Chapter 20: The Organization of Holy Knights

This happened before Kaito visited the headmistress’s office to get answers to his question.

“So, how are the first-years doing?”

Gratina Wackenheim crossed her legs and turned her sharp, almond-shaped eyes toward her junior. Royal Knight Academy Headmistress Reda Factlin took a sip of tea and showed a gloomy expression.

“Thanks to you seniors, both groups of candidates have started thinking seriously about their futures. However, it seems some students—only a few—have taken a dislike to you seniors. I feel bad for asking something like this of you…”

“It’s fine. If it helps my alma mater, I’ll even play the villain.”

She sipped her tea the same way and smiled at Reda. But Reda bowed her head with a depressed look.

“Your seniors’ admonition cleared up the awkward atmosphere. Most of the students seem to have moved on from that incident. Originally, this was something I should have done myself, but I asked it of you seniors. I’m truly sorry.”

“I told you it’s fine, didn’t I? Besides, you’re the headmistress. No matter the circumstances, you bear responsibility for that incident. If you were the one to declare it ‘in the past,’ people might accuse you of dodging responsibility.”

The incident during the march training—the death of a holy knight paladin candidate—had been a massive shock for the students in the same year. Even after the new year, the academy still quietly discussed last year’s event. For the students who weren’t directly involved, it was something they’d only “heard about.” To make them stop dwelling on it and look toward their own futures, Reda had deliberately asked Gratina and Walter to “deny” the incident.

“My responsibility is grave. Once the investigation in Ryune is complete, I intend to resign as headmistress. Then I’ll go apologize to her family again.”

Gratina nodded without saying anything. Reda was feared by the students for being strict, but that stance came from genuinely caring about them.

They drank their tea in silence until Walter Wackenheim entered the room. Reda stood and bowed; Walter nodded silently.

“Welcome back. How was that kid? Did he snap at you?”

At Gratina’s question, Walter shook his head.

“No, he didn’t react at all. In fact, he even asked me some troubling questions. From the look of him, he seems to have noticed our aim.”

Gratina nodded. They hadn’t exchanged many words, but it was clear enough that the candidate named Kaito was on a completely different level from the others.

“I got complaints on my end. All eight remaining holy knight candidates glared at me. Well, it can’t be helped. If directing their anger at me helps them move forward, then accepting that role is part of being a senior. So, what kind of bizarre question did he… Kaito ask you?”

It was normal for young, beautiful women to be popular even if they only went into heat once or twice a month. That day, a group walking through the bustling streets of the royal capital Istaloon had every man around them staring. A woman with long lashes and flowing golden hair framing azure eyes, a woman with beautiful yet dignified features and blue hair, a woman with flaxen hair and a graceful aura, a woman with red hair and strong-willed eyes, and a silver-haired girl with almost no expression—four of them walking together. All five were stunning beauties or beautiful girls.

“Hey! What are you staring at?!”

A young man who had been mesmerized by the five beauties got pinched by the woman he was with. It wouldn’t have been strange for men to call out to them. But the men only watched from a distance. There were two reasons.

First was their clothing. All five wore the uniforms of the Royal Knight Academy’s holy knight paladin candidates. Holy knight paladins possessed supernatural power known even in remote villages. Approaching candidates carelessly was out of the question.

The second reason was the two men escorting the five. One wore the uniform of a hero Chevalier candidate. The other wasn’t in uniform but wore a high-quality black coat. Either way, it was obvious they were academy affiliates. The group of seven entered a stylish café along the main street.

“I knew this place existed, but it’s my first time inside. It’s a nice shop.”

“Yeah. It has private rooms and a calm atmosphere.”

It was natural the women liked it. This café was run by the male brothel “Gloria” and used for meetings with male prostitutes. It also served as a social spot for upper-class ladies. Prices were accordingly high, but Kaito could use it at a steep discount.

“I’ve got a little connection, so I get to use it. It’s not that expensive, so order whatever you want. They even have sweets made with southern sugar.”

“Yeah. Those sound good.”

Sasha nodded eagerly. Baked goods made from flour, egg yolks, and butter were served with tea. Hazelnuts were mixed in—top-class as sweets. Sasha seemed to really like them and reached for three or four. Kaito drank his tea while looking at the five beauties seated before him. Each had her own personality and attractive figure. Among them, the graceful Afrodia had apparently agreed to become Stefan’s holy knight paladin. As a recovery-magic user, she’d had fierce competition among her classmates, but it seemed the second-ranked first-year Stefan had successfully claimed her.

“Still, I never thought Lady Gratina would say something so heartless…”

At Sofia’s murmur, Elsa reacted strongly.

“Exactly! What’s with that woman?! It’s not just Kaito. We were saved by Roksane too. To talk about our benefactor like that!”

