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The inauguration ceremony concluded successfully, and I finally discarded the uncomfortable armor. Wearing the knight order’s uniform instead of my usual black formal attire made everything feel a bit more real. Shione seemed intrigued by her new uniform, unable to take her eyes off me.

Now that the position has changed, I was curious who would become Shione’s new personal attendant.

“By the way, since I’ve become the deputy commander now, it means we should be selecting a new personal attendant for Shione, right?”

As long as it’s not someone as burdensome as Bronte, that would be great.

Shione, being the kind of person who leaves cookie crumbs everywhere in her room, would surely lead to the new attendant sighing at the endless multiplication of snack remnants, like cockroaches hiding in the house despite daily cleanup.

“Personal attendant?”

“Yes, as a deputy commander, you’ll be quite busy managing the knight order.”

“Are you thinking of selecting a new one?”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, are you going to select a new one? After all, Ray, you’ve been fighting alongside me rather than actually working as a personal attendant ever since.”

“Oh.”

Realizing it… Shione had little external social activity, so there wasn’t really a need for a schedule. The only things I managed were bringing snacks and a bit of cleaning. The other hard work was mostly taken on by the servants, not me as her attendant.

“Well then, it seems like it’ll be more of a vice-officer vibe than a personal attendant. Any tough stuff can be left to the commander.”

“If Diolia heard that, she would probably pout.”

“Anyway, Ray the deputy commander, if you’re ready, let’s go meet mother.”

Well, selecting a personal attendant can be decided later. It’s not like they would hand over everything to me just because I’m a vice-officer.

We proceeded calmly to the Count’s House library, where only the head of the family and the next heir usually entered.

As the surroundings grew quieter, questions piled up about why we were called to the library instead of the usual office, which had a more mysterious atmosphere.

As we arrived with anticipation before Ainel’s study, she was waiting for us at the door.

“Mother, have you been waiting?”

“I just arrived, so don’t worry about it. Deputy Commander, come in. That uniform suits you well.”

“Thank you for noticing.”

“Just do this and get inside, don’t linger here.”

As the door opened, a staircase leading down awaited us. However, the path was filled with bright light thanks to magical equipment.

It seemed quite important, filled with documents. Although it was a basement library with no windows, it didn’t feel stuffy at all. The high-end wooden furniture, which looked aged, made the library cozy.

As Shione and I sat on small sofas according to Ainel’s guidance, she picked up a piece of paper from the desk in the study.

“First, before we talk, I’d like to give the deputy commander a gift.”

“What’s that—”

“The mana pact the deputy commander made previously. Surely, these terms can be respected without any pacts now?”

Ainel pinched the top of the paper with both hands.

“No, binding the deputy commander with such a pact would be disrespecting the trust you’ve built.”

Rip!

“None of us in the Count’s House are narrow-minded enough to lay such a pact on the deputy commander.”

As the paper was ripped, I felt the bindings entwined with my heart disappear.

Honestly, it was just about not bringing harm to Ainel and Shione, but even if it was just a performance to gain more of my trust, her actions were enough to lift my spirits.

“Thank you for your intentions, Head of the Family.”

“I’m glad to see a smile on your face.”

The torn paper seemed to be magically treated; dust quickly scattered and disappeared behind, as she took a seat across from Shione and me. Ainel’s gaze naturally fell upon the table at the center. A few overturned sheets of paper lay on it, likely intended to guide the conversation.

“Now we should discuss the reason for calling you here.”

Ainel picked up a sheet of paper from the table.

The paper resembled letterhead, densely filled with the continent’s common language.

“Shione, as you requested before, I spoke to a wizard I know about your magic. I managed to receive a reply just in time for the inauguration.”

“Is it from the academy’s wizard?”

“Right, I was worried since I hadn’t heard from them in a while, but they replied quickly.”

Ainel placed the paper on the table to reveal the content.

“The head professor of the Royal Academy seems quite interested in your magic. She mentioned that she hopes you can visit the academy after the semester ends, which is quite rare for someone who usually doesn’t pay attention to much.”

“The academy….”

“Since the family lacks facilities for magical research, it would be good for you to explore higher magic at the academy, which is equipped with the best facilities in the kingdom. It may be a bit of a journey, but I think it’s a good suggestion.”

The Royal Academy is indeed a renowned educational institution within the kingdom.

Typically, the enhancement of wizards’ magic and theory happens at the academy. It’s said that wizards born from such enhancements build their expertise within the Royal Knights, making the academy a suitable place to delve into Shione’s magic.

To think that Ainel has connections to the head professor of that academy! If someone who claims to be the tutor of wizards helps out, surely something can be unraveled.

“Moreover, your younger brother wishes to train divine power during additional training rather than return to the Count’s House after the semester, so it might be easier to adapt even if it’s just for a while.”

And again, Sion Shianella’s name surfaced.

Although they reconciled, Shione’s expression turned vague at the mention of her still somewhat distant brother.

