At the order, the members of the Lantern Knight Order—including their leader—raised their hands in salute in unison, then snapped to attention.
The factors that determine a party's strength can be broadly divided into two: individual power and coordination between members.
To defeat powerful phantoms and monsters that ordinary people can't handle, you need to amplify each individual's strength—honed through relentless training—several times over through teamwork.
And when it comes to top-tier parties, naturally both individual power and coordination tend to be at a high level. The Mourning Specter, however, leaned more toward relying on individual strength, while the Lantern Knight Order was the opposite.
That difference probably contributed to the gap in their activities as well.
The Lantern Knight Order was just as they'd been when we first met—as if they were a real knight order. No, they actually looked even more refined. Or wait, had their numbers grown a little?
Their ironclad will didn't waver by a single fraction among the crowd. Receiving their salute drew attention to us too, so I hastily spoke up.
"O-okay, okay, there are people watching. Stand down."
"Salute, dismiss!"
In perfect sync, they lowered their salute.
Come to think of it, the Lantern Knight Order's client wasn't me—it was Citry. She apparently supported them financially and with supplies.
That knight order operated not on principle but on profit. So within the Beginning Footprint, the Lantern Knight Order's position was different, and their treatment of me had shifted accordingly.
I was the boss only because I was Citry's party leader, and they knew Citry and I were on good terms.
In a way, they were far easier to deal with than someone who placed strange trust in me.
The salute performance was probably a bit of marketing wisdom to attract more clients. Merchants and nobles would surely prefer a disciplined mercenary company over a rough-and-tumble one.
Man-Slayer Luke, who loved fighting strong opponents, furrowed his brow and called out.
"Don't tell me Tomoshibi's entering the Martial Emperor Festival too?"
"Indeed... We received an offer. Thousand Swords, you as well?"
The participants in the Martial Emperor Festival were varied. The leader of a kingdom's knight order might compete, or members of widely known mercenary companies might enter.
The Lantern Knight Order was famous among trading companies and nobles, so that must have been the connection. If the leader participated in the Martial Emperor Festival, the mercenary company's reputation would only rise further.
Luke wore an indescribable, ambiguous expression.
The reason Man-Slayer Luke didn't immediately slash at Tomoshibi was that she wasn't the type to engage in pointless fights—literally fights that didn't pay—and so they just didn't quite mesh.
Luke didn't want to slash one-sidedly; he wanted a mutual exchange. Our clan operated on the motto of getting along, and Luke, oddly conscientious in that regard, stuck to it faithfully.
Tomoshibi glanced at Citry, then at Lucia and the others, then looked up at me.
"Master, I'm sorry, but we won't be holding back. We haven't been paid enough for that."
So she'd hold back if paid enough... Some things never changed. Wait—did Tomoshibi think I was entering too?
She must have heard the rumors.
Tomoshibi, between you and me—that "Myriad Blossoms of a Thousand Skies" isn't actually me. That one—is the real me!!!
The name and title were different in every way—hers was self-proclaimed, apparently—but if she ever found out about Klaye, even the ever-composed Tomoshibi would probably gape.
I flashed a grin and tried to look hard-boiled.
"Likewise, sorry, but the real me doesn't hold back. Not to brag, but the real me is quite strong. The coat billows dramatically too."
Well, the fake me would also billow the coat given the chance.
Tomoshibi's eyes went wide in an instant. Before I could even show her Klaye, she'd already done the eye-widening thing—my fun had been snatched away prematurely.
"A-ah, I see... The coat?? W-well, please go easy on us."
"O-okay, well, this time I'm just here to watch... Luke and the others are the main event."
I hurriedly backtracked. ...She wouldn't get angry later once she found out I wasn't entering, right?
It was fine, it was fine. Tomoshibi, who rarely visited the Imperial Capital anyway, should already know I was a pacifist who always wanted to retire from being a Hunter.
As always, the members of the Lantern Knight Order exuded an extraordinary aura.
Hunters certified at high levels often radiated an air that even ordinary people could clearly distinguish, but the aura surrounding the Lantern Knight Order was remarkably close to what a knight order displayed upon triumphant return.
Their exceptional discipline was entirely due to the charisma of their leader, Tomoshibi. I, who always ended up going along with whatever Luke and the others wanted, wished I could learn from that.
The relationship between the Mourning Specter and the Lantern Knight Order was lukewarm—neither good nor bad. They spent almost no time in the Imperial Capital, so our connection was fundamentally thin.
However, the Lantern Knight Order's attitude toward us was friendly.
We were invited to share a table, and Tomoshibi along with the order's key members served as our hosts.
"Meeting here must be fate. Please drink to your heart's content—it's on the house."
That said, it was actually Citry paying. She seemed quite fond of the Lantern Knight Order. Probably because problems solved with money were the easiest.
"So she says. It's the client's wish. Don't waste Citry's generosity! Drink! Don't forget your gratitude—clients this generous don't come along often. Salute!"
"Thank you!"
Everyone saluted in unison once more. Citry blinked in exasperation.
They seemed to think saluting was the answer to everything. And was she really using her Master like this?
While drinking, we caught up on the Lantern Knight Order's recent activities.
It seemed the Lantern Knight Order had continued their usual routine—pursuing bounties, joining battles, traveling between countries—before returning for the Martial Emperor Festival.
