Chapter 50: Short Break

All the first-round matches of the Squire Joint Match, Youngest Division, have ended. The thirty-two winners will now fight in the second round. Since there are four arenas, they are divided into blocks of eight. Fortunately, Bianca, Jean, his sister Cecil, and Gloria are all separated, so they won’t clash. The second round has already begun, and battles between boys and girls are unfolding in the four arenas. Everyone is tackling the match seriously. Since achieving excellent results in this match opens the path to becoming a knight, it’s only natural.

“Actually, how many people can become knights from this match?”

I ask the Grand Master something I was wondering about.

“If it’s just becoming a knight, anyone can do it if they properly complete their squire training and pass the entrance exam. Usually, it’s about one-third of the total. However, those who achieve excellent results in this joint match have the possibility of receiving a recommendation from each Knight Order Captain. If it’s a recommendation entry, they are given the status of unit commander from the time of assignment and will lead a platoon.”

I see. So you can get promoted right away upon joining. Is it like career-track police officers starting as Assistant Inspectors right away? Being a platoon commander means being a direct subordinate of the seven Captains. So, it seems the Captains don’t grant recommendation entries easily either. It seems the decision is made after considering the completion of squire training, results of joint matches up to that point, personality, and character. So those who stand above others can’t just be strong. The second-round matches proceeded, and it was Bianca‘s turn. The opponent was a boy of about the same age, but Bianca skillfully dodged his attacks and won easily by attacking when she saw an opening. It was a rather plain match. However, for Bianca, the match against Gloria is the real deal. She might want to save her strength.

“Is the young lady Bianca not using ‘Ensemble’s’ power a countermeasure against ‘Discord’?”

Balay-san asked while tilting a glass of whiskey he brought from somewhere. The one I gave him. Seriously, dwarves really love alcohol…

“If she shows it first, countermeasures might be taken. Better safe than sorry, right?” “Well, I guess so. Normally, even if countermeasures are taken, it wouldn’t be a problem if she could draw out enough power from the Magic Sword to crush them… but maybe it’s still difficult for that young lady.”

Saying that, Balay-san took a sip of the whiskey poured into his glass. The second round also proceeded smoothly, and Jean, his sister Cecil, and Gloria also advanced easily. The second round ended, and the Top 16 were decided. The real competition starts here, I guess. Even to my amateur eyes, I didn’t feel anyone other than Bianca, Jean, Cecil, and Gloria was particularly strong, but there might be a dark horse somewhere unexpectedly. Carelessness is forbidden. That said, all I can do is cheer. There seems to be a break of about an hour before the third round. Since it was just approaching noon, we decided to eat lunch too.

“Or rather, having hot dogs here again feels a bit…” “Now, now. Sakuraile can eat them every day so it’s fine, but we don’t get to eat them often.” “I eat with Lady Sakuraile every day, though!”

Estelle taking a mysterious mount over Elliott‘s words. No, we don’t eat every day… Though I do summon it when asked by the servants. Since Estelle comes to my house every day to take lessons and etiquette lectures with me, she has many opportunities to eat, though.

“So this is the young lady’s ‘Gift’…”

Balay-san looked at the kitchen car parked next to the VIP seats with interest from various angles. Umm, could you not hit it too much? This kitchen car is incredibly sturdy so I don’t think it will break, but.

“Umm, a roast beef dog, small fries, and a cola.”

Elliott ordered with a practiced air, and the ordered items appeared on a tray on the table attached to the kitchen car.

“Food appeared…! Young lady, can anyone use this?” “As long as you pay. Though there is a limit to the number.”

Balay-san seemed intrigued and was staring down the menu list translated into this language.

“No booze, huh…” “None.”

Don’t link everything to booze. If I summoned a liquor shop in front of this person, I bet he’d lock himself in and never come out. While Balay-san was agonizing over the menu, Estelle, Julia, and Tanya ordered one after another. Leaving him out would be awkward, so I handed a menu list to the Grand Master too.

“I wonder if Bianca and the others are eating too?” “There’s no problem if they eat, but most participants don’t. Concentration breaks, and most can’t get food down their throats due to nervousness. Well, there are those with nerves of steel like my Jean who eat boldly, though.”

