act9mini

I guess that's why Kazimierz needs Knight-Assassins.

I think to myself, hold my breath and concentrate, pulling back my bowstring—

The arrow draws an arc in the air and bores through the window, his forehead, and his massage chair, before burying itself in the expensive hardwood floor.

If we faced each other in the arena, I'm sure a knight like him would have taken a long time to bring down.

I would've had to figure out how to pierce his armor, I would've had to throw in lots of flashy moves to please the crowd.

But this way?

I just have to nock my arrow and pull back the string—

And bam.

The chair is still giving him his massage, but he'll never get up out of it again.

*ring* *ring*.

Hello.

Wonderful work, Miss Centaurea. You masterfully gathered your intel and picked the finest vantage point from which to carry out your mission. Superb execution, considering your age and talents.

From here on out, you are part of the Armorless Union.

We've concluded our negotiations with the Rose Paper Union too. They agreed to terminate your contract, and you will receive a mental health compensation payout.

Please come to the General Chamber of Commerce's headquarters tomorrow morning. Someone will meet you there for the follow-up arrangements.

Alright.

So what should I call you?

You may call me—

Platinum.

That's the kind of place Kazimierz is.

Though she had a bright future ahead of her, Independent Knight Centaurea ended up serving under Platinum of the Armorless Union, after taking a phone call and passing a test.

It's also thanks to him that my archery is getting better.

Compared to the short-range, rapid firing I had to do in the arena, I'm much better suited to long-range sniping. Maybe that's why Platinum asked me to join the Armorless Union.

But he also taught me a lot of things I never thought about before.

Management, leadership, staffing, and command.

Hmm... maybe he's trying to develop my leadership skills, training me to work in management?

I guess it wouldn't be so bad to sit in an office and boss people around, without dirtying my own hands.

After three months, the people have long forgotten there was ever an independent knight called Centaurea.

Her manager has already been reassigned to other knights who made it through the preliminaries.

Her fans turned their eyes to the luster of other knights.

Even the girl who was once her greatest fan, the girl who once camped outside her door every single day just to catch a glimpse of her, already joined another knight's fan club.

Even when they walked past each other, it seemed like the girl didn't recognize the woman who had once been her idol.

It was as though she never existed.

Forgotten so soon after shining so brightly.

Maybe that's the fate of all knights.

But being in the Armorless Union is different. They hold a knight's life and death in their hands. Even the most prideful knights are afraid to speak up before them.

That is, as long as we don't mess up the jobs the bosses hand down to us.

After all... K.G.C.C.'s directors don't like seeing the words 'mission failed' on their reports.

And if we do screw it up, even Platinum himself gets an earful.

That's how the Armorless Union works?

I'm sure I was clear that there's nothing more important than intel!

I don't care whether that knight's dead or alive, but you let him send out top secret intel?

'The target planted fake transmitters to deceive our assets and hid a miniature transmitter with his body, allowing it to send out information'?

You couldn't have been more careless, could you?

You took care of the guy, but what about the problem?!

Have you taken care of my problem?!

(Purses lips)

(Looks at Platinum)

The spokesman has been yelling at us for over an hour already. It makes me wonder just where a big shot finds so much time to waste yelling at people.

Or he just wants to waste his precious time talking down to his contractors?

But he can yell however he wants. There's something else here that has piqued my interest.

From beginning to end, Platinum hasn't shown even the slightest interest in arguing or defending himself.

That's not the Platinum I know.

At the very least, he's definitely not patient enough to put up with the same man yelling at him for so long.

If Platinum was really ticked off, the frail, fancy-pants office worker wouldn't be breathing right now.

But he managed to bear with it.

Not only is he swallowing his pride, he's doing his best to play at obedience.

And all because the man in front of him is a spokesman, and a member of the K.G.C.C.

The little conference of admonishment lasted 1 hour, 36 minutes, and 28.36 seconds.

The parties in attendance included the spokesman, an office clerk, Platinum, me, and seven other Armorless Union members.

He was the only one who talked during the whole meeting. As for us, well, it didn't seem like we even had permission to speak.

That was the day I finally figured it out.

Both the knights and the Armorless Union are just employees of the General Chamber of Commerce. We're nothing different compared to the guys who sit in the office, yawn, and type away at their documents, making phone calls.

The only difference is that our work is much harder and we get paid more.

That's really the only thing that separates us.

*Sigh*...

It was a regular rainy night when the Lazurite paid me a visit after I'd taken care of a knight.

My little pegasus, I'm looking for Platinum. Have you seen him?

My master's out on a mission right now, Lazurite.

Haha, is he now?

What sort of mission?

He didn't tell me.

Then did he tell you he had doubts about this mission?

No, he didn't, but I kind of sensed it.

You're an honest one, little pegasus.

Well, since you shared what you know about Platinum with me, let me tell you what I know as well.

'Platinum' is dead. On the path of betrayal, even.

I knew that he felt something for his target.

But I never expected him to give his life for hers.

You see, it would be very inconvenient for this position to go unfilled, both for me, the Darksteels, and the General Chamber of Commerce directors.

How about this, little pegasus?

Why don't you be the next Platinum?

Put on the spot like that, I can't knee-jerk an answer.

If I say yes, is Lazurite going to spare my life? If I say no, am I going to die?

All I can do is stand there and mutter incoherent words.

I'm just not brave enough to answer him.

Even though I'm Platinum's student, and I might be able to succeed him just fine, I'm not his only student.

Besides, if Platinum just betrayed them, how does it make sense to have his student become the new Platinum?

Not to mention the more senior Armorless Union members. Technical skill or command, they're way more capable than me.

Why me?

Why me, of all people?

Seeing me standing here like an idiot, Lazurite chuckles a little, and shoves a badge into my hand—the symbol of 'Platinum.'

Silence means yes.

Do your new job well, Platinum.

And then he leaves. And there's Centaurea, who is now Platinum, with a knight lying there on the ground.

It wasn't until I became Platinum that I understood how hard things were for him.

Every day, the K.G.C.C.'s directors dish out difficult assignments to the Armorless Union.

The Lazurites take care of the top priority missions themselves, while Platinum has to both assist the Lazurites and assign hands to take care of the directors' other problems.

Platinum has to manage, command, and take to the field personally. There's no more tiring job in Kazimierz.

Thankfully, everything he taught me came in handy.