Chapter 4 TIKR Vol. 1 Chapter 1 Part 3

■

After a series of twists and turns to shake off any potential pursuers, the maid girl led Arl to a park, one of the Imperial Capital’s few oases of nature.

A carpet of green grass stretched out before them, and the spray from a central fountain misted the air with a refreshing breeze.

“Thank you for coming all this way, Master.”

The girl stopped in front of the fountain and bowed deeply to Arl.

“Are we safe from those pursuers now?”

“Yes. My comrades are holding them off. They should be able to buy us a little time.”

Who was chasing them? Did they really need to run? The questions were endless. But the biggest question mark looming in Arl’s mind was why, exactly, he was being called ‘Master.’

“So… about that. You are…?”

If he could just say, “I have no idea who you are,” this would be simple. He certainly had no memory of hiring an armed maid. And yet… he had a nagging feeling this wasn’t their first meeting. It felt like… they’d met somewhere, long ago.

“…Yes. Please allow me to reintroduce myself.”

The maid girl seemed to sense his confusion. With a nervous expression, she stated her name.

“My name is Prima, Master. About five years ago… you saved my life. Do you… not remember?”

“…Prima…?”

Five years. A life saved. And that name. The keywords clicked into place, turning the rusty gears of Arl’s memory.

—Back in his Imperial Knight days… His duties were endless. Saving lives and taking them for the good of the nation were daily occurrences. To be honest, he couldn’t possibly remember every face of every person he’d ever been involved with. Ah, but… that name.

“Prima… as in… ‘Prima Donna’?”

“…!”

The reaction was instantaneous.

The maid’s, Prima’s, eyes welled up. Tears streamed down her face as she launched herself into Arl’s chest.

“Yes! Yes! I’m Prima! It’s the name you gave me! I’ve… I’ve wanted to see you for so, so long…!”

Arl caught her on instinct, his face a mask of pure shock.

“Are you… really Prima? You seem so… different.”

“Ehehe. I worked really hard, hoping I could surprise you, Master!”

—Hollow eyes, holding no interest in the world. —Cheeks stained with the blood of others. —A blade dropping from a nerveless hand to the ground.

The fragmented images that surfaced in his mind were of a young girl from long ago. But seeing her now, that memory seemed like the lie. The girl currently nuzzling her head against Arl’s stomach was like an excited puppy fawning over its owner.

“I’ve been waiting for you to return! Now I can finally… I can finally grant your wish, Master!”

Arl was lost.

“Wish? What wish?”

“You don’t need to be modest! I remember! I remember the wish you spoke of, Master, on the day you saved me!”

“I really don’t recall…”

“‘—A girl as cute as you would surely look wonderful in a maid outfit.’“

Prima closed her eyes, a look of almost holy reverence on her face. She recited the words like a sacred verse, with genuine piety. …If one completely ignored the content of said verse, that is.

“…What… what kind of ridiculously frivolous line is that?”

“Mmph! Even if you are Master, I will not permit you to insult my precious Master! This is the First Verse of the <Fenrir> Knightly Sutra. It is the original text of the wish you gave me that day!”

What is that heretical text? Shouldn’t it be burned immediately? But Arl didn’t have time to pursue that line of thought. The lid on a long-forgotten memory was about to be blown clean off.

—The life of an Imperial Knight was brutal. He was the Empire’s strongest. He was dispatched day and night, for the good of the nation. The word ‘vacation’ had been erased from his dictionary, constantly overwritten by the word ‘mission.’ He’d been so busy… that on that day, five years ago, he’d let his exhaustion slip.

—”Repay me?”

—”Yes. You saved my life. Please, let me do something in return.”

—”You don’t need to worry about…”

—”No. Is there anything you need? I have no power right now, but I swear… one day, I will repay this debt.”

—”Anything I need… Well, the most I can think of is that I haven’t had time to clean my room in ages…”

—”Cleaning?”

—”The missions have been especially busy. It’s embarrassing, really.”

 —”In that case… would a servant… someone like a maid… be helpful to you?”

—”A maid?”

—”Oh, um… it might not suit me, but…”

—”I wouldn’t say that. A girl as cute as you would surely look wonderful in a maid outfit. Ah, you’re right… having a maid would probably be a huge help.”

He’d said it simply to encourage the girl, who seemed to have no self-confidence. It was a simple, honest compliment, the kind he’d been trained as a knight to give to ladies. It was a habit, not a memory. He’d had no idea… that she had received those casual words as a divine blessing.

“Fufu, your words that day were nothing short of a divine revelation,” Prima said, recounting the memory as if it were a precious treasure. Arl, in contrast, felt a cold sweat trickling down his back.

“…The Silver Wolf Knights, <Fenrir>. That’s one of the Three Great Organizations that protects the Empire, right?”

“Yes. A maid who serves a man like you, Master, must naturally be able to handle personal attendance… and cleaning the garden.”

“The ‘garden’ being…?”

“For now, we are just cleaning the capital. But one day, we will clean this entire garden, the Eldstrom Empire, and present it all to you!”

She proclaimed her ambition with a smile that bloomed like a brilliant flower.

“To be served by an adorable maid—that was your wish! I founded <Fenrir> for the sole purpose of making it come true!”

Oh. Oh, no. What in the… His brain refused to process the information. The Silver Wolf Knights, <Fenrir>. Heroes of the people, a pillar of the Empire’s order… Was, in reality, an entire organization built just to fulfill a single, off-hand, joking remark he’d made to a girl he’d saved.

