Chapter 10

Before I returned, in the world two years from now, there was a holy knight named Lauro.

Lauro, who had taken on the honorable position of a holy knight, was a knight who protected the holy maiden.

In other words, two years from now, Lauro would become the knight who protected that woman, the holy maiden Oline.

Despite taking on such an important role, Lauro's birth and background were not revealed.

Normally, it would be a noble family of knights who would take on this role, but Oline had forcefully placed Lauro by her side.

At first, there was resistance, but Lauro was very strong.

So strong that even several knights who had been trained since childhood could not defeat him.

He had an incredibly strong power, and I had heard that he became a holy knight by the word of Prince Lewis, the crown prince.

He was a holy knight favored by the holy maiden Oline and recommended by Prince Lewis.

Well, the reason for the recommendation was probably Oline.

I never thought I would meet such a holy knight, Lauro, here.

Indeed, I should have recognized him, as I served by Oline's side before I returned.

I hadn't fully recalled it, but now I remember.

He had short brown hair, was very tall, and had a well-built physique.

His features were well-defined, giving him the look of a beautiful youth, but when he wielded a sword, his strength was overwhelming and unlike his appearance.

I had seen him fight a monster once, and "great strength" was a term that perfectly described Lauro.

"La, Lauro... What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean... I was being hassled by the baron's men."

"Oh, right, that's true."

I shouldn't have asked such a strange question out of surprise.

But Lauro was originally a commoner, right?

There were rumors that he might be the hidden child of some noble.

"Lauro, where do you live? Your clothes are torn, did the baron do this to you?"

"I'm borrowing a house in the back alleys around here, living with my younger brother and sister. The clothes were already torn."

"Your parents?"

"They're gone; I'm an orphan."

"Oh, I see. What about your younger brother and sister?"

"...Yes, I found my twin brother and sister."

The fact that he can't even buy proper clothes shows how difficult their life must be.

His twin brother and sister are probably not related by blood and are still too young to work.

"Why are you asking me this?"

"...Would you like to work for me?"

"Me?"

"Yes, that's right."

Is this a great opportunity?

"Wh, Lady Asaria!? What are you saying!?"

"Oh, Maimi, you're back."

We had been talking about the guards and Baron Piddle, and it seems the baron has finally been taken away.

"We can't hire someone with an unknown background in the duke's household! And where would you have him work? As a gardener?"

"As my personal knight."

"Knight!? And a personal knight to Lady Asaria!?"

"Knight... me?"

Maimi looked very surprised, and Lauro tilted his head in confusion.

But I don't want to miss this opportunity.

There's a possibility that I can make the future holy knight of Oline my own.

"Oh, do you recognize the name Oline? She's the daughter of Baron Dianu."

Have you already met her?

"I don't know Oline, but I think Baron Dianu often uses the transport store where I work."

"Oh, I see."

Did you meet Oline through that connection?

Perhaps you saw his strength at some point and decided to recruit him.

"You're very strong, right?"

"Well, yes... but how do you know?"

"You didn't flinch when the baron's men hit you. You look very strong, and... you can manipulate magic, can't you?"

"Magic? What's that?"

"Hehe, you don't know?"

Normally, manipulating magic requires tremendous practice, and even if you have magic, it's useless if you can't control it well.

However, Lauro, who doesn't even know the concept of magic, is unconsciously using it to enhance his physical strength.

He's a genius, a term that perfectly fits him.

"You can become my knight. A personal knight to the duke's daughter."

"Me? I've never even held a sword."

"Don't worry, with a few months of training, you'll be stronger than most knights."

"Why are you so confident?"

"Hmm, it's a gut feeling."

I can't tell him I have memories from two years in the future.

"Of course, if you become my knight, I'll provide you with a suitable salary and benefits. Enough so you never have to wear those tattered clothes again."

"...What about my brother and sister?"

"I'll provide a house for you all. Not just a borrowed one, but a large house that I'll buy and gift to you. As soon as you decide to come to me."

"Really?"

"Yes, of course. How about it? Are you interested?"

"...To be honest, such good treatment is a bit scary."

Well, I understand.

But Lauro is worth it.

Not only is he an excellent knight, but there's also the value of taking away the future holy knight of Oline.

"Are you trying to trick me...?"

"Trick? What would I gain by tricking you?"

"...Something like human trafficking or organ trafficking."

"You have quite a dark imagination..."

And you say it with a straight face, making it seem like a serious thought.

"The honorable Spencer Duke's household wouldn't do such things. I just recognized your talent and want to hire you."

"...Is that so?"

"How about it? This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

It is, really. The opportunity to become a holy knight who protects the holy maiden.

But the treatment would definitely be better with me than with that nasty holy maiden.

"...I can't decide right away. I need to talk to my brother and sister."

"Oh, I see. Let's go talk to them now."

"Right now?"

"Seize the day, as they say. Can you show me the way to your house?"

"But my house isn't clean enough to invite a duke's daughter..."

"I don't mind at all. The Spencer Duke's daughter can elegantly drink tea even on ground stained with monster blood."

I smiled and said this to Lauro.

I haven't killed a monster since I returned.

And even before I returned, I never drank tea on blood-stained ground.

I've had field rations, though. They're tasteless and hard.

"...Heh, I see. I haven't even thanked you for saving me, so if you don't mind, I can offer you some tea."

"Thank you."

"R, really going, Lady Asaria...!"

Maimi said this beside me, but I ignored her and followed Lauro.