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Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? (Light Novel) - Volume 8.5, Chapter 2: Oath and Insignia of Rank
Volume 8.5, Chapter 2: Oath and Insignia of Rank
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Part 1
Charl's golden hair swung as she ran.
“Blue Knight! Where are you!? Show yourself!”
She shouted out as she ran through crowds of confused people. Compared to the people around her, she was extremely short so she couldn't see ahead of her. The only thing she could do was shout as she continued looking.
She was in the fort located at the town of Raustor. Just a while ago this had been a base for the coup d'état army, but it was now under the control of the reborn Forthorthe army. They had successfully driven the coup d'état army out of this fort just yesterday.
Because of that there were a lot of people in the fort. When thinking of a fort, one would imagine lots of knights and soldiers, but that wasn't quite right. When a military force was on the move, they needed a similar number of men to carry supplies. Since neither trucks nor aircraft existed in this age, that was inevitable. Thanks to that, there were a lot of civilian volunteers helping to support the army, and traders, providing the actual supplies filling up the fort.
Their expressions were all bright, their morale was high, and they all had a strong will to retake their home country.
The coup d'état had begun with the assassination of the emperor and empress. From there, the country's economic situation and public order began deteriorating. The citizens’ lives turned for the worse over just a few months. However, thanks to repeated victories of the reborn Forthorthe army, the citizens felt like the winds were turning. As a result, a lot of people began joining the army and decided to solve this national crisis by gathering their power.
In the minds of the people, something that might be called a hope existed. That hope was a single young knight.
He was peerless on the battlefield, but he never got full of himself and even showed mercy to his enemies. He was the model image of how a knight should be, and a loyal subject who protected princess Alaia. When people called his name, they made sure to show respect, as they said 'Forthorthe's Blue Knight, Reios Fatra Bertorion'.
Princess Charl was able to find that Blue Knight in the soldiers training area next to the ramparts of the fort.
“Your highness, if you're looking for Reios-sama, I saw him by the training area.”
“Oh! You're right! Blue Knight is hiding all the way over there!”
“Fufu, I don't think he's hiding... It looks like he's training with the new recruits.”
“Mary, good work, allow me to praise you!”
“Aha, it's my honor, your highness.”
After hearing of his whereabouts from Mary, Charl ran towards the training area. The people made way for Charl to pass through. As she ran past, they couldn’t help but stare at her back and smile. The sight of a cheerful child had the power to cheer people up in any age.
“Blue Knight!”
Charl shouted the name out loud. But it seemed like her voice didn't reach all the way to the person she shouted at, as he didn't notice Charl's existence. He was currently sparring with Flair, a female knight Charl knew very well.
“Bertorion, your sword handling is too beautiful. I think it would be harder to read you if you drop your shoulders a little.”
“My teacher was very strict about that... so it's quite hard to break the habit.”
Since Flair was from the Pardomshiha family, which was famous for creating splendid knights for countless generations, she was an expert when it came to swords. In order to make up for her physique, she used a thin sword and swiftly struck at her enemy's weak points. Her attacks were sharp and fast.
However, her attacks didn't reach the knight in blue armor. He was wearing a thick full plate armor and using a large, traditional knight sword while she was wearing light armor and using a thin sword. Despite the large difference in mobility, the knight in blue armor evaded her attacks at the last moment. On top of that, they had been at it for several minutes already. The knight in blue armor must have an absurd amount of stamina and skill with the sword. Of course, the same could be said for Flair, as she hadn't taken a single attack yet either.
“Blue Knight!”
However, when Charl called his name again, the fight finally ended.
“Your highness?”
The knight who had been called noticed Charl's existence and turned towards her.
“You're wide open!”
That was when Flair's sword approached, however, her sword stopped just before reaching the knights throat. If it continued any further it would have pierced right through.
“...That's why I keep telling you that you're too honest, Bertorion.”
“Well done, Lord Flairhan.”
Flair smiled wryly as she returned her sword to its sheath. As she did, the soldiers who had been watching the two erupted. Some rejoiced in Flair's victory, while others were bitter and some praised their good fight. Having witnessed their commanders’ skills up close, their excitement was at its peak.
“B-Blue Knight! Ah, ooohh! Hee~y!”
