Because of the attack, the building that housed the Salem division was largely in ruins, and so they’d rented a place nearby, where Iris and I were to meet with Hypno.
We each took a seat on a cheap chair, and gathered around a table.
“Now, about why you’re here— Wait, Iris, what’s with the intense aura of happiness around you?”
“You must be imagining it, Hypno,” Iris said.
Hypno forced an awkward smile at her in response. It did kinda look like flowers might start blooming around her any second.
In contrast, Hypno looked exhausted. Not as much as when I first met him(?), mind you, but he looked like he had a lot going on.
Didn’t he get smacked around by that Karen lady? Was he okay?
“You were wounded in your fight with Karen, weren’t you?” I asked. “Are you all right?”
“Mm. Don’t worry about me, Crow. You saved me before I got too seriously injured,” Hypno replied. “Speaking of which, you’re the one who seems to be in bad shape. Sorry about this.”
Huh? Why was Hypno suddenly apologizing to me?
“See, I asked the doctor to send you this way as soon as you were able to move.”
Ohhh. That was why they’d kicked me out of the infirmary so fast. I guess it made sense that they wouldn’t kick a recently awoken patient out just because visitors were being loud.
“Now then, Crow. I’ll start with the current situation in our country.” His expression turned serious. “We have yet to inform the citizenry, so please be mindful.”
Okay.
“I won’t mince words,” he continued. “Salem is the only cardinal city that managed to fend off Wanpurgis’s attack. The other three have fallen, and aetherborn have breached the previously safe inner zone.”
“Truly?” Seriously? Wasn’t this national crisis-level stuff?!
As I panicked internally, Iris pitched in, “It’s solid intel. After the attack, I personally went to each city to confirm their status. Excalibur—my aethereal arm, that is—has the power to emit light. By using the flow of aether to propel myself, I can move faster than the swiftest of horses,” she explained, puffing up her (ample) chest proudly.
So that was how she’d cut down all those ogres so quickly.
A horse would’ve taken several days to reach each of the cities, but it’d taken her no time at all.
“Back to the topic at hand,” Iris continued. “I reported the situation to the capital afterward. Presently, the knights’ headquarters is deploying troops to the city’s perimeter and preparing to intercept the aetherborn. They’re crafty creatures, however, and few would be naive enough to attack the capital directly. Most would build nests throughout the inner zone, and try to sneak into the city via, say, the sewer system. They must be hunted down and eliminated.”
There was much that needed to be done, Iris said, sounding a bit tired. On second glance, her hair looked a bit disheveled too.
From what she was saying, it sounded like she’d had a lot to do while I was asleep.
Regardless of what speed she could move at, she was still human. All that running around would’ve fatigued her, no doubt.
I mean, back when we’d first met, she’d been ambushed and nearly killed.
“We’ve also searched for the perpetrators of the attacks, but what tracks we could discover ended abruptly, for no discernible reason. Finding these people has proven to be quite the challenge. We may have been able to protect Salem, but otherwise, this has been a crushing defeat for the empire,” Iris said, sighing heavily, her aura of happiness entirely replaced by an air of exhaustion and defeat.
I see, I thought. So that’s the situation in the country right now. If Wanpurgis attacks again, we’re totally screwed.
“Well then, Crow,” Hypno cut in, “Vice-Captain Iris has a lot on her plate, as you can see, and so...”
He placed a case on the table and opened it, revealing a pure-white uniform.
“This is...”
“A magus knight’s uniform, yes,” Hypno said. “Typically, in order to formally become a magus knight, one must pass exams and interviews in the capital, then undergo a knighting ceremony and swear fealty to the emperor. But, given the circumstances, the Vice-Captain here, along with Captain Blackmore, decided to petition the emperor to allow them to make use of capable personnel—that is, you—immediately. Of course, I personally wrote a letter of recommendation as well.”
I see. So this was the result.
Hypno, with the uniform in his hands, prompted me to stand.
