"The Charming Red Witch?" (Curtis)
The first to speak up was Captain Curtis. The intonation was clearly strange, expressing Captain Curtis' uneasy feelings.
"Eeek!" (Ghai)
Captain Ghai, who had gained new experiences with Captain Curtis from yesterday to this morning, seemed to be able to understand Captain Curtis better, and he jumped up from his chair and shut his mouth in shock.
However, Captain Curtis seemed unwilling to let it go, and pointed three fingers in front of Captain Ghai.
"Three times." (Curtis)
"What?" (Ghai)
"Between yesterday and this morning, you uttered the words 'The Enchanting Red Witch' three times. Considering your feeble mind, I was thinking I would let you off the hook if it was just once or twice, but this has really gone too far. Ghai, who do you mean by 'The Enchanting Red Witch', and what does it mean?" (Curtis)
As Captain Curtis approached with his fingers, Captain Ghai stepped back the same distance and waved both hands in a panic.
"No, that's not true! I didn't bring it up! As a knight captain, I was gathering the necessary information and that's the nickname I heard!" (Ghai)
"So?" (Curtis)
"So, ... C, Curtis, let me start by saying this! I have a skill that, even if I accurately convey the rumors I've heard, for some reason they are taken as insults! So, no matter how it may sound, I have absolutely no ill will! And, this is just something I've heard!!" (Ghai)
"I'll make a decision after listening to your story." (Curtis)
As Captain Curtis glared at him, Captain Ghai looked as if he had something stuck in his throat. However, as the silence continued, he seemed to realise that Captain Curtis had no intention of releasing him, and so he reluctantly spoke up.
"The Charming Red Witch is an evil woman with alluring red hair who beguiles men, and that's exactly what _FIARUUDO_ is!" (Ghai)
"Whaaat? So, I'm going to seduce a man?!" (Fia)
I stood up in shock when I was pointed out for something I had never done in my life.
Wait a minute! I've never been popular with the opposite sex in this life or my past life, so how am I supposed to deceive a man?! I'd love to hear your methods for deceiving people! Then, if you'd like, I'll try it out to see if it works! ...Oh, wait! What am I so naively believing? Could this possibly be some kind of indirect sarcasm?
When I thought of it, I felt that way and felt frustrated, so I told Captain Curtis.
"C-Curtis, that's just a subtle insult! You know, I'm not popular at all, and he's just saying that on purpose! If he said something like that to someone who is really popular, it would be a joke, but if it's for someone who's not popular, it would just hurt their feelings, so please tell him not to say it!" (Fia)
Captain Curtis looked at me with a strangely strange expression, then pressed his hands to his eyes as if he was tired.
...Huh? What's with that expression just now? Maybe Captain Curtis felt sympathy for me? Argh, I wonder why Captain Ghai would bother to talk about my popularity.
Feeling frustrated that his actions had resulted in such humiliation, I glared at Captain Ghai. However, Captain Ghai continued speaking without paying any attention to my gaze.
"The reason why Fia was given that nickname is because she has been deceiving one after another of the knight captains that our kingdom's knights are so proud of! Four of the six knight captains residing in the royal capital have already become their victims: First Knight Captain Cyril, Second Knight Captain Desmond, Fourth Monster Knight Captain Quentin, and Sixth Knight Captain Zachary!" (Ghai)
When I heard the names that Captain Ghai mentioned, I became convinced that it was pure harassment.
I always end up getting a lecture from Captain Cyril. Captain Desmond just teases me or takes out his frustration on me when I'm working overtime and getting annoyed. Captain Quentin is crazy about familiar, so I just listen to him talk passionately about Zavilia. Captain Zachary comes up with a special muscle training menu for me, so I just avoid him with a smile. How could he have deceived those four people? If anything, I'm always the victim!
Thinking that, I glared at him with even sharper eyes, but Captain Ghai still didn't seem to mind and continued to explain his theory.
"And all of them are either stoic nobles, misogynists, monster lovers, or muscle lovers; they have absolutely no interest in women! Only a witch could conquer all of these people at once!" (Ghai)
"Hey, don't make up things! I'll be frank with you, our relationship is completely that of a superior and subordinate! We're just a captain and a mere knight, there's not a single person in our relationship that's more than that!!" (Fia)
This was the worst kind of damage to my reputation, I thought, raising my hands in protest from the bottom of my heart.
Rumors were really scary! They spread things that weren't even true!! What's more, Captain Ghai made the statement right in front of my older sister. I wondered what I'd do if my older sister misunderstands him!
However, Captain Ghai ignored my protests, shook his head from side to side, and spoke with an air of complete disbelief.
"I won't be fooled! Now I'm going to ask you some questions!" (Ghai)
"Of course! I have nothing to hide, so I'll answer any question you ask!" (Fia)
I clasped my hands together and answered confidently.
