The day after the search for the black dragon, I rejoined the First Knight Order.
It seemed that a sense of belonging had been cultivated within me, and even though I had only been away from the First Knight Order for a few days, I felt happy when I saw Captain Cyril's face.
"Captain Cyril――!"
When I opened the door to the captain's office and saw Captain Cyril, I ran over to him, calling his name. The captain stood up from his desk and came around to me.
I stopped in front of the captain and took the knight's bow.
"Captain Cyril, Fia Ruud, I've returned!" (Fia)
"Welcome back, Fia." (Cyril)
When I looked up at the gentle voice, Captain Cyril was smiling faintly.
"Huhu... I thought I had already received your farewell greeting when we met last night, but I was wrong. It seems your memory goes blank when you drink alcohol. ...It seems like it was difficult for you, Fia, but I'm glad you returned safely." (Cyril)
I blinked at Captain Cyril's words.
…Oh, I came out early because I thought I needed to report on my work with the Fourth Demon Knights, but does Captain Cyril already know the situation? Maybe I reported it when I met Captain Cyril at the meat festival last night?
Thinking back to last night, I remembered that Captain Cyril, Captain Quentin, Captain Zachary, and Captain Desmond were at the meat festival, and I exchanged greetings with them—That's about where it ended. In other words, I hardly remembered anything. However, although I didn't remember, it seemed that I had reported it to Captain Cyril despite being at the banquet.
I'm amazing, right! I'm the epitome of a knight.
Thinking this, Captain Cyril let out a small sigh.
"Fia, it was Zachary and Quentin who reported on you. Last night you were simply eating meat and drinking alcohol." (Cyril)
"Huh, ah, I see..." (Fia)
Seeing me feeling dejected after learning about a reality that was different to what I had imagined, Captain Cyril laughed amusedly.
"I'm glad to see you're just like you are, Fia. Zachary and Quentin told me you'd become someone important, and I was worried you might not even bother to bother me anymore." (Cyril)
Although he definitely didn't mean it, Captain Cyril lied with a sad look on his face.
"An important person? ...Ah, no, I almost misunderstood! For a moment I thought you were praising me, but that can't be the case. I haven't done anything to deserve praise this time. ...Well, you see! It's the advanced technique of indirect sarcasm, isn't it? I learned it from Captain Zachary. So, in other words, are you insulting me because I'm too bad?" (Fia)
When I asked the Captain about his statement because I didn't understand what he meant, he looked puzzled and confused. It seemed he didn't understand what I said, so I tried to clarify.
"...Well, to be honest, I couldn't quantify the vitality of the familiars when Captain Cyril asked me to, and yesterday it was the black dragon himself that did the hard work in our search, I didn't help at all... well, I wonder if they're blaming me for my work..." (Fia)
As I said this, I felt myself becoming more and more dejected.
Then, suddenly remembering something, I hastily adds another word.
"Have you received any complaints from Captain Quentin?" (Fia)
Captain Quentin was fascinated by the black dragon Zavilia, right? Did I look very lazy, making Zavilia do all the work and doing almost nothing?
"Or was it Captain Zachary who filed the complaint?" (Fia)
During the battle, all I did was stand next to the Saint. Even after the battle, I barely answered any of the questions posed by Captain Zachary for work's sake, and suddenly collapsed and had to be tended to by Captain Zachary.
...I, what am I making you do, Captain, such a busy knight? What's more, my tears got Captain Zachary's clothes soaked. Isn't this a huge nuisance?
...This is bad. The more I think back, the more useless memories I come across. In order to redeem myself, I must now show my best in front of Captain Quentin and Captain Zachary...
"Well, since I haven't actually carried out my orders, I have no choice but to accept whatever I'm told..." (Fia)
Seeing my voice gradually getting quieter, Captain Cyril laughed softly.
