Chapter 64

“So, ha… how do I explain this to Iris?”

I sighed as I walked back to the Knights’ headquarters, parting ways with the two who had apprehended the criminal.

…Yes, while it’s wonderful that the fraud group’s criminal has been caught, I have an important problem left to solve.  Even considering the time spent on the errand and lunch break that Iris asked for, it’s clearly overtime.

 Therefore, when I arrived at the Knights’ headquarters, I hurriedly headed to the office.

If he has nothing else to do at this time, Iris should be doing clerical work.

Heading to the room at the corner of the second floor of the barracks, I knocked on the door before entering. Sure enough, Iris was there.

Iris was glaring at the documents in his hand with a troubled expression, but when he noticed that I had entered the room, he gave me a warm and charming smile.

“Welcome back, Takumi. I heard it was tough,” he said.

In the office, besides Iris, there were five other members of the group, each sitting at their desks, working. They looked at my face and warmly greeted me, saying,

“Welcome back, Takumi-kun,”

“It looks like you have it hard again, huh?”

Surprisingly, the atmosphere did not seem to be one of anger for being late… What could this mood be about?

“There was a letter from Commander Leon of the White-winged Knights earlier. Apparently, you caused a big commotion at the city hall?”

“It seems like a great achievement. Commander Leon praised you a lot in the letter.”

“But to think that a government employee was part of a fraud scheme, what a world we live in.”

Gathering everyone’s conversation, it seemed that Leon had sent a letter to the Black-winged Knights explaining why I was late. It seemed that everyone already knew about the details of the fraud incident from what was written in that letter.

You really saved me, thank you!

Wow, treating me to lunch and even explaining to the Knights… I’m really indebted to Leon today. I must thank him even more the next time I see him!

“I didn’t know Leon had sent a letter. But I didn’t do anything significant. The culprit just happened to be right in front of me.”

“Oh? But Commander Leon’s letter said you brilliantly knocked out the man and captured him.”

“… Well, I did knock the man out, that’s true…”

“Then it’s definitely your achievement, Takumi! You’re always so modest!” Iris, standing up and coming closer, teased me with a playful smile.

No, I mean, I knocked the man out accidentally, or rather… I didn’t even know he was one of the criminals in the first place!

“By the way… Do you call Commander Leon by his name? And even without honorifics…”

While chatting with Iris, I was suddenly asked by one of the members who was sitting at the desk working. I nodded. “Yes. When we met before, he told me to call him by his name… Is that inappropriate?”

“No, it’s fine if Commander Leon told you to do that.” The member nodded, seeming to understand.

And then, he and a colleague sitting next to him began whispering about something.

“I thought so from the contents of the letter, but… I’m surprised that even Commander Leon is smitten with Takumi-kun.”

“Well, I can understand the feeling. If Commander Gazelle and Vice-Commander Felix weren’t keeping an eye on him, I would have targeted him too.”

“… Don’t ever say that in front of Commander Gazelle and the others.”

“Don’t worry, I still value my life.”

“Hey, you two. I can hear you!”

Iris scolded the two, and they laughed evasively.

He shrugged at them, saying, “Really… But it must have been rough to encounter such a situation while running an errand, Takumi.”

“No, I didn’t do much. I’m sorry I was late coming back to the group.”

“It’s fine. Oh yes, there were words of gratitude from Commander Leon in the letter.”

“Is that so? Rather, I was the one who was helped by Leon this time, but—” 

efore I could finish speaking, there was a sound of the door opening behind me.

I turned reflexively.

Appearing from the door was the Vice-Commander of our Black-winged Knights—Felix, with golden silky hair and amethyst-colored eyes.

“…”

Our eyes met.

Felix slightly opened his lips, seemed to hesitate about what to say, then closed his mouth firmly. He then passed by me in silence and headed to Iris.

“Oh, Felix. What’s up?”

“Sorry to interrupt, Iris. Just now, the Black-winged Knights received an escort mission for a merchant caravan… “

“An escort mission for us? That’s quite unusual.”

“… Yes. I spoke with Captain Gazelle, and it feels a bit fishy… Can we talk in another room?”

“OK, just wait. I’ll finish this up, and you go ahead.”

Felix nodded in acknowledgment to Iris and bowed to all of us in the room before leaving. The sound of the door closing resonated heavily in my ears.

“Ah, sorry, Takumi. I interrupted our conversation.”

Iris’s voice called out to me, still standing in the room. I was brought back to reality by a bright voice, and turned to face Iris, pretending to be calm so that he wouldn’t notice my pounding heart.

“No, I’m fine. Sorry to bother you when you’re busy.”

“No, no! Rather, please come to see me anytime, no matter what. It’s boring without any charm when it’s just these guys!” Iris pouted, leaning on me.

“If you’re talking about charm, I think Iris is more suited for that than me.”

“Oh my, you’re saying something nice, aren’t you? That’s why I like you, Takumi!”

“Hey, hey, Takumi-kun. Don’t let Iris-san get carried away.”

“…Speaking of which, wasn’t Vice-Commander Felix acting strange earlier? Normally, if Takumi-kun was there, he would definitely call out to him.”

I felt a jolt in my heart at the squad member’s observation.

“Um, now that you mention it, that’s true… But he was saying that the next mission seems suspicious, maybe he’s just in work mode? Well, there are days like that, so Takumi, don’t worry too much about it.”

“Ah, yeah.”

Iris entwined his arm with mine and smiled at me, as if to reassure me.

With that smile and his words, my feelings settled down somewhat.

Right, right! Felix can’t always be paying attention to me… Today, he must have just been busy. Yes.

Isn’t that right, Felix?

“As planned, the first unit will go ahead of the caravan, and the second unit will follow. If anything unusual happens, notify us immediately with a signal flare.”

“Understood.”

“Then, everyone, please confirm your route to the highway.”

After the briefing, Felix turned and walked away, and everyone went to their horses, carrying their weapons.

“Sigh.”

As I headed towards my horse like everyone else, I quietly sighed.

Today’s weather was good, and there was nothing separating the paved road and the grasslands. A refreshing wind carried a blue fragrance, gently shaking my hair. Normally, it would be a scene that would wash my heart.

But my heart remained heavy.