Charl forced her way through the excited soldiers and appeared in the training area. She had lost her balance as she was being pushed around by the soldiers, but she cheerfully began running once more as she spotted the knight in blue armor.
“I finally found you, Blue Knight! You've put me through some trouble!”
Having finally found the person she was looking for after searching all over the fort, Charl's smile at that time was so bright it looked like it was shining.
Koutarou squatted and they stared at each other. As they did, Charl suddenly dashed forward like a bullet.
“Blue Knight!”
“Your high—ness!?”
As she got just in front of Koutarou, she kicked off the ground and jumped forward. That was her way of expressing her love.
Koutarou caught her tiny body mid-air. Since Charl didn't care that Koutarou was wearing his armor all the time, if he didn't stop her like that, she would crash right into the plate. Thanks to the power of the armor and his ability to see auras, he managed to avoid getting Charl hurt, but it was a nerve racking experience every time.
“...Your highness, I keep telling you. You should come over more slowly or you will get hurt.”
“Blue Knight... does that mean you don't want to catch me anymore?”
Having been warned by Koutarou, Charl looked up at him with a very sad expression on her face. Seeing her sad eyes from up close, Koutarou felt like he was the one doing something bad.
“That's not it, but―”
“Then isn't it alright. I will jump and you will catch me. Where is the problem in that?”
“No, that's not it at all.”
This kind of discussion had been repeated several times, and it always ended with Koutarou backing down. In the end, Koutarou was unable to reject Charl's straight and earnest feelings.
“More importantly―”
And this time ended up with Koutarou's loss once again. Charl dismissed the entire discussion with her 'more importantly', and jumped down to the ground. She then pulled out something and presented it to Koutarou with both hands.
“Blue Knight, I will present you with this.”
Inside her hands was a small ornament. It was a piece of rectangular wood with a belt of wool around it.
“Your highness, what is this?”
Flair peeked into Charl's hands from beside Koutarou and asked what it was with a smile on her face. In response, Charl proudly puffed up her chest.
“This is an insignia of rank that sister and I made.”
“An insignia of rank you say?”
Having been told what the ornament was, Koutarou stared at the wooden piece. On it was something written with ink.
Since Koutarou couldn't read Forthorthe, he tilted his head and the armor began translating the characters on the wooden piece for him.
“Insignia of Forthorthe's Blue Knight, Super Important Bodyguard for Charl and Alaia.”
One could tell it had been written by a child at first glance, but Koutarou understood that they had been written with great care. A colorful, knit wool ribbon decorated the wooden piece. While that too was simple, Koutarou knew that it had been made by Alaia.
“Sister and I present you with this as thanks for your contribution.”
Charl and Alaia had worked together to make this insignia after Charl had asked for it. After staring at the insignia for a while, Koutarou realized that and smiled at her.
“Thank you very much, princess Charl. Please give princess Alaia my thanks as well.”
“You can do that yourself later, Blue Knight.”
Seeing Koutarou's smile, Charl's proud expression turned into a cheerful smile. She then reached her hand up towards Koutarou's chest and attached the insignia.
“There. Feel pride in it for a long time, Blue Knight.”
“I will make it an heirloom, your highness.”
“Good!”
Charl was an innocent yet clever girl, so she knew that it wasn't guaranteed that Koutarou would be pleased with the insignia. But she couldn't come up with another way to show her gratitude. So she had presented it to Koutarou while feeling a little anxious. Fortunately, Koutarou liked the homemade insignia and as a result, Charl's smile was brighter than normal.
“Alright, then let's go.”
Satisfied, Charl climbed up on Koutarou's back as he was still squatting down. And after securing her body on top of his, she lightly tapped on Koutarou's shoulder twice.
“You can stand.”
“I understand... but where to now?”
Koutarou held onto Charl and stood up. Charl pointed towards a building in the center of the fort. It was a large and solid building made out of bricks. It was a vital building of the fort that served as the headquarters and barracks.
“Like I said. Tell sister your thanks directly.”
“So, to princess Alaia?”
“Yes, sister needs you. And I had some business with you too, so I came calling for you.”
As Charl said that she wrapped her arms around Koutarou's neck and held on tight.
“I see.”