"You really are just as you are, huh… That’s right. It’s just that we’ve begun to notice your powers, but nothing about you has changed." (Cyril)
"Huh?" (Fia)
"It's nothing. Please don't worry about the quantification of familiar's vitality. I called you here early for my own convenience, so if anyone is to be blamed, it's me. And since there is no one who would directly accuse me, the Chief Captain of the Knights, this matter is settled." (Cyril)
"...Huh? Is it really that simple?" (Fia)
I stared blankly at Captain Cyril, who casually dismissed the fact that I had been left in the care of another group for several days and had not done any of the important work, then smiled.
"Regarding the search for the Black Dragon, your understanding seems to differ from that of Zachary and Quentin, and they testified that you fulfilled your role more than adequately. It is a Captain's honor to have my subordinates praised by captains from other corps. Thank you for your hard work, Fia." (Cyril)
"Y-yes...?" (Fia)
Captain Cyril looked happy and congratulated me, but I could only tilt my head in confusion.
Were Captain Zachary and Captain Quentin praised me?
No no, just thinking back, there was nothing about me yesterday that I could be praised for. Captain Zachary thanked me for using the power I had been hiding, but in the end, with Captain Quentin's insight, I realized it wasn't my power, it was Zavilia's. Well, in that sense, Captain Zachary failed to thank me.
...Why was I being praised?
I had no idea what he meant, but since Captain Cyril was smiling happily I didn't think there was any point in spoiling the mood, so I nodded as if I understood.
"I'm honored to receive your praise. I'm sure you were being praised for that incident. Yes, I did my best on that one." (Fia)
"Fia, that's just the way you are, you know..." (Cyril)
After hearing what I said, Captain Cyril stared at me blankly.
"That's what makes you less valuable... Well, I guess telling you won't fix it." (Cyril)
Seemingly giving up, Captain Cyril let out a sigh of relief, then spoke to me in a bright voice, as if to change my mood.
"By the way, how are you feeling? I told you earlier that you were just eating meat and drinking alcohol with gusto last night, but the truth is that you were feeling depressed for a while during the banquet." (Cyril)
"Huh? Was I the one looking depressed?" (Fia)
...I don't remember at all.
"Yes, it was depressing to hear that your dear friend had gone far away." (Cyril)
"Ah……" (Fia)
…That's probably true.
This morning when I woke up I felt a light sensation on my stomach and was depressed. It was only after experiencing it that I realized how lonely it felt to be without the warmth that was always there for me.
After becoming the Dragon King, Zavilia set off on a journey. Zavilia was incredibly strong when he fought the Blue Dragon, so I didn't think he would be defeated that easily, but there's no telling. In fact, when I first met Zavilia he was seriously injured. Although Zavilia was now stronger and more physically powerful than when we first met, it's unclear whether he would be able to win if he were to face the monster that injured him so badly again.
Ah, it's not good to leave. The less I can see, the more worried I become――――……
When Captain Cyril's words reminded me of Zavilia and my expression turned sad, the captain spoke to me in a gentle voice.
"That's why, you and I became friends yesterday, you see." (Cyril)
"………………haa?" (Fia)
Not understanding what he meant, I just stared blankly at Captain Cyril.
"You said, 'My good friend left me and I'm lonely,' and I said, 'In that case, why don't you be friends with me instead?' and you agreed."
"That's a lie...!!" (Fia)
I quickly retorted.
Even though I didn't remember anything because of the alcohol, I still knew what I did. I would never want to be friends with Captain Cyril.
To confirm my own actions, I once again looked at Captain Cyril who was standing before me.
Dressed in a white knight's uniform, Captain Cyril had a slender yet well-proportioned body. The sparkling silver on his epaulettes, combined with his handsome features, give off an air of refinement and grace. However, I knew that this graceful appearance was just a facade, and that Captain Cyril was the best swordsman in the Knight Order.
Then, at the first Meat Festival that held the night that Flower-horned Deer was defeated, I witnessed first-hand the skill with which he cornered the knights, still smiling and offering compliments. Being the one who was cornered, I was terrified to the core by Captain Cyril's infuriating competence.
