I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 128

#The Greatest Knight – 2

“Captain Chris, it’s been reported that the two kingdoms have declared their surrender!”

Helen, who had finally brought that news with her bright smile, approached me while I was sitting in the tent.

At the news, everyone with me stood up in cheers.

“Ah, I’m exhausted, so exhausted.”

I let out a quiet sigh, relaxing my tense shoulders.

“Finally, I can go home.”

The war that had lasted six months had finally come to an end.

Elam and Casteet had declared war in a surprise attack during the early dawn.

Despite having a common enemy like magical beasts, I still don’t understand why they declared war on the Empire.

Of course, this is just from my modern perspective.

According to Leon, they moved for their own interests before the chaos sown by Avatarara could be fully resolved.

The two had already bared their teeth at the Empire before.

In simple terms, it was a preemptive strike before getting attacked.

Well, I’d say such foolish actions only ended up causing more damage.

As a result, the two kingdoms came under the Empire and became duchies instead of kingdoms, and now they were required to pay tributes to the Empire every month, not to mention they could not have military forces exceeding a certain level.

“Ultimately, the one who gained the most is the Sumel Kingdom.”

“That’s true.”

The Sumel Kingdom had supported the Empire in this war as if it were only natural, and as a token of gratitude, the Empire decided to send a portion of the tributes from Elam and Casteet to the Sumel Kingdom.

Seems like navigating the social ladder is the same in this world too.

“Aike, are you thinking about returning to your territory now?”

At Captain Chris’s words, I nodded.

“Of course. I haven’t seen my family’s faces in six months. I’m dying of loneliness.”

“You probably won’t see them for a while again.”

“This was an exceptional situation, after all.”

No matter how much I belong to the Central Knight Order, as a holder of the title of Duke, I should prioritize managing my territory, so I don’t usually follow the Knight Order’s schedule.

If just one of the two kingdoms had declared war, I would still be in Sirdo.

“Well, I do visit Orkeon about once every two months, so I suppose it’s not too concerning.”

“True, but…”

I was filled only with the desire to see Reina, Frey, and Edel as soon as possible.

Even if our side had little to no casualties, it was still a war.

In six months, I had never once had the luxury to let my guard down and close my eyes.

The sensation of my mental state deteriorating in real time was unbearable to express in words.

Someone might laugh if I say this, but what I need most right now is the warmth of family.

And then…

“Well, I won’t stop you from returning to Sirdo, but could you perhaps stop by Orkeon for a moment?”

Apologetically interfering with my dream, Captain Chris said with an awkward smile.

“…Understood.”

Though I wanted to refuse outright, I couldn’t help but nod since he was technically my superior in the Central Knight Order.

Moreover, Captain Chris was around the age of my uncle, so it felt wrong to refuse.

And then I said.

“Aike, you’ll be the next Captain of the Central Knight Order.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m reaching the age where I should consider retiring soon.”

I’ll seriously come to regret heading to Orkeon with Captain Chris.

★

“Ah, Aike. You said you would return to Sirdo today, right?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

The place I was sitting with Leon was the Reception Room inside the Audience Room.

And I was currently playing chess with him.

As expected, the situation was the worst.

How could I possibly win against the empire’s greatest genius at a brain game?

In fact, Leon could easily end the game if he wanted to, but he was simply keeping me around under the pretense of wanting to talk a bit more.

“Still not used to being addressed that way. How about you just call me Your Highness like before?”

“What kind of blasphemy are you trying to pin on me?”

At my scoff, Leon covered his mouth and burst into laughter.

Even as the Emperor of Astria, he hasn’t changed his playful side.

“Should I join you in Sirdo for a while?”

“That’s a rather dull joke.”

“I was somewhat serious! Sophia mentioned how she misses Frey and Edel.”

“I’d welcome you if you formally followed the proper procedures to come.”

“Then it would be difficult to stay comfortably as friends.”

Well, that is true.

But it’s simply unreasonable to take Leon to Sirdo without any protocols.

He is the legitimate Emperor of the Astria Empire right now.

Sadly, if you have that kind of privilege, then you also have obligations.

“Well, it can’t be helped. Let’s meet again in two months, then.”

At those words, Leon moved his bishop, delivering a checkmate.

It was my complete defeat.

“Yes. Then I shall take my leave, Your Majesty.”

I stood and offered my respect as a subordinate before quietly exiting the Reception Room.

“Ah, Aike.”

As I was exiting the palace, I locked eyes with Sophia in the corridor.