Koutarou understood the circumstances. Alaia had some business with Koutarou, so on top of giving Koutarou the insignia of rank, Charl sent him to Alaia.
“Good. So as you can see, Flair, I shall be borrowing Blue Knight.”
“Okay. Bertorion, take care of her highness.”
“Understood.”
“What's talking you so long? Let's go.”
“Y-Yes, right away.”
Koutarou was rushed by Charl and he left the training area. And so, Flair and Mary were left behind in the middle of the training area.
“Come on, hurry! Sister is waiting for you!”
“I understand, so please stay still!! Ah, look out!!”
Koutarou ran towards the center of the fort with Charl on his back. The two remaining girls stared at them as they continued their lively discussion.
After Koutarou and Charl had vanished, Flair smiled wryly and mumbled.
“...And to think he's a peerless knight on the battlefield. The world is full of mysteries.”
As Flair stared at the two, she had almost forgotten that Koutarou was a knight who played a big part in their victories. Flair's instincts told her that he didn't possess the atmosphere of a knight.
She couldn't help but feel perplexed as when Koutarou was together with Charl, he didn't look like an impressive knight at all, despite the truth that he was.
Meanwhile, Mary who was next to Flair had a slightly different opinion. After Koutarou and Charl vanished, she looked over at Flair and smiled.
“But, isn't that why we are winning?”
“What do you mean?”
Flair looked at Mary; she couldn't understand the meaning of Mary's words. She believed the opposite of them to be true.
“If Reios-sama just went around slaughtering the enemy, we wouldn't have this many allies, and we might not have continued winning...”
Koutarou didn't kill people. It could be that people died as a result, but he hadn't killed a single person that had tried to kill him. And since they still won, everyone praised and imitated Koutarou. Therefore, the reborn Forthorthe army tried not to kill too many of their enemies.
Since they didn't kill people for no reason, the reborn Forthorthe army didn't become an object of hatred, and there were plenty of people who switched sides to join them. Regardless of justice, nobody would want to cooperate with someone who would kill their family in cold blood.
As a result, as a peculiar knight in this age, Koutarou's very existence led the Forthorthe army from victory to victory.
“That might be true. No matter how strong you are on your own, it's not much help in a war...”
Flair nodded. She felt like it might be just as Mary said.
If Koutarou did the opposite of what he did and he just killed all of his enemies, the reborn Forthorthe army might have been suppressed by now. Even if he could kill hundreds on his own, he couldn't beat the coup d'état army alone. Without the cooperation of the people, he wouldn't be able to protect Alaia and Charl. He would just become an object of fear and would eventually die, without finding any allies or supplies as he marched on.
It might be effective to kill as many enemies as possible in the short-term, but that overwhelming force might become a problem later on. That could be seen in Earth's history as well. The Roman empire was one such example. All the nations that had slaughtered all of their enemies with overwhelming force to expand had eventually perished.
Though it was an afterthought, Alaia and the others could consider themselves lucky that Koutarou hadn't done so.
Part 2
It was much warmer inside the building than outside. The solid bricks trapped the warmth and blocked the cold winds at the same time.
“Blue Knight, sister is waiting in her own room.”
“I understand.”
After closing the door, Koutarou headed towards Alaia's room with Charl on his back.
A metallic sound rang out for every step Koutarou took. The sound rang out in the wide entrance, the long stairs leading up to the third floor and the winding passage before stopping.
In front of him now was a large door. This room was originally used as the headquarters by the commander of the fort. The reborn Forthorthe army did the same, and the commander-in-chief, Alaia, was currently using it. Koutarou had visited this room several times both today and yesterday.
Before Koutarou could knock on the door, it opened from the inside. Several government officials carrying a bunch of documents came jumping out.
“Your excellency!? How very nice to meet you!”
“Lord Bertorion! We are in a hurry, so please excuse us!”
When they noticed Koutarou they hurriedly stood up straight, but that only lasted for a moment as they soon began running.
“They seem awfully busy.”
“Yes. Sister has been working non-stop too.”
Koutarou turned away from the government officials and peeked past the door. Inside, he saw Alaia at a desk on the far end of the room, surrounded by heaps of documents.
“Don't just stand there and stare, get in. I told you that sister needs you.”
“As you wish, my princess.”
