“So, two from Cybarossa House, is it?”
“Yes. I graduated from the Knight School and hold the rank of Intermediate Knight. This one’s a child, but he’s an Adventurer, Rank 6.”
“I see, understood. With a Knight and an Adventurer, there’s a high possibility you’ll be acting separately. Would it be alright to split you up from the start?”
Mr. Volks turned to me when asked. I nodded slightly, indicating it was fine.
“No problem.”
“Then, Knight Volks, please take this tag and go to the classroom on the first floor. The child goes to the third floor. Each classroom has a number, so please go to the classroom that matches the number on your tag.”
“Understood.”
“Understood.”
It’s been three months since I started attending the academy, but the hallway, filled with unfamiliar adults coming and going, looked completely different.
“It’s too early for full gear, isn’t it?”
“That guy’s weapon is huge. Can he even swing it?”
“A kid?”
“That bastard’s alive?”
“That man is a Knight?”
Just by listening a little, I could hear such voices from all around. Many people were boasting about their weapons and military exploits.
“Claffy, the tag. You heard the explanation, right?”
“Yes, no problem.”
“Alright. I guess I’m in the classroom on the first floor.”
“I’m on the third floor, huh? But why are we gathered at the academy? There’s a Knight School at the Knights Order headquarters, too.”
Now that I think about it, it’s really strange.
“That’s because they’re busier over there. Weapon inspections, preparing logistics, adjusting each Knight squad’s unit. The Knight School and the Soldiers Corps headquarters are the same. They’re probably turning every nook and cranny of the warehouse inside out right now.”
“Ah.”
“In that situation, if they let people in from the outside, it’d be a mess. So, the next biggest facilities are the castle or the academy. Of course, they can’t gather this many people at the castle, so it’s the academy’s turn.”
I don’t know if it’s the Knights Order or the country leading this, but it’s quite well-organized.
“Today will probably be about unit adjustments and confirming actions, so it should be a disbandment. When it’s over, don’t wait for me or look for me; you can go home to the mansion.”
“The ending times will probably be different, won’t they? Understood.”
“That’s the thing. Oh, go to the bathroom when you can. It’ll be crowded, and there’ll be a long wait until the explanations start.”
“You’re well-informed.”
“There was an Ogre outbreak, not Black Ant, a few years ago. I was with Master at that time, and it was pretty much the same. This time, my treatment might be worse than that time since Master isn’t with me.”
Apparently, if the noble himself is present, the guards he brings are treated as the noble’s “options” and end up acting together.
“Well, anyway, we’re acting separately. Let’s exchange information when we get back to the mansion.”
“Understood. See you later.”
“Welcome, Claffy-kun.”
“Iserina-san? Hello.”
“Yes, hello. Take a seat wherever you like.”
When I entered the designated classroom, Iserina-san from the Adventurer’s Guild was there. There were also people I’d seen at the reception desk.
“There’s still some time, so please write your name and the name of the house you belong to on this board in the meantime.”
“Understood.”
The classroom is different from usual, and although the scenery is slightly different, the appearance is not much different, so I sit in the place I usually use, which happened to be vacant.
Iserina-san brought a board and a brush to me.
“That Young Lady isn’t with you?”
“This time, she was withdrawn due to a lack of ability.”
“Really? I don’t think it’s impossible, though.”
“Young Lady is actually above passing grade. But the abilities of those around her were not enough.”
I opposed it under the pretext of Young Lady’s lack of ability, but the biggest problem was actually the escort members.
Even Mr. Volks doesn’t reach the level of an A-rank Royal Guard-class. The other members don’t neglect training, but they can only defeat C-rank Monsters. Even then, it’s not alone, but by surrounding them with several people. There are no people with the ability to break through the Black Ant’s Carapace and inflict fatal damage, and there are no weapons or Magic Items that can compensate for the lack of ability.
“Is that so? It’s frustrating when things don’t go as planned, even after registering as an Adventurer.”
“Won’t the Guild be busy for a while?”
“It already is, you know? The competition for commoner Adventurers has begun.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s right. Many of the people here were urgently hired by nobles in that way.”
Ah, they hired Adventurers because they didn’t want to send out their own soldiers.
“It’s hard to refuse requests from houses that give us nomination requests regularly.”
“The rewards are simply delicious.”
