The Visit Ends

"I appreciate the sentiment."

Higashino Makoto nodded.

"But the most important thing right now is to hold this fortress and protect the people here. We can discuss everything else later."

"Yes, sir!"

Orlando gave another perfect salute, then suddenly remembered something and stepped aside.

"Oh, right, this is—"

The person behind him stepped forward.

Pabel Baraja was far leaner than Orlando, but his eyes, capable of seeing even in darkness, gleamed sharply at that moment.

He could not be called handsome, but he possessed the sharpness honed by long years of surviving in the wild, like a dagger sheathed in its scabbard.

"Lord Higashino."

Pabel dropped to one knee. His voice was much softer than Orlando's, yet equally firm.

"I am Pabel Baraja, known as the 'Night Watcher,' one of the Nine Colors."

"Night Watcher..."

Higashino Makoto repeated the title.

"I've heard of you. A ranger who could see in the dark as though it were day, and who was said to have defeated Orlando in close combat."

Pabel's expression shifted slightly.

That mock battle was an achievement he took great pride in, but it had also earned him the resentment of many of Orlando's admirers.

He had not expected this holy knight who had descended from the heavens to know about it.

"You flatter me, my lord."

Pabel lowered his head.

"Lord Orlando held back at the time."

"Hmph!"

Orlando snorted beside him, his beady eyes sliding toward Pabel.

"I didn't hold back! A loss is a loss, so quit making excuses for me, kid."

The corners of Pabel's mouth twitched slightly, as though he were holding back a laugh.

Watching the exchange between the two, Higashino Makoto's impression of the Holy Kingdom's knights improved a little more.

At the very least, their relationship was far more straightforward than he had imagined.

"Pabel, what did you come to see me for?"

"Lord Higashino, I... I have a daughter."

"Nia Baraja."

Higashino Makoto said her name.

Pabel froze for a moment.

"How did you know, my lord?"

"I heard you talking outside earlier."

Higashino Makoto smiled faintly.

"You said she'd recently started ignoring you, and that you wanted to take the whole family camping during your leave to regain your dignity as a father."

Pabel's face instantly turned red.

Not from embarrassment, but because having such "family matters" exposed before a holy knight who had descended from the heavens made him feel somewhat... awkward.

"M-My lord, you jest."

Pabel lowered his head.

"What I mean is, if you do not mind, once the fighting is over, I would like to bring Nia here... to thank you in person."

"Thank me?"

"Yes."

Pabel raised his head. Those eyes that could see in darkness now glimmered with a gentle light.

"That child, Nia... has always dreamed of becoming a holy knight like you. She saw you fight on the city wall today, and when she returned, she was so excited that she did not sleep all night. She kept drawing portraits of you."

Higashino Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly.

"She wants to meet you," Pabel said.

"I know this is presumptuous, but... I want to grant her that wish."

Higashino Makoto fell silent for a moment, his gaze settling on Pabel's face.

This formidable man who had defeated Orlando at close range, this ranger who could see in the dark as clearly as in daylight, now wore an expression just like that of an ordinary father, somewhat embarrassed over his daughter.

"Alright."

Higashino Makoto nodded.

"Bring her to see me once the fighting is over."

Pabel's eyes lit up.

"Thank you, my lord!"

He kowtowed heavily. When he rose to his feet, undisguised delight covered his face.

Orlando watched from the side, his beady eyes full of envy.

"Tch, having a daughter really is nice."

he muttered.

"My few little brats heard that my lord had arrived, and every last one of 'em hid far away, afraid they'd get called over to meet you."

Higashino Makoto glanced at him.

"How many sons do you have?"

"Three."

Orlando held up three fingers, a trace of helplessness appearing on his rugged face.

"Each one's naughtier than the last. The eldest even said he wanted to challenge you, my lord. I slapped him right back home."

"Challenge me?"

Higashino Makoto was somewhat taken aback.

"That brat watched you fight, my lord, and insisted that 'a true strong person should challenge someone stronger.'"

Orlando rolled his eyes—though the sight of those beady eyes rolling was rather comical.

"He oughta take a piss and look at himself first."

Higashino Makoto chuckled, unconcerned.

"Courage isn't a bad thing. But have him build a solid foundation first."

"Yes!"

Orlando nodded heavily.

"I'll be sure to pass that on!"

At that moment, Rita, who had been standing quietly to one side, gave a slight bow.

"Lord Higashino, it's getting late."

Higashino Makoto looked outside.

Night had already fallen, and stars had begun to twinkle in the sky.

"You should head back and rest as well."

He rose to his feet.

"The demi-humans may launch another offensive over the next few days. Stay vigilant, but don't be overly tense. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to this fortress."

Orlando and Pabel simultaneously dropped to one knee.

"Understood!"

After the two left the command room, Higashino Makoto returned to his chair.

Rita walked over to his side and asked softly, "Lord Higashino, do you truly intend to meet that little girl named Nia?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

Higashino Makoto asked in return.

Rita tilted her head slightly, a hint of curiosity in her crimson eyes.

"I'm just a little surprised,"

she said honestly.

"Your attitude toward those two is gentler than I expected."

Higashino Makoto was silent for a while, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

"Because they are the most ordinary kind of people in this world,"

he finally said.

"They have family, people they care about, their own pride, and their own weaknesses. They are not strong, but neither are they ants."

He paused.

"And besides..."

"And?"

The corner of Higashino Makoto's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

"Shouldn't a true 'paladin' be a little gentler toward ordinary people and loyal knights?"

Rita blinked, then smiled as well.

"My lord is right,"

she said softly.

"I was overthinking it."

She turned and walked to the table, picked up the cup of tea that had already gone cold, and prepared to replace it with a hot one.

When she reached the door, she looked back at Higashino Makoto's silhouette.

Under the candlelight, the man sat on a crude chair, his silver-white armor reflecting a warm glow.

He truly looked every bit like a righteous paladin.

Rita withdrew her gaze, but the smile on her lips deepened.

She knew that Lord Higashino's "performance" had only just begun.

And those whom he treated with such tenderness would ultimately become his most loyal...

believers.