“Wait, just wait.”
Aurora quickly blocked Flan’s path. Flan’s eyes conveyed his desire for her to step aside.
“Please move.”
“Of course, I will. But listen to first.”
Flan seed uninterested in hearing her out. His attempt to walk past Aurora was proof of that, but the second princess swiftly moved to block his path once more.
“It won’t take long. Flan, listen.”
Flan finally stopped. Aurora, breathing a sigh of relief, continued speaking.
“I just delivered the news too quickly. There’s still quite so ti left until the eting, so let’s wait for now.”
“How much ti exactly?”
“We have four days. They’ve sent out invitations. If you move now, it would seem strange.”
Aurora continued, trying to persuade Flan.
“Considering your recent actions… ignoring it outright is not an option. Besides, the capital’s knights are aware of chivalry. They must have sent an invitation.”
“Are you sure of that?”
“Hmm.”
Aurora pondered seriously for a mont at Flan’s question.
However, her conclusion was a slight tilt of the head.
“Co to think of it, there might be so knights too focused on their training to be aware of the world’s affairs. And while their pursuit of chivalry is the sa, their unique approach differs…”
“So the conclusion is?”
“I can’t guarantee that the invitation won’t co, but I can’t guarantee it will either. It’s ambiguous.”
As Aurora’s deliberation grew longer, the surrounding atmosphere grew colder. Before long, Flan nodded, seemingly unfazed.
He appeared to have made a firm decision.
His low voice resonated deeply.
“The fact that the invitation isn’t guaranteed is already a serious issue. Do you understand?”
“I understand, but Flan.”
Once again, she blocked his path.
“You always have your own plans, but could you share them with just this once?”
“I’m not one to be persuaded by words.”
“I’m not asking you to be persuaded. I just want to hear it. It’ll put my mind at ease. My vision of your future is unclear…”
Flan spoke as if it were no great task.
“I will step forward. Invited or not, I belong there.”
“…”
In the end, all Aurora knew was that Flan would appear there. Her doubts only grew.
After a mont of silence, Aurora asked.
“And after that?”
“As always, things will go as I intend.”
“As you intend…”
Aurora was once again reminded that Flan was far from ordinary, possessing goals on a different level from others.
Her own words suddenly resurfaced in her mind.
─Heroes are far from ordinary in every way.
By her own logic, Flan was close to being a hero. The fact that he was determined to carry out his plan made Aurora anxious but also reassured her, leaving her with mixed feelings.
Flan murmured quietly.
“Co to think of it, I should ask Scarlet.”
“The Knight of the Flickering Fla, Scarlet? Let’s try to find the best thod first. Acting rashly won’t help…”
“I simply make decisions quickly.”
Flan abruptly cut off Aurora’s words. As always, his gaze showed no hesitation or doubt.
He quietly added a remark.
“So, I do not move lightly.”
“Hmm.”
There was nothing to criticize in Flan’s words and actions. In the end, Aurora had no choice but to change the direction of her thoughts. Changing him was nearly impossible, so she had to handle sothing else.
Aurora nodded as if surrendering.
“I’ll issue the invitation with my authority. Going without an invitation is too much like waging war, and it could cause significant damage.”
“Authority?”
“Yes. Although I’ve stepped down from the position of Princess, I should still be able to manage that. It’s not like we need multiple invitations, just one.”
She nodded, indicating that he should trust her.
Visiting the royal family she had left was not a pleasant prospect. However, Aurora was now prepared to step forward in matters related to Flan.
Dawn.
The light of dawn.
Flan was the first to give her that warm and delicate light. She had to repay that kindness.
“There are four days left until the eting…. Let’s wait just one day. Surely you can grant that much ti.”
“…”
Flan rubbed his chin silently for a mont.
Then, after a while, he nodded.
Even if they spent a day and had three days left, there was still enough ti, and he judged that one day could be used to check the representatives.
◈
The next day.
In the silent dean’s office of the Magic Departnt, an unexpected guest stood quietly. The angle of the sunlight streaming in through the window had shifted slightly.
The visitor was both unexpected and precious. The secretary quietly brought out so fine tea, and Conette tapped her fingers on the desk for a mont as she gathered her thoughts.
Eventually, it was Conette who broke the silence first.
“It’s been quite a long ti. How many years?”
“A little over six years, Dean. Have you been well?”
