“I will conduct a pre-training regarding the current situation. The Candles, which were active as a team, are now attempting to unite and invade Rondan.”
As I was guided by Muyun, I found the Branch Manager giving a situation report alongside his branch members.
Why hadn’t they woken me up despite this situation?
What could be the reason for the sudden invasion by the Candles?
It didn’t seem like a simple invasion, but without knowing the circumstances, I couldn’t make any hasty judgments.
I tried to mix in with the Branch members to hear the Branch Manager’s words, but he pointed to the exit door with his finger as he saw me.
“You have been assigned as a direct member of the temporary headquarters by the Deputy Director’s orders, Tanton. You should head to the Knights’ headquarters immediately.”
Is this recognition of my past contributions making me feel like some special forces member?
Since the situation was urgent, I omitted minor questions and saluted immediately.
“Understood!”
The atmosphere was already heavy, but the warmth in the Branch Manager’s face was now dripping with seriousness.
I could tell this wasn’t an ordinary matter.
#
Knights’ Headquarters.
All the emergency doors that had been blocked by the hearth were now opened, and numerous knights were going back and forth inside the hearth.
It seemed that those entering and exiting had different states of armament, indicating that they were receiving supplies.
“Muyun, where is my master?”
“White Mask is cutting off the train’s fuel line. If the Candles seize the train, the situation will get worse.”
That railroad enthusiast is vandalizing his own train, huh.
That shows just how unprecedented this situation is.
I merged among the knights entering the hearth, and unlike the others, I headed straight to the Deputy Director’s office. As I opened the door, I saw the Deputy Director grabbing the Knight Commander by the shoulders, facing her.
“…Do you understand, Commander? From now on, you must protect this hearth.”
“Me?”
“Yes. So, please watch from a distance, and if anyone wearing other protective gear enters the domain, assist us. Until then, you must stay inside.”
“I don’t understand.”
Seeing the Knight Commander not grasping the seriousness of the situation, the Deputy Director sighed and then slightly brightened, as if realizing something.
“After all this is over, I will treat you to lamb.”
“Lamb?!”
“So please, survive and don’t lose your way. That is… my only wish, Commander.”
“I understand. I will make sure to protect it.”
I could feel the Deputy Director’s voice trembling slightly as he asked the Knight Commander not to lose her way.
It seemed she had been appointed to protect the interior of Rondan due to her prior experience of having lost the Knight Commander.
Was the explanation finally over? The Deputy Director took a deep breath and looked at me with a solemn expression.
“Tanton, have you arrived?”
“Deputy Director.”
As soon as I confirmed the conversation had ended, I saluted both the Knight Commander and the Deputy Director, and now that I was used to it, the Knight Commander returned my salute.
Lowering his hand, the Deputy Director nodded.
“Yes, it seems the Branch Manager conveyed it well.”
“Yes, he instructed me to come here.”
“Yes, Tanton. Although this may be a heavy burden for you since you have just recently become a knight, given the circumstances, it was an unavoidable judgment.”
It looked like the Deputy Director was finally going to explain my mission, so I focused intently on him. As he saw I was ready to listen, he nodded and spoke.
“From now on, we will do a direct assault on the Candles.”
Direct assault.
It meant we would enter the center before they invaded Rondan’s territory. The command to the Knight Commander to remain inside was probably to keep her as a last resort in case the Candles broke through.
This meant the Deputy Director was fully aware that it was quite a risky mission.
“But, Deputy Director.”
“Yes, I know what you’re thinking, Tanton.”
After saying that, the Deputy Director lowered his head and sighed.
“But as you know, our top forces are just me, White Mask, and the Commander. In such a situation, facing those numerous Candles would mean certain destruction for our domain.”
Hearing the Deputy Director’s explanation made sense.
Thinking back to the last encounter with the Candles, we had borrowed Bell’s strength for just that number of enemies, and we won easily.
Even if we assume that we have grown stronger since then and could borrow the strength of the Elite Outsider, it was meaningless considering the overwhelming numbers against us.
