Chapter 96 : Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Bitdori had become a plant.
To be precise, it meant that it was basking in the sun in the yard all day long, like a plant.
“Bbiii…….”
A pleasant, languid cry flowed out. It was like watching a cat rolling around on a building’s rooftop.
‘Will this do?’
Reinhardt watched Bitdori with his arms crossed.
Truma had said so.
To let Bitdori soak up plenty of light.
‘Then this should be right. He’s the Sun God. If the Sun God said light, it must naturally be sunlight.’
Perhaps it was a matter that required some time investment.
After all, it had only been a few days since it started sunbathing in earnest.
‘If I wait, an answer will come.’
Fortunately, Bitdori didn't seem to feel hot even after basking in the sun all day.
Rather, the more it basked, the more satisfied it seemed, as if it felt good.
“You like it that much?”
“Bbiiiii…….”
“Alright, as long as you’re happy.”
Having said that, Reinhardt turned his attention away from Bitdori. There was another problem he had to think about now.
‘Truma said it. A trial will come that all citizens of the Empire must overcome by joining forces.’
Through Dalton’s mouth, Truma had spoken.
A trial will come.
A trial that the Empire, not Serigel, would face.
‘It must be the demonic beasts. That’s obvious.’
The trial meant the full-scale appearance of demonic beasts.
The timing was also perfect.
He had just heard that Evangeline had carried out a mission to exterminate demonic beasts in the Palma Mountains.
In that case, what stance should Reinhardt himself take in the face of the appearance of demonic beasts?
‘First, they’ll spread in an instant. By the time people come to their senses, those things called demonic beasts will be easily seen anywhere in the Empire.’
The demonic beasts were like a plague that spread in an instant.
Moreover, Paganoa was taking a passive attitude towards control.
‘They’ll pop up in the east soon, too. But since I’ve made various preparations, it should be safe for a while.’
Serigel, Lockfort, Romain.
Some of the major cities in the eastern part of the Empire had been prepared by Reinhardt against warlocks.
If they could stop warlocks, they could also stop demonic beasts.
It meant they would be safe from harm, at least to some extent.
‘If I think of it that way… I should actually see it as an event, right? A generous event where I can raise experience points and secure new crafting materials.’
A crisis is also an opportunity.
This was especially true for someone who had made thorough preparations early on.
Hunting demonic beasts yielded enormous experience points, and their byproducts were treated as valuable materials.
“Evangeline and Fermil will be carrying out missions in the Palma Mountains.”
“Bbit?”
“Just talking to myself.”
“Bbiii…….”
After raising its head in surprise, Bitdori started rolling on the floor again.
Watching it for a moment, Reinhardt continued his thoughts.
‘The others will manage on their own, more or less. Not to mention Dalton. I’m a little concerned about Elmore in the north, but Miya must have taken measures.’
The safety of the blacksmith Ellie was being handled by the Paganoa Knights.
In that case, right now.
Who were the individuals Reinhardt could develop?
“First, there’s Bitdori.”
“Bbit?”
“Just talking to myself. And Irien, no. Irien is the same.”
Irien was a genius.
The academy would have recognized her innate talent early on.
It was unknown whether she would be deployed in actual combat, but whether she was or not, Irien could be considered safer than anyone else Reinhardt had been involved with so far.
“In that case… what’s left is Dirk. I’ll have to wait until Dalton finds that Aslan guy.”
“Bbit, bbit.”
“I just need to bring Dirk back. Shall we get going soon?”
“Bbiit!”
“Or you can go play and come back. Want to go out alone outside the knight order?”
“Bbi, bbiit!”
Bitdori nodded its head vigorously. To be precise, it was an affirmative gesture using its
entire body.
“Okay. Go ahead.”
“Bbiiiiit!”
As if it had been waiting, Bitdori soared high into the sky.
Its excited back was just like a little kid running to a playground.
“Shall I go too?”
Next, Reinhardt headed to the commander’s office.
To bring Dirk back, he needed Ethan’s permission, at least as a formality.
***
“Welcome! Am I busy? Of course not! I can handle this kind of work anytime! Yes, what is it?”
Ethan Taton greeted Reinhardt with a bright smile as usual.
He swept the documents he was working on to one side of his desk, adopting an attitude of focusing solely on Reinhardt.
“I have something to report.”
“A report, good. I like them too. Is it something serious?”
“Yes.”
Ethan’s smile vanished.
“Then I will listen seriously. Will you tell me?”
“Yes. Soon, the work that knights must do will increase.”
“The work that knights must do will increase. I would be grateful if you could be a little more specific.”
A little more specific.
Reinhardt organized his thoughts once before starting his explanation.
“An enemy we have never experienced before will appear. The range is the entire Empire. It will be difficult for anyone who is not trained to face them.”
“Is it warlocks?”
“No.”
“Something similar to warlocks, then? That is, something like a faction related to demons. Is that right?”
“That is correct.”
Reinhardt did not mention the demonic beasts directly.
“…That is grateful advice. If it weren't for you, I would not have been able to prepare.”
“It will be an opportunity for the Taton Knights to gain experience.”
“I understand completely. An enemy that even ordinary knights can face. They’ll be able to gain practical combat experience.”
