The Story of Vampire Michaela by Kagami Takaya~

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Crusader Who Lost God 

It was in 1217, before they departed for the Crusade.

"Hey, guys, you get this, don't you? This war is our chance to demonstrate our overwhelming power as the Knights Templar! So show both the other knights and the enemies what you've got! Teach them just who are the chosen by Our Lord here!" one of the knights shouted.

The other knights raised their glasses and let out a war cry of their own.

On that day, in the big dining hall, the knights who were going to participate in the Crusade were allowed to have much more extravagant food than usual, before they went to war. There was meat, wine and even women - the knights feasted the night away tonight.

They were about to go to the Crusade, the holy war under the banner of the Lord's name, to slay pagans and recapture the Holy Land.

It was a just war. And all of them believed, without a shadow of doubt, that what was waiting for them in it was the glorious path to victory.

In the corner of the hall, Crowley drank wine in silence.

But he wasn't left alone for long as someone called out to him, "Hey, Crowley, what are you doing hiding in a corner like that? Come to us and let's raise hell together tonight!"

Looking in the direction of the voice, Crowley found Victor, a knight of the same high rank as himself, standing there. Victor was a blond with green eyes; he joined the Knights Templar at about the same time as Crowley, and they practiced together a lot.

Victor emptied his glass in one gulp and, throwing it to the floor, took another.

"Look at how many cute girls are here tonight."
"Girls, huh? What happened to our oath of chastity?"
"Aw, don't be a party-pooper. We can think about that starting tomorrow. There won't be any women on the battlefield anyway. If you don't have your share of fun now, you'll sure as hell regret it later, I'm telling ya."
"That's rich coming for someone who's always fooling around with girls."
"How come you know that?!"
"Saw a noble girl you dumped the other day crying her eyes out over you."
"Which one?"
"Good grief."
"Well, anyway. This is a rare opportunity when you don't need to hide to have a little fun with girls, so why not take it and make the best of it? Hey guys! Crowley's joining us!"

When he shouted that, the other knights met the announcement with cheers and excitement. The girls, dressed up gaudily for the occasion, also squealed loudly, making a racket.

Victor shot Crowley a narrowed-eyed look. "You bastard, popular as ever, I see. So, with how many among these girls did you sleep?"
"I didn't sleep with any. A Knight Templar is supposed to keep his chastity."
"Yeah, right, as if I'd believe that. All the girls can't take their eyes off you."
"Then, with how many among them did you sleep?"
"Four."
"Oh come on."
"Hahaha," Victor laughed innocently.

Victor was someone who enjoyed popularity among both men and women. He always dressed with a touch of style, and the Roleine family he was from was a fairly high class noble house.

But the reason for his popularity wasn't his parentage. It was because he was sunny and cheerful and could get along with anybody.

Perhaps it was precisely because Victor joined the Knights Templar at the same time as Crowley that a thought of his training as a knight being hard never crossed Crowley's mind. Victor was always coming up with something amusing to do and never failed to get his comrades join him in on the fun, so Crowley was able to spend those days laughing and smiling.

That day was no exception. Even though he was about to set out to the frontlines where he could die, he couldn't help partying and having a good time.