Isekai Nonbiri Nouka

My name is O’Brien.

I’m a forty-year-old middle-aged man now.

I was born into a poor family, but these days I live a reasonably comfortable life.

In my mid-thirties, I was able to take a wife.

I also have one child.

I am happy.

My job is High Priest Warrior Commander.

Yes, Commander.

The head of the priest warrior order of the Kingdom of Raywhite.

Me? Of all people?

Honestly, I’m the one most surprised by that.

I’ve also learned how to use healing magic.

All of this is probably because I went through that terrifying experience.

No… maybe it’s because I trained so hard to become a member of the army led by that golden-shining brave.

God is watching over us.

Effort never betrays you.

-0-

Now then, if I’m talking about myself, I should mention my eyes.

My eyes are a special kind known as the 【Eyes of the Weak】.

They allow me to sense an opponent’s strength.

Well, it’s only a rough judgment of strong or weak based on myself as the standard.

Still, thanks to these eyes, I’ve made it through many dangerous situations.

They’re a reliable partner.

That said, I must not rely on them too much.

It may sound contradictory, but that mindset is important.

Very important.

And although there are fewer people stronger than me these days, I must not grow arrogant.

Carelessness is forbidden.

Otherwise, I would never be fit to be a member of the army led by the golden-shining brave.

So, I continue training while constantly keeping myself in check, when a request for guard duty came in.

Honestly.

This is an unscheduled work.

The three kings will be entertaining an honored guest.

I’m to handle security at the venue.

Yes, yes, leave it to me.

Well, at least they informed me a few days in advance instead of right before.

I should make sure to tell my wife and child that I’ll be home late that day.

-0-

The priest warrior order’s assigned post was the area around the venue.

So, I wore my usual armor.

A sword hung at my waist.

Well, I probably wouldn’t need to use it.

A waiting room had been prepared for us, so we took turns resting while maintaining guard duty until nightfall.

I brought my own food.

If I left it to someone else and poison was slipped in, that would be a problem.

That would be bad.

Oh, the honored guest is entering the venue.

I’d heard it was an important figure from the Korin Religion, but…

This is the kind of entourage that includes Fushu, and even Fushu’s son.

He looks quite young, but…

Hmm?

My eyes are reacting.

The 【Eyes of the Weak】are reacting.

I see, I see.

And then I remembered.

Just for an instant, but I’ve seen him before.

A child who stood near the golden-shining brave in that village.

Back then, he wasn’t anything special, but now he’s emitting a presence that feels like it’s trying to draw closer to the golden-shining brave.

Yes, excellent.

……

Hey, vice-captain.

Take a few subordinates you trust and place them around that guest.

That’s right.

The one standing beside Fushu.

Our responsibility doesn’t include security inside the venue?

Weapons aren’t allowed inside?

I know.

That’s why this isn’t security duty.

Have them change into formal wear and simply remain nearby.

I’ll take responsibility.

Go.

And if anything happens, report to me immediately.

Hopefully, nothing happens…

-0-

Well, of course trouble broke out.

I knew it would.

Anyone who gives off that kind of presence is bound to get dragged into trouble.

From inside the noisy venue, my vice-captain came running out.

「Report! Fushu-sama is rampaging against the princes. Shall we enter the venue to stop her?」

…Wait.

Why did Fushu go berserk?

What was the cause?

「It was a conversation between the princes and that guest.」

She would not go that far over words alone, would she?

「It seems she took offense when the guest said he aimed to become a village chief, and the princes laughed at him.」

……

I see.

I see, I see.

All right, issue an order to the entire priest warrior order.

We side with Fushu.

「What? Y-you are serious?」

I am.

All units, draw your swords.

Move!

Capture the princes.

Eliminate anyone who gets in the way.

You may tie them up, but do not kill them.

I will do the killing myself.

-0-

It turned into quite a difficult situation.

As expected, the guards protecting the kings were strong.

We managed to defeat them only because they hesitated when facing the Korin Religion, or rather, Fushu.

Still, an order to stop came from someone high up in the Korin Religion, so we could not take the princes’ heads.

That part was regrettable.

Ah, no, that is not right.

This was for the best.

If we had executed them in a fit of rage, the guest… Alfred-dono might have taken it to heart.

Yes.

It is better to leave it to the judgment of the law.

Hm?

What is it, Vice-Captain?

Did something happen?

「Investigators from the Korin Religion and the kingdom have arrived. They want to question us about this incident.」

Oh, I see.

Investigators investigate. That is their job.

Cooperate with them.

Do not lie.

Tell them everything honestly.

Make sure to tell them that I was just about to take the princes’ heads as well.

The possibility that I might be executed?

If that happens, I will escape properly, so do not worry about it.

-0-

Later.

I saw Alfred-dono walking along.

Oh, what a confident figure.

Wonderful.

「Hey, Captain? He looks similar, but that is not Alfred-dono, right?」

No, that is Alfred-dono.

「His height is completely different, though. Is that his older brother or something?」

My vice-captain worries about the smallest details.

But my eyes cannot be deceived.

That is Alfred-dono.

「But still……」

The one who stopped the unconvinced vice-captain was Fushu, who had appeared before we noticed.

「He has grown.」

I see.

Splendid.

「No, no, no……」

The vice-captain still did not look convinced, but I did not mind.

Yes.

This is going to be fun.

-0-

Chancellor 「Who is that?」

Fushu 「That is Alfred-sama, after he has grown」

Chancellor 「No, no, no……」

Vice-Captain 「Right? Right?」

-0-

Noble Lady A 「Who is he?」

Fushu 「That is Alfred-sama after he has grown. Do not approach him」

Noble Lady A 「(Did he grow exactly to my taste?)」

Noble Lady B 「(I did not dislike his old appearance either!)」

Noble Lady C 「(His current form is wonderful too!)」

Vice-Captain 「(T-they accepted it way too fast. Is this noble flexibility?)」