TL/N: For those of you who want to visualize what Dyurahan and Lichi looked like, watch Kono-suba I just realized that right now hehe~

Lets use the warp gate.

The clear, flowing voice stopped Cain and Icarus in their tracks. They looked at each other.

Do you have money? Icarus whispered.

Cain shrugged. Do I look like someone with money? he whispered back.

What did you do with your salary back then?

You got your salary?

Icarus tilted her head. Now that she thought about it, she couldnt remember getting paid. She just didnt realize it because Joshua handed her a giant bag of money. The truth was, none of that money went to Joshuas vassals.

Wow. Our master is a scammer after all, Cain bemoaned.

Were basically homeless and penniless right now. We really need the family to protect our rights

Youre stating the obvious.

So, you dont have any personal savings?

No, nothing at all. I didnt think Id ever need the money.

I had my hopes up, but I really dont think youre ever going to get married now.

What are you on about?!

Who wants to marry a man with no money these days?

If I set my mind to it, Ill have no problem making money! Is that all women are interested in?

Yeah, yeah Keep telling yourself that.

While Cain and Icaruss voices continued to mount, Iceline stared at them from beneath the hem of her robe.

Even if I dont have money, Ill still get married before you. Cain looked pointedly at her body.

What are you trying to say, you old bachelor?

E-Excuse me?

Now that I think about it, you should be the Solo Knight, not the First Knight. Add incel1 in there while were at it, you creep.

As if you have any experience!

Its not that I cant, its that I dont want to. If I set my mind to

Oh, where have I heard that before?

Icarus glared at Cain with killer eyes. Old man.

Poor.

Ignorant.

Stupid.

Ive never held a womans hand in my life.

Forever alone, unidentifiable gender.

Ugh! Icaruss face was red with anger.

Cain stuck his chin up and shrugged. It felt like hed won in some strange way.

Even an emergency fund would be nice.

As you command. Cain looked down and pulled a small leather pocket from his waist.

You said you had no money!

Every man has his secrets.

True. Icarus wore a wide smile on her face, despite her anger moments ago. It made Cain inexplicably nervous2.

This money will be very useful for the family. Icarus suddenly produced an even bigger leather pouch and stuffed both wallets into a fist-sized pocket.

Cains jaw dropped. Is that a subspace artifact?

As the saying goes, the more, the merrier. We cant see the future, so we have to save up as much money as possible. You understand that, right? Im so glad youre willing to sacrifice yourself for the cause.

Looks like I need to give Icarus another name.

Stingy.

Call it a womans touch.

Cain clenched his fists in frustration.

Hey Icelines charming voice broke their standoff. She smiled at them. I have a lot of money.

Huh?

Eh?

I think we should be focusing on getting to Arcadia as soon as possible, dont you?

Their response was a silence stiff enough to cut with a knife.

There wasnt a reason for them to argue in the first placeafter the payoff from Icelines bets in Reinhardt, she had enough money to live like a queen for three generations.

Real masters dont advertise their presence.

Captain!

The 400 knights of the 11th and 12th Battalions were waiting for Joshua.

Congratulations on achieving your goals!

I was so surprised. I cant believe you would say something like that in front of the proud central nobles Just thinking about it made Viper trail off. Cazes and Ranger were tearing up.

What do we do? No one chose to stand with us, the idiots.

Whos this boy? Ranger peered at Ash.

Oh, dont worry about him, Joshua replied. More importantly, I think I owe you an apology first. He bowed deeply.

S-Sir! What are you doing?

Im sorry for making such a decision without discussing it with anyone. For you, it must have come out of the blue.

Thats not what we were thinking! Ranger protested. Hey, whos thinking like that?! The big knight glared at the others.

Is that a threat? Joshua shook his head. It was a unilateral decision by your ignorant commander. If you dont agree with my choices, I will help you transfer to another battalion peacefully.

In that case, Ill help as well.

Sir Valmont? Viper gaped.

Valmont dun Brown, captain of the much more prestigious 3rd Battalion, waved at them from atop the roof.

I owe your master quite a debt, so Ill give you a hand. Im sure you wont believe me, but my only request is another spar. How about it?

Joshua nodded, drawing a chuckle from Valmont.

Great.

And that was that. Any worries they had were groundless.

And if we stay?

Well follow you until the day we die! Even if you tell us to get lost.

Are you sure you arent going to throw us away because were out? Ranger couldnt suppress his smile.

The Captain is our hero!

What a breath of fresh air!

The captains of the top battalions shouldve seen the dumb looks on their faces!

An order independent of the Imperial Knights? The other battalions are gonna die of stomach aches!

The knights stuck their thumbs up, making Viper and Cazes laugh. All of them were in agreement.

No one wants to leave, Captain, Ranger informed Joshua.

Joshua was silent.

Ah, is five years too long or too short? That was how long it took you to make your men obedient. Now it feels like gold wouldnt even make them blink, Valmont admired as he stood up. Looks like you dont have any problems. Enjoy your battles with your own people now.

Joshua mulled over Valmonts words once he was gone. Valmont had come for a reason, but he picked this moment in particular.

Now that everyone knows, Viper ventured, I have a question What kind of knights did you have in mind, Captain?

Instantly, the knights fell silent.

Perhaps you havent come up with a name yet?

Ranger. Cazes frowned.

Ranger smiled brightly. Does it matter what the name is? Just call us the Knights of Ranger! Dont rush, but dont take it for granted eitherI mean, take your time but put some thought into it!

That was the crux of the issue. Whether they liked it or not, their order was real. From the point of view of the 11th and 12th Battalions, this felt like ditching a stable job for a very uncertain one.

No, Ive already thought this through.

Joshua would never put over two hundred knights in an uncertain position on a whim. Hed been thinking about his own order of knights for a long time now.

Swallow has their Wyvern Knights, and Avalon has the First Sky Knights Order.

He felt excitement welling up when he saw the heat in the knights eyes.

Hed made another deal with Crevasse, one that was quite handy. There was nothing more effective at taming wild animals than the threat of a dragon.

Im really sorry, but I cant say more right now. Will you still follow me, nonetheless?

But Captain, we asked you about the name of our order, Ranger apologetically pressed him.

The name? Joshua slowly met eyes with each knight. Crevasse, Frozen Nightmare of Earth.

The newborn Crevasse Knights would be famous in the not-so-distant future for slicing through the wide expanses of the heavens.