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The Pontier household was located in the center of the basin of Eiden Gorge. The fog there was so thick that even the morning light struggled to illuminate the entrance of the basin.
“I’m very disappointed in you today.”
The Pontier knight’s shoulders slumped. “What… What do you mean, Sir Cain?”
“We’ve been holed up in the basin for two weeks since Marquis Crombell started bleeding us out, but now we’re wasting our time in this…” Cain sighed and shrugged. “The fact that everyone is dispersed makes me, an outsider, nervous, thanks to a certain someone.”
“Umm…” The knights shuffled nervously.
“Are you talking about me?!” Baron Ashbal glared furiously at Cain. “When the enemy could strike at any moment, you have to be ready for anything.”
Cain’s lips remained firmly shut, drawing a low growl out of the Baron.
“You’re like a flower in a greenhouse—at best, you’ve spent your time cleaning your young master’s ass. You have no idea what war is like.”
Since discovering that Cain had no title, Baron Ashbal’s mockery had become increasingly vicious.
“At this rate, they are sure to make the first move. Victory goes to the fearless, as they say.”
“You’re awfully confident.”
“That’s right.” Ashbal snorted. “It’s elementary for any competent commander.”
Cain chortled. “No, maybe I should say… it sounds like you know what they’re thinking?”
He spoke quietly, but just loud enough for the Baron to hear.
Ashbal halted. “Are you accusing me?”
“Oh my, what a shameful thing to say. Even criminals wouldn’t think of such things” Cain flapped his hand. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. Please, I implore you, find it in your magnanimous heart to widen the vision of this little one.”
Baron Ashbal glared at Cain and then stomped away.
“What about what Icarus, the commoner girl, told us: ‘the longer people live, the worse they get’?”
“…Though the two families are vastly different, militarily and economically, there is no reason to continue the conflict for so long. The war budget may not have changed, but public opinion may have,” Baron Ashbal said, gazing into the mists. “But if this state persists for too long, it will affect the neighboring estates, which is something Marquis Crombell would never want.”
Cain sneered. “I asked you a question and you turned your back on me. Seems you trust our men. I noticed you were saying the same things.”
Baron Ashbal narrowed his eyes.
“The head’s presence made it inevitable.” He shook his head. “Don’t act like the commoner girl is the only one who deserves praise.”
“Yeah, sure.” Cain shook his head amusedly, making the Baron’s face harden.
“If it weren’t for the war, I would’ve snapped. You’re lucky the Young Lady appeared to save you.”
“Was I… saved?” Cain’s eyes widened.
“What—”
“I thought it was already over. Losing your sword is such a shame, after all. That’s a rule all swordsmen adhere to.” Cain waggled a finger. “I remember that sound clear as day—”
“Let’s see it, punk!” Baron Ashbal snarled, ready to charge in.
“Kyaaaa!” Cain flung his arms into the air and danced backwards.
“That long tongue of yours ought to be pulled out!”
“S-Sir!”
“Don’t get in my way! I’m going to tear him apart!”
“B-But, that’s not what I’m here for.” The young knight pointed towards the canyon. “I’m here to deliver a message.”
“Wha—” Baron Ashbal froze. The sound of hoofbeats rang clearly in his ears.
Soon, a rider bearing a red flag came into view. It was immediately obvious that he was one of the knights assigned to guard the canyon entrance.
“Tell me! Are they moving already?” the Baron angrily shouted at the distant figure.
“Thi-This is bad, Sir! Look at the water!”
“Slow down! I can’t understand you!”
The horseman frantically sawed at the reins. His hysteria was palpable as he approached.
“The Dennis River is completely frozen!”
The knights hummed with agitation. Cain and Ashbal locked eyes, tension flickering between them.
“No way,” Cain murmured. “Just like she said…”
The Dennis river never froze, even in the middle of winter. In fact, moving water never froze.
