Book 5: Chapter 12
The referee led me to the Saint Knight Kingdom’s garrison. As soon as we arrived there, every single knight there – whether they were working, or training – stopped their activity, turned to the referee, and saluted him. The Saint Knight Kingdom’s salute was standing at attention, raising their right elbow to shoulder height, and putting their fist to their right chest.
When the referee said “At ease”, they broke the salute and returned to their original work. But at the same time, they glanced at me with a look which said, “Who is this dirty boy?”
As the name suggests, Saint Knight Kingdom is a country of “knights”. They do not simply hold the title of “Knight”, but a “knight” that actually means “a soldier who can ride a horse”. All civilian employees of the Saint Knight Kingdom must be able to fight on horseback.
Naturally, the knights have their own ranks. I am not familiar with them, but the referee is probably a top-rank knight.
「At ease. At ease.」
While the referee continued to say that, we arrived at a tent which seemed to belong to the referee. It was a plain tent with only 10 chairs around a large table.
I was invited to take a seat on one of the chairs. As soon as I sat down, I felt so tired and wanted to fall asleep on the spot. However, Wilhelm and the others were standing at the entrance of the tent. I couldn’t allow myself to relax.
「Because of the front line, I can’t welcome you properly. Please forgive me, guest-san.」
「I don’t intend to stay long, so it’s okay.」