"You want to talk to Zachary...? That's unusual, but if you want to hear my story..." (Quentin)
The first to speak was Captain Quentin.
Captain Quentin opened his mouth while looking suspiciously at Captain Zachary, but a moment later his expression changed to one of ecstasy, as if he had imagined some kind of scene.
"Zachary, you saw it too! The Black Dragon King's divine form! The dragon's body was sublimated, and evolved into such a beautiful ancient species! Having seen that form, you can only kneel before the Black Dragon King's utter splendor! That perfect and flawless..." (Quentin)
"Okay, I get it! I see you don't understand a word I'm saying, Quentin!" (Zachary)
Captain Zachary interrupted Captain Quentin, who was trembling with an incomprehensible emotion, and turned to me.
"Fia, then it's up to you! You have something to tell me, right?" (Zachary)
"I know what you want to ask, Captain Zachary! But I clearly deny it!" (Fia)
I looked Captain Zachary straight in the eye and, because it was an important matter, I spoke in a strong tone.
"Huh, after showing us such a clear connection, you're going to clearly say you're unrelated?" (Zachary)
Captain Zachary narrowed his eyes slightly and tightened his arms.
"What do you mean by clearly? Isn't this a total fabrication by Captain Zachary?" (Fia)
"No, that's not an accusation. No matter how you look at it, you were quite close, right?" (Zachary)
"That's a false accusation! In fact, the bald, macho instructor that Captain Zachary is talking about and I are not related or anything! We are complete strangers!!" (Fia)
"Wait! What are you talking about?" (Zachary)
Captain Zachary instinctively uncrossed his arms and asked me with a surprised look on his face. Not one to be outdone, I continued speaking with momentum.
"Of course, I'm talking about the bald, macho instructor! Take a good look at my hair! It's full! And my father, Dolph, has full hair too! Baldness doesn't run in my family! So I'm not related to the bald, macho instructor you're talking about, and I have no relationship with him whatsoever!" (Fia)
".........Okay, now I see that neither of you understand the seriousness of the situation! Both of you, straighten your backs!!" (Zachary)
Captain Zachary was speechless for a moment, but quickly regained his composure and shouted loudly.
Captain Quentin and I put our hands on our knees, straightened our backs, and looked at Captain Zachary. However, he suddenly realized something important and let out a cry of surprise.
"What's wrong? Fia" (Zachary)
When Captain Zachary came to me asking, I quickly clung to him.
"C-Captain Zachary! I had forgotten, but I was in an abnormal state!" (Fia)
"Hah?" (Zachary)
"I'm in a state of delirium! Captain Zachary said I was in a state of delirium! ...Ah, so that's why you hallucinated being mistaken for a bald macho man, a young 15-year-old girl! Wow, what a frightening state of delirium!!" (Fia)
"No, wait! I didn't mistake you for a bald macho guy in the first place, and that's not what I meant by confusion! I mean... no, wait. Why am I the only one trying so hard? Hey, Quentin, you explain the rest!" (Zachary)
Suddenly taking over the conversation, Captain Quentin frowned for a moment, but being a knight captain, he continued speaking as if nothing had happened.
"In other words, it seems that Captain Zachary wants to worship Lady Fia, who commands the magnificent Black Dragon King, whose grandeur makes him want to kneel down to him, as a goddess in heaven." (Quentin)
"No!! ...KUENTIN, what happened to you? You were a pretty talented guy, so how did you end up like this? It's just like Commander said! When a capable knight gets involved with the Fia, he can go crazy in an instant." (Zachary)
With lightning speed, Captain Zachary objected to Captain Quentin's words, but it was to those words of Captain Zachary that I would refute.
"Wait, Captain Zachary! I demand a correction! Captain Quentin has been weird from start to finish, from the moment we met until now! There has never been a single moment when he wasn't weird! This is not my fault, it's just Captain Quentin's natural qualities, you know?" (Fia)
"Hahaha, Lady Fia. Do I appear to you to be different from others, just as Lady Fia appears to me to be different from others? It is quite an honor." (Quentin)
Captain Quentin took my complaint the wrong way and, as usual, gave me the wrong answer.
"See, you heard me, didn't you, Captain Zachary? You're clearly belittling Captain Quentin, yet you still have such a positive attitude! This isn't normal, right!" (Fia)
Captain Quentin and I both turned to Captain Zachary, each trying to argue that we were right, but Captain Zachary just stared at us blankly and didn't say a word for a while.
"…C-Captain Zachary?" (Fia)
When I called out to him out of concern, Captain Zachary closed his eyes.
"Right now, I’m trying my best to understand your level of common sense. I can’t understand a single word of your conversation. It’s amazing, you can talk about things I don’t understand… you guys are seriously amazing." (Zachary)
"Oh, really? It makes me happy to be praised by Captain Zachary..." (Fia)
A grin crossed his face at the praise, then Captain Zachary's eyes widened.