Is that nerves of steel, or just being insensitive…? Indeed, Jean seems like the type to eat. But they also say ‘an army marches on its stomach’. Maybe it’s better to eat even a little. I gave Bianca a sandwich ordered from the kitchen car just in case, but given her personality, she might not have eaten it…

“Alright! I’ll have this! One Hot Source Special!” “Whaaat!?”

A strange voice came out at Balay-san’s order. Hot Source Special, you say! Wait!? The translated menu said ‘Extremely Spicy’, right!? Before I could say anything, Balay-san grabbed the summoned hot dog firmly and ate about half of it in one bite—gaburi. …He ate it. He ate it.

“Nnh!?”

Balay-san, having taken a bite of the Hot Source Special, opened his eyes wide. Ah, another victim… Is there really anyone who can eat this normally?

“Delicious! The spicy sauce matches the meat perfectly! It’s been a while since a dish hit me this hard!” “No way.”

Balay-san ate the rest in another bite—pakuri—and ordered another Hot Source Special. It’s not like he’s putting up a brave front like Father; he’s genuinely eating it saying it’s delicious. Eeh… Is Balay-san strange? Or are dwarves just that kind of race? Dwarves drink strong liquor like water nonchalantly. It wouldn’t be strange if they had that kind of tolerance, but… If it’s Balay-san, he looks like he could drink Spirytus straight nonchalantly too… No, he definitely would. Perhaps influenced by Balay-san eating the Hot Source Special saying it’s delicious, even the Grand Master ordered a Hot Source Special. I ordered vanilla ice cream and quietly offered it to the Grand Master, whose face had changed from red to blue.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Phew…”

I couldn’t bring myself to touch the sandwich Lady Sakuraile gave me. Rather than lack of appetite, I’m worried about the upcoming matches and just don’t feel like eating. I will face Gloria in the semi-finals. I’ve done everything I could. Now all that’s left is to do my best. …Just do my best, but anxiety still remains. There are no absolutes in competition. Sometimes you make big mistakes over trivial things. I gently touch the Magic Sword ‘Ensemble’ at my waist. The Magic Sword entrusted to me by Lady Sakuraile for my sake. Am I worthy of wielding this Magic Sword…?

“Haa…”

Several sighs leaked in the Knight Order waiting room. The participants around me, as if they didn’t even hear my sighs, were each preparing for their next match. Those polishing their weapons single-mindedly, those meditating to unify their minds, those wolfing down bento… the one wolfing down is Jean. Does he have no concept of nervousness? I envy that insensitivity right now.

“Haa…” “My, what a big sigh.”

Someone stopped in front of me, who sighed yet again, with a smirking smile.

“Gloria…”

Sitting on the chair, I naturally end up looking up at her as if being looked down upon. Gloria‘s face has faint dark circles under her eyes compared to before, and her cheeks are slightly sunken. Yet her eyes were shining glaringly like burning fire.

“Can you win through the third round with that attitude? I’ll be troubled if you don’t win your way up.” “…No problem. You shouldn’t lose due to strange carelessness either.” “Fuffufu. An amusing joke. You should savor your status as a Ducal House apprentice knight while you can. I’m looking forward to seeing your face when you’re dragged down from being Lady Sakuraile‘s personal attendant.”

Spitting spiteful words, Gloria smiled. Lady Sakuraile told me she wouldn’t remove me from being her personal attendant even if I lost. What Gloria promised Lady Sakuraile was that she would ‘talk to the Duke of le Philharmonie… His Highness the Imperial Brother, to make her a personal attendant’. My dismissal is not included in that. Even if I lose, it would be possible to serve as Lady Sakuraile‘s personal attendant together with Gloria. However, if I lose, I am prepared to gracefully quit being Lady Sakuraile‘s personal attendant. If I remain as a personal attendant, Gloria definitely won’t accept it, and above all, I myself cannot forgive myself. Clinging to Lady Sakuraile‘s benevolence and continuing as an apprentice knight… that is not the figure of the knight I aimed for.

“You too, don’t forget the promise to let go of that Magic Sword when you lose.” “Of course. Though there isn’t a one in a million chance of that. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

With a fearless smile, Gloria flipped her vertical roll hair and walked away briskly. I cannot lose. For Lady Sakuraile‘s sake and for my own. Fighting spirit dwells again in my heart, which was full of anxiety. I must win. No, I will definitely win! While silently carrying the sandwich on my lap to my mouth, I quietly burned with fighting spirit.