Today, the book has been released. Thank you very much for your support.
Several stores have offered special SS bonuses, but I've been informed that some stores have already sold out, so I apologize to those who were looking forward to it.
Zachary Townsend, the leader of the Sixth Knights, first saw Fia when she was at the knights' induction ceremony.
As the induction ceremony proceeded as usual, it was suddenly announced that Chancellor Savis would participate in a demonstration match, and I remember being surprised as I turned to look at the chairperson. At first, I thought the chairperson had made a mistake, but when I saw the chairperson staring at me with a pale face, I realized that it wasn't a mistake and that the Chancellor had set something up. The Chancellor, who appears to act on principles like a grown-up, often has a mischievous side.
However, when I saw the small girl knight who stepped forward, I couldn't help but tilt my head in confusion, thinking, "What is the Chancellor trying to confirm with this girl knight?"
... What is the Chancellor trying to check with this girl knight? She won't last a single blow against the Chancellor, and she probably can't even move properly with her legs trembling. Sure enough, the girl knight started walking in a strange way, moving her right hand and right foot simultaneously. If it were one of the subordinate knights, it would have been funny, but seeing the girl knight face the Chancellor, I felt pity.
As I watched with sympathy, the famous "Ice Knight" Aldio and his younger brother Leon ran up to the girl knight and started talking to her. ... Ah, she must be Dolf's daughter. Dolf, the deputy leader of the Fourteenth Knights, has three children in the knights. So, is she the fourth? She's smaller and thinner than Dolf's other children, and unfortunately, she doesn't seem to have inherited a good build.
Even if she comes from a knight family and has some sword skills, ... with that build, she won't last a single blow against the Chancellor. Being chosen as the Chancellor's opponent is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so it would be nice if she could treat it as a good memory.
As I thought this, the girl knight—Fia Rude—announced her name and ran towards the Chancellor.
... Wow, just not trembling is impressive. As I marveled, Fia suddenly increased her speed about five meters in front of the Chancellor and drew her sword at an incredible speed, attacking the Chancellor.
A dull sound echoed, and I could see the Chancellor's whole body tense up as he parried the blow.
—What, what kind of sword is that? It's an incredibly heavy sword.
As I watched in surprise, Fia continued to attack the Chancellor one after another. Her speed increased, and the sound of each blow grew heavier over time. However, what truly caught my attention was that Fia was focusing her attacks on one side of the Chancellor.
—What is she aiming for?
As I watched the battle, trying to figure out Fia's intentions, it suddenly ended when Fia's sword was deflected. The knights cheered for the Chancellor's victory, but my eyes were drawn to the Chancellor, who was clenching his lips in frustration.
... What's going on? Chancellor Savis feels like he lost.
Sure enough, the match was declared invalid. It was later revealed that the sword Fia used had been enchanted with powerful effects, but the more pressing issue was why Fia had only attacked one side of the Chancellor.
When questioned by the Chancellor, Fia revealed that she had noticed an old injury on the Chancellor's left side and had targeted it.
—What a remarkable new recruit. I shook my head in disbelief and looked at Fia Rude again.
Only a short time had passed since the Chancellor entered the venue. In that short time, Fia had identified an old injury that no one else had noticed. Not only that, but she had faced the Chancellor, who exuded an overwhelming presence, without flinching. And she had incorporated her observation of the Chancellor's injury into her attacks in such a short time. —It's an unbelievable story.
But what was even more unbelievable was that Fia, who had targeted the Chancellor's weakness, said with a suspiciously serious face, "It's the spirit of chivalry."
... This girl is lying to the Chancellor. She has a heart of steel.
That day, the Chancellor declared that he would remember Fia Rude's name, and I, too, deeply etched it in my memory.
◇◇◇
The next time I met Fia was at a banquet.
That day, the knights of the Sixth Knights, which I lead, had gone on a monster hunt, and a meat feast was planned to celebrate their success. However, before the banquet began, I was called by Sir Cyril, the leader of the First Knights.
Indeed, I had taken two new recruits from the First Knights on the training mission that day, but had something gone wrong? Unfortunately, I had been out on other business until just before the banquet, so I hadn't had time to hear reports from my subordinates and didn't know the situation. I headed to the dining hall with the knight from the First Knights who had come to call me.
When I arrived at the dining hall, I was led to a private room that had been set up in part of the room. Looking around, I saw the Sixth Knights who had gone on the hunt standing up, and on the opposite side, Sir Cyril with an ominous smile and Chancellor Savis with an unreadable expression.
... This is not a simple matter. To be honest, it's a troublesome situation.
As I walked up to the Chancellor and Sir Cyril, I observed the expressions of my knights. ... What have you done? The First Knight Leader is as angry as can be.
Before I could ask for an answer, two knights entered from the entrance. One of them was Fia. ... I see. One of the new recruits who accompanied my knights on the hunt today was Fia.
Sir Cyril had all the knights, including Fia, sit down. I stood silently nearby, and the Chancellor stood slightly behind, apparently observing the situation. With the Chancellor present, this was clearly not a simple matter. I crossed my arms and faced the knights, deciding to observe the situation.
Sir Cyril's story went like this:
A monster from the abyss appeared during today's hunt. Despite this, the knights managed to corner the monster without any casualties, which was commendable.
—However.
When Sir Cyril happened to be present, the one commanding the monster hunt was not an experienced knight from the Sixth Knights but a new recruit from the First Knights, Fia. Why? What was she thinking?
Sir Cyril, with a voice like sharp ice and a smile that could freeze a demon king, was clearly furious.
I closed my eyes for a moment to calm myself and took a small breath. When I opened my eyes, I glared at my subordinates. ... What are you doing? The First Knight Leader is as angry as can be.
However, my wise subordinates remained silent, and no one spoke, leaving me with no information to interject. The only one who spoke was Fia, who was called out by Sir Cyril.
I was listening intently to understand the situation, but I couldn't comprehend what Fia was saying. She claimed that she had commanded the hunt against the monster from the abyss using only the knowledge from an encyclopedia and her dreams.
—That's impossible.
To command a hunt against a monster from the abyss, which was new to her and a unique species of the forest, while calmly observing the monster's movements and efficiently cornering it with clearly insufficient forces without making a single mistake?
—It's absolutely impossible. If it were that easy, everyone would quickly become competent commanders, and the forest monsters would have been eradicated long ago.
I was shocked and bewildered by Fia's claims. She continued, stating that in the short time she faced the monster, she had identified its characteristics and measured the vitality and remaining vitality of the individual she faced.
Fia was explaining how she measured vitality, but ... ha, ha, ha, such a method can only be acquired after slaying hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of monsters. It's impossible, this.
What is this new recruit? She's a completely different kind of knight.
However, what truly shocked me was when Fia confronted Sir Cyril. While everyone else was losing their composure and looking down in a gloomy mood, Fia raised her head, looked at Sir Cyril, and declared that her hands were for grabbing delicious meat and drinking.
... This girl is amazing. She confronted the First Knight Leader in front of the Chancellor.
I became even more interested in Fia, but ... I think I should forget part of that night's memory as a knight.
The memory of Fia's belly, which was as round as a three-year-old's.
She lamented that despite daily training as a knight, she couldn't build muscle. When asked what to do, I was at a loss for an answer for the first time at the banquet. I deeply reflected on myself.
—Fia is right.
Complaining about a four-pack is a sign of a privileged life. There are things in this world, like Fia's belly, that can't be changed no matter what.
From that day on, I stopped lamenting my abs.
At the same time, as a knight who walks the path of chivalry, I decided to forget the memory of Fia's belly.