(Chapter 11) Boss
Anna hesitated but ultimately turned down Louise's invitation. Something about it felt off, almost as if Louise had some ulterior motive for wanting her to come over. Shaking off the uneasy feeling, Anna made her way to her usual destination: the garrison of the Border Knights, where her work awaited.
The garrison of the Border Knights is usually located near the entrance of a town, and this town is no exception. The garrison occupies about one-fifteenth of the town's land.
This garrison not only has a dedicated training ground but also an open riding field specifically for lance training and knight tournaments.
However, since Anna returned to work in the town, she hasn't used the riding field much. After all, it's already quite a challenge for her old horse to carry her in armor to work; a few more rounds on the riding field might just be the end of the poor old horse. And where would she get the money to buy a new horse then?
A good horse costs much more than the fine steel sword she carries...
Although Anna's skills in mounted combat have been getting rusty, her time spent in the regular training grounds has gradually increased, allowing her to develop a beautiful and practical swordsmanship. She has also gained some understanding of the use of war hammers, single-handed axes, double-handed battle axes, pole hammers, spears, and even greatswords.
It could be said that if it weren't for the constraints of magic and attributes, Anna could definitely become a B-level knight based on her skills alone.
A young woman who graduated half a year ago, with skills already at the level of a B-level knight... by all accounts, she is a genius.
Unfortunately, Anna doesn't think much of it. Improving attributes requires multifaceted assistance, including good nutrition.
This is why the knight profession is mostly held by nobles, as the conditions for leveling up are stringent, and attribute growth is also demanding. Without some capital, it's almost impossible to level up.
Originally, Anna thought she would remain at this level for life, until she saw hope in the achievement point store of the simulator—
The "Strength Enhancer" that costs 100 achievement points.
[Strength Enhancer: Increases the strength attribute by one small rating.]
Currently, Anna's strength attribute is exactly C+. If she can increase it by one small rating, it will rise to B-! This way, all her attributes would be comprehensively upgraded to B-, and she could apply for a rating upgrade!
Upgrading to an E-level knight not only represents an improvement in strength but also means she officially enters the knight roster. The kingdom would directly issue a sum of money, and if she has no land, she could also be allocated a small piece of land as her fief!
...Anna is aiming for that small piece of fief.
Having a fief means she can hire people to farm, meaning she becomes a landlord who can collect rent!
Imagining herself with a fief, living a life of indulgence, Anna's mouth waters... no! Her eyes water... cough cough...
In any case! Becoming an E-level knight is a small step for her, but a giant leap towards reviving the Garland family and becoming one of those corrupt nobles!
Just as Anna was dreaming about her future life as a landlord, living luxuriously with meat at every meal and imported perfume from Lieden, a voice that sounded extremely unpleasant suddenly rang in her ears.
"Anna, why are you still sitting here?"
Startled by the voice, Anna immediately snapped back to reality and looked at the person who spoke.
Yes, this bald, short, chubby, unshaven man with dark spots on his skin, wearing wrinkled but high-quality silk clothing, and seemingly always exuding a sour smell, is the leader of the Border Knights in this town, Philsey Bill.
As one of the three major knight orders of the kingdom, the Border Knights are the most numerous, with garrisons in every border town, and the leader is usually the highest authority of the regional knight order. This Philsey Bill is equivalent to the highest commander of the Border Knights in this town.
However, this highest commander has a rather poor reputation. Not only is he quite stingy and greedy, but it's also said that the funds allocated from above are embezzled by him to curry favor with superiors and for his own pleasures. Moreover, he always likes to frequent the red-light district.
Unfortunately, the courtesans in the red-light district don't have much fondness for this highest commander either, as he always carries a foul smell. Thus, some courtesans, based on the etymology of the leader's family name "wild boar," have given Philsey a nickname, "Stinky Pig Philsey."
Fortunately, this nickname is only spread privately among the courtesans. Anna overheard this nickname by chance while patrolling the red-light district, from a private conversation among some courtesans.
Moreover, this guy is always staring at her, and his gaze always feels weird, making Anna feel extremely uncomfortable.
If it weren't for the fact that this jerk is the leader, Anna would definitely avoid this pervert, but unfortunately, she can't. On average, she sees this guy's face once every day at work.
Only Louise, being the daughter of a duke, can directly decide this jerk's fate. Louise hasn't been directly harassed by this jerk's gaze, but Anna occasionally sees this clueless jerk sneakily ogling Louise with lustful eyes.
‘This guy is just like the male protagonists in those doujinshi, all scumbag-type male leads…’
It's quite bizarre to see someone in real life who fits the doujinshi character setting so well.
"I'm leaving now."
Anna immediately stood up, not even bothering to say goodbye, and quickly slipped away to patrol.
Rather than being stared at by this pervert, it's better to go on patrol. Even being chatted up by courtesans is better than being stared at by this guy.
Although the courtesan ladies have fallen into the world of pleasure... possibly by choice, at least they pay attention to personal hygiene, which is much better than this guy.
Watching Anna's retreating figure, Philsey's murky pupils seemed to flicker with light, and the malice emanating from him could be felt by others.
"Leader, here are the materials you requested."
A knight who always seems very lazy handed a document to Philsey, who glanced at the lazy knight with his murky eyes before taking the document.
"After this, you will go to work in the neighboring town of Lila."
"I understand."
Although usually indifferent to everything, this knight accepted Philsey's arbitrary transfer order without any disgust or dissatisfaction, just very calmly.
"However, about..."
"I will have someone else take care of it, you are no longer needed."
"Yes!"
"...It's almost time."
"Yes!!!”