My Childhood Friend Told Me to Go Marry the Most Beautiful Woman in the Kingdom, So I Seriously Started Improving Myself—and Somehow Ended Up Making Women Fall Hard - Chapter 64 & 65

Act 05

Chapter 64: Commander Snake of the Third Knight Order

Commander Snake’s fist completely filled my vision.

“Guh—!”

The air was blasted from my lungs.

The world flipped upside down, the floor rushing toward me before I crashed down hard on my back.

The ceiling of the training hall looked absurdly high.

That day… in the end, I couldn’t tell Sister Natasha the truth.

When I came to, my head was resting on her thighs.

“S-Sorry!”

“No, you looked very tired.”

“Haha… guess you saved me.”

“It’s nothing. Um, Lord Hort.”

“Yeah?”

“Will you come here again?”

“Of course I will!”

There was still the matter of the slums.

And more than anything, I was worried about Natasha.

“That makes me happy. Next time, I’ll heal you again.”

“Huh? Ah… thank you.”

Her smile was so beautiful that I couldn’t bring myself to say anything more.

After that, I was invited to have dinner with the children before returning to the Fifth Unit’s dormitory.

And then, a few days later…

Commander Snake summoned me.

“Why… am I the one sparring with the Commander…?!”

There wasn’t enough air in my chest.

As I tried to cough and sit up, he lightly pressed me back down with the tip of his boot.

“Hah? ‘Cause you’re weak but entertaining, that’s why. You damn womanizer.”

“Who are you calling a womanizer?!”

“A guy who spouts pretty ideals and moves for a woman’s sake? Womanizer fits perfectly, doesn’t it?”

Sharp eyes.

A gaze that coiled around me like a snake.

It was frightening.

But… not the kind of fear that makes you think you’re about to die.

Did he… actually like me?

A small laugh slipped out from the side.

“Ufufu, exactly. Hort really is a sinful man.”

Captain Falcon rested her cheek on her hand, smiling as though this were all delightful entertainment.

And she wasn’t the only one.

“Yeah~ picking a fight with the Commander and even with me for a woman’s sake? Not many can pull that off.”

“I didn’t pick a fight!”

Even Captain Uragar’s shoulders were shaking with laughter.

“Still just a fool.”

Captain Oren delivered his verdict instantly and without mercy.

For some reason, the captains of the Fifth, Sixth, and Eleventh Units were all seated together in the spectator stands.

Who gathered such an absurdly high-level audience?

“You all seem to be up to something rather interesting.”

Commander Snake spoke bluntly.

“Huh?”

“You’re investigating Daitaros, aren’t you?”

That single sentence froze the air.

Instinctively, I looked at the three of them.

Captain Falcon kept smiling, though her eyes narrowed slightly.

Captain Uragar wore a smug grin.

Captain Oren looked away.

All three of them… deliberately avoided my gaze.

“…What do you mean?”

My voice came out dry.

“Hah? What’s this, womanizer? You don’t know? I figured you were in on it too.”

“Well, I did accept the request to investigate…”

The Marshal’s secret order.

The deal with Captain Falcon.

But these three as well?

And Commander Snake knows about it? Why? How?

“Why would you think that?”

“Hah? A hunch.”

“Ufufu, you really are an idiot.”

“Such a fool, honestly~”

“Certified head idiot, sir.”

“Shut it!!”

Commander Snake’s roar echoed off the beams of the training hall.

…And in that moment, I understood.

This—this was the true atmosphere of the Third Knight Order.

From the outside, it seemed tense. Cold. As though everyone stood perpetually on edge.

But that was merely the face they showed their enemies.

Inside, it was different.

At the center of it all stood the Commander.

Just his presence alone made the captains look more alive… more at ease.

“So?”

Commander Snake jerked his chin toward me.

“How much do you actually know?”

“…I was told by Captain Falcon to cooperate in uncovering the truth about Vice-Commander Daitaros Mephi.”

“Oh?”

“She said the reason… is still a secret.”

“Ufufu. A secret, yes… a secret.”

Commander Snake deliberately began circling me.

Like a snake preparing for the hunt.

Like he was savoring the scent of his prey before deciding whether to strike.

“So, the Gate Guard matter’s settled. Now you’re moving on to Daitaros?”

“…Yes. I think the demon cult may be involved.”

“Shishishi… so you do understand.”

He laughed, clearly entertained.

Maybe… I had misunderstood this man.

While I was lost in thought, he flicked my forehead.

“Ow!”

“You look smart, but your brain’s not spinning as much as you think.”