“Your Majesty.”

I naturally bowed slightly to offer respect like before.

“As I mentioned last time, please call me Duke Aike when addressing me…”

If Sophia, in her position as Empress, uses such honorifics, it could lead to complications.

Especially in the social world.

Of course, Sophia’s approachability was undoubtedly a virtue.

In fact, Sophia’s popularity among people was arguably higher than Leon’s.

To everyone, she was the kind and benevolent Empress hailing from a saintess.

“Hehe, I’m sorry. It’s still not something I’m used to. It would be easier if you just called me Miss Sophia again like before.”

…It’s fortunate that there’s only me and Clarisse, Sophia’s personal maid, in this corridor.

Seeing Clarisse sigh and shake her head, it might not be quite as fortunate after all.

Well, it’s not that Sophia has any serious disqualifications.

In fact, the only ones who often use such honorifics are those who went through Arcana together like me, Reina, Helen, and Atal.

I’ve heard that she fully adheres to court etiquette in front of others.

Aside from occasional slips like this, she was undoubtedly the recognized Empress of the Astria Empire among everyone.

“By the way, today is the day you return to Sirdo, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I would love to go after a long time as well. It’s been quite a while since I last saw Edel and Frey.”

I was surprised to hear what Leon had mentioned earlier being brought up by Sophia.

“…If you follow the proper procedures next time, I’ll welcome you grandly.”

“Fufu. I’ll have to set up a date as soon as possible.”

“But for now, please refrain. Didn’t Atal tell you that you should avoid taking the carriage as much as possible?”

“Hehe, that’s true.”

Sophia smiled happily and patted her belly.

Her stomach was noticeable enough for anyone to see.

It was the first fruit of love she bore with Leon.

“Then I shall take my leave first, Your Majesty. Wishing you a peaceful day.”

“Yes. Then I will see you in two months, Aike.”

Haa…

The last sigh wasn’t from me but from Clarisse, Sophia’s personal maid.

I’ve already been appointed as Captain of the Central Knight Order for two years.

Of course, I protested to Captain Chris that this absolutely could not happen when I first received the position.

However, since the appointment of the Central Knight Order Commander was conducted on an arbitrary basis, I had no choice but to accept the reality.

So can’t I simply pass it on to someone else and run away?

To prevent that, it seems Captain Chris teamed up with Leon to establish a rule that I must remain as Commander of the Central Knight Order for at least five years.

…What is this?

Of course, I was given a fair amount of consideration.

During regular times, I was allowed to handle all duties in my territory of Sirdo, and I only had to visit Orkeon once every two months for a week.

But if I wasn’t the Central Knight Order Commander in the first place, this wouldn’t even be necessary.

I used to visit for only two days every two months.

It takes eight days to round-trip from Sirdo to Orkeon.

Even if I stayed for two days, that’s ten days; and if I stayed for a week, that’s fifteen days.

In reality, I would be apart from my family for two weeks.

How painfully sad that reality is.

To make matters worse, while I’m gone, Reina has to manage the territory, making it nearly impossible to come to Orkeon with her.

And is my reputation even good?

Naturally, it is not.

Right now, my nickname is the weakest Commander in history.

A name that is factual, so I cannot argue against it.

Though the position of Commander of the Central Knight Order is not solely based on strength, hearing such remarks makes me wonder what I’m even doing here.

“Sigh…”

A sigh naturally escapes me.

I miss Reina.

★

The dim room was illuminated by a single thin candle.

“And so, the knight and the princess lived happily ever after.”

As Reina whispered the conclusion of the fairy tale into Frey’s and Edel’s ears from the bed, their eyes sparkled, and they clapped their tiny hands.

“Mommy, Mommy! I want to be a cool knight like that too!”

The one who spoke was Edel, a boy with short platinum hair waving it around and sparkling blue eyes.

“I-I want to be a princess!”

The one saying this was Frey, a girl with long auburn hair hiding her blush as she rolled her violet eyes here and there.

“Then I’ll save you, Princess Frey!”

“…Okay. I’ll be waiting, big brother.”

Watching the two who seemed blissful, Reina gently ruffled their hair.

The twins, who recently turned six, always brought a smile to Reina’s face with their affectionate bond.

“Ah, but I have a question, Mommy.”

“What is it, Edel?”

Unsure if it was alright to ask, Edel hesitated, then slowly opened his mouth.

“Y-You said Daddy is the Central Knight Order Commander, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Doesn’t that mean Daddy is the strongest knight?”

