Chapter 36

Fourth Monster Knight Order 10

Published: 29 September 2024

 

"…………………………" (Quentin)

 

Captain Quentin, who moved with the suppleness of a large carnivorous beast, stared down at the puppet I held out to him and didn't say a word for quite some time.

 

...Huh? Was what I said something that was difficult to respond to?

As I was thinking back on the conversation, I suddenly remembered what Zavilia had said to me.

 

...Ah, that's right. I was advised to start by giving a detailed explanation of this puppet.

I turned to Captain Quentin again and spoke with a smile.

"This puppet actually has two roles. It's a puppet that resembles Blue Dove, and also serves as Blue Dove's winter clothing!" (Fia)

 

And yet, Captain Quentin remained silent.

 

Hmm? Maybe Captain Quentin is a quiet type?

If so, then I'm not calling him, right?

 

"Well, that's how it is..." I replied, trying to avoid the question and step back, when suddenly, Captain Quentin spoke up.

 

"This is a wonderful structure, almost as if it were alive. I have heard that people with a deep knowledge of art tend to show this in all they do. You seem to be particularly good at wordplay. It was a wonderful idea to use the 'Blue Bird' as a motif. The contrast between the blue and black is wonderful, is it not?" (Quentin)

"…………………………" (Fia)

 

What should I do? I don't know what Captain Quentin is talking about.

 

At a loss for how to respond, but unable to retreat to where everyone else was, I was thinking of a reply, when Vice Captain Gideon suddenly let out a sudden cry.

"Captain, this girl is just a regular knight. Why are you using honorific language? Besides, if you see it as nothing more than a lump of cloth, then be honest..." (Gideon)

However, Vice Captain Gideon was not able to finish his sentence.

 

The reason was that, in the middle of his speech, Captain Quentin stepped on his foot with all his might, causing him to show a look of agony.

 

...My my, Vice Captain Gideon. I thought you were feeling down after getting scolded by Captain Cyril, but now you're back to normal.

Or rather, it seemed that they did not know how women and children spoke up about handmade products, huh?

Aren't you being punished by your gentlemanly direct superior, Captain Quentin?

 

I nodded in approval of Captain Quentin's actions as I looked up at Captain Cyril, who for some reason was also tilting his head.

"What's the matter, Quentin? It's not like you to flatter. Perhaps the long trip has had an effect on something of you? In this case, maybe it's your brain?" (Cyril)

 

The moment Captain Cyril spoke, Captain Quentin's expression turned demonic and he turned towards Captain Cyril.

"Cyril, there's something I need to tell you." (Quentin)

Then, he dragged Captain Cyril to the other side of the room, grabbed him by the collar, and whispered to him.

"Listen, I'm the most skilled at dealing with monsters. If you value your life, then don't interfere with my methods!" (Quentin)

"What are you talking about? You're not mistaking Blue Dove for an evil monster, are you? You're a captain of Monster Knights, so that can't be the case, right?" (Cyril)

"So! Seriously, just shut up! You never know what words will provoke me, so don't say anything stupid!!" (Quentin)

 

With his back pressed against the wall, Captain Cyril looked at Captain Quentin quizzically, but seemed to decide to comply.

"Very well. I don't understand anything about it, but I'll join in on your fun, you see." (Cyril)

"Damn, you're truly insensitive! You have no idea how hard I'm working!!" (Quentin)

 

Then, Captain Quentin returned with Captain Cyril, turned to me again, and this time praised Zavilia.

"Cyril may seem smart, but he doesn't understand anything. He doesn't understand how powerful, beautiful, and noble this blue-black monster is. I apologize for being so rude." (Quentin)

Captain Cyril's smile had disappeared, and he was tilting his head in confusion.

 

...It's okay, Captain Cyril. I don't understand it at all either.

Maybe it's perfectly normal to not be able to understand Captain Cyril.

 

Captain Quentin smiled brightly and pointed to the sofa.

"It must be tiring to keep standing, right? Why don't you sit down for now?" (Quentin)

However, the moment he shifted his gaze from the sofa to the low table, Captain Quentin's smile disappeared, and he flinched.

"Hey, wait! Why is the low table split in half? Is that you, Cyril?!" (Quentin)

Captain Quentin confidently accused Captain Cyril. Captain Cyril responded with a dissatisfied look on his face.

 

"Don't you know the legal proverb, 'Innocent until proven guilty?' You don't just randomly suspect someone without evidence of a crime. Even if I were the culprit, I find this way of accusing me unpleasant." (Cyril)

"No, this is made of black ironwood! It's extremely hard! It's so hard that neither Gideon nor Patty could break it!! No one other than you could..." (Quentin)

Captain Quentin had been criticizing Captain Cyril without any hesitation, but suddenly, as if taken aback, he spoke. Then he turned to me with a guilty look on his face.

"...Could it be, it was you who destroyed it?" (Quentin)

 

"Huh?" (Fia)

M-me? ...No, no, I'm just a skinny rookie knight. There's no way I could break such a thick table.

However, Captain Quentin seemed to have misunderstood something, put on a forced smile, and began speaking to me.

"...Oh, it was you. That's actually a relief. This table was a little too big for me. I always thought it would be much easier to use if it was half the size. Thank you for splitting it in half." (Quentin)

 

Captain Cyril began to look at Captain Quentin with an increasingly creepy look in his eyes.

"Quentin, you've been eating something bad. You don't seem to realize it, but your behavior is completely abnormal." (Cyril)

"Shut up, Cyril. If you really want to survive until next year, listen to what I have to say." (Quentin)

"You’re not used to using that language, so you’re using it strangely… Yes, I did say that I’d join in on your games, but I still don’t understand the rules of your game." (Cyril)

"I guess so. To be honest, I don't really understand what I'm doing either." (Quentin)

"...What you're saying is incoherent. Is it possible that the long expedition has caused some brain problems?" (Cyril)

 

……Yeah.

