The Monastir Knights
After arriving in Monastir, we were guided to a location where we would exchange our first greetings with the Knights.
In front of the Knights' headquarters beside the royal palace of Monastir stretched a wide open field large enough to resemble a training ground.
It looked like a place used for inspections and drills.
Will the trial be held here too?
Yeah, probably.
Mm... I'm a little nervous. I wonder what the Monastir Knights are like.
If they're serving as our opponents for the competition trial, they must be incredibly strong, right?
The Western Liberators that specialize in combat against Voidborns, and the Monastir Knights that specialize in fighting monsters.
They fight different enemies, but both are known for their field experience.
Luna, your face just turned pale.
Mm... Maybe I underestimated things a little...?
Here they come.
Three members of the Monastir Knights walked toward us.
The footsteps of the one in the front felt oddly exaggerated.
Ahem! Ahem!
I-I thank you most sincerely for traveling such a great distance, Saviors of NOA.
To you all who have endured the exhaustion of the road in pursuit of a noble goal, I extend my deepest respect—
It wasn't that hard! The train ride was fun!
Ah, was it? That's really great to—
...Oops.
N-no, no! Ahem! Ahem!
Th-that truly is wonderful news!
A-As for myself...
I am Charlotte, Grand Master of the Monastir Knights!
Oooh...
...Grand Master, you're sweating a lot.
I-I'm okay! I mean, I am quite fine!
Th-this here is...
I am Carmen. I serve as Deputy Master.
Frey, Quartermaster of the Monastir Knights.
We are the Voyager Savior Party.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
Ah, yes. We are honored to welcome the brave and renowned Voyager Savior Party...
And we are privileged to stand as opponents of the Saviors who follow in the footsteps of the Star Savior.
With the determination to become... uh, a ray of blazing sunlight upon your J-Journey and... um, its progress...
A-a ray of blazing sunlight... like counting grains of sand on a beach...
Uh... I shall give it my all... to be your... your...
...Um...
Uh...
...?
C-Carmen, help me!
Oh my. Grand Master, it would be such a shame to waste all the effort you put into practicing yesterday.
Hmm. I could help you, but perhaps not here...
Quartermaster Frey? Would you demonstrate the proper greeting for us?
Thank you for traveling such a great distance, Captain, and members of the Voyager Savior Party.
Please rest well today. Tomorrow, we will face each other with our best efforts.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
W-wait. It was okay to keep it that simple?!
I mean... This is supposed to be an official diplomatic occasion...
...So I thought I should prepare something... more formal...
Haha. It has history and tradition, but it is ultimately a cooperative event meant to build goodwill.
I told her there was no need to make things complicated, but Charlotte...
...I mean, the Grand Master! Ahem. The Grand Master prepared another overly pompous speech. Again.
Ooooh... I just wanted to make a good impression...
It's okay, Grand Master Charlotte! You looked really cool!
...Up until the [blazing sunlight] part.
Ooh... I'm so sorry...
It hasn't been very long since I became Grand Master...
The dignity and authority required of a Grand Master... Charisma, weight...! And so on...
I'm still doing my best to master all that...
Uuugh... really... How did I even end up as a Grand Master in the first place...?
*Sigh* Overdoing it is a problem, but...
Charlotte—I mean, Grand Master!
Your biggest issue is that you still haven't shaken off your subordinate mindset!
!!
As Grand Master, you need to carry yourself with more confidence!
B-but I can't help it!
I'm not from a noble family unlike the previous Grand Masters. I'm just an ordinary person from an ordinary background...
I spent longer as the youngest member than anyone else!
I'm still more used to receiving orders than giving them— Mmph!
Now, now. Let's leave private matters like that for another time.
*...Sigh* We've shown quite an embarrassing sight to the guests who came all this way to meet us.
On behalf of the Knights, I offer my apologies.
Uh, s-sure...
Hmm. Let's leave that topic there for now. First, please accept these.
The Quartermaster handed each of us several sheets of paper filled with writing.