The river’s thunderous flow made it impassable… but if it froze, it was a road straight into Eiden Gorge.
It’s a straight path to the heart of the Pontier family! Cain gulped nervously.
If what the messenger said was accurate, they were in dire straits… if the Pontiers had been caught unaware. One person in particular had predicted this well in advance, as Cain knew.
—
“They were both so… magnificent,” Sonna mumbled.
“Yeah…” Shrek drooled enviously as he watched Akshuler.
“They aren’t from any of the great powers, are they?”
“We can take them.”
The Logen brothers’ bold words made Shrek’s brow quiver.
“You two talk too much,” he chided them.
“Shrek?” Sonna gave him a confused look. Evidently his admiration for Akshuler was greater than she expected.
Test, the elder Logen brother, gave Shrek a cursory glance. “Rumors are just rumors, no matter how many red-flaming knights and gems are involved.”
“It doesn’t matter what their reputation is,” Estra continued. “What matters is how they wield their sword.”
“Hm.” Shrek nodded. “I may have spoken too quickly.”
The knights from Hubalt listened in as well.
“The Giant is known all across the continent, of course,” Test began.
“But Thran and Joshua Sanders have no concept of grace. The rumors about them are just that,” Estra finished.
Babel twitched at the mention of Joshua’s name.
“Well then, why does Sir Ulabis act like that?” Sonna angrily asked. “Has anyone seen him before?”
“Young Master Babel is the only exception,” Test continued. “That is an objective fact.”
The Reinhardt Martial Arts Tournament had few entrants, unlike the Master Battle. The famous rising stars looked down on it, viewing it as a low-ranking competition, and invested their efforts into personal training and other things. The original intent of the Tournament, then, was a distant dream.
“I was there.”
The Logen brothers’ heads turned to the voice. The source was a gorgeous lady in pristine white lady, who raised her hand. Her mysterious silver hair and eyes identified her as the strongest swordswoman under the age of 30.
“Lilith…?” Her fellow Holy Knight, seated next to her, wore a perplexed look.
After a brief look, Test continued speaking.
“There’s only one. If you don’t believe me, ask around. All I can hear is ‘Joshua Sanders’. No one is more perfect, evidently. His talents were beyond definition at the age of fifteen and he already intends to participate in the Master Battle. His pedigree is flawless as well.”
No one challenged Test’s words.
“Isn’t it interesting how someone this perfect just appears out of nowhere?” Test shook his head.
“Even fairy tale characters have more decency than that,” Estra added.
Sonna interjected. “There must have been several people who saw—”
“Making heroes is practically an imperial tradition,” Test spat. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he was bullied into disappearing afterwards.”
“I guess he’s not showing up here.”
“Of course the Avalon Empire likes to have a ‘hero’. He’s probably just a chump. I doubt he’s even good-looking.”
“How ironic.” The others laughed.
“Well—” Sonna shuffled restlessly and turned to Babel. “Don’t you think the citizens of Avalon would be offended by this?”
“I wish.”
“What?” Babel’s response was above and beyond Sonna’s wildest expectations.
“What…?” The Logens’ heads swiveled around.
Hilarious… Babel smiled bitterly. He would have assumed the same thing in their shoes. To put it another way, Joshua was truly one of a kind.
“Nothing.”
Babel lost interest immediately. His attention was caught by the sudden silence in the chamber.
“Oh?”
“Are they starting the drawing now?”
But then, in the eerie hush, a footstep thudded in the doorstep.
The Master of Ceremonies1 could only stare blankly as a man walked in. Incredibly handsome, blue hair, and eyes as deep as the abyss.
“Uh, r-representing the Avalon Empire,” the official stammered, “Baron Joshua Sanders has arrived!”
The crowd was shaken out of their stupor.
Joshua had made his debut, and he did it in front of the continent’s biggest names.
“Master of Ceremonies” is just a job title here. He’s not going to be swinging a sword or using mana. ↩️