Chapter 58

At the Schvalia Knights' Flaria garrison, we were led by Mr. Olivier and sat down on the sofas in the reception room. The interior of the garrison was solidly built, and the furniture in the reception room, including the table and the sofas we were sitting on, looked brand new. Had they recently been replaced?

I sat in the center of the sofa, with Senior Rina and Chelsea on either side. Due to the size, Lucash, who would have been left out, declined Mr. Olivier's offer to provide an additional chair and stood behind me.

Across the table, Mr. Olivier sat on a single-person sofa. Our eyes met, and his red eyes made me ask, yet again, without realizing it:

"Why is Mr. Olivier here?"

Mr. Olivier smiled and finally answered:

"It's part of the reinforcement of security in various regions."

"But, with the Knight Commander Wake away on inspection, shouldn't Deputy Commander Olivier be...?"

I was surprised to see Mr. Olivier in Flaria, and my first thought was the safety of the capital. The Schvalia Knights have many members who undergo rigorous training daily, and I trust them wholeheartedly, even though I don't know their faces. However, with Commander Wake, the new mage Flor, and the inspections, shouldn't Deputy Commander Olivier be in charge of the capital, the heart of the country?

My concern must have shown on my face, as he smiled wryly.

"You don't need to worry, Laura. It's all well thought out."

Mr. Olivier lowered his eyes slightly and continued:

"The structure of the Schvalia Knights is changing. Since the Commander was severely injured and had to leave the front lines, it has been gradually changing. In fact, there are now five Deputy Commanders, including me. We're trying to fill the gap left by the Commander."

I was surprised by this revelation but also found it reasonable. With Commander Wake's severe injury to his right eye, it was necessary to compensate for his absence. Moreover, the recent increase in monster activity made it even more crucial.

"That's why we need to send more capable forces to protect regions that didn't require as much attention before."

Mr. Olivier's eyes were serious, and I felt a strong resolve. Despite his androgynous appearance and gentle demeanor, he is the Deputy Commander of a major nation's knight order, responsible for the lives of dozens, if not hundreds, of knights and the citizens of the country.

I couldn't respond to the determination in his eyes, but he quickly noticed my reaction and softened the atmosphere with his usual princely smile.

"Besides, the Commander was worried about you, Laura. He said, 'Where there's Laura, there are monsters.'"

I could only smile wryly at his playful tone. It was true that I had encountered monsters three times: in the capital, Platoven, and Eme's village. It was understandable to think that way.

I considered it a flag management for the main story. If the protagonist Lucash were to encounter events related to the activation of monsters, it would be more logical for them to happen around Laura, who has more opportunities to go on expeditions in the capital, rather than around Lucash, who stays in Eme's village. If the protagonist hears that his childhood friend is involved, he would naturally be concerned, and the information would reach him.

"Commander Wake has already told me about your mission to find the spirit's drinking water. Of course, I'll accept the task."

Fortunately, the matter of the spirit's drinking water search has been handled smoothly. Even the permission for the expedition training from Mr. Kasper was granted, thanks to the efforts of Arnold and the concern of Wake.

"Could I have just one day? I had some work to finish before Laura arrived, but unfortunately, I couldn't complete it."

Mr. Olivier lowered his gaze apologetically and added, "It's handover work." Since it was handover work, he must have arrived in Flaria recently.

I shouldn't be the one apologizing; I was the one who came during his busy period. I shook my head vigorously.

"There's no need to apologize! I know I'm the one making unreasonable requests, so I'll adjust to Mr. Olivier's schedule."

Mr. Olivier's lips relaxed in relief, and I felt my tense shoulders relax as well.

"Besides, I need to prepare some monster-repelling poison before going to the forest. I can wait for as many days as needed... but, the training period is 30 days, so..."

"Of course, I understand. The remaining work is mostly paperwork. I can definitely finish it in one day."

Mr. Olivier nodded firmly. His determination made me feel confident that we would have the full support of the Schvalia Knights' Deputy Commander. It was a significant help. I had hoped to reduce Lucash's burden, but I didn't expect such comprehensive support. I would be forever grateful to both Olivier and Wake.

Mr. Olivier then shifted his gaze to the side and looked at Senior Rina and Chelsea a few times before speaking.

"Apprentice alchemist Rina Bevershtam and Chelsea Gauri. I'm Olivier Bloom. Nice to meet you."

He smiled warmly, and the two blushed slightly as they introduced themselves. Both Senior Rina and Chelsea had seen Mr. Olivier in the castle but had never had a proper conversation with him. I, too, hadn't had much interaction with him.

After the introductions, Mr. Olivier's gaze fell on Lucash, who was standing behind me.

"So, who is that? Could it be the famous Lucash?"

Mr. Olivier stood up and approached Lucash, who tilted his head slightly as he shook the offered hand.

"I'm Lucash Kamill. Nice to meet you. ...By the way, what do you mean by 'famous'?"

"Commander Wake mentioned in a letter that Laura's childhood friend is a promising young man. It's an honor to meet you. Nice to meet you."

So, Wake already had high hopes for Lucash. I recalled the early part of "Last Brave," where Lucash and Wake first meet. Lucash, recognized for his hero's power by a messenger from the capital, meets Wake at the castle. Wake, recognizing Lucash's hidden potential, challenges him to a duel. Although Wake wins, he offers to accompany Lucash on his journey.

A young man with infinite potential and a mature adult who guides him strictly yet warmly. Despite their first meeting being different from "Last Brave," the bond between Wake and Lucash would likely remain strong.

"Thank you, Mr. Wake has been very kind to me. Nice to meet you."

Lucash scratched his cheek, looking a bit embarrassed. Olivier's eyes twinkled. Although they never met in "Last Brave" (Olivier doesn't appear in the game), it seemed they could build a good relationship.

After that, we agreed to prepare for the next day and visit the Flaria garrison again in two days.

***

That night, I was reviewing the poison-making notes given to me by my master. If I encounter a monster, I think it's better for me to stay protected. I've seen in my previous life that trying to fight and becoming a liability is a common scenario. However, it's good to have something to protect myself. The poison I make can also be used by Olivier and Lucash in battle.

After marking the poisons I could make with the available materials, I closed the notebook. Lucash, who had been waiting for me to finish, spoke up.

"Hey, Laura. Is Mr. Olivier related to Ms. Mercedes?"

"He's her twin brother."

"Really? They look so alike."

I nodded, slightly smiling. The Bloom siblings are so similar in appearance, from their hair and eye color to their facial features. They might be indistinguishable if they wore the same clothes. —Though I didn't notice it for a while.

"By the way, you mentioned making poison. Can I watch?"

I was surprised by his sudden request. There was no reason to say no, but would watching me make poison be interesting? I tilted my head and asked honestly.

"Sure, but you'll need to wear a big mask, and it's not very exciting."

"That's fine, I just want to watch."

Lucash's enthusiastic smile made it impossible to refuse. I imagined him wearing a protective mask that looked like a bird's beak and chuckled to myself.