“It’s just a headcount, though.”
“Are you usually surrounded by nobles? Hey, is this character correct? I’ve never written the name of a noble’s house before.”
“Ah, please check mine too.”
The people around reacted to Iserina-san’s answer. Some people also asked me, who was wearing a Knight Uniform, to check the characters.
“It’s correct. But I don’t know everyone, so please have Iserina-san check it too.”
“I know even less. Have the office staff check it.”
“Please take a look anyway!”
“Alright, alright.”
While we were doing things like confirming names, I noticed that the seats in the classroom were filled, and there were even people standing.
Iserina-san and the receptionist called out to some people, who went to another room.
With the comings and goings settled, the explanation about our roles began.
“So, the departure is… three days later for that side, huh?”
“Yes. It seems to be slower than Mr. Volks’ side.”
“This side is a joint team with the Knights Order, so the movement takes more time because there are more people than an Adventurer Team.”
Both Volks and I were assigned to Sombres Territory. It’s farther from the Royal Capital than Ignas Territory.
Apparently, they haven’t found the Black Ants’ Nest yet. However, the number of Black Ant discoveries is high, and the number of other Monsters is decreasing, so they think it’s probably on this side and are concentrating their forces in Sombres Territory.
The Ignas Territory side will have the defense force of Ignas Territory itself, support from the surrounding territories, and a part of the Knights Order.
“It seems to be a week until the move. It’s quite far.”
“Well, it’s closer than our territory.”
The Cybarossa Territory takes about two weeks even by carriage. Considering that, a week’s journey on foot might be considered close. Ah, I want to use an Aircar or even an aircraft or transport plane.
“I’ll tell you this since it’s probably your first time moving a long distance in a group, but it’s better to secure even a small amount of water and food yourself.”
“Should I prepare a lunch box?”
“I’m not joking, you know? I mean, if you have the opportunity to buy it in the villages and towns you stop by along the way, buy it. The meals along the way aren’t good, and the quantity is small. Also, sleeping bags and such. The ones prepared by the Knights Order sometimes have holes or bugs. Prepare the minimum amount of luggage as if you were traveling alone. As cheap as possible.”
Cheap?
“Ah, will they be stolen?”
“If there’s someone in the Knights Order or Soldiers Corps team who tries to steal from a small guy like you, they’ll be beaten to a pulp. I don’t know what the security is like in the Adventurer Team. It’ll be somewhat safe once they catch up to us, though.”
“It seems like there are Knights Order people on this side too, though.”
“Is that so? But it’s better to be careful. Are you going to buy some later?”
“I will.”
I have portable food in my Spatial Storage, but the packaging is all from the Unified Space Force era, so I should open it from the bag. If it’s a calorie bar, I can put it in my mouth before people see it.
Also, I should make some Dried Meat. There’s meat aging in the Hakoniwa, so I’ll give instructions to the Support Drone.
For water, I should put a water-attribute Magic Core in a bamboo tube.
“Also, if you get entangled with nobles, ask for their name and then use the Cybarossa name. The Hair Cleansing Liquid is starting to become popular, so tell them not to sell it to those who try to go against us.”
“I see, understood.”
“If there are still guys who say something, be careful? Those guys are either idiots or scum. You don’t know what they’ll do.”
“There are people like that…”
“Unfortunately, there are. They’re quiet in the carriage during the move, but especially during breaks and when camping. Oh, and don’t expect anything from the inns in towns and villages? It’ll probably be a field camp.”
I wonder if I should wear a robe with a temperature adjustment function. The best thing would be a Military Uniform, but… it would stand out too much. I’ll have the Support Drone make something similar to the Cybarossa House Knight Uniform.
“Well, it’s usually not enough…”
“That’s also true, but nobles have priority in the first place. It’s in order of high peerage and first-come, first-served. This is what causes the trouble, you know? People from the royal family and the Duke’s house have to accompany us just for the sake of arbitration.”
“Just for that!?”
“Right. And maybe I’ll give a greeting at the start of the war? Well, nominally, it’s under the pretense of a first battle or combat command, but from the Knights Order’s perspective, the real purpose of bringing me along is to silence someone they want silenced with ‘a word from an important person.’ Of course, there are people with standing within the Knights Order, but one or two people aren’t enough.”
S-So that’s the reason they bring important people along?