EX-SOLDIER: In Another World
Degrees and Tasks - Part 4

Sitting in a car with a foreign man is Sofia's first experience. His emerald green eyes stared at the figure of the man in front of him who looked bored and did not care that they were just the two on the carriage. The man's gaze never glanced at Sofia with lust or anything, just a judging look since they met. As if Sofia herself is not a figure to be admired because of her beauty, but a person to be watched.

'What is in this man's mind?'

Vincent's attitude was colder than usual, especially after the assault of the bandits the night before. Vincent hasn't even spoken a word since they were in the horse-drawn carriage, it's strange because since the last few days, Vincent usually starts a chat, he said, although it is light and does not last more than ten minutes.

But today there was no sign that Vincent wanted to talk and it was getting late. This man only looked out the window of the horse carriage with a blank look, stuck in his own world.

"Hey Vincent?" Sofia asked, deciding to start the conversation. But Vincent did not respond and simply stared out with his hands on the chariot's jedela holding his chin, so immersed in his own daydream.

"Vincent?!" This time Sofia raised her voice to attract Vincent's attention and managed to get a response, even though it was just an eye glance and a hum of 'Hm?' the indifferent.

"I want to show you something." Sofia said with serious eyes.

"Ask me. What do you want to know?" Reply Vincent who was still staring out the window of the horse-drawn carriage.

"About the bandit-attacker"

"It's not normal or they're just desperate fools." Vincent interrupted Sofia.

"How do you just sum it up?" Sofia asked clearly curious about what the man in front of her was thinking.

"Simple, they're not ordinary bandits." Vincent said as he turned towards Sofia.

"And?"

"Do you think a small band of robbers will fight against a larger group of five dozen Knights in it, then hope to have a chance of winning?" Vincent asked, now focused on Sofia.

"... That, um... You're correct. According to the reports I used to read, the bandits usually attacked in large numbers to fight the weak group of them to plunder whatever treasures their victims had. But- ..."

"Unless they're competent and I can understand, but they're not. That group of little bastards can be defeated quite easily by your knight, the Rose Order." Vincent said cut Sofia. "Of course they could have the confidence to have someone as strong as the bandits I fought. But in fact, the bandits I was fighting were not serious about robbing and instead looked on the sidelines before fighting me, instead of helping his comrade in the first place. It makes me wonder, why?"

"That's..."

"That means they have other motives and the next question, who ordered them. This is clearly not normal. Then going back in time, don't you wonder why one enemy platoon could cross the border and attack the town of Angelbarrow?"

Vincent's question left Sofia speechless and thinking about the events back, clearly abnormal but why? That was also what Sofia thought, but she did not have a definite answer to the events.

"I can only assume, this Kingdom you love has a traitor or something else to be in it." Vincent said that his thoughts on Sofia made him frown, not liking the thought of having a traitor in their ranks.

"I... Will investigate." Sofia answered and that was also the end of their conversation as Vincent returned to his position while looking out the train window.

...Xxvx...

Their party managed to reach the capital of the Iwreneian Kingdom without any problems other than the assault of the bandits in the previous nights.

Sofia decides to rest one day before they meet the King who Vincent agrees to without asking much, it is because he needs a break as well. Days of being stuck into a long journey by sleeping in an uncomfortable tent make Vincent long for the comfort of a decent bed. Luckily, Sofia provides decent accommodation for Vincent to rest in one of the manors he has in the capital, which he happily accepts.

The guards stopped him behind the door leading to the throne room and asked him to wait there while they entered. He walked through the double door and entered the throne room. Waiting for him on the throne was a young man, no more than twenty years old if the shot was right. Her hair was silvery white with a crown sitting on her head, her eyes were red that looked friendly.

To be honest, it was not the image of a King that Vincent had expected. He wished that the King was an old man who was full of wisdom and had a lot of experience in life, not a young man he saw at this time.

Next to the King, there was a man wearing armor and another figure that he imagined was royalty, judging from their clothes. He tried not to show weakness or fear as he walked towards the center of the room.

"Greetings, Your Honor, I'm Vincent D Carlo, a traveler who happened to be caught up in an attack on the fortress city of Angelbarrow." Vincent introduced himself, respectfully lowering his head.

Many nobles whispered amongst themselves after Vincent introduced himself. Things that Vincent sounds vaguely, commenting on his appearance and rudeness for not kneeling before the King.

"Sir Vincent, I am Albert William XI, King of the Iwreneian Kingdom. I heard from my knights how you valiantly saved my city from the invaders of the Empire. Such noble actions definitely deserve praise and respect."

The king made his statement with a faint smile as he looked towards Vincent.

Vincent on his side remained silent, waiting for the next words the young King would say in front of him as his mind wandered.

'Young king, practically a puppet for the nobles. Just a quick glance, I saw this young King as naive and practically a suitable puppet for them.' Thought Vincent was cynical.

"Of course, you're joking, Your Majesty. That is not a noble act. It was the right thing to do in that situation. I don't need a gift." Vincent replied after a while.

"Ah, I must insist. Your words show me that you have a good soul. Still, to be comfortable with myself, I must value someone as loyal to the safety of others as you."

King insists. It's not polite to refuse once again, so Vincent is just trying to get the best out of it.

"If Your Majesty says so, I must accept your kind offer."

At that moment someone approached the King with a manpan containing parchment visible in the seal. The bearer knelt a little far from the throne, the man in armor stepped forward, took the parchment and handed it to the young King.

The king who received the parchment nodded to thank the man in armor, then read the parchment aloud. Vincent himself did not listen so much to the empty talk of flowers in the parchment, until his eyes widened to hear the next words of the King.

"... With this, I Albert William XI declare that, Vincent D Carlo will be awarded the rank of Baron and Knight, will also be given a plot of land provided!"

'Shit! I'm stuck in shit moreover?!'

Vincent thought furiously, annoyed by his situation as he knelt down to receive the parchment he had given him.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty." Vincent said as he saw the young King smiling happily towards him.

'Just shit'. Vincent thought as he kept his face neutral despite being annoyed by his situation, why else would he come here? Vincent will blame Sofia for her new title and assignment!

...Xxvx...

After his meeting with the young King, Vincent could not help but wonder what the young King was thinking. About how he raised a stranger of unknown origins like Vincent to give him the title and privilege only to lead the rescue of a city.

'Casualization. Whether this young King is so naive or stupid, I don't know. Maybe a political issue or something? but clearly he wants my power on his side. I have to be more careful from now on, especially with the bandits I met with a technique called 'material art' that sucks.'