Chapter 18
I'm Savis Nav, Commander-in-Chief of the Nav Kingdom's Black Dragon Knights.
Ten years ago, at the tender age of seventeen, I became Commander-in-Chief of the Knights.
Under normal circumstances, that would have been unthinkable, but my status as the king's younger brother installed me as commander whether I liked it or not.
The commander's seat is a heavy one.
As head of the Knights, I'm responsible for the lives of every knight.
If I give the wrong orders, knights who could have survived will die.
I mustn't be so arrogant as to think I can save every life.
I must remain cool and clear-headed. No matter how fierce the battle, part of my mind must always stay calm so I can identify the "least painful option" and give orders accordingly. My job is to keep my comrades alive. But do those who are sacrificed think of it as the "least painful option" too...?
I mustn't hesitate. I mustn't waver. I can't apologize.
It's my role to suppress my fear and impatience, take the lead with a confident expression, and inspire the knights.
◇◇◇
The day of the rookies' induction ceremony was clear and sunny.
Strangely enough, a pattern of coincidence kept repeating: when the weather was sunny on induction day, an outstanding group of rookies joined the Knights.
I entered the venue for the induction ceremony, full of expectation.
When I looked out over the new knights from the platform, they all gazed up at me with shining eyes.
It was always like this at the induction ceremony. Young people brimming with dreams and hopes joined the Knights, holding up the ideals of knighthood.
―――Hold on to that feeling. If you do, you'll become a fine knight.
After finishing my address, I looked over the new knights again. Among the excited, exhilarated faces, one person regarded me calmly.
―――Who is that?
They weren't swept up in the atmosphere. They were calmly observing and analyzing the situation. That was... someone on the ruling side.
When I stepped down from the platform, I summoned the person in charge of the entrance exams.
"There's only one new female knight with red hair. She's Fia Ludo, of the Ludo knightly house, and we've assigned her to the First Knight Order."
"A new female knight in the First Order... You mean that one?"
"Yes."
I see.
The First Order, which guards the royal family, would soon need a young female knight. So that's why she'd been assigned there.
Still, the fact that she was a knight with the eyes of a ruler made this interesting.
"Choose her as the opponent for the demonstration match. I'll fight her."
"…Huh?"
The knight in charge of the entrance exams stared with his mouth hanging open, frozen for a good ten seconds.
I've known him for years, but I'd never seen him make a face like that.
I kept my interest to myself as I watched him, and the knight in charge of the entrance exams hurriedly pressed on.
"I-I hate to go against your orders, Commander-in-Chief, but she's a new knight! She can't possibly be a match for you, the strongest fighter in our Knights! She wouldn't last a single exchange! And, well, I've never heard of the Commander-in-Chief personally taking part in a demonstration match!"
"Well, that's true. I've never taken part in a demonstration match at an induction ceremony. But this time, the point is for me to test the female knight who'll likely serve as 'her' bodyguard. If I personally assess a knight and assign her to 'her' guard, the Church should be satisfied."
"...I-I see! I apologize for speaking so thoughtlessly without understanding the depth of your reasoning, Commander-in-Chief!"
Yeah, there was no way he could have understood. I'd just made that up on the spot.
Truthfully, I just wanted to cross swords with the knight who had the eyes of a ruler.
―――You shouldn't take a position where you need to come up with a reason everyone will accept every time you act.
◇◇◇
When I faced Fia Ludo, my first thought was, "She's small."
Compared to the female knights in the Knights, she was clearly smaller and more slender.
―――And yet, why is this? I feel a pressure like the kind I feel when facing a commander-level knight.
I didn't think my senses had dulled. Was there something about her beyond what I could see?
"I, Fia Ludo, unworthy as I am, humbly ask the honor of crossing swords with you, Commander-in-Chief!"
She declared in a high, girlish voice, then came at me.
But when she was about five meters away, she suddenly sped up.
She drew her sword at a speed I'd never seen before and swung it down at my left side.
I parried her sword, and its weight took me by surprise. What was this sword?
My entire body tensed in an instant.
Fia backed away, then attacked again. At my left side. Left, left, left—and left again.
Her final strike was especially heavy. I couldn't help putting my strength behind my sword and knocking hers away.
―――Who is this girl?
No―――... Is the sword what's strange?
When I examined her sword, I realized it was an extraordinary weapon.
It was a magic sword imbued with multiple magical effects.
Weapons imbued with magical effects are rare, and since they can no longer be made, they're precious.
What's more, almost all existing enchanted weapons have only one effect.
Yet this one had two enchantments layered together: increased speed and increased attack power.
On top of that, a concealment spell had been cast on it to suppress its glow and hide the fact that it was an enchanted weapon.
The question was what the effects actually did...
I tested the sword against Cyril, the First Order's commander, and... it was on the level of a national treasure.
I'd need the Third Order of Mage Knights to examine it to know for certain, but its speed and attack power were probably boosted by more than 300 each.
It should be every bit as impressive as the finest existing weapons, works from the "Super Golden Age" three hundred years ago.
When I asked where it came from, she said she'd received it from her father, Deputy Commander Dorf.
It was a suspicious story, but Dorf himself confirmed it. I wouldn't get anywhere by doubting it now.
I collected my thoughts and asked about the other thing that had bothered me.
"Why did you keep striking at my left side during our mock battle?"
Knights are all aggressive by nature. They use the best method to win, no matter who they're facing. If their opponent is me, they'd charge at my right side, where my vision is impaired.
Or they might attack both my right and left sides in a balanced manner. Fia's attacks, which only targeted my left side, were unnatural.
"It was the code of chivalry. Since you declared that you wouldn't attack me, Commander-in-Chief, I didn't think it was right to strike at the side where your vision was impaired."
Fia answered with an earnest expression that was utterly unconvincing.
It seemed the one with the eyes of a ruler had nerves of steel.
To think she'd boldly lie to my face.
The only thing that spoiled it was how satisfied she seemed with her answer; the corners of her mouth were twitching as if she were about to smile.
When I pressed her further, Fia gave in and confessed that she'd targeted my left side because my left leg was injured.
...It was true that my left ankle had never fully recovered from its injury. Even when I took the same sword strike, I couldn't brace myself as well if it came from my left. Targeting my left side was the best strategy.
However, an injury becomes a weakness if others know about it, so information about it is kept confidential.
The injury was more than ten years old and was officially considered healed. Only the commanders and deputy commanders knew about the old wound in my left leg.
That's why, when they heard Fia's explanation, the commanders and deputy commanders stood up in anger. They probably thought the information had leaked.
But that lasted only until they heard Fia's explanation.
She explained her reasoning based on careful observation, saying she'd deduced my injury from what she'd seen.
...Interesting.
The one with the eyes of a ruler seemed to possess the keen insight to see through many other things as well.