CH 274.2

Translator: “Hakou”                             Editor: “Weasalopes”

The young pilot replied nervously at the noble kid in front of him who spoke to him.

He was younger than the young pilot, but he was skilled and good-looking. He was from a noble family, and there were several young people who were fascinated by him.

According to them, the Knight had been sitting in the same place since yesterday, doing nothing.

『I bet he’s just slacking there. Shall we go talk to the merchant guild?』

Ignoring the fuming young man, the nobleman’s kid pondered.

(That location… Tauro-san can target the streets to the west and south)

No one would believe him if he told them. But he himself has been convinced of it ever since he fought the self-proclaimed sage at the Count’s place in the east.

And then there was the thing from yesterday. The image of his boss, Corneal, popped into the boy’s head.

(…He’s asking me to follow up huh)

A number of magic beasts that would invade the Kingdom if they weren’t able to defeat them all. They must have made plans with that possibility in mind.

It was frustrating, but thinking about the caravan earlier, he could see that their fears were not unfounded.

(Who was the immature one? I myself am not strong enough)

He reflected and felt ashamed. He feels that he needs to learn more and more from his superior.

This thought made the gate behind the boy gape hotly and sweetly.

He managed to regulate his ragged breathing and looked again at the Old Lady on the rocky mountain.

(I want to thank him, but I’m sure he doesn’t want that)

A classmate who was older than him and had to quit the pilot school after being cut off from his path. He must not have a good impression of the Kingdom knight order.

This time, too, he must have accepted the request from his friend and boss.

(Thank you very much)

There, the noble kid only decided to just greet him by raising his hand. The other side seemed to have seen it too and raised one hand as well.

The C-class behind him were raising a fuss because they were looking down on the merchant guild Knight. There’s no need for you to do that, they said using the external sound system.

(Changing attitudes is a slow process)

He sighed heavily at the stress of having to lecture his subordinates who were older than him.

***

Old Lady takes up a position on top of a rocky hill northeast of Awoke, looking to the south.

Out of the corner of her eye, a single B-class Knight raises one hand toward her.

(Oh, it’s the noble kid)

It was a familiar Knight that was with the caravan to the west. He would have known that I was responsible for the Giant Lizards.

He was the only classmate at the pilot school who gave me a fair evaluation of my abilities. He said I was extremely strong at long range and extremely weak at short range.

(I hope he returns safely)

With a nostalgic feeling, I raise the Old Lady’s hand to greet him back. Saying “be careful” to someone with that much of a skill is a bit of a stretch, but well, whatever.

I turned the Knight’s head, making sure that there are no magic beasts on the road, and scratched my head in the cockpit.

(Still, it’ll be harder to target smaller magic beasts with this distance)

I couldn’t shoot the Giant Lizards from earlier until it stopped moving. It was running so close to the caravan as if attaching itself to it, so even the slightest deviation would blow away the caravan too.

As a Knight of the merchants guild, I couldn’t let that happen.

I sighed and turned my head.

(Let’s wait until evening, and if no magic beasts appear, then we can call it done)

The Kingdom knight order has sent a number of Knights to destroy the source. Even though it was a personal request from Corneal, both the guild master and I accepted it with open arms.

One-day business trip. Today, I’m heading to the royal capital at full speed and throwing myself into my private life.

(I’m not gonna lose tonight!)

I remember my first brush fight with Light Cruiser-sensei.

At first, she was twisting and writhing at my brushwork. But halfway through, she started to fight back, and the rest of the time I was in a state of writhing in tears.

In the end, she grabbed me tightly by the base and even 『Detox』 me in a rushed play.

(Light Cruiser-sensei also have magic eyes after all)

They have a different names, but it’s similar to mine.

(What should I do if I lose again…)

The sweet shiver that numbed my spine made me shudder.

***

At the same time, the guild master’s office, which was on the third floor of the Kingdom merchant guild. Three coffees are placed on the table of the reception set, surrounded by the same number of figures.

A Santa Claus-like old man opens his mouth while stroking his white beard.

