Chapter 113 - Senior Holy Knight and Sunny Land [4]

113. Senior Holy Knight and Sunny Land [4]

After leaving the branch chief’s office, we went to the reception desk, where we received a brief lecture of about 30 minutes.

There were two main topics: The Holy Knight Work Regulation and The Duty of Holy Knights.

The Holy Knight Work Regulation is the universal rules of duty of the Holy Knights worldwide.

A lady receptionist explained roughly the ethics of duty that a Holy Knight should uphold and the articles which are prohibited on the service.

After that, it was The Duty of Holy Knights.

The Holy Knights Association is an international criminal-matter police organization whose purpose is the realization of permanent peace.

In order to achieve this noble purpose, Holy Knights must strive to maintain security and prevent crime every day, and have a strong sense of responsibility for a wide range of duties.

「We will conclude the basic lecture here. Thank you for your attention. More details are written in this『Holy Knights Manual』, so please read it after you return home again.」she said, handing out a manual which looked like it could be used as a blunt weapon.

「Thank you…」

After taking a simple lecture, we finished the first day of the special trainee by doing some simple training with the Senior Holy Knights and patrolled around Orest.

The time is seven o’clock at night.

The three of us were heading to the dormitory of Thousand Blade Academy.

「Hmm… It was a little anticlimactic.」

「Yeah, the intensity of the training was also light. To be honest, I am still full of energy.」

Ria and Rose complained.

(Certainly… It was a lot easier than I had expected…)

Even the practice-swings were only for three hours, and the training afterwards was a little unsatisfactory, as Rose said.

「…Choosing overseas expedition is probably the right answer.」

「That’s right. According to Clown-san, all the senior holy knights outside the country are excellent. I am sure it will be a good experience.」

「Aa, I’m looking forward to it, too.」

When they nodded, I brought up a new topic.

「The destination of the expedition was『Dagrio, the Sunny Land』, wasn’t it? What kind of place is it?」

According to Clown-san, it’s about two hours away by plane, but…

To be honest, I’ve never heard of a country with such a name.

「Sorry, I don’t recognize the country name Dagrio either…」

As Rose quietly shook her head, Ria spoke with her hand on her chin.

「Well, if my memory serves right… Sunny Land, Dagrio, is a very small country southwest of here. If I’m not mistaken, it has been insisting on being neutral for a long time.」

「As expected, Ria, you’re well-informed.」

「Fufu, thank you. And after that… oh right, the country was famed as a place where agriculture is especially prosperous. The crops which were grown in intense sunlight were called『Blessing of the Sun』and have a reputation for being very delicious.」

「Oh, I’m looking forward to it.」

I was very enthusiastic about agriculture in Goza Village… or rather, there was nothing else in the remote place where I grew up.

As a farmer, I had『pride』in the crops that we raised.

The vegetables harvested in Goza village are of the highest quality and nutritious, and the milk is richer and more delicious than any other farm.

The meat from livestock grown freely on a vast grazing land is hygienic and has a natural taste.

(Crops from Goza Village and『Blessings of the Sun』- I have a need to make sure which is better… once and for all.)

As I was secretly burning with competitive spirit,

「Eh? Speaking of… that’s a little strange…」

Ria spoke of something worrisome.

「What’s wrong?」

「It’s a little strange. Now that I think about it, the last few years… For some reason, I haven’t heard of any news related to『Dagrio』. What I just talked about was written in a book I read when I was little.」

「Um… Isn’t that because Dagrio is a small country? Or because… there has been a lot of big news lately, and it just got lost in it?」

As Leia-sensei had said before, the recent international situation is more unstable than ever.

Black Organization showing disturbing movement.

The Holy Ronelia Empire manipulating things from the shadows.

The five major powers that are strengthening relations, mainly with the Kingdom of Vesteria.

The topic of a small peaceful country will not come up in the newspaper in the midst of all that news.

「I see. You could say that…」

When Ria’s anxiousness was eliminated,

「-We have arrived. I’ll take my leave here.」

We parted ways with Rose when we arrived at the dormitory.

Then Ria and I went back to our dorm as usual – sleeping soundly in the same bed.

■

A few days later, the first day of the autumn break finally arrived.

The three of us took a plane owned by the Orest branch and headed for an overseas expedition.

The destination, which we left for about two hours ago – Dagrio, the Sunny Land, was raining endlessly.

「…It’s raining, isn’t it?」

I whispered to myself.

「Aa, the sky is completely covered by dark clouds.」

Rose nodded.

Looking at the soil at our feet, it was muddy, almost feeling like clay.

This rain probably didn’t start today

I’m sure it’s been raining for at least a week or so.

The way it is, it would be more appropriate to call it『Rainy Land』rather than Sunny Land.

「E-Eh… that’s weird…?」

Ria said, with a troubled face, scratching her cheeks lightly.

She was probably confused by the magnitude of difference between the Dagrio she remembered and the current Dagrio.

After that, we were guided by the pilot and headed to the building where the Senior Holy Knights were stationed.

