--Jeremias, over.


    What do I have to do to get into the Order of Magic?


    The girl appeared in front of us and said that first.


    ''A girl...?''


    One of my subordinates looks at the girl and mutters that.


    Yes, if you look at her, she''s a pretty girl in appearance.


    But - that hint of killing is not just a girl.


    By the time we were digging up Felix''s corpse, we had already reached the point where we could see our appearance.


    This isn''t a battlefield, so I was a bit careless too.......but even I don''t know exactly when that girl was here.


    But what she said....................Magic Knights, right?


    I am Jeremias Astara. What is your name?


    I can''t talk to her without asking her name first.


    She''s a little amused by my response and introduces herself to me in a confused manner.


    ''Um........Tina, sir.


    Tina, is that you? That''s a lovely name.


    She does not relax at all when I say that.


    A colleague once told me that my compliments are not emotional.


    I really mean it........why is that?


    As I recall, they said it was because the expression on my face didn''t change but I''m not sure.


    Oops.....................I thought about something a little different.


    ''''Tina-san, do you want to join the Order of Magic?''''


    Yes!


    When I ask again, Tina responds immediately and forcefully.


    It''s a good reply.


    However--''''


    ''''Why do you want to join the Order?''''


    Because I want to stand next to Eric!


    I said without hesitation.


    Her determination I was surprised.


    I don''t think she just likes Eric-dono.


    I have only seen her words, her attitude, but I can see her determination to protect Eric-dono.


    ''''........Tina-san, how old are you?''''


    I''m 18 years old this year.


    Hmm, with Tina-san''s age, she''ll be able to become an apprentice of the Order of Magic............


    But..........


    ''''Tina-san, a person of your age can become an apprentice of the Order of Magic. You''ll have to train there for at least two years before you can join the Order of Magic.


    ...Eric is an apprentice to the Order?


    ''''No, Master Eric is recommended by me, the Commander, to join the Order immediately with no training period as a special exception.


    Even though Eric-dono is not here right now, and I haven''t received a response, our conversations have spoken as if we''ve already decided to enter.......


    It seems that Tina and I have the same view of how he will respond, I guess.


    ''That won''t work then, it''s too late. I want to stand next to Eric, so I want to join the Order of Magic Knights right away.


    She heard my words and immediately said so.


    ''''Hey, you........don''t get carried away just because you''re a woman.


    My man interrupts the conversation the way Tina-san says it and says so.


    ''''That''s right. You can''t even become an apprentice of the magic knight if you can''t use magic. It''s not going to be that easy for you to become one.


    The other one continued to say so as well.


    But........they''re not quite there yet either.


    She can kill the signs so well that you guys don''t even notice and yet she doesn''t choose the Order, right?


    Her skill at killing signs is better than yours, and there are few people in the Order who can beat her.


    And yet, if you choose the Magical Order - you''re more confident in magic than that.


    But.........yes, things are a test.


    ''''Let''s do a test.''''


    The three of them are stunned when I suddenly say that, but I don''t care and continue.


    ''''If we can beat them, I''ll recommend you to the head of the Magical Order from my side. I don''t know if I''ll ever get in, but I think I can help you a little.


    Really?


    Tina''s words were quickly bitten by my words.


    ''''Commander!''''


    ''What do you have in mind, sir!


    My men have bitten off more than they can chew, but that bite would mean the exact opposite.


    ''''I think I''d join the Magical Order if I could beat them. Tina-san, do you want to do it?


    I''ll do it!


    Tina-san says that with a twinkle in her eye.


    She is still a pretty girl when you look at her like this............but what about her abilities?


    ''''You guys do it too. Commander''s orders.''''


    Yes sir.


    When one of them said that, the other one reluctantly agreed.


    Well, from their point of view, you have no idea what I''m thinking.


    Tina-san and her subordinates are poised at a slight distance, and I stand in the middle of them.


    However, seeing that only one of my subordinates is holding a stance, Tina-san is tilting her head.


    ''''Um.......aren''t you two going to fight together?''''


    His subordinates were a little startled by his words, but they quickly turned angry.


    ''''You two, fight on your own.


    Yeah, Commander!


    I say the same thing to Tina.


    The two of them looked at me in astonishment, but when I glared at them as if to tell them to hurry up, the other one got ready for battle as well.


    Now.........what will happen?


    ''''We don''t want you to get hurt too badly.


    When I said that, my subordinates nodded widely.


    As expected, since the other party is a girl, they knew that without being told......it was probably a nod to mean that they knew that even without being told.


    But.........the person I said that to is not you guys.


    ''''Then........when this coin drops, you can start.


    I pulled out a coin of money from my pocket and flicked it with my fingers.


    The coin danced neatly through the air -- and fell to the ground.


    -- and a moment later, my eyes turned white.