Furthermore, there was the way he cornered Vice Captain Gideon in the captain's room at Captain Quentin, still smiling, and destroyed the low table as a threat. He started talking as if he knew nothing, and when the other person let his guard down, he started presenting evidence after evidence and cornered him, which was terrifying enough, but then he showed the difference in their skills by breaking furniture made of hard materials that no one else could break. On top of that, he grabbed his opponent by the collar, who was trembling with fear, and threatened him. That's definitely the work of the Demon King.
Also, I had never heard of it, so it's just a guess, but judging from Captain Cyril's elegant mannerisms, maybe the captain must be an aristocrat. A high-ranking one at that. High-ranking nobles were nothing but a hassle.
...From all the information I can think of right now, none of it makes me want to become close friends with him.
"No! I would never agree to be friends with Captain Cyril!!" (Fia)
"Oh? Do you remember last night?" (Cyril)
I was completely at a loss for words, but—the faint smile on Captain Cyril's face was so suspicious I couldn't help it. I had no evidence, but I was sure Captain Cyril was lying.
"If you were to easily retract your oath of friendship once, you cannot be said to be upholding the 'faithfulness' in the 'Ten Commandments of Knighthood. Fia, a knight must never go back on his word." (Cyril)
"Guh..." (Fia)
I absolutely, absolutely believed that justice was on my side. I was sure there was, but my brain was so affected by alcohol that I couldn't remember anything, so I can't say anything back. And the Captain, knowing this, cornered me with a suspicious smile.
"Hey, Fia. I know it hurts to be rejected like that, so please forgive me on that point. I'm honest, I'm not bad with the sword, and I wouldn't betray my comrades. I think you'd be a good deal as a friend, you know." (Cyril)
"Ugh..." (Fia)
As I stumbled over to him, Captain Cyril came over with a smile and asked, "Is it okay?"
"I-I under...stand. You're not a replacement for Zavilia, but... Captain Cyril is a friend." (Fia)
When I answered that question after a tough decision, Captain Cyril smiled amusedly.
"As expected, your opinion remains the same whether you have alcohol or not. Yesterday you were just as adamant, saying, 'No one can replace my friend who has left. His seat belongs to him.'" (Cyril)
Huh? I was thinking that maybe I was turning down Captain Cyril's offer after all, but Captain Cyril quickly added an explanation.
"Of course, then you offered to get a new seat for me." (Cyril)
………Grrr.
I began to feel that, having been weakened by the loss of Zavilia, I might have accepted the kind offer at that time and accepted a friendship with Captain Cyril. Normally, it would be unthinkable for me to choose someone as smart and important as Captain Cyril as a friend, but considering the current situation, I think I might have said that we would be friends. Or maybe, was Captain Cyril's story so good that I was being fooled—
"Thank you, Fia. I promise to be a good friend." (Cyril)
Either way, now that I'd confirmed our friendship while sober, all I could do was to accept it.
"Thank you. I will be honest with you, Captain, and promise to be a good friend." (Fia)
As I answered, placing my right hand on the one that was offered to me, Captain Cyril gave a beautiful smile.
Looking at that beautiful, innocent smile, maybe the captain would certainly be a wonderful friend. Captain Cyril was kind, caring, and reliable, and would be the best friend you could have. However, the biggest problem was that he was too big a name for me—
Regardless of my wishes, I had just come to the conclusion that I would become friends with Captain Cyril, and as I relaxed, Captain Cyril spoke to me in a casual voice.
"So, Fia, as a friend, I have a favor to ask of you..." (Cyril)
I looked up and saw Captain Cyril and realized I had fallen into a huge trap.
"Captain! The whole friendship thing was just a setup to make a request...!!" (Fia)
—However, by the time I realized it, it was already too late.
Captain Cyril continued speaking with his beautiful smile on his face...