What's this?
Should you suffer any injuries due to accidents or similar circumstances during the trial...
...Wait, is this a liability waiver?
No. It's for claiming medical compensation...
In other words, an [insurance agreement form]!
A-an insurance agreement form...?
I quickly read through the documents.
In short, they guaranteed partial coverage for injuries due to [accidents during the competition trial].
The problem was what came afterward...
Wait. Why is the monthly payment so expensive?!
Compared to that, the coverage amount is tiny!
If you enroll with a fifty-year plan, you get your paid premiums back with interest!
It's an incredible opportunity!
So if I sign up, I have to keep up payments for fifty years...?
...Is the coverage even reliable?
Of course it is!
...Though, of course, no one can predict what might happen over fifty years.
Ah, and if you miss even one payment during that time, you won't get a single coin back.
But most importantly, if you enroll...
The monthly premiums you pay will [go directly into the Monastir Knights' operating funds]!
That's a scam!!
A scam?! It's an investment for the future!
The [Frey Peace-of-Mind Coverage Plan] benefits you more the earlier you enroll—Mmph!
Mmph mmph!
...My apologies. It seems our Quartermaster has started another strange business venture.
If the Quartermaster tries to sell you something else later, or invites you to participate in a business opportunity...
...Please feel free to reject her outright.
Mghff!!
...O-okay...
The Grand Master still hadn't recovered from her embarrassment, while the Deputy Master kept her hand over the violently struggling Quartermaster's mouth.
It was a very different first meeting from what I had expected, but it helped ease the tension that had been hanging in the air.
As you can see, we may lack a bit of dignity overall... But we all take great pride in our skills.
Isn't that right, Grand Master Charlotte?
O-of course! Tomorrow, we will show you what the Monastir Knights are truly capable of!
We will face you with everything we have.
Yeah. Same here!
After getting some rest as we unpacked our things in the guest rooms, we were told that dinner was ready.
When we headed to the large dining hall, a table had already been prepared for us with a delicious-looking meal.
Heh heh... Time to dig in!
...Wow. This is delicious!
The dishes and cooking methods don't seem that different from NOA's. Why does it taste so good?
Ingredients from Monastir are known for their high quality.
Hmm. Maybe things grown in cooler regions taste better?
Omega can't use her strength when she's hungry...
So Omega is gonna eat enough for tomorrow too!
Maybe it was because of the delicious food, or maybe our first meeting had been much more relaxed than expected.
Rather than worrying about tomorrow's trial, we had a cheerful dinner filled with noise and laughter.
The last trial involved breaking a curse, and people were in danger of getting injured!
Compared to that, this trial just requires us to do our best in combat. It feels a lot less stressful.
Yeah. The Knights seem like good people too.
Honestly, I'm so relaxed it almost feels wrong.
Luna consistently lacks a sense of tension.
Hypothesis: abnormal dopamine receptor function in the nervous system.
H-hey. Don't make up weird diagnoses and act like I'm broken or something!
...It does sound plausible.
More than that, maybe it's because we're finally starting to feel like a proper Savior Party thanks to the Captain's leadership.
Honestly, when we first met... We were kind of a mess, weren't we?
But since the last trial, it feels like we're gradually working better together.
I honestly feel a bit more confident now.
We'll do well tomorrow too. Right?
Ahaha. Of course!
...Hmm?
...H-huh?
Luna? What's wrong?
...Nothing.
...It's not like I actually saw the future just now...
So it's probably just my imagination...
But I felt this slightly unsettling [premonition]... or something like that...
...Luna? Are you okay?
! Wait... Did the ground just shake?
...Vibration detected from a short distance away.
This pattern... is unusual.
W-what is it?
A commotion broke out in the corridor outside the dining hall.
As we opened the door and stepped outside, the Monastir Knights were running urgently somewhere down the hallway.
What's going on?
V-Voidborns... A large number of them have appeared right in front of the royal palace!
All defensive personnel, emergency mobilization!
What...?!