Then, Captain Ghai muttered, "Well, let me ask you," and asked about Captain Cyril.
"Is it true that at the Imperial Conference attended by Commander Savis, Cyril fought Quentin and Zachary over you?" (Ghai)
"Huh!?" (Fia)
At the unexpected question, I blinked rapidly.
Then, I desperately tried to recall the scene when I was asked the question.
"N-no, it wasn't like we were fighting over it! Each of them just asked me to come to them! Umm, maybe... all three of them were lonely?" (Fia)
I grinned and tried to make a good impression. And in my mind, I desperately tried to think of a good explanation.
...This is bad. Something is definitely wrong. Thinking back, there was nothing improper about that scene. That scene was completely different from what Captain Ghai brought to mind!
However, before I could explain it properly, Captain Ghai nodded in understanding and changed the question to one about Captain Desmond.
"Is it true that Desmond is so busy he has no time to do any extra work, but he always makes time to play chess with you, and even knows your training times in advance, and always comes early to wait for you?" (Ghai)
Unlike before, this question seemed rather light-hearted, so I relaxed my expression and began speaking with enthusiasm.
"Well, that's true, but what I'm saying is that Captain Desmond likes chess! When he plays against me, we sometimes win and sometimes lose, but we're about the same strength. So we're just the right opponent!" (Fia)
After hearing what I said, Captain Ghai asked me, "Are you really that good at chess?"
"Yes?" (Fia)
"Desmond has won the chess division of the Knights' Tournament for two years running." (Ghai)
"Huh?" (Fia)
"If you ever win, it's because you're being entertained by Desmond." (Ghai)
"…………" (Fia)
After hearing something I'd never expected, I remained silent and had no response, and then Captain Ghai asked me about Captain Quentin.
"Is it true that Quentin came to give you a whole bag of your pay on payday?" (Ghai)
The moment I was asked that question, even before I answered, I knew it clearly wasn't going to be in my best interest. When I heard it in words, it sounded like a terrible story, that a captain would come and give a new knight his entire salary. And because the matter itself was a fact, there was no room for excuses.
Although I knew this was a bad question, I couldn't immediately think of a good excuse, so I opened my mouth hoping that I could somehow get around it.
"Well, that's... I think that's not the right way to ask. If you had asked me if he actually gave it to me, I could have said that I didn't receive it. Well, well, if you ask whether Captain Quentin came to give me the money envelope... he might have, you see." (Fia)
After hearing my answer, Captain Ghai nodded with satisfaction and muttered, "One last question."
"Is it true that Zachary promised you never to speak of his favorite thing, muscles, ever again?" (Ghai)
"Well, that's... well, that's true! But, that's already gone off the topic of deceiving someone, right?!" (Fia)
Although I calmly pointed it out, Captain Ghai looked at me with complete disbelief.
"No no, there's nothing wrong with that! And from what you said, it's all black! Anyone would say you're a witch! Or can you prove that you're not a witch?" (Ghai)
Perhaps due to the power of Captain Ghai, I answered in a fluster.
"Well, what is the definition of a witch? If you mean a woman who can use offensive magic, then I'd say that's definitely not it!" (Fia)
"It doesn't necessarily have to be offensive magic! There are rare cases of special magic like charm magic too! It's a general term for women who can use magic!" (Ghai)
"Ma-magic in general!!" (Fia)
Hmm, huh, does that mean recovery magic is included too?! So am I really a witch? I was becoming confused and unable to respond, but then Captain Curtis came to my rescue.
"...Lady Fi. There's no need to be drawn in by the eloquence of someone like Ghai. Of course, Lady Fi, you are not a witch, and you are not deceiving anyone." (Curtis)
"Y-yes!!" (Fia)
Feeling like I had found my savior, I smiled at Captain Curtis, but Captain Ghai muttered, "No, it's probably because Curtis has been conquered as well."
Hearing those words, I would surely glare at Captain Ghai. Well, this knight captain is quite suspicious! Curtis said I wasn't a witch, so surely I was not a witch! Just as I was thinking this, Captain Curtis let out a sharp voice.
"Ghai, I know I was the one who started the questioning. I asked you what you meant by 'The Charming Red Witch', but you shouldn't have answered me like that. It seems you didn't understand anything I've been telling you all day and night. What did I tell you?" (Curtis)
Hearing Captain Curtis' words, Captain Ghai opened his eyes wide in surprise and cried out in a panic.
"That's right! Fia, I apologise to you!!" (Ghai)
Then, completely ignoring the previous events, Captain Ghai bowed deeply.
Author's Note
Thank you for always reading!
Thank you for your comments, bookmarks, ratings, etc.
I would like to thank those who took the time to let me know about typos and omissions.