The Boy Who Fell to the Lowest Level of the Dungeon, Becoming the Strongest and Returns to the Surface After 10 Years~He Just Wants to Live a Quiet Life, but His Childhood Friends Who Have Risen to Prominence Won’t Leave Him Alone~

“This is the knight order.”

Celia opened the entrance to the base and spread her hands wide inside.

At that moment, a surge of determination emanated from within.

“Next!”

“Yes!”

“Stand up!”

“Yes!”

“We can’t defend the royal capital with something like this!”

“Yes!”

The inside of the base is spacious, and it seems that training is taking place everywhere.

The enthusiasm is palpable, and the intensity comes through.

Seeing that scene, Elta’s mouth dropped open in astonishment.

“Super amazing.”

“Hehe, that’s right.”

About two weeks since Elta became a lecturer at the academy.

On his day off, Celia delivered a letter saying, “Would you like to come see the knights’ order?”

Under the pretext of visiting the knight’s order, to have a “legal date.”

Getting used to the academy little by little, and having some free time, Elta quickly agreed.

The reason is that it seems he had always wanted to visit at least once.

“I’ve always wanted to see it, Celia doing her best.”

“…! I-is that so?”

“Yeah. Even at the academy, you’re bragging about how the Vice Captain is my childhood friend.”

“~~~Hmm!”

Straightforward Elta doesn’t lie.

At those words, Celia couldn’t help but turn her blushing face away.

“Anyway, you can do whatever you want today. If you get hungry, you can eat over in that building. Of course, it’s free.”

“Woah!”

When Celia extended her hand, Elta’s eyes sparkled like a boy’s.

By hitting the right spot, it’s clear that Celia is indeed his childhood friend.

And so, the two began their legal date──no, their knight order tour.

★

“Wow, that’s really amazing.”

Looking down from the gallery, Elta speaks with admiration.

His vocabulary is poor, and he has only been saying “amazing” since a while ago, but he seems to be enjoying himself.

“Celia, what are you doing?”

“…! Wh-which one is it?”

“That’s it.”

When Elta pointed again, Celia hurriedly turned her gaze.

“Ah, ah! That’s demon-hunting training!”

“Wow! By the way, are you okay? You’ve been zoning out for a while.”

“…Ah!”

Elta peeks at Celia with a worried expression.

It seems that there are several instances today where Celia will ask for clarification.

It’s unusual for her, considering she’s usually so reliable.

In response, Celia turns her back and screams in her heart.

(I can’t help but keep looking at El-kun…!)

For Celia, the visit to the knight’s order is just an excuse to meet.

In other words, in her mind, it’s a “date.”

She was too conscious of that, and she couldn’t concentrate on the conversation.

(My face is naturally relaxing…)

Since they hadn’t seen each other in a while, Celia was completely elated.

──But then, a man comes along.

“Hey, you.”

“Huh?”

A man around the same age spoke to Elta.

What is engraved on his chest is the mark of the “High-Ranking Knight.”

This is the rank just below the vice captain.

“What do you think you’re doing, following the vice captain around?”

“Huh?”

He can tell from the tone of his voice.

It seems that he views Elta as an enemy.

However, he couldn’t just leave such a man alone, so Celia intervened.

“Azil, he is a guest. Leave this to me and go back.”

The man’s name is “Azil.”

He is one of the top five powerhouses in the knight order.

Such Azil doesn’t back down even from Celia’s orders.

“Excuse me, Vice Captain. But I have something to discuss with this man.”

“──I’ll listen.”

Then, Elta stepped in front of Celia.

He probably doesn’t want to make the kind Celia too angry.

“Are you talking to me?”

“First of all, let me ask you. What is your relationship with the Vice Captain?”

“What do you mean, she’s just my childhood friend…”

“There’s no way!”

Azil was in a fit of rage as he plunged his sword into the ground with a clang.

Then, he unleashed the emotions he had been feeling lately onto Elta.

“The Vice Captain is cold-hearted, a hard worker, strict with herself, and never smiles!”

“Huh?”

At this point, he might want to tilt his head in confusion, but Azil’s words don’t stop.

“Moreover, she has no wicked thoughts, shows no interest in others, and simply follows the path of the sword as it is. That’s the kind of person she is!”

“Hmm?”

There are indeed parts that occasionally catch him.

However, the appearance that Celia shows in front of the Knights’ Order might be as he says.

Also, Celia was listening next to them as she kept averting her gaze.

(Azil, I’m sorry…)

Perhaps Azil is saying it out of goodwill.

Therefore, the cold demeanor was a facade, and it was impossible to admit that she joined the knight order solely for Elta and that today’s outing was just an excuse for a date.

In contrast, Azil continued as if driven by his emotions.

“To make such a person wear such a frivolous expression… don’t deceive her!”

“Th-that’s a deception!?”

“Right?! Until you came along, the Vice Captain never had such a lovesick expression! I admired the cool Vice Captain who wouldn’t look at anyone!”

Celia is now looking up at the heavens.

(Because I was really wrong. So please forgive me already…)

Without knowing her true intentions, Azil raised his voice.

“So let’s settle this like men!”

“…!”

And so, Azil pointed his sword at Elta.

“If I win, don’t ever go near the vice captain again.”

“T-that’s a bit…”