The Squires deliberated carefully as they moved their pens.
After collecting everyone’s ballots, Freya shuffled them thoroughly before unfolding them one by one.
“The first vote is for… Joshua and Lunae. The second is Joshua and Galev. The third is Hannibal and Lunae….”
Joy and disappointment crossed their faces whenever the girl called out another name.
After ten ballots had been opened, the number of recommendations was as follows.
Joshua: 9
Lunae: 4
Hannibal: 3
Galev: 2
Heria: 2
“The eleventh ballot is for Joshua and Hannibal.”
A tie.
The corners of Hannibal’s mouth rose sharply.
“The twelfth ballot is for Joshua and Lunae.”
The girl pulled ahead once more.
For some reason, her expression appeared slightly uneasy.
“The thirteenth ballot is for Joshua and Hannibal. The fourteenth is also for Joshua and Hannibal. The fifteenth is for Joshua and Lunae.”
In the end, the final ballot would determine who participated.
Hannibal clenched his fist and waited for Freya to speak.
“The final ballot is… Joshua and Lunae.”
“That is impossible!”
The furious boy opened every ballot himself, but the result remained unchanged.
As Hannibal breathed heavily, unable to suppress his anger, Yukail spoke.
“Enough. A knight must also know how to accept a result. The Instructors reached a similar assessment, so Joshua and Lunae will participate in the Individual Duel. However, since both of them belong to the 1st Squad, the 2nd Squad will participate in the Monster Subjugation event held the following day.”
“Yes, understood.”
Still overwhelmed by emotion, Hannibal could not raise his head.
However, fierce competitiveness often became excellent fuel for growth.
Joshua hoped that the proud boy would mature well.
“That concludes today’s schedule. Everyone should rest properly.”
The Instructors left the Squires’ room, and the lights were extinguished one after another.
Lying among the members of the 1st Squad, Joshua quietly waited for sleep to arrive.
Just as he was about to surrender his consciousness to its naturally approaching touch, someone tapped him upon the shoulder.
“…Lunae?”
When Joshua turned, he found the girl trembling like an aspen leaf.
Her expression, which had already appeared troubled earlier, had become deathly pale.
“Are you ill?”
“…No.”
“Then is something troubling you?”
After hesitating for a long while, Lunae spoke quietly enough that only Joshua could hear.
“The truth is that I have a painful history with House Murginu. The thought of having to fight them… honestly frightens me.”
“I see.”
Joshua took the girl’s cold hands in his own.
“I do not know the full circumstances, but I can say one thing with certainty. You are someone capable of overcoming any trial.”
“I am… not that strong.”
“You are strong, Lunae. Not merely in your Magic, but in your heart as well.”
“…No. If the day comes when you learn everything about me, you will leave me too.”
To Joshua, a comrade remained a comrade forever.
He had never broken that principle under any circumstances.
“Even if you were the Demon King’s closest servant and the disciple of a Dark Mage, you would still be my comrade. Whenever things become difficult, rely upon me. I will rely upon you as well.”
At last, a smile spread across Lunae’s lips.
Only the corners of her mouth rose slightly, but for a girl who struggled to express emotion, it was an immense display.
“Could I also become someone whom everyone trusts and follows one day, like you?”
“Of course. The trials you face now will become part of your legend and make you shine. It is all right to collapse. It is all right to fall. Just never abandon your dream.”
Those who followed her would naturally appear in time, Joshua added.
Thanks to his words, the girl released a relieved sigh and comfortably closed her eyes.
“Joshua… are you truly fifteen years old?”
“…Do I look old?”
The boy did his best to evade the question.
Apparently amused by his joke, Lunae let out a quiet laugh.
“That is not what I meant, you fool.”
“…Sleep well.”
“You too.”
Another day passed amid the harmony created by Alvan’s tremendous snoring and the cries of nocturnal birds.
Even the morning sunlight could not brighten Lombardia’s pitch-black fortress.
Strict security remained in place both inside and outside the gates.
Outsiders whose identities could not be verified were forbidden from entering the territory.
Even the Knight Commander of Betlimier had personally stepped forward to maintain order.
A Fifth-Circle Dark Mage had revealed himself, and an Archdemon sealed within a sacred site had been released.
Based upon Sezelin’s request, every Knight Order was now accompanied by either its Knight Commander or a House Head-level figure.
However, the incidents had not been revealed to the Squires or the territory’s residents, as doing so might cause widespread panic.
Consequently, the territory remained as lively as ever.
Knights raised banners bearing the symbols of their respective factions, while merchants sold daily necessities and food.
Knights lived and died for honor and rarely haggled, allowing the merchants to sell their wares at higher prices than usual.
After purchasing everything they would need during their stay, the Galahad Knight Order headed toward the Arena in the center of the territory.
They had barely marched the previous day and had instead rested in preparation for the exercise.
“How are you feeling, Lunae?”
“…Thanks to you, I am fine.”
However, the girl trembled whenever the Murginu banner passed within sight.
It appeared to be a trial she would have to face directly and overcome.
When they finally arrived at the site of the decisive contest, Count Hector stepped before the Squires.
“Everyone, you have worked hard to travel this far. However, your true journey begins now. Galahad’s glory and honor rest upon your shoulders. The name of Galahad lies within your hands. As the House Head, I command you—fight like knights, and seize victory like knights!”
“Yes, understood!”
Their answer, louder than ever before, shook the heavens.
Before long, every participating faction had gathered in one place.
By coincidence, the Murginu Squires occupied the seats directly beside them.
When they noticed Lunae, they began whispering.
“Is that girl perhaps…?”
“It is. That bitch the family cast out.”
