Chapter 11 (1/2)

“Your Highness, Aron Max, the Captain of the 8th Unit reporting. I have brought Dame Kasia as per your orders.”

“Come in.”

A voice came from the tent granting them permission to enter. The two soldiers guarding the tent raised up the tent curtain which acted as a door for them. Kasia entered the tent following the Unit Captain. Just like what the Unit Captain did, she also followed him in saluting the people sitting before her.

“Captain Max, can you wait outside the tent?”

Towards Tasel’s words, Aron did a half salute and directly went outside.

Inside the tent only Tasel, the brothers Zeke and Mikhail and Kasia were left.

“Sorry that I asked for your presence in this late hour without any prior notice, Dame Kasia.”

“It is okay, sir.”

“Are there no memories you remember from your past?”

“That’s right. No memories, sir.”

Kasia’s answers were short and concise. From that alone Tasel felt as if he was receiving replies from a well trained officer.

“Dame Kasia, I will get straight to the point. I heard from Captain Max about you, that, before the Mist Forest incident, you were somewhat a passive and quiet female-knight. And after the incident it seems that there’s been an exponential raise in your abilities. Can you give some explanation for this change?”

“I am sorry, sir. I myself am unaware of the reason. But after I woke up there was an obsession within me to get stronger no matter what.”

If she was to say the truth, then it was just acquiring what she had learned from her previous life. But in the current moment she could only concoct such an explanation.

“Is that so? ‘Obsession to get strongerʼ… Is it because she faced a near death experience from an unduly powerful force?”

Tasel muttered in a barely audible voice as he measured the woman who stood erect and straight in front of him.

Cut short, dark and thick hair, green eyes which complemented her fair skin, slightly dry lips, hollow cheeks… a delicate and lean figure.

She had a supple chest, the arms revealed under her short sleeved coat held beautiful muscle lines which couldn’t be seen in other ordinary women.

“Can you ride a horse?”

“Yes, I can, sir.”

“To which degree can you wield a sword?”

“I started to train only after joining the 8th Unit, still a beginner at it.”

“But from Mikhail’s words, you seem to be able to handle a short-sword quite well. Just like… an assassin.”

“I only brandished the knife in self-defence.”

Kasia acted oblivious to Tasel’s questions who suspected her to be an assassin. It was natural for her movements to be similar to an assassin since she was one in her previous life. In her current world, it went without saying that the profession of an assassin was not well accepted. Even in her previous life her existence was not welcomed.

“… I sincerely hope your progressive talents will contribute to strengthen our troops. You can retire now.”

Kasia put her legs together in an attention stance. Her right fist was put before her left chest. With a slight bow she did her military salute and went out of the tent. Outside, the Unit Captain, Max stood there waiting for her. She went back to the unit with the Captain as she contemplated whether her salute to Tasel was proper or not.

“No matter what, how can you say that she is an assassin, that too towards a knight, who just barely braved her death. How can you, Your Highness?”

As soon as Kasia went out of the tent Mikhail criticized Tasel with a sulky face.

“Mikhail, don’t you think it is strange? There was no Female Knight among us who’s skilled enough to counterattack you. But a woman who was bedridden with a broken body recovered and became skilled to such a level.”

“Ah, no. That’s because I went easy on her.”

“Just use your brain, if at that time what she held in her hand was something sharp, what do you think would have happened? Though it might not have killed you, but to inflict a fatal wound, would have been possible. If she is skilled enough to inflict a fatal wound on you, then doesn’t it mean that she is capable enough to take care of an ordinary Unit Captain?”

“That, that is… No, even if it is like that, she herself stated that she doesn’t understand the reason behind her growth. And towards such a person, to hold the suspicion of being an assassin, won’t Dame Kasia be disappointed?”

Zeke, who pondered and mumbled standing beside Mikhail, finally opened his mouth.

“Anyway, all we can do now is to trust her. It’s not like the 8th Unit she’s affiliated to is handling any highly secretive information or that we have any evidence to prove that she is a spy. Without any evidence suspecting a soldier outright will only decrease the morale of the army.”

“Haah. That’s right. It can be that I am just being too paranoid.

Anyway has the secret envoy who was sent the day before yesterday returned?”

Rubbing around his tired eyes, he stopped conversing about Kasia.

“Not yet, Your Highness. The other side also seems to be struggling.”

“I got it. Let’s end it here.”