Seeing the newcomers, a trace of surprise welled up in Kenma’s heart.
It seemed that this time, due to the lack of his own participation coupled with a series of butterfly effects, Emilia had found Reinhard, and the two of them followed the clues all the way here looking for the insignia.
Upon seeing the battle-torn scene in the slums, Emilia’s hands clenched involuntarily.
Reinhard raised a hand to block her forward steps, taking the lead and walking in front.
“Emilia-sama, a battle seems to have taken place here.
Let me clear the path first.” “Mm, please be careful.” When the two of them saw Kenma standing in the center of the giant crater, especially when they witnessed with their own eyes the glowing insignia in his hand, they both froze in place.
Emilia recognized at a glance that the Dragon Jewel in his hand was precisely the one that had been stolen from her not long ago.
However…
why was the insignia in that boy’s hand emitting light?
As for Reinhard, his expression suddenly turned somewhat peculiar.
As the Sword Saint of the Kingdom of Lugunica, one of his purposes for coming to this remote town was to search for the existence of the fifth royal selection candidate.
The most prominent characteristic of a royal selection candidate was that upon contacting the Dragon Jewel, a peculiar reaction would occur, and the ruby at the center of the insignia would emit a dazzling radiance.
At this very moment, a man had made the ruby symbolizing the identity of a royal selection candidate shine.
This…
how on earth should this be judged?
For a moment, Reinhard fell into a dilemma.
What the Council of Wise Men had requested him, the Sword Saint, to find was the last of the five Dragon Priestesses symbolizing the royal selection candidates.
The problem was, what the hell kind of Dragon Priestess was this?
Wasn’t this guy obviously a Dragon Priest?!
Calm down.
Perhaps this gentleman…
uh…
lady just had a slightly neutral appearance, and it couldn’t be fully determined yet.
The doubts in his heart grew heavier and heavier.
The next second, as if listening to some special voice, Reinhard’s body shook.
Just as he was agonizing over it, he suddenly acquired the Divine Protection of Accurately Distinguishing Between Men and Women.
After carefully perceiving it, he became even more conflicted.
He really was a man?
Was the last royal selection candidate the kingdom needed to find actually a Dragon Priest?
Seeing that both of them seemed to be frozen in place, Kenma weighed the insignia in his hand, then gave it a toss.
Emilia caught the insignia falling from the sky, and immediately heard Kenma speak.
“Returning the insignia to you.
I just happened to pass by this place and took the insignia back from that thief.
Incidentally…” Kenma’s gaze fell upon Reinhard, and he grinned as he said, “Can the fact that I can make the gemstone glow not prove my identity?
Sword Saint.” Hearing these words, Reinhard gave a wry smile.
He walked straight up to Kenma, knelt on one knee, and his expression turned solemn.
“Kingdom of Lugunica’s Sword Saint, Reinhard van Astrea, pays respects to the royal selection candidate.
May I ask if you can tell me your name?” Forget it, I’ll take him back first and talk later.
After all, who stipulated that a Dragon Priestess absolutely had to be female?
Anyway, the Council of Wise Men only asked him to bring the royal selection candidate back, and other matters were none of his business.
“My name?” “You can call me Natsuki Subaru.
As the fifth royal selection candidate, I have known my identity for a long time and have been waiting for your arrival.” Hearing what Kenma said, Reinhard’s expression turned peculiar.
Before he had time to speak, he was interrupted once more.
“In addition, I now sincerely invite you to become my knight, Reinhard.
Bring the Astrea Family behind you and together become assistance on my path to the royal selection.” Looking at the youth with an unrestrained smile before him, Reinhard seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he closed his mouth.
Why does it feel like everything I wanted to say has already been anticipated?
A few seconds later, Reinhard gave a helpless smile.
“Things have already been said to this extent.
If I don’t accept, it would instead detract from a knight’s deportment.” “I, the Sword Saint Reinhard van Astrea, today shall become the knight of the fifth royal selection candidate, Natsuki Subaru, and together with the Astrea Family, add strength to your path of the royal selection.” Watching Reinhard kneeling on one knee with a solemn expression, Kenma raised the greatsword in his hand and placed it on Reinhard’s shoulder.
Although it was merely a very brief ceremony, it nonetheless established the status relationship between the two of them.
At this point, Kenma, “Natsuki Subaru”, became the fifth royal selection candidate.
Watching the strongest entity in this world kneeling on one knee before him at this moment and becoming his subordinate, Kenma couldn’t help but curve the corners of his lips upward.
In this way, he could challenge the strong without any scruples.
Relying on his identity as the fifth royal selection candidate, not a single faction would dare to deny him respect and all of them would agree to a battle.
As for the Witch Cult and those magical beasts, needless to say.
If before becoming a royal selection candidate, Kenma went to challenge and kill these Sin Archbishops and magical beasts, it at best could only spread his fame far and wide.
But now, if he killed these villains endangering the world, that would be solid merit.
It wouldn’t be credited as a knight’s achievement, but rather his own achievement.
As for what to do if Emilia’s camp lost him?
Well, there was no helping that.
With a lineup entirely consisting of civil war specialists, whoever wanted to go could go.
Anyway, he wasn’t going to accompany them anymore.
Since he already possessed the qualifications to become a king, why must he run off to join some faction and help someone else become king?
Wouldn’t becoming king himself be wonderful?
Kenma elped up Reinhard who was kneeling on one knee, and said in a calm tone, “Since the oath has been completed, there is no need to stay here any longer.
Let’s hurry back to the royal capital.” “Yes, Subaru-sama.” Just as Kenma and Reinhard were about to turn and leave, Emilia, who had been standing in place all along, finally spoke up, “Um…” “Hm?
What is it?” Seeing Kenma turn his head back, Emilia held the Dragon Jewel in both hands, a grateful smile appearing on her face.
“Thank you for helping me retrieve the insignia.
If there’s an opportunity in the future, I will definitely repay you.” Listening to Emilia’s words of gratitude, Kenma smiled, then waved his hand and turned to leave.
“Is that so?
Then I very much look forward to the arrival of that moment.”