CH 52

52 - The Old Man From The Countryside Gets A Drink

I returned to the front of the Knight’s HQ with Alexia, Lucy, and Miu.

In the end, the preservation, or rather, the management of the crime scene was left to the rank-and-file knights. I and Miu can’t stay there and you couldn’t tie up heavyweight executives like Alexia and Lucy with jobs like that.

Well, it’s in the middle of the Central District, there are plenty of ordinary houses around, so something this rare could happen. Even if it did, though, the Knights should be accustomed to things getting rough.

“What about the suspects?” Alexia asked one of the knights who returned with Twilight.

“Ma’am,” they replied. “They’ve been taken to the basement and detained there.”

So, it seems the HQ also has an underground level. I haven’t had any particular reason to head there so I didn’t know till now. It’s natural because I’ve got no business with that part of the building.

But, well, the Knight Order of Revelio doesn’t exist just for formalities. It also plays a role in maintaining the security of a gigantic city like Baltrain and there are times when they go on business trips like today.

I don’t even think that such an organization can be completely clean both in its front-facing and backroom operations.

I’m not accusing them of doing anything bad but would say that they have both clean and dirty facets. There may be a mix of those aspects. Again, I don’t really care that much because it’s not relevant to me.

“I’ll be heading home now,” Lucy said. “I’ll come back tomorrow. I’ve got a lot of things to ask them.”

“Oh, I see,” I said. “Thanks for today?”

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I don’t know what I should say but thanks should be in order? I’m not sure. I feel like I was just dragged along.

However, I should be grateful from the perspective that Lucy was concerned for Miu and acted immediately.

“Come on, with me, Miu,” Lucy said, taking Miu’s hand.

“… Tch, alright. I get it, let go of my hand,” Miu said as Lucy dragged her away.

As I look at the scene, I feel like a parent, hoping that Lucy will be able to show the goodness in her and get along well with Miu.

“See you later, Miu,” I said.

“… Hmph,” she seemed to have tossed a snort over her shoulder as she left.

Yeah, I don’t think she dislikes me but I don’t know how to move from being an acquaintance to more or less a friend.

However, I know too much about the situation to be just an acquaintance and the age difference is too big to be called a friend. If we had a clear relationship like her being a disciple of my dojo, the way we’d interact would change again.

“… Now then, what to do?” I said, looking up at the sky.

It was dyed deep red as the sun shone over the continent of Galea. It’s about time for sunset today, where the shadows would stretch to their fullest before everything was swallowed up by darkness.

Hmm, I’m glad I managed to get this done before sunset.

However, I’m not tired physically, but I’m tired mentally because of all the things that have happened.

That said, today’s work is over.

Lucy said that some of the criminals were lurking behind the scenes, but it’s not my job to look for them. As expected, a person who only had the title of “Special Instructor” couldn’t be deployed like that. I don’t want to stick my neck out that far.

“I’ll come up with a few ideas about the Knight’s patrol routes and frequency,” Alexia said as she keeps her eyes to the sky. “Will you be going home any time soon, Master?”

“I see… I wonder if I’ll just head back to the inn,” I said, looking back at her.

The patrol routes were probably the result of the thieves we caught this time. I don’t think that was all of them since their home base in the middle of the Central District was more than we expected they’d have, so I think they’re planning to tighten the security around there.

“In that case, Master, see you tomorrow,” Alexia said.

“Yeah, don’t stay too long and start growing roots, Alexia,” I said as I left the Knight’s HQ.

Alexia was always so serious with digging down with her work, so I added a little to ensure she wouldn’t stay too late.

Even if I didn’t tell her, she’s good at managing her physical condition, but just in case, or on the off-chance.

“Fuu…” I sighed as I followed the path back to the inn.

I’m tired after all this, after all. On days like this, I’ll just go home and stop by a nearby bar to grab a drink.

I’m still ignorant of Baltrain’s geography, but now that I’ve been living for a while, the shops and locations are mapped out in my head.

Some bars are close on my path. If it’s close to the inn and it’s not so noisy, and the food and the drink are delicious, there’s no reason not for me to go.

The outcome of raiding the thieves’ den today could be a big incident depending on how you looked at it, but my feelings are rather relaxed.

That doesn’t mean there’s going to be a major turning point in my life.

I’m an old man, already over 45. I’m not expecting anything like that anymore and neither am I hoping for anything special.

“Well, I’ll do what I can,” I said.

It can’t be helped to think about this and that.

As I muttered to myself and sorted out my feelings, Baltrain’s sky naturally fades to dark.

It will take some time to hear news about Twilight and his subordinates.

I don’t know if there is a mastermind, but even if there’s not, we need to back that up with evidence. With the scrutiny they have on them, I think there’s a good chance that new facts will emerge tomorrow or today.

In that case, my job as a Special Instructor will continue to exist. After all, like usual, I’ve got no choice but to train hard with all the Knights.

“I’m certain it was here, in this alley… where, oh where,” I said to myself.

However, though it’s natural to work hard, it wouldn’t be bad for me to treat myself to a ridiculous reward for working hard all day.

My destination was a bar quietly set up off the usual road to the inn. I think it’s a considerable disadvantage in terms of location compared to the main street, but even then, probably because this is the capital, Baltrain, there’s always a decent number of customers coming and going.

I’ve limited myself to going on days when I’m tired like this.

Behind the double doors, I see the small hustle and bustle of a busy establishment leaking out. It makes me a little happy to see my favorite places thrive.

“Excuse me, coming in,” I said, going through the doors after checking out the front.

Let’s grab a drink then go to sleep today. Then, I should be able to do my best as usual from tomorrow. All things will go well with Alexia and Lucy on the case. Surely. Tomorrow’s wind will blow tomorrow, yeah?