Author's Note
[Thank you] Thank you so much for all your feedback, reports of typos, bookmarks, and ratings.
Afterwards, Captain Cyril carefully explained to me why Commander had recommended the Fourth Knight Order of Monster Tamer.
"In other words, you can quantify the life force of monsters. The members of the Monster Knights all have at least one monster under their control, but they only have a rough idea of their life force. If they could quantify the monsters' life force, they would be able to do more." (Cyril)
"I see. But, more than half of my quantification is based on intuition and feeling." (Fia)
So, there would be an error in the last digit.
Captain Cyril nodded slightly at what I said and gave me a faint smile.
"If we were to officially transfer you, it might be difficult to get you back, so we are thinking of having you remain with the First Knight Order and work for the Monster Tamer Knights." (Cyril)
Is it difficult to get it back? Oh wait? Do they think I'm causing so much trouble that I can't come back?
"You are my cute child, after all. I have no intention of letting you go. However, if the captain of the Fourth Monster Tamer Knights gets to know you even for a short time, he may start to think the same way. The dumber the child, the more adorable they are, right? Therefore, in order to prevent that from happening, I will not allow you to be officially transferred. It is possible that you will be treated like a guest and receive unfair treatment, but if that happens, please let me know right away." (Cyril)
"What will happen if I tell Captain?" (Fia)
I felt like I was being casually dissed in the middle of the conversation, but as an adult, I decided to just ignore it.
"Hehe, by the next day those who wronged you will be gone and you will be treated right." (Cyril)
Captain Cyril was just smiling gently, but for some reason it sent a chill down my spine.
I was the type of person who valued intuition, so unless something extraordinary happened, I decided to keep quiet about it from Captain Cyril.
"It's getting late. I think it's time to call it a day." (Cyril)
When Captain Cyril said that, the three of them, including Captain Desmond, tried to leave, it turned out that the commander also had business with the knights, so in the end the four of us headed to the knights' dormitory.
It was a beautiful moonlit night. The wind blew by, carrying the scent of night with it.
Perhaps due to the alcohol I was drinking, I was lost in the silence when the commander spoke to me.
"Fia, today was your first time fighting alongside the saints. What did you think?" (Savis)
"Terrible." (Fia)
After saying that, I realized that his words were too rough and adds, "It's...".
When I said that, Captain Cyril froze, Captain Desmond grimaced, and Commander Savis kept his expression unchanged.
The commander asked me, "A saint?" and I answered, "No."
"Someone has distorted the Saint. That is not how a saint should be. ...If the Saint from 300 years ago were to see this, wouldn't she be sad?" (Fia)
...Well, actually, I cried a lot.
"No, I wouldn't say they would be sad, they would probably cry, right?" (Fia)
"Is that knowledge also obtained from books?" (Savis)
Yes, the commander asked me quietly.
I found it funny and laughed out loud.
"No. This is just my personal opinion. Hey, Commander. What do you want to do with the saints? Are you planning to worship them and make them into a goddess? Hehe, that's not it. The saints is not some distant being who only grants salvation on a whim. The saints is, you see, a shield for the knights." (Fia)
I looked up at the moon and realized I was feeling a little unsteady.
Yeah, I was drunk.
"Well, this is just my personal opinion. I was asked, so I answered." (Fia)
Suddenly, I felt the urge to walk barefoot, so I took off my shoes and started walking unsteadily, holding them in my hands. No one reprimanded me, and in fact, I arrived at the knight dormitory without a single word being spoken to.
The next morning I had a terrible headache and nausea.
Wh-w-what is this? My head was pounding. Or rather, it's like someone was dancing on my head. Ouch, ouch, I don't know who it is, but please get off my head. Ah, I feel nauseous, but I'm thirsty. What is this——...
"You're hungover." (Olga)
My roommate, Olga, called out from above.
"Finally... I've finally taken that step into adulthood." (Fia)
"Your adulthood is pretty shabby." (Olga)
Despite saying harsh things, Olga handed me a glass of water.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp, ahhh, delicious." (Fia)
I drank a glass of water and got up feeling refreshed.
