Chapter 9 - One Of Us

As he spoke, Mayer’s tone was very kind. “We shall discuss the details of defeating the demon lord after we return to the base,” he said, his voice sounding from way above my head. 

“…Don’t I get an adjustment period?” I asked cautiously. 

“I trust in your ability to cope.” 

“I don’t know what part of me you’re trusting in…”

“I would say you are reliable enough, considering how you participated in the previous battle as a supporter,” he said. 

“Though I’ve apparently been cast aside in this second round.”

“That is because Fabian Ignis is a fool,” Mayer said. Strangely enough, he sounded delighted. 

Who would’ve imagined we’d stand side to side, insulting Fabian together? It truly made me realize I was one of the Dark Knights now. “Yes, indeed… What a fool.” I replied in a small but butter tone full of self-mockery.

Act 2: I’m A Dark Knight Now

“Everyone, this is Jun Karentia. From now on, she is one of us.” 

“Hello. I’m Jun, a support mage…” I introduced myself, cautiously observing my surroundings as I gave a deep bow in greeting. The Dark Knights—clad in a black uniform and armor—all focused on me, their eyes showing a mixture of incredulity and stupefaction. We did clear a dungeon together a while ago, but that and joining the Dark Knights were separate matters.

A stranger they ran across in a dungeon joined them right afterward? I could understand their bewilderment. After all, from their point of view, this recruitment was ridiculous. However, their feelings only appeared on their faces—no one was daring enough to try and appease their curiosity in front of Mayer. With each step their captain took, the other members made way like the Red Sea parting for Moses. I glanced at the prophet in black and swallowed dryly.

He looked very handsome. And that wasn’t just me—even when I played The Sacred War on its release, all players aimed to recruit Mayer Knox because of his good looks. To the despair of many, he was an unrecruitable character. Back then, no one had a clue that he would be the final boss of the true ending.

“Axion!” Mayer called out loudly.

“Yes, Your Excellency!” A handsome, scholarly-looking man answered his call and dashed toward us. He had curly red hair braided to one side and glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. Mana could be felt just by looking at his hair. That was Axion Flama, a flame mage. Although he was also a famous individual, he wasn’t as well-known as Mayer. Still, he was a core member of the Dark Knights, peerless when it came to flame magic.

“As comrades who will be braving through life and death together,” the captain said, “I hope you will take good care of her.”

“You mean to say that she will be part of our main force…?” 

“Indeed. She is a talented asset who will become the vice-captain of our corps.”

Axion’s eyes widened in astonishment, and so did mine. “Vice-captain, you say?”

Immediately, I grabbed Mayer’s arm and asked, “Hang on a second. What do you mean, vice-captain?”

“Aieee!” Axion suddenly exclaimed, looking even more shocked than before. I wondered if I had done something wrong, but before I could ask what I had in mind, Mayer laughed.

“Did I not say I would give you the best treatment?” He replied in a matter-of-fact tone.

However, this wasn’t an issue that could be easily overlooked like Mayer was making it out to be. I had thought he would treat me “like” a vice-captain, not “as” one! There was a subtle difference there! I had been under the impression that he would treat me well without giving me any power.

Noticing my apprehension, Mayer sighed heavily and said, “Everyone else is eager to become my second-in-command, yet you seem dissatisfied about it.”

“Because I know my place well.” I shot back, then begged him to take back his words, but the shameless man just smirked instead.

“I am sure a vice-captain would be regarded with more importance than a regular member in history books…” he said, pausing for a moment before continuing. “But if you are against it, then…”

“Very well, I’ll take it. Vice-captain.” I replied swiftly, just in case he took back his words, and he laughed loudly. He knew exactly how to use the carrot on me; I must’ve looked like Son Goku on Buddha’s palm, dancing at his every word. I huffed, annoyed.

While Axion blankly watched as the two of us talked—his gaping mouth showing no signs of closing anytime soon—Mayer was rubbing his chin in satisfaction. “Good. Since I have a definitive answer from you… Axion. I ask that during our journey back to base you teach our prospective vice-captain everything she needs to know about the Dark Knights.”

“…Yes, sir!” The mage promptly replied in a disciplined tone, even though he was glancing at me with confusion visible in his eyes.

After giving his subordinate what was practically a one-sided notification, Mayer turned to me. “Then, Jun, I shall be on my way. I need to receive a report on the previous dungeon. If you have any questions,” he added in a softer tone, “ask Axion.”