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 166

Episode 166

Two full days had passed since the appearance of the large aquatic monster off the coast of Capricia. The Queen Amentis III remained docked at the Capricia pier, and all involved parties were overwhelmed with post-battle tasks. While performing basic maintenance on the hydrofoils and military magic engines that had been heavily used during the battle, the crew was also tidying up the ship. It had been left in chaos after the sudden and intense combat operations.

Governor William Saylor of Zelinia was busy with the aftermath, coordinating with representatives from the Kingdom of Garanhorn and the Tashman Kingdom. Meanwhile, the Supreme Commander of the Salal River Navy, Katarina Saylor, was still hospitalized. She was still recovering from injuries sustained when she was captured by the large monster. Katarina herself insisted she could move and wanted to return to the field to take command, but William embraced her tightly with a serious expression and pleaded, “Please, just stay still and rest.” Reluctantly, she agreed to remain calm for now.

Erin was also staying at the hospital to watch over her mother. As a result, she was temporarily acting separately from Jez and the others. Victor and Miriam had joined forces with members of the Academy dispatched from the Tashman Kingdom, assisting with the investigation of the large aquatic monster’s corpse and the surrounding water quality.

With nothing pressing to do, Jez found himself wandering through the streets of Capricia with Seraphina. After undergoing a brief questioning, their involvement in the incident was over. Since they had no other plans, they decided to explore the city.

“You know, it’s kind of rare for us to be walking together like this.” 

“Now that you mention it, you’re right. You usually run off somewhere with Erin.”

“There you go again with that kind of talk,” 

Jez replied with a hint of exasperation.

As they walked through the city, making light conversation, Serafina was seemingly in a good mood and began humming a tune. Suddenly, without warning, she hooked her arm around Jez’s.

“…Hey.”

“Yes?” 

Serafina responded, feigning innocence as she skillfully maintained her grip despite Jez’s gentle attempts to free his arm. For a while, they continued their quiet, playful struggle as they walked through the bustling streets.

Finally, Jez gave up and relaxed his arm, asking, 

“Um, Serafina? What’s the deal with your arm?”

Sensing Jez’s resignation, Serafina’s mischievous expression shifted to one of genuine happiness. She replied cheerfully, 

“Now, now, Jez-kun, shouldn’t you know better? Where are we?”

“…Capricia, right?” 

“Exactly. And are we in the Tashman Kingdom?”

“…No, we’re in the Kingdom of Garanhorn.”

“Correct. So, we’re in a foreign city, and there are a lot of people around, aren’t there?”

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“Then wouldn’t it be a problem if we got separated?”

“…It would be.”

“That’s right, Jez-kun. So, let me ask you again: What should a gentleman do for a lady in such situations?”

With a small sigh, Jez looked at the unusually cheerful Seraphina. Relenting, he gently untangled her arm from his. And with a flourish he took her hand in his and offered a knightly bow.

“My lady, would you allow me to guide you through this city?”

Serafina, clearly delighted by Jez’s chivalrous gesture, lightly squeezed his hand and gracefully replied, 

“Of course, I’d be honored.”

And so, the two of them strolled through the streets of Capricia hand in hand, enjoying their time together.

・　・　・

That day, both Seraphina and Jez were dressed unusually in casual attire. At school, they typically wore their student uniforms, and Seraphina often dressed as a nun outside of school. But today, she wore an outfit more befitting an ordinary town girl. Wearing the Royal Academy’s uniform or her nun’s habit would have drawn too much attention, so they chose to wear simple clothes for safety. After all, there was no reason to stand out unnecessarily in a foreign land.

As they walked hand in hand, they gave off the impression of a wealthy merchant’s children out on a date, blending seamlessly into the crowd.

Jez and Seraphina had lunch at a famous seafood pasta restaurant they had heard about from someone familiar with Garanhorn. The pasta, made with fresh seafood that was difficult to come by in the landlocked Tashman Kingdom, was a rare treat, and they savored every bite.

Afterward, they enjoyed a leisurely coffee and went window shopping. Serafina, who rarely had the chance to wear casual clothes, seemed to be quite interested in fashion. Jez found her youthful curiosity charming and happily accompanied her as she tried on various outfits. Despite the unspoken pressure from Serafina to compliment her more, Jez handled it with grace, much to her satisfaction.

The two then toured various Capricia landmarks, including historic sites, art museums, and an aquarium. From any angle, they looked like students on a weekend date. However, as the fun day was coming to a close and the sun was beginning to set, they decided to head to a hilltop park to watch the sunset.

But then—

“…Seraphina, have you noticed?” 

Jez whispered to her as he pulled her close, still holding her hand. Startled by Jez’s sudden movement, Serafina blushed slightly. But she quickly regained her composure when she understood his words.

“…Yeah, we’re being followed. Think they’re here for me?” 

Seraphina replied with a wry smile, slightly annoyed by the unwelcome intrusion that was ruining their pleasant day.

“Let’s lose them all at once,” 

Jez said suddenly, taking off with a quick “Let’s go!” while pulling Serafina along.

“Don’t let go of my hand!” 

He shouted. Serafina tightened her grip on his hand. Once Jez was sure of her hold, he activated his body-enhancement magic and bolted forward. Serafina, not wanting to lag behind, quickly activated her own magic and matched his pace.

“Well, this isn’t so bad, I suppose,” Serafina thought to herself. Here she was in a tourist city on a summer vacation, being chased by mysterious pursuers, running hand in hand with a boy she was close to. It was like something out of a romantic novel. For a moment, she found herself forgetting the danger, feeling unexpectedly exhilarated by the situation. 

Jez, not catching her quiet musings, asked, 

“What was that?”

Serafina, smiling broadly, squeezed his hand back and shouted, 

“It’s nothing! Come on, let’s hurry and escape!” 

With a beaming smile, she dashed through the streets alongside Jez, both of them racing together through the vibrant city.