Koutarou smiled at Charl and knocked on the door a couple of times. Although the door was already open, he felt he should at least knock before entering.
“...You're so formal.”
“We didn't come here to play.”
“We did.”
“You jester.”
“Yes, who is― Reios-sama!?”
After checking the documents, Alaia looked up. When she saw Koutarou and Charl by the door her eyes opened wide in surprise.
“Princess Alaia, I am here to respond to your summons.”
“Eh? But I don't recall calling for Reios-sama...?”
Alaia blinked repeatedly with a confused look on her face. That response confused Koutarou in turn.
“But... princess Charl came calling for me, saying that you had asked for me.”
“Charl did?”
Koutarou and Alaia turned towards Charl, still on Koutarou's back. As they did, Charl shut the door behind them, while smiling.
“I never said that sister was calling for you.”
“But...”
“I merely said that sister needs you. You just misunderstood that on your own.”
In other words, Charl had tricked Koutarou into coming here. She had a big smile on her face as if to say that she got him.
“Charl, Reios-sama is very busy, you know?”
“That's why, sister!”
Despite being warned by Alaia, Charl showed no signs of listening to her sister and cheerfully smiled at the two.
“All sister and Blue Knight ever do is work. You were more relaxed when you were running away from the army! If you don't rest a little you will get sick again!”
However, her appeal was serious. Charl clenched her hands into fists and looked at Koutarou and Alaia with a serious expression.
“Charl...”
Alaia was planning on lightly scolding Charl, but after hearing her reason her expression loosened up. She couldn't bring herself to scold Charl for thinking of her and Koutarou.
So that's why... Now that I think about it, she did mention something about coming here to play...
Like Alaia, Koutarou felt content after learning of Charl's intentions, and at the same time he felt her consideration was very unlike that of a child. When he thought back to the time when he was a child, he couldn't imagine himself doing the same.
“Come on, don't just stand there, go to sister.”
“As you wish, my princess.”
Koutarou readjusted Charl and approached Alaia.
He wanted to respect the young, gentle girl's straight and earnest feelings, and it did indeed look like Alaia was feeling fatigued. Koutarou believed she could use a break.
“Reios-sama... would that be alright?”
However, Alaia didn't feel the same way. She had an apologetic expression, as she was worried that her little sister was taking up Koutarou's precious time.
“I don't mind. This is part of a bodyguard's duty as well.”
As Koutarou said that, he pointed towards his chest. There, an insignia of rank made from wood and wool shook.
“Insignia of Forthorthe's Blue Knight, Super Important Bodyguard for Charl and Alaia.”
It was the handmade insignia Charl had made. Charl had also pestered Alaia to help her make it.
“Reios-sama...”
Seeing that hanging off Koutarou's chest, a warm sensation spread through Alaia's body.
An insignia made from wood and wool was just child's play in the end. Although it might have been from royalty, not many knights would rejoice at being given such a malformed insignia. Alaia was happy that Koutarou was one of those few knights.
“...Then let's take a little break.”
Alaia began to feel like it was important to spend some time together with Koutarou and Charl.
“As Charl said, it might be more tiring now than when we were escaping from our pursuers.”
“Sister! See, Blue Knight! It's just like I said, right!?”
“Very impressive insight, princess Charl.”
“Fufun, you may praise me more, my knight.”
“We don't stand a chance against Charl... fufufu....”
If she had noticed the insignia when she was alone with Koutarou, she probably would have blurted out something unbelievable.
That was what went through Alaia’s mind while Koutarou and Charl were preparing some tea.
Part 3
Charl had been speaking for the majority of Koutarou, Alaia and Charl's tea time.
“...And then, Mary stopped me, saying that it would be dangerous to ride such a large horse. Then I told her, what horse should I ride then? There were no other horses smaller than that. Isn't that rude?”
Charl chatted on about all kinds of things. Funny events, sad events, recent events, what she was going to do later and the likes. She spoke while excessively gesturing with her hands.
“Charl, you're still too young to ride a horse.”
“Your highness, please settle for a pony.”
“Blue Knight, is that an insult?”
“I wouldn't dare to insult your highness.”
“Then, let me ride a horse next time. If you do then I'll forgive you.”
“As you wish, my princess.”
“Good.”
“Fufu...”
