Recruitment

About an hour after Frain-sama launched his assault, a messenger came rushing into the command tent at the main camp, where I, Roa, was also waiting.

"The area has been secured."

"I see. Any casualties?"

"None."

"Did you capture the principal figures?"

"Unfortunately, everyone who resisted was killed... However, we found evidence linking them to Golbel. Also, following Frain-sama's orders, we searched for the lord and captured him hiding in a secret room in the manor."

"Understood. Good work. You may withdraw."

After the messenger bowed and withdrew, Rays-sama glanced over at Glantz-sama.

"Glantz. Now that it's clear Golbel is involved, they may have troops stationed nearby. Leave half our forces behind. Station them at the abandoned mine and hold it until the Fourth Knight Order arrives."

"Yes, sir. Leave it to me."

"Then we'll withdraw. Rapilia."

"Yes. I'll make the arrangements."

Once Glantz-sama and Rapilia-sama left the tent, only Rays-sama and I remained.

As I shifted my gaze uneasily, Rays-sama spoke to me.

"So, how was your first battle?"

"What can I say...? There wasn't really much of a battle..."

"Ah, and that's precisely why your extraordinary ability stands out. Winning without casualties—that's the essence of warfare. To be honest, I didn't expect things to go this well, but if the ore vein really is enough to cover the cost of this expedition... I might even think you knew everything in advance."

Rays-sama's words made my heart leap. Just as he said, I had devised this strategy knowing what the future held.

I nearly blurted out, "Actually..." but swallowed the words at the last possible moment. How many people would believe me if I said something like that now? None, surely. We were going to return safely, after all. There was no reason to make them suspicious of me needlessly.

"Well, no need to be so tense. It was just a thought."

Perhaps he mistook my agitation for the nerves of someone experiencing his first battle, because Rays-sama did not press the matter any further.

"Uh..." In response to my noncommittal reply, Rays-sama gave a slight wry smile before turning serious.

"Now, enough nonsense. Let's talk about what comes next."

"What comes next...?"

"I'll get straight to the point. Roa, would you like to join the Tenth Knight Order?"

"What!? What for!?"

"What for, huh? That's a rather novel response. Everyone I've invited to join the knight order has either been delighted or deeply moved..."

"Ah! I'm sorry! It just slipped out!" For a mere civil servant like me to be invited to join the Tenth Knight Order, an elite organization even in this country, was almost unimaginable.

I even briefly wondered whether Glantz-sama and Rapilia-sama might show up laughing and reveal that it was all a joke. No, those two would never do anything so mean-spirited, but that's how shaken I was.

"Well, never mind. I'd like to hear your answer. Of course, it comes with danger, but the pay is incomparable to what you earn now. I think it's a good offer, don't you?"

It wasn't merely a good offer; it was like boarding a great ship and setting sail straight into the mainstream of a successful career. Surely no one would refuse. But...

"May I ask just one question?"

"Oh? What is it?"

"Why? I realize I'm saying this myself, but I'm just a civil servant suited to paperwork, with little more than a good memory to recommend me. I don't think I'm someone who could make a real contribution in the Tenth Knight Order..."

"I see, so you have a rather low opinion of yourself... That would explain why you never rose through the ranks," Rays-sama murmured, assessing me.

"But your opinion of yourself is irrelevant. I happened to be looking for an assistant who could devise strategies at my side. This was a test for that position. And you earned a passing mark."

"An assistant to a military strategist... You mean an assistant military strategist? If so, aren't Glantz-sama and Rapilia-sama already there?"

"Yes, 'assistant military strategist' is an apt way to put it. That's exactly the sort of person I want. Of course, Glantz and Rapilia are both excellent, and if I had them lead troops, they'd be among the best in the country. But the strength required to lead a unit and the strength required to move an entire force are different things. You understand that better than most, don't you?"

"...Yes." I knew that very well. Looking back over the battle records I had collected, the difference was obvious.

"If that answers your question, may I hear your answer? I don't intend to force you. Dragging you around against your will wouldn't do anyone any good."

My goal of changing history and saving my comrades left me with only one choice.

I didn't know what I could accomplish. But it was unquestionably better than agonizing over it alone.

"I understand. I look forward to working with you."

I bowed deeply to Rays-sama.

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On the journey home, I continued under the protection of Frain's unit.

"So, what happened?"

From the way Frain-sama said it, it seemed the unit commanders had already been told about my recruitment. That made sense. Thinking about it, no one in the Tenth Knight Order would adopt the strategy of someone whose identity they didn't even know for no reason.

"I'll be joining the Tenth Knight Order. I look forward to working with you, too, Frain-sama."

I bowed my head from horseback. Since I couldn't ride a horse by myself, I was riding behind one of Frain-sama's aides.

"I see," Frain-sama answered curtly.

For a while, silence followed. The only sound was the clop, clop of horse hooves.

"Stop calling me -sama."

Frain-sama said it abruptly.

"Pardon?"

"Your formal orders are still to come, but from now on, we'll be comrades fighting together on the battlefield. Stop calling me -sama."

"Er... but..."

"No 'but.' And change the way you speak to me as well. If you're serving at Rays-sama's side, your position is technically above mine. You don't need to speak formally to me, either."

"No... but..." Given my position and Frain-sama's family status, he wasn't someone I could casually address by name.

"...Then even if you're technically above me, I'll speak to you casually too. So you do the same."

"...All right. Frain."

Once I agreed and answered accordingly, Frain gave me a youthful smile and

"Let's work well together from here on out," he said.