One of the characteristics of the military system in the Empire is that of knights and soldiers.
　A knight is a combat position where training in combat is part of the daily routine, while a soldier is a civilian who has been trained and returned to his homeland.
　In the empire, men and women who have turned fifteen years old are drafted into the army and trained individually.
　At this time, their aptitude for witchcraft and necromancy is also checked, and those that have an aptitude for it are developed under the guidance of the military.
　Depending on the circumstances, they may be taken up as knights.
　Being knighted is a much better paycheck each month than living in a village, and if you leave the military, you will receive a pension until you die.
　It is also possible for the survivor to receive a pension for one year after death.
　In addition, they would be taught how to read, write and calculate simple math, and how to take care of their injuries.
　In addition, they would be paid enough food, clothing, salt and other necessities in return for their labor, and they would also receive a pension.
　Perhaps this is why many people saw conscription in the Reich as a "reasonable way to get a good return" rather than a "hard duty".
　Some of the second and third sons of farmers even dream of being hired as knights, wielding hand-made wooden swords.
　Kyle, a boy from the village of Lübeck, about four days' ride from the imperial capital, is one of them.
　While he was busy helping at home, a group of four young women walked by.

'It's a spirited thing to do, boy.

　The one who spoke to her in an easygoing tone was a cat-eared beast.
　She was a cute little girl, petite and slender, but she wore a sturdy-looking leather breastplate with a dagger at her hip and a knickknack case.

''Are your sisters adventurers?''

　Kyle speaks to the older sister with a glare as she looks at her older sister, who looks different and innocent from the girls of the same village.
　When a young woman is working in a small group and yet armed, only knights or adventurers can be considered.
　And since the knights always wore armor with the emblem of the empire on it, he decided that they were adventurers.

'Yes, they are.'

'Tanya, what are you stopping for?'

　A woman who seems to be a friend calls out to the cat beastman from a distance.

''Because, boy, when you see a boy trying his best, don't you want to cheer him on?''

　Tanya gives a loud shout back to her friends.

'You're going to support all the boys who are doing well. It would be complicated if Roy knew.'

　Tanya sweltered as a pretty woman of about twenty, wearing a big blue hat and a robe that matched her hat, said this.

'Why is Roy coming out there?　You don't need that man to just talk to him.

　Kyle couldn't keep up with the conversation because of the name he suddenly didn't know, but he understood that the cat beastman named Tanya apparently had a lover.

(Since she's so cute, of course she has a lover.)

　To tell the truth, the boy would be disappointed.
　He didn't understand why he was so depressed, even though he just found out that a woman he had never met had a girlfriend.
　The adventurers bade him a quick hello and went to the village.
　Kyle's village was peaceful and there was no particular problem, so he probably just happened to be passing by.

(...... I wonder if I'll ever get to know a pretty woman like that when I become an adventurer?)

　Kyle suddenly thinks about it.
　A boy of his age, who is beginning to develop an interest in women, begins to wonder quite seriously whether he should become a knight or an adventurer.
　Eventually he consults his eldest brother, who comes to see how he is doing, and he is laughed at greatly.

He laughed at him very much. If you don't, you won't even know if you're going to become a knight or an adventurer.

　Kyle thinks his brother has a point.
　There is no way to test for warrior or sorcerous talent in this idyllic village, and even less so for someone with an eye for talent.
　Then another man arrives.
　Unlike the beautiful and glamorous group of four women, he is an unassuming looking man with dull silver hair and blue eyes.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's not like the women, the old man was unreliable in his walk and somewhat sloppy in his movements.

'Uncle, where are you going?'

　Kyle couldn't help but call out.

'Yeah. A friend of mine asked me to run an errand for him.

　Uncle replied lazily.
　It felt somehow dumb, and Kyle, who was kind by nature, felt uneasy.

'Uncle, are you alone?　There aren't any demons around here, but we do get the occasional beast, don't we?

　The boy wondered if this uncle would know how to deal with the beast if he was a seasoned traveler, but he wondered if this uncle was.

'No, we used a rideshare to get to the middle of the road,' he said. I was with a group of adventurers at the time, which made it easier for me.

What, I didn't know that.

　The old man's answer makes sense to him.
　Ride-on carriages are one of the main modes of transportation, and probably the safest way for the common people to get around.
　The Gosha are well versed in martial arts, and there are many demons and beasts that won't come by on their own when a group of people are riding in a cabin pulled by multiple horses.
　Of course there are exceptional demons, but in the empire, knights and top-notch adventurers actively destroy them, so they were not calculated as a cause for concern.

''So you were with the sisters who came earlier, right?

　Kyle joins in alone.
　The rickshaw carriage only comes to the very front of this village due to the convenience of the road.
　It's not surprising that the speed of walking is different between Tanya and her friends, who seem to have the ability, even though they are women, and an old man who is not even a man.

''Yeah, that's right.''

　He says to the old man who answers.

'Your sisters would probably be able to make it through this village, but it's hard on your uncle, isn't it?　Do you want to stay the night?

Yeah, I think I will.

　Uncle nodded with a relieved look on his face.

'Well, I'll show you around. I'm Kyle. Where's your uncle?

His name is Val. It's good to meet you, Kyle.

　Bartolomeus said and shook the boy's hand.