"After what happened this morning, it's been decided that I'm going with Rohee-san on a dragon hunting date later."

"Don't call it a date; hunting dragons isn't a game."

I was having such an exchange with my friend Greta at the knight's school.

This is a school where they are training knights to be dragon hunters.

Of course, there are also female knights like Rohee Maxia, but they are in the minority.

Incidentally, since this is a knight school, everyone is wearing armor.

I always go to school wearing the jet-black armor made of Mithril provided by the kingdom.

On the other hand, Greta and her classmates are only wearing leather armor. That's not good; those armors are so lame.

Well, I guess even if they wear the same armor as me, it will be too heavy and they won't be able to move.

Also, students are allowed to carry weapons.

My weapon is a long sword, and it looks like a slimmer version of a great sword.

It is my father's favorite sword.

It is not a special weapon like the one Rohee Maxia had, but it is a wonderful S-class weapon made of mithril.

Even with this kind of equipment, it is forbidden to pull out your weapon inside the school.

Wearing armor and carrying a weapon inside the school allows students to go out and hunt dragons at any time.But inside the school, it's only treated as a regular uniform.

They also said that we are fully equipped so that if by chance a dragon invades the city, we can respond immediately, but because of this, it is extremely difficult for them to conduct classes.

Well, if that does happen, I'm pretty sure the knights of the kingdom will do something about it.

Also, I don't think student knights can do anything in those types of situations.

Anyway, I decided to enjoy talking with my classmates until our homeroom teacher, Flambert-sensei, arrived.

"I thought that she might have a boyfriend or two since she's so beautiful, but she's free, so it's really good."

"Zekudo, you are always thinking that sort of stuff, aren't you? Aren't you ashamed to be a knight?"

"I'm not ashamed because my chivalry is money, muscle, and women."

"Please apologize to Chivalry!"

A lot of different complaints came from all my classmates.

"No, even my deceased father always said that chivalry is sake, money, and  woman."

"You and your father can go to hell together."

Another complaint came.

Moreover, they said it in perfect harmony.

It seems that the guys are on good terms today as well.

"I'm sure you've heard of Rohee Maxia, the third-year student at this Knight's School, right?"

When Gretta said that our classmates started saying, "Yeah" and "Ummm".

"Even though she is still a student knight, she is powerful enough to be recognized as an [S-class knight] and she has been given the title of Emerald Knight."

Hey! I'm also one.

Could someone else please compliment me as well?

I finally became an S-class knight yesterday.

You are all still C-class knights, right?

Lame! You guys are so lame!

*Whack*

"That hurts"

I don't know what's going on, but Gretta hit me out of nowhere.

"Why did you hit me."

"Sorry, for some reason, I'm pissed at you."

Our classmates are also agreeing with her.

That's really terrible, I didn't even say that out loud.

The dignity of a highly esteemed [S-class knight] is not something to be sneezed at.

Maybe I'm releasing an aura of condescension?

As I was patting my aching head, the classroom door was suddenly open.

I thought that it was Flambert-sensei.

"Please excuse my rudeness. Is Zekudo Force here?"

But it wasn't Flambert-sensei, as our teacher doesn't speak in such a masculine way.

But even though it sounds masculine, the voice is definitely coming from a female.

I immediately raised my hand to answer her call.

"Yes! I'm here"

I looked at the woman.

Her red hair was pulled back in a ponytail with a black ribbon, and she was clad in crimson armor.

Her light blue eyes, which are as sharp as swords, were staring at me.

Uhh, she's beautiful, though her beauty is what I call a thorny beauty.

"Huh? Are you the real Dark Knight Zekudo?

The title "Dark Knight" was given to me at the same time I became an S-class knight.

If I combined it with my name, it would sound very villainous.

"Yes, I'm Zekudo, and you are?"

"I'm Katia Rouge; I'm the new member of the Dragon Killer Squad."

I knew it.

I just remember that her name is included in the roster that was given to me. If I remember correctly, her title is the Crimson Knight.

I want to see if you are worthy of being my captain. So don't do anything after school today because you and I will play a game called dragon hunting."

"Y..yes"

Katia Rouge left after declaring that challenge.

For a lady knight, she is quite forceful.

I noticed that she is carrying the Buster Lancer on her back, and in one of her hands she is holding the Tower Shield.

It looks like she's also a trigger-weapon user.

The [Buster Lancer] is a weapon that causes an explosion at the point where it is thrust, which will cause repeated damage over time.

It is said that this weapon is really difficult to handle, and Katia was the first person I saw who uses it.

"Katia-san!"

"What is it?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Are you really asking me that question now!?" in front of your classmates.

Katia, then furrowed her brow and crossed her arms.

"Do I look like I have one?"

"Well, when I look at you, you are so beautiful, so I guess so."

"..."

Katia sighs as if she were amazed.

She turned on her heel and left, leaving only the words, "You don't have a good eye for women."

"Hmmm... Is that so?"

I don't think that's true.

"This is really terrible, Katia Rouge is also the same as Rohee Maxia, a third-year student, and she's also an S-class knight. Are you really going to be okay?

Gretta asked me that in a trembling voice.

I just answered her with a thumbs up.

"It will be fine. I may look like this, but I have a very strong purpose."

"Huh? And exactly what's your purpose?"

"You have seen Katia, right? She's the same as Rohee, they both have massive chests."

"Where the hell are you looking at!"

I was then hit by all of my classmates.

"You are being challenged by Rohee Maxia and Katia Rouge, right? Zekudo you should be a little more tense."

"Lolita, I know what you're saying, but all I have to do is win, right?"

"Do you realize how carefree you are? But that "to win" part you are saying is the hardest part to do."

"Even if I lose, I won't be killed, so there's no need to be serious, right, Lolita?"

"It's Gre-tta! Seriously, the next time you call me that, I will kick your ass. But well, if that's what you want to do, then that's fine, I guess, but I'm curious: what is this Dragon Killer Squad she is talking about?

Not only Gretta, but all of my classmates seemed to be curious about it, as they started to focus their gaze on me.

It seems that they haven't received the news yet. 

Well, it was only released yesterday, so I guess it can't be helpful.

"Hmmm. It seems that recently there have been many sightings of S-class dragons all over the country. And it seems that this team was created with the purpose of hunting them down."

"S-class dragons?"

All of my classmates were shocked.

Well, I can't blame them.

A single S-class dragon is a kind of monster that is capable of destroying a city.

The difference between an S-class dragon and an A-class dragon is so vast that an A-class dragon would seem cute in the eyes of an S-class dragon.

Ten years ago, a single S-class dragon appeared.

It destroyed many cities and villages, and it killed tens of thousands of people.

And that was just one dragon.

But right now, there have been multiple sightings of such a dangerous S-class dragon.

That's why it's no wonder that my classmates are all shocked.

"There are many S-class dragons all over the country!"

"Seriously?"

"How can you win if more than one of them shows up?"

"Yes, that's true! that's why you guys should stop talking about money and women!"

"Youuuuuuuu!"

I was then beaten up by my classmates.




Note: 

1. Zekudo remarks that Katia is speaking in a masculine way because of the fact that when she entered the room she said "Shitsurei suru zo" which is literally translated to "Please excuse my rudeness" which can also be translated to excuse me, I think that it is the masculine way or the old way of saying excuse me  while the common way of saying excuse me is "Sumimasen".