Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Antennae (3)
Sadly, Winter did not like the antennae.
“No. Senior. Who— no, what kind of order makes priest robes out of leather!”
“It’s not leather; you’d have to see it as an exoskeleton, I guess? Is this what they call chitin?”
“Me? I don’t mind.”
“Object to it!”
“But? I really don’t mind.”
Winter’s face flushed bright red as she poured out her agitation. I had never seen her like this before, so I found it a bit refreshing to watch.
Worden tilted his head at my question. He had the attitude that nothing really mattered. I couldn’t understand why Winter was this worked up.
“As long as it’s pretty, isn’t that enough~”
“True.”
Canis, who had appeared without me noticing, took my side. Winter abruptly pulled out Silent Bell and waved it.
Worden, seeing Silent Bell for the first time, looked startled by the sudden mental shift he felt. Wondering if there was some reason behind it, I asked:
“Is there some religious reason for this?”
“Thaaat’s… ugh.”
“Be honest.”
After hesitating for a long while, Winter seemed to gather courage at my words.
“I don’t want to wear an insect shell!”
“Hey. That’s way too honest.”
The reason turned out to be entirely personal. Even if it was insect-like, wouldn’t performance be what mattered? I appreciated things like aesthetics and romance too, but performance came first.
“What about the design?”
“Bring me some paper.”
On the sheet Winter handed me, I sketched quickly. I based it on clothes I had seen in a game long ago.
I tried to come up with something that felt as religious as possible.
“It’s pretty~ Do I get one too?”
“You’re not part of our order.”
“But still~ Don’t you think someone like me deserves one?”
“What have you even done, you punk.”
After checking the design I handed over, Canis spoke first. I flatly rejected her sudden request.
Priest robes symbolized the order. When you wore them, you became its face. If this troublemaker caused an incident while dressed in them, the blame would fall squarely on us.
“Is it a coat?”
“It’s designed to be worn like a coat. There’s no need to wrap everything up so tightly.”
“Hm.”
“It’s good for mobility too.”
Only after seeing the design did Winter reluctantly accept it. I hadn’t expected resistance over something like this.
Worden, uninterested from the start, said nothing.
“Oh~ right. Dabi. Dabi.”
“What.”
“We found our method~”
“Oh really?”
As if only just remembering, Winter made an “ah” face. She had been researching diligently before I arrived, so the impact of the insect priest robes must have been quite strong.
“Cult Leader.”
“Hm?”
“I’m excited.”
“You crazy bastard.”
Winter’s jaw dropped as she rebuked Worden. Canis looked unsure whether she had heard correctly. The statement was certainly sudden, but I took it seriously.
It was an instinct sharp enough to be called a talent for sensing danger. And he had used the rather filthy expression “excited,” no less. Given how much I trusted that ability, there was no way I could simply brush it aside.
―Knock knock.
Surprisingly, someone had come to visit.
Winter jumped in shock and looked at Worden, while Canis wore an amused expression.
“Huh? Vice-Commander?”
“Oh my. There are quite a lot of guests today.”
Winter dashed out and opened the door. She moved faster than anyone else.
The Vice-Commander, who entered with her usual gentle demeanor, seemed surprised to see the chapel so crowded.
With quick perception, she examined each person. Canis was well-known enough to pass without issue, but when she saw Worden, she tilted her head slightly.
I rose from my seat.
“This is Canis, the second-ranked freshman of the Magic Department.”
“Hello~ I’m Canis Ulbushis.”
“And this is Worden, who recently joined our order.”
“I’m Worden Yord. I look forward to working with you.”
“Ah. I’m Sheila, Vice-Commander of the Imperial 6th Knight Order. I look forward to working with you as well.”
Only after Winter, who had brought out tea at just the right time, handed over the teacups were we able to sit down. Even with four pairs of eyes fixed on her, the Vice-Commander did not seem bothered.
She merely sipped her black tea and tilted her head.
“The taste of the tea has changed.”
“I think~ it’s because~ I brewed it~”
“Student Canis seems quite knowledgeable about tea. Of course, Davide’s had its own flavor as well.”
“Dabi’s a total beginner~ I’m a total expert~”
“That sounds like you want to be thrown out.”
Only after I growled did Canis shut her mouth. Her playful gesture was unbearably irritating.
The Vice-Commander, perhaps pleased with the warm atmosphere, was smiling far more deeply than usual.
“More importantly, what brings you here?”
“Oh my, I almost forgot.”
The small talk dragged on longer than expected. It was because Winter answered every question with inexplicable sincerity.
When the conversation reached a lull, I stepped in so we could move to the main topic.
“Officially, I’m supposed to conduct an inspection of the sponsored order. I even have to write a report, apparently.”
“An order inspection? That was a thing?”
I asked, looking at Winter. She responded with a nod.
“If you say ‘officially,’ then?”
“Yes, well. I’ve been overworked, so I’m taking a little time off.”
She said that far too brightly. Time off or not, that couldn’t be the real reason. The Vice-Commander I had seen until now was razor-sharp when it came to work.
More than anything, she wasn’t the type to do something pointless. Beneath her outwardly gentle appearance was a thoroughly meticulous personality.
Judging by Winter’s expression, similar to mine, I wasn’t the only one thinking that.
“Ha ha. You don’t believe me.”
Perhaps sensing the distrustful stares from both of us, the Vice-Commander let out an awkward laugh.
After nearly thirty minutes of chatter, seemingly satisfied, she changed her expression to something more serious.
“First, this.”
The Vice-Commander pulled a document from her coat. I accepted it with a puzzled look and examined it.
