"Hey, Flare. Why are you so mad?"
"I don't know!"
Leaving Valhalla Castle behind, the three of us were heading toward the Royal Capital. Flare was in a foul mood.
"Women have days like that, Leo. A true knight treats a lady like a princess at times like these," Deskis advised.
"...Should I give her a princess carry?"
"Don't you dare! Why don't you do that to Deskis-senpai instead? Actually, that’s just sexual harassment!"
I didn't really get it, so I decided to leave her be.
Deskis-senpai, why are you stopping in front of me? I'm not doing it, okay?
"Now then, Leo. Regarding that invitation to join your Knight Order... I'm truly honored. However, I'll have to decline for now."
"I see... May I ask why?"
"Isn't it more dramatic if I show up right when you're in a pinch?"
"……"
"Just kidding. To be honest, if I’m there, you’ll just end up leaning on me. We should be partners who support each other, not dependents. For now, go gain some experience. Just the two of you young'uns."
"I haven't said I was joining yet!" Flare interjected.
"Leo. Tell her how you feel. Straight from the heart. Look her in the eye and be honest. It'll reach her."
I turned to Flare. She huffily looked away, so I took her by the shoulders and forced her to face me.
"W-What?"
"Flare... please."
"I-It doesn't have to be me, does it?"
"It has to be you, Flare. When you're there... I feel at ease. I can fight with everything I've got. It was the same this time. Because you worked so hard, I was able to give it my all."
"……R-Really?"
I stared directly into her eyes.
"Yeah. So Flare, join my Knight Order. I need you."
"……U-Um, okay. I get it. Fine, I'll join."
"Too easy! But that's what makes her great! A total Choroine! You’re the type who’d get hooked on a host and end up working the red-light districts while crying, 'He’s different! I’m the only one who can save him!'"
"Shut up for a second, Muscle Chocolate Senpai."
"Are those massive cacao beans on your shoulders, boy?! HEY!"
"I wonder why this guy is always so hyper."
And so, Flare became the first official member of my Knight Order. For now, it was a group of only two.
Eventually, we reached the harbor. Waiting for us there was—
"Jin-senpai!"
"Welcome back, everyone."
Jin Ashtress. Our Student Council President was there to meet us. It had only been a few days, but I felt like I'd lived through a lifetime of events.
We boarded the ship. But... something about this vessel was off.
"—Isn't this a bit huge?"
The interior was so massive it felt like a luxury liner, filled with lavish decorations that made me feel like I’d walked into a ballroom. It wasn't made of wood. It was a colossal ship made entirely of iron. Come to think of it, the castle walls were iron too; civilization here was surprisingly advanced.
The security was incredibly tight—I couldn't even count how many knights were on board. I wondered if they really needed to send something this grand just for us.
"Knight Commanders are traditionally greeted by this ship. It’s custom," Jin explained.
"Is that so? They’re certainly spending a lot of money."
"It’s an occasion worth celebrating. The emergence of a Knight Commander—a true guardian of the nation. There’s a party tonight. You’re free to do as you like until then."
"A party, huh... I’m not really a fan."
"They’re serving cake."
"I’m definitely going."
If cake was involved, that was a different story entirely.
The ship set sail, leaving Valhalla Castle behind for Arcana Port.
"Hey, Leo! Let's go explore!"
"Wait—!"
Dragged along by Flare, I spent quite a while wandering through the ship. They even had a casino. It really wasn't any different from a luxury liner in my previous life.
"Want to try your luck?"
"You look like you'd be terrible at this, Flare."
"Oh, you want to go there? Fine, let's settle this!"
"Do you even have any money?"
"Nope! But look, let's just borrow some from him!"
I looked where Flare was pointing.
"Blackjack."
"P-Please, have mercy already!!"
Deskis-senpai was absolutely cleaning house. He was incredible. I wondered if there was anything the man couldn't do. When Flare begged for some of his winnings, he handed her a pile of chips, telling her to just go have fun.
He really was a good guy. Weird, but good.
"Alright, the match is on!"
"Fine by me."
We decided to play casually and see if we could increase our stash. I noticed gambling for minors was perfectly legal here. In my old world, this would have been a massive scandal.
"Right then... well... this looks like a good spot."
I sat down at the most prominent table I could find. A massive roulette wheel was spinning in front of me. The rules were simple: Red or Black.
The dealer sent the ball spinning. I tried to predict its path.
"……Red, maybe?"
I missed. No good. I couldn't read the physics of the ball at all.
"……Mind if I join you, lad?"
"Ah, go ahead."
An old man sat down in the seat next to mine. He was wearing sunglasses and a flamboyant aloha shirt. And sandals? Even if it was warm out, he was one flashy old-timer.
The dealer threw the ball again.
"So, what do you think's next?"
"Eh? Black, I guess?"
The dealer spun it.
"……Red, I'd say."
It landed on red. I looked at the old man. He held up a hand for a high-five, grinning. He was high-energy, to say the least.
Must have been a lucky guess.
"Want to have a little contest, lad?"
"A contest?"
He plucked one of my ten chips.
"This will be our stake. Ten rounds! Whoever has the most chips at the end wins."
"I'm game, but... what are the prizes?"
"If I win, you have to ask little Flare over there what color her underwear is."
"What kind of dirty old man are you? And if I win?"
"I'll tell you the color of mine."
"Isn't that just a loss for me either way?"
"Hahaha! Don't you worry. Here it comes. Bet, bet! I'll place mine after you've made your choice."
"…………Black."
"Bzzzt! Wrong! It was red!!"
The wheel was still spinning. Clatter... It landed on red.
The old man flashed a peace sign. "Yay!"
Must be a fluke. He’s just excitable.
The next round began.
"……Black."
"……Oh! Correct."
"What do you mean 'correct'? It hasn't even—!?"
Clatter... It landed on black. I thought it was a coincidence. But then it happened again. And again.
"There, my win. You're still quite green, aren't you?"
A coincidence wouldn't last for ten rounds in a row. It was impossible. I stared at the old man.
"What a waste. You have such good eyes... yet you haven't the faintest idea how to use them."
"Who are you, old man?"
He pulled off his sunglasses and looked me in the eye. He had to be over eighty. Yet, in that instant, a pressure so sharp radiated from him that I nearly drew my sword.
No.
"Talent alone won't change the world, lad. Come now... as one King to another, shall we discuss the state of things?"
In that single moment, my head could have been taken. What was this old man? Some kind of monster?