Volume 1, Chapter 13 – A Gift from the King

After leaving the Temple, I was immediately taken by force to an inn—or rather, a luxury hotel—to rest.

Of course, the room was a top-tier suite.

I had absolutely no say in the choice of lodging, though somehow I was still expected to pay for it.

Ten gold coins per night. This makes no sense.

Then, the following morning, a messenger arrived from the King, and I was promptly hauled off to see him again.

“Lady Fiene, it was good of you to come. I have heard the news. It seems your Class was indeed a Healer.”

“Yes.”

The King nodded with satisfaction and signaled to someone with a tilt of his chin.

“Umu. To celebrate Lady Fiene’s appointment as a Healer, I have prepared a celebratory gift. You should accept it.”

With that, the King’s attendant brought over a bundle of white cloth on a tray that looked expensive just by its appearance.

“Thank you very much.”

I accepted it and took a look.

It was smooth and felt wonderful to the touch.

It looked like a hooded cloak—or rather, a robe.

It was decorated with exquisite silver embroidery, and I could tell a staggering amount of Holy Mana had been poured into it.

The cuffs and edges were accented with pale red.

And on the back, the Royal Crest of this kingdom was embroidered in the same pale red.

“Umu. That will supplement your power as a Healer while simultaneously serving as proof that I, the King, have Lady Fiene under my protection. If you wear that, no strange riffraff should dare target you. Come, try it on.”

“Yes.”

There was no way I could refuse in a situation like this, so I put on the robe.

As I did, the maid sisters appeared out of nowhere to help me.

As expected of the palace maids, their movements were flawless and without waste.

A full-length mirror had even been prepared before I realized it.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I found myself staring for a moment.

Silvery-white hair that shone with a lustrous glow, skin as white as snow, and red eyes.

A cute little nose and pale red lips—all of it came together into a startlingly beautiful face.

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Even so, it didn’t give off a harsh impression at all. If anything, it looked gentle, adorable, and somehow fragile.

Furthermore, the slightly pointed ears—a characteristic of a Vampire—asserted that I was not a normal human, giving me a faintly mysterious air.

My supple body, now starting to show a bit more softness to it, was wrapped in a high-quality white robe, and adorning my chest was a silver rosary with a red gem that sparkled with elegance.

Yeah, it looks really good on me. I’m an incredible bishoujo ¹ Bishoujo (美少女, pronounced bee-show-joh), often spelled bishōjo, is a Japanese term that literally translates to “beautiful girl” or “pretty girl”. ; my appearance is a perfect match for Saint.

If this character got used for princess-play, the followers would go absolutely insane.

“Umu. It suits you well. You should go to the shops in the castle town later to arrange your other equipment. My knight, Christina!”

“Yes!”

“I have heard the details from the Pope. I hereby disband the Schwarz Subjugation Team and relieve you of your duties as Vice-Commander of the Third Knight Order Faren Region Fourth Squad.”

“Yes!”

Huh? Chris-san ended up succeeding in the subjugation, so why was she being removed from her post?

The people in the vicinity were also buzzing. I tried to raise my voice in protest, but before I could utter a word, the King issued his next command.

“Furthermore, you are transferred to the Royal Guard Special Task Force and ordered to serve as Lady Fiene’s personal guard. From this day forward, you shall be the sword and shield for Lady Fiene, protecting her heart and body.”

“Yes!”

Huh? What does that mean?

“Umu. Then, we shall now conduct the Oath Ceremony. I shall serve as the witness.”

The crowd buzzed loudly again, but the King quieted them with a single sharp glare.

The power of a king is terrifying.

Silence filled the audience chamber.

“Fiene-sama.”

Chris-san stood up and looked me straight in the eye.

Her eyes were filled with determination and kindness, and I looked back at her just as straight.

Then, Chris-san handed me her sword while it was still in its scabbard.

This was that Holy Sword-whatever-it-was that Chris-san always treasured.

Just holding it made me feel a pleasant flow of holy power.

“When I kneel, please draw my Holy Sword from its sheath and present the tip of the blade to my lips. I will recite my vows, so please say, ‘I permit it.'”

“Y-Yes.”

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Apparently, this was some kind of knighting ceremony.

Chris-san then knelt before me.

There was no way I had the guts to say “No thanks” in a place like this, so I drew the sword from its sheath as instructed and presented the tip to Chris-san’s mouth.

A great stir rose from the surroundings. I could hear voices saying things like, “Oh, surely that’s the Holy Sword…”

But the moment the King cleared his throat, the murmuring immediately died down.

“I VOW!

I, Christina!

I take Fiene Argentata as my liege!

I shall be the shield that protects your person!

I shall be the sword that strikes your enemies!

