Chapter 51 : Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Reinhardt reported the gist of the situation to Ethan Taton.
A plague had broken out in Romain.
Bishop Dalton of the Truma Order had officially requested Reinhardt’s help, and Reinhardt had willingly decided to step forward for the suffering citizens of the Empire.
“I see. I’m concerned about what might happen to you, Sir, but it can’t be helped. Be careful on your trip. If you need any support from the Knights, just say the word.”
Ethan hid his anxiety and approved Reinhardt’s dispatch.
In the first place, he had no choice but to approve.
On the surface, they had the relationship of a Knight Commander and a knight, but both knew all too well that the reality was different.
“Well then, when are you planning to depart?”
“The schedule has not been decided yet. I will report as soon as it is.”
“By any chance, are you accompanying Sir Fermil…….”
“No. I will not ask for help from the Paganoa. The Truma Order also wanted me to leave alone.”
“Bishop Dalton must think that you have been chosen by the Sun God Truma, right?”
Reinhardt nodded his head.
“Yes.”
“This is a headache. If they continue to ask for help in the future…….”
“If they ask, I will gladly help, but it didn't seem like they would. Bishop Dalton only needs my help for this particular incident.”
Someone to solve the problem right in front of them.
Bishop Dalton had simply pointed to Reinhardt as the right person for the job.
Of course, it seemed he thought Truma had ordered it so.
While Ethan was contemplating with a serious expression.
‘What is that.’
Reinhardt discovered a peculiar document on his desk.
That is to say, it wasn't that the document was peculiar, but that the phrasing written on the paper was highly suspicious.
“Commander?”
“Hm? What is it…… Ah, um.”
Rustle.
Ethan’s hand moved hastily.
He tried to hide the document from Reinhardt’s sight, but it was impossible to hide it completely.
[Knight Cadet Recruitment…….]
[Demon…… Reinhardt…….]
[Serigel’s Strongest Knight…….]
[Together with the Paganoa…….]
Even though they were fragmented phrases, it was clear what the content was about.
Ethan’s gaze trembled anxiously.
“This is, well.”
“Are you recruiting members?”
“Ah, that is, for the dream-filled youths who dream of being knights……!”
“Taught directly by Knight Reinhardt, who punished the demon.”
“No, this phrase! It’s not true!”
“Is it a lie?”
“It’s not a lie. I mean, it’s not about teaching directly, but isn’t there something to learn just by watching a knight like you from the side? That’s what it’s about!”
It was a sophistry.
But instead of pointing it out, Reinhardt thought for a moment.
‘It doesn't seem bad.’
Reinhardt's original plan was as follows.
To become the mascot of Serigel.
To become a mascot, so that other places couldn't covet him.
That goal had already been achieved to some extent.
It was to the point that there wasn't a single citizen of Serigel who didn't know the name ‘Reinhardt’.
‘This is relatively stable, but since it has come to this, it might be better to expand the scale.’
Reinhardt had beaten down the Warlock of Lockfort.
And now?
He was in a situation where he had to leave for Romain immediately.
It was a rather ambiguous track record to be called a ‘Knight of Serigel’.
“S-Sir Reinhardt?”
“I’ve been having such thoughts recently.”
The contemplation was short and the decision was fast.
Reinhardt looked straight at Ethan, who had an anxious look in his eyes.
“I belong to the Taton Knights, and the Taton Knights are headquartered in the gateway city of Serigel.”
“Th-that’s right.”
“However, I am also a knight of the Empire.”
“That’s correct.”
“In that case, if Knight Reinhardt is a knight of the Empire. Isn’t focusing only on protecting the gateway city of Serigel the wrong choice…….”
Ethan’s eyes darted around.
He seemed to be thinking about what Reinhardt meant by his words.
“But that doesn't mean I have the capacity to move for the entire Empire.”
“No, Sir Reinhardt’s skill is…….”
“No, Commander. I know my limits. Unless I'm a knight of the Paganoa, it's impossible to act for the sake of the Empire.”
“……Now that I hear it, that seems to be the case.”
It felt as if I could hear the gears turning in his head from here.
Reinhardt continued to indirectly convey what he wanted.
“But.”
“But?”
“If it’s limited to the eastern part of the Empire, and if it's the far eastern region centered on Serigel, I might be able to produce meaningful results on my own. That's what I thought.”
“That’s a reasonable thought.”
The answer came immediately.
Ethan was quick on the uptake. Having the talent of a businessman, he clearly understood what Reinhardt was saying now.
“I see. You are right, Sir. Indeed, the Knight of the Far East.”
The eastern edge of the Empire.
Centered around the gateway city of Serigel, including some of the surrounding areas.
Reinhardt was saying that he would expand his radius of activity.
In other words, he wanted to be called not the guardian of Serigel, but the guardian of the eastern Empire.
‘From now on, Ethan Taton will be the CEO of an entertainment agency.’
The Taton Knights had to become an entertainment agency.
And Reinhardt himself?
He would become a rookie idol who recorded an all-time high stock price.
Raising that brand value was Ethan's role.
Reinhardt had to build up plausible achievements so that he could promote them to his heart's content.