“Of course, and you, Viola?”
“I’ve been well too.”
They bowed their heads slightly toward each other. After expressing this simple greeting, they slowly t each other’s gaze. Conette scrutinized the knight referred to as ‘Viola.’
Her unique eyes were quite distinctive, but Viola’s eyes were no less peculiar.
Viola, the Knight of the Capital.
Her white hair resembled sheet music paper, with five horizontal lines evenly spaced across it, reminiscent of a musical staff. Even her hairpin was a repeat sign.
Her pupils were marked with a treble clef.
If one were to craft the words “harmony” or “lody” into a human form, this would surely be the result. There was no other way to describe Viola, the knight.
Conette spoke once more.
“So, what brings you here?”
Instead of answering, Viola took sothing out of her bosom. It was a single letter, sealed in red.
“There are only three days left until the hero is decided. There is a preliminary eting, and I am delivering this to the Magic Departnt.”
In keeping with her musical appearance, Viola’s voice was clear. It was as if each word she spoke was a perfect note, making it feel as if the surroundings brightened just by her speaking.
Conette nodded.
“A preliminary eting…. Ah.”
Conette was aware of such a gathering. However, receiving an invitation felt unfamiliar. The Dean carefully examined the paper in her hand.
Typically, an invitation would include the ti, place, and so pleasant-sounding rhetoric. However, this invitation contained none of those details.
They were still undecided.
What caught her attention more was…
[Scarlett Judith] O
[Viola Aristra] O
[Celpen] X
[Cloth] X
.
.
.
After scanning the invitation, Conette murmured, “The nas of the knights of the capital are listed.”
“As you can see, my na is also included,” Viola responded.
“And the symbols next to them….”
“Indicate approval and disapproval.”
Viola continued speaking calmly. Her voice, though rely speaking, felt like she was singing.
“When sending an invitation to a first-ti participant, there is an exception where the other mbers vote for approval or disapproval.”
“What changes based on the voting results?”
“Many things change. Ti, place, background…. Naturally, the side with the majority approval gets to make these choices.”
“Hmm.”
Conette rubbed her chin with a complex expression. Upon closer inspection of the invitation, she noticed that aside from Scarlett and Viola, no other knights had received an approval mark.
“It seems Flan received approval from two people. What does that indicate?”
“It ans he has received the minimum amount of approval. Most etings are attended by unanimous consent.”
“Did you say the minimum amount?”
“Yes. Just having any approval is remarkable, given that it’s unusual for a mage to participate at all.”
Conette let out a small groan.
It was true that having a mage participate was unusual. However, given Flan’s personality, she couldn’t help but worry about how he would perceive these conditions and how the Magic Departnt should respond.
In the end, the Dean asked, “It seems like an interesting eting. However, doesn’t having many disapprovals an Flan is underestimated?”
“Indeed. It’s not just about looking down on mages. The knights of the capital are always busy with their training and won’t trust anyone unless they clash swords directly.”
“I understand that. But if Flan is underestimated, shouldn’t he be given a more favorable situation? To choose the background, ti, and place?”
“No.”
Viola shook her head firmly.
“To be accepted by everyone, he must win even under unfavorable conditions. We’ve always adhered to these rules. Always.”
In short, it ant that only by defeating the strongest from a disadvantaged position could one be recognized as a new strong player. Just as Conette pressed her temple with her finger.
Knock, knock─
Soone knocked on the Dean’s office door.
After sensing who was outside, Conette imdiately opened the door with telekinesis. It seed like the person involved needed to make the judgnt in such a special situation.
“Hmm…?”
Viola half-turned to see who had visited the Dean’s office. Her pupils soon glead with interest.
‘He’s very large.’
That was Viola’s impression.
Both ‘tall’ and ‘large’ were accurate descriptions. He was a man who fit all those descriptions perfectly and possessed impeccable proportions.
I could imdiately recognize who he was.
“You are….”
“Here to hand over the invitation?”
But the man didn’t respond to Viola’s words. He just cut her off and approached Conette.
“So, this is it.”
Flan briefly examined it and then gradually furrowed his brow. He handed the invitation back to Viola with one hand.
When Viola took it back, Flan said a single phrase.
“Do it again.”
After a brief silence, Viola tilted her head.
“…?”
Flan repeated his words once more.
“I said, co back with all the circles changed to approvals.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)