Chapter 66

“…Speaking of escorts, this mission is quite rare, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, normally, escort missions like this don’t usually request a knight order like ours…” Iris said, tilting his head.

This mission is to escort merchants from Ritzheim City to Wazlow City.

Wazlow City is the closest city to the border with the neighboring Oster country, and therefore, it is one of the essential cities for trade and commerce in this country. Recently, potions have started to be exported to other countries, and the city seems to be bustling even more.

The merchants we’re going to escort are also transporting potions they purchased to their own country, from Ritzheim to Wazlow. Normally, merchants or nobles who travel on the highway would hire adventurers for protection, but this time, a merchant from Oster, a friendly nation to the Ritzheim Magic Kingdom, has requested to borrow the personnel of our knight order at his own expense since he’s not familiar with this country’s adventurers.

It was requested by a Ritzheim noble, and then our knight order’s upper management accepted, leading to this unique escort mission.

“You would think they’d request the White-winged or the Red-winged Knight Order for a noble-related request. It’s really unusual for them to choose us.”

Iris seemed to think this was a strange mission as well. Yeah, it’s true—there usually aren’t many escort missions for the Black-winged Knight Order.

… Well, it’s not that we’re unsuited for escort missions, but you know, the Black-winged Knight Order has many hot-blooded members, right?

“I have a bad feeling about this mission… Takumi, be careful, okay? Don’t wander off alone.”

“Yeah, Gazelle already warned me. I’ll keep that in mind.”

So, the members selected for this mission are Commander Gazelle, Vice-Commander Felix, executive Iris, and including me, fifteen members.

However, having Iris among the members is reassuring. He’s a great conversationalist and casually supports others. He’s perfect for an escort mission.

… But I understand why Iris was selected, but why me? I heard that this selection was influenced by the other party’s preferences…

Furthermore, the distance to Wazlow City is only about a day or two by fast horse. But since we’re moving by carriage, we’re planning two to three days for the journey. Currently, we’re waiting outside the city’s main gate to meet the individuals we’ll be escorting. We should have already met them and left by now… but they and Gazelle, who went to fetch them, haven’t arrived yet. That’s why Iris and I are killing time with idle chatter.

“Ah, isn’t that them? Gazelle and Felix seem to have serious looks on their faces,” Iris said, looking in their direction.

Coming through the main gate toward us were Gazelle, Felix, and two members who had accompanied them. Following them, a portly middle-aged man with a chin beard and two men in their mid-twenties flanked him. They must be the ones we’re escorting. As I was staring at the portly uncle, our eyes met, and he threw me a grin. It was like the smile of a frog eyeing a bug before its eyes.

“He doesn’t look like a very pleasant person, huh? Takumi, be a little careful, okay?” Iris whispered softly so that only I could hear, and then started walking towards Gazelle. Probably, he’s going to greet the people we’re supposed to guard.

“Ah, I see,” 

Now, I need to get myself together, too.

As Iris said, this is my first time on a guard mission. I have to be careful not to mess up! The client specifically asked for the Black-winged Knights.

It would be terrible to displease someone who likes the Black-winged Knights so much.

With renewed determination, I watched Gazelle and the others.

Iris had already joined them, and with Gazelle, Felix, the old man, and the two servants, with them seemingly to be discussing something…

But I wonder why Gazelle’s expressions don’t look very peaceful. Did something happen? I became worried while watching them, and suddenly the old man, who is our guard target, turned to look at me.

Then, he approached me directly.

I could clearly see Gazelle, Felix, and Iris looking surprised at the old man who suddenly left the scene.

“Ho ho! You’re the rumored knight with black hair and black eyes, aren’t you?”

The old man who arrived in front of me scrutinized me from head to toe.

What’s going on all of a sudden? The carriage the oji-san is riding is over there, you know? Should I tell him that?

“What do you want with me?”

“No, no. I’ve wanted to see a person with the ‘black’ characteristics up close for some time. Hmm… No, this is beyond expectation. Your features are quite good, and with this, you must be…”

The old man continued to look at me with a twisted grin, almost as if he were licking me with his eyes.

Ah, black hair and black eyes are rare, right?

But to come all this way to see me, that’s quite peculiar.

Oji-san, are you the type to rush to see a newborn panda at the zoo? Quite the trendy person, aren’t you? 

“Even though black hair and black eyes are rare, this is all there is to it. You must’ve been disappointed.”

“No, no, that’s not the case at all! I want to see it even closer… Oh, that’s right! There’s still room in our carriage. You should ride with us to Wazlow City!”

“…Me, in the carriage? Thanks for the invitation, but as a guard, I can’t…”

“Don’t be shy! In case of an attack by bandits, it would be safer for us to have a guard inside the carriage. Come on, we’re already past our departure time. Hurry up and get in!”

S-shouldn’t someone other than me be better for this? Having a weakling like me would be no better than having a meat shield, right? Plus, being in the same carriage as the guards is absolutely impossible! I’m sure I’d get motion sickness from the nerves! But how should I refuse without displeasing them?

“Sir Trevath, is there anything wrong?”

At the moment when the stout old man reached out to grab my arm, Gazelle approached with a rather frightening face. Iris and Felix were talking to the two servants, but I could see them glancing over here with concern.

S-sorry Gazelle! You’re worried I’m bothering this oji-san, aren’t you?

“Gazelle… this man says he’s uneasy with only the outside guards… So he wants me to ride in the carriage as well.”

“Hmm, is that so? Are we, the Black-winged Knights, insufficient?”

Gazelle stepped between the old man and me, looking down at him with an uncharacteristically cold gaze. It was quite intimidating.

“N-no… that’s not what I meant…”

The old man was taken aback by Gazelle’s attitude.

“Good. Then we’ll continue as we are. If you have any concerns, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”

Gazelle’s stern face transformed into a gentle smile, but it held an unmistakable forcefulness. After making sure the disgruntled uncle nodded, he moved away from the scene, almost pushed by Gazelle. When I’d put enough distance between myself and the uncle, I whispered to Gazelle.

“…Thanks, Gazelle. I didn’t know how to refuse.”

“Don’t worry about it. But this request does seem fishy. I’ll put you in the rear, so try not to interact with them too much.”

“…Understood.”

The rear, huh?

I guess it can’t be helped. I wasn’t handling the old man very well, after all…

Feeling guilty about my inadequacy, I apologized, “Sorry,” but Gazelle laughed, saying, “I told you not to worry about it,” and playfully tousled my hair.

His concern is comforting, but that kindness is a little painful.

…But it’s work, after all. There’s no use complaining any further!

Fortunately, it seems he’s going to keep me away from the old man.

I’ll shake off my doubts and do my best on this mission…!