After the fight had ended, Koutarou picked up Theia. They were going to leave the area before people who had heard the explosion gathered.
“Alright. Let's go, Ruth-san.”
Carrying Theia, Koutarou turned towards Ruth.
“Hm? What's wrong?”
When he did, he saw Ruth kneeling.
“Although I was unaware, please forgive me for all my impoliteness.”
Ruth bowed deeply towards Koutarou. That was what someone of lower status did towards one of higher status.
“What are you doing?”
Koutarou was puzzled by Ruth's sudden actions. She slowly raised her head and looked up at Koutarou.
Ruth-san?
Koutarou wasn't sure of what kind of expression Ruth was making.
It looked like she was crying, but it also looked like she was smiling. Her eyes were moistened by tears and her cheeks were red. And her calm eyes gazed at Koutarou, trying to tell him something.
All that Koutarou could tell was that while Ruth was crying, she wasn't sad.
“That sword... it's the real Signaltin, isn't it?”
Ruth's words didn't answer the question on Koutarou's mind. She narrowed her eyes and looked at the beautiful sword glowing of silvery white hanging on Koutarou's waist. Ruth had seen the power of that sword first hand, and she had concluded that the sword was the real Signaltin.
“Ruth-san...”
“Koutarou let out a small sigh and looked down on the sword on his waist.
So it really did come to this...
Koutarou felt it was regrettable that he couldn't protect the secret, but he had been prepared that Ruth might reach that answer, so he didn't panic.
“I am from a family that has served Forthorthe for a long time. Even I can discern that this is not a replica.”
As Ruth said that, she reached out with her hand and touched Koutarou's sword. And she gently stroked it as if it was her own child.
“I thought something was strange. Why had all the armor's data been erased... If you had just been thrown out of the universe, there would have been no need to do that.”
Ruth shed tears as she continued speaking. They kept flowing and wet her cheeks.
“But, this makes sense. Satomi-sama and Clan-sama travelled to the past Forthorthe, and came back with this sword.”
Ruth was desperately trying to suppress her own feelings. If she let her guard down even a little, her emotions would explode and she would throw herself at Koutarou. However, that wouldn't convey anything. Ruth wanted Koutarou to know what she was feeling right now. Just how thankful she was for this miracle.
“And you erased the data to keep that truth a secret. The reason was to not cause Forthorthe any needless confusion.”
Ruth looked back up at Koutarou. Her glance was filled with trust and love.
“All of that leads to a single answer.”
Ruth was in bliss, to the point where she couldn't express it with words. The future that she could never obtain was now right in front of her. Ruth felt like she would go crazy as she felt that intense, deep joy.
“And that is that you are the highest ranking knight of Forthorthe, the Blue Knight, his excellency Reios Fatra Bertorion.”
All of the clues pointed in that direction.
The silvery white sword, the damaged armor, his relationship with Clan, his improved skill with the sword. The fragmented clues eventually led Ruth to a single solution.
And that was that Koutarou was Forthorthe's legendary hero, the Blue Knight.
“...The highest ranking?”
Those words puzzled Koutarou. Seeing Koutarou's expression change upon hearing those words, Ruth was convinced and showed a smile of true joy.
“So it... really is the truth...?”
“...Yes.”
Koutarou nodded firmly in response to Ruth's question.
“Ah... goddess of the dawn... I thank you for this miracle...”
Ruth loved Koutarou. Those feelings had surpassed her admiration for the Blue Knight for quite a while.
However, now that she knew that Koutarou and the Blue Knight were the one and the same, her admiration for the Blue Knight was added onto her feelings for Koutarou. And her feelings for him were now greater than ever.
“...Your title of Blue Knight, was affixed as the highest rank after the war by her majesty Alaia, in praise of, your loyalty.”
The tears flowing from Ruth's eyes weren't stopping and her sobbing made it hard for her to speak.
Your highness... our Blue Knight... was the real one...
Her trembling hand grasped at her throbbing chest and while her tears wet her cheeks, Ruth did her best to continue speaking. She wanted Koutarou to know just who he was.
“Ever since, 'Blue Knight' has become your personal title. There is no knight that has inherited that title since. 'Blue Knight' is the leader of the knights. It is a higher rank than my title of Guardian Knight.”
“The leader of the knights...?”
Just a moment ago Ruth had been the one confused, but now the tables had turned and Koutarou was gradually understanding the complicated position he was in.
“Yes. As long as you possess that sword and go by the title of Blue Knight, you have the most authority in Forthorthe after royalty. And not even the highest standing nobles, no, not even royalty, would have an easy time doing something to you. You're an exception amongst exception.”
There were too many exceptions Alaia had set up for the Blue Knight to count.
Not only was the Bertorion's special territory still forbidden to enter, the Blue Knight's salary was still included in the national budget even now after 2,000 years had passed.
When it came to the law, exceptions for the Blue Knight were given priority and not even the emperor could remove that right. That is what Alaia had prepared for Koutarou if he were to return to Forthorthe 2,000 years in the future for some reason.
“I see... so her majesty, Alaia did...”
“Yes. If you so feel like it, Master, you could even order me to die.”
As Ruth said that she put her hand on her chest and smiled as if she was saying she'd be willing to die on the spot.
“I won't order something like that.”
“I am aware, Master. Fufu, fufufufu.”
Ruth was well aware that Koutarou would never give such an order. But at the same time, she almost wanted him do to just that.
“By the way... what's with that master thing?”
“Master is Master. You are the most important knight, so it's only obvious I call you that.”
“I'm not all that important though.”
“Oh, but you are. What are you saying, geez...”
To Ruth this was unbearably amusing. The Blue Knight was the most famous general in Forthorthe's history. But the person in question was saying that he wasn't all that important.
“Fufu, I can't wait for her highness to wake up.”
Ruth looked at Theia, resting on Koutarou's back, and smiled through her tears.
“Once her highness learns of Satomi-sama's identity... fufufu.”
Ruth was almost dying with anticipation to see what kind of expression Theia would make when she told her about Koutarou.
“About that... Please don't tell Theia about my secret.”
“Master!? Why is that!?”
Koutarou's words came as a surprise to Ruth. To Theia this would be an incredibly happy news.
“Theia's dream will be ruined.”
“That's not true! Not at all!”
“And if both the Blue Knight and Signaltin were to appear, Forthorthe would enter a state of confusion. The fewer that knows about this, the better.”
“Her highness would definitely keep it a secret!”
“It's not about if she'll keep it a secret... just by knowing it will influence her judgment.”
Koutarou trusted Theia and Ruth. They would without a doubt keep it a secret. However, Koutarou believed that the fact that he was the Blue Knight and that Signaltin existed would fetter Theia's decisions. So aside from having his secret revealed from unavoidable circumstances, he had no intention of revealing it on his own. Neither Koutarou nor Alaia wished for that.
“Her highness's judgment...”
Ruth understood the meaning of that as well. A big secret like that which can't be told to anyone would only be an unnecessary risk.
“I, understand...”
Ruth reluctantly decided to listen to Koutarou. Considering today's events, it would be for the best to keep the risk as low as possible. Although logic dictated that she do so, Ruth was very disappointed.