I'm not sure whether it's appropriate to say that my familiar is a black dragon, so I just stare intently at the captain.
The captain, tracing the black band on my left wrist with his fingers, slowly opened his mouth after some thought.
"Ah, you don't need to tell me what kind of monster it is. If it's a monster you contracted with before joining, there's no obligation to report it. Besides, if by any chance the monster you contracted is strong or rare, there might be pressure from the Monster Knights Corps to transfer you, so it might be more convenient to keep it a secret."
Then, the captain patted my head.
"Rather, if someone from the Monster Knights Corps asks you, it might be better to smile slyly and remain silent. They tend to gauge their hierarchy based on the strength of the monsters they command. If they find out your familiar is weak, they'll start mocking you, so it might be more effective to keep them guessing."
"Um, why do you think my familiar is weak?"
In response to my question, the captain chuckled.
"Your asking such a question is evidence that you don't know much about familiar contracts, which makes people imagine that the monster you subdued is weak. ... Generally, the strength of a familiar is measured by the width of the contract mark. The wider the mark, the stronger the monster, and the narrower the mark, the weaker the monster. Even the weakest H-rank monster usually has a mark about 1 centimeter wide."
Huh? So, despite appearances, Zabiria might be weak?
Just a facade! Zabiria, you're just a facade!
"More precisely, the width of the contract mark is determined by the time it takes for a knight to subdue a monster and complete the familiar contract. ... So, if the knight is very strong or the monster is cooperative, the mark tends to be narrower than usual."
Ah, I see.
That's right. I remember now, Zabiria defeated an A-rank monster while I was sleeping.
Hehe, I knew it. I knew Zabiria was strong.
"That's why I think it's better for you to look strong, maintain a mysterious attitude, and not reveal the name of your familiar. ... However, a 1-millimeter mark is something I've never seen before, so I'm not sure how far the bluff will hold up..."
The captain placed his finger on his chin and began to ponder.
"Normally, one would assume that you performed the familiar contract with a weak H-rank monster that was injured or something, in a short amount of time..."
The captain mumbled something, but I understood, Captain!
It's that thing where imagination creates the strongest image.
Showing a black dragon in reality might be less terrifying than letting others imagine what kind of monster it is.
Yes, Captain. Your wise subordinate has perfectly understood what you meant.
I smiled to show my understanding, but for some reason, the captain sighed deeply.
Huh? I thought the same thing earlier. Is he tired?
"Captain, you look more tired than usual today. You should take it easy, shouldn't you?"
Despite my kind words, the captain glared at me.
"You don't remember much from yesterday, do you? ... I was called a 'bastard' to my face, and it's been bothering me a bit."
"Wh-What?! Called a 'bastard'?! To the Captain? What kind of idiot did that?! And is that person still alive?!"
"Yes, they seem to be fine."
The captain sighed after glaring at me.
Wow, really not in good shape. Alright, I'll comfort my direct superior!
"That's a bit of a rough character. Don't take what they say to heart! By the way, I've never used such dirty words in my life."
"Hmm..."
The captain spoke in a deliberately flat tone. What's going on?
Despite my desperate attempt to comfort him!
"Well, but, to say such insolent things to the Captain, it takes either courage, recklessness, or a disregard for one's life, or all of the above."
"Actually, it wasn't just to me, but also to the Chancellor. That person called both of us 'bastards.'"
"Huh?! To the Chancellor? That's complete disrespect! A capital offense! And the knights will beat them up!"
Scary. The person who said it must be scary. They must have been out of their mind to say something so self-destructive. Wow, just imagining it makes my spine freeze.
However, the captain contradicted me.
"No, there was no punishment. The person was a child, and they were just answering the Chancellor's question."
"Oh, a child! That's a relief! But the child must have been scared!"
"Maybe not. They might have already forgotten. The real trouble is probably the child's guardian."
The captain muttered with a strange sense of reality.
Hmm? But I think the child must have been scared.
"By the way, Fia. Although I already got your agreement last night, since you don't seem to remember, I'll ask again. Please don't tell anyone that I'm stronger than the Chancellor."
"Understood! I won't cause any trouble for you, Captain. I'll keep my promise."
I looked at the captain with sparkling eyes.
"... Probably, the biggest problem is that your idea of trouble and mine are different."
Saying that, the captain sighed deeply.
โโโ
Well then...
While walking down the long corridor towards the Fourth Monster Knights Corps, I was thinking.
First impressions are important. Maybe I should bring a gift to improve the impression of the Monster Knights Corps. But, I'll be there in about 5 minutes, and I can't prepare anything now. Hmm, I'll give up on the gift strategy...
Before I knew it, I had arrived at the captain's office of the Fourth Monster Knights Corps, so I knocked and called out.
"Excuse me! I'm Fia Rude from the First Knights Corps! I'm coming in!"
When I entered the room, a knight with a deep frown was sitting in a very rude posture, sprawling his limbs on the chair.
"Huh! You were supposed to come first thing in the morning, but this is quite late! If this is your 'first thing in the morning,' the First Knights Corps must have a pretty good life!!"
Oh, that's exactly right!
"I'm terribly sorry! I apologize deeply for being late!"
I bowed, and the knight kicked the chair as if to throw it and stood up.
"I'm Gideon Oaks, the deputy captain of the Fourth Monster Knights Corps. The captain is on long-term leave, so I'm the de facto head here."
He was a tall, burly knight in his mid-30s with copper-colored hair, exuding an arrogant and insolent aura.
Gideon scratched his short hair and looked at me with a bored expression.
"Wow, what a capable one we have here. I was wondering what kind of person Sir Cyril, the captain of the First Knights Corps, recommended, and it turns out you're still a chick in the shell!"
... Wow, he looks so unhappy. He must be a morning person.
"Basically, what's the deal with you being assigned to us while still belonging to the First Knights Corps? Are you just playing around? The First Knights Corps, being the top corps, is really arrogant and only thinks about their own convenience!"
Hmm, that's a valid point. It's a pretty forceful move to decide something last night and implement it this morning. Sir Cyril must be quite a capable leader.
"So? I heard you can measure the life force of monsters. I thought you'd say, 'Oh, thank you, thank you. I'll be a great helpโ'!!"
Deputy Captain Gideon, who had spread his arms in a joyful expression, immediately turned scary and slammed the table.
... He's been busy.
His gestures and small performances make him seem not entirely bad, but how should I respond?