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“Deputy Director.”

Marenne arrived at the Knights Headquarters due to the Deputy Director’s call.

As soon as I got here, I became flustered by what the Deputy Director said.

Scratching the back of my head awkwardly, I looked back at the Deputy Director, whose gaze seemed unyielding, and asked, “Is that for real?”

“When have I ever said something and then taken it back?”

Well, there was that time.

When we first met, there was an instance where you expelled Bell and then reversed that decision.

Glaring at the Deputy Director with that sentiment in my eyes made him cough awkwardly and return to his original expression.

“Yes, Tanton. I mean it.”

The Deputy Director repeated what he had just said.

“We will now execute a plan to treat the Commander.”

#

I opened my eyes in the Branch and was hit with a wave of dizziness from recollecting what happened at the Gardener’s Park when I suddenly heard the call to the Knights Headquarters.

By this point, I was confused about whether I was part of the Branch or directly affiliated with the Knights Headquarters, but thanks to this, I was able to skip most of the odd jobs typically done at the Branch.

Other knights didn’t just nitpick; they even took over tasks I intended to do and urged me to hurry on my way back.

Anyway, everyone here is kind.

I arrived at the Knights Headquarters with a leisurely gait.

So suddenly, those words came out of his mouth.

“…May I ask what brought about such a sudden resolution?”

“Resolution, you say? Why are you so obsessed with justifications?”

No.

It’s not that I’m obsessed; it’s just that how do you expect me to execute something without any basis?!

If you just throw commands like that, isn’t it the same as agreeing to the absurd demands from the department?!

“…It’s because the possibilities vary depending on the justification.”

…which I couldn’t say, so I spoke as gently as possible.

Fortunately, the Deputy Director seemed to accept this much, stroking his chin with his fingers as he exhaled.

“The first thought came from the Interrogator War.”

Listening to the Deputy Director as he opened with such a serious subject made me focus my blurry vision back on his words.

“I faced many Outcast Gods and derivative humans that emerged within Rondan, alongside White Mask and the knights. Initially, I thought that would be sufficient since you were dealing with the Interrogator.”

I nodded at that.

In reality, the Elite Outsider had catastrophic power, while the Outcast Gods and the little ones weren’t that strong.

“However, the reality was different.”

The Deputy Director countered what he thought was common sense.

“White Mask felt the same, but I also felt myself wearing down as time passed. At first, I was puzzled. I thought I was growing weaker. But that wasn’t the case. It was because both White Mask and I were covering tasks that at least a hundred knights should be handling, so our bodies couldn’t keep up. What about the other knights? They had to handle ten times their share, which caused them to fall like autumn leaves as time went on. I thought this was a big problem.”

When faced with overwhelming numbers, there’s no denying the reality.

Take the Snow Castle, for example; the boss difficulty was viciously high, but when played in multiplayer mode, the difficulty dropped sharply.

Of course, I couldn’t try it since I had no friends to join with.

Anyway.

However, there was a contradiction in what the Deputy Director said.

“Deputy Director, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better to just increase the number of knights?”

In essence, this is saying that the problem arose from a lack of forces.

So if we expand the number of knights, our manpower increases, which would, in turn, lessen the burden on both you and White Mask.

The Deputy Director chuckled lightly at my words.

“Good question, Tanton. Certainly, one could think that way. But there’s something you’re overlooking.”

The Deputy Director clasped his hands and rested his chin on them.

“Not many in Rondan have that much patriotism left.”

“Patriotism, you say?”

“Yes, patriotism. Many in Rondan are struggling just to get through each day. To put it another way, it means they don’t have the luxury to care about others since they’re too busy living their own lives. Being a knight is perilous. One can meet their death within a week if they’re not careful. Who would follow orders to throw away their life when their patriotism is at rock bottom?”

…There was no denying that he was right.

In fact, I often heard stories of apprentice knights who died at the hands of Outcast Gods just a day after joining.

“That’s not all. Tanton, it would be fortunate to have talented knights like you. However, there are just no knights who can demonstrate such talent from the beginning. If we had only knights like you, we could just set off for the Snow Mountain right now and easily take down the Giant of the Snow Mountain.”

After the Deputy Director finished his long explanation, he wore a self-deprecating smile.

“If that were the case, there would have been no need for the Commander to sacrifice herself.”

Everyone in Rondan walked with their heads down.

These days, due to the Knights’ efforts, the fears besetting Rondan had lessened, and so their expressions had brightened considerably, but their posture remained the same.

To announce knight enlistment to such people was no different from conscription.

