Torn Asunder by War, A Sword Saint for Tomorrow X The Knight Wizards!! – Chapter 54

Chapter 54
  When I released the softly clenched hand, Raizes, who had been observing the whole scene, confirmed it just in case.
  
  “King Claude, even if we consider the addition of one more member to the Knight Order?”
  “She’ll probably be unfamiliar with many things, so please look after her.”
  
  “Understood… Though I won’t give her any special treatment.”
  
  The mature knight, who left behind these simple and sturdy words befitting a warrior, turned around and promptly gave instructions to Lise, who had been eavesdropping.
  
  “I want to assess Kotono’s aptitude for a Clawsolas. I’ll leave the mage role to you.”
  “Understood… but please explain it properly to her, Your Majesty.”
  
  Lise’s point, as she tilted her head with her waist-length golden hair swaying, was spot on, so I obtained Kotono’s consent for the aptitude test with the giant knight.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After joking around a bit, Kotono, as I had instructed her, followed Lise, who would be acting as the mage for the aptitude test.
  
  Incidentally, since the Clawsolas is paired with the mage registered to its Magic Core, the only option for the test was the Clawsolas L-type Modified “Guardia.”
  
  Since Dino usually pilots it with Lise, I knew they might not be happy, but I still spoke to him.
  
  “I’m asking you two to accompany them until the test is over.”
  “… If they break the Clawsolas, it’ll be a disaster.”
  
  While wondering if he could ever nod obediently, I saw the three of them off and then asked Raizes, who remained, to prepare a private room in the barracks for Kotono. However… I encountered unexpected resistance from the neurotic and discipline-obsessed Vice-Captain.
  
  Apparently, private rooms are normally assigned to Squire-ranked individuals and above, and making an exception would set a bad precedent for the other soldiers.
  
  “… However, in her case, there’s the issue of communication.”
  “If it’s a royal order, not just a suggestion, then I will obey.”
  
  “If I were to abuse my authority over something like this, I’d lose the people’s trust. Let’s try to find a compromise, Raizes.”
  
  “Hahaha! You’re already acting like a proper king!”
  
  After a slightly exasperated sigh, I managed to extract a concession from Raizes, who had let out an uncharacteristically hearty laugh, and secured permission for Kotono to use a private room for a one-month period… However, my efforts were in vain, as Kotono showed a high Clawsolas synchronization rate in the aptitude test and became a Squire.
  
  Later, the Rare Human girl was appointed as the exclusive pilot of the newly built domestically produced Clawsolas “Svel,” and the development of a Clawsolas-use bow and arrow also began, to supplement magic that was limited by its power source and the number of uses, and firearms that were unsuitable for large-scale weaponry due to the gunpowder shortage.
  
  While I was busy with such matters, several newly appointed knights who had been dispatched to Zephyrus Domain returned and received the repaired Clawsolas Unit 2 and Unit 5, which they and their mage partners would pilot.
  
  With this, the royal capital now had ten giant knights, including the six first-generation Clawsolas, including the modified units, the second-generation Clawsolas Belphegor and Begalta, and the soon-to-be-completed prototype domestically produced Clawsolas.
  
  ‘Even the major cities in the country only have two or three Clawsolas deployed at most, this is quite substantial.’
  
  The accompanying troops stationed in the royal capital also included 150 cavalry, 100 magic soldiers, 400 infantry, and 50 engineers. Considering the population ratio, this could be considered a large force.
  
  ‘Since part of the cavalry and infantry also serve as quartermaster, even if not all of them are combat personnel, the scale of the force that can respond immediately to unforeseen circumstances is significant.’
  
  ‘But that also means a lot of responsibility…’
  
  My stomach started to ache when I realized this again, so I was reminding myself to avoid acting arbitrarily in order to maintain my mental stability, when the mage who was walking beside me peered at me.
  
  “You look like you’re thinking hard about something. If you have any worries, I’ll listen.”
  “Thank you. If I’m really in trouble, I’ll consult with you, Revia.”
  
  “Hmm, unlike Dino, you’re so honest♪”
  
  After lightly disparaging my childhood friend, I waited for a while until she was satisfied with patting my head, as if she was a little taller than me, and then we walked together to a hut built within the castle walls.
  
  When we entered Souichirou-jii-san’s smithy, where the smell of burnt iron and the sound of hammering drifted on the wind, we found the Lunavadis siblings standing near the wall.
  
  “Oh, Claude, are you interested in sword forging too?”
  “I won’t deny it, but I’ve come to receive a progress report.”
  
  I responded to Lloyd, who waved his hand in a friendly manner, as it was an informal setting, and focused on the swordsmith who was swinging the hammer without looking away, when the sleeve of my knight uniform was gently tugged.
  
  When I turned my gaze, Eleia was standing there, looking somewhat tired.
  
  “Ugh… He’s been here ever since morning training ended.”
  “You’re not being forced to stay by his side, are you? You can do as you please.”
  
  “Ugh, but what if Kotono comes while I’m not here?”
  “Lloyd-san likes Yamato Nadeshiko, you know～”
  
  Looking at Revia, who spoke nonchalantly as if it was someone else’s business, I recalled that her brother had said that if he were to take a wife, he would prefer a graceful Yamato Nadeshiko.
  
  Based on my impression of Kotono from teaching her the common language these past few days, she seemed like a cheerful high school girl, so I felt that she was a bit outside his strike zone… but his younger sister, who sensed a crisis, seemed to be on guard.
  
  Perhaps understanding Eleia’s slightly displeased reason, Lloyd sighed as he looked at her with eyes that seemed to find the situation endearing, and I turned my gaze back to Souichirou-jii-san, who was working, as if it had nothing to do with me.