Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Cast your vote for your knight!
Chapter 10
“I do have some regrets, though.”
‘That’s right, exactly!’
Edith regarded Dimitri with quiet satisfaction as he finally gave the textbook answer.
‘Just keep it up, Dimitri!’
“But if I were to go back in time, I believe I would make the same choice again.”
‘…….’
The Arena erupted in a tidal wave of jeers.
Edith wanted to disappear.
Moments later, Dimitri’s Grade was announced.
The spectators thought to themselves.
It was galling, but surely he’d received Grade 1.
His performance had been too flawless.
But—
“Participant 100, Grade 2.”
Everyone started at Edith’s announcement.
By skill alone, Dimitri was not someone who should ever receive a Grade 2.
Amont continued, as if answering an unspoken question.
“Dimitri’s performance was excellent. But I’m certain you understand that Knightly Virtue is not assessed by martial prowess alone.”
The meaning was unmistakable.
What he lacked.
The Empire’s “traitor,” nothing more.
“I shall endeavor to become a knight worthy of Knightly Virtue.”
Dimitri delivered the expected answer, then ascended humbly to the Grade 2 Seating.
Soon, soft murmurs of relief and barely concealed mockery rippled through the crowd of participants.
“That’s what I thought—no way a wretch like that could earn Grade 1.”
“At least he has the shame not to complain about it.”
Dimitri, whom they despised and mocked.
Those who had feared he might receive the highest evaluation accepted the outcome without resistance.
In fact, the sight of him receiving a Grade below his true ability seemed to gratify them.
Perhaps thanks to this, there was no opposition to Dimitri’s participation in Kartamen itself.
‘The common folk watching the tournament probably feel the same way.’
Edith’s mouth tasted bitter.
She turned over in her mind the truth that only she possessed.
‘I’ll wait until he reveals it himself—until he learns to be honest.’
Edith began writing Dimitri’s evaluation into her notebook.
Name: Dimitri Kassel
Alias: The Empire’s Traitor, Self-Deceiver.
Grade: 2
Unarmed Combat: B
Weapon Skills: A (Archery)
Magic: —
Knightly Virtue: D
Intelligence: B
Notes: Penalty in effect for self-deception
* * *
The Entry Evaluation had concluded.
Grade 1: 10 participants.
Grade 2: 21 participants.
Grade 3: 19 participants.
Grades 4 and 5 each held 25 participants.
Kusto fixed his gaze on Dimitri as he took his seat in the Grade 2 Section.
The other participants openly showed their displeasure as he settled into the remaining empty spot.
It seemed he was rejected even more thoroughly than Kusto himself, despite his slave origin.
‘Strange that it bothers me.’
Had Kusto’s concern somehow reached Dimitri?
Dimitri suddenly turned to look at Kusto.
Kusto hurriedly averted his eyes, but in that brief moment of eye contact, he saw it.
‘What’s that look? Why does he look so… wistfully vacant?’
Kusto found himself paying closer attention to Dimitri than he’d expected.
But he didn’t notice that someone in the Grade One seating had been watching him intently all along.
Once Dimitri took his seat, Edith rose from hers.
“Participants, you’ve all worked hard. With that, the Entry Evaluation is concluded.”
“Hooray!”
“Your Highness, you’ve worked hard too!”
The participants erupted in unison.
Watching others perform had clearly worn them down.
The first few had been nerve-wracking, but seeing the same thing ninety-nine times over was pure drudgery.
Now was the moment to tighten the reins and restore order.
“For all your hard work, we’ve prepared Grade-based ‘benefits’ for you.”
“Benefits?”
“What are they giving us? Hope it’s something good!”
Anticipation and curiosity rippled through the participants, catching them off guard.
It was then that five armored figures climbed the steps from below.
Though the participants had seen every conceivable design of armor by now, they fell silent at the sight of what these five wore.
It was the emblem carved into the left chest—five different colors.
A sword thrust through the heart.
The symbol of Di Eques, those who swore their lives to the Empire’s service.
Beside the emblem, numerals marking each Grade were etched into the metal.
Moreover, the colors themselves ranged from Grade One to Grade Five: gold, silver, crimson, azure, and black.
