EEA Chapter 5

Clint, for once properly dressed in his uniform, headed toward Roylin's office.

Taren, the vice-captain of the Thillip Knights under his command, asked.

"Captain, why do you think that snake-like bastard is calling for you?"

"He couldn't have noticed that I touched his woman..."

"No way. If he had, he would've beaten you up immediately, Captain."

"...Am I such a ridiculous existence to you, Taren?"

"Yes, you are."

At Taren's calm response, Clint made an aggrieved expression.

Well, he had been doing all sorts of things to appear ridiculous. He had no choice. If he appeared competent, they would eventually keep using his knights somewhere useful. What would come back from that would only be death and his family's poverty. Just like all the adults in his knight order who were now dead.

Clint had decided to do nothing and avoid the emperor's eyes rather than sacrifice his life for this country.

Having made that decision and fooling around, women naturally began approaching him for one-night affairs, and he didn't particularly refuse them. Since he didn't investigate each woman's background, he didn't know exactly whether they were married or unmarried. As a result, his notoriety gradually grew.

Clint entered Roylin's office. Roylin, a man whose emotions couldn't be read, greeted him.

"Clint, I have a favor to ask."

"Please speak, Your Highness Roylin."

Usually, Clint went around looking shabby, but when called for official conversations like this, he always wore his perfectly fitted knight order uniform.

He was always grinning foolishly, but when he closed his mouth, he had quite a sharp impression. His slender body with tall height and broad shoulders in an inverted triangle shape looked splendid in any clothes, but he looked best in the knight order's uniform.

The elegant uniform in black, which only the captains of the twenty knight orders certified by the imperial castles in Teniac could wear, was decorated with gold thread on the sleeves and shoulder lines.

Even so, having become an orphan at a young age and joined the knight order, Clint had never learned proper etiquette, so he always left his buttons casually undone and had never been seen wearing a tie even when dressed formally.

Roylin opened his mouth.

"The Kanna Empire recently took Geneta Castle in the Seaton region. The Green family who lived in that castle are in the underground prison of Geneta Castle. I'd like you to rescue and bring them back. They're good people."

At those words, Clint's eyes closed briefly.

Geneta Castle was where nearly a thousand soldiers of the Kanna Empire were stationed.

Sending Clint's knight order of twenty people, only five of whom were properly knighted, to that place was the same as telling them to die on the battlefield.

Until now, he had somehow survived by avoiding the emperor's eyes, and now he had caught the attention of that crown prince. Roylin smiled gently and said.

"You too have reached the time to go out and achieve your next merit like Captain Ron. I'm giving you an opportunity, Clint."

Is dying for the country also considered a merit?

Clint anticipated the next words. Obviously predictable. Then if you happen to recapture Excalize, you'll get to possess Seaton.

"Then if you happen to recapture Excalize, you'll get to possess Seaton."

It was amazing how the emperor said exactly the same words he had said to Ron Elgar Yuliana, the former captain of the Thillip Knights.

"...You'll become a widower."

"Why suddenly?"

Clint bowed at the waist, greeting as a knight.

"Nothing. I'll go, Your Highness Roylin."

"Be careful and come back."

Roylin raised his hand in greeting. And watching Clint's cold face as he withdrew, he smiled with satisfaction.