A few minutes had passed and they continue to ride inside the city. And soon, they were able to arrive at their destination - the knights' base in Citrine, locally called as the Knights' Company.
As Alex had told Zero, the place works as their base in this particular city. And unlike the Adventurers' Guild and the Magicians' Corps, this houses every of its personnel, which are the knights.
And as Zero had heard from her explanation of the place, he expected to see something big - but what he sees now is completely different to anything he thought he would see.
A castle.
That's what the base was. It's undeniably the largest structure Zero had seen in this world so far.
With a massive yet detailed exterior of blue and white walls, towers, and an entrance of a huge gate that stood much massive than the city's entrance itself, it was something out of a fantasy.
[ It seems we're here... I'm really glad to see that nothing had changed... ] she whispers the last part.
Alex looks at the structure with familiarity, it really seems that she grew with this place more than anywhere else. This place is what she considers home, and it was more than obvious that she feels comfort and contentment as she looks at it.
Spending time with her for an entire night and a whole trip inside a wagon, Zero was at least able to grasp Alex's personality -
To Zero, she was the ideal look for a female knight, beautiful, strong, and dignified. She doesn't actually talk that much, but ones she does, she dominates, fitting for her title as a captain. But talking with her, she actually felt like any others, just like any other ordinary person - he felt this especially when the two of them were alone - talking with each other at their first meeting.
He looks at her.
And a moment later, Guro left the wagon after taking something, and he immediately took his attention.
[ A nice sight, isn't it? ]
[ Right... ] he nodded hesitantly.
[ Zero-san, welcome to our base! This is the Knights' Company! ] Guro proudly shouts as he stood in front of Zero.
***
Without reservation, they entered inside, the other knights went another way together with the wagons carrying their loots. And now, Zero, together with Alex and Guro walks inside a large hall, in which the outside can be seen - where a plain green field of grass, approximately as wide as an entire football field is being used for knights to train with different things; such as swords, bows, and combat itself.
Zero just really can't believe how large the entirety of the base is. And he can't help himself but look around in curiosity as he continues to follow the two, expecting that they would take him somewhere where they can give what they promise him.
But...
[ Zero-san, we're about to meet the knights of the highest ranks. ]
[ ... ]
( Huh...? )
[ What do you mean, Guro-san? Aren't I here to only receive the rewards you told me? ]
That was what the two of them had told him to convince him to come. This was the first time he had heard something such as this from him - meeting with the big guns of the knights:
The highest ranks of knights.
Zero knows about it base on the lore of the game. Each city is supposed to have at least 10 knight captains, one knight major, and the assigned knight commander for the city; and in their respective cities, they are commonly called the 'highest ranks of knights'.
Hearing that title, he realized that Alex is undeniably one of them, a knights' captain, and Guro, who mentioned that he's her superior is probably also one of them.
[ That's right, and you won't be able to receive it without the higher-ups knowing what you've done. ]
[ But... ] as if Zero had realized something that is grim, his expression changes.
( This is dangerous... I can't even appraise the two of them yet and now I'll be surrounded with people who are as strong or even stronger than these two!? ) he shouted internally in his head.
( Tsk! I need to act carefully... They probably won't turn hostile at me, but I still need to be more presentable... I need to be careful... )
He can't risk being enemy with any of them. His race might be superior to humans, but when it turns out that they have enough level higher than him, two or even only a single one of them will be able to defeat him in a battle.
[ They will surely welcome you well. ] seemingly seeing through his nervousness, Guro reassures him.
[ ... ] and Zero did not reply but only continued to follow. Then soon, they arrived in front of two large heavy doors, carved with pictures of knights.
Without hesitation, Guro opened the doors with both of his arms and stepped aside, allowing Alex to enter first, him, and then nodding to Zero for him to follow.
And so, he enters the room, and immediately -
( Cannot Appraise: Level too high. )
( Cannot Appraise: Level too high. )
( Cannot Appraise: Level too high. )
( Cannot Appraise: Level too high. )
( Cannot Appraise: Level too high. )
His vision started to fill up with these texts as he tries to appraise all of the people inside.
~~~
Inside is a huge round table with an equivalent of 13 seats, one of which Zero stopped at as Guro and Alex went to their own. And each of these seats has a symbol on its own, and only Zero's seat which doesn't have one.
And as he stood there, he quietly observes the room and its people -
The room is definitely spacious, and despite having a huge table in the middle, there is still room to its sides to freely move around. There are also some statues that are on each corner of the room with candles that are not yet lit, and above, just hanging right above the middle of the table, is a glass chandelier that spins slowly.
But unlike the refreshing and even sight of the room, the people inside each differentiate from each other, in particular, the expression that are formed on their faces.
[ Please sit. ] he looks straight as he hears the voice, and there he sees where it came from, the man in the far edge of the table. And just as what he told him to do, he sat on the seat that was meant for him.
[ ... ] and as he sat, all of the attention gathered to him. Those who also greeted Guro and Alex had now focused their stares at him.
( Tsk... There still nothing to be afraid of... But these gazes... It feels like there're invisible pressure coming from each of them... )
A total of 12 people are together with Zero in the room. There is not a seat that is empty and everyone seems to be very uniform to each other, especially on their appearances - that is - except for him, who is an outsider.
[ Hmm... So, you must be Zero... ] the person in the middle spoke. An old-looking man with a white beard. His looks don't really stand out that much; the best he could see him as is just an ordinary middle-aged man who is wearing luxurious-looking knights' clothing - and added to it, the pressure coming from him seems invisible, but from what Zero had experienced and seen so far, he must be the leader of the group, the commander.
He was also the person who had urged him to take his seat, and for now, he was the only one who had said a word so far - only furthering the fact that he must really be the person who stood on the top.
[ Un, a messenger already came and we've already been informed. ] he fixed his fingers crossed to each other and bend over his body to focus even more to the sight of Zero.
[ Zero, I thank you personally for saving one of our captains, I am deeply thankful. ] he bowed his head as he says so.
[ I-It's not really that much...! ] knowing that the person bowing to him has a very high position, he instinctively stuttered his words.
[ Is that what you personally think? Then... I will tell you this: the rescue of Alex has a very importance for us. It's not something that we can take little note of... That's why, my... no, our thanks is genuine and necessary... ]
[ ... ] Zero could only stay quiet after hearing the words that forced him to acknowledge his point of view.
[ It seems I sounded a bit rude... anyway, I won't force you to see our point, but for now, let us introduce ourselves. I'm the commander of the knights' company; everyone calls me, Herald. ] he introduces, and just as Zero had guessed, he really was the knight general.
After that, he urges the others to introduce themselves, and they did so...