They'd hunted orcs terrorizing a village, crushed a beastkin thief gang, and even stormed a Treasure Hall on a whim. I had to hand it to them for doing so many different things, though when I thought about it calmly, we'd been doing plenty ourselves.
Liliz got into a drinking contest with the Lantern Knight Order members, drawing exasperation from Lucia.
Luke had apparently locked onto other patrons as targets, scanning the tavern with the sharp gaze of a bird of prey.
While the Lantern Knight Order members poured my drinks, I asked the question that had been on my mind.
"Come to think of it, have your numbers grown?"
"Hmm...?"
Tomoshibi's gaze sharpened.
...Did I say something wrong?
The Lantern Knight Order was the type of party without a fixed base. They traveled from country to country, scouting promising members wherever they found them. Normally, members increasing of their own accord wasn't desirable, but the Beginning Footprint had always allowed it.
I hadn't memorized their numbers, but at a glance, it felt like there were a few more than before. Two or three, maybe?
But it seemed I'd gotten something wrong. There was no way I could remember the faces of every member of a large party that rarely visited the Imperial Capital. I covered with a laugh.
"No, haha... It just seemed like there were a lot more. Let me see... ten... no, haven't about eleven joined?"
It was a joke. No matter how large the Lantern Knight Order was, they definitely hadn't gained ten members.
Expecting a reaction like "Even for a group our size, that's impossible—Master is a funny one, ahahaha," I was met with Tomoshibi crossing her arms.
"Hmm... As always, your eyes are sharp. Indeed... eleven have joined."
Wait, seriously?
No, no, no—there was absolutely no way eleven had joined. Was she... returning joke with joke, inviting the follow-up?
Should I follow up? If this were Ark, he'd jump right in, but this was Tomoshibi...
Citry, our patron who'd been pouring drinks for a party even larger than mine, looked around at the Lantern Knight Order members.
"I don't see anyone new... Where are the new members?"
"Indeed. They're on a classified mission. We've become famous, and enemies abound. Allow me to apologize for the delayed report."
Tomoshibi bowed deeply. Wha—what?
It was just a slick joke! And not a single member present had actually increased? In more ways than one, I had no idea what to make of this.
On top of that, the Lantern Knight Order had already been famous with plenty of enemies, and now they apparently had even more. I laughed.
"Lift your head, Tomoshibi. You're free to add members. When they joined the clan, that was one of the conditions, wasn't it?"
"Klye, you don't mind at all. We've been helped by the Lantern Knight Order, and as long as they don't cause trouble, I'll turn a blind eye."
"Helped by the Lantern Knight Order...? Ah, yes, exactly. They've always been a great help, and adding a few people is nothing. Ahahaha."
Well, at worst... it would only make things difficult for Eva. The clan was obligated to manage its members.
If this came to light, I'd get an earful from Eva, but I usually got one anyway, so one or two more wouldn't make much difference.
But... right. I needed a reason that would make Eva too exasperated to even get angry.
Tomoshibi nodded sagely.
"I appreciate your leniency. During the Martial Emperor Festival, it's also our prime earning season. There are bounties on individuals from other countries as well."
"Hm? What's this? Sounds like an interesting conversation?"
"What is it? Who do we need to slaughter?"
I see... This must be what Citry had mentioned before—about shady characters infiltrating the Martial Emperor Festival. Though it was quite diligent of them to be working before the tournament even started.
The noisy topic attracted our two noisy members.
Liliz and Luke locked their gazes on Tomoshibi, who let out a deep sigh.
"Indeed, this Martial Emperor Festival is particularly terrible. We're stretched thin. Thousand Swords, Peerless Shadow, and Master—I'm sure you're aware, but there are quite a few people targeting you as well."
"Woohoo!"
"Woohoo!"
"Woohoo! My ass! The question is—what exactly did you come all the way here for, giving up all your other engagements—"
Liliz and Luke's IQ plummeted as Lucia shouted her retort at full volume.
They seemed caught up in the Martial Emperor Festival's excitement. They apparently wanted a warm-up before the main event. Was there some way to stop them...? I wanted to go sightseeing.
Then, struck by a good idea, I snapped my fingers. Tomoshibi turned her namesake luminous eyes toward me.
"Right. I've also been getting cooperation from certain people on that front. If you'd like, why not meet them?"
"Hmm...?"
The Fox Mask Appreciation Society. They were an odd bunch who'd taken things in a strange direction, but their passion was genuine. From what I'd seen underground, there were likely some capable fighters among them.
They'd asked me to give them orders. So I did.
But when I thought about it calmly, handling underground operations—even for secret societies—shouldn't be entrusted to a mere fox mask appreciation club.
With Tomoshibi involved, at least some measure of assurance could be expected. After all, the Lantern Knight Order wasn't a fox mask club—they were seasoned professionals with numerous accomplishments. As mercenaries, they were surely accustomed to cooperating with other teams.
The Fox Mask people would gain a powerful ally—that was good. The Lantern Knight Order would benefit from more people rather than fewer—that was good too. And as for me—good.
Today, I was—sharp.
Then I remembered something important. Narrowing my eyes, I looked at Tomoshibi and spoke.
"Ah, right. First, I'll need you to prepare something—fox masks! The rarer the better, ideally. Of course, matching the equipment in a solid red would work too... Can you manage that?"