"Okay, I'm sorry! That was just a subtle insult! I was wrong to think that it would get through to you! Fia, I wasn't complimenting you. It's a high-level technique of making it seem like I was complimenting you, but actually, I'm saying the exact opposite... Please, don't make me explain this to you. Well, I don't know what to do!" (Zachary)
As Captain Zachary put his hand on his shoulder as he held his head, Captain Quentin spoke to him as if to comfort him.
"Zachary, until now you have been insensitive and could only accept what you could see. But now, you will take a big leap forward. Feel the greatness of Lady Fia! And accept it! Then, you too will be able to understand the world correctly, just like me!!" (Quentin)
"Shut up! I don't know what you're talking about anymore!! Just shut up!!" (Zachary)
Seeing the two arguing captains, I thought this was no good, so I decided to make a constructive suggestion.
"You two, please stop this… If it turns out like this, there's no choice but to eat." (Fia)
"……hah?" (Zachary)
Captain Zachary blinked repeatedly, not seeming to understand what I was saying, so I smiled at him.
"Captain Zachary and Captain Quentin are hungry and getting irritated over small things. Haha, you're acting like children. Well, please wait a moment. I'll go and get lunch for you, captains." (Fia)
"No, wait, Fia...!" (Zachary)
Captain Zachary was shouting behind me, but I pretended not to hear him and went to get my food.
...Hehe, there are people out there who get grumpy when they're hungry.
I never thought that Captain Zachary was that type of person. Captain Zachary was a knight captain, but he acted like a child.
Although I found it odd, I approached the nearest knight from Quentin's squad and asked for lunch for the three of them.
"Thank you very much! I'm sorry I only came to get the meal without helping with the preparations." (Fia)
Feeling guilty, I apologized, but the knights, who had been glancing at me timidly for some reason, suddenly began speaking with enthusiasm.
"Wha-what are you talking about! We are the ones who want to thank you. Fia, you are... no, it's nothing. I-I mean, it's like this. Eat a lot!"
"That's right. If you run out, come and get some. Don't be shy!"
"Yes, thank you! Hehe, knights are so kind, aren't they?" (Fia)
When I thanked the knights with a smile, they frowned and muttered something in a muffled voice.
"Well, even if you tell me that..."
"Ah, damn it... That vow of silence is such a pain. I can't even say thank you."
"Yes? Did you say something?" (Fia)
I didn't hear clearly so I asked him to repeat himself, and he waved his hand vigorously.
"N-no, nothing. Anyway, you just need to learn to protect yourself first."
"I'm following your orders, okay? So, you came and asked for lunch even though you didn't help with the preparations, just to make sure you had a proper meal, okay?"
"...Huh. That's fine. Anyway, go and bring some lunch to the captains. It ended up being a day trip, but I've prepared a week's worth of food. You can eat as much as you want, okay?"
"Yes, thank you!" (Fia)
While wondering why the knights seemed so tired all of a sudden, I picked up lunch for the three of them and headed back to the captains in high spirits when he noticed Captain Zachary standing right behind him.
"Oh, you couldn't wait? Perhaps you missed your breakfast?" (Fia)
When I asked him about it, he replied in a surprised tone after a pause.
"...You have a peaceful life. I envy you." (Zachary)
As he spoke, Captain Zachary took the lunch I was carrying for three people and led the way.
"Wait, please stop. It's outrageous to make a captain carry something like that. Don't take away the job of a rookie knight." (Fia)
Captain Zachary sighed exaggeratedly without even turning around.
"I'm not sure if I should classify you as a rookie, huh. You seem so calm at times that I'd be more comfortable with you being near retirement." (Zachary)
"Wait, Captain Zachary insists on classifying me as a bald macho guy. Fine!" (Fia)
When I retorted, Captain Zachary shook his head slightly and slumped his shoulders.
"Well, Fia, get away from that bald macho guy for now... I get it, food is important. I feel like your brain isn't getting enough nutrition. You can eat my share too, so just eat." (Zachary)
Then I strode briskly back to Captain Quentin, and when I noticed him standing there, he called out to me.
"Hurry up! If you don't sit down, I won't be able to sit down!" (Quentin)
Oh my goodness, Captain Zachary. Waiting until the ladies and gentlemen have sat down is not what you'd expect from a knight, right?
However, yelling from afar was not acceptable.
I ran up to Captain Zachary, jump a little, and landed in a sitting position while saying "Tada!"
"How about this? It's an advanced technique of pretending to jump and then sitting down!" (Fia)
"…Let me correct that. You’re just a child." (Zachary)
Captain Zachary slumped tiredly and handed me my lunch.
When I opened the package I was given, inside was my favorite white bread. I was so happy that I ate it slowly with a smile on my face. As I tossed a small piece of bread into my mouth, my eyes met with Captain Zachary, who was staring at me.