‘You have to take responsibility for the ones you saved, remember?’ Eilfina’s smug face flashed in his mind. Arl quietly, but fiercely, buried his face in his hands.

“No, no… wait, wait, wait…!”

“Mmm. I’m sorry, Master. Prima is being a bad dog right now.”

Prima, who had been watching her master mutter and agonize, couldn’t hold back any longer. She grabbed his hand. She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed, with an earnestness that was strangely alluring.

“I can’t ‘wait’ anymore! Master, please, let’s go to the mansion! Please let me serve you! Now that you’re finally back, having to wait like this is just… it’s torture!”

“Th-that phrasing is loaded with misunderstandings!”

Anyone overhearing this would get the completely wrong idea. He glanced around to see who might be listening, and suddenly realized— The park was unnaturally empty. In place of the civilians, multiple figures were now surrounding them. Their aura was far too sharp to be casual walkers. The pursuers Prima mentioned? No, this feels different.

“Prima, these men…”

“…My apologies, Master. They are most likely… ‘guests’ of mine.” The maid-knight sighed, annoyed. “The capital’s public order is still unstable. It is my failing that I have not yet finished ‘cleaning the garden.’ It’s not uncommon for pests… that is, the agents of criminal organizations… to show up like this.”

“The leader of the Silver Wolf Knights,” a man sneered, stepping out from the circle. “Careless, aren’t we? Wandering around all alone. Do you have any idea what the price on your head is?”

“I don’t keep track of the underworld’s stock market. And who might you be? Oh, don’t tell me… the infamous ‘Serpents’…? No, of course not. You’re just… dime-a-dozen thugs.”

“The hell’d you say!?”

“Your reaction rather proves my point. But… are you gentlemen sure about this?” Prima’s smile turned ice-cold as she met their hostility. “The sin of interrupting my reunion with my Master… is a very, very heavy one.”

“Hah! Who the hell is that guy!?”

The shout was the signal. The thugs charged as one. Prima instantly drew her rapier, kicking off the ground to intercept them. —But faster than any of them, faster even than Prima, Arl moved.

The world seemed to slow down. In the blink of an eye, without even drawing the sword at his waist, Arl was among them. A fist deflected a blade. A kick swept a man’s legs. A palm strike sent another crashing headfirst to the ground. In seconds, all of them were neutralized.

It was an occupational hazard, drilled into him as an Imperial Knight: an automatic, reflexive interception of any hostile intent. The most efficient way to eliminate a threat. Of course, without the authority of an Imperial Knight, it was just… common street thuggery.

“M… Master…” Prima’s trembling voice snapped Arl back to reality.

“—Ah.”

He looked at the men, all unconscious or groaning on the ground, and his face paled. This was hardly the act of a former knight. He looked more like the thug than they did. He should have just disarmed one or two and demanded their surrender. He hurriedly opened his mouth.

“P-Prima. This is…”

“—S… So… cool! You’re… you’re amazing, Master!”

Far from being scared, Prima was thrilled. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing heavy.

“That was too wonderful! You’re so devastatingly handsome! You have such a dangerous aura! I love it!”

“Y-You have terrible taste…”

“What are you talking about? Your magnificent rampage… This was a historic moment! We have to add it to the Knightly Sutra!”

“Please don’t do that!” Seriously, that book needs to be burned.

“Master, we were interrupted, but please, come to the mansion! I want to introduce you to everyone. All the maids have been waiting for your return!”

“W-Well, I…” Overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, Arl took a step back. Eilfina’s order flashed through his mind. To stop the three organizations from fighting, he couldn’t just refuse Prima’s offer. But… for an Imperial Knight who had served the country, saving people was just part of the job. He’d never done it expecting to be repaid. But…

“We have warm beds and food all ready for you. Is it… no good?”

“Ugh…” Prima looked up at him, her eyes glistening with the fear of rejection. Damn it. Eilfina’s cunning is astounding. She must have predicted this, too. Fina used to look at me with those same eyes… Either way, Arl was incapable of refusing a girl’s earnest plea.

“…Right. If you don’t mind, I’d be grateful for the hospitality.”

“~~~~! Y-Yes! Of course!”

She looked just like an overjoyed puppy, tugging at his sleeve, unable to wait to get home. Arl let out a fond, exasperated sigh. And at that exact moment…

Clank, clatter.

A hard, cylindrical object rolled to a stop at their feet. White smoke gushed from both ends. By the time they realized it was a smoke bomb, it was too late.

“This is… the Merchant Guild’s—!”

Prima realized what was happening, but through the smoke, multiple footsteps were already approaching. A surprise attack, perfectly executed. Arl tensed, ready to fight, but then immediately relaxed. …There’s no hostile intent?

“Master, be careful…!”

“—I see.”

The Master of the Silver Wolf Knights was him. If so, what about the other two organizations? If they were coming to him like this, it just made his job easier.

Through the smoke, someone grabbed Arl’s arm. He didn’t resist. In fact, he cooperated, letting himself be pulled away. He called back one last, brief order to the girl who adored him.

“I’m fine! Take care of those thugs!”

By the time the smoke cleared, Arl was gone. Only a stunned Prima and the groaning criminals remained.

“M… Master… Master was KIIIIDNAAAAAAPPED!?!?“