“Not really.”
Chester shook his head lightly, adding that he had simply been staying up late due to work.
Ruite tilted his head as he watched Chester’s back as he headed back into the conference room, suggesting they get moving.
His voice was as calm and expressionless as usual, but for some reason, Ruite didn’t quite believe him.
From that day on, the team led by Knight Captain Chester—consisting of Knights Morgan and Toby, four regular Combat Department members, and Cedric and Ruite from the Research Department—began their investigation in earnest.
The first task was to identify which group the mastermind behind the incident belonged to.
“If they’ve orchestrated something of this scale, it’s highly likely they aren’t working alone, but as a group.”
Everyone agreed with Chester’s assessment.
Since this was no minor incident, it could be assumed that at least two or more people were involved.
“How about we raid the black markets first? There might be rumors circulating among the dealers.”
“I agree with Morgan. To gather information on those bastards, I think poking around similar types of people is the best first step,” Morgan and Toby said in turn.
Indeed, monster-related crimes were often linked to the black market.
Furthermore, the so-called ‘dealers’ looking to profit there acted as each other’s information networks, maintaining a twisted sort of solidarity among criminals, so it was possible they could find a lead.
“Then, Morgan and Toby, track the black markets that have been active over the past month. Since these incidents are concentrated in the capital, focus your search within the capital as much as possible.”
“Understood.”
“Research Department, prioritize an intensive study of the evolved monster remains. Report any anomalies immediately, no matter how small.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once the first meeting concluded, Chester received a dispatch order in the situation room and headed straight back to the field.
Although a dedicated team had been formed, they unfortunately weren’t exempted from their basic duties. With monsters causing so much trouble lately, every available hand was needed.
Because of this, some members secretly hoped not to be picked for the team.
As Ruite headed to the lab, he thought of Chester, who had vanished so quickly to return to work.
“…….”
“What’s got you so deep in thought?”
Varen suddenly popped up beside Ruite as he walked aimlessly.
“……Don’t you have work to do, Knight Captain?”
“How cruel! I just got back from fighting monsters for my life.”
Varen pouted, asking why Ruite was so unappreciative.
“Anyway, I heard you joined the special team, Ruite?”
“Yes.”
“Must be nice, being stuck to Chester’s side all the time.”
Ruite had expected to hear something like that from Varen eventually, so he brushed it off with a simple, “I’m not answering that.”
Somehow, they ended up walking side-by-side.
Varen babbled on lightheartedly about trivial things.
Just as Ruite was wondering if this man’s mouth ever took a break, a thought occurred to him.
“Knight Captain, you spend a lot of time with Chester, don’t you?”
“Huh? Well… I suppose so. We’re in the same department and have the same rank. Why? Jealous? But Ruite, you’ll be seeing him all the time for a while now anyway.”
Ruite shot a look at the man, who was smirking unpleasantly at his own thoughts, before speaking again.
“How has Chester been lately?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Ah, well, that is…”
Ruite paused for a moment, unsure of how to explain.
“Has he been acting a bit… strange? Different from usual?”
“Let’s see. Nothing in particular… Oh, come to think of it, he does space out by himself sometimes lately.”
Varen added that he had witnessed Chester staring blankly into space as if lost in thought several times recently—right after missions or when he was alone.
Since it was a side of Chester he hadn’t seen since they joined the Order, Varen had asked if something was wrong, but he only received the usual answer that nothing was the matter.
“Do you know something, Ruite?”
“……No.”
How could he know if Chester wouldn’t tell him? Ruite let out a deep sigh in spite of himself.
When dinner time arrived, the cafeteria was, as expected, crowded.
Amidst the noisy atmosphere, Ruite and Chester sat facing each other, eating their meal.
Today, as well, Chester watched Ruite closely and moved some of his own side dishes to Ruite’s plate if he saw something Ruite enjoyed.
A soft smile played on Chester’s face as he watched Ruite eat heartily yet neatly.
After finishing dinner, the two climbed the dormitory stairs together.