I shall be humble!

I shall be sincere!

I shall value etiquette!

Without betrayal!

Without deception!

Always kind to the weak!

Always brave against the strong!

Uphold the dignity of self and master!

And conduct myself with honor and fairness!

Here and now, I swear myself as your knight!”

Chris-san’s dignified oath echoed through the audience chamber.

I was mesmerized for a moment, but I remembered what I had been told and fulfilled my role.

“I permit it.”

With that, Chris-san pressed a kiss to the tip of the Holy Sword.

It was such a beautiful scene it looked like something straight out of a myth.

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In the next moment, the audience chamber was filled with thunderous applause.

“Fiene-sama. With this, I have become your knight. I shall accompany you wherever you go.”

Chris-san said as she looked up.

Though she wore a smile, her eyes were slightly misty.

“At last, I have been able to make my Paladin’s vow through this Holy Sword Sesrumnir. The Holy Sword is extremely picky about its wielder; it can be too heavy to hold for those it dislikes, and those with evil hearts might even be purified by its holy power on the spot.”

“Eh?”

Wait, wait. What is this muscle-brained kukkoro knight onee-san doing, suddenly handing someone such a dangerous object?

Ah, I’m not a person, I’m a Vampire, though.

“But I was certain that Sesrumnir would be delighted if it were Fiene-sama. I am truly happy to have met you, Fiene-sama, and to have become your Holy Knight!”

Chris-san wore a truly radiant smile. It was a bright, heartfelt smile without even the slightest trace of doubt.

Faced with that smile, I couldn’t find any words to say back.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Fumu. That was a magnificent oath. Holy Knight Christina, fulfill that vow to its fullest. Now then, to celebrate your—no, both of your new departures, I shall grant you a parting gift. Here, accept it.”

The attendant brought another bundle of cloth on a tray.

“I am deeply honored.”

Saying that, Chris-san accepted it. It appeared to be a cloak. It had a design similar to the robe I received. It was a matching set, complete with silver embroidery, pale red accents, and the Royal Crest embroidered across the back.

“Umu. It suits you well. Standing together like that, the two of you look like a Saint and a Holy Knight straight out of a story.”

The King laughed happily as he spoke. The people around him were nodding in agreement.

“Thank you very much. But actually, I—”

“Ah, yes. I have heard from the Pope, Lady Fiene. Think nothing of it. I knew from the start that Lady Fiene was no ordinary human. After all, your ears are slightly pointed. When I first received the report, I thought perhaps it was a mutation involving albinism.”

“Eh?”

“However, Lady Fiene does not seem bothered by the sunlight. That would mean it is not albinism. And taking the Pope’s report into account, I suspect you are a descendant of the Silver High Elves who dwell in the Far North, are you not?”

“Excuse me?”

No, no, no, no. King. You’re completely wrong. I’m literally just a regular Vampire! I just happen to get energized by the holy attribute and sunlight, that’s all!

“The Silver High Elves of the Far North are as beautiful as other Elves and have large, pointed ears. Furthermore, they have skin as white as snow, silver hair, and red eyes like yours, and I hear they excel at manipulating holy power. In other words, it makes perfect sense if we consider your power and appearance to be a genetic throwback.”

Well, you’re wrong. You’re wrong, but what should I do? The worst part was that his logic actually made weirdly good sense.

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While I was at a loss for a response with a conflicted expression, Chris-san encouraged me with a smile.

“That’s wonderful, Fiene-sama! Now we might be able to discover your roots!”

Oh, I know. I know she doesn’t mean anything bad by it. I know Chris-san is saying that because she truly believes it.

Good grief, the AnnyOn NPCs—this King, the Pope, and Chris-san—are all so human-like that I can’t believe they’re NPCs.

They were all such genuinely good people that I just couldn’t bring myself to brush them off.

“Thank you very much.”

I found myself answering naturally.

“Fumu. Then, let us pray to God that you may overcome the Trials of the Gods that shall surely be bestowed upon you from here on.”

Hmm? What does he mean?

“For these people!”

The King suddenly hit the Boon pose. He looked completely serious about it, too!

“May they have God’s Blessings!”

From there, he performed a magnificent Jumping Dogeza.

“God’s Blessings!”

Even the people around him moved in perfect unison, going from the Boon pose straight into a Jumping Dogeza.

Oh no, my abs are gonna give out! Give me a break from dropping stuff like this so suddenly!

“Our gratitude!”

Chris-san struck the Boon pose.

“Fiene-sama!”

She cautioned me in a whisper.

“G-Gratitude…”

I also took the Boon pose.

“And, God’s Blessings!”

And then straight into the Jumping Dogeza.

“B-Blessings…”