Koutarou and Alaia would listen to her while responding from time to time. Her stories weren't very important, but that allowed for Koutarou and Alaia to rest.
That continued for about an hour or so. After bringing up everything on her mind, Charl nodded off on top of Koutarou's lap satisfied. She completely entrusted her body to Koutarou and fell asleep with a relieved expression.
“...It looks like she fell asleep.”
Noticing that Charl was sleeping, Koutarou stood up and carried her to a sofa in a corner of the room. After Koutarou laid her down to rest, Alaia covered her body with a blanket.
“...Thank you, Reios-sama.”
After placing Charl's arm which had been sticking out under the blanket, she stood up and looked at Koutarou. She looked at him as if they were family, her eyes were filled with a deep trust and love.
“...No, this is nothing.”
Koutarou was almost sucked in by those eyes, but he soon remembered his duty. After taking a look towards the door, he whispered to Alaia in order to not wake up Charl.
“...Well then, your highness, this is a good time for me to leave.”
They had rested long enough. They best return to their jobs. Both Koutarou and Alaia had lots of things to do. Alaia knew that as well, but she chose to do the opposite.
“...Reios-sama, can I have some more of your time?”
“...I don't mind, but...”
“...Then this way.”
“...Okay.”
Following Alaia's lead, Koutarou returned to the table with the tea set on it. The two of them sat down facing each other. Since this was a bit further from the sofa, they should be able to speak without worrying about waking Charl up. After looking towards Charl one more time, Koutarou turned to Alaia.
“She sure is fast asleep.”
“Charl is only able to sleep like that when she is by your side, Reios-sama.”
Alaia glanced at Charl at the same time as Koutarou. However, by the time Alaia turned back to Koutarou, she had a sad expression on her face.
“I'm sure... that Reios-sama reminds her of father. She's depending on you just like she did with him. Although she would never tell me out of concern for me, I'm sure she is lonely too.”
She's lonely too, huh... That's only obvious, isn't it...
Koutarou noticed the hidden meaning behind Alaia's words. Alaia was also grieving the loss of her parents.
I'm powerless. I really can't do anything...
Koutarou had no power of his own. At first glance it looked like Koutarou might be helping Alaia and the others, but in reality, what was helping them was just borrowed powers. On top of that, he couldn't console Alaia and Charl as they grieved. Having lived peacefully for his entire life, Koutarou couldn't find any words that would console the girls whose parents had been murdered.
Koutarou himself was practically useless. He couldn't be of help to Alaia or Charl, and that frustrated and saddened Koutarou.
“So, Reios-sama.”
As Koutarou was deep in thought, Alaia's words brought him back to reality.
“After this war ends, I want you to continue to help us.”
Alaia had stopped Koutarou because she wanted to say that. She couldn't tell him if they weren't alone.
“Your highness...”
Koutarou was puzzled by Alaia's words. He knew better than anyone that he was powerless. And Koutarou had a place he had to return to, things he had to do.
“I won't be of much help. I'm sure you're already aware of that, your highness.”
Koutarou was convinced that somewhere through their journey, this intelligent girl had noticed that he didn't have any power.
“Reios-sama...”
And that was the truth. Having seen the way Koutarou fought, and the weapons Clan used, she had understood that something like that might have been the case. The fact that Alaia didn't object allowed Koutarou to understand that.
“I'm not strong. It's only thanks to the power of many that I can fight. But even that power has its limits. Eventually, I will lose these powers and return to being a weak human. Once that happens, I will only get in your highness's way.”
The ability to manipulate spiritual energy that Sanae had given to him was gradually growing weaker. Sanae had created routes in Koutarou's body in order for him to use that power, but having separated from her, the powers gradually weakened.
And it wasn't like Theia's armor would work for all eternity. There was nowhere in this age where they could find parts to repair it. Clan was doing her best with the material she had at hand, but eventually she would use up all of that and be unable to continue her maintenance on the armor.
The same was true for the gauntlet from Kiriha and the magic from Yurika. Before too long he would reach his limit. Koutarou wouldn't be able to remain at his current strength for too much longer.
That's why Koutarou believed he eventually had to part with Alaia and the others, just like the real Blue Knight. The very premise that his power worked on was dangerous, and he didn't want it to become a seed of conflict. Since he himself wasn't strong, he didn't have any other option.