 

I was troubled as I watched the two captains arguing with each other.

 

I knew that Captain Cyril and Captain Quentin were good friends, but I wondered how long this silly conversation would continue. I had to go see Charlotte soon.

 

As I fidgeted around feeling confused, Captain Cyril noticed and called out to me.

"What's the matter, Fia? Is there something bothering you?" (Cyril)

"Well, my appointment with Charlotte is coming up soon, so I'd like to step out for a bit if you don't mind." (Fia)

"Who is Charlotte? Is she a knight of the Fourth Monster Knights?" (Cyril)

"No, she's the saint who lives in the royal castle. Today, I've promised to administer healing medicine to an injured familiar." (Fia)

When I answered honestly, Captain Cyril seemed at a loss for words for a moment.

 

"...Have you been given permission by the saint to call her by her name? And have you been given permission to accompany her?" (Cyril)

"Umm, well, that's true. It seems like Charlotte is lonely living away from his family, so I think she thinks of me as a mother figure." (Fia)

When I answered, remembering the time when Charlotte had asked me to call her by her name, Captain Cyril looked as if he had swallowed something sour.

"I don't know how old the saint is, but even if she is young, she must be close to 10 years old. I don't think you could have a child at the age of 5, so I think it's accurate to say that you're adored like an older sister... that is, if she adored you at all. I would feel more at ease with someone playing the role of an older sister. The saint who was raised by you as a mother is frightening, and I don't want to get close to her at all." (Cyril)

"Well, Captain Cyril. It's a funny joke for a First Knight Order Captain, who prides himself on his strength, to be afraid of such a small saint." (Fia)

I found it funny and laughed out loud at Captain Cyril's joke. Laughing, I remembered something important and turned to Captain Cyril.

 

"Captain Cyril, let me introduce you to my cute familiar, Zavilia. He became my familiar when he was 0 years old, so I'm practically like her mother, you know." (Fia)

As I said this, I stroked Zavilia's head, he narrowed his eyes in pleasure. As I couldn't help but laugh, I heard a hoarse voice of Captain Quentin.

 

"Fi, Fi, Lady Fia. ... How about you call you familiar by the initial of its name?" (Quentin)

"Huh? The initial of his name?" (Fia)

I began to remember something and search my memory. ...Come to think of it, Vice Captain Gideon's familiars were also called by the initial.

 

"That's right. If you call out its name directly, someone nearby who happens to hear it might call out its name too. Haha, I was so foolish that I thought about it for a moment, but it's a terrifying story that sends shivers down my spine, huh..." (Quentin)

As he spoke, Captain Quentin pushed back his bangs.

"Familiars dislike being called by their names by anyone other than their contractor, so all of the monsters in our group do this. N-no, but your familiar may be proud of its name, and if so, I don't recommend calling it by the initial. In that case, never, ever, no matter what, you should never call your familiar by its name in front of others." (Quentin)

Captain Quentin explained with great force.

 

Hmm, as you would expect from a captain of the monster knight order, you have a lot of knowledge when it comes to dealing with monsters. That's great, Captain Quentin!

"I see. Now that you mention it, that's right, huh?" (Fia)

As I nodded in agreement with what I was told, Vice Captain Gideon let out a mocking voice.

"Captain, there's no need to teach our rules to someone who got a familiar through such a lucky chance! First of all, nothing great will happen from calling the name of such a weak monster. At most, you'll get pecked. Right, Zavi... *cough*!" (Gideon)

 

Vice Captain Gideon didn't get to finish his sentence because Captain Quentin slammed his knee into the vice-captain's stomach with such force.

"...Wh-but... uh... C-capt...?" (Gideon)

Vice Captain Gideon sank to the floor, a look of anguish on his face and looking up at Captain Quentin with an incomprehensible look on his face. Giving Vice Captain Gideon a cold glance, Captain Quentin became enraged and began shouting.

"Are you all insensitive?! Stop opening your mouths, everyone! Or are you just a lump of meat? Do you want to become a lump of meat?!" (Quentin)

 

...Oh no, a large beast has started roaring.

I wondered if he's in a bad mood because he's hungry or something? I casually headed for the exit and quietly called out in front of the door.

"I'll be taking my leave as I'll be busy from now on. Captain Cyril, thank you for coming to check on the progress of my work. I'll contact you again once I see some progress. Vice Captain's Assistant Patty, I'll report back to you once there's any progress on the administration of the healing potion. Captain Quentin, ...you seem tired, so I recommend you eat a hearty meal and get plenty of sleep. Vice Captain Gideon, you'll catch a cold if you sleep on the floor. Well then, Fia Ruud, I'll excuse myself!" (Fia)

 

I raised my voice for that last word and quickly headed out the door before anyone else could say anything.

Ugh, that was close. I almost kept Charlotte waiting.

 

I walked as fast as I could with Zavilia on my shoulder. As I walked, I asked him about Captain Quentin's advice.

"Captain Quentin said that, but what do you think about being called by your initials, Zavilia?"

"You can call me whatever you want, Fia. But it's been a long time since anyone's called me by my name, so I'd be happy if you called me by my name." (Zavilia)

...I see, then I'll go with Zavilia's preference.

 

"So, Zavilia is Zavilia, right?" (Fia)

I smiled and headed off to the familiar stable with Zavilia.

 


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*The spelling of the characters and places may be different from the official or any other translation website. Click here to see the list.