“She fled to the collapsing Galahad of all places?”
“Pfft. How pathetic.”
The moment Lunae’s body shrank inward, Joshua and Galev stepped forward.
“Does House Murginu teach slander instead of Magic?”
“Do not insult our precious comrade or our house.”
Hannibal then ground his teeth and shouted.
“You rat-like bastards only know how to run your mouths! Come at us right now! I will crush you into paste and mock you throughout the night! Tiny runts like you are not even worth waiting for the exercise!”
For once, neither the Instructors nor Freya attempted to restrain him.
Even Joshua, whose frustration had been thoroughly relieved, turned his head away and laughed.
“H-How dare that bastard!”
“You are merely Squires of a Count House, yet you dare insult those of us serving a Ducal House?!”
“Enough. Everyone, remain silent. Excessive hostility will undermine the true purpose of the exercise.”
In the end, Murginu’s Instructor restrained them.
However, even the man glanced toward Galahad with open contempt.
‘…It has been a long time since my blood boiled like this.’
Joshua had once spread Galahad’s name beyond the North and across the entire continent.
No one loved the house more deeply than he did.
He gripped his sword hard enough to break it.
He would carry all that fury into the Duel.
“Next, the Galahad delegation will enter.”
Following the guidance of a Betlimier official, they entered the Arena in order.
When the Squires affiliated with the Academy appeared, however, the entire venue erupted into commotion.
“That black-haired girl is….”
“It is Serena. The genius they call the next Archmage.”
“I heard she reached the Fourth Circle at only fourteen.”
“I am jealous. I wish I could live with talent like that.”
The girl was the object of everyone’s envy and jealousy.
Joshua turned toward the source of the commotion and stared in astonishment.
“…Serena?”
He had never heard that she would participate in the Joint Training Exercise.
Although he knew she was a genius, he had not realized her name had already spread throughout the entire North.
“Leader, do you know that girl?”
Alvan, who stood beside him, asked.
The Galahad Squires were just as astonished as everyone else.
“She is my younger sister.”
“What? Is that really true?”
“Now that I look closely, you certainly resemble each other!”
Heria and Galev also exclaimed in surprise.
“A pair of genius siblings.”
“…Compared to my sister, I am nothing, Alvan.”
At that moment, Serena also noticed Joshua and lightly waved her hand.
The greeting somehow felt like a challenge to a Duel.
‘If we end up facing each other… that would be tremendously enjoyable.’
To Joshua, a battle against a powerful opponent was no different from a gift.
After every faction completed its entrance, the Paladin Order stepped forward and performed an offering ceremony to the gods.
It was a prayer asking for the Joint Training Exercise to proceed safely.
Most people worshiped Theos, the Creator God.
Joshua and a very small number of others instead believed in Tatir, who was said to rule over Valhalla.
The ceremonial proceedings ended with an oath to fight according to Chivalry.
“Participants in the first event, the Individual Duel, please gather in the waiting room.”
Following the announcement that echoed throughout the Arena, Joshua and Lunae began moving.
“Show them Galahad’s strength!”
“Do your best, both of you!”
“I believe Leader will win the entire tournament!”
“Sword-wielder! If you lose to those Murginu bastards, I will kill you myself!”
Joshua answered the encouragement of Hannibal and his other comrades with a confident smile.
Lunae, however, appeared extremely nervous, and her breathing had grown rough.
“Are you trembling?”
“…I am.”
“I feel the same.”
“Liar.”
“No, it is true. My entire body is trembling at the thought of fighting so many powerful opponents. Therefore, do not burden yourself. Enjoy the Duel. Even defeat can become a blazing honor.”
Joshua stroked his sword as he finished speaking.
Naturally, he was the only swordsman among the Squires gathered in the waiting room.
Mockery and contempt poured toward him from every direction, but he paid them no attention.
He would soon prove to everyone that the sword was still alive.
“The Match Draw has concluded… The fourth match will be between Joshua of the Galahad Knight Order and Odius of the Murginu Knight Order.”
As though fate itself were playing a cruel joke, Joshua’s first opponent came from Murginu.
Lunae would face a Squire from the Paladin Order, while Serena had been matched against a Betlimier Squire.
As Joshua waited through the earlier battles, his body itched with unbearable anticipation.
Most of the opponents were Mages at the Second or Third Circle.
“Participants in the fourth match, please enter the Arena.”
At last, the moment he had awaited arrived.
“I will return.”
“Yes. Do not lose.”
Joshua walked through a passage decorated with brilliant lights and emerged beneath the dazzling sunlight before countless spectators.
“Is that a swordsman?”
“As expected of Galahad. They still have a Squire who uses a sword.”
“I have not seen one in a long time. I am somewhat curious how well he can fight against a Mage.”
As everyone’s attention focused upon the unusual boy carrying a sword, Odius furrowed his brow.
“…Do you truly intend to face me with that piece of metal?”
“It is not merely a piece of metal. It is a sword carrying Galahad’s conviction.”
“Conviction, my ass. You are still trapped by teachings from a hundred years ago.”
“Time passing does not make those values fade.”
The two Squires exchanged verbal blows as they drew their respective weapons.
BOOM―!
The Referee raised his arm, and the sound of an exploding spell echoed across the Arena.
“Begin the Duel!”
Before the words had even finished, Joshua drew his sword with a lightning-fast motion.
Blue Aura carrying the cold rippled across the blade.
He pushed off the ground like a storm, and a terrifying whistle swept past his ears.
Steadying his breathing, he rapidly closed the distance.
At last, his opponent completed his chant and manifested his spell.
“Become ash beneath my lightning!”