「How was the talk with the Prime Minister?」

The person he asked that question to was a petite, goblin-like old man.

He had just returned from the royal castle a few minutes ago.

「He asked me if we wanted to buy a Knight. Apparently, they have some leftover C-class Knights now that they finished building B-class Knights」

After he finished speaking, he silently reached for the coffee and offered it to the Santa Claus-like vice guild master and the strong chief.

Santa Claus picked up the cup but tilted his head with an unconvinced look.

「But didn’t the knight commander say that C-class Knights are useful?」

The guild master answers while covering his mouth with his own cup.

「He’s not going to sell all of them. Just the extra ones」

According to the explanation that followed, it was the three major guilds that he called out to. Only merchant, adventurer, and blacksmith guild.

When the small old man asked for his opinion, Santa Claus closed his eyes and thought silently. The tough-looking chief raised his hand in a reserved manner.

「Recently, the number of magical beasts appearing on the highway has been increasing. I thought it would be a little difficult for Old Lady alone to handle them」

Leave what can be handled by the C-class to a C-class Knight, and let the Old Lady take care of the matters that only the Old Lady can handle.

As for maintenance costs, C-class Knights don’t require a lot of money anyway.

「That is all, sir」

After stating his opinion, the tough-looking chief looked at the old goblin like a student waiting to be graded.

「I think so, too. To be honest, I think we’re too dependent on Tauro-kun. If he were to disappear, we’d be right back where we started」

Remembering the dark days of when the former pilot worked here, the vice guild leader in particular had a twisted expression on his face.

Then he cleared his throat and opened his mouth.

「I agree. The problem is the one who will pilot it. There’s a shortage of manpower everywhere. Honestly, I don’t think we could stand a chance against the Kingdom knight order」

We’ll have to hire a wanderer, recruit one from other places, or find one from the students of the pilot school.

However, if the knight order were also talking to them, most of them would probably choose that place over us. The brand power is very different

「Then, let’s look for a pilot first, and after we find someone suitable, we will buy the Knight. Is that a good direction to go?」

The tough-looking chief confirmed, drawing up a schedule in his head.

Santa Claus thought for a moment, then waved his long white beard from side to side.

「I think we should buy the Knight. Since the other side wants to sell it」

It will also give us an advantage when recruiting a pilot. If we invite them to the hangar and show them their 『personal knight』, they may be inclined to accept our offer.

The guild master nodded in agreement with Santa Claus, who added so.

「Then, let’s go with that. I’ll get back to the Prime Minister. As for the pilot, we’ll have to find him together」

Afterward, the three of them exchanged opinions about their own ideas and connections. One of the ideas was to ask Tauro for his opinion.

When they had reached a consensus, the vice guild master frowned and tweaked his white beard.

「The former pilot. We may be pressured to rehire him」

What popped up in the mind of everyone here was the person who sat in the pilot’s seat of the Old Lady before Tauro. He’s harmful and useless is their common evaluation of him.

Arms folded, the tough-looking expression clouded, and said.

「He’s piloting a Knight… There were no such rumors. He must have been unable to get a job」

After raising his eyebrows in agreement, Santa Claus turned his sharp gaze to the guild master.

「The seniors at the pilot school are sweet to their juniors after all. If they hear that we are going to increase the number of Knights, they might try to butt in」

The previous pilot was a believer in an ideology called the 『True Pilot』. That value remains strong among the knight order alumni and some influential people.

『Let me look after my junior who’s in trouble』

It wouldn’t be surprising if some of them started to take it as their duty as seniors.

「Don’t worry, I won’t let that happen. Even I have a limit to my patience」

The guild master assured with a straight expression.

『I’ll get rid of those who started saying things like that』

He continued with only one sentence. But it was so powerful that the tough-looking chief could not stop himself from shrinking back.

「By the way, there’s something else I want to talk about」

Goblin Jii-chan’s mood and expression softened as if what he had just said had been an illusion.

He took out a brush from his pocket and began to tell the story when he and Tauro were in the mansion of the Imperial Store.