Yet even without the emblem and color, the quality of the armor spoke clearly to the rank difference.
It was obvious which was superior and which inferior.
Edith pointed this out to the participants, who were transfixed by the emblem.
“Participants, don’t fixate on the emblem alone—examine the armor’s craftsmanship as well. The Grade One armor with its golden emblem, for instance, is sturdier than several layered shields stacked together. Yet it’s light and permits freedom of movement, giving you an advantage during evaluation tasks. Grade Five armor, on the other hand, is merely for show.”
In other words, it was useless.
Disappointment and elation split the crowd by grade.
Edith smiled pleasantly again.
“Don’t worry, though. That’s why our Valkyria Knights have prepared Special Training for each grade.”
The word “Special Training” sent a fresh ripple through the crowd.
“In that training, you’ll learn a newly developed Swordsmanship technique created by the Valkyria Knights.”
The participants’ eyes widened.
Among the remaining orders of knighthood, the Valkyria Knights’ skill was unmatched.
The techniques they mastered were equally exceptional.
But such knowledge was jealously guarded—you could only learn it if you joined their ranks.
“You’d need to be reborn to learn something like this…!”
“You might not learn it even if you were reborn.”
Excited voices scattered through the crowd.
Satisfied by the fever-pitch enthusiasm, Amont stepped forward with a slight smile playing at his lips.
“For now, I’ll give you a brief demonstration of the technique. Since you’ll need to master it on horseback during Special Training, study this carefully.”
A display from the commander of the Valkyria Knights.
The participants held their breath.
But anticipation soon turned to despair.
The opening movements were fluid enough, but what followed was bewilderingly intricate.
Amont executed every motion with dizzying speed and precision.
Even those from renowned schools or trained in noble households found their jaws slack.
Kusto, who’d never learned proper Swordsmanship, was utterly dumbfounded.
‘What is this? A reminder to drop out and bare my neck for the executioner?’
Honestly, he’d never felt such mortal danger—not even standing on the gallows.
It was then that his eye caught Dimitri.
Dimitri stood apart from the rest, subtly mimicking Amont’s movements.
Though his execution was clumsy compared to Amont’s, the fact that he could replicate it after seeing it only once was astonishing.
As Kusto’s gaze flickered between Amont and Dimitri, the demonstration ended.
“Ha…”
“Wow…”
“Unbelievable…”
The participants had been lost for words for some time now.
Kusto’s mouth had gone dry as well.
‘Should I go ask that solitary bastard for help?’
In his position, the more people he could learn from, the better.
‘Besides, it doesn’t look like anyone will volunteer to train under him anyway.’
Unlike the Valkyria Knights, who managed all participants by Grade, Dimitri could have exclusive access to his trainees.
That was when it happened.
Edith, who had been clapping her hands with unbridled excitement, spoke up.
“Everyone, you saw that, didn’t you? Isn’t your heart already racing at the thought of what you’ll learn?”
My heart is certainly racing—though for different reasons.
“Oh, and I should mention—depending on your attitude during Special Training and the results you achieve, your current Grade may change.”
The Grade Seating, already sunk in despair, fell into chaos.
Their Grade could actually change?
“So the Grade re-evaluation was real.”
“We wear the Armor we got today and then take the next evaluation, right?”
“If I drop below fourth Grade, I’m at the bottom.”
“Thankfully I’m fifth Grade, so there’s nowhere lower to go.”
Amont, observing the commotion, raised one corner of his mouth and spoke.
“We Valkyria Knights will help ensure that our trainees don’t hit rock bottom. Of course…….”
The participants held their breath, watching Amont intently.
“If you train like fools, your Grade will change. If I think you’re not worth my time, we’ll downgrade you before the re-evaluation, so approach your training with proper discipline.”
Amont’s voice was cold enough to carry an edge of killing intent.
The participants, overwhelmed, said nothing.
Regardless, the judges departed with light steps.
Edith gazed down at the stirring participants, then broke into a smile.
“Then this concludes the Entry Evaluation for Kartamen!”
With Edith’s proclamation, the first evaluation came to an end.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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