“Isn’t that a bit rude?!”

“Listen up, womanizer.”

The Commander raised a single finger.

“When I act on instinct, it’s for one of two reasons.”

“Two?”

“Either it’s interesting… or it’s about to turn into a massive pain in the ass.”

“…That’s the worst.”

I muttered under my breath, and laughter spilled from the stands.

“Ufufu. The worst—and yet the best.”

“The Commander’s personality is seriously rotten.”

“But his instincts are always right.”

This was the top brass of the Third Knight Order?

Is the kingdom really safe?

For a brief second, I found myself missing Commander Adelheid’s seriousness. And I began to understand the Marshal’s struggles.

“…Then why did you think I was involved?”

Commander Snake looked straight into my eyes.

“When you lie, your eyes flick to the right for just a split second.”

“Huh?”

“You just did it.”

“…!”

Cold sweat slid down my back.

Captain Falcon clapped her hands, thoroughly amused.

“Ufufu. As expected of the Commander.”

“That’s not instinct… that’s observation…”

“Creepy, sir.”

“You idiots!! Decide whether you’re praising me or insulting me!!”

Commander Snake roared.

The three of them didn’t even flinch.

…Unbelievable.

And yet, in the midst of this chaos, I found myself able to breathe a little easier.

The Third Knight Order I thought was riddled with tension and fractures… was actually tightly bound together.

It’s just that the way they’re bound is absolutely terrible.

“Listen, Hort.”

Commander Snake suddenly called me by name.

The joking atmosphere vanished for a heartbeat.

“About Daitaros. If you don’t know everything yet, that’s fine. You don’t need to right now. But you’ve already stepped into this. So see it through to the end.”

“…Yes, sir.”

He grinned.

“I’ll knock you around one more time. But your sword maintenance is garbage, so have Brigitte take a look at it. Move.”

“Wai—!”

“Don’t talk back, womanizer!!”

His fist flew again.

My vision spun, and I hit the floor for the second time.

“Ghk…!”

The floor felt cold.

My soul felt like it was slipping out of my body.

From the stands, commentary rained down.

“Ufufu, what a lovely sound.”

“Haha, that was a good one.”

“Still an idiot.”

I managed to speak in a trembling voice.

“…The Third Knight Order is the worst!”

“It’s the best.”

Commander Snake grabbed me by the collar and yanked me up to eye level.

Eyes like a snake.

But behind them… there was something else.

Something that almost felt like comradeship.

“Won’t you tell me what you’re thinking, Commander? Vice-Commander Daitaros is under suspicion—how do you feel about that?”

“Hah? Why should I care?”

“…What?”

“If he’s doing something wrong, I’ll beat him down. If he’s suspicious, then investigate him thoroughly. It’s simply a matter of doing it or not.”

The answer was so straightforward that I could only stare at him.

“Ufufu, you’re truly wonderful, Commander.”

“Is that really something you call wonderful?”

“Still an idiot.”

The captains laughed as though they were long accustomed to this.

But… this was the Third Knight Order.

“If you’re alive, then move. As long as you can move, do what you believe is right. If you suspect someone, investigate them to the very end. And if you decide they’re not in the wrong, then trust them and stand beside them. That’s all.”

“…!”

I clenched my teeth and nodded.

Somehow… standing in the middle of their circle felt comfortable.

The way the three of them gathered around Commander Snake, laughing and arguing—it was so natural that it almost made me jealous.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

[Afterword]

Hello, this is Iko, the author.

Let’s begin Act 05.

Chapter 65: The Weight of What Was Lost 9

Side: Rina Carhoi

I sat at my desk and let the quill glide across the page.

I was organizing everything Elder Lohengram had told me about spirit summoning.

A thesis on the spirit summoning formula.

If it was written properly, other mages would be able to use it as well. That would serve as proof.

There was no need for me to create anything new.

All I had to do was refine the theory that had already succeeded and shape it into proper form.

A dull task.

I pulled out an old report I had written back when I was still a student and began copying it neatly.

At the edge of one page, there was a small note.

Hort Rubel’s handwriting.

Calm and steady… and yet somehow, it felt as though the warmth of his breath still lingered within those strokes.

『Trust between the summoner and the spirit is necessary.』

I almost laughed.

Trust?

The cheapest word in the world.

After all, there had never been any trust between Hort and me.

He never proposed to me.

In the end, human relationships were always like that.

Everyone says the word. Everyone desires it. Everyone betrays it.

And yet… I slipped that line into the thesis.

The theory of the formula.

