Osian was quite taken aback. It caught him off guard in a different way from how the reporters and citizens praised him highly.
Fixers have strong pride. You might think that bottom-feeder fixers would easily bow their heads, but that's not necessarily the case.
Normally, they're people who would sell their liver and gall bladder if you just pay them money. But there's just one thing. They have a strangely unwavering, firm stubbornness that they won't bend on.
'Without something like that in the first place, you couldn't do fixer work in this kind of world.'
Even though Osian hadn't experienced great hardships and adversity as a fixer, he could see through the psychology of this world well enough.
In his view, bottom-tier fixers hate to admit that someone in the same industry is better than them.
That guy is just there because he got lucky. You can't know about skill unless you face off directly. This work is such that today and tomorrow are different depending on your condition that day.
To put it badly, it's jealousy.
'To put it nicely, it's fighting spirit.'
That impossible thing was happening. Though they didn't bow their heads directly, the look in their eyes and expressions as they gazed at Osian already said everything.
"Ah. My god. It's my first time seeing him in person!"
"What do I do! My heart is racing so much!"
'...Is it my imagination that their reactions are somewhat girlish?'
The big guys who would win fierce-looking contests anywhere had puppy-like sparkling eyes, which was quite hard to get used to. At first, he thought it might be some kind of deception tactic, but it wasn't.
Those fixers were people who truly respected Osian.
At first, they probably thought this young guy with a pretty face just got lucky and gained fame.
But Osian continued to prove his skills afterward, and added his name to this District 17 incident as well.
Most importantly, the decisive factor was something else.
"Master Successor! You've arrived!"
"You've arrived!"
A voice that surpassed all the vocal strength of the dozens of people gathered there. At the same time, muscular men with overwhelming presence appeared.
They seemed to have been working out hard until just a moment ago, as steam was rising from their skin wearing only tank tops.
Normally, you'd think something like that was menacing or disgusting, but even that became pleasantly acceptable once it crossed a certain threshold.
"It's the Starlight Knights!"
The fixers cried out in respectful voices. The biggest reason they respected Osian was precisely the Starlight Knights led by Asmer.
Their appearance seemed to be famous among the surrounding people, as no one was surprised to see them.
When the knights approached, people naturally made way for them.
It wasn't because of intimidation or their particular atmosphere.
"Ugh. The smell of sweat."
"Everyone stand back!"
Who would just stand still when muscular men emitting hot steam from their bodies were approaching?
It was burdensome enough that even people with fairly strong stomachs would find it hard to endure. Looking at this scene alone, they should be called the Steam Knights rather than the Starlight Knights.
But the Starlight Knights became even more triumphant, thinking that people were finally recognizing their true worth.
"Heh. See that? Women are falling head over heels for me?"
"George. You're talking nonsense again."
"No, look. When women make eye contact with me, they look away. They're all doing that because they're embarrassed."
"That's just because you make them uncomfortable."
"Look over there. They're whispering to each other while looking at me. They're definitely deciding among themselves who's the best."
"It just seems like they're annoyed that you're staring at them."
George and Anthony's bickering stopped the moment they stood in front of Osian.
-Snap!
They all knelt on one knee toward Osian in knightly etiquette. It was perfect etiquette performed without even a second's difference.
Looking at their disciplined and powerful appearance, the Starlight Knights thought to themselves: This should look cool to the people around us, right?
Their thoughts were only half right.
"Why are they doing that?"
"What's that? Are they mafia?"
Knightly etiquette was too unfamiliar to Tirna citizens. Multiple people showing such respect to just one person was only possible if he was a corporate chairman or the boss of a criminal organization.
Gangs don't have such virtues anyway, but when it comes to the mafia, the story is different.
Those who viewed their behavior favorably were the fixers.
"My goodness. So cool."
"Look at how properly they're positioned."
They became even more enthusiastic watching the Starlight Knights' actions. To the fixers who had wandered the bottom without any foundation, the sight of the organized knights naturally inspired awe.
Most importantly, what made the fixers immerse themselves was the sense of kinship that the knights there were once fixers similar to themselves.
They too were once like us! That meant they could also rise up like that, giving them hope.
Right. Hope. In this damn life of struggling through endless swamps, hope was something they thought they'd never have a connection to. The fixers saw that from Osian and his subordinate Starlight Knights.
The reason was because of the impressive actions the Starlight Knights had recently shown.
"Master Successor. You've worked hard."
"It was nothing. More than that, it seems you've all been training hard. You could afford to take it a bit easier."
Osian looked over each knight member and nodded approvingly. Their bodies had become stronger, and the Starlight energy they possessed had also brightened compared to before.
Even while he was away, they hadn't neglected their training. Normally, at that point, they might have relaxed and become lazy.
David answered with a laugh to those words.
"Before, I thought it didn't matter as long as I could just live adequately."
For mayflies living only for today, all that mattered was just money to eat, drink, and sleep. They lived carrying tomorrow's worries, and when tomorrow came, another tomorrow's worries would approach. They wanted to earn more money because they hated that. No one dislikes a stable life.
Actually, the Starlight Knights had risen to that level sufficiently. With this skill, they wouldn't be treated poorly anywhere they went.
Nevertheless, they remained as knights, to serve Osian.
