Chapter 174 : Chapter 174
Chapter 174: The Marvelous Wall (2)
It was the Stout Knights who recognized us first when we visited the 'camp'.
To be exact, since it was the first time meeting in person, they didn't recognize our faces, but.
"That shield is...?"
They recognized Miki's shield.
"Perhaps, are you guys?"
The 「Shield of Water's Protection」 received from Stout.
"Wait. How did that... become like that...?"
...Though, slightly dented.
"Ah... S-Sorry..."
Anyway, thanks to that, we could save the trouble of searching around.
As soon as I showed the 「Insignia of Alliance (Stout)」, the knights, convinced that we were the 'adventurer party' mentioned in the letter sent from Stout, took us straight to their military tent.
And there, we met their leader.
"Welcome to the Wall, Allies of Stout."
That woman, possessing a hearty impression to the extent that the wrinkles that couldn't hide her age or her white hair became insignificant, was Sapphire, the Commander of the Stout Knights.
Should I say, a figure like the personification of a veteran general.
"I have already heard about you from Aqua-."
Behind such Sapphire, a trident was hanging.
"That you are warriors braver and wiser than anyone, who retrieved Lord Stareon's trident from the old temple."
Right. The 「Trident of Stareon」 that we retrieved.
"...And I also heard Marin's story. It is truly a regrettable matter."
Saddened to lose a good person and a good talent, but saying it's time to look forward now, Sapphire continued calmly.
"Thank you. For not letting Marin's sacrifice be in vain."
I replied with a light bow.
Actually, we never met the real Marin even once, but anyway, since we eventually killed Luce who killed him, it was effectively like we took revenge.
"By the way, I don't think I've heard stories about two people in the group."
Saying this, Sapphire glanced at Lily and Toric.
"Ah, yes. They are companions who joined after we left Stout."
At that, the two simply introduced only their names, but Sapphire seemed to have already understood enough about the two just with that.
"That Sister over there, joined from Sista Village, I presume?"
The point that Lily is from Sista Village, or.
"That person is── Ho-oh. A Kaper?"
"...I am an ex-Kaper."
"Oh my. There must be a story. My apologies."
Just like noticing the Kapers' decoration hanging at the end of Toric's axe immediately.
Actually, up to here was an easy guess.
Because they were parts one could know just by looking without having to say first.
However.
"──Hmm?"
Suddenly seeming to recall something, she started examining Miki carefully, then toward him who showed a somewhat nervous look receiving the gaze of the highly renowned Stout Knight Commander Sapphire all to himself.
"──You, are you perhaps Irons?"
Asking this, was a bit different from the previous two cases.
"...!"
As expected, Miki reacted by flinching immediately.
"H-How did you know?"
Because he hadn't talked about his family separately to Aqua.
Seeing this reaction of Miki, Sapphire showed a triumphant smile, 'Heh', and said.
"I know everything. This is a secret but── actually, I have clairvoyance."
"C-Clairvoyance!?"
Although he didn't know what that was, Miki, who seemed to think it was something incredibly amazing for now, was startled, then soon exclaimed "Woooow─" and started looking up at Sapphire with sparkling eyes.
"As expected...! I've heard that Commander Sapphire of the Stout Knights is a very wise person, so you had such a secret...!"
At Miki's reaction, which makes people useless once tasted properly, Sapphire soon burst into hearty laughter, "Hahaha!"
"It was a joke."
"──Yes?"
"Actually, I had a chance to meet your brothers here yesterday and talk. I could recognize you because the atmosphere resembled them strangely."
Briefly being dumbfounded at the fact that he was completely fooled.
"M-My brothers?!"
Miki was greatly surprised once more.
"When I heard the story about the Halfling Knight from Aqua, I wondered if perhaps, but to think you were really a child of the Irons family."
Sapphire showed a gratified smile with her arms crossed.
"For all three sons to grow into such excellent knights, Johannes will be happy."
As she praised Miki and his brothers like that, Miki lowered his head showing a somewhat embarrassed reaction.
"It, it is an undeserved praise..."
But the words that followed immediately told that this wasn't simple modesty.
"Compared to my brothers, I am... still lacking a lot..."
"...Hmm?"
Actually hearing those words, perhaps noticing it immediately, Sapphire tilted her head in wonder, then quietly turned her gaze toward me or other companions.
Although she didn't say it, it was an expression asking 'Did I perhaps make a mistake?'.
Eventually noticing there was some circumstance, Sapphire, instead of trying to dig it up for no reason.
"By the way, for what matter did you come up to the wall here?"
Tried to change the topic of conversation straight away.
"Did you come to protect the wall as well?"
"No."
I smirked at that question and answered immediately.
"We came to cross it."
"...Hmm? Cross?"
"We are going to the Demon King's Castle, to subjugate the Demon King."
"──!"
***
"Still, since we came all the way here, shouldn't you go meet your brothers once?"
After finishing the conversation with Sapphire and coming out, I asked Miki carefully.
At this, Miki seemed to ponder for a moment, then soon nodded.
Saying he wants to show them himself who has grown compared to before by meeting everyone.
So, we went to meet them.
Befitting children of the Irons family, a renowned noble family in the continent, the two were setting up a separate military camp together with attendants following the two, just like those who came from the level of a city or organization.
And since a flag engraved with the crest of the Irons family was fluttering in that military camp, finding that place wasn't difficult at all.
"What brings you here── M-Master Michael!?"