While she had high hopes for Siabel’s arrival, she and Sion weren’t particularly close. The siblings still had some awkwardness, but to think they would intertwine in this academy setting.

“…Does Sion know that I’ll be going to the academy?”

“You should read the letter again.”

At Ainel’s words, I focused on the letter again, and among the stubbornly messy handwriting of the wizard, I found a sentence.

—Your family’s youngest is a student there. I asked him about your second daughter, and he said he wasn’t particularly adept at magic. It seems he’s inherited some mysterious power tied to your bloodline; I gave him a bit of a heads-up when he asked.

It appeared the wizard had let slip to Sion that Shione obtained magic. Or perhaps he heard that she might come to the academy, which could have prompted the request for additional training.

Indeed, until recently, Sion’s retainer was excited that he would be returning to the Count’s House soon, so this possibility seems rather high.

“Well, enough about the academy. Let’s move on to the next topic.”

As Ainel reminded us, we shifted our focus back to the continuation of our conversation.

“The Great Demon Tribe Special Mission Knight Order. I mentioned I would share the reason for forming this new order. Deputy Commander, do you have any guesses?”

“From my limited perspective, uncovering the head of the family’s intentions is difficult, but I do know that this order will typically be tasked with specialized responses to demon and monster attacks.”

“Actually—”

Ainel flipped over another sheet of paper that had been on the table.

It was a very old-looking paper, and it was none other than a map. However, it depicted the territory of the Count’s House in the eastern corner. The map accurately captured the terrain of the Count’s House’s western demonic realm.

“The special mission team was indeed formed with Shione obtaining new powers in mind.”

“My magic, you mean?”

“Yes, look over here.”

Ainel pointed to the land beyond the western mountain range on the map.

“Going beyond this area, the mana has seeped into the ground, making survival nearly impossible for anything other than monsters and demons. The dangers are not exceptions for ordinary knights either. However, this land once harbored a sacred site amidst the foul energies, or so I’ve been told.”

Ainel’s finger traced along the map towards the west, further west, until it landed on a small plain that was sunken compared to its surroundings, where the symbol of a church was depicted.

“This was the battlefield of the last great war before the kingdom was founded. As a result, it became an otherworldly demonic realm that is literally hard to 접근, but… at the holy site where all military supplies were gathered for the final war—”

Ainel showed us all the materials that remained.

It was packed with weapons that were once used in the kingdom. Items that only survived in records but were rich with lost techniques, all mentioning specific deities.

Ainel singled out a few of those weapons and continued.

“Apparently, detailed information about special weapons not used at that time, as well as information about demons, still remains.”

“…Is that really true?”

“Shione, the books placed on your shelf here are all those received from the royal family. These are records written alongside the establishment of the royal family, and most of them cover content regarding the western region of the Count’s House. After thorough examination by scholars over long years, the likelihood of its truth is extremely high.”

“……”

To think that amidst the monsters of the otherworldly demonic realm, methods to kill the current residents of that land lie in wait.

With both the unique facts of the west and the mention of Shione, it suddenly became clear why Ainel had formed this knight order.

“Shione, your magic possesses the power to disassemble and obliterate the mana, so I wish to entrust you with the exploration of the west. What do you think?”

A journey to explore the western territories! A place that harbors ancient civilizations no one has stepped foot in!

Even if the words are wrapped nicely, it’s clear that all sorts of hardships await. However, judging by Shione’s reaction, she seemed not at all inclined to refuse the romantic allure of that troublesome path.

“If you entrust it to me, I will venture into the west to gain greater strength to fight against the demons…!”

At those words, Ainel’s once serious and sharp face broke into a small smile.

“I’m proud of you.”

The Great Demon Tribe Special Mission Knight Order.

“However, do not be too hasty. For now—”

I thought the name sounded grand.

“Before exploring your magic in the academy, it might suffice to test your magic at the border of the west.”

To survive by decapitating the demon, we should do whatever it takes.

“Ray the Deputy Commander, please take good care of Shione along with the commander.”

“…I shall follow your orders.”

Thinking about drifting through the notorious demonic realm already made me want to escape.

*

“Oh, Ray the Deputy Commander, what brings you here alone? Where’s Shione?”

“It’s you, Commander. I just needed to tend to my new armor and sword for a bit, so I mentioned I’d head to my room.”

“Tending to your armor and sword? Since they’re brand new, is there really a need?”

“Didn’t Diolia tell you about the special mission team’s first assignment yet?”

Seeing Diolia nod her head while pondering, I chuckled lightly and replied.

“They say we’ll be heading beyond the western border for reconnaissance.”

“What? You’re going to that monster field? I’ve never known you could joke around! Who said that?”

“Head of the family.”

“…Ainel Shianella?”

“Why would I lie?”

Before me stood a knight respected not just for the Count’s House’s strong martial prowess but as a knight.

“A… if only I could have stayed in the heavy cavalry corps…”

A single person, whose face was full of despair, expressed their scream of folklore as if saying they couldn’t die before getting married.

 

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