“I think she was explaining the weight of becoming a holy knight or hero and the resolve required. But honestly, Walter Wackenheim’s words pissed me off too. Since Kaito didn’t say anything, I held back, but…”

Stefan nodded as well. Walter’s talk basically amounted to “Kaito was smart, so he fell into danger. The others were idiots, so they survived. You guys got lucky.” Even Stefan, who acknowledged Kaito, felt they were being mocked.

“Those two are the ideals and idols for holy knight paladins and hero Chevaliers. When they spoke so harshly, it definitely tightened the expressions on our classmates’ faces.”

“Yeah. Like Elfina said, that was probably the goal. They spoke that way to help everyone get over the incident…”

While listening to everyone’s opinions, Kaito silently drank his tea. He himself would never forget that incident in his lifetime. The six seated before him, who had been directly involved, probably felt the same. But for most students, it was someone else’s story. They were probably trying to make them focus on their future selves rather than past training. That’s what Kaito thought.

“Kaito, are you okay? You’ve been quiet this whole time.”

Called by Stefan, Kaito snapped out of his thoughts. All six were looking at his face. They were the ones directly involved in the incident, each carrying complicated feelings. And they were all worried about him. He honestly felt “thankful.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Like Elfina and Sasha said, I think they chose those words after considering how they’d come across. They might even have calculated getting us to badmouth them like this. If you set emotions aside and think calmly, what the two said wasn’t wrong. I’m not angry, and I’m not hurt. I appreciate everyone’s feelings, but it’s time we all look forward.”

“…I see. If that’s what you say, I won’t bring it up again. It’ll probably stay unforgettable for life, but let’s start walking forward.”

With that, Stefan took Afrodia’s hand. They gazed at each other and exchanged smiles. They’d entered their own little world, so Sofia cleared her throat.

“Well, I won’t forget it either, but they say the sun rises again. Let’s think about our futures. On that note, there’s one thing I want to ask Kaito. You’re planning to make Elsa and Sasha, who were in the same party during the march training, your holy knight paladins, but you’re seriously thinking of making both of them your holy knight paladins at the same time?”

Her expression stern but face slightly flushed, she pressed him. Kaito shrugged.

“No, not at the same time. There’ll be a time lag. Even I only have one of these.”

He pointed at his lower body. Sofia turned bright red.

“I-idiot! That’s not what I’m asking! Normally, a hero Chevalier and holy knight paladin are a paired relationship. I’ve never heard of a one-to-two setup!”

“Hm? I’m not planning to stop at one-to-two. If possible, I want a few more holy knights. Two or three more. How about it? Sofia, want to become my holy knight too?”

“W-what…?”

Sofia went crimson and fell speechless. Elfina turned a stunned look toward Elsa and Sasha.

“One hero Chevalier shared by multiple holy knight paladins… that’s unprecedented. Kaito says that, but are you two really okay with it?”

Elsa rested her elbow on the table, turned her face away with puffed cheeks.

“Can’t be helped. Kaito’s a freak of a stud. He can have holy knight paladins besides us. He’s already proven that…”

“Yeah. Even when the two of us team up on him, Kaito doesn’t break a sweat. We’re the ones who have a hard time. So Sofia and Elfina should become Kaito’s holy knight paladins and help us out.”

“Team up on him… wait… you two have already…?”

Sofia asked timidly, face burning. Sasha shook her head.

“We haven’t gone all the way. Mouth, breasts, hands… and other things too. Kaito’s vitality is insane. No matter how many times we do it, he never goes soft. Elsa was going crazy toward the end, begging him to shove it into her pussy…”

“Aaah… I don’t wanna hear it, don’t wanna heaaar it! That wasn’t meeee!”

Elsa covered her ears desperately denying it. Sofia was too stunned to speak, but Elfina had actually become calm.

“Kaito. What exactly are you aiming for? It’s hard to believe, but suppose you can have multiple holy knight paladins and wield them freely. If four holy knights activate their power at the same time and fight in coordination, it would create overwhelming destructive force. Isn’t your goal the organization of holy knight paladins?”

The three froze. Even Stefan and Afrodia, who had been in their own world, snapped back. Kaito silently stared at Elfina. He’d heard from Carlos that she could think about things from multiple angles, even the hidden sides. Being first in the first-year holy knight paladin candidates wasn’t for nothing.

(She kinda reminds me of Miss Lilia. The way she speaks and looks at things…)

“Just like Elfina said, I’m thinking about organizing the holy knight paladins. I want Stefan, as a fellow hero Chevalier candidate, to hear this too. Right now, this kingdom is basically treating holy knights and heroes as disposable. I’ve always questioned that. And I learned the reason. I can’t give details because I’m sworn to secrecy, but there are people who don’t like us organizing.”

