Especially the knights' captains were making a fuss.
"What?! The Grand Master is going to appear? Hey, MC! Are you kidding me?!"
"...No, this is by the Grand Master's own instruction."
"...What? If that's the case, then I should be the one to face him! I really want to fight the Grand Master!"
"No, no, no, no, this is a demonstration match with a new knight. The purpose is different. It's supposed to be a form where the new knight borrows the Grand Master's chest..."
"If that's the case! Bring out that Fia Lud! Who is she?! And to begin with, how can a new knight be in the First Knight Order?!"
...What should I do?
It's not my fault, yet things have become so complicated.
Fabian looked at me with deep sympathy.
"...Well, do your best? The Grand Master is said to have defeated A-rank monsters alone and cut down a thousand enemy soldiers. Since you're facing such an opponent, don't worry about the outcome."
Before the battle even started, I was being prepared for a crushing defeat!
"That's right. Normally, the opponent in a demonstration match is a senior knight who joined about five years ago, and even a captain-level knight rarely gets the chance. I've never heard of a commander-level knight being the opponent, let alone the Grand Master..."
"One hit! If you can withstand one hit, you're a hero!"
A strange sense of camaraderie seemed to have formed, and even the knights I had never spoken to started cheering me on.
Feeling like an animal being led to slaughter, I cautiously stepped forward, and the gathered knights stared at me with blank faces.
"...What? Who is that girl?"
"Hey, she's so small? She's only up to the Grand Master's stomach! Who is that kid?!"
"Grand Master, this will just be a one-sided slaughter. Please stop!"
A cry of anger erupted.
I was already on the verge of tears.
No, it's impossible.
With so much attention, I can't even move from the tension. I can tell my right hand and right foot are moving together, but I don't even know how to correct it.
Looking back at where my peers had gathered, hoping for help, I found that they were all gone.
Looking around in surprise, I saw that they had somehow joined the oval formation of senior knights surrounding the new knights.
...How, how cruel. They're offering me as a sacrifice and watching from the sidelines.
Shaking with fear, I couldn't run away. Then, I saw my brothers rushing to my aid.
"Big brother..."
I teared up for a different reason.
After all, blood is thicker than water! In the end, the ones you can rely on are your family!
"Fia, listen carefully! Battling the Grand Master Savis is the culmination of all your good fortune in life! Even if you die or are cut in half, try to make the fight last as long as possible," my second brother Leon said something incomprehensible.
"Fia, do you understand? The iron rule of knights is never to give up on victory, even in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation. Even an ant might be able to slay a dragon. The possibility only arises from not giving up. Do you understand?" my eldest brother Aldio also started spouting lofty ideals.
Seeing the two of them speak seriously about such foolish things, I remembered.
My brothers were obsessed with being knights.
And I, too, had always wanted to be a knight. Standing in this place of my dreams, what was I afraid of?
Thanks to my brothers' (foolish words and actions), I was able to calm down. Looking up at Grand Master Savis, who was walking towards me, I noticed he had taken off his cloak.
"Fia, is it?"
"Ah---, Fia, the Grand Master called your name---!!!"
Leon screamed and ran away with Aldio, making sure not to interfere with the Grand Master.
Even though we were far apart, I could feel the Grand Master's heat, the weight of his muscles, and the pressure that seemed to crush me.
...And I got goosebumps.
In contrast, the Grand Master, despite having the attention of 1,200 knights, didn't move a muscle. Stopping about 20 meters away, he drew his sword.
"I won't attack at all. Come at me with all your strength."
...Wow, so cool!!
Despite being a seasoned hero, he's willing to properly engage with me.
Normally, someone of the Grand Master's status, who is also the king's brother, wouldn't even look at a new knight!
This isn't a half-hearted fight. It would be disrespectful to the Grand Master.
Or I might be killed by the surrounding group of knights!
Holding the hilt, I whispered a spell.
"《Body Enhancement》, attack power tripled, speed tripled."
The sword I held also had effects, but I didn't think they would be enough against the Grand Master, so I enhanced myself to the limit.
But.
Glancing at the Grand Master, I felt a sense of despair.
Oh---...
What is this? What is this? Is this even human?
The Grand Master looks like a monster. No, he is a monster. Yes, a monster. Like a black dragon, Zabria, or even more.
In my past life as a saint, I was good at gauging strength, just like sensing the severity of injuries.
Why? Because to avoid wasting magic power, I would gauge the enemy's strength and cast defensive magic of the appropriate intensity...
Ha, even with all this enhancement, the only thing I surpass is speed...
I can see an imaginary dragon behind the Grand Master.
"Unworthy Fia Lud! I will borrow the Grand Master's chest!!"
I took a knight's salute as politely as possible and raised my voice.
Biting my lip, I made up my mind and started running lightly.
Suddenly increasing my speed about 5 meters away, I drew my sword and attacked with all my might.
A dull sound, "gokin," echoed, and the Grand Master, who had blocked my attack, slightly narrowed his eyes. Instantly, his entire body tensed.
---Of course. This sword is incredibly heavy, right?
I understand. ...I feel the same weight while engaging in the duel...
Although I had removed the magic stone that could cause full-body paralysis when facing the Grand Master, his strength was so abnormal that I felt he could dispel any status effects with sheer willpower.
I jumped back.
Then, I attacked from the left, left, left, feinted to the right, and attacked the left again.
The sounds of "gokin, gokin, gokin" echoed.
Before I knew it, the audience had started to murmur.
...Yeah, the sound of the swords is different from a normal duel. Those who understand can tell the weight of the swords.
"...What, that speed..."
"More importantly, the sound of the sword strikes! That sword must be incredibly heavy!"
I jumped back again, took a running start, and leaped to attack the Grand Master's left side.
"Haahh!!"
Left, left, left, and left!! Once more, left!!
"Chii!"
The Grand Master, muttering under his breath, pushed back my sword for the first time, and the force sent my sword flying.
"...It's over! The winner is Grand Master Savis!"
The judge loudly declared the Grand Master's victory, but the knights were staring at me in a daze.
The Grand Master glared at me with intense eyes.
I sat on the ground and gave a weak smile.
...Ah, what? Did I do something wrong?
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