After that, I spent some time with Garnett for a while before heading to the Knight Commander's meeting as planned.

　The tension didn't completely disappear, but the idea of throwing out the responsibility didn't just come to mind because of the renewed trust that Garnett had placed in me and the thought that I couldn't ruin the face of King Alfred, who had prepared the place for the meeting.

　The castle's servant led me to the meeting room and I ducked through its doors with determination.

''Excuse me. Luke White Wolf, I've just arrived.''

　A few men and women were sitting around a table in the conference room.

　Some of them were already familiar faces.

　First of all, Sir Carmine of the Silver Winged Knights, the knight commander I've met most often.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea for me to be able to get a job as a professional photographer.

　On the other side of the table is Sir Gilbert of the Golden Fang Knights, sitting with a pouting face.

　His expression is always poorly changed, and I've never seen him wearing anything but that face.

　The strong, white-haired old knight stationed in the center of the table, that should have been Sir William of the Knights of the Dragon King.

　This was only the second time we had met face to face like this, but he was definitely older than King Alfred, and he was significantly older than the average age of a knight commander, which is a relatively young talent.

　...... Surely this is due to the fact that the Knights of the Dragon King are a group that has been serving His Majesty for ages.

　The other knight groups are knight groups from other countries that were taken in during the process of the continental unification war, and have undergone leadership changes and other measures as a caveat, so to speak, when descending to His Majesty's military ranks.

　It's a very good idea to have a look at the person who is not here now, but the leader of the purple rainbow knights to which Mark belongs, Justin, although older than me, is also younger than Sir William.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a look at the actuality of the situation.

''Welcome, Sir Luke. Don't worry about the seating order, just sit in an empty seat.
Yes, excuse me.

　At the recommendation of Sir Angelica of the Rainbow Scales Knights, I sit down on the handy chair.

　The squire girls are still waiting around Sir Angelica as before, but from the looks of it, an older girl seems to be following her around compared to before.

　Considering the importance of the agenda, did they think not to bring young children with them?

''(These four are the leaders of the Senior Knights ...... and the other attendees are all new faces I've never seen before)''

　I looked around to check each person's face.

　Then, as if noticing that I had never met anyone before, Lord Carmine quickly made a gratifying suggestion.

'Let's introduce ourselves first. Sir Luke has only just become the thirteenth Knight Commander. I'm sure you've already met the senior knights, so I'm sure you've already met ...... Sir Dietrinde for the first time.

　The first person Carmine approached was a female knight with short hair.

　I was a little surprised because I thought that Sir Angelica was the red one, but this one has a less feminine atmosphere and is dressed in light armor that doesn't give the slightest hint of a desire to go to the evening party.

The "Tetsuinu Knights, Dietlinde. I was originally planning to leave the capital at once, but if the matter is related to our mission, I can't ignore it.

　It was not only the first time he met the head of the knightly order, but also the first time he heard the name of the knightly order.

　Is it a knight's group that took on official duties unrelated to everyday life?

　When I think about it, this time I don't really understand what official business is related to the agenda.

　Before you can question the details, another knight leader this time took over the name.

It's a good thing that you're able to get a good deal more information than you think. I believe Ambrose is in your care: ...... Don't expect me to have any expertise, okay?

　The title that the timid-looking man called himself was something I was related to.

　I've heard that the Green Eye Knights is a knight order that monitors wizards, but since it's a field that inevitably requires expertise and is too heavy a burden for ordinary knights, they make reliable wizards knights to perform their official duties.

　So, I see that the head of the knights was no exception.

　I don't know much about cleverness and magic either, but I leave that area to the experts Alexia and Noir.

　I'm sure they must have the same kind of understanding.

''Well, Sir Luke. I hope you can now match everyone's faces and names.

　Sir Carmine confirmed it, and I looked around the conference room again before nodding back clearly.

　Carmine of the Silverwing Knights. Gilbert of the Golden Fang Knights.

　William of the Dragon King Knights. Angelica of the Rainbow Rainbow Scaled Knights.

　Dietlinde of the Iron Dog Knights. Maximilian of the Order of the Green Eye.

　Excluding the white wolf (me), of the twelve knights, half of the knight leaders are gathered here.

''May I confirm a few things? The people present here are the heads of the knighthoods related to the search policy of this agenda ...... 'Ark of the Elements', right?

　There are five other knightly orders that I have actually met with their members.

　Of these, four of them, the Purple Jade, the Blue Jade, the Blue Shark, the Red Feather, and the Ash Hawk are each responsible for guarding the north, south, east, and west, so they are not directly related to the Ark of the Elements by any stretch of the imagination.

　The remaining one, the Blue Peacock Knights, is a knightly order that monitors the activities of each knightly order, but I haven't heard that it's enough to interfere in their activity policies, so it's understandable that they didn't show up at tonight's meeting.

''That's correct, except that Sir Dietrinde there is not the Commander, but the Deputy Commander. Our deputy commander ...... is called differently around here depending on the corps, but you can assume he's the same rank as Felix.
My presence here is an accident. I was stopping by on another matter and was only stopped by His Majesty. Our Commander would still be in his post.

　I've been carefully briefed and I agree with that point.

　But there were still more things I wanted to confirm.

''I apologize for being uninformed, as is typical for a Knight Commander, but I am unaware of the role of the Iron Dog Knights. What kind of relationship exists with the 'Ark of the Elements' in Green Hollow Town?

　He posed the question while choosing his words to sound as rude as possible.

　Lord Dietrinde-Lord Dietrinde-Sergeant opened his mouth without a single change in expression, as if he were stating the obvious fact.

It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you want to do," he said. You know that he invaded the earth a long time ago.
Yes, ......, I know.
His invasion has destroyed a country and turned it into a demon-infested no man's land. Our mission is to monitor and, if possible, purify this forbidden area.