"Huh? Why did you suddenly become so energetic? Your recovery is incredible." (Olga)
"Hehe. This is youth, Olga." (Fia)
"No, you know, that's not something you can call youthful!" (Olga)
That's what Olga was saying, but there was something that was bothering me, so I sniffed my own scent.
Ugh, I could smell alcohol coming from my body. This in the morning, what a loser.
I grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom.
"I'm going to wash off the adult scent from my body." (Fia)
Then, after a refreshing shower, I headed to the training ground.
Well, first of all, sword training...
"Oh, Fia." (Fabian)
When I arrived at the training ground, Fabian called out to me in surprise.
"I heard that Fia is going to help out the Fourth Monster Knights starting today." (Fabian)
"The Fourth Monster Knights?" (Fia)
...Hmm? Was there such a story?
"Huh? Didn't you hear? Captain Cyril came to tell me this morning." (Fabian)
...Yeah, mystery solved. I'm sure you've heard me. I just don't remember.
I smiled and said, "I'm going to go talk to Captain for a bit," and left the place.
When I knocked on the door of the captain's room, I received permission to enter from inside.
I slowly opened the door to find the captain looking listless, leaning one elbow on his desk.
"Huh? You seem unusually tired, don't you?" (Fia)
"...What's the matter, Fia? Do you need to confirm something?" (Cyril)
He asked in a voice a little lower than usual.
Yeah, you look really tired. I guess you've been working too much.
"Well, starting today, I'll be assigned to the Fourth Monster Knights, so I came to check..." (Fia)
"Assignment? I told you yesterday that I wouldn't transfer you, right?" (Cyril)
...Oh, is that so?
I had to be careful what I said about this.
"My apologies, I misunderstood. I thought I was going to help out the Fourth Monster Knights. So, I came to see you because I wanted to pass on a message to the Fourth Monster Knights if there was anything I could pass on to them." (Fia)
"...Fia. You don't remember the instructions I gave you yesterday, do you?" (Cyril)
The captain's expression changed into a chilling smile.
Sharp. As sharp as ever! As expected from the captain, the leader of the Knight Order.
I just kept smiling without answering yes or no, but the captain seemed to have thought of something and glared at me.
"Fia, tell me everything you remember about last night." (Cyril)
"Yes. In the middle of the meat festival, I was called in by Captain and given a lecture. The meat from Flower-horned Deer was delicious. That's all." (Fia)
"You only remember the beginning of the story! You were completely drunk and have no memory of last night!" (Cyril)
"Captain, I'm sorry!!" (Fia)
That's right. I had the ultimate skill of losing my memory when I drunk! Now, even if I messed up while drinking, I didn't remember it, so there's no damage!
But sorry, it's a nuisance to those around me.
As I bowed my head, feeling truly sorry, the captain sighed and gave a faint smile as if resigned.
"No, it was rude of me to talk about work at the banquet. I am the one who should be sorry. From today onwards, you will be working for the Fourth Monster Knights for a while. Your job will be to grasp the life force of the monsters used by the Monster Knights. One thing I am worried about is that the Monster Knights seem to think that they are not truly full-fledged unless they can use monsters, so I am worried that you might be treated unfairly. If they treat you unfairly, please report it to me." (Cyril)
Then, as if by chance, he beckoned me.
"Just to be sure, can I see your wrist?" (Cyril)
Hmm? Are they checking the damage done to Flower-horned Deer yesterday?Hehe, I cured it without a trace.
Feeling a bit proud, I held out my both hands in front of the captain.
The captain, who was also holding both of my hands and looking at me, opened his eyes slightly.
"Proof of familiarity... Fia, do you have a familiar monster?" (Cyril)
The captain asked, looking at the 1mm-wide black ring that surrounds my left wrist.
…Ah, I see. So you confirmed the proof of familiarity, right? Yes, I am. I have a familiar contract with a legendary monster called the Black Dragon.
Was it okay for me to say that?