The Rondane Knight Order.
They were individuals I had encountered before, after evading the Warden.
Of course, they didn't burst in like this back then; they appeared after I had completely exited the underground prison.
`
Title: Spoiler) The Rondane Knight Order, they look fucking cool every time I see them.
Knights who kill Outer Gods and are fully armed with equipment made from them.
And even that equipment is super cool.
How can I resist this?
Kya, I'm dead.
Comments
Especially the one in armor is the coolest. I got it later and wore it; it's the peak fashion among Outer God armors.
I like White Mask's eye design. The sheathing motion after dual-wielding is seriously fucking cool.
The Martial God's daughter is good too. Even though she's big, her actions are like a small animal, so she's cute.
Isn't she the only one who uses an axe? Axes are inefficient.
What about the Knight Order Captain?
Whoa, that crazy bitch isn't for sale. Let's not mention her.
`
On the community forums, many people really liked the Rondane Knight Order.
So much so that you'd occasionally see comments like "The main character of Snow Castle appears like a dog lol," implying the Knight Order was the real main focus.
The pictures posted were actually cool and depicted them in a stylish manner.
From what I recalled, the Rondane Knight Order was known as a splendid group that killed Outer Gods and used weapons and armor made from them.
"...?"
This?
This is the Rondane Knight Order I knew?
Of course, considering the Super Coward Mode, it's natural for a knight order clad in equipment made from Outer Gods to become cute.
The incredibly cool Outer God armor was replaced by a bear mascot head.
The stylish twin swords became plastic swords.
The heavy, imposing axe turned into a toy.
At least to my eyes, the former Rondane Knight Order had long since disappeared.
It would feel more realistic to say they'd brought toys from an amusement park and were playing knight make-believe.
It was so absurd that I was on the verge of laughter.
"...Why is this guy snickering?"
"Y-yeah, why? Has he attained enlightenment or something...?"
I made the mistake of laughing out loud while just thinking.
I mean, if you wear a bear mascot head and stand there so seriously, who wouldn't laugh?
Of course, it probably only looks that way to me.
"Hey, stop that."
"Eeek!"
Meanwhile, Argarta tried to quietly slip away again, but one of the knights pointed a plastic sword at her to stop her, making her turn pale and retreat.
What looked like just a toy to me seemed terrifying to Argarta, as she trembled violently.
A situation ripe for cognitive dissonance.
The woman in the white mask whispered in Argarta's ear.
"Do not move. If you move even a little, I will cut you down, soul and all. This one eats souls."
"...Hic."
It must have been a truly threatening sword, given that even the usually playful Argarta was hiccupping in fear.
Moreover, the Hunter had already voluntarily put down his gun and raised both hands, expressing his unwillingness to fight.
Well, that is the normal reaction...
The problem was, thanks to this damn mod, my brain couldn't comprehend the seriousness of the situation.
While I was spacing out and observing the situation, the hooded girl with the toy axe tapped me on the shoulder.
I cautiously turned my head. The girl was trembling as she spoke.
"Please stay st-still.... Sh-she's pretty strong, you know? If you resist, I'll have to hurt you..."
No matter how I look at it, they're the ones in power, so why is she acting like she's the subordinate?
Is she just naturally timid?
She seemed somewhat introverted in the game too, but seeing her in person, she seems even more shrinking.
Would you like to join the Super Coward Club with me?
Of course, even if you joined, I wouldn't share this mod.
Not that I could anyway.
"Please don't do anything."
Seeing her point the toy axe at me, even if it's not scary, it would probably hurt like hell if it actually hit, right?
Given how it looks, I had the illusion that even running my finger along the axe blade wouldn't draw a single drop of blood.
Honestly, I think I've been lucky so far.
Without the writing on the wall and the community posts I'd read, it would have been impossible to get this far.
I don't like pain, so I should answer obediently.
"Yessir!"
I answered energetically on purpose, which seemed to startle her, making her tremble, revealing a timid heart that didn't match her size.
How did someone with this personality survive in a place full of Outer Gods?
Not knowing the detailed story, I only knew their surface aspects, not their inner workings.
Meanwhile, the man in the bear mascot head came forward holding a piece of paper.
"Contamination by the Outer God?"
"We performed a consecration ritual, so it's not a problem."
He seemed to be about to read something like a prisoner list.
"Prisoner name: Argarta. Charges: Theft, 3 counts; Intimidation, 2 counts; Gambling, 7 counts. Numerous other suspected criminal attempts."
