The Drifting Ship Incident (5): The Stubbornest Man in the Knight Order

If I had to describe Zackhart-sama in a single word, it would be "strict."

Even when facing the king, he was the sort of person who would resolutely argue back if he believed something was wrong.

The story of Zackhart-sama shouting down the previous king has long since passed into legend.

While we greeted Zackhart-sama, the officers and soldiers lined up on either side stood perfectly still with their hands clasped behind their backs. The atmosphere said a great deal about Zackhart-sama's character.

The disciplined Third Knight Order is strong. I had softened my answer to King Zeurasia's question earlier to avoid stirring things up, but I suspect they are every bit as powerful as the First and Tenth Knight Orders.

He was a veteran commander who had led the knight order through countless battles since the previous king's reign. His experience, and the tactics backed by that experience, surpassed those of the other knight commanders.

That was why the Third Knight Order had been entrusted with the port of Gadeland, the most important port after the royal capital.

And there was one more reason he was a significant figure to me. Though, admittedly, it was only one-sided.

In the future I knew, the Empire invaded from the east and Golber from the west in response to the royal capital going up in flames.

Until then, Ludeck had held the upper hand over Golber thanks to a certain incident, while its knight orders had kept the Empire from invading. But everything changed.

When word came that the royal capital was ablaze, troops from the Rifrea Holy Nation poured in from the north, and nearly every knight order was driven to destruction after being caught in a pincer attack.

As Ludeck's vaunted knight orders vanished without being able to offer much resistance, the only one that continued to give the Rifrea forces trouble to the very end was the Third Knight Order.

Using Gadeland as its base, the Third Knight Order took in the retreating knight orders and prepared to fight to the bitter end despite the overwhelming disparity in forces.

The battle lasted no less than three months, and was said to have ended with the city of Gadeland reduced to ashes.

In fact, after conquering Gadeland, the Rifrea Holy Nation was forced to build another port nearby.

Incidentally, the navy evacuated the citizens of Gadeland through the harbor, so the only people who died there were the officers and soldiers of the knight order.

The story of Zackhart-sama and the Third Knight Order, who fought to the last man and perished, would later be made into a play and spread throughout the continent by traveling troupes.

It was titled "Ludeck: The Final Battle."

I hate that play.

I never want to see it again.

"What are you spacing out for?"

Zackhart-sama glared at me irritably, and I hurriedly apologized for my rudeness.

"I was captivated by the famed Zackhart-sama and the Third Knight Order, so I couldn't help myself," I explained.

"Such flattery is unnecessary."

"No, it isn't flattery. The Third Knight Order is led by the longest-serving knight commander still in active service, enjoys the king's deep trust, and... it's the knight order I'm most familiar with."

"Most familiar? You were speaking as though you were seeing it for the first time earlier."

"Ah, yes. This is the first time I've seen it up close like this since becoming an adult. Actually, I'm from nearby Kuzel Village. When I was little, my father often brought me to Gadeland to sell fish. I remember the soldiers sometimes treating me kindly..."

The Third Knight Order was strict and orderly, but having been based in Gadeland's port for so long, it had deep ties with the citizens.

The soldiers often secretly gave sweets to the children playing around the fishing port.

When I said that, Zackhart-sama's expression seemed to soften slightly. Just a little. A very, very little.

"I see. Kuzel," he said, then fell silent.

...Did I make him angry?

I was about to ask whether I had said something wrong when Ryuzel returned at exactly the right moment.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I've arranged the meeting with the person in question... Huh? Is something wrong?"

Perhaps he sensed the awkward atmosphere, because Ryuzel's face took on a puzzled expression halfway through.

"No, nothing. Then you should simply carry out your mission. Surely you have no time to waste here." With that, he promptly withdrew into the room at the back.

After Zackhart-sama left, the atmosphere eased a little.

"Roa... What happened?" Ryuzel looked at me worriedly, but I could only answer, "...Who knows?"

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The Salshan who seemed to be an important person aboard the drifting ship had been given a room in one section of the lord's mansion. Or rather, an entire annex. Soldiers from the Third Knight Order were keeping a close watch outside, giving the place a distinctly imposing air.

Since Ryuzel had already informed them of our arrival, we were ushered inside without trouble. Ryuzel really was quite capable.

There were female soldiers on guard inside as well, and we were told that the person in question was quietly staying in a room on the second floor.

After taking a moment to steady my breathing, I knocked, and a small voice answered, "Come in."

Since Rufa had been sent, I had suspected as much, but sure enough, the person in the room was a woman.

I entered with as friendly a smile as possible. A young woman with deep blue hair and slightly reddish eyes sat upright in a chair. She had features characteristic of the Salshan people.

Another Salshan woman stood beside her, apparently her attendant. The attendant looked at us with undisguised wariness.

The seated woman, on the other hand, opened her eyes wide when she saw us—or rather, Rufa.

"I never expected to encounter a girl of my own people in a place like this."

"...My name is Rufa. By order of Rays=Stein-sama, deputy commander of the Tenth Knight Order of the Kingdom of Ludeck, I have come to speak with you. If I may, could I ask your name?"

It was a remarkably polished greeting, nothing like her usual blunt manner of speaking. Seeing this, the attendant straightened slightly as well.

"Are you with the knight order? At your age? Well, we can discuss that at leisure. I was bored out of my mind. To think that after crossing the sea to visit a foreign country, I am not even allowed to walk around the city. Isn't that terribly unfair?"

Despite having been swept adrift, towed to safety after barely surviving, arriving in a country hostile to the one she had been heading for, and now being effectively under house arrest, the elegant woman introduced herself as Rururia.