“Yes.”
Ethan was quick-witted.
Even if he spoke in a roundabout way, he understood the content perfectly.
He also did not question the source of the information.
‘He must think it’s information I got from the Paganoa Knights.’
He was also aware of the fact that Reinhardt and Evangeline had met.
So, instead of trying to verify the information, he would accept it meekly.
“I will prepare so that all members can move in a timely manner. Is there any other advice you can give me? If there is, please speak without reservation.”
Reinhardt briefly searched his memory.
Back when he played the original work.
He drew a timeline in his head of the events that occurred right after the demonic beasts appeared.
“Soon, a considerable number of mercenary corps will be formed.”
First, countless mercenary corps appear.
It meant that from skilled aces to good-for-nothings holding a sword for the first time, they would all roam around in droves, calling themselves mercenaries.
“I see. Mercenaries.”
“Among them, there will be those with the potential to become knights. Are the qualifications for joining the Taton Knights strict?”
“Not at all. We only demand two things. Skill and character. Skill is a given, and as for character, it’s at a level where people won’t say, ‘Is that a knight?’ on the street.”
“The number of members will increase.”
“Good. I will supplement the members with skilled individuals from among the mercenaries….”
Ssk.
Ethan jotted down Reinhardt’s words, then raised his gaze and asked.
“Is there more?”
“First of all, Serigel will be safe.”
“Well, since you are here, of course… that’s not what you meant.”
“Also, Lockfort and Romain will be safe as well. The ones dispatched from Paganoa have done some ‘work’ there before.”
The ‘work’ referred to preparations against warlocks.
Naturally, it would also be a great help in fending off demonic beasts.
“I understand about half of it.”
“As I mentioned before, this situation will be a good opportunity for the members to gain experience.”
“Now I understand perfectly. Since this place is safe, I should send as many members as possible out to roll around. We can’t pass up the opportunity to build skills.”
The growth of the Taton Knights was also a welcome development for Reinhardt.
No matter how much of an extra they were, if they were pushed like that, someone might awaken their hidden talent.
“Also.”
Reinhardt opened his mouth again.
“Some caravans will accumulate immense wealth. The relationship with alchemists will be important.”
“I’ll arrange contact with large workshops. I should also grease some palms at the guild… no, I should strive to build good relationships. Will that do?”
“That is sufficient.”
Ethan was an excellent merchant.
If he was just told that the impending situation would be profitable, he would be more than capable of handling the rest on his own.
‘I just need to secure a production line. I know the combination formulas.’
Byproducts of demonic beasts.
That is, the horns, claws, or hides of certain demonic beasts were excellent processing materials.
Moreover, Reinhardt was in a position to know the correct processing methods for all those materials.
In the end, it meant that if he could just find an alchemist workshop that could be run like a factory, he could monopolize the related market in the early stages.
‘I don’t intend to make money, but I need to secure it anyway. That way, I can release the supply when needed.’
Reinhardt had already made his own plans. And he was confident he could finish them successfully.
“That is all.”
Reinhardt finished his report.
Since he had informed him about the ‘demonic beasts,’ from now on, it was Ethan’s part to handle.
“It’s going to be busy for a while. Thank you, Sir Reinhardt. It’s always been this way, but I am always grateful.”
“It is a matter of course. By the way, is Dirk still undergoing training?”
“Dirk? Of course, he’s completing his training with the best results. Do you have business with him?”
“Yes. Would it be alright to have Dirk return? If you permit it, I will personally educate him from now on.”
Ethan’s eyes widened.
“You, personally?”
“Yes.”
“…Then I must summon him at once! If you wish, I will proceed with the appointment immediately. Using the legitimate authority granted by the Imperial Family.”
“There is no need to go that far. The appointment is sufficient even after Dirk has acquired the full qualifications.”
“That would be right, wouldn't it?”
“Yes.”
Drrrk.
Ethan put the Knight Commander’s seal, which he had half-taken out, back into the drawer.
“Let me know when you judge the time is right. We will proceed with the appointment then.”
“Thank you.”
“I should be the one thanking you. In many ways. In any case, I will summon Dirk at once. If I send someone now, he should be able to arrive within the day.”
“Where is the training ground located?”
“You must have seen it too. There’s a particularly desolate land about halfway between Serigel and Lockfort, isn’t there?”
It was a location Reinhardt had also seen while traveling by carriage.
“In any case, wait a moment. I’ll go and tell my secretary.”
“Can you not just summon him here?”
“I’ve already given him something to do. I can’t keep you tied up here for long, can I?”
Ethan said with a grin and left the commander’s office without giving Reinhardt a chance to reply.
‘I like how quick he is.’
Of course, Reinhardt was also thinking that was to be expected.
On the outside, he was a righteous and loyal knight, but his inner self was different from his appearance.
And after waiting leisurely for a while in the comfortable chair of the commander’s office.
Tadadadak.
He heard the sound of someone running in a hurry.
Then the door was flung open.
“S-Sir Reinhardt!”
Ethan spat out his words urgently, panting for breath.
“The training ground has been attacked!”
“…Pardon?”
For a moment, their gazes met in mid-air.
And without a word, they simultaneously left the commander’s office and started running.