
[It wasn't that long ago.]
[To an elf like you, sure.]
But when they met again, he looked entirely different. His skin cracked like ancient bark. His once-sharp eyes wilted like flowers on the verge of falling. Deep down, she knew.
She, an elf, and he, a human, couldn't be together forever. A blink for her was a lifetime for him. He smiled as he spoke.
[Even if time passes and I die, the drawings can stay by your side forever, right?]
[You'll still return to nature in the end.]
[True. But I can live eternally. Until the moment you forget me.]
[I probably won't forget you for the rest of my life.]
Everything was new. She'd tasted human food, endured the pain of war firsthand, even competed with dwarves she didn't get along with to save each other's lives.
To her, it was merely the time for a blink. But it became irreplaceable, the best time of her life. He chuckled at her words.
[Set out on another adventure someday.]
[No thanks. I don't want to go through that again.]
[Exactly because of that.]
[……What?]
[New adventures, new bonds. They'll pile up and keep you from feeling lonely.]
And the next day, he died. His face in the coffin was unbelievably serene, like he was just sleeping. As if shaking him would wake him right up.
From that day, she secluded herself in the forest. The first loss she'd ever felt hurt more than she could imagine. Terrified, she didn't want to lose anything else. Didn't want to hurt anymore.
But why?
"Protect your daughter yourself, right by her side."
Do I see traces of you in that man?