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After that, Sir Cyril, the captain, explained in detail why the Chancellor had recommended the Fourth Monster Knight Regiment.
"Basically, you can quantify the life force of monsters. The members of the Monster Knight Regiment each control more than one monster, but they only have a rough grasp of their life force. If you can quantify the life force of the monsters, it should increase what they can do."
"Hmm, I see. But my quantification is more than half based on intuition and feeling."
So, the last digit is an error.
Sir Cyril nodded lightly at my words and smiled faintly.
"If we officially transfer you, there might be difficulties when it comes time to return you. So, I plan to keep you in the First Knight Regiment while you work in the Monster Knight Regiment."
Difficulties in returning? Ah, what? Do they think I'll cause so much trouble that I won't be able to come back?
"You are our precious child. I have no intention of letting you go. However, once you get to know you, the Fourth Monster Knight Regiment Captain might think the same way. They say the more foolish the child, the cuter they are. So, to prevent that, I won't officially transfer you. If you are treated unfairly as a guest, please let me know immediately."
"What will happen if I tell the captain?"
I felt subtly insulted in the middle of the conversation, but I am an adult. I decided to let it slide.
"Hehe, the next day, those who treated you unfairly will be gone, and you will be treated properly."
Sir Cyril was smiling calmly, but for some reason, I felt a chill down my spine.
I am the type who values intuition, so unless something extraordinary happens, I decided to keep quiet about it to Sir Cyril.
"It's getting late. Shall we take our leave?"
When Sir Cyril said this, the three of us, including Captain Desmond, were about to leave, but the Chancellor also had business at the knight quarters, so in the end, the four of us headed to the knight dormitory.
It was a beautiful night with a full moon. The wind blew, carrying the scent of the night.
Feeling a bit dazed from the alcohol, I was lost in the silence when the Chancellor spoke to me.
"Fia, today was the first time you fought alongside the Holy Maiden. What did you think?"
"Shit," I said, then realized my words were too harsh and added, "......that's what I think."
At my words, Sir Cyril froze, Captain Desmond's face twisted, and Chancellor Savis showed no change in expression.
"Is it the Holy Maiden?" the Chancellor asked, and I replied, "No."
"It's someone who has distorted the Holy Maiden. That is not what the Holy Maiden should be. ... If the Holy Maiden from 300 years ago saw this, wouldn't she cry?"
... No, actually, I cried a lot.
"No, she would cry her heart out."
"Is that knowledge you gained from books?" the Chancellor asked quietly.
I laughed.
"No. This is my personal opinion. Hey, Chancellor, what do you want to do with the Holy Maiden? Do you plan to elevate her to a goddess? Hehe, no. The Holy Maiden is not a distant and capricious being who only offers salvation occasionally. The Holy Maiden is the shield of the knights."
I looked up at the moon and realized my body was swaying a bit.
Yeah, I'm drunk.
"Well, this is just my personal opinion. I answered because you asked."
Suddenly, I felt like walking barefoot, so I took off my shoes and started walking, but no one stopped me, and no one spoke until we arrived at the knight dormitory.
◇◇◇
The next morning, I was hit by a terrible headache and nausea.
W-What is this? My head is pounding. It feels like someone is dancing on my head. It hurts, it hurts. Whoever you are, please get off my head. Ah, I feel like vomiting, but my throat is dry. What is this...
"Hangover," Orge, my roommate, said from above.
"Hangover... So, I've finally become an adult."
"Your path to adulthood is pretty pathetic."
While saying this harshly, Orge handed me a glass of water.
"Slurp, slurp, gulp, ah—, delicious."
I drank the whole glass of water and felt refreshed as I got up.
"What? Why are you suddenly feeling better? Your recovery is abnormal."
"Hehe. This is youth, Orge."
"No, that's not just youth!"
Orge complained, but I had something on my mind and sniffed myself.
Ugh, I smell like alcohol. Starting the day like this, I'm a failure.
I took a towel and headed to the bathroom.
"I'll go wash off the adult smell from my body."
After taking a refreshing shower, I headed to the training ground.
Okay, first, sword training...
"Hey, Fia."
When I arrived at the training ground, Fabian called out in surprise.
"Fia, I heard you're going to help the Fourth Monster Knight Regiment today."
"Fourth Monster Knight Regiment?"
... Hmm? Was there such a thing?
"Huh? You didn't hear? Sir Cyril came to tell you this morning."
... Ah, I see. I must have heard it, but I don't remember.
I smiled and said, "I'll go talk to the captain for a moment," and left the scene.
I knocked on the door of the captain's office, and permission to enter was given.
When I slowly opened the door, the captain was leaning on his desk, looking rather lazy.
"Hey? You look unusually tired."
"... What is it, Fia? Do you have something to confirm?"
He asked in a slightly lower voice than usual.
Yeah, he really looks tired. He must be overworking himself.
"Um, I heard I'm assigned to the Fourth Monster Knight Regiment from today, so I came to confirm..."
"Assigned? I said I wouldn't transfer you yesterday, didn't I?"
... Oh, that's right.
I need to be careful with my words.
"Sorry, I misspoke. I'm supposed to help the Fourth Monster Knight Regiment, right? I thought I'd come to pass on any messages you have for them."
"... Fia, you don't mean to tell me you don't remember the instructions I gave you yesterday, do you?"
The captain's expression changed to a chilling smile.
Sharp. As always, sharp! No wonder he's the head captain of the knight regiment.
I kept smiling without answering, but the captain seemed to realize something and glared at me.
"Fia, tell me everything you remember from last night."
"Yes. I was called by the captain during the meat festival and scolded. The Flower Horn Deer meat was delicious. ... That's all."
"You only remember the beginning! You were so drunk that you don't remember last night at all!!"
"Captain, I'm sorry!!"
That's right. I have this ultimate skill where I lose my memory when I drink. So, even if I do something wrong at a drinking party, I won't remember it, so no damage!
But it must be troublesome for others. I'm sorry.
Feeling genuinely bad, I bowed my head, and the captain sighed and smiled thinly, as if giving up.
"No, it was my fault for discussing work at the banquet. I apologize. You are scheduled to work with the Fourth Monster Knight Regiment for a while. Your task is to quantify the life force of the monsters they control. One concern is that the Monster Knight Regiment believes they are only complete when controlling monsters, so I'm worried about you being treated unfairly. If you are, please report it to me."
Then, as if he had just thought of something, he motioned me over.
"Just to be sure, can I see your wrists?"
Hmm? Is he checking the wound from the Flower Horn Deer?
Hehe, I healed it completely.
I proudly held out both hands to the captain.
The captain, who was holding both of my hands, widened his eyes slightly.
"The mark of a servant. ... Fia, do you have a servant monster?"
The captain asked, looking at the 1mm wide black ring around my left wrist.
... Ah, I see. He was checking the mark of a servant.
Yes, I do. I have a servant contract with a legendary black dragon.