Status Window Chapter 24 : Vocational Experience at the Knight Order (5)

24. Vocational Experience at the Knight Order (5)

After that, Celis-san guided me through the special district. The knights' training grounds, the meeting rooms for devising strategies, and the equipment storehouses filled with various weapons and armor.

They were all things you wouldn't see in ordinary life, so it was very fun.

Speaking of fun, it was also fun listening to Celis-san talk about various things. The mindset required of a knight, the procedures needed to become a knight, the exams required, and so on. Her ulterior motive to drag me into becoming a knight was obvious.

Even so, there was no unpleasant pressure. Since I knew Celis-san was speaking out of genuine care for me, I could listen comfortably.

Thanks to that, my interest in knights, which was only slight at first, began to well up. It's surprising to have such a change of heart in a single day. This must also be because I met Celis-san.

When a mischievous thought sprouted and I opened the Window to hear her inner voice, there was no difference between what Celis-san said and what she thought. Being so devoid of duplicity reminded me of Lumel.

Thanks to that, I was able to finish the vocational experience at the Knight Order feeling good.

***

"How was the knight workplace? I wonder if it was a time where you could envision your future selves. I would be happy if today's experience lit even a small light for your futures."

Once the interaction at the training grounds concluded, the Captain addressed everyone at the end. In the air lingering with the scent of sweat and earth, the boys listened to the Captain's words, looking reluctant to leave but somewhat proud.

Perhaps because they had been surrounded by the knights they admired until just moments ago, their eyes were still sparkling.

"So—vocational experience is a one-time thing. Once today is over, you will no longer be able to enter here."

With that single statement, the expressions of the children, which had been shining so brightly, deflated all at once. Some slumped their shoulders and looked around the training grounds regretfully.

However, as if to brush away that atmosphere, the Captain relaxed his mouth.

"...is what you thought, right? But rest assured. To support future knights, we will specially allow only the children who came here today to freely enter and leave this special district."

"Eh... really!?"

"We can come again!?"

The sunken mood burst in an instant, and this time cheers echoed through the training grounds. Some kids were even jumping around in surprise and joy.

The Captain nodded lightly and continued.

"The knights who were in charge of you today will become your respective guardians. When you want to come here, you should visit that knight. And we will present you with a special medal that allows entry into the special district."

When the Captain gave instructions, the knights moved all at once. When Celis-san came in front of me, she handed me a medal with a string attached.

"This is a visitation pass for me. If Rio wants to see me, show this medal at the reception. If you do, you can definitely meet me anytime."

With a calm voice, Celis-san gently knelt before me. Then, slowly, as if handling a precious treasure, she placed the medal around my neck.

The moment the cold metal made a small sound on my collarbone, a warmth spread deep in my chest as if a light had been lit.

"I can... meet you again, right? Really?"

"Of course. Rather, I feel like I'll be counting the days until I can see Rio again."

My heart leaped at the straightforward reply. Celis-san's eyes, having quietly put away their usual sharpness, were surprisingly soft.

Her large hand, hesitantly but surely, touched my shoulder. It was warm and reassuring, making my spine shiver involuntarily.

"Besides, when I have time... I intend to go see you myself. Because there are still things I want to tell Rio."

"Eh? ...Yes! I'm... really looking forward to it!"

My cheeks grew hot as soon as I said it. But Celis-san smiled as if accepting me just as I was.

"Fufu. It reassures me to hear you say that. Well then, Rio. Let's meet again."

Saying that, Celis-san's hand reached out softly. Her large, warm, and above all gentle hand slowly patted my head.

All the tension and joy of the day seemed to unravel with that patting. A warmth like light spread to fill my chest.

...But just the sense of her fingertips leaving made my chest tighten.

I wanted to talk more. I wanted to be next to her more.

But we can meet again. That certain promise left a small yet big courage in my heart as I watched her receding back.

I can't wait for the day we meet next. That feeling was sprouting strongly in my chest.

***

"The vocational experience at the Knight Order was fun."

Even after returning to my room, I couldn't forget the vocational experience at the Knight Order, grinning every time I recalled it.

"I'm curious about adventurers, and I'm curious about knights too. For now, if I experience being an adventurer at the next vocational experience, maybe I'll understand something?"

On the next school day, I'm scheduled to go to one more place for vocational experience. If I go to a facility related to adventurers there, my heart might change. I'm looking forward to that time.

"...That's right! I didn't look at the Window!"

I realized I hadn't looked at the Window because I was absorbed in the vocational experience.

"The notification sound was ringing when I was talking to Celis-san, but I wonder how it turned out?"

This makes me curious. Just how high has Celis-san's favorability toward me become?

Feeling a mix of slight fear and excitement, I opened the Window. And looked at the item blinking red.

"Let's see, favorability is... 51!? Eh, 51!? Is it possible for it to be that high upon first meeting!?"

Speaking of 51, that's the same favorability as a normal friend. Does that mean the favorability is suddenly at the level of a normal friend just from meeting for the first time!?

"Could this be the power of the Charm skill? ...Terrifying. Does that mean with that skill, anyone's favorability would be that high upon first meeting?"

It might be because Celis-san is special, but I can't believe having this much favorability on a first meeting.

"Well, maybe it's because Celis-san is a good person. Even so, it's high. ...Hmm? The Affection item is also red. Could it be Celis-san?"

The Affection item next to favorability. That item was also red, notifying me of a change.

Today, the only one for whom the notification sound rang was Celis-san, so it must be Celis-san.

"Well, even if it went up, probably just by 1. Since Affection is an item that doesn't go up much."

So far, only about three people have had their Affection go up. And except for Lumel, everyone only went up by 1. It can be said that raising Affection is considerably difficult.

With a light feeling, I selected the Affection item and looked at Celis-san's entry.

"Let's see... 11. ...Hmm!? ...11!?"

Haaah!? Double digits!? Suddenly, it's in double digits!? Why on earth!? What was so good that it went up that much!?

"11 is the highest value next to Lumel! Was there a development in that interaction that would raise Affection!?"

If anything, I caused her trouble!

"Haa... unexpected. Then, does that mean Celis-san is also a capture target whose Affection rises towards me, just like Lumel?"

I'm bewildered by the appearance of an unexpected capture target. Then, if I deepen our interaction from now on, does that mean interesting events will occur?

...I'm curious. I'm curious about the events that lie beyond raising Affection. My gamer blood from my previous life is boiling.

Anyway, let's try deepening interactions with Celis-san from now on too. If I do, surely game-like developments should happen. Yeah, this is getting fun!