Four People, For the Sake of One Person: Knight Commander

“It seems as though you’ve called for us, how can we be of use to you?”

“Well… I think you’re pretty aware of the situation by now.”

 Standing next to the door, I replied to the person in front of me.

As I watched her habitually play with her red hair that shines like steel, thoughts of her being a disgusting woman whose good looks will never fade fill my mind.

Tock. Tock.

As I heard the light tapping that emanated from the door, I readied my small sword.

Seeing me, she lightly looked at the ceiling and answered the visitor: “Come in!”

Swoosh. Crunch.

The moment the door opened, my sword was caught in mid-swing. “Well, well… Your senses are quite sharp. Very good! Excellent!”

“Nothing has changed, huh? Right Marshal.”

“You’re pretty busy, huh? Knight Commander.”

He was pushed back by my apprentice’s sword.

Hmmm… I sense that you haven’t missed a day of training. That’s very impressive.

“What a nuisance… You people have no manners!”

“Thank you for coming. His Excellency, the Left Marshal.”

My apprentice, Lionel, gave a stiff greeting.

Things have barely changed, but you seem to be doing well. I’m glad!

“Hey! Don’t call me by my formal title! You can just call me Isabella. Like you always do.”

“I’ve never called you that before. Left Marshal.”

“You’re so serious, Rai-chan!” Lionel responded with a pained expression.

Isabella is not as good with him, as well…

Well, he is on par with the Sorcerer Commander… Our very own Knight Commander…

That’s enough! I wish I could get used to it…

Sheathing my small sword, I sat down beside Isabella.

Seeing this, Lionel stores his sword as well. However, he remained standing. I see that he’s still wary of me.

This is getting more and more satisfying!

“So? What is it? I’m sure you called both me and Vi for a reason.”

“It’s Vidika. Say it in its entirety.”

Isabella appropriately nodded her head, “Yes, yes. I can’t count how many times we’ve had this conversation already…”

I have a good-sounding name, Vidika. Even my loving husband compliments me on how good it sounds!

“I would like to ask you both to defend the country temporarily.”

The moment Lionel said that, Isabella’s expression changed and became more serious.

Hmmm? So, Lionel, Isabella, and I are going to battle here?

“Why are you asking us, retired people, to do this when you are one of the active leaders?”

Isabella does have a point…

I’m a general, but in reality, it’s just a title. I’ve been out of practice for a long time. It’s now just a lovely ornament I have to show off to others.

Under normal circumstances, the Order’s actual heads: the Sorcerer Commander and the Knight Commander, would be in charge of crucial matters regarding national defense.

“Let’s hit the enemy headfirst!”

That’s Lionel in a nutshell.

I nodded my head, but Isabella didn’t seem convinced.

“Wouldn’t it be better if we went there?”

“Yes, I’m also interested in the ‘Fallen Hero’ as well… But saying, ‘Shut up, you fighting maniac!’ sounds good too…”

Then I got scolded.

As for me, I don’t care if it’s a defensive battle or an expeditionary one… As long as there is a battle.

This looks like it’s going to take a while. I’ll have to do some mental training beforehand.

“The current Commander will take care of it so that the rest of the world will know.”

“That’s what His Majesty told me. But I don’t understand it, too. I can’t believe you’re going somewhere else when the very survival of our country is at stake.”

“Is it a woman?”

“Huh?”

I was playing with an apple with the tip of my sheathed sword, but Isabella took it away with magic.

Oh, ha! That’s what magic is good for.

“What do you mean, ‘woman’!? The iron-masked, simple-minded, sorry-hobbyist Rai! There’s no way there can be a woman!”

“…Your Excellency, Left Marshal.“

Isabella-chan! I’m here, too!

Lionel’s face… Isn’t it a nice one? The stature of somebody who would never cheat on a lady.

“Men tend to change when they have a woman.”

“Hey, not all men are like that…”

Lionel spoke in an uncharacteristically brusque manner.

As Isabela stared at him, her face lit up.

See? I told you so.

“No! No! You should have told me that before! Rai!”

“Uhm… Things are going pretty fast, I guess. Well, then when’s the marriage going to happen?”

Isabella quickly forces Lionel to sit next to her and taps him on the shoulder without hesitation.

“I get it! It’s the ‘Dragon Knight’s Bride’, isn’t it? I thought it was just a baseless joke!”

“Oh? I, for one, thought it was just an accident.”

“Erm…”

“Oh, no, no. You’re not going to be a bride by accident, are you? Though, I’m pretty sure it’s like that for Rururia.”

“Wait, that name… Ah! That’s the decoy girl.”

“Therefore…”

“Ahhh! No way, and by no way, I mean no way in hell! You are saying that she’s going to be the defenseless princess whom the Knight saves?”

“Hmmm, I see. That’s going to be a fascinating turn of events.”

“No!”

“Two people overcoming hardships in the name of their love… So romantic!”

“Hardship is what strengthens love. That’s what happened to my dear husband and me.”

“Wai-“

What’s with all the mumbling, Lionel?

“Okay, okay! Vi and I will take care of it… To be honest, when Your Majesty first approached us, I was going to turn down the idea of leading the defense because it’s too much work!”

“It’s not Vi… It’s Vidika. We got you covered, don’t worry.”

“Thank you very much!”

Isabella and I answered back with big smiles on our faces.

Hmmm? You don’t seem too happy about something, Lionel…? Your gaze seems empty…

However, that would still be Lionel’s spouse.

I miss the time when he was only ten years old, swinging a sword. I immediately turned him into my apprentice without any questions asked.

The big crybaby is now getting married… Yeah, right…

“Well, well, our dear Lionel…”

“What is it?”

“Say that to my idiot son who isn’t here, will you?”

“As you wish, ma’am.”

Isabella smiled, but her magic power expanded and shook the window due to anger. Oh, I can hear the sound of teapots breaking in the back.

With that being said, Lionel’s twin… who’s also Isabella’s kid, didn’t shown up.

 I thought the subject was about the two commanders leaving…

 Good grief. Is he still in his rebellious stage?

“Come on, come on! Tell me more about her, Rai-chan!”

“Well, what color would you prefer for my apprentice’s spouse? I’m thinking of buying her a necklace.”

“I think it’s about time you should leave…”

We got reprimanded.

“Don’t change the subject!”

“So, what color do you prefer?”

 The two of them held Lionel down, so he wouldn’t be able to flee.

Oh, you’re pretty strong, Lionel. Unfortunately, it’s two against one.

Just give up and spill!

We have to get the gift for Lionel as soon as possible, so he wouldn’t think of running away from the girl!

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