Chapter 17
I looked around, spotted the person I was looking for... and, keeping my eyes on them, spoke.
"That sword was a gift from my father to celebrate my passing the coming-of-age ceremony."
With a loud clatter, a knight tumbled out of the seats reserved for the commanders.
Needless to say, he was the head of the Ludo knightly family, my father Dorf, and the deputy commander of the Fourteenth Knight Order.
"W-what?! That sword was just one I picked at random from among the weapons in the manor's armory! It's not some kind of national treasure or a sword no one's ever seen before!"
Then he desperately began making excuses to the Commander-in-Chief.
"If I'd known it was such an outrageous magic sword, I would've presented it to the kingdom immediately!! I had no idea!!"
...Well, of course. When it was in the armory, it was just an ordinary iron sword.
Father frantically promised the Commander-in-Chief that he could have the magic sword, that he'd send his men to the manor's armory to check every remaining weapon, and so on.
Good, everyone's attention was off me.
Relieved to be off the hook, I tried to sneak into the ranks of the new knights, but it wasn't that easy. The Commander-in-Chief stopped me.
"Wait."
"Eep!"
I let out an involuntary squeak, but he didn't comment on it (How kind!) and asked as though it were nothing.
"One last question. During our mock battle, why did you only attack my left side?"
Oof, that question wasn't gentle at all!
I straightened up and answered him with a serious face.
"It was the code of chivalry. I didn't think it was right to strike at your side with poorer visibility after you declared that you wouldn't attack me, Commander-in-Chief."
Nice, nice! That's a perfect answer for a rookie knight!
As I celebrated inwardly with a fist pump, the Commander-in-Chief gave me a look that seemed to mock me.
"Oh? And the one who brought out a magic sword like that and was so determined to win is talking about the code of chivalry?"
No, no, it's just a difference in perspective. I enchanted that sword myself, so as far as I'm concerned, its power is my own.
...Not that I could possibly say that out loud.
This was a problem. Was he not going to let me off the hook with that answer?
I glanced over and met the Commander-in-Chief's gaze. Unable to bear it any longer, I decided to answer honestly.
"Yes, you're right. I thought being determined to win was the proper way to show respect to you, Commander-in-Chief. Your left leg was injured, so I attacked your left side."
"What?!"
I couldn't tell which commander had shouted that.
The moment they heard my answer, all the commanders and deputy commanders took a step forward and glared at me with murderous looks.
Eeeeeek!!
Forty commanders and deputy commanders?! I-I'm going to get killed!
I'm sorry for attacking the Commander-in-Chief, whom I admire, in a way that was the exact opposite of the code of chivalry!!
As I trembled in fear, the Commander-in-Chief's voice came from above.
"Why did you think my left leg was injured?"
"Huh? Well, when you were walking, the time your left foot spent on the ground was slightly shorter than the time your right foot spent on the ground. And when you were standing, you put slightly more weight on your right leg. Knights with physiques as developed as yours have excellent balance between their left and right sides. If that balance is off, an injury is the only explanation I could think of."
As I answered honestly, the murderous aura from the commanders and deputy commanders visibly faded.
Instead, they stared at me with their eyes wide open in astonishment.
...Huh? Wh-why?
"...I see. Fia Ludo. I'll remember your name."
After saying that, the Commander-in-Chief raised one hand. Perhaps that was the signal, because the emcee announced the end of the induction ceremony.