The atmosphere was lively, the garden packed.
The representatives looked around with newfound curiosity. Becky, in particular, scratched the side of her head in wonder.
“…This feels so different from last ti.”
“Haha, right? This is my second visit to the imperial palace garden, but it’s so different from before. I should consider this my first visit, actually.”
The imperial palace garden held all four seasons at once and could change its appearance freely. It was no surprise that the representatives felt like they were visiting for the first ti.
Trixie clicked her tongue.
“We’re here as participants, not spectators. Stop acting so fascinated.”
“I’m trying my best not to show it.”
“…Well, if that’s your best, then there’s nothing we can do.”
Trixie sighed deeply at Becky’s response.
‘Even if you understand with your head, it’s different for your body to follow.’
Becky had grown up as a commoner. Even Trixie, who was sowhat used to gatherings of distinguished guests, felt nervous. How much more nervous must Becky be?
Becky protested, feeling sowhat wronged.
“But was I the only one expecting a solemn atmosphere? You know, like a eting where we just get straight to the point in silence….”
“That’s impossible.”
Trixie cut off Becky’s words.
“Soone here is going to beco a hero. Just saying hello and making connections will be incredibly beneficial in the future.”
“Oh… I guess that’s true.”
“In other words, no one here wants a solemn atmosphere. They want the atmosphere of a social gathering.”
“Ah.”
The other representatives listening nearby nodded in agreent.
In retrospect, it wasn’t a difficult concept to understand.
Even in the magic departnt, thanks to Flan, they enjoyed countless benefits. If soone were to beco a hero, how enormous would the benefits be?
‘Because it’s so important, the vacancy must have been long.’
If they had recklessly selected a hero to reduce the vacancy period, the position of a hero wouldn’t seem so elevated.
Maiev looked around curiously.
“And it’s not even the main event today. It’s just a preliminary eting… but the crowd is enormous.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Oh, is it okay to eat this?”
Becky picked up a drink and a dessert, bringing them to her mouth. There was no particular etiquette in her way of eating.
At that mont, the representatives’ faces turned toward one direction. It was a knight leading a swarm of people.
“Wow…”
“He must be a capital knight.”
Becky couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.
When soone who showed even the slightest potential to beco a hero appeared, people would follow them like that. They would go to great lengths just to say hello or exchange a few words.
In other words, there was little interest in the magic departnt.
Occasionally, glances would co their way, but the murmurs they heard weren’t particularly positive.
“Where are they from?”
“Just look at them, they’re wizards. Must be from the magic departnt.”
“Magic departnt? Ah, Flan!”
“They must be following Flan.”
Even when positive comnts erged, they were mostly about Flan. The more they heard these comnts, the more the representatives felt like shrinking.
“Without Flan, they must be nothing special.”
“Well, that’s obvious.”
“It’s not often wizards get a day like this. Let them enjoy the sight.”
“Hahaha, that’s true.”
To the passing spectators, they were just one of many sources of gossip. But to the representatives themselves, they couldn’t just let the comnts about them slide.
Becky quietly put down the dessert she had been eating.
Listening to this made her feel foolish, but leaving quickly felt like running away. She didn’t know what to do. At that mont,
“Please pay close attention.”
A soft hand rested on her shoulder.
Turning her head, she saw the Dean of the Magic Departnt, Conette, smiling warmly. The representatives’ gazes shifted to her, and after confirming their attention, the Dean continued speaking.
“It is your task to change their reactions. And it is sothing only you can do.”
No further words were needed; it was the truth.
If the surrounding reactions were unwelcoming, the only way to change them was by proving their worth and turning the tide with results, sothing only they could achieve.
Everyone nodded in agreent.
Then Maiev spoke up.
“It’s best if we just stay at the dormitory today.”
Everyone seed to agree. Without a word, they started heading toward the dormitory.
However, before their feet could reach the dormitory—no, before they could even leave the garden, they had to stop. Soone blocked their way.
Becky muttered as she looked ahead.
“…Viola?”
“A bit different.”
It was Viola, a capital knight.
The boy in front of them looked just like Viola. With white hair and black horizontal lines reminiscent of a musical score. But it was undoubtedly a different person.
They stood facing each other, as if confronting.
It seed more like a ticulously planned encounter rather than a coincidence. The boy walked out from the center, flanked by soldiers like a backdrop.
“Ah… the Dean of the Magic Departnt? It’s been a while.”
“Yes.”
Conette nodded quietly.
The boy shrugged.
“Viola is extrely busy, so I had to co on her behalf. Please understand.”
“Of course, I understand.”
Becky nudged Trixie’s side.
“Trixie, who is that?”
“By title, he’s a bodyguard knight, but think of him as Viola’s personal aide.”
“…And a re aide is acting like that towards the Dean?”
“That’s actually much improved. There was a ti when even the aides of the capital knights didn’t visit in person.”
Though many things had improved, remnants of the harsh reality remained. Becky silently clicked her tongue.
Viola’s bodyguard spoke again.
“Viola is curious about Flan’s skills. She also wishes to exchange swords and foster camaraderie. We want to know the Magic Departnt’s stance on this.”
“There’s no harm in it.”
Becky nudged Trixie’s side again.
“Trixie, did I understand this correctly?”
“How did you understand it?”
“That we should gratefully accept Viola’s personal challenge, recognizing it as an honor. Isn’t that right?”
“You understood perfectly.”
“This is too much….”
anwhile, the conversation between Conette and the bodyguard continued.
The bodyguard’s rather high-handed attitude made the representatives’ faces grow darker as the conversation went on.
As if anticipating such a reaction, the bodyguard spoke again.
“Well then, shall we decide the place, ti, and weapons? How about we settle it right now without further delay?”
“Let’s do that.”
Everyone turned their heads sideways.
It wasn’t the Dean who answered this ti.
“….”
It was Flan.
◈
By the ti the sunset cast its glow, Flan and Viola’s bodyguard sat facing each other with a table between them. The mbers of the Magic Departnt watched them, holding their breath.
The bodyguard asked Flan,
“Are you familiar with all the rules?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then let’s begin.”
The rules were simple.
Flan was given cards, similar to playing poker. Each card had different tis, places, and weapons written on them, such as ‘dawn,’ ‘plain,’ and ‘dusk.’
Flan had to choose three cards and lay them down.
This was a testant to Viola’s confidence that she could win against Flan even if he had the advantage of choosing all the conditions.
“If you need more ti to think, feel free to let know. I can have tea and desserts brought out. The weather is nice.”
“No need.”
Flan placed three cards down in quick succession.
[Dusk]
[Cliff]
[ ]
The bodyguard examined the cards and nodded.
“The ti is dusk, the place is a cliff, and the weapon is a sword… Is this acceptable to you? I will give you one chance to revise.”
“No need for that either.”
Flan placed another card down.
[Dawn]
“…?”
A look of confusion spread across the bodyguard’s face.
Still, Flan didn’t stop laying down cards.
[Dawn]
[Midnight]
[Greatsword]
[Park]
.
.
In the end, Flan placed down all the cards.
“As I thought, I can’t decide without knowing my opponent.”
“What do you an…?”
“Tell them to decide directly.”
Flan spoke quietly as he looked at the bodyguard.
“Let them choose whatever they’re comfortable with.”
The bodyguard blinked silently.
Flan calmly stood up and moved away, with the representatives of the Magic Departnt trailing a beat behind him.
“Uh? Fl- Flan!”
“Flan!”
Despite nurous calls, he never stopped.
It was ti to prove himself once again.
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