“Takumi… were you a member of the Black-winged knights?”

“Oh, I was surprised too. I had no idea you were the White-winged knights’ leader.”

He was there at the monthly meeting held at the Royal Court in the capital, wearing the familiar black uniform of a Knight’s Order. The black uniform, which emphasized his ebony hair and eyes and his ivory-colored skin, suited him surprisingly well.

However, I couldn’t help but furrow my brows.

“…However, Lord Gazelle. Did you really let Takumi join of his own volition?”

“Aaah?”

It wasn’t just the man’s appearance that drew me to him. Our conversation in that alleyway was so brief, but his sincerity had deeply touched my heart. He showed mercy even to a criminal who had come at him, and he had a kindness that truly faced people.

Furthermore, he was humble and didn’t show off his abilities. It was completely unexpected that he was a member of the Black-winged Knights, who put a person’s ability first.

“Takumi certainly has some skills… But I hope you didn’t pressure him in joining the order.”

“If you can say such a ridiculous thing after seeing Takumi’s abilities, then you you’re blind.”

“I have no doubt about his abilities. However, I think he’s too kind-hearted to make it as a knight,” I countered, receiving Gazelle’s words as he just stared back at me without saying anything. If it were an ordinary man, they would have trembled just from the sharpness of his gaze. But I couldn’t back down here.

“Wait, Gazelle. Can I talk to Leon for a bit?”

Our tension was relieved by Takumi’s words. He stood between us with his usual calm expression.

“Leon, you’ve helped me with a lot of things before.”

“Oh no, it’s nothing. I was the one who was saved by you.”

I never thought he would thank me, so I couldn’t help but smile at his unexpected words. But what he said next greatly shook me.

“Leon, about what you said earlier…please don’t speak badly of the Black Wing Knights. They accepted me when I had nowhere else to go and have become like a family to me. While I still think that I have a long way to go as a member, I intend to work hard from now on.”

“Takumi…”

Upon hearing Takumi’s words, Gazelle let out a happy voice. It was clear from that alone how close they were, and it gave me some relief. At the very least, Takumi wasn’t forced to join the knight order or being treated unfairly within it.

But for some reason, my chest felt like a shard of glass had pierced it. I should be relieved, so why…

“Takumi…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to belittle you. I was just worried about you.”

I couldn’t grasp the name of the emotion that surged in my chest, and I stumbled over my words. Gazelle, who was behind Takumi, was surprised at my awkwardness, but he didn’t even have time to hide it.

I felt like Takumi might have been disappointed in me for being so clumsy, but he didn’t show any emotion and remained calm.

Therefore…

“I also want to talk to Leon more.”

“Huh? Of course, I want to talk to you too.”

When he smiled at me for the first time, it felt like I was soaring to heaven. My heart was filled with happiness. If he would smile at me again, I wanted to do anything I could for him.

“Maybe we can have a joint exercise with your group next time. We’ve never worked together with the White-winged knights before, right?”

“Okay, let’s consider it! Definitely!”

“Eh?!”

When I returned to myself, everyone in the Royal Court was watching me with anger in their eyes.

In the end, even before the advent of our joint exercise with the Black-winged Knights, we ended up forming a joint force in actual combat. But without that conversation with him, the White-winged Knights might never have set foot on this ravaged land.

I remembered him as I swung my sword again at the Mad Bear rushing toward me, anger in its eyes and roaring. Although my slash hit the Mad Bear’s face, its thick skull prevented any significant damage.

The Mad Bear was getting angrier and was about to hit me with a body blow by kicking the ground with its hind legs. However, before the Mad Bear could enter my range, a lightning-fast sword flashed from the side.

The Mad Bear let out a scream, “GUAGGAA!” as one of its eyes was beautifully cut open.

“I’m glad I could help. Lord Felix.”

“Don’t worry, Lord Leon,” said Vice-Commander Felix of the Black-winged Knights as he cut down the Mad Bear from the blind spot next to us. His sword skills were truly remarkable.

Then, Felix and I naturally paired up and fought against the injured Mad Bear. One person would distract it while the other attacked from the blind spot. If the Mad Bear was focused on the attack, the other person would turn around and take the offensive. Before I knew it, a smile had formed on my face.

“Heh… As expected of you, Felix. It’s truly a shame that we couldn’t welcome you to our White-winged Knights!”

“Th-Thank you for saying so…”

“Oh, it’s fine. I don’t want you to apologize. I just think that Gazelle is really good with people. Everyone I wanted ended up being taken by him and Takumi…” I said this as I thrust my sword into the eye of the Mad Bear that was approaching me.

“GGAAGGA!”

Finally, the Mad Bear, with both eyes slashed, let out a terrifying howl. But at this point, there was nothing to fear. In the end, I brought my sword down on its neck and ended its life. As I wiped the blood off my sword, I suddenly noticed Felix staring at me intently.

“What is it, Felix?”

“…No, may I ask where you met Takumi, Lord Leon?”

“Oh, that? It was when I went to the city. He caught a pickpocket for me.”

“The city? A pickpocket?”

“Yes, and now that I know his identity, I have to make sure he gets the reward for catching the pickpocket. I told him I would give it to him, but he refused because he said it wasn’t his accomplishment. Could you tell him that for me?”

“…Could I hear more about that story later?”

“Oh, sure. Of course.”

I was wondering why, since even though Felix was smiling cheerfully, I felt an incredibly cold atmosphere around him…[1]

“GGAAGGA!”

“Huh?!”

Suddenly, the angry roar of monsters echoed throughout the area. I looked in the direction of the sound and saw that seven wolves with a pale blue coat had appeared from the gate. These monsters were called Skolls.

Ah, it must be because the congestion at the gate was relieved by the Mad Bears’ defeat by us and our team.

Skolls were agile and slim monsters. They had infiltrated the city by slipping through the gaps. Felix and I both ran out at the same time. The two Skolls that noticed us turned towards us. However, the remaining Skolls ran towards the other members of our team, who were fighting the Mad Bear.

“Ugh…!”

Unfortunately, one Skoll had headed towards a member of our team who had been fighting the Mad Bear earlier. He was a young White-winged Knight with chestnut hair. He was too focused on fighting the Mad Bear and didn’t notice the threat behind him.

“Watch out! It’s behind you!”

Just as the Skoll leaped towards the back of his defenseless head, something intervened between them. Suddenly, as if rose petals were flying in the air, blood-spattered in all directions.

But it wasn’t the blood of my subordinate.

It was because someone had intervened between him and the Skoll.

It was Takumi, the black-haired, black-eyed young man who wore a black knight uniform as if it was made for him.

He had thrown himself in front of the young White-winged Knight to save his life, even as the Skoll sank its teeth into his arm.

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[1] Felix is just insanely jealous. That’s all.