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Chapter 74. Vice-Captain Of The Magic Knight Order

"Sigh... When I think about what's coming up, I can't really enjoy the Founding Festival seriously."

"Can't you relax a little? You'll find out if your plan worked out this afternoon, right?"

"...Why are you here?"

As I was lazily watching the match from the spectator seats, Princess Elissa, who should have been in the royal box, came and sat next to me. I thought she would be in the royal box wearing a dress, but for some reason, she was still wearing the uniform of Chronos Magic Knight Academy as usual.

"Well, I'm participating too, so of course I'm here."

"You're participating!? A royal!?"

Isn't that contradictory?

"My father opposed it, of course, but since I've produced results as a Magic Knight, I can't exactly refuse to participate, can I? Plus, my rank is quite high."

"Well, that's true, but... wow..."

Is it really okay for royalty to participate in a festival that's supposed to be for the royalty? I mean, since she's attending Chronos Magic Knight Academy, I guess it's fine, but... doesn't it feel off?

"Phew... Elissa-sama, Theodore, are you enjoying yourselves?"

"No, your match wasn't enjoyable at all."

"Oh... sorry about that."

"I knew how it would end from the start."

Jeremiah, who had been fighting in the arena just now, came over with a smile... but his match was so one-sided and boring that I ended up watching it with a yawn halfway through. I mean, Jeremiah... you're probably stronger than most Magic Knights out there. I can't enjoy watching a match where I already know who's going to win from the start.

"Theo!"

"Hm?"

There aren't many people who call me Theo... in fact, in the academy, only Nina calls me that... but the voice just now wasn't a woman's. But who would be calling me Theo, and who might have come to see the Founding Festival? I could only think of one person.

"Theo! I knew you'd come to see the Founding Festival! As expected of my son!"

"...Well, it's only natural I'd come since it's being held at Chronos Magic Knight Academy, Dad."

The man calling me Theo and related to the Magic Knights... that would be my father.

"Theodore's... father?"

At my word "Dad.", Princess Elissa and Jeremiah immediately turned their gazes toward him. Even Ivy, who had been hiding in the shadows, and Liester-san, who was sitting a few seats above, also came over.

My dad, who approached while waving cheerfully at me, noticed Ivy standing beside me and smiled slyly, then froze when he saw Princess Elissa, Jeremiah, and Liester-san.

"...Theo?"

"Uh... my classmates, and... examiners?"

He asked me for an explanation with a stiff face, but it seemed he recognized the other three besides Ivy.

"...Vice-Captain, Misla?"

"Uh... I’m off duty right now, so could you not call me that..."

Vice-Captain Misla??? Did Liester-san just call him Vice-Captain?

"...I thought you were just some low-ranking soldier, Dad."

"What!? You didn’t even know what your own father does!?"

"Nope."

Because he's always saying things like, "I’m just a low-level grunt running around the kingdom, doing whatever my superiors demand... The pay’s good, but I wish they'd ease up on the impossible tasks." I thought he was just a squad leader or middle manager at best... but turns out he's in a much higher position than I thought.

"Vice-Captain Misla... isn't he the one who turned down a noble title because he values his family?"

"That's right. My father was deeply disappointed about it."

"Wow... that's impressive, Dad. You're pretty cool."

"Complicated! I’m feeling really conflicted this is the first time my son’s called me cool!"

No, really, I think it's amazing. Being a Vice-Captain means he's ranked higher than the Division Commanders... which means he's incredibly important. He says he turned down the title for the family’s sake, but basically, he didn’t want to deal with the hassle of a noble title, right? Well... Mom always said she enjoyed farming and that living lavishly with money didn’t suit her personality.

"Could Mom be some noble lady from somewhere?"

"No, she’s a farmer."

"Yeah... that makes sense."

That toughness... she’s definitely a farmer.

"...Still, I’m surprised. Theodore kept saying he was just a commoner, so I believed him... I never imagined his father was Vice-Captain Misla Flugels."

"Flugels?"

"Well... it's the name he used before he married Mom, I guess?"

I see.

"You don’t seem interested at all... Are you sure he's really your father?"

"Yes, he's the one who’s been sparring with me in one-handed swordsmanship at home."

"Hm, so my son secretly has ties to royalty and a duke’s family... frightening!"

You're noisy.

"The strength to slay a dragon alone... I guess that’s something you inherited from your father. The Vice-Captain and I have crossed swords many times."

"Really, Liester-san? Well, Dad’s at fault for lying about being a low-ranking soldier."

"Sorry!"

If he’d just told me he was the Vice-Captain of the Magic Knight Order, I might have respected him a bit more... But no, I guess the only times he came home to our house in the countryside were during his real vacations. I suppose letting him be a sloppy dad at home is the kind thing to do.

"Why are you looking at your son with such gentle eyes... This can’t be good."

It’s nothing... I’m just thinking I’ll be a bit kinder from now on.

"Nice to meet you, I’m Jeremiah Frisberg. Theodore and I... we’re close as rivals and irreplaceable friends."

"Rivals, maybe, but I don’t recall becoming such a good friend."

"As for me, I’m more like a rival and... lover!"

"I don’t recall becoming lovers either."

"Your best friend is a future duke!? Your girlfriend is the second princess!? And you casually mentioned slaying a dragon alone!?"

Wow... there’s a lot to be surprised about.

"What’s so surprising? Vice-Captain, didn’t you also slay a dragon alone during your student days?"

"Well, that was a special case... you know..."

"It’s the same thing."

With Liester-san around, all sorts of information about my dad is coming out.

Still... my dad was really that amazing. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this surprised... or rather, it’s slowly sinking in.

"Hmm... No wonder nothing came up when I looked into the name Anthem."

"What did you say?"

Looked into? Ivy, did you say you were investigating me?