Then my eyebrows twitched in surprise. I had never imagined I would be seeing this here and now.
[Selective Career Experience Student Application Form]. It was something you only saw in the fourth year, and only from students who showed real promise.
What it meant was simple. Our group has marked you! So come find us in a year, and in return we’ll give you this!
And that had been handed to me, a second-year student. Not only that, but to me, who stood as the Cult Leader of an order. And from none other than the Imperial Knight Order, which trusted no one outside the Imperial Family.
“Vice-Commander.”
“Yes, Student Davide.”
“Forgive my impertinence, but I quite, well, hold you in high regard— no, I think very highly of you.”
“I’m at a loss for words that you think so kindly of me. I feel the same about you, Student Davide.”
“Yes. Exactly. At present, the relationship between myself and the Imperial Knight Order—especially you, Vice-Commander—is rather positive. However, this is clearly an act of provocation.”
“……”
“You are aware of my temperament, Vice-Commander. And yet you present this to me. Is it because you believe I wouldn’t dare touch the Imperial Knight Order?”
As my expression gradually hardened, the Vice-Commander gave an awkward smile.
Canis, as always, wore a bright grin. Winter, unusually, had a serious look on her face. Only Worden, who had just joined and knew little about religion, seemed puzzled.
I realized there was some hidden intent behind this. It was so shallow a move that it was hard to believe it came from the Vice-Commander, who carried such an image of intelligence.
This was an obvious provocation. And not even a particularly effective one.
“As far as I’m concerned, I have no excuse. I can only apologize.”
I see. What she meant was that this matter did not reflect her own will. In other words, it was the decision of someone above her.
For example, could it be Ethan? But it didn’t quite suit that dark-circled middle-aged man’s style.
“The sorrow of a civil servant can’t be helped, I suppose.”
I spoke as though I understood. Of course, having never been one myself, perhaps that was closer to deception.
That alone seemed to suffice, as the Vice-Commander’s smile grew more at ease. In contrast, my own expression gradually turned cold.
I had intended to probe further, but she wasn’t biting at all. Was her sole objective simply to deliver this document?
“That being said, Vice-Commander. However I may appear, I am the Cult Leader of an order. The proposal itself constitutes a kind of provocation. I would appreciate it if you did not allow me to misunderstand.”
“Of course. Indeed. It wasn’t something I was keen on either. I suppose I’ll have to argue quite diligently on its behalf now.”
I personally refilled the Vice-Commander’s empty teacup. She expressed her thanks and took a sip.
Rather than slowly savoring the taste, she seemed to be moistening her dry mouth. After a brief pause, she slowly opened her mouth.
“This document itself is a kind of preemptive claim. It is originally only given to fourth-year students, yet we are handing it to you, Student Davide, a full two years early. That means we are quite desperate.”
“Desperate, you say.”
“Yes. Our Imperial Knight Order wishes to secure Student Davide ‘at all costs.’”
Up to that point, it was within expectations. I fell into thought with an indifferent expression. The Vice-Commander seemed to have no intention of revealing anything further.
She had spoken of defending the matter, but in truth, she had not been much help. She simply waited for my response with the same composed face as always.
“Well, I suppose I’ll find out eventually. For now, I must decline. As you know, I am the head of an order.”
As I pushed the document back across the table, she caught it without the slightest hesitation. As though she had expected this reaction. For some reason, her expression looked refreshed.
Was that just now some kind of crossroads?
“Then I should be on my way. I seem to have caused trouble unintentionally.”
“It’s fine. But is it alright for you to leave like this?”
“Pardon?”
“It doesn’t seem to be the story your superior would have wanted.”
“……You can be quite sharp with your words.”
There was much contained in that smile. Specifically, I sensed something akin to the sorrow of a subordinate employee. The atmosphere grew solemn on its own.
“I will cooperate as much as possible regarding the sponsorship report.”
“Yes?”
“As one who has received sponsorship, I cannot be picky. I will assist you sincerely. Of course, Winter will go.”
“……Ah, me?”
At the sudden mention of her name, Winter let out a foolish sound. Perhaps finding the sight amusing, the Vice-Commander burst into a cheerful laugh.
“Then shall I come again soon?”
“With pleasure.”
The Vice-Commander left behind a lingering smile as she departed. After seeing her off, I sank into the sofa.
“Dabi~”
“What.”
“Why would someone who’s the Vice-Commander of the Imperial Knight Order come all the way here~”
“I’m curious about that too.”
Canis grabbed my shoulder abruptly and spoke. She always voiced exactly what she felt.
Why was someone like the Vice-Commander being so kind to the Anaye Order— to me? To say she was simply a kind person felt suspicious, given the occasional glimpses I had seen of her other side.
“Do you sense something?”
“Hmm.”
I asked Worden, who had been sitting there blankly. He pondered for quite a while. I couldn’t see what required so much thought.
“This is just my personal opinion? But I hope you get along well with the Imperial Knight Order.”
“So I should avoid them.”
Most of what Worden said needed to be interpreted in reverse. His instincts weren’t always correct, so I couldn’t blindly trust them. Still, it was far too solid an ability to ignore.
“Should I meet her superior?”
The Vice-Commander’s superior. The one who issued orders to her. If it was the person I was thinking of, someone at my current standing wouldn’t even be able to meet them face-to-face.
That said, I had no intention of living in discomfort only to be stabbed in the back later. I had a rough idea who it might be.
“I’ll go later.”
It wasn’t urgent. For now, preparing for Episode 3 seemed like the better choice.
If it was the person I expected, meeting that superior now would likely unleash a flood of sub-quests. I decided I would wait a little longer, prepare properly, and then deal with them head-on.