Chapter 14 (1/2)

After Palwick’s introduction, there was only the middle-aged knight(?) in the work clothes to go.

He was perhaps the oldest person in the room.

“I’m Galluzzi. I’m technically a knight, but mainly I deal with the weapons and equipment. I don’t really get involved with the fighting and whatnot. Gotta consider my age, and all that. Although sometimes I act a bit like a combat engineer I suppose,” he said, before handing Fii a sheathed sword.

At a length between the standard knight sword and a knife, Fii found it weighed quite lightly in her hands.

“It’s our congratulations for pa.s.sing. For a tiny fella like you, the blade length should be just right. I’ve also done various other things to keep it light. But it should be as tough as any sword, so rest easy.”

“Wah! Thank you very much!”

Without unsheathing it, she gave it a swing to see how it felt.

It almost felt the same as the wooden sword she used during the match. With this, even the feeble Fii could swing it properly.

After staring at it with sparkling eyes, Fii happily hung it by her hips.

“If there’s anything else you need made, come find me. If I can make it, I will.”

Galluzzi gave her a calm smile.

The unidentified objects that she noticed earlier had probably been made by him.

Fii decided to ask him about them next time she had a chance.

With this, everybody in the room had been introduced.

“There’s actually one more person, but they’re on a special mission, you see. Not here at the moment. I’ll introduce you when you meet them.”

But according to Crow, there was apparently still one more person.

It was Fii’s turn to introduce herself now.

“I’ve been accepted into this division as an apprentice. My name is Heath! I’m not very skilled, but please take care of me!”

That last line sounded just like a j.a.panese bride.

Placing a hand on Fii’s head, Crow added, “Apparently he comes from Theonore. That’s how it is, so I hope you’ll look after him.”

(Eh-…?)

She never told him where she was from.

Or rather, what he said didn’t even match up with the fake backstory she concocted.

She hadn’t even heard of Theonore before.

“I see.”

“Understood.”

“Aye.”

But all four knights readily a.s.sented.

In fact, Theonorea was an implicit code for illegal immigrant children, impoverished children without a nationality, or children with other legal issues.

These children would formally gain citizens.h.i.+p if they became knights, but while they were apprentices they were technically staying illegally.

And so it was decided that they came from Theonore, and all details would be ignored during the duration of their apprentices.h.i.+p.

Crow had completely decided that Heath was an illegal immigrant.

After all, Fii had been wearing ragged clothing during their first meeting, and on top of that she started crying just because he gave her some meat. Not only that, but everybody saw what sticky fingers she had during the match with Gorms.

He was completely convinced.

There were a few things that felt a little out of place. For example, she was well-spoken despite her accent, and her blonde hair and blue eyes were common amongst n.o.bility, but it wasn’t unheard of for entire n.o.ble families to be crushed into poverty for some reason or other.

(He must have suffered…)

Crow found himself empathising with this small boy, and wanting to help him out. And he himself was aware of how rare this was for him.

Seeing how confused Heath was, Crow made sure to whisper into the boy’s ears that he would explain things later.

Heath responded with an obedient nod.