Chapter 17

A knight has a battlefield to which they must return.

A knight is a warrior to the core, and the locus of their power lies, after all, in the place of combat. There are enemies to be fought and people to be protected. If that is the case, there is no one but a knight to shoulder the role of the fighter.

Carrying various feelings, never looking back, the knight departs for the battlefield. Even if they must part from loved ones, travel far from their homeland, or be prepared to bury their bones in a foreign land, a knight moves forward for the sake of their mission. While they wish to stay beside family or lovers, it is a knight’s destiny to dare to choose separation.

An idiot like me once admired that image of solitary nobility and ran away from home as a child without telling my family.

However, once even an idiot like me left the town and got lost, I reached the obvious realization: “Where exactly am I trying to go? Or rather, is there any reason at all for me to leave?” I ended up catching a ride on a passing carriage and headed back to town.

…As an aside, that carriage was actually heading in the opposite direction of the Royal Capital, and I ended up on a grand adventure for two or three days. In the end, it’s a fond memory—being gripped by the hands of my angry old man and my crying mother and hauled home like cattle. Of course, being paraded around in such a humiliating state, I was met with thunderous laughter from all the neighbors.

“You were so cute back then,” the neighborhood ladies still say, using it as material to tease me, so it’s a past I’d prefer everyone to forget.

Well, enough about the past. We are beings who live in the present, so we only need to look forward.

“And so, I’ve returned victorious.”

I didn’t recall struggling much—or rather, the near-all-nighter the following day was the real ordeal—but since I’d brilliantly won the Imperial Matches, I figured everyone would rejoice at my success while welcoming my return to the battlefield… but I have to say, anyone who thought this bunch would take such a standard approach has the imagination of a commoner.

There was no way this Knight Order would give such a safe response.

“Varna-kun, snatching the championship with the same casual vibe as buying bread on an errand… I think you’re sick in the head, old boy. I won my bet, though, so it’s all good! ♪”

“Senior, are you sick?! Wh-wh-wh-wh-where exactly!! Y-you should see a doctor right away!!”

“Forget that, Varna!! The Tool Squad needs to buy a camera for a photobook fundraising scheme, so lend me some cash!!”

“That’s just a shakedown!! Explain the situation properly! And stop mooching off your junior!!”

“That’s why, Squad Leader—”

“Let’s make it instead of buying it—”

“Rai-kun, tell us the principle of the camera—”

“Varna-kun, did you buy the book I asked for?! Hurry, hurry! Hand it over! Volume 21 of ‘The Chronicles of Hunter-kun’s Struggles,’ which Nonoka has waited seven years for!”

“Getting all the glory and the girls while we’re back here struggling… Let me punch you, dammit!!”

“Introduce me to a girl, dammit!!”

“Buy me a drink, dammit!!”

“Ah, anyone who just picked a fight with Varna or tried to mooch off him… Chef Tamae has officially decided to purge you by skipping your dinner later~~!!”

“I just acted in the heat of the moment and I’m reflecting on it now. Please forgive me.”

“I claim a lack of accountability due to a state of diminished mental capacity. Please forgive me.”

“I was only forced to participate because the guy on my right threatened me. Please forgive me.”

“The thing to your right isn’t a person, it’s a wall… If you’re being serious, you’re the one with diminished capacity—or rather, aren’t you hearing hallucinations from overworking?”

“…Ah, I see. So you guys can’t see them.”

“Eh… Wait, what?”

See? Every single one of them only talked about what they wanted.

Needless to say, I’d already experienced this development when I won last year. Or rather, since there weren’t even words of congratulations, I felt like the treatment had worsened slightly compared to last year.

“Why is there such a lack of gratitude…?”

“These are they who have lost sight of the value of victory… Their manner is like unto chicks begging for food from a parent bird…”

The one speaking in this “What is this guy even saying?” cryptic manner was Senior Njya of the Skirmish Squad.

Senior Njya was a relatively elderly male knight who had slightly passed middle age. His brown skin, sharp gaze, and a body that remained toned despite his years made the term “veteran” suit him well. Originally from a foreign warrior tribe, he was apparently invited to the Order by Commander Luger to serve as an instructor due to his prowess. Until his thirties, he was frequently chosen as the Vice-Captain or Captain for the Imperial Matches, and even now, having stepped back from the front lines due to physical limits, he continued to hammer combat techniques into the youngsters.

