Chapter 6 - Special Investigations Team
Inside were several desks, along with around ten men dressed in military uniforms or suits.
A few looked to be in their twenties, but most were in their thirties or forties.
Some were smoking, while others sported unshaven stubble.
They were quite the collection of stereotypical tough guys.
"Chief, our team's leader is here."
At Aria's words, the man who had been talking to another man at the manager's desk in the back turned toward us.
He looked to be in his forties and had a broad, muscular build.
The others also turned to look at me, and it was immediately obvious that none of them were amateurs, either.
Every single one of them wore a suspicious expression.
"Oh, you’re here."
The chief came over to us.
"This is Leon. He just arrived."
Aria introduced me.
"Oh. I'm Aaron, head of the Public Security Department."
"Leon Helferich."
I shook hands with the chief.
His hand was firm and strong.
He was definitely skilled with a sword.
Actually, everyone here seemed to know how to use one.
"Glad you could make it. I wasn't expecting you to show up so soon, though."
"Well, a few things happened..."
At my words, Aria lowered her gaze.
"Regardless, you're welcome here. You've come from another kingdom, so there'll probably be a lot you don't know. It may take some time to get used to things, but take it at your own pace."
He's a good boss.
If this were the Order of Knights, he'd just tell me to learn everything, even if it killed me.
"Thank you. To repay you for taking me in, I shall devote myself to serving you, even at the cost of my life. Please feel free to give me any orders."
I struck my chest with my left hand.
"Right, you used to be a knight... There's no need to be so stiff."
I didn't think I was being stiff... Was I?
"Am I being too stiff?"
"In every possible way. Even your posture is too perfect."
Well, that's because I was trained properly...
"I'll work on it."
"Do you really have to change that? You look cooler that way."
...Maybe I'll just leave things as they are.
"Hahaha! Anyway, I'm counting on you to lead the newly established team."
"Yes, sir! Leave it to me!"
I got a little carried away.
"Chief, are you sure about this?"
A man who looked to be in his twenties, standing off to the left, spoke up.
"Clark, sure about what?"
"Well, you can't just make someone who's only just arrived the team leader. Especially when he's from Valtenburg, of all places."
Oh... He's actually going against a decision made by his superior.
In the Order, that would earn him a punishment of running until he collapsed.
"So what? We went out of our way to recruit him. Naturally, we should welcome him with a position befitting that."
"In other words, he betrayed his own kingdom, didn't he? Can we really trust him? Our organization doesn't just deal with criminals. We also crack down on spies."
As Clark said that, Aria gave me a worried look and gently rubbed my back.
She's a nice girl, but she's still a little oblivious.
I'd appreciate it if she'd read the room.
"Well, what do you have to say to that?"
The chief turned to look at me.
"I agree that someone who's just arrived shouldn't be made team leader. To be honest, I feel the same way."
Well, it's just that the other candidates...
"What about the accusation that you betrayed your kingdom?"
Um... Do I really have to say it?
"It's not really a matter of betrayal... I was taken in after I got fired..."
Aria offered me a handkerchief, but I waved it away.
"Chief, is this guy actually any good?"
I couldn't exactly blame him for asking.
"Well, that's a fair question... In that case, since we're all here, how about a sparring match?"
A sparring match?
"Me?"
"Of course. Anyone want to take him on? If nobody does, I'll do it myself..."
The chief himself, huh?
He looked pretty strong.
"I'll do it."
Clark, the very man who had raised the objection, stepped forward.
"Hmm... Alright. Leon, sorry to ask this when you've only just arrived, but give him a little test. You can even kill him if you want."
Oh…?
"Hey, Chief. You might wanna be careful what you say."
El flew up and stopped the chief.
"...A book?"
Naturally, everyone stared at El.
As expected, a talking book was quite a rare sight.
"Oh, this is a grimoire I bought at a secondhand bookstore a long time ago. It can talk."
"I-I see... And what did you mean by being careful what I say?"
The chief composed himself and asked El.
"If you tell him he can kill someone, he'll seriously do it, you know? That's how knights are."
After El said that, the chief looked at me.
"I won't kill him."
That was a lie.
A knight must do what is required of him.
A knight must protect his allies and defeat his enemies.
The best way to minimize risk, even by the smallest margin, is to render the opponent completely incapable of fighting back.
In other words, being told that killing was permitted meant being ordered to kill.
But then I remembered that I was no longer a knight, and this place was more like a police department.
Besides, my opponent was a fellow member of the same organization, and this wasn't a duel. It was merely a sparring match.
There was no way I could kill him.
"...Killing is strictly prohibited. Anyway, it's important to know how capable your comrades are. Think of this as a chance to get acquainted."
"Understood."
So, no killing. Got it.
"All right, let's head downstairs. The training grounds are behind this building."
With that, the chief headed out. Clark and I followed, along with Aria and the others.
We made our way through a passage beyond the staircase, stepped out onto the emergency stairs, and eventually reached the grounds behind the building.
"Oh..."
It certainly looked like a training ground. The spacious area was furnished with straw dummies and the like, while various weapons were stored beneath a covered shelter.
However, it was immediately apparent that the weapons had been wrapped in protective cloth or had their edges blunted.
"Your weapon of choice... Well, I suppose it's a sword."
The chief glanced at the sword at my waist.
"Yes. I can use a variety of weapons, but the sword is still my specialty."
"We have wooden swords, so use one of those. What about you, Clark?"
"A wooden sword will do for me, too."
A wooden sword will do?
No... Better not.
"Aria, sorry, but could you hold on to El and my sword for me?"
I drew the sword from my waist and handed it to her along with El.
"Sure. Good luck! You're our team's leader, after all, so make sure you show him what you're made of!"
"I'll do my best."
I headed toward the storage with Clark and examined the wooden swords.
They all looked solidly made and sturdy, so I picked one at random and returned to the chief.
While I waited, Clark picked out a wooden sword of his own and came back.
"Alright, let's begin. Don't get too rough with each other. Clark, magic is off-limits, too."
"Of course. No problem."
So Clark was a mage after all.
"Now, take your positions."
At the chief's instruction, Clark and I moved apart and faced each other.
I bowed, then gripped the hilt of my wooden sword with my dominant right hand.
As I did, my mind grew eerily calm, while at the same time, I felt hot blood coursing through my entire body.
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