Chatting quietly, they soon arrived in front of their respective rooms.
“Then, I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow.”
Chester patted Ruite’s head once and opened his door with his key.
But as soon as he stepped inside, Ruite followed him in.
“Ruite?”
Ruite closed the door and even turned the lock.
Walking past the room’s owner, he sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Chester.”
Ruite called his name and patted the spot next to him.
Like a puppy obeying its master, Chester sat down beside him without hesitation.
“Something’s going on with you, isn’t there?”
“…….”
“Don’t try to dodge the question. If something is bothering you, I want you to be honest with me.”
Ruite spoke softly.
He wasn’t the type to pry into others’ personal affairs, and he knew it was usually impolite to grill someone who said they were fine.
However, because it was Chester, he couldn’t just let it slide.
Every time he saw those subtle differences in Chester’s behavior, it weighed on his mind.
“It’s really nothing…….”
“I’m worried about you. Are you going to keep doing this even after we’re married? Hiding things whenever something happens?”
Chester froze.
“……Why is your face turning red? Is now really the time for that?”
“No…… it’s just that hearing the word ‘marriage’ come from your mouth makes me happy.”
Chester cleared his throat, covering his mouth.
Ruite gave him a sharp look, asking if this was really the moment.
“It’s nothing major. Just…….”
Chester recounted the conversation he’d had with Benger when he visited the mansion recently.
Or more accurately, the one-sided lecture Benger had given.
“What a real dog…….”
Ruite almost let a curse slip out before catching himself.
He was that momentarily furious.
What kind of parent emotionally oppresses their own child and tries to control them like a puppet?
“Does the Duke treat your brother that way too?”
“Probably not as much as me, but it’s likely not much different. To my father, the family name is more important than his children.”
Chester brushed his hair back forcefully, leaving his black locks in disarray.
“I never used to care what he said; it never affected me. But when he questioned the very meaning of my work in the Order, I found myself with nothing to say. My biggest reason for coming here was to defy him. Now, I sometimes find myself wondering what I’m even doing here or why.”
He had chosen to join with the single-minded determination that he wouldn’t live according to his father’s wishes—that he wouldn’t spend his life as an assistant or a background character to his older brother, the future Duke.
Could someone like him really belong in an organization that people say only those with pure, clean convictions can endure?
Was this defiance really the right path?
He was adapting well as a knight for now, but what about the future?
The distant future?
He felt confused, wondering if it was okay to remain here based solely on the desire to defy his father.
“To be honest, I also think the perfect aptitude for a knight is the desire to save others and protect people’s peaceful lives.”
Chester flinched. Ruite had said something similar to a depressed Dane once before.
“And Chester, you have protected people. The injury you had—wasn’t that from saving a child who was in danger during a monster battle?”
Chester, who had been staring at the floor, slowly lifted his head.
Ruite had been curious about how Chester got injured, so he had coaxed a member of the Combat Department into telling him the details.
He learned exactly what happened that caused a Knight Captain like Chester to get hurt.
“If you only wanted the honor of being a knight to prove something to your father or to defy him, you would have only thought about killing the monster. But you prioritized the child. Your reason for joining might have been your father, but right now, a knight’s conviction lives inside you more than anyone else. Isn’t that right?”
Even if that mindset wasn’t there at the beginning, there’s no law saying it can’t develop.
The Chester Ruite had known since the academy was someone who only cared about himself, built walls against others, and only thought about grades or moving up.
But now as a knight, he was fulfilling his duties more diligently than anyone and had saved people from danger many times.
He was still prickly, but he was letting people in and building relationships.
“I think humans are valuable because they can change. In my eyes, you are successfully breaking free from your father’s oppression.”
Ruite reached out and gently touched Chester’s hand. He felt a warmth more comforting than ever before.
“And, you know,” Ruite started again.
He scratched his head as if finding the words difficult.
After a brief silence, he took a small breath as if making a decision and locked eyes with Chester.
“If you don’t know the reason or meaning for what you’re doing here… can’t it be me? Can’t I be the reason?”