One could say, ‘In such circumstances, conscription would make sense, what kind of absurdity is that!’ but that only applies to countries where living is feasible.

Right at this moment, many in Rondan were barely managing meals and dying of starvation.

I was being too idealistic.

I thought the profession of being a knight could serve as an alternative job for the unemployed.

“So, the Commander…”

“Yes. If the Commander just regains her senses, our fighting strength could rival that of several thousand, no, even tens of thousands. In fact, that’s why when Elite Outsiders came to attack, we weren’t scared at all.”

The combat strength of a single Commander is no different from that of an Elite Outsider.

In reality, even a hunter considered a certain strong entity in our world was rendered helpless against the Commander.

The Deputy Director’s words were the best answer we had in the current situation.

“Do you know how?”

“I don’t know exactly… To be honest, I don’t even know the source of the Commander’s abilities.”

“Oh.”

“The Commander has always kept everything hidden. She dedicated herself solely to protecting Rondan. Then this happened.”

Does that mean we have no clear method to follow?

Hmm.

This is tricky.

“Don’t feel too burdened. I simply wanted to convey that we plan to act from here on out. If I find any hints, I will let you know immediately, so if you also find a way, feel free to implement it right away.”

“Understood.”

So now, restoring the Commander is the goal.

Perhaps this could be a step forward in defeating the Giant of the Snow Mountain.

At least in terms of strength, we would gain an ally more dependable than anyone else.

As I stepped out of the Deputy Director’s office, I fell deep into thought.

What could possibly be the cause of the Commander’s memory loss?

When I briefly glanced before, there were many red auras hovering above the Commander’s head.

But could those really treat the symptoms causing the Commander’s condition?

There was no harm in trying, but it felt a bit reckless to proceed without caution.

After all, I might not even be able to handle the pain.

I briefly encountered a time when I absorbed the pain of someone on the brink of death and nearly fainted.

It certainly wasn’t a pleasant experience, so I wouldn’t want to engage unless it was absolutely critical.

Hmm.

Memory loss due to an Outsider’s attack.

In that case, could it be similar in context to White Mask’s symptoms?

After all, White Mask’s face was also distorted due to being bitten by the Dragon Slayer.

I should be able to endure that, I thought.

It’s just a simple transformation, after all.

Oh.

That’s not a bad idea?

Should I give it a try?

#

I walked straight to the Rondan train station and cautiously knocked on the door of the room where White Mask was.

I really wanted to hurry in case she might be absent and I didn’t want to wait, but fortunately, White Mask opened the door right away.

“Who… Oh, it’s you.”

“Yes.”

“What’s the purpose of your visit? Did you come to learn swordsmanship again?”

White Mask asked with a hint of amusement in her voice, but coincidentally, that wasn’t my purpose this time.

“Master, I want to test something.”

“What is it?”

“I gained a new ability from defeating the Interrogator.”

“…You absorbed the ability of the Interrogator?”

“Yes, somehow, it became completely my unique technique.”

White Mask’s voice dripped with curiosity as she gestured for me to come in, shutting the door behind us after I stepped inside.

White Mask sat down in a chair with her legs crossed, and I cautiously took a seat opposite her.

“Tell me in detail.”

“This ability seems to allow me to absorb the pain of the opponent. However, perhaps because it’s an ability from an Elite Outsider, it doesn’t just remove the pain; it’s more like cutting off the very cause of the pain itself. For instance, if I absorbed a knight’s muscle pain, it felt like that knight’s muscle pain completely cleared up.”

“Oh ho.”

“I was using it somewhat vaguely, but since the Deputy Director mentioned wanting to restore the Commander, I thought maybe I could treat the external trauma caused by the Outsider…”

“…Anyway, you really are quite obsessed.”

Upon hearing the Deputy Director’s conversation, White Mask shook her head disapprovingly.

“First, you want to experiment with me?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

After hearing my words, White Mask slightly bowed her head.

She seemed deep in thought.

She tapped her toes lightly on the ground, seemingly calculating something.

In fact, even if she refused, there was nothing I could do about it.

It was a situation where the outcome was unpredictable.

However, White Mask, with her research spirit, nodded along.

She soon nodded affirmatively and removed her mask.

Her noblewoman-like, beautiful face bore a determined expression.

“Alright, give it a go.”

As the mask came off, bright red auras began swirling near her face.

It might not be as painful as the Commander’s, but it would be considerable pain nonetheless.

It likely involved not just physical pain, but mental pain as well.

“Then, excuse me.”

I cautiously reached my hand toward White Mask’s cheek.

 

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