Chapter 42: From Here On

That blow seemed to have been enough to finish even the grand crocodile and its tremendous vitality. It didn’t so much as twitch.

“We won…”

I was certain of our victory. As my mind calmed, the pain from my bitten right arm came rushing back. But that no longer mattered.

“We won! We defeated the grand crocodile! WOOOOOOOOOOH!”

I roared in triumph. We’d done it. Together, we’d brought down that monster.

“That’s our boss!”

“Sibyl!”

Diller and Eve descended from the great bell tower and came toward me. Tears welling in her eyes, Eve threw herself against me.

“You kept doing such reckless things…! But you were amazing. Thank you!”

Those words alone made everything feel worthwhile. Back home, no matter how hard I worked, nobody had ever acknowledged me. But now I’d saved someone I wanted to protect, and she’d even thanked me.

Could I ask for anything more?

“Fighting might not be your specialty, but you put your body on the line more than anyone, boss. You’ve got the heart that matters more than anything to a warrior.”

Diller said it with a smile. Had even I, the boy everyone called a coward, managed to change a little?

“I think so too. You even came up with a plan to defeat a grand crocodile when we were against the wall.”

“No, that was only thanks to Divine Answer—Metis.”

“Your skill is part of your talent, isn’t it? Oh, I know! Why don’t you join the Rodel Empire’s knight order? With that skill, you could save even more people!”

“What?”

It was a sudden recruitment pitch from Eve.

At the time, none of us could have imagined how greatly that invitation would change my destiny.

Not long after the battle ended, the soldiers came to inspect the grand crocodile. They couldn’t hide their shock when they found it dead.

“I-it’s dead! Did you people actually do this!?”

“Course we did. Go tell your superiors. Tell them Sibyl and Eve defeated that monster!”

Diller answered. The soldiers immediately hurried away to report to the lord.

Perhaps because they’d lost their leader, the red crocodiles in the plaza immediately fell into confusion and lost all coordination.

Word that the grand crocodile had been defeated spread little by little, kindling hope in everyone’s hearts. All that remained was to finish off the red crocodiles that had failed to escape. They were rank-D monsters, so the soldiers should be capable of fighting them.

And so, the nightmare that had attacked Delcour came to an end.

Though the town remained in disarray, peace returned.

The following day, we were summoned to the residence of Becker, lord of Delcour. That gave me an excuse to put on the clothing I’d worn back when I was a noble.

“How are you two so calm?”

Diller asked Eve and me.

“Well, my family is technically noble…”

My father was technically a noble too. Though I certainly wasn’t one anymore.

“I’m just the type who doesn’t show it on his face.”

“Liar. Whatever. It’s nearly time.”

A soldier came to fetch us, and we followed him down a long corridor. All our weapons had been taken from us. Not that it mattered for me. Even with a sword, I’d only be defeated in an instant.

“Lord Becker is beyond this door. Take care not to show him any disrespect.”

He brought us to a door finer than all the others. When it opened, we entered to find a mild-looking, middle-aged man seated on an expensive leather sofa.

His mustache was neatly trimmed, and a gentle smile rested on his face.

“Thank you for coming. Please, sit here.”

He indicated the sofa opposite him.

“My name is Becker, and I govern this town. Without you, Delcour would have been in terrible danger. You truly saved us. Thank you.”

With those words, he lowered his head.

“Please raise your head. We’re glad we could help.”

I addressed Becker as he bowed to us.

“No. I hear you properly warned one of my soldiers that the grand crocodile was coming. I’d ordered them to report any such information, but clearly that order hasn’t been enforced. I intend to give the soldier who received your warning the appropriate punishment.”

It was true that the situation wouldn’t have grown nearly so terrible if the army had prepared in advance. But it was also difficult to respond seriously to information from a stranger claiming to possess a mysterious skill.

“Sibyl, you learned of the danger in advance and warned several organizations, didn’t you? You anticipated that none of them might act and prepared your own countermeasures. Your skill is remarkable. There is so much one can do when an attack is known beforehand. And your actions were equally admirable. You could have fled, yet you fought for this town. As its lord, I want to thank you.”

Becker praised me with complete sincerity. It was a little embarrassing.

“Hearing you say that makes all our effort worthwhile.”

“The same applies to you, Diller and Eve. I understand that you believed his warning and fought desperately. I intend to reward both of you properly.”

“That’d certainly help,” Diller said.

“I merely did what any knight should,” Eve replied.

“I see. You belong to the Imperial Knights, don’t you? They are called the emperor’s shield, and now I see why. I wish my soldiers would follow your example.”

“Thank you.”

Eve smiled shyly.

“Sibyl, I hear you’re still only a rank-F adventurer. Would you consider leaving adventuring behind and working for me? Your skill would undoubtedly prove valuable.”

I was being personally recruited by Becker himself.

Wait. Is this my sudden season of popularity!?

But someone objected. Eve.

“Forgive me, but Sibyl wishes to join the Imperial Knights. His skill could save more people there.”

What!? Since when did I wish to join the Imperial Knights!? This was the first I’d heard of it.

For some reason, Becker nodded at her words.

“I see. With talent such as his, perhaps the Imperial Knights truly are where he will shine brightest. I deeply regret losing him, but it would also be a shame to bury his gifts in a remote region like this. I’ll accept it with a heavy heart.”

The conversation was moving forward entirely without me…

And this was nothing but a massive overestimation! Lady Metis wasn’t nearly that omnipotent.

“I’m grateful for your words, but fighting isn’t my strong suit. I can’t even defeat an orc. Serving in the army would be…”

“It’ll be fine, Sibyl! The knight order has a position called strategist! There, you can save everyone without fighting personally!”

This is bad. I’m actually being swept into joining the military.

“No, that’s not really what I meant…”

“You needn’t be so modest. I’ll send the imperial army a personal recommendation as well, telling them that a genius strategist capable of predicting every future attack has appeared.”

Predicting attacks might be possible, but I know nothing about military strategy!

Diller was sitting beside me, desperately suppressing his laughter. Damn him.

“That’s wonderful, Sibyl! With a lord’s recommendation, there’s almost no chance they’ll reject you! I hope we’re assigned to the same knight order!”

Eve turned a radiant smile toward me. After seeing a smile like that, how could I possibly admit that I didn’t want to join…?

And so, I found myself scheduled to take the Rodel imperial army’s entrance examination.