The attendants who gathered seeing us visit suddenly, were greatly surprised as soon as they saw Miki who was together, then immediately greeted politely with courtesy.
"How is the Young Master here..."
Miki showed an embarrassed appearance scratching his head as if their polite reaction wasn't entirely comfortable.
"Are my brothers in right now?"
"Ah, yes! We will guide you immediately!"
Like that, as soon as we entered the tent guided by the attendant.
"Brother Gabe! Brother Rapha!"
Miki ran pit-a-pat being very glad as soon as he saw his brothers he hadn't seen for a long time.
"──!?"
"Mi, Miki?!"
The two brothers, Gabriel and Raphael, seeing such appearance of Miki, showed a surprised look seeing Miki running like that.
Being glad to meet after a long time was also being glad, but should I say the surprise looked bigger than that.
"How are you here..."
It was inevitable, from their perspective, they met the youngest who left home without them knowing the reason and whom they couldn't meet for a while, out of the blue at this 'end of the world'.
Of course, they had to be flustered.
"We were so relieved to hear from Sebastian that you returned to Tiaria..."
Furthermore, in a situation with the threat of the Demon King's army right in front of their eyes.
"Why didn't you stay in Tiaria?"
Because to them, Miki was still, unfortunately, a failing grade as a knight── nothing but a cute youngest whom they 'had to protect'.
"Ah, then, the things that happened there too... you must already know...?"
"...Right. We heard. About the mansion, and about Father too."
Gabriel spoke in a calm tone.
"We heard only after arriving at the wall."
"Perhaps, did you also come because of that matter?"
Following Raphael's question, Miki nodded boldly.
"Yes. I came to find Father. One of the executives of the Demon King's army..."
"...Listen well, Miki."
Then Gabriel placed one hand on such Miki's shoulder and said.
"That is our job. You should have stayed in Tiaria."
"...!"
It was a very affectionate tone, but fundamentally, he was effectively saying 'You stay out of it'.
"If something goes wrong even with you, who will protect our family members? Who will continue the family line?"
Of course, they must be saying this out of sincere worry for Miki.
Miki left that home in the end, feeling pathetic about himself who only caused worry to the two like that always.
"But I too...! I can fight too, Brothers!"
"Miki..."
But Miki back then and Miki right now were effectively different people.
Mentally, and also in terms of ability.
"Don't be stubborn and──"
The problem is that the brothers cannot know this fact yet.
"──It is not stubbornness."
But I know.
"Miki is actually a much more excellent knight than you two think. He will surely be able to become a great asset in the fight we have ahead."
So as I interjected, the brothers only then started examining our side, which they couldn't pay attention to because they were so surprised by Miki's appearance.
They apologized with courtesy saying they didn't intend to ignore us first, then asked Miki if he would introduce us.
Then Miki's expression, which was slightly darkened until just now, brightened up again immediately.
"These people, are my companions!"
He started speaking very proudly.
"They are people who accepted me as a knight! I swore to protect these people!"
"I am called Yubin. A Bard, and an adventurer. Please call me Bin comfortably."
"I am Gabriel Irons."
"I am Raphael. Nice to meet you, Mr. Bin."
The hands of the two who shook hands lightly like that, despite being hands much smaller than mine due to the Halfling racial trait, were very heavy hands where 'strength' was felt.
Should I say hands that let you know at once how hard they trained and how much experience they accumulated.
Perhaps because of that, if Miki gave an impression of a blonde-haired blue-eyed noble, the two possessed a much wilder impression than that.
Especially the eldest son Gabriel, he even had a large scar on his cheek.
Maybe because of that, rather than a knight of a prestigious family, he looked like a seasoned mercenary captain.
Furthermore, perhaps because of the thick fur clothes worn to block the cold, it gave such a feeling more.
Raphael also similarly felt like a sturdy warrior.
But even so, the two fundamentally had the so-called noble air.
Just like Miki has.
So should I say they resemble each other while not resembling.
There was a reason why Sapphire recognized at once that he was the brother of the two upon seeing Miki.
"Thank you for taking good care of our younger brother during this time."
"Not at all. We were rather the ones receiving care from Miki."
Miki was scratching the back of his head as if shy at my words, but inwardly looked happy.
"It's not lip service but real. That guy was carried on back completely, you know? Literally."
"Yes?"
"Carried on back?"
"A, Ahem."
Although Ibi's words thrown while giggling were the undeniable truth, no matter what, having them hear the story that I, who am twice as big, was carried on the back in front of the two who cherish their younger brother is a bit careful, you know...
"One of the high-ranking Kapers of the Tiaria branch coveted Miki enough to really want to bring him into the Kapers. Miki is likely much stronger than you think."
"...!"
At the following words of Toric, Miki started looking at him with very moved eyes.
Isn't it a story that he received recognition from the Kapers he respected so much?
But Toric just shrugged his shoulders as if saying he was only stating the facts so there was no reason to be thanked.
"Is that, really true...?"
Gabriel and Raphael looked at each other as if feeling somewhat disconnected from the Miki they knew.
But that was due to the blank of time rather than the two not trusting Miki.
But the time to catch up to fill that blank, unfortunately, won't exist.
"──S, Sir Gabriel! Sir Raphael!"
Whish!
Because I already know the content of the news brought by that knight who came running panting into the tent with the flap thrown open.
"What is the matter?"
"J, Just now a letter came from beyond the wall...!"
To put it in one word.
"S, Sir Johannes is...!"
It was the story that the father of the three and the Head of the Irons family, Johannes Irons, was captured as a prisoner.