To Neia, a bowman was someone with great skill, like her father. She was only a little more capable than the average person.
“…Or rather, you’re an aspiring paladin who is skilled with a ranged weapon. That’s extremely rare. I’d recommend that you work on your archery skills. If you have people who specialize in swordsmanship, you can leave the swords to them.”
“Thank you.”
The King of Darkness was speaking sincerely, and Neia could tell that he really believed what he said deep down. She did wonder what he meant when he murmured to himself, “Weird combinations are the path to rare classes.” It seemed significant, like some sort of metaphor.
“I’m sorry you were forced to do the tricky job of looking after me. I feel bad not only for you but for the others. They could better utilize your skills by positioning you outside, no?”
Neia’s eyes widened at his kind remarks.
This was the part of talking to this king that was bad for her heart.
Not only was he the head of his nation, he was an overwhelmingly powerful individual. Yet, instead of speaking to her from on high, he did her the favor of interacting with her as an equal.
No! I can’t let his kindness spoil me! I have to take a step back!
Neia composed herself.
“Everyone knows I’ve been ordered to accompany you. You needn’t worry. And in the first place, there’s nothing more important than accompanying you.”
“I see… I’d really like to offer you some sort of compensation.”
He had offered to pay her something previously. Of course, she had refused, but it seemed like he was bringing it up again. Neia immediately began selecting words she could use to politely turn him down, but the King of Darkness hadn’t finished.
“That said, accepting something from a foreign king would probably be bad for someone in your position. So please accept my verbal thanks. I’m sure I’ll cause lots of trouble for you, but I appreciate your assistance.”
Then the King of Darkness bowed his head.
A king was bowing to her, a mere squire.
The weight of a country rested on a ruler’s shoulders, of course. Just as it was said that making light of a king meant making light of a country, it was normal to think that a country existed through its king.
In other words, a king bowing his head meant his country bowing its head. Of course, it surely wasn’t unheard of for a king to bow to someone of high standing.
But Neia was a commoner from another country. He didn’t even need to thank her.
I can’t believe it. He’s a wise king—it’s not as if he doesn’t understand the implications of bowing to me. So is he bowing like any normal person because he thinks I’m so—no! I can’t get full of myself. I couldn’t be that valuable. This is just proof of how broad-minded he is; he even thanks regular people… Oh crud!
“Please stop, You Majesty! Please raise your head!”
Right, saying that should have been my first priority.
The King of Darkness looked up, and Neia breathed a little sigh. Frankly, if anyone had seen what just happened, there would have been an uproar.
“Your Majesty.” She took a knee on the narrow bit of floor. “I’m no one special, but I vow to work loyally and wholeheartedly until your business is concluded.”
It was only natural that she return the king’s gesture of respect.
She ignored the voice that said he wasn’t the king of the Sacred Kingdom and bowed her head.
“Oh, come on; raise your head… Now, would you sit back down and finish your story? We’re not there yet, are we?”
“No.” She sat down and looked out the window. “Yesterday, thanks to Your Majesty, we were able to pass through the broken wall. We’re traveling roads no one is likely to spot us on, so it might take a while. Still, I think we’ll arrive at our base by tomorrow or the day after.”
They called it a base, but it was really just a cave.
“I see. So we still have quite some time, then. Tell me the rest of your story. I haven’t heard why you decided to make attaining holy knighthood your goal yet. If you’re good with a bow, couldn’t you have gone that route? Why did you choose to be a paladin? To uphold justice? Or because they’re the pride of your kingdom?”
“No.” She smiled and remembered her childhood like it was yesterday. “Because my mother was a paladin.”
And one who was reliable with a sword at that, a totally different sort of knight compared to her daughter, Neia.
“I seeeee. So she told you to? Or you looked up to her?”
“Oh no. She always told me not to be a paladin. And she wasn’t very good at being a parent. She could do laundry and mending, but when it came to making meals, she was hopeless. It was all so sloppy. Meat coming out underdone was never a surprise.”
It was her father who always cooked, and when she was a kid, she thought that’s how it was at everyone’s house.
“…I see. Even though she was against you becoming a paladin, she didn’t stop you when the time came—she was a good mother.”
“Oh no. When I told her I was going to become a squire, she brought out a sword and said, ‘If you can defeat me, I’ll allow it!’ The reason she finally let me was that my father hopped in to shield me. I would never have won in a fair fight.”
The first time she experienced the intent to kill was in that moment.
“……Ahhh, that’s a nice, uh, a nice family you had, then…”
“Yes. The neighbors gave us strange looks, but I think I had a good family.”
“……I see. That’s good… S-so why did you end up aiming to be a paladin? You never thought to follow in your father’s footsteps…? Or was he a stay-at-home dad?”
“No, he served the country as a regular soldier. But, hmm…I wonder why I never