“It wasn’t easy, but we managed to obtain his approval, under a few conditions,” he explained. “First, if a new knight shows any disloyalty toward the imperial family, those who have vouched for them will be summarily punished. Second, if their capability proves to be insufficient, there will also be punishment. Lastly, they must start as sixth class—the lowest possible. These shouldn’t pose a problem for you, though, Crow. Right, Iris?”
“Yes. We believe in you,” Iris agreed.
The two looked at me, trust evident in their eyes. They took the uniform’s open jacket and placed it over my shoulders and back.
“We’re counting on you, Crow,” Hypno said.
“From today on, you’re a knight,” Iris declared.
The spotless white fabric fluttered.
And thus, thanks to the trust that both of them—and a captain I’d never met—had placed in me, I officially became a magus knight.
“A knight,” I murmured.
A special exception being made for me was bewildering, yes, but for once, I was actually motivated. I mean, I was still a man, you know? I hated fighting, sure, but I hated the thought of my beloved Iris getting injured and collapsing even more.
Besides, I was doomed to fight either way because of Muramasa. By fulfilling my duties as a knight, I’d be able to indirectly take some of the load off Iris’s shoulders. I wanted that, I really did.
“Leave it to me. On my blade, I will protect this country. I will protect Iris,” I declared.
“What?!” Iris yelped, blushing.
“Wow, someone’s a show-off,” Hypno teased.
The atmosphere in the temporary reception office brightened.
Once peace’s restored, I wanna hang out with everyone. Vita too. Have some fun, I thought. All righty, then! Knighthood, here I come!
This much motivation was unusual for me. Yes, I did want to help Iris, but there was another reason too.
They said, “They must all start as sixth class—the lowest possible,” right? Thanks, Mr. Emperor, sir! Now I don’t have to worry about being a knight!
One might’ve thought being assigned to such a low class would be humiliating. I was incredibly strong under Muramasa’s control, after all. However, I was actually relieved.
There was no way they’d send a low-class knight on dangerous missions, right?
Heh heh! I’ll take on all the missions to hunt down the wimpy ones! I mean, yeah, I’ll probably get sore, but hey. If I’m not at risk of dying, I’ll gladly do it!
My defenses were pristine when Muramasa was at the helm. Weak aetherborn and small-time criminals wouldn’t be able to catch me off guard, so it was perfect!
That’ll free up the other knights, making things easier for Iris!
“Oh! By the way, Crow. A uniform isn’t all I have for you,” Hypno said.
“There’s more?” I asked.
He clapped his hands, and several members of the staff walked in with a tray...filled with several ominous-looking pieces of equipment. Wait, what?!
“Now that you’re a knight, we can finally give you the aethereal arms in our possession,” Hypno explained. “Well, the powerful, problematic, cursed ones, anyway. But, since you’re a myth conqueror, that shouldn’t be an issue!”
Huh? Wait, wait, that’s not even true!
“Shall we tell him about that, Iris?” Hypno asked.
“Yes!” Iris said excitedly, sharply smacking my shoulder. “You’ll love this, Crow! See, His Majesty is quite close with the military aristocracy, so having yet another commoner rise through the ranks like I did would cause backlash. That’s why you were given the lowest possible class. Normally, that’d mean you’d only be sent on easy missions, but...look at this!”
Iris pulled out a second, sealed letter from her breast pocket, written under Captain Blackmore’s name.
“It reads, ‘Given that you’re Vice-Captain Iris’s apprentice, and considering both your stellar efforts during the attack and your status as a myth conqueror, you are hereby granted permission to undertake missions above your rank.’ Isn’t that great, Crow?! You can keep fighting for peace!”
Whaaaaaaaaaat?!
Wh-What was this captain doing?! This was the exact opposite of what I wanted!
“The captain has assigned a number of difficult missions to us, so you can start with those! As the Condemner, you must be elated!” Iris said.
“Best of luck!” Hypno exclaimed. “Oh, and since you’re a myth conqueror, you should bring the cursed arms with you!”
Smiling, Iris handed me the mission papers, and Hypno pushed the ominous arms at me.
They were excitedly volunteering me for things I did not want, and I screamed internally.
Why is this happeniiiiiing?!
✦ ✦ ✦
“Breaking news! Hell exists, and Crow is in it!”