Argarta blushed as if hearing something embarrassing and glanced sideways at me and the Hunter.
Wow.
Theft, intimidation, gambling?
So you really were a pickpocket.
I looked at Argarta with cold, disapproving eyes. She shot me a look that seemed to say, 'Is this the time for that?!'
I can't even joke around.
As I scratched my head awkwardly, the masked woman aiming the plastic twin swords assessed the situation.
"Argarta, must be an alias. They say even among thieves there are different tiers. Using an alias suggests she's one of those from a certain lineage."
The timid girl, hearing the masked woman's words, seemed unable to find words, nodded a couple of times, and then forced a reply.
"Uh. Um, y-yeah, I guess so."
Argarta's shoulders suddenly started twitching.
Perhaps thinking the conversation was heading in a bad direction, she started rambling, moving her mouth frantically.
"No! I'm a completely good thief, okay? Huh? I-if you just let me out of here, I'll really do anything...!"
"Next."
The bear-masked man cleanly cut off Argarta's words and moved on to the Hunter.
Watching Argarta's pupils constrict was funny, but it also made me feel a bit sorry for her...
Well, it's her own karma, so what can you do?
The bear mascot standing before the Hunter frowned and looked at the paper again.
"Prisoner name: Hunter. Charges: Failure to perform official duties, solo Outer God hunting... Defying a direct order from Her Highness the Princess?"
The man in the bear mascot head seemed particularly angered by the phrase 'Defying a direct order from the Princess.'
It showed his exceptional loyalty towards the Princess.
I knew about this from before.
Defying an order from the Princess, one of the absolute powers in Rondane and other regions, the setting of Snow Castle, was something you couldn't do without serious guts.
It was the kind of offense where you could be beheaded on the spot without a right to complain.
"Hunter. I've heard the name. They say you erased your name too, to avoid being specifically targeted by Outer Gods? Your reputation is quite famous in other cities."
The masked woman assessed the Hunter thoroughly.
The Hunter, seemingly displeased that they had investigated his background, clicked his tongue and sharply turned his head away.
"Sc-scary person."
I thought she was just teasing, but the axe-wielding girl, after looking the Hunter up and down, was genuinely trembling and scared.
Hey, why are you, the one here to carry out official duties, the one who's scared?
...Honestly, being in the same boat, I also felt a bit overwhelmed and was initially intimidated by his presence.
Although, once you got to know him, he was more like a grumpy old man.
"Summary execution."
"Vice-captain, that's not why we're here now."
The bear-masked man spoke angrily, but the White Mask woman spoke in a stern voice.
"Hunter is excellent. He still has use value."
The bear-masked man still glared at the Hunter with a blazing, angry gaze, but he clicked his tongue and closed his eyes.
"Tch, damn hunter."
Perhaps the White Mask woman held a position higher than just a squad member, as the bear-masked man only grumbled about the Hunter once before obediently listening.
So, is the White Mask woman like a squad leader?
The bear-masked man sighed and started walking towards me.
As if knowing I was the last one, the bear mascot let out a sigh.
I'm next, as expected.
I was still hoping that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't officially arrested for anything.
Well, too bad.
Alright, since we're here, let's hear what I was arrested for.
Honestly, as long as it's not something like public indecency, like running around naked as Argarta suggested, anything else is fine.
As I was thinking that, the bear-masked man's mouth slowly started to move.
"Prisoner name, Raydan Tanton."
Please let it be something normal.
If some major treason charge pops up here for no reason, the Hunter and Argarta might think I'm weird.
And if I'm not careful, I could be executed on the spot right here.
I don't want that!
Getting beaten to death by a plastic sword? That's like the Spoon Killer!
But things often turn out the opposite of what you hope for, so I was just afraid.
Finally, the bear-masked man began to recite the rest.
"Mental derangement, Outer God... attempted rape?"
"...Huh?"
A more shocking charge than I expected came out, and I let out a sound without meaning to.
My voice echoed, and all other sounds fell silent.
Everyone's focus was on me.
The Knight Order was in shock, their mouths agape as they looked at me. Argarta looked at me as if she'd seen a non-human entity, and the Hunter looked at me with undisguised disgust.
In the midst of this uncertainty about whether he'd spoken correctly, the timid girl holding the toy axe chattered nervously, her panic evident.
"W-w-wow..."
Fuck no.
This response is AI-generated, for reference only.