“Reios-sama, it doesn't matter to Charl if you are strong or not. She adores you because of who you are.”
Alaia responded, having understood all of that.
Charl wasn't so attached to Koutarou because of his strength. She simply loved Koutarou, that's why she gave him the insignia.
“And she adores you because you still have that insignia on your chest.”
The insignia of rank was still attached to Koutarou's chest. Charl adored Koutarou because he was like that, because she knew that he understood her feelings.
“The same is true for me too. If I hadn't met you, I probably wouldn't be able to talk and smile like this.”
Alaia had a similar frame of mind to Charl. Regardless of Koutarou's strength, his moral support was far more important. There had been several times where Alaia had been discouraged. But every time that had happened, Koutarou's words, his existence, they had supported her. So a knight that was simply strong wouldn't have been able to protect Alaia. It was only possible because of who Koutarou was.
“Please be more confident in yourself. Reios-sama, if you uphold your oath as a normal human, then you are a knight we can put our trust in for all eternity.”
The sword was a knight's soul. However, the oath sworn on that sword was more important than the sword itself. So based on that, Koutarou was without a doubt the strongest knight in Forthorthe to Alaia.
“Your highness.... those words are too much for myself.”
Having understood Alaia's feelings, Koutarou was so happy he could cry. What Alaia and Charl needed wasn't his power, but himself. Those words saved Koutarou as he grieved his lack of power.
“Your highness, I will forever take pride in those words.”
“Then―”
Alaia's expression brightened and she gently stood up. To her, whether or not Koutarou would always be by her side was a very important question.
“No, your highness. I can't do that.”
However, Koutarou simply shook his head. That was all he could answer.
“R-Reios-sama...?”
Alaia fell back down on the chair, her eyes wide open. Her moist eyes questioned why Koutarou wouldn't stay by her side.
“I have a place I must return too. And there I have a promise, no, an oath I must fulfill.”
“An oath...”
The strongest knight, the knight Alaia and Charl yearned for, was a knight that always did their best to fulfill their oath. Because of that, Koutarou had to return.
Koutarou had made a lot of promises and oaths. He had decided that he would make Theia's trial succeed. He had promised Kiriha that they would look for the person she loved together. He was planning on graduating from high school together with Yurika. He couldn't let Sanae be alone. And he had shared an oath with the invading girls, Harumi and the drama club; that they would make the play a success.
Because of those many promises and oaths, Koutarou couldn't remain here. If Alaia and Charl yearned for the strongest knight, if Koutarou was to be the strongest knight, he had to return to the invaders.
“I, see...”
Strength left Alaia's body and she leaned her body on the chair. Her great disappointment was apparent.
However, Alaia understood the meaning of what Koutarou was saying. His actions were consistent with what they had always been. That's why Alaia loved Koutarou. And the part she loved the most was the reason he would leave. So Alaia couldn't stop him.
“I am sorry, princess Alaia.”
“It's okay. That's just who you are, Reios-sama...”
Alaia desperately kept herself from crying and smiled at Koutarou. She definitely didn't want to become a burden for him.
“In... in exchange, please tell me something.”
Alaia held back her sadness and love for Koutarou. However, the feelings she was unable suppress left her in the form of a question.
“Anything you ask.”
Koutarou was planning on truthfully answering anything he was asked. He didn't want to lie to Alaia. Perhaps, that could be called loyalty.
“Please forgive me for repeating a question I've asked before.”
Alaia stared straight at Koutarou and asked.
“That royal crest engraved on your chestplate. Your appearance and your behavior, and that noble prideful heart. You are without a doubt a true knight of Forthorthe.”
“Princess Alaia...”
They were the words Alaia had asked him when they first met. It had been several months since that day, but Koutarou could clearly remember those words. It was an event that had left a very deep impression on him.
“But... but I have no recollection of the crest on your sword. Just where have you come from?”
Alaia wanted to know where Koutarou came from, and where is he going. If he wouldn't stay by her side, then she at least wanted to know where he would go.
“I―”
Koutarou was hesitant. But it wasn't because he was wondering if he should tell her the truth or not. It was because he was thinking of how he would tell her without letting her misunderstand. After thinking for a moment, he looked out the window and up at the sky.