However, his phrasing was so unique that there were times I truly didn’t know what he was saying. In such moments, Senior Senega, a female knight who was often with him, would usually translate by breaking it down into easy-to-understand terms… though this Senior Senega was also quite a character.

“He is saying: ‘You absolute scum who have forgotten the preciousness of victory because you take it for granted that someone else will win for you—go to hell,’” she interpreted.

“I didst not imbue my words with such villainous intent.”

Senior Senega was glared at with a sharp gaze that would make a grown man flinch, but she simply looked away with an air of indifference, completely unrepentant. A rookie would have been clobbered, but Senior Njya, being a gentleman, never raised a hand against a woman. In Senior Njya’s homeland, raising a hand against a woman for any reason was considered the most pathetic act a man could commit.

I wondered if it was okay for her to take advantage of that, but since they maintained the status quo, I supposed it was fine. Senior Senega was a beautiful woman of a certain age who looked intelligent in glasses, but because her personality ruined everything, she didn’t have a boyfriend.

She was part of the so-called “Exile Group.” Originally of the privileged class, she had been stripped of her status along with her demotion. Since she couldn’t return to the upper ranks, she was now essentially a commoner knight. I didn’t know the reason for her exile, but it was almost certainly because of that personality.

“As close as ever, I see. I still haven’t received any words of gratitude from you two either, though…”

“Mm… Young champions, may your triumphal song be met with applause and praise.”

“He says: ‘I’ll clap my wittle hands and pwaise you~,’” she added.

“I didst not imbue my words with such villainous intent! Cease making me repeat myself. In the first place, thou art always failing to harmonize with those around thee…”

“I don’t want to hear that from someone who still hasn’t managed to match the speech patterns of those around him.”

“Thinkest thou less of my affairs and more of finding a suitor for thyself. A maiden of marriageable age uttering such foul words…!!”

“Wh-at?! Why should I have to be worried over by someone who is nothing more than a mere colleague…!!”

Even Senior Senega was sensitive to talk about her marriage prospects, as she suddenly turned beet-red and started arguing back. Since it seemed they had heated up and forgotten about me, I took my leave early.

Honestly, they were like a rebellious daughter and a preachy father.

Shaking off the troublesome seniors and bringing along the much less troublesome juniors—plus Rai, who was acting as my luggage carrier—I headed toward the purification plant. There wasn’t any particular reason for it, but the purification plant had become something of a territory for the younger crowd; they were constantly drifting in and out without any real business just to get a look at Nonoka.

Besides, since Nonoka got along well with the young women, it certainly wasn’t a place for men only.

“Here is the ‘item’ in question.”

“Ooh, I have officially received it! Nfu-fu-ha-hi-hi~ When I heard from my colleagues at the Academy that a new volume was coming out, I nearly mistook it for a dream and almost jumped off the top of the Academy Tower. This is what I’ve been waiting for: ‘The Chronicles of Hunter-kun’s Struggles’!! To think you’d go out of your way to buy this for Nonoka… I love you, Varna-kun!!”

“Yes, yes, I love you too.”

Nonoka’s confession of love was as sweet and light as cotton candy. It was the kind of joke she cracked quite often. However, for some reason, it seemed the other Order members had never heard this cotton-candy joke before.

‘…Hey, Caliban-kun. Is it possible Senior Varna is actually a total blockhead?’

‘No, I think he’s deliberately ignoring it because Nonoka-san isn’t being seriously aggressive about it.’

‘But Nonoka-san is definitely aiming for Senior, right?’

‘Hmm, I don’t know the details, but maybe she likes him but is passive when it comes to actual romance?’

My juniors were whispering something, but they were seriously underestimating my hearing. Nonoka just didn’t feel like falling in love because she was still internally hung up on her ex-boyfriend.

Regardless, you’d think someone like Bevion would have heard the cotton-candy joke at least once, but when I asked him, he spat in my face with a look like he was staring at his parents’ murderer. Naturally, that pissed me off, so I flattened him with a gut punch followed by six alternating liver blows. Honestly, a man who spits on people has no sense of knightly decorum.

“Ah, so that’s why Bevion-kun didn’t show up that day. Well, if he’s not here, it’s not like I’m particularly inconvenienced, and I’d say he got exactly what he deserved.”