A large wooden bungalow towering over the seafront – the active Senior Holy Knights seem to be based here.

When I opened the large door in the front,

「Nn? Ah, it’s the uniform of Thousand Blade Academy… which means! You guys are the super strong『reinforcements』from the report!」

「I heard the story from Chief Clown! I am told, you three are the treasured pupils of that Black Fist!」

「Tomorrow is finally the scheduled day of『Extermination Operation』…! I’m counting on you guys!」

The Senior Holy Knights, dressed in pure white uniforms, stared at us with eyes filled with expectation.

「R-Reinforcements? Extermination Operation?」

I was puzzled by a series of disturbing words. A large man standing at the back of the room slowly approached me.

「Welcome to the temporary Holy Knights Association of Dagrio Branch! I’m the temporary branch chief here – Ben Trioc! Nice to meet you!」

Ben Trioc.

He is in his late thirties.

About 180 centimeters tall.

Clean skinhead and tanned brown skin.

A deep sword scar ran across the finely-chiseled face.

You can see his well-trained body and swelling muscles bulging through the uniform.

He gave his name in a quiet voice and had a charming smile.

「I’m Allen Rodore. Nice to meet you.」

「I am Ria Vesteria. Nice to meet you.」

「Rose Valencia. Good to meet you.」

After the brief self introductions, I asked about the dangerous sounding words I heard earlier.

「Excuse me. What is Extermination Operation?」

「Eh? You haven’t heard yet?」

「Y-Yes… I heard from Clown-san that Dagrio is a relatively calm place. 」

『I don’t think it’s a bad idea for a first-time expedition destination』is what he said.

And then,

「Seriously… As usual, there’s no helping that Clown.」

Ben scratched his hairless head and started talking, saying『Well, that’s fine』.

「Unfortunately,『Dagrio, the Sunny Land』, is a conflict zone. A place completely opposite to the word calm.」

「「「……What?」」」

The three of us involuntarily stiffened at the unbelievable remark.

「This country has been effectively controlled by Black Organization for several years. Since then, there have been conflicts every day.」

「I-Is that so!? But I’ve never heard of such news!?」

Even though it was a small country, an entire country had fallen into the hands of the Black Organization.

It surely would have been a huge incident, where newspapers would have started distributing extras.

「Well, information is being regulated. It’s not surprising if you’re hearing it for the first time.」

Ben-san continued talking, as he shrugged his shoulders.

「I-Information regulation?」

「Yes, it’s a natural measure. It will bring shame to the Holy Knights Association’s reputation if the news of a country falling is leaked. So, it couldn’t be made public. This is confidential information known only to a handful of Senior Holy Knights and the superiors of nations.」

「I, I see…」

「Well, let’s talk more about this country. Sunny Land of Dagrio is in a miserable situation.」

And we heard a lot of stories from Ben-san.

Currently, Dagrio is effectively controlled by Black Organization.

Twenty percent of Dagrio is the territory that the Holy Knights Association managed to recapture.

Eighty percent is still dominated by the Black Organization.

And one of the Thirteen Knights of the Oracle, with terrifying power, have taken up residence in the royal castle located at the northernmost point of the country.

According to the rescued Dagrio people, it has been raining every day since the day Black Organization took control.

「Something like that…」

As we were speechless, Ben-san spoke of a brighter prospect.

「Well, the hard years of the Dagrio people will be all settled by tomorrow’s Extermination Operation. From what I’ve heard, you three are pretty skilled, aren’t you? That『Hentai Clown』gave you his stamp of approval, and you three are also the treasured pupils of Black Fist.. Fufu, I have high expectations of you!」

「E-Ermm… We will be troubled if you expect that much…」

I think I can fight better when compared to students, but…

Compared to a swordsman like Ben-san who plays an active part in the world stage, I don’t feel all that confident.

「Hahaha, don’t be crazy! Of course I have expectations for you! After all, that Clown and Black Fist acknowledged you!」

The moment Ben-san raised a loud laugh, the alarm sounded.

「Nu!? Excuse me for a bit!」

He excused himself and began to walk to the back of the room.

「-What happened, was there any movement?」

Shortly after Ben-san’s loud voice rang, he immediately received a strained reply.

「We confirmed a signal flare at『Lao Village』located in central Dagrio! The color is『red』- an emergency!」

「Tsk… How many enemies are there!? Is there any movement from the Thirteen Knights of the Oracle!?」

「The signal flare that has been confirmed now is only five『black』! The enemy is approximately fifty members of the Black Organization! Thirteen Knights of the Oracle still unconfirmed!」

「Alright, understood! Those damn bastards! All men, get ready for battle!」

「「「YES! 」」」

And the Senior Holy Knights got ready and formed into ranks.

「Oh, Allen! It’s a big job right away! Before tomorrow’s Extermination Operation – show me how good you are!」

Ben-san said, “I have high expectations for you,” patting me on the back.

「Y-Yes!」

In this way, I was sent to a violent conflict zone, and thrown into a battle right away.