"Coming this far, I can see things that weren't visible before. The path leading upward. When I can see that path, how can a man born into this world settle for his current position?"
The other knights nodded in agreement. Those who used to think it was good enough just to eat and live had found a new life goal. That signpost was precisely Osian.
Like the Milky Way decorating the sky, an endlessly continuing path of starlight. They wanted to desperately follow behind that man walking on it.
"Then that's fortunate."
"More than that, I heard the news. This doesn't look too good."
Some might envy Osian, but David, who had much experience in this area, instinctively felt that this incident wasn't entirely good for Osian.
Getting public attention wasn't bad for a fixer, but considering the peculiarity of the District 17 incident that occurred this time, this was truly a poisoned chalice.
"Let's go inside first."
"Right. And those fixers over there."
Osian gazed at the fixers looking at him with sparkling eyes. The fixers who had been pushed to the background because of the conversation showed expectant expressions when Osian turned to look their way.
"Seeing them gathered here, there seems to be a reason."
"Of course there is. They're people who came here wanting to become knights."
"The rumors seem to have spread a lot."
Until then, rumors about knights had seemed nonexistent, but now it wasn't the case. It was thanks to the Starlight Knights raised by Osian and Asmer successfully completing various campaigns.
The title of being from bottom-tier fixer origins played a particularly big role.
"It wasn't intended, but we've become their hope."
David thought this situation was quite interesting. They themselves felt life's signpost looking at Osian. They followed because they discovered brilliantly shining starlight in their world that had been filled only with darkness.
They had only been following, but when they turned around, there were people following them.
People who had been chasing hope were now giving hope. David felt some grand destiny in this reality. A path that had once been cut off was connecting again. That path led to the era of future eons. It might be cut off again someday, but at least not now.
Those walking that path would leave footprints grander than anyone else's. The fact that he was included in those footprints filled David with deep gratitude and emotion. Also toward Osian who had given him that opportunity.
"More than that, what do you plan to do? Too many people have come wanting to become knights."
"If they want to become one, I won't refuse. However, we'll need to think about whether they'll quit halfway through or not. As you know from your training, becoming a knight is very difficult."
The Starlight Knights all nodded in agreement. How much blood and sweat had they put in to get this far?
"Half-hearted people aren't needed. We need earnest people who truly want to become knights. And this time, deciding that will be your responsibility."
Osian entrusted the recruitment of new knights to the Starlight Knights. At those words, the other members' eyes lit up.
"Then the training..."
"I'll entrust it to you."
The Starlight Knights were the ones who had most recently experienced hellish training. That vivid experience couldn't be forgotten even if they tried. Rather, they wanted to keep holding onto such memories. And there was something they wanted even more.
"That means the new recruits coming in this time..."
"We can work them however we want?"
"Hehehe."
Ecstasy filled the knights' eyes. While the hellish training had ultimately been helpful and they still continued it steadily, that didn't mean it wasn't difficult.
Isn't there a saying? Joy doubles when shared, and pain halves when shared.
They immediately put their thoughts into action.
"Hey, you guys over there."
Anthony, who liked to step forward and was characterized by his protruding teeth, spoke to the fixers. When a knight approached, they were so happy they didn't know what to do with themselves. At that positive reaction, the knight's smile deepened even more.
'Ah. Fresh newbies!'
'I can't stand it!'
Look at those pure and cute appearances. Doesn't it look like a predator watching baby deer who don't know they're about to be devoured, whining happily as they chase after them?
Of course, just looking at their appearance, they were fixers who looked like they could beat down bears with their bare hands rather than baby deer, but the Starlight Knights didn't care.
"Come on, everyone follow us. We'll 'specially' pass on our know-how as seniors."
"Yes, yes! It's an honor!"
Would the word "honor" still come out after 10 minutes? The Starlight Knights swallowed those words and persuasively led the fixers away with smiling faces.
The Starlight Knights disappeared from the scene with the group of fixers and reporters who had been waiting for an opportunity tried to stealthily fill the empty space again.
But their attempt was thwarted by someone who newly appeared.
"You came."
Black uniform and cloak. And a jet-black mask resembling a demon's face worn on his face, along with a top hat. That peculiar appearance reminiscent of a demon gentleman was a prominent figure that the residents of this area could never fail to recognize.
"Fixer Basilio!"
"A man who ranks among the top in the industry, approaching legendary status!"
The reporters' eyes also lit up. Basilio had appeared in person and was even speaking to Osian. The meeting between a rising star and a legend who had already left great footprints. That alone made for a picture, and the reporters tried to film.
But Basilio wouldn't allow that.
"It's noisy here. Let's go inside and talk."
Basilio's voice had power. It was a voice that inherently stimulated human fear. The reporters and citizens didn't know why. They just couldn't think properly due to fear and their bodies froze, unable to move.
This was possible because Basilio's aura had become even more ferocious than before due to contact with Red Eternity.
Passing by the frozen people, the two safely entered Violet Fox.
"Hehehe. Both of you, welcome. I've been waiting."
As if he had known these two would come, Ronan greeted them with a smiling face.
Osian suddenly had the illusion that Ronan might have orchestrated all of this.
Ronan's physiognomy had the power to make him suspect such things even while knowing it wasn't the case.