Chapter 27
That night, the long-awaited meat festival was held.
In the courtyard in front of the dining hall, grills had been set up, and great chunks of meat were roasted right before our eyes.
It was only natural for knights who loved meat to come in droves, and sure enough, quite a few attendees came not only from the Sixth Knight Order, whose members had earned the meat, but also from the First, Second, and Fifth Knight Orders.
Lots of meat was served, along with even more alcohol.
Heh heh heh, I’ve properly completed my Coming-of-Age Ceremony and become an adult, so I’m allowed to drink alcohol.
I picked up the yellow drink that had been placed in front of me and tried downing it in one go.
“...Mmm, it’s all fizzy, isn’t it? It’s kind of sharp, and a little bitter. Is this even good?”
Since there were knights around me, I tried to act like I was used to it, but this was only my second time drinking alcohol, after the night of my Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
Heh heh heh, but I’m amazing.
I joined the Knight Order and even drink alcohol—I’m a perfect adult now!
Feeling pleased, I gulped down the whole glass. Heh, I knew I could hold my liquor.
I took a fresh glass, and Fabian spotted me after I’d drunk about half of it.
“Fia, are you all right? Your cheeks are bright red.”
“Yeah. I’m in the mood to have rosy cheeks today.”
Huh, doesn’t that sound cool? I have an ideal to strive for, and alcohol is what I need to achieve it. It’s so grown-up!
I was grinning to myself, pleased with my own line, but Fabian just chuckled at me.
“If you get dead drunk, I’ll probably have to carry you back. Heh, now that you’re not wearing armor, what excuse will you come up with?”
“Hmph. What are you talking about? Without my armor, I’m as light as a feather.”
As I spoke, I picked out a particularly delicious-looking piece of meat for Fabian.
“They say the Flowerhorn Deer is tonight’s main attraction, so they won’t be serving it at first. But Violet Boar is delicious enough, so try some.”
“Yeah, it really is. Delicious.”
Fabian took a bite and chewed with an expression of satisfaction.
Good, good. I’d keep offering Fabian plenty of meat and alcohol, and erase his memory of my weight from this afternoon.
As I grinned and offered Fabian some alcohol, a commotion broke out by the entrance.
Turning around, I saw Captain Cyril of the First Knight Order and Commander-in-Chief Savis entering together.
Wow, that’s the second time I’ve run into them today!
The captain was one thing, but the Commander-in-Chief was an unreachable figure I should rarely ever get to see, yet my encounter rate was bizarrely high. Hmm, it felt like encountering an SS-rank monster.
I wanted to thank them for helping me earlier, but before either the Commander-in-Chief or the captain had taken more than a few steps, they were surrounded by a crowd of knights.
I won’t be able to get close for a while.
Well, today was a night to let loose, so I decided to eat for now, stuffed my face with meat, and chatted happily with Fabian. Then the captain called for me.
...Huh?
Tilting my head, I went with Fabian to the captain, and we were shown into a private room sectioned off from part of the dining hall. The knights of the Sixth Knight Order’s Third Platoon, who had fought the monsters with us, were gathered inside too.
...Huh?
The back of my neck was starting to tingle. This was how it felt when Brother Aldio was about to scold me. C-Captain, surely you’re not...
I casually took a few steps back and tried to hide behind Fabian.
“Fia, I can see you. Come to the front.”
“...Yes.”
Reluctantly, I stepped forward, trying to make myself as inconspicuous as possible.
Captain Cyril stood right in front of me, and one step behind him stood the captain of the Sixth Knight Order, judging by the color of his sash. Another two or three steps farther back, Commander-in-Chief Savis sat calmly in a chair.
...What should I do? I have a bad feeling I’m about to get scolded.
At Captain Cyril’s instruction, the members of today’s Third Platoon were arranged in three rows and made to sit in chairs lined up before him.
After confirming everyone was seated, Captain Cyril finally opened his mouth.
“Now, there is a particular reason I’ve asked you all to gather. I wanted to praise you for your gallant conduct today. Despite encountering a B-rank monster under overwhelmingly unfavorable circumstances, you managed to corner it without a single death. Your skill was admirable. I’m impressed.”
The captain praised us with a pleasant smile, but these were veteran knights.
Not one of them was fooled by his praise.
They remained silent, brows furrowed, bracing themselves against the thunderbolt that was sure to come.
“—However...”
The captain’s smile suddenly vanished, and his expression turned serious.
“Could you explain why a rookie from the First Knight Order was the one in command?”
Crash, clatter—!!
That’s what the sound effect would be.
It just happened! Captain Cyril definitely just struck us with a bolt of lightning!
Platoon Leader Hector spoke, sweat streaming down his forehead.
“Regrettably, I was struck by the monster’s first attack and lost consciousness. I have no excuse.”
He ran away! Platoon Leader Hector completely escaped by turning it into an apology!
With a slight lift of his chin, as if to say “I see,” Captain Cyril looked around at the Third Platoon, from the acting platoon leader on down.
“And? With all of you gathered here, what were you thinking when you left command to our rookie?”
“............”
“The Starfall Forest falls under the jurisdiction of the Sixth Knight Order, does it not? That means the ‘Monster Species List’ for that forest has been distributed to every member of the Sixth Knight Order. In other words, you’ve all read it, and should know the types and traits of every monster that lives there.”
“............”
“To return to my question, with sufficient knowledge of the monsters in the forest, and with all of you gathered here, what were you thinking when you left command to our rookie?”
“............”
As expected of veteran knights. They kept quiet and didn’t say a single unnecessary word.
That’s right, everyone! Silence is golden!
“Oh dear, is no one going to answer my question? Just because we belong to different orders, you won’t even speak to me. The Knight Orders are a surprisingly coldhearted organization.”
With an exaggeratedly sorrowful expression, Captain Cyril said this with a straight face.
Then he smiled gently at me.
“But a member of my order wouldn’t treat me so coldly. I’m sure she’ll answer my question honestly. Won’t you, Fia?”
“Eeeeeek...!!”
Terrifying. That smile is terrifying. I thought his serious face was scary earlier, but his smile is even worse!!
“F-F-Fabian. H-help me...”
I looked up at Fabian, sitting to my right, and managed to whisper, barely able to breathe. His face was deathly pale, and he was gritting his teeth.
N-no. He can’t help me...
“A-a-acting platoon leader. Please help me...”
Desperate for one last lifeline, I looked at the acting platoon leader seated to my left, but his pupils were fully dilated as he stared at the captain of the Sixth Knight Order behind Captain Cyril.
The Sixth Knight Order’s captain was a brawny knight with rust-colored hair, a little over forty. He was brimming with the charm of a mature man, but right now all of that charm had been concentrated into pure intimidation. With his arms crossed, he glared imperiously down at his subordinates, looking like a member of the demon race.
I-it’s no use. The acting platoon leader is like a frog being glared at by a snake. No, a frog being glared at by a demon. He can’t help me either...
D-damn, it’s true what they say: in the end, you’re on your own.
And now I have to face Captain Cyril alone while he’s in full storm mode.
“H-heh heh heh... O-of course, Captain Cyril. I’ll answer anything I can.”
I answered the captain with a strained smile.
H-heh heh heh. This is surely the beginning of a fun time I’ll never want to experience again—...