At Edel’s question, Reina nodded as if she understood what he meant.

Edel adored Aike and dreamed of becoming a knight, so in his heart, the strongest knight would naturally be Aike.

“May I ask why you’re curious about that?”

“Recently, Uncle Andrew told me. He said Daddy is the weakest Commander in history.”

Upon hearing that, Reina silently bit her lip.

Of course, her face remained in a smiling expression.

She couldn’t show any anger in front of the children.

“That’s just what your uncle…”

“Wait, big brother. Uncle Andrew said even more after that.”

Cutting off Reina’s attempts to preserve Edel’s dreams was Frey.

“People might say such things about our Daddy, but the best knight in our family is our Daddy.”

“…What does that mean, Frey?”

“Yesterday, big brother asked Uncle Andrew who the strongest knight in the Empire is. Uncle Andrew said Grandpa Ados is the strongest knight!”

Hearing just that, Reina could roughly guess what happened yesterday.

“So big brother asked Uncle about Dad, and Uncle Andrew said sadly that Dad is evaluated as the weakest Commander in history.”

At Frey’s words, Edel nodded vigorously.

Then he looked at Reina as if it was impossible.

While gently ruffling Edel’s hair again, Reina spoke.

“Perhaps that’s not entirely untrue.”

“But Mommy, doesn’t being the best mean being the strongest? If Uncle Andrew is right, then that means Daddy is the best and therefore the strongest.”

At Edel’s words, Reina quietly recalled her memories with Aike.

Aike was a coward who cried a lot.

Even when giving birth to Edel and Frey, he showed even more fear and cried more than them.

Seeing him with a stiff expression, shedding a flood of tears, both Anna and Noelle had been taken aback.

Aike was no stronger than anyone in the Central Knight Order.

I’ve heard that from ten duels against the deputy commander Helen, he’d lose nine times and only barely tie once.

Aike’s diligence was surprisingly lacking.

While he practices his body every day without fail, whenever it comes to duties as Duke or Commander of the Central Knight Order, he often says he wants to rest soon.

Indeed, Aike lacks in many areas to be called the strongest knight.

‘…But.’

Aike never turns his back on his own weakness.

He would give everything to help his precious ones.

Though he says it’s bothersome, he knows his duties well and acts accordingly.

The number of people Aike has helped, aside from Reina and Arcana friends, is countless.

That’s why Reina loves him.

This feeling has grown stronger every day, even at this very moment.

Aike is undoubtedly Reina’s best husband and…

“Mommy, am I misunderstanding something?”

Edel’s uncertain voice brought Reina out from her deep thoughts.

Coming back to herself, Reina quietly hugged Edel and smiled.

“Edel, the best and the strongest are different.”

“…Does that mean the strongest is cooler?”

Edel asked, pondering if Aike is the best yet not the strongest.

Reina shook her head.

“I at least think the best is much cooler and greater.”

“Then who do you think the best knight is…?”

“Of course, it’s your father, who is my husband, Aike Sirid!”

That was a truth Reina’s heart will never change.

“Wow…”

Edel and Frey looked up at Reina with shining eyes at her declaration.

“Then is Daddy greater than His Majesty Leon?! Daddy told me His Majesty is the greatest person in the Empire’s history!”

“Pfft!”

At that question, which she had previously heard from Aike, Reina couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Mommy?”

“Of course. Daddy has even beaten His Majesty in a duel as a knight!”

“Wow! Then I want to be the best knight too!”

“You can definitely become the best knight, Edel.”

“Then I’ll be the best princess saved by my best knight brother!”

Once again, Frey and Edel held hands and laughed together.

Reina smiled gently as she embraced both of them.

“Then let’s slowly move on to the next fairy tale…”

“Madam.”

Outside the room, Andrew, the butler working for the Sirdo family, interrupted Reina’s words.

“Master has arrived.”

“Oh, is that so? Edel, Frey, let’s go welcome Daddy.”

“Yes!”

At Reina’s words, Edel and Frey immediately jumped up from the bed and ran toward the door.

And to Andrew, who watched with warm eyes, she said.

“Senior? May I have a moment to talk to you later?”

Reina declared coldly.

As Andrew turned his head with a sound like a rusty machine, Reina stood there, giving him a cold gaze that was icier than ice.

Andrew understood.

When Reina calls him “senior,” it means she’s truly upset if it’s not in jest.

And that Reina never picks trivial fights.

“I-I did something wrong…?”

“For today, it’s fine to take a break.”

