The support funds sent from the kingdom have arrived.
It can’t be said to be a large amount. But for us, who barely have anything, it was like a drop of rain during a drought. However, I couldn’t spend it carelessly.
Because you never know when and where something might happen. Right now, thanks to selling off all the junk from Lionheart Fortress, we had some leeway in funds, but that wouldn’t last long.
Once I started using the funds properly, I was sure they would run out quickly. It had been about two months since I took office as Commander; I had put it off as long as I could, but now I couldn’t delay any longer.
“I need to resume the work of the Royal Knights.”
Originally, the Royal Knights dispatched a small number of knights to where they were needed. From the beginning, the entry criteria for the Royal Knights required knights capable of facing demons.
In the past, before the Annihilation, the Royal Knights were in their prime, each individual was on par with a typical knight order. It was truly a golden age.
Naturally, since they were the Royal Knights, they received support from various races and nations without discrimination. But now that the golden age has ended in Annihilation, what about now?
“It’s just gathering dust. No requests, no support.”
“It can’t be helped. The trust in the Royal Knights has been shattered.”
“…For now, I have no choice but to endure and acknowledge it.”
Even while I was working in my office, there were no requests coming in from elsewhere. With a sigh at the words of Cluna, my aide who was working beside me, I felt the weight of the current situation.
The Royal Knights’ Annihilation heightened the sense of crisis that we could no longer rely on external personnel. As a result, each nation strictly prohibited the outflow of talent and instead strengthened their military power.
That in itself is certainly a good thing. But the problem is that the opponent is tough. The reason we suffered so desperately until the foundation of the Royal Knights was precisely because they did not form alliances.
In the past, the Royal Knights had somehow solved that problem, but now, that means of pretext has disappeared, and the situation is regressing to the past.
“To prove the existence of the Royal Knights, we must start by rebuilding our reputation through requests.”
“But it’s not entirely a hopeless situation. If this prompts each nation to strengthen their military power…”
“Sadly… I doubt that conclusion will be a good one.”
“Huh?”
I actually understand. The Royal Knights, in whom I had placed my trust, have all burned away, and what’s left is just ashes. How could anyone trust and rely on the remnants of the Royal Knights again?
Besides, the Royal Knights were once called the strongest in history, the golden age itself. It’s far better to focus on national defense than to think about reconstruction.
The problem is that I already know the conclusion to this story. Over 80% of the continent has been conquered, and some nations and races like the Dwarf Republic have been completely annihilated.
I turned my head. Cluna was looking at me intently. A single word wrong could lead to this. She has the experience. I raised my palm to show and said.
“No, that was a slip of the tongue. Don’t mind it, more importantly, how is Bayard’s condition now?”
“Fortunately, he’s in a much stabler state now. He still shows some signs of instability… but.”
“But?”
“T, that is, Commander…”
“Huh?”
Oh dear, that surprised me. Just peeking in from outside the door, I thought it was a severed head. The bear ears on her reddish-brown hair trembled nervously. I sighed and said.
“Bayard, what’s going on?”
“W, well… you see…”
“Bayard is still showing severe anxiety symptoms. Sometimes, anxiety strikes suddenly, and if we’re not careful, it can lead to fits.”
“I understand. Having gone through such hell… so what’s the solution?”
“That would be you, Commander.”
Before she could finish her sentence, Bayard charged at me like a wild boar. Kwahak!! Thankfully, she slowed down before crashing into me, but the problem was what came next.
She wrapped her arms around my body. You might think what’s the problem with that. But imagine being bear-hugged by a bear. My insides might just pop out.
I’ve heard that this painful act can, to some extent, alleviate Bayard’s anxiety symptoms. At least now, it’s improved. It used to happen at any moment.
“Well, it’s certainly better than two months ago.”
“Back then, it happened over 40 times a day, right?”
“Now it’s down to about 7 times.”
“That’s quite a reduction.”