“I came from the other side of that sky... the world of stars...”
Through the window he could see the crimson evening sky, and the first star shining. That wasn't earth, but Koutarou and Alaia's glances were drawn there.
“...the world... of stars...”
That was what Alaia suspected might be the case. Every time Koutarou looked up into the sky, he would show a very nostalgic expression. But even though she had believed that might be the case, she was still very surprised when she had heard it.
“And.”
Koutarou removed the sheath and sword from his waist and showed the crest on the handle to Alaia. On it, a golden flower was engraved.
“This sword was given to me by princess Theiamillis Gre Mastir Sagurada Von Forthorthe. The crest on the handle isn't a family crest, but princess Theiamillis’s personal crest.”
“Mastir...?”
Alaia's expression changed, part of the name Koutarou spoke confused her.
“That's not... There is no one by the name of Theiamillis in this Mastir family.”
Currently, there were only two people of the Mastir family alive, Alaia and Charl. And since this was before the royal families had split, Alaia and Charl were the only two of royal blood. So the seventh royal princess from the Mastir family, Theiamillis, shouldn't exist.
“But there is. Though, 2,000 years from now...”
“2,000... years...?”
The unexpected words from Koutarou's mouth left Alaia surprised once more. If she accepted that a royal princess called Theiamillis existed 2,000 years from now, it would mean that she would accept another major problem. And with Alaia's common sense, that was unthinkable.
“That's right, princess Alaia. I came from 2,000 years into the future.”
However, Koutarou spoke of what Alaia believed was impossible as fact.
Part 4
After that, Koutarou told Alaia everything. All the details on how he got here, without hiding anything. He believed that Alaia deserved that sincerity.
He told her how he met with Theia, how after fighting they began to live together, and eventually cooperate. He told her how during his fight with Clan, they had been thrown to this time and place by accident. He told her how he had gotten in the way of her meeting with the Blue Knight and how he acted as a replacement while working together with Clan.
Koutarou managed to convey his story to Alaia, despite its hardships. He himself didn't have that good of an idea of what had happened, and Alaia had next to no knowledge of science. By the time he had finished conveying everything to Alaia, it had already become night.
“That's why... I'm not even a real knight. I'm just a normal student, without any special powers. I'm not even a noble, but just a commoner.”
To finish his story off, Koutarou revealed his identity. That he had no powers of his own, and that he simply borrowed the power from others. That was a harsh reality for him to face. He had to confess to the person he respected the most that he was just a worthless man. But Koutarou was happy at the same time. With this, he no longer had to lie to Alaia.
“You are wrong.”
However, Alaia smiled wryly and shook her head.
“You are without a doubt a knight. The feelings that Theiamillis poured into that sword and armor are real. Since we're both princesses, I can tell as much.”
Alaia was confident, even though she hadn't met this girl called Theiamillis, but since they were both princesses she could understand the feelings put into the sword and armor. She probably trusted Koutarou as much as Alaia, and possibly loved him just as much. Alaia believed that the golden flower crest on the handle of the sword and the title of Theiamillis's Blue Knight engraved into his chestplate proved that.
“Just what kind of princess would lend a sword that had been created for her at birth to an unimportant man? If you were truly so unimportant, she would just have given you one of those swords lying around.”
“But―”
“And even if that wasn't the case...”
Alaia held her hands in front of her chest and smiled at Koutarou. That smile was so beautiful that Koutarou forgot what he was about to say.
“I and Charl appointed you under the name of the Forthorthe royal family.”
Alaia pointed towards the insignia on Koutarou's chest.
“That you are Forthorthe's Blue Knight.”
The insignia on Koutarou's chest had been made by Charl and Alaia, and though it looked like a toy, it had the following words written on it.
“Insignia of Forthorthe's Blue Knight, Super Important Bodyguard for Charl and Alaia.”
While that was on his chest, even if he was just a commoner, Koutarou was a true knight, acknowledged by Alaia and Charl.
“Please take pride. You are a true knight, acknowledged by four of Forthorthe's princesses.”
Alaia, Charl, Theia and Clan.
Those four princesses acknowledged Koutarou as a knight. Even in Forthorthe's whole history, that was an unusual event.