“Th-th-that…”

“Michelle and Tiana are waiting for you, right? Go on ahead and rest. I have a lot I want to talk to my husband as well.”

“W-w-w-what…?”

“…I’m letting you off because you called Aike the best knight.”

“Eh?!”

Unable to comprehend the last statement, Andrew cried out in despair as Reina stepped outside.

To welcome her husband, her best husband, Aike, who is also the best knight.

“Daddy is the best!”

“The best is the best!”

“I’ll be the best too!”

“Me too!”

By the gate of the main house, Edel and Frey clung to Aike’s legs, sparkling as they looked up at him.

Hearing their strange statements, Aike tilted his head with a stiff expression.

And at that sight, Reina smiled as she welcomed Aike.

★

This is strange.

“Daddy is the best!”

“The best is the best!”

Frey and Edel were hanging onto my legs, talking about something odd.

“I’ll be the best too!”

“Me too!”

Well, having a family that welcomes me like this is nice.

It seems to be something said in good faith.

“…You’ve come?”

Then, Reina approached me with a gentle smile.

“I’m back. I want to stop being this Central Knight Order Commander or whatever soon.”

“No! Daddy is the best!”

“Right! The best is the best!”

What does it even mean for the best to be the best, Frey?

As I pondered this question, Reina burst into a delightful giggle.

…Well, since it’s cute, that’s fine!

“I’m back.”

I said that while opening my arms towards Reina.

She naturally stepped closer, wrapping her arms around my waist, and I gently embraced her back.

“I love you, Reina.”

“I love you too, Aike.”

A heartfelt expression of affection that has become a daily routine.

And then, breaking this moment was…

“If Daddy is the best knight, then Mommy is the best mother?”

“Isn’t it?”

“Then it’s the best being the best!”

“Indeed it is!”

Edel and Frey were still talking strangely.

Well, since it’s cute, that’s okay.

★

Who is the strongest ‘knight’ in history?

If one were to ask that question, there would likely be a myriad of answers.

Some would name ‘Arthur Akses,’ the founder of the Akses household.

Others might say ‘Roar Tonel,’ the 9th Commander of the Central Knight Order.

And still, some would claim ‘Dait Rosen,’ the knight who participated most in A-Class Magical Beast hunts.

However, the vast majority would likely answer with this:

‘Ados Aakses,’ the former head of the Akses family, is the mightiest knight.

Upon hearing that answer, someone might ask if the current Commander of the Central Knight Order could reach that level.

At that question, everyone laughed.

Even the knights currently affiliated with the Central Knight Order could hardly suppress their laughter.

And someone, still grinning, replied, “That person will probably go down in history as the weakest Commander.”

And that knight, still smiling, added a moment later,

“Still, I consider it an honor to be able to stand with him.”

#Epilogue

“…Well, is this enough?”

Aike let out a quiet sigh and turned his back.

Nothingness – a space that was nothing but pure white.

Aike gazed at it and continued speaking.

“It seems everything has come to an end.”

“Are you sufficiently satisfied?”

With that declaration, a voice echoed through the white space.

It was Eos, the god who had granted ‘Aike Akses’ his wish.

“Yes, I’m satisfied. They should be able to live happily from now on.”

A weak smile adorned Aike’s lips as he spoke.

“Very well. Then I shall offer you a choice.”

With those words, two cracks appeared in the pure white space.

“…Huh?”

Taken aback by the unexpected statement, Aike furrowed his brow.

Wasn’t this contract made in exchange for his life?

“The first choice is to be reborn as a new life in the Astria Empire.”

But Eos continued speaking casually, as if disregarding Aike’s confusion.

“The second choice is to live in the world where ‘he’ existed.”

“…What are the conditions?”

When I first made this contract, Eos had clearly said,

“Offering your fate to the god means you forsake even reincarnation.”

So what on earth does this choice mean?

“If you choose the first, you will live happily. You may even gain various fortunes.”

“….”

“If you choose the second, you will have nothing. It doesn’t mean you will live unhappily; however, it will be harder to live abundantly compared to the first. Instead, all your memories will remain.”

At Eos’s words, Aike was momentarily rendered speechless.

“Not necessarily will I ask for something in return. While the story of those two was interesting, I also found your story to be very enjoyable. So this is an opportunity I’m granting you as a god.”

“Is that so?”

Saying that, Aike briefly looked down, smiled, and then raised his head, extending his finger.

“What I wish to choose is…”

Reincarnated as the Antagonist’s Childhood Friend. Extra Finished.