Ray. Ray, why aren't you on your quest to take down the Demon Boss?
Eldora. I thought you were going to be Count Postian's heir apparent?

　Me and Eldora asked each other a question at the same time.
　For a moment, an awkward air ruffled between us.
　But soon, Eldora scoffed at my chin.
　It was a gesture that required me to answer first.

　It was a terribly insolent gesture.
　That's right, Eldora was a pushy guy who was always telling people what to do, even when he was originally in the party. But that was the flip side of his leadership to pull us along when we were just novices at fighting.
　It's different now. It was just an extremely arrogant and unpleasant attitude.
　People looked different.

　I replied, though I was miffed.

I'm continuing my journey. I've been living in the palace for a while to learn the knightly skills.
'Hahaha!　I don't know what you're doing!　If we're back in the capital (pretend), we won't have any trouble.

　Eldora chuckled.

　I wanted to say that because of the Towngate, it's not going backwards, but I persisted.
　I was frustrated, but that's only a matter of emotion.
　I shouldn't bother blowing the power that Magnus has.
　I thought to myself and decided that.

"Ray, you've been a lazy bastard from the start. You wouldn't be any good at this if it weren't for me.

　Eldora's mockery continues.
　Even the younger knights around us all laugh at the same time.

　Before we gathered in front of His Highness as the Warrior of Light, Eldora was an apprentice knight.
　So the younger knights around him must have been in a higher position than us.
　But now that Eldora has married the Count of Postian's only daughter, her position has been reversed.

　I'm not going to be the only one who can do that.
　However, she didn't look at me, and instead turned to Berry, who was standing next to me.

Princess Beatrixine. I have come to ask you to invite all of us to accompany you to the upcoming hunting party.

　Eldora and the others bowed in a reverent gesture.

　Berry, on the other hand.

'Oh!　Thanks for running off!

　And he returns the sarcasm with a snarky attitude.
　To a jittery Eldora, he folds in further.

So I'm the next one who betrayed Ray to the Countess. As expected of Lord Eldora, he's the best when it comes to outsmarting others.

　Berry's mockery causes upset among Eldora and the others.
　They were laughing at me, but they don't seem to have any tolerance for making themselves a laughingstock at all.

'How dare Lord Eldora, who was chosen by the Divine Spirit Prominence but abandoned his mission for selfishness, show his face. Your father may be able to deceive you with his mouth, but he can't get through to me, can he?　I despise you in spades, sir.
No, it's a misunderstanding, Princess!　I have never said that I have given up on defeating the Mad Titan!

　I told you, in front of me and Teresa and Rudd!

　I tried to give it my best shot, but Eldora was quicker than that and continued with her well-spun tongue.

I have learned the hard way that every time I traveled with these Rays and their friends and defeated these powerful monsters, I realized that even a warrior of light is no match for a mere four men. It is not a match for a mere four men, no matter how powerful the warriors of light are. Therefore, I am in the process of gaining power and gathering a group of brave men like the ones here today who share my aspirations to establish the Knights of Light!
Well, that's the first I've heard of it, Eldora!　You didn't explain that to us!
No, I brought it up with you guys, didn't I?

　Eldora lied blithely.

But Ray, you rejected my proposal. If the four Light Warriors defeat the Magus General with just four men, they will get all the credit and fame they want. No need to share the credit for the victory with more friends. You all claimed that you were more concerned with your own greed than the good of the state!
'There was no such nonsense!

　I was about to argue out loud.
　But--

'What!　Is that true, Lord Eldora!
Yeah, those greedy bastards!
It's spiteful!
"If, unlike Sir Eldora, you won't rely on the power of our knights, what are you doing here?
"You have come to steal the skills our knights have developed?
You fool!

　The young knights were ranting and screaming all at once, drowning out the voice of my own.

　The abuses, the abuse that made me want to cover my ears, continued for a while.
　I gritted my teeth and endured the accusations.
　Then I heard a strange voice.