That alone seemed to let Elfina and Stefan understand. Even though it was a private room, this wasn’t the kind of talk for the middle of the royal capital. The two nodded silently.

“I want to change that treatment. Simply put, I want to create a specialized organization that oversees holy knight paladins and hero Chevaliers. One that centrally manages everything from discovery, training, assignment, to operation. That way, hero Chevaliers’ lifespans would dramatically increase, and there would be no more holy knight paladins left lonely after losing their partners.”

The two began seriously considering Kaito’s words. On the other hand, Elsa, who had stopped trying to understand midway, made a teasing expression.

“Heh. You were thinking surprisingly seriously. I figured it was just because you wanted a bunch of females for your night-time fun…”

“No, that’s half correct too. Elfina and Sofia both look really delicious.”

Sofia folded her arms to hide her body, while Elfina gave a wry smile. Stefan scratched his head with a half-smile.

“Kaito… that last line just ruined all the seriousness from before. Now I’m wondering how much you actually mean.”

“I’m serious. But right now, this plan won’t happen. There’s too much resistance, and above all, there are no hero Chevalier graduates in the military’s core. No one would understand. So for now, I have no choice but to build achievements on a small scale.”

“So first you’re going to become a hero Chevalier who leads four holy knight paladins. I understand your vision, but it’ll take time. Building achievements inside the military, networking with the nobility… you’ll need political power, not just strength.”

“But if it succeeds, there will be no more holy knights or heroes losing their precious partners to death. At least they’ll live much longer than now. I’m not satisfied with just succeeding as one hero Chevalier. There are things only I can do, things I can achieve because I’m me. If I don’t accomplish that, I can’t face Roksane.”

Kaito’s expression was serious. His life was no longer just his own. To leave proof in this world that she had lived, he had to achieve something greater. The path he would walk from now on could not be only for himself. That’s what Kaito thought.

In the bathhouse of the holy knight paladin candidates’ dorm, Elfina and Sofia soaked in the hot water while discussing the day’s events. The two had said they wanted time to think and had put off their answers.

“So, what are you going to do, Elfina?”

Sofia washed her face and rested her head on the edge of the tub. Elfina was doing the same beside her. Sofia wanted to hear Elfina’s decision. Her memory wasn’t bad, but she lacked the thinking power for problems with no clear answer. Ever since entering the academy, Elfina had always thought about such things for her. And her judgments had almost never been wrong. So this time too, she planned to follow Elfina’s decision. But Elfina glanced sideways at Sofia and shook her head.

“Sofia. This time you should think about it yourself and decide on your own. It’s your life on the line… If you let someone else’s opinion decide it, you’ll probably regret it later.”

“U-um… but I don’t know what to do. Honestly, I don’t dislike Kaito. But if you ask if I like him, I’d tilt my head. I respect his ability, but I don’t know how far I can trust him as a hero Chevalier or as a man.”

“Same for me. Elsa and Sasha spent nearly a month eating and sleeping together during the march training. That’s why they could decide. But we’re different. We lack the material to judge his personality and character. So I plan to hold off on answering until I can.”

“I see. It’s true, I still don’t know Kaito well. Maybe I should start by getting to know him as a man. So, how can I get to know Kaito?”

Elfina smiled wryly. In the end, she was still asking for her opinion and planning to follow it. If she showed her own thoughts here, Sofia would follow without thinking for herself.

“No. From here on, you should think for yourself. And decide your future with your own will.”

With that, Elfina stood up. Her shining white naked body and sparkling golden hair floating in the steam were so beautiful that even Sofia, another woman, let out a sigh. Not just Kaito, but nearly every hero Chevalier candidate was aiming for Elfina. She’d never been jealous of it, but she honestly envied that beauty.

(I think I’m not bad myself…)

She grabbed her nicely shaped bowl-like breasts with both hands. Slightly smaller than Elfina’s, but any bigger and they might get in the way when swinging a sword. Calluses on her palms and soles, but her arms and legs had smooth white skin. She remembered the man’s words.

…Elfina and Sofia both look really delicious…

“Khh… I’m not food.”

She muttered softly as if to deny it. But she was aware of a heat in her core different from the bathwater. She washed her flushed face and stood up.

That night. Kaito stood alone inside the Church of Goddess Velos on the academy grounds. He looked up at the statue of Goddess Velos, who smiled with overflowing maternal love, arms spread wide as if gently accepting everyone. But a hint of harshness floated on Kaito’s face. Hands shoved into the pockets of his coat, from the side he might look like he was complaining. In truth, something like anger stirred inside Kaito.

(Goddess Velos… At that time… what were you doing? When I held Roksane and begged you for salvation, what did you feel? Pity? Or mockery?)

“I’ll make use of your ‘blessing.’ But I don’t believe in you, and I won’t rely on you. I hate you…”

He muttered and turned his back on the statue.