“I wonder about Clan...”
Koutarou smiled as he gave up. If he was declared a knight by a princess like Alaia, he had no choice but to accept it. The insignia of rank he had been given by Alaia and Charl still hung off his chest. The only one he was uncertain of was Clan.
“Clan-sama acknowledges you as well. I can tell.”
Alaia recalled when Koutarou and Clan were fighting the steel giant. Back then Clan had said such.
“This is a royal decree. As a knight of Forthorthe, fulfill your duty!”
She was far away and had a hard time hearing it, but she certainly remembered those words. They were words that never would have been spoken if Clan didn't acknowledge Koutarou as a knight.
“...Your highness...”
Koutarou truly felt happy that someone of Alaia's caliber had placed such deep trust in him. The only thing that bothered him was that he was the Blue Knight's substitute. If he hadn't been a substitute, he might have burst into a little dance.
“But, that's true... if you have made promises and oaths with everyone in your hometown... then you have to return home.”
Alaia herself was also happy. She felt like Koutarou had revealed everything to her because he acknowledged her as his true lord. She wasn't able to keep Koutarou by her side, but that made her happy.
“...You believe such an extraordinary story, your highness?”
Koutarou couldn't help but be perplexed. He didn't think that she would believe that he had come through the stars and through time.
“A princess who doesn't believe the knight she appointed herself is hardly fit to rule a country.”
However, Alaia could only believe in him. If it wasn't for Koutarou, she might not have gotten this far. So she would believe anything he said, even if that had been that the sun would suddenly vanish tomorrow.
“...Your words are too much for me.”
If she put this much trust in him, there was nothing else he could do. Regardless of if he was the real thing or a fake, he resolved himself again to protect Alaia from Maxfern.
“Just... can you tell me one last thing, Reios―”
Alaia was about to ask Koutarou her last question, but then she remembered that she had one more question to ask. Alaia smiled and decided to pose that question first.
“Before that, sir knight, please let me hear your name?”
Once again, they were words that Alaia had spoken when they first met.
Koutarou had told Alaia that he wasn't the real Blue Knight, and she had believed him. So she realized that she didn't know Koutarou's real name.
“This was rather rude of me. My name is―”
In response, Koutarou responded with the same words he had used that day. But that was where they split.
“My name is Koutarou. Satomi Koutarou. I swear on this sword that I will definitely protect you.”
Unlike before, this time, Koutarou revealed his true name. But he swore on his sword just like then. And this time the feelings behind his oath was far, far stronger.
“Koutarou-sama... so you are called Koutarou-sama...”
It was an outlandish name not heard of in Forthorthe. Unaccustomed to speaking such a name, Alaia repeated it several times.
“I am truly sorry for using a fake name up until now.”
“There was a time when I called myself Cigna, so with this we're even.”
“Hahaha, that happened too, didn't it...”
This was during the dance at the harvest festival.
It was just a few months ago, but because so much had happened since then, it already felt like years. But it was a precious memory neither of them could ever forget.
“So, your highness, what was your last question?”
Koutarou and Alaia were both smiling. It was the same smile they had during the dance that night. Ever since then, their feelings had intertwined.
“That's―”
Alaia smiled and held her hands in front of her chest. She then whispered to Koutarou in a very gentle voice.
“If I had met you first... if... I had asked you first... what would you do, Koutarou-sama?”
Alaia knew that if didn't exist and hadn't occurred.
But, what if.
What if she had met Koutarou before anyone else? Would Koutarou remain here, with her?
She was well aware that this was a foolish thing to ask, but she couldn't help herself. That was how much she loved Koutarou.
“If that had happened... I probably would have served you for my entire life.”
That was what Koutarou truly believed. He didn't mind swearing his loyalty to Alaia. She was such a splendid princess that he couldn't feel any other way. And he had made so many memories with her. He most likely felt the same way towards her as he did with the invading girls.
“Koutarou-sama, please come meet me first next time...”
Alaia was satisfied. She had learned that Koutarou was leaving because of the order in which they had met. It wasn’t as if her feelings hadn’t been conveyed..
“As you wish, my princess...”
“...Koutarou-sama...”
But even then, Alaia shed her tears.
She had understood everything. Despite understanding, she still couldn't keep herself from crying.