"Ray. Ray. You can hear me, can't you?　It's me. It's Eldora."

　The voice in Eldora's mind appealed directly to my heart.
　Even among the warriors of light, only Eldora had a unique skill called the Light Command.
　Using it, Eldora continues.

"Do you understand how out of place the Royal Palace is for a hick like you?"
"Or it doesn't matter. At least Beri--Princess Beatrixine is treating me regardless!"

　I countered emphatically that it was heartening.
　Eldora, on the other hand, grinned at me and said

"You wanted to learn knight skills, right?　I'd like to help you learn and resume your journey as soon as possible.　Of course, I promise to do my best."
"...What kind of windbreaker is that?"
"Hey, hey, what a way to talk about grabbing a nice, friendlier guy like me!"
"A man as mean and selfish as you, though I've never met a man as mean and self important as you, I've never met before in my life."
".........If you stay in the royal palace for any length of time, it's an eyesore. So I can cooperate with you so that you can leave quickly. However--"
"You've said so much honestly, and you're still going to puff up the conditions!"
"But you'll have to intercede for the princess. You have to convince her that I'm not the one who's abandoning my mission, that it's all a misunderstanding. You have a peculiar memory, don't you?"
"How dare you come up with such a prickly idea on the spur of the moment, you little bastard!"

　I said dumbly, but Eldora didn't seem to feel an itch, and continued to negotiate.

"You know what?　It's a tradition for Luxon's highnesses to have a knight for each of them to act as their entourage. I want to be the 'Knight of Beatrixine'. I'm going for it."
"What?!"

　I couldn't help but be surprised that Eldora was thinking of such a grandiose idea.
　I've been living in the royal palace for a while now, and I've become a little familiar with the situation, so I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to be a knight in shining armor for the princess.　Custom?　I overheard about the
　Usually, the fiancé is the knight of honor.
　If that's not the case, a competent knight will take the position. In that case, apparently a wife-beater is preferable so that he or she doesn't become a man and woman with the princess.

"That's why, I can't stay hated by the princess forever, you know."
"Yeah, of course you do, but..."
"Not a bad deal, right?　You can learn knightly skills without losing anything. Come on, make it quick. Or is that all you're willing to do to defeat the Demon Lord?

　Eldora's whispering voice pours into my chest like poison.
　It slowly permeates me.

"No!"

　I poked at it.
　If it had been me before, I would probably have done Eldora's bidding without giving it much thought.
　But now I'm not.
　You can't cheat Belly for me or Eldora's short-term interests, but you can at least think for yourself and make your own decisions.

"Teme, do you understand what you're talking about...?"

　Immediately, Eldora's form became distorted.

"Shall I use every possible means to make you unable to stay in the royal palace...?"

　He turned his clear hatred towards me.
　What a vile fellow!
　I don't know how far he's gone!

　I wanted to say something back, but I couldn't get the words to come out as quickly as I wanted to.

　I've been thinking about what I'm going to say, but I can't get the words out quickly enough.

Is that all you have to say?

　He crossed his arms in a heroic manner and dared me to dare.
　There's no way they could have heard me and Eldora's heart, so I blackmailed all of my cronies, who were still shouting abuse at me.

　It's a good thing that you're not just a young man, but a knight as well, because of the power of Berry.

I have always tried to be tolerant. At the same time, I have never doubted your loyalty to the Grand Duke.
Of course, Princess!
'We are all for the Grand Duke, Princess Beatrixine!
So I'm going to pretend that you didn't hear me call my knight out on that one.

""What...?"

　I couldn't help but pout.
　Eldora was also stunned.
　My cronies were also stunned.

　I don't know, Berry just said something outrageous!

'What?　Didn't you hear me?

　Berry chuckled and took me by the shoulders and started to say.

''Then I'll tell you again. This Ray is the Knight of Beatrixine. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. Is that clear?

　It was the kind of smile that looked good on her, as if she had succeeded in pulling off an extraordinary prank, selfishly.