Branch, District, Detachment, Alliance, Headquarters flow of knight units.
Common knights likely wouldn’t be able to withstand and would be slaughtered.
“But four people against that many…”
“We have no choice. Otherwise, we will lose Rondan to those vile beings.”
Destruction.
The Deputy Director’s judgement of the current situation indicated just how extreme it was.
I had never faced a massive troop directly before.
Therefore, it would be wise to heed the Deputy Director’s words, whose combat experience far exceeds mine.
And merging everything into this operation means that if it fails, there would essentially be no way left to protect Rondan.
“I understand, Deputy Director.”
Standing at attention, I placed my clenched fist against my chest and nodded.
“I will follow you to the best of my ability.”
“Good!”
Was it my resolve?
The Deputy Director shouted loudly, lifting a massive plastic sword.
The tip of the sword was aimed beyond the Rondan Castle Walls.
“From now on, we will do everything we can for Rondan!”
The Deputy Director yelled.
“Sacrifice your lives!”
#
We went out through the entrance of Rondan.
In contrast to the Deputy Director’s words, some of the troops were still waiting near the entrance.
I thought there would be no support troops, but then I heard the Deputy Director’s voice.
“Those who have gathered here all believe they will die today. I wanted to… stop them.”
“Oh.”
Hearing that made me look at them; their expressions were somber, and some were on the verge of tears.
Regardless of their state, they shared one commonality.
A resolute will.
The determination to willingly sacrifice their lives to protect Rondan.
“You’ve arrived.”
Just then, a woman’s voice resonated from somewhere.
It was White Mask.
“Master.”
“Did you manage to persuade that spoiled Commander well?”
I was taken aback by the slightly softer tone, so different from White Mask’s usual speech, but the Deputy Director instead smiled.
“I promised him lamb.”
“You really are devoted.”
I realized that her tone wasn’t exactly friendly.
But I could clearly sense a bit of worry in her words.
She must be resentful of the Knight Commander who recklessly set out for the Snow Mountain, leading to the death of comrades.
That’s their issue; I had no time to worry about it now.
I looked around.
Muyun was slightly trembling in the back.
But despite her expression, she was showing a determined will.
So, Muyun had developed strong mental fortitude enough to endure this.
“Knights!”
The Deputy Director’s voice echoed, drawing everyone’s attention to us.
Confirming that not a single person was absent from looking at me, the Deputy Director spoke loudly.
“From now on, we will be facing the Candles on an alliance scale.”
With that statement, the already quiet atmosphere became even colder.
Everyone must be scared.
They might be thinking they could die at any moment.
The Deputy Director, knowing this, shouted.
“You might die. You may never find your corpse, buried under the snow of the wicked Giant of the Snow Mountain for all eternity.”
Hearing the Deputy Director’s words made the reality sink in, and I could hear sighs from different corners.
But none of them were escaping.
“All the knights have gathered here to prove their chivalry!”
The Deputy Director suddenly shouted.
At that unexpected action, the knights showed stunned expressions, all turning to the Deputy Director in unison.
With a solemn and serious expression, the Deputy Director surveyed them.
“For your families, for Rondan! Even knowing they may never see them again, they willingly came here! Who could possibly defeat such determined knights!”
As the story progressed, the knights who had been deadpan began to show signs of life.
Unknown thrills and the fighting spirit surged within them.
“We are the knights of Rondan! Those proud of their chivalry! How will your chivalry shine? What color do you wish to shine with?”
At those words, the common knights began to raise their weapons high above their heads.
“Even if we get injured, collapse, or die, we, the knights of Rondan, will remember you! Your honor will surely be passed down to future generations!”
The Knight Commander sacrificed for this, and the Deputy Director finally began to shout the will that had been building up until now.
In his tear-filled eyes, a firm resolution was felt.
“Follow me! We are Rondan, no! We are the strongest knight order in the world!!!”
Everyone present, not a single person left out, erupted into a loud cheer.
And they vowed.
They would achieve victory!
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