Dragon and Ogre, Sacrifice and Sin (12)

Otto-sama—when Referee-sama led me into the Light Heaven Knight Kingdom army's encampment, every knight there stopped whatever they were doing, whether working or training, turned toward Referee-sama, stood at attention, and saluted by raising their right elbows to shoulder height and pressing their fists against their right chests.

When Referee-sama said, "At ease," they relaxed and returned to their work, but they glanced at me with expressions that said, "What's this filthy boy doing here?"

The Light Heaven Knight Kingdom was, as its name suggested, a nation of "knights." This wasn't about the "Knight" Title; it meant actual knights—soldiers who could ride horses—and every member of the Light Heaven Knight Kingdom's military had to be able to fight on horseback.

Of course, knights had ranks. I wasn't familiar with them, but Referee-sama must have been one of the highest-ranking knights.

"At ease. At ease."

He kept saying that—and surely he'd said it over a hundred times—until we reached what appeared to be Referee-sama's tent. It was a plain tent containing nothing but a large table and ten simple chairs.

When I was invited to sit down, a wave of exhaustion suddenly washed over me, and I felt like falling asleep right there. However, Wilhelm-sama and the others who had confronted me earlier were lined up at the tent's entrance, so I couldn't let my guard down.

"We are on the front lines, so I cannot offer you much in the way of hospitality. I hope you will forgive me, my guest."

"I have no intention of staying long, so that's fine."

When I said that, the onlookers grew murderous. "He dares refuse Referee-sama's offer...?" They were seriously troublesome...