“I do not wish to praise myself.”
“……I suppose so. In that case, I'll erase this phrase…….”
“But if through it, I can provide motivation to someone, that’s fine. An increase in knights means the Empire's strength grows, and as a result, the forces to fight against demons will increase.”
“……Sir Reinhardt’s generosity is beyond what I can follow.”
Ethan stopped the hand that was about to erase the phrase.
Instead, he even drew an emphasis mark on the phrase ‘Taught directly by Reinhardt’.
“Commander. And there is something else I must ask of you.”
“A request? Just say the word!”
“I found someone in Lockfort I’d like to recommend as a knight cadet. He has excellent innate talent but hasn't received proper training due to his circumstances.”
Ethan’s eyes widened for a moment, then he readily nodded his head.
“If it’s your recommendation, Sir, I must gladly accept it! I’m already looking forward to it.”
Reinhardt thought of Dirk in his mind.
Dirk, who was said to have fought and won against ten men single-handedly, was clearly a man born with physical talent.
‘He is Irien’s blood relative, after all.’
This was the world inside a game.
And it was an expansion pack where a completely different story from the original was unfolding.
Reinhardt had already twisted the story.
He had saved Irien from the clutches of the Warlock and even protected her precious family.
‘Then Dirk must have something too. It might be different in reality, but this is inside a game.’
One day, Dirk might become a hero who takes up a sword against demons.
So.
Perhaps in this expansion pack's world, Dirk might become a major or minor character who slaughters Warlocks hand-in-hand with Irien.
***
The gateway city of Serigel.
The Truma Order was, as always, full of faithful clergy.
Everyone wore a gentle smile on their lips. They were people who always treated others with goodwill and strived to practice the will of God.
“Truma is always illuminating the world.”
The young bishop, Dalton, was the same.
He never lost his faith. He was kind to everyone and never once abandoned his belief in God.
There was only one exception.
Only when dealing with things related to demons.
“Bishop Dalton.”
“Elder Mudva.”
Dalton greeted the visit from the Order's elder with a brighter smile than usual.
Thud.
He put down the mace he had been tending to until just a moment ago and placed his right hand on his chest to show respect.
“No matter when I see it, it truly is a gruesome means of judgment. Are you preparing for a holy war?”
“The moment of devotion will come without warning.”
“When was the last time you used a mace?”
“The battle about three years ago was the last.”
Elder Mudva of the Truma Order looked at the mace placed on the floor with a burdensome gaze.
The size of the head was comparable to a human head.
Moreover, sharp spikes were studded here and there, making it clear that a direct hit would cause irrecoverable damage.
“……It looks heavy.”
“If there is faith, nothing is impossible.”
“You are right. I just hope you will not have to use that weapon. We've received new information from Romain.”
Dalton’s gentle expression hardened.
“I am listening.”
“The targets of the plague were set. To be precise, it means there were humans who were not affected by the plague.”
Bishop Dalton wore a puzzled expression.
“Are you referring to us? The staff who serve God were originally unaffected by plagues, were we not?”
“If it were something like that, I wouldn't have come like this.”
Inside Romain, the plague had spread simultaneously, and there were no exceptions to its targets.
That's what was thought, but it turned out there was a group that was not affected by the plague at all.
“Elder, in that case, the ones behind them…….”
“There are two possibilities. Either they alone had the power to resist the plague. Or, there is a Warlock behind them.”
“Aah……!”
Bishop Dalton let out an exclamation without realizing it.
The face of Knight Reinhardt appeared in his mind and then disappeared.
God always provides the answer.
From the moment he heard the words Warlock and demon, Dalton had realized why the Sun God Truma had chosen Reinhardt.
“Bishop Dalton?”
“As of today, my faith has become even more sincere. As always, the sun illuminates the darkness, and I will become a torch that burns itself to willingly bring that will to this world……!”
“Bishop Dalton. Don't tell me you're starting again?”
“Aah, how could Truma be so……!”
“Calm down. Please, just calm down.”
Dalton only calmed his emotions after shedding a torrent of tears.
Mudva waited silently. It was an action born from such a deep faith that it was awkward to say anything about it.
“Can you hear me now?”
“Yes, Elder! I, Dalton, am listening!”
“You must leave for Romain soon. Please prepare to arrive within three days if possible.”
“I must gladly do so. I, Dalton, will certainly follow your words. Thankfully, Sir Reinhardt has also promised to accompany me on my journey!”
This time, Elder Mudva’s expression turned puzzled.
“Sir Reinhardt did? The suspicion of Black Magic was only revealed today. How on earth did he know?”
“Truma chose him.”
“Truma did?”
“Yes, Truma did.”
Elder Mudva couldn't bring himself to inquire further.
Bishop Dalton's faith was famous within the Order, and he knew all too well that the moment he raised an objection to those words, something very troublesome would happen.
“……Then there’s nothing more to question. I understand. I will pass that along to the people in Romain.”
“Yes, we will surely find the answer.”
For a moment, it seemed as if Bishop Dalton’s eyes flashed.
Elder Mudva did not bother to mention that fact.