Now then... I became an elite knight.
'I did not even go through knighthood yet. Is this really okay?'
Well, I think strength explains everything.
As an elite knight, I was assigned to guard at the castle.
"Easy... "
Now I can just assassinate the king without anyone knowing. How convenient.
But that has never been the plan.
I've found out that Mihgilrahann was no longer a thing today. For a sec there, I've thought that those guards were just fools for not knowing the name that even in the other kingdoms was well known.
Well, I mean today was not the same frame of my time. I died by old age after all. But still...
Let us say that the day of my revival was years after my death; won't it still be close enough for me to be remembered by the people? I was a land wanted, you know?
Are they just feigning they don't know?
Whatever the case may be, I know I must not act just rashly. I have to find out what's going on.
Therefore, I just stood straight following the orders the knights were given.
'But wow... Standing here in this post won't help me gain information. There are just a barely people passing here. Come to think of it, I don't even know the king's name yet.'
I was just lonely standing in a side of the castle hall. Even though there are other knights, let us say we are a hundred meters apart.
"Can't talk with them at this distance... Huh?"
'And wait... Isn't this castle too quiet for a place where a lot of people gather?'
The castle really just barely has passersby.
Even though places like this can be too busy to have any conversations and idle chatters, I think this much is just too much.
Looking at the surroundings... This place really just barely has anything.
"What the heck happened to my castle?"
...
"..."
(A person was standing in front of me.)
'Eh?'
I could just get surprised.
As I was muttering those words, I hadn't noticed that someone was passing through.
Was I just too inclined to think that no one was passing through here that I totally missed someone coming?
A gorgeous young woman was currently standing in front of me. She probably heard what I muttered which induced her to stop.
"Uhm... " - I tend to speak.
"What were you saying?"
"Uhm, noth... "
"Your castle?"
"Uh, no... "
"I don't mind if you were just joking around to kill boredom, but... I must remind you that that way of thinking doesn't fit a person like you. An elite knight."
"Ah... Ahaha... Sorry."
"This castle doesn't belong to anyone. If you can joke to yourself like that, then I don't think you are cut out for this. If you can just give away the castle's possession to anyone and more notably, to yourself, even if it's just for a joke, how could you do the work that is expected from you?"
"..."
"Don't ever take ease of securing the safety of this place. Do what is expected of you. Elite knight."
"Y... Yes... "
"Jokes are only for children. You are no longer one to be talking like that to yourself."
She said as she continued walking.
'Well of course. Putting my old life aside, even in this new body I am still older than you. The question is why are you talking to me like that?'
That was what was in my mind as I watched her go.
While on it, I caught a glimpse of something conspicuous.
"Red?"
The woman stopped.
I could just wonder what's up. Did she hear what I muttered again?
"Unstable flow of strength... "
She turned to me after muttering those words.
"You... "
"...?"
I could just gulp.
'What now? Don't tell me you finally remembered my name? I haven't even introduced it to you yet.'
"Aren't you feeling a bit... tensed?"
"Huh?"
I could just narrow my eyes.
'Oh... '
"I-I am not. Why?"
"Ah, no. It's nothing. I will be going. I expect good work."
The young woman goes on without asking any more.
Without doubt, she noticed I was restraining myself.
'I have to do something about this aura of mine.'
With my aura leaking like crazy, I can't just let it run free like nothing. So I have to control it. But to think she would notice it.
'Who was she by the way?'
Looking from afar, I saw her rather unusual aura.
'Black?'
Yes. Her aura was black. Something like that doesn't suit a human. Also...
"Red... "
Her eyes were red.
Although it's not like it's totally strange for a human to have red eyes, it's just... her eyes just have something different to them. Like something affected by a certain occurrence or factor. Like... Different kind of power... I guess?
But whatever it is... It doesn't matter for now.
"Sigh... "
I could just look at the ceiling as I let out a worn-out breath.
'What am I gonna do?'
I couldn't help but think about this. I decided to work in the castle for the reason of getting close to the affairs of the kingdom. If I were here, I've thought that I would be able to hear various information from various people. But look what I've ended up with... A perfectly serene place.
"Sigh... "
Should I just resign and try becoming an adventurer?
It was actually my plan at first. If those people just didn't show up. Summing up all that had happened, those two can be considered as not actually guards. So thinking back to what happened... Did I just get struck by a totally excellent bad luck?
I could just shiver in anger.
'How unfortunate!'
The security of this kingdom was not that tight after all! If I had just stayed in the plains for a while longer or just arrived late at the plains, I might have been in a different situation right now. I wouldn't have been forced to join the knights... Wait, I wasn't forced by the way. But still! For them not to get suspicious, I have to convince them by offering sacrificial acts. Like this!
Also, wasn't it my aura that induced that Nao to run to me? If my aura was not just so great! Aaargh...
Considering how many flaws were in at that time, I could just accept the fact.
"It was really an unfortunate timing... "
...
"...!?"
As I was drooping due to frustration, a very dangerous and destructive firepower was traversing across the sky at a rather alarming speed. It was directed to us! To the very castle!
Without second thought, I immediately head outside.
None of the elite knights had noticed the upcoming tragedy. At this rate, no one would make it on time.
"I have to block this on my own! I'll think of excuses later."
Through quick motion, I instantly got outside; to the open area of the castle (the roof on the level I was guarding).
I put some strength in my hand to defend the place.
["POOOORGSSH!!!"]
The annihilating energy flashed as it blasted extremely.
'As expected... That was enough to destroy the whole castle.'
The wind pressure from the explosion was still pushing the air in the four directions causing the clouds of smoke to ripple around the place.
"Tsk. What kind of attempt was that!?"
I could just react furiously looking for the source of the absolutely hostile attack.
Waves of smoke were still surging around me when I noticed somebody in front of me.
"...!?"
...
"Seriously... "
As the clouds of smoke went on, I heard a familiar voice. It was like a lively but totally serious voice.
"You are... " I muttered.
A young woman who looks so gorgeous because of her determined way of living, has appeared before me.
"...What are those people doing?"
The sharp-looking woman turned her head upward and looked at the sky.
"Why is a monster of that jurisdiction
Responsibility here in this kingdom?"
While utterly focused on the strange happening letting out those words, the woman noticed me. She turned to me as she uttered in wonder.
"You are... "
"..."
'Uh... She blocked the attack!?'
No wonder the impact was lacking. Didn't expect that she would be here to defend the castle.
"..."
Oh. She was suspicious of me now.
The woman was just observing me entirely.
"You saw that coming?"
Without doubt, it was not an attack that could be sensed by mere elite knights. For me to be caught on the outside...
This is not good... If they discovered my true capabilities, they would get inquisitive about it and then I would be labelled either a spy or plotting something antagonistic. I would get either imprisoned or exiled immediately.
"Ah, no... Sorry... I was just taking some air around here. Just thought this was a really good spot. Hehe... "
'Yeah of course she would buy it. What do you think of her? A fool? Of course, there was no way she would believe that!'
Although that was what should have been expected...
"What do you think you are doing!? Getting some air while on duty!? Don't insult the kingdom! Instead of that monster, I will be the one to take your life!"
...who would have thought that she would be this angry leaving the idea instead?
'Hey, hey, you are being way too serious... '