When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 65

Episode 65

About three months ago, Nicholas Crane, living in the male dormitory of the Royal Academy, received a casual letter from his father, Elliot Crane, as usual, containing mundane exchanges of daily life.

Letters from family living apart. Well, it was like the regular periodic communication every few months.

He couldn’t predict that this letter would be the last contact from his father.

His relationship with his father wasn’t particularly good, nor was it bad. He remembered admiring his father, who worked in the legion, when he was a child living in Bastiona.

During his adolescence, he often quarreled with his father, but deep down, he was prouder of his father, the legion commander, than anyone else.

At the age of 16, after enrolling in the Royal Academy in the capital and living in the dormitory, he would meet his family a few times a year during long vacations.

Every time they met, Nicholas would challenge his father to a mock battle, only to be soundly defeated. Elliot would burst into laughter at Nicholas’ complaints, despite Nicholas being one of the top fighters at the Royal Academy.

Nicholas couldn’t forget his father’s words, spoken gently with a smile, while he sulked. “Nicholas, never give up. The opportunity to win will come for sure. …And whether you’re interested in becoming a legion commander or not.”

After some thought, Elliot’s face would change from that of a father to that of a legion commander.

“Listen well, Nicholas. The legion commanders of the Tashman Kingdom never yield to anyone. We are ten legion commanders, ten swords to protect the country, and ten shields. Even in death, we will defend this country. That’s what it means to be a legion commander.”

Nicholas was overwhelmed by the tremendous spirit emanating from his father. He thought to himself, ‘Don’t exude such spirit in the backyard,’ but he couldn’t help but be moved by his father’s overwhelming coolness.

Then Elliot, returning to his usual demeanor, would chuckle and pat Nicholas’ head as he sat on the ground.

“Well, you can’t lose in mock battles like this, you know.”

“Hey, damn old man, cut it out.”

“Haha, talk big after beating me.”

Nicholas thought this kind of daily life would continue. Graduation wasn’t too far off, and he was determined to beat his father in the next vacation.

Amidst such expectations, there was a sudden fall of Bastiona. In what would later be called the Southern Great Uprising, Elliot Crane, the commander of the 9th Legion, perished.

Nicholas first heard the news during a class at the academy. He was taken to the reception room by a teacher who rushed into the classroom with a changed expression. Despite feeling puzzled, Nicholas followed with a sense of foreboding.

There were members of the 1st Legion, who were supposed to defend the capital. Why were members of the 1st Legion here? Suppressing his unpleasant premonitions and maintaining his composure, Nicholas was told the unexpected news: his father’s death. His mind went blank.

His father was dead? His father, who possessed unparalleled strength, even in the Tashman Kingdom, a land overrun by formidable beings, stood at the pinnacle of martial prowess as a legion commander. And he was one of the glorious ten legion commanders?

The days that followed were truly fleeting. His family had evacuated from Bastiona to Kohane and were confirmed to be safe. The back of Elliot Crane, whom Nicholas had chased after, was no longer there. His powerlessness, his immaturity, his incompetence—he was tormented by a jumble of emotions as an 18-year-old boy.

He vented all his uncontrollable and overwhelming emotions through training. But no matter how much he improved himself, his father, who had been both an insurmountable wall and an idol, was no longer there. However, today, in front of him—

There was a woman emitting an overwhelming aura that was no less than that of Princess René Tashman, the commander of the 7th Legion and a member of the royal family.

She was the one who inherited Elliot Crane’s will, the one who protected his ideals, and the one who moved forward with a firm resolve—Maria Valenti, the interim commander of the 9th Legion.

Nicholas, who had always chased after his father, found solace in the valiant general entrusted by him. That was Maria Valenti, the “Unyielding in Adversity.”

He wanted to know his current position. Nicholas aimed to challenge the new peak of the kingdom, to confront his weakness, and to face the insurmountable wall of his aspirations.

—

At the lecture in the grand auditorium, Maria Valenti was challenged to a mock battle by Nicholas Crane, in the last question. Today was the first time she met the boy. But—his straightforward and strong gaze closely resembled Elliot’s.

Maria recalls the time when she graduated from the Royal Academy and was assigned to the 9th Legion after a year of training. Come to think of it, she felt a similar sensation when she first saw Commander Elliot.

Elliot had truly straight eyes. Despite his age, he also had a mischievousness that didn’t suit him, and there were times when his subordinates were thrown off by that mischievousness.

As she remembered these things, Maria felt a tightness in her chest. The 9th Legion entrusted to her by Elliot. Am I behaving like a true commander now?

Beside her is Princess René Tashman, born to royalty. And there’s Erin Saylor, the princess’ dedicated knight. She too comes from a prestigious background with a shining career.

Then there’s Lilly Johnson, the princess’s childhood friend and guard. She rarely appears in public, but her overwhelming talent for defense is heard even in whispers. And she’s a true noblewoman.

Lastly, there’s Jez Norman. He still wears his official uniform and has a playful face, but he has the strength to stick to his beliefs. And his family is the Norman family.

Everyone who accompanied Maria to the Royal Academy is like a dazzling protagonist in this world.

But what about me? What do I have?

Maria Valenti thought about such things. At times like this when she felt like she was being consumed by negative thoughts, what would Elliot say?

“So what?”

Surely, that’s what he would say. Yes. I have nothing. No prestigious background, no brilliant talent.

So what? I am Maria Valenti, the commander of the 9th Legion, “Unyielding in Adversity.”

Look, Nicholas Crane’s eyes. He isn’t looking at Maria as an individual. He’s looking at the commander, the peak of martial prowess in this country.

Steel yourself, Maria. Embrace everything. I am the only one who can lead the 9th Legion. Accept the resolve of the young man and show him the way forward.

And thus, the people of the capital come to know the overwhelming radiance of the new ten legion commander, the new peak of the kingdom.