1* The purity of the medium.
2* A large consumption of magic power.
3* Construction of the magic circle and the creation of an environment with high magical density.
4* The proper procedure for the spirit summoning chant.
5* Building trust with the spirit.

The final line of the thesis was written as though it had always belonged there.

Placed precisely where the reader would naturally think, Of course.

The truth was… I no longer cared about spirit summoning.

All I had done was assemble a “convincing paper.”

I merely arranged the words so that it would read like something composed by a noble, righteous scholar.

It wasn’t a thesis I needed.

And yet, I submitted it to Elder Lohengram.

“Well written. As expected, you truly excel in research.”

“Thank you.”

“This time, we will test whether this thesis succeeds by having another court mage apprentice conduct the experiment.”

“Understood.”

Irene was chosen the very next day.

The air inside the summoning chamber—where I had once failed—felt heavy.

“My my, Lady Rina. What an honor, to assist with your research.”

Her tone was as arrogant as ever.

And yet… I felt no irritation at her words.

“Yes, Lady Irene. My research is flawless. If it’s you, I’m certain you’ll be able to summon a spirit.”

“Oh? What’s this? Won’t you be upset if I succeed?”

“It’s no problem. A mage exists to make her completed research usable by everyone.”

“My, how grown-up you’ve become. In that case, I shall give it a try.”

She was chosen because she deserved it.

She possessed an abundance of magic power.

And ever since becoming a court mage, her accomplishments had been remarkable.

Irene stepped before the summoning circle.

She brought her hands together and closed her eyes.

Her chant was soft.

But not a single word wavered.

Then—

The spirit answered.

Light streaked across the chamber.

Wind spiraled through the air.

A faint outline formed… slowly taking the shape of something almost human.

What appeared was a tiny fairy, small enough to rest in the palm of a hand.

A ripple of murmurs spread through the room.

Before anyone could even whisper, “It’s a success,” Lord Lohengram gave a quiet nod.

“Excellent. Rina, your research can be used without issue by any capable mage.”

“Thank you.”

Those words felt like a verdict.

Correct. Approved. Valuable.

In the next moment, praise rained down.

Applause. Cheers. 

“Magnificent.”

“Splendid work.”

“As expected of this year’s top graduate.”

The words multiplied like bubbles rising to the surface.

Though they were directed at me, Irene gave a faintly troubled smile and bowed her head.

♢

At night, deep within an empty corridor, a single light flickered.

A man in a black robe was already kneeling before me, as though he had been there from the very beginning.

I could not see his face.

Only his voice reached me.

“Priestess, you have worked hard today.”

Priestess.

That word filled me far more than all the praise Irene and I had received for the successful summoning.

“Yes. Naturally.”

When I replied, the man let out a soft laugh.

The sound did not come from his throat… it seeped out from beneath the cloth covering his face.

“As expected of our Priestess. One of our queens.”

“And? Do you require something?”

“Yes. Tonight as well, we would like to request that matter from you.”

The demon contract.

Once, I had thought it was nothing more than a branch of spirit contracts.

But the research had proven far more fascinating than I anticipated.

Demons do not form contracts only with individuals.

“By offering a sacrifice, a demon can be summoned. The price is a life. And the one called forth… is a demon of chaos.”

Instead of forming a direct contract, you use a human life as the medium and summon a demon that way.

There were many other applications to demon contracts as well.

A field worth studying.

For a brief moment, the lamp’s flame dimmed.

“If the Priestess so wishes, we will prepare a sacrifice.”

“Not now. But… someday.”

“Heh.”

Suddenly, Irene’s smile surfaced in my mind.

Her radiant profile, bowing beneath the light.

That image refused to fade.

…It irritated me.

Bright things had always irritated me.

She had stood out more than I did.

I dug my nails into my palm, letting the pain crush those useless emotions.

“When will the sacrifice be ready?”

The man in the black robe raised one finger.

“Soon. Part of the Knight Order in the capital has grown stronger recently, so one of our routes was cut off. For now, we are adjusting matters near the gates. When people begin to disappear, no one notices at first.”

The moment I heard that—

Hort Rubel’s handwriting surfaced in my mind.

—“Trust between the summoner and the spirit is necessary.”

I muttered silently within my heart.

How absurd.

Trust is nothing more than self-satisfaction for the one doing the summoning.

The one being summoned only ever desires payment.

And I can provide that payment.

(Kukuku, to charge straight down one’s own path. That too can be amusing)

It felt as though Asmo’s voice drifted to me from somewhere far away.