"Why don't you eat? I'm not a big eater and can eat for two, so please eat. The knights prepared a week's worth of food, but they were worried because they were only going on a day trip and had extra food. If you run out, I'll get some more." (Fia)
When I asked him this with my head tilted to the side, Captain Zachary sighed and began to open his lunch set. Then he took out a piece of white bread and ate it in just two bites.
"Well, Captain Zachary, you've got a big mouth, aren't you!" (Fia)
His eyes widened in shock, and Captain Zachary let out a deep sigh.
"...Really, you seem to be having fun with everything, that's the best thing. But I was also lacking in nourishment for my brain. ...Fia" (Zachary)
When my name was called formally, I straightened my back and replied, "Yes." Then Captain Zachary straightened his back, placed both hands on his knees as he sat down, and bowed deeply.
"I thank you." (Zachary)
"...Huff?" (Fia)
I was so surprised that I swallowed the bread I had in my mouth.
"Guff, guff, guffuuuuh..." (Fia)
However, Captain Zachary continued speaking, unaware of my suffering.
"As the Captain of the Knights, I am responsible for the lives of my Knights. However, today, when monsters like Dreambird, Flower-horned Deer, Violet Boar, and Blue Dragons appeared one after another, it is thanks to you that not a single person was killed. As the Captain of the Knights, I am deeply grateful to you." (Zachary)
As he spoke, Captain Zachary continued to bow deeply.
"No, cough, cough, C... Captain, cough, Za... curry! I didn't do anything. Zavi... the Black Dragon and the knights did their best. ...Um, please really lift your head." (Fia)
Having finally managed to swallow the bread, I was overwhelmed by the sight of Captain Zachary with his head bowed, not knowing what to do.
While I was at a loss as to what to do, Captain Zachary finally raised his head and spoke with a straight face.
"Fia, you used your hidden power to protect your knights, didn't you?" (Zachary)
"Yees?!" (Fia)
I was so surprised by Captain Zachary's words that I couldn't help but scream.
"Uh, uh, uh, um, am I hiding, hiding, hiding something? A-and, d-did I use it?" (Fia)
As I hurriedly replied in response to Captain Zachary's sudden accusation, Captain Quentin uttered a surprised cry next to me.
"What?! Was Lady Fia trying to hide his power? No, I was impressed by how you revealed everything and didn't try to hide anything, but...huh? Which part of you were you trying to hide?"
"If you tell me, I'll help you hide your powers," Captain Quentin whispered, but of course Captain Zachary heard him. I was helpless and covered my face with my hands, screaming "Aaaaah."
Huh? What is this situation?? What does Captain Zachary know? So is Captain Quentin an ally? Or an enemy getting in the way?
Not knowing what to do, I continued to cover my face with my hands, and the voice of Captain Zachary came down from above me.
"You knew how to defeat the Dreambird, you knew the characteristics of the Flower-horned Deer, you were able to remotely determine the types and numbers of monsters the other squadrons had encountered, you were able to control the familiars of the other knights, and you could enslave the Black Dragon... all of these are things that no one else could do except you." (Zachary)
"………………" (Fia)
"But you have never manifested your special powers before, so I assume you have been hiding them. And yet this time, in every situation, you chose to save the knights, not hide your powers. ... Fia, I respect your choice. And I will not let you suffer any disadvantage for making that choice." (Zachary)
Faced with those powerful, determined words, I timidly raised my head and peeked at Captain Zachary through the fingers that were covering my face.
"Captain Zachary...?" (Fia)
As I rudely peeked through my outstretched fingers, Captain Zachary looked back at me with a deadly serious expression.
"My foundation is being a knight. And when I joined the Knights, I swore to the Ten Commandments of Knights. If I harm the person who saved my life, I'll be breaking the Ten Commandments... I'll be no longer a knight." (Zachary)
"………………" (Fia)
"So, in the name of the Captain of the Black Dragon Knight of Nav Kingdom, I swear to you that I will protect the secrets you wish to hide and that I will protect you." (Zachary)
"...Captain Zachary" (Fia)
"It is an oath made in the name of the captains. The only time I can break it is when I give up being a Knight, which means when I die. I'm sorry, Fia. I should have told you this story first, and then asked you about your situation." (Zachary)
Captain Zachary stopped talking for a moment, then his expression relaxed a little.
"You can only say what you want to say. No matter what I hear, I won't tell anyone and I will protect you. But that doesn't mean you have to tell me everything." (Zachary)
After giving each word weight, Captain Zachary closed his mouth. Then he folded his arms and waited for me to speak.
...With Captain Zachary staring at me with a determined look in his eyes, my heart was filled with emotion and for a while I couldn't speak.
…Captain Zachary is so handsome…
Author's Note (Preface)
Sorry for the delay. Thank you to everyone who waited.