Can you even call that a statement? My heart drops every time it happens. I’ve thought I was going to die several times because Bayard embraced me with full force every time.
[Uh, um… Would I become a burden?]
[If that were the case, the Commander would have dodged himself.]
[O-oh, I see! Then until that happens, I can freely…!!]
[…….]
It’s not that I can’t dodge; it’s that I can’t. I thought about using Time Stop to dodge, but it always failed. My Time Stop has two functions.
One is the active Time Stop that I trigger with my consciousness. The other is a passive Time Stop that activates when my life is in danger. The problem is with the active one.
Since I have to activate it myself, if my reaction is slow, it’s useless. And when I try to react to Bayard, she always hugs me first.
Indeed… this is the power of a mid-tier Royal Knights member. It’s definitely on a different level compared to the low-tier members like Clara or Ruby. The issue is that this isn’t an attack, so the passive doesn’t activate.
Moreover, thanks to what Cluna told Bayard, the option to dodge using Time Stop has vanished. If I were to dodge Bayard, how would I resolve her anxiety symptoms?
“You’re always here, Bayard.”
“Ah, Helia, you’ve arrived.”
“We should hurry back. Don’t we have to train?”
“…Helia?”
“It’s fine, teacher. I’m not angry.”
For someone who just said that, the veins on her forehead were popping out, and her red hair was standing up like a demon. Helia was forcing a smile while biting her lips.
It was so frightening that I felt scared myself. However, Bayard approached her nonchalantly, wiping her nose. Then blood flowed from Helia’s tightly clenched lips.
“S-sorry. Helia, I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s okay, Bayard. I can repay it all through training.”
“Yeah! You’re right! I’ll do my best too!”
“Ugh…!!”
It was clear that Helia was even more furious at Bayard’s remark. This had been happening since two months ago. Helia poured all that rage into sparring after watching Bayard hug me.
I can’t imagine how shocked Clara and Ruby, who were watching, were. But Bayard didn’t seem bothered at all. In fact, she wore a refreshing expression while accepting it all.
Watching that, I suddenly recalled a video I saw online, involving a martial artist sparring with a bear. Of course, calling it sparring is generous; the bear was merely playing.
“What a funny combination.”
“But thanks to that, Bayard has become much brighter.”
“That’s another ironic part.”
Helia attacked earnestly during the spar, but Bayard was just casually letting it happen. It shows that there’s still an overwhelming difference in power between the two.
But thanks to that, Helia’s skills have improved dramatically. Stimulated by that, Clara and Ruby are also diligently training. So it’s ultimately a positive cycle.
If things could go well like this, that would be great. Just then, as I was working, I noticed a letter on my desk. I turned to Cluna and asked.
“What’s this letter?”
“It just arrived this morning. Judging by the seal, it appears to be from the Dwarf Republic.”
“The Dwarf Republic… Do they still have things to say?”
I thought they hadn’t gotten over what happened before as I broke the seal and read the letter. The content was something I completely did not expect.
“…Cluna, the first request has arrived.”
“The first request? Please tell me it’s from the Dwarf Republic?!”
“Right. It’s half a request, and half a complaint.”
To summarize the letter’s contents, it stated that we can’t trust your abilities as the new Commander, so prove your strength by resolving this request alone. It wasn’t wrong.
We are not some mediocre knight order. We are the Commander of the Royal Knights. It’s only natural that they would throw shade like this, especially given the history with the Dwarf Republic.
It was clear they were bringing up past grievances. But, either way, a request is a request. We weren’t in a position to offer excuses.
“Commander, let’s formally decline this request.”
“Is it really necessary?”
“Facing demons alone is extremely dangerous. The Royal Knights before faced demons with at least two in a team.”
“That’s why it’s a good thing.”
If I go alone, I can manage somehow. After all, I have Time Stop. Even if I can’t do anything, I can survive using Time Stop.
The Royal Knights are currently too unstable to send anyone else on a dispatch.
So, it’s actually better for me to go alone and handle it somehow.
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