“Nonoka-san says some pretty cold things behind people’s backs, doesn’t she…”

“It’s at a level where his heart would definitely be beyond recovery if he heard it…”

“It would be a pity to tell him the truth, so let’s all help him keep the dream alive, shall we? ♪”

Yikes…

The “Junior Squad” recoiled slightly at Nonoka, who was uttering demonic whispers with the smile of an angel. Still, one mustn’t forget that, age-wise, Nonoka was a fully grown woman. She supposedly had experience dating men, so she likely wasn’t a cheap enough woman to be swayed by one-sided affection.

By the way, Bevion, whose life revolved around “LOVE Nonoka-san” twenty-four hours a day, was currently undergoing voluntary training. His reason for training was to get closer to Nonoka’s preference for men who were good at Orc hunting.

Hang in there, Bevion. Don’t give up, Bevion. Though, considering he turned pale and backed away the moment I made a fist and approached him, his training was still severely lacking.

Then—I heard the footsteps of several people approaching the door of the purification plant, and I turned around.

“Sorry for the intrusion. I figured you’d be here, Knight Varna.”

“Ah, Vice Commander and Chef. And the maintenance squad, and the drunken old man…”

“Whew~♪ My treatment has been getting worse at an accelerating rate lately; big brother is almost ready to cry~♪”

“You brought it on yourself, you no-good drunkard!”

“Excuse me! I’m carrying a heavy load here, so move out of the way!”

The accusatory voice of the cooking squad’s vice-chief echoed from the rear, and the group loitering at the entrance moved aside. The members coming from the back were carrying large baskets, plates, tables, and chairs. Looking closely at what was being laid out before me, the dishes were a notch more elaborate than usual.

“Wait, what is this? Are we having a party?”

“We are. A party. I had this prepared using my authority as Vice Commander and my own pocket money. Now, come, sit in this chair.”

Guided to a chair with a cushion that was slightly nicer than the others, I stared blankly at the tables and food being lined up. Had I perhaps forgotten someone’s birthday? Was this that? Was this a high-level psychological attack where I was given the seat of honor despite being the only one who forgot the birthday, intended to make me die of embarrassment?

No, stay calm, me. Other seniors aside, there was no way Vice Commander Rony would engage in such insidious harassment. Believe in human kindness.

“So, what kind of party is this, exactly?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s…”

Before I knew it, everyone there had taken their seats and raised their cups, turning toward me with smiles. Acting as the representative, Vice Commander Rony made a declaration in a loud voice he didn’t usually use.

“We will now begin the ‘Welcome Back, Varna’ party!! Welcome back to our battlefield!!”

“”“Welcome back!”““

“Welcome back, Senior!!”

“Seriously, Senior, our work efficiency dropped quite a bit while you were gone, you know?”

“To be blunt, we care way more about that than the fact that you won the matches!”

They had received reports from the familiars, but the cave exploration was likely the most difficult part. Places where an ambush could come from anywhere required extra caution, so I was often called upon for those.

However, the talk of work didn’t last long, as the others bombarded me with whatever encouragements they felt like, saying they relied on me and so on.

“We figured bringing all the drunks would be a pain, so we decided to keep Varna-boy’s celebration centered on the younger ones and those who don’t get messy when they drink. That lot should be having a drinking bout with the other members elsewhere!”

“And so, I’m going to pop open Chronicler Yagara’s wine that I’ve been saving for this moment~♪ …Eh, where’s Yagara? Who knows, probably sleeping in the infirmary~?”

“Come on, Varna-kun, give the toast! ♪”

Senior Rock poured wine into my cup while Nonoka hurried me along. Both of them were welcoming me, though some of the group already had eyes only for the food and booze.

I stared blankly at the rowdy crowd around me for a moment, but then a restless feeling bubbled up from deep in my gut and a laugh escaped me. It felt like something that hadn’t quite fit had finally clicked into place.

That’s right—I’d said it myself that the Imperial Matches were a pain. I was “Beheader” Varna. My place was wherever there were Orcs whose heads needed hunting. If that was the case, then “Welcome back” certainly suited me better than “Congratulations.”

“I, Knight Varna, have just returned. Now then… Cheers!!”

“”““CHEEEEEERS!!”“““

I’m home, to my muddy and noisy battlefield, I cheered in my heart.

As a side note, the food that day was delicious enough to rival the high-end cuisine of the Royal Capital. As I thought, this was where I belonged.