Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 19

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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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Vote for your knight!
Episode 19
“What is it? Out with it.”
“The citizens have been quite active in leaving reviews of Kartamen City Hall. This appears to be another success of the Princess’s ‘anonymous review’ approach.”
Duke Frederick paused abruptly.
“Of course, there are many harsh criticisms disappointed with the knights’ performance…….”
“How many?”
“Nearly half, or more than half, are outright condemnations. There are even claims that Your Highness is showing favoritism toward certain contestants…….”
He seemed worried the viewers might not tune in next time.
“What? The moment I find those bastards insulting our Edict——!”
“Father, really. It’s completely anonymous, so we don’t even know who they are.”
“Still——!”
“Don’t worry. Insults are attention too.”
Edict calmly stopped the Emperor mid-thought.
‘I can handle all the insults in the world. It’s all just buzz.’
The Emperor and Duke Frederick didn’t seem to grasp her meaning. But she, who had been a producer in her past life, understood.
‘If they really weren’t coming back, they’d leave without a second glance. The fact that they’re leaving mean comments means they’re bothered, they can’t let it go.’
But there was still much work to be done.
“Now our goal is to increase both the total number of viewers and the number of Identification Badges issued.”
* * *
In the blink of an eye, the day of the second evaluation arrived.
One day before the evaluation, a notice was sent to all participants.

– Event: Hunting
– Location: Polluted Forest ‘Liquea’
– Team competition where positions are assigned by team
“Has everyone received their new ranking?”
“Yes!”
The participants answered Edict’s question with vigor.
They were already dressed in Armor suited to their ranks.
Edict studied several of them carefully.
Most of the participants she’d been keeping an eye on were clustered in Grades 1 through 3.
‘This trend isn’t bad at all.’
Morris was also Grade 3.
He’d climbed to Grade 3 because of high marks in attitude rather than ability, so she’d need to watch him a bit longer.
Raphael’s ranking could have dropped further. But he’d earned substantial points in his match against Morris, keeping him at the same Grade 3.
‘The problem is his ranking keeps falling, but I saw potential in the last evaluation.’
Hopefully this didn’t turn him into a one-trick “potential” contestant.
David and Dmitri, who had no cause for concern, were both Grade 1.
‘They’re at the same rank again, of course.’
Edict looked toward the pink frizzy-haired one and the sailor at Grade 2.
The frizzy-haired one spoke incessantly, while the sailor kept his mouth firmly shut.
‘But the fact that he isn’t dodging away suggests he doesn’t actually dislike the company.’
And Kusto…… was Grade 1.
‘His rank went up.’
Amont, who had harshly criticized him in the first meeting, deserved much of the credit.
After seeing the re-evaluation, he’d suddenly started pushing for him, saying he could see the makings of a real talent.
‘Meanwhile, Kilman’s rank dropped drastically.’
He’d slid from Grade 1, fifth place, all the way down to fourth Grade.
‘He must have fought terribly.’
He himself hadn’t accepted the reality yet and was fuming openly.
But only up to a point.
The fact that he wasn’t cursing outright suggested he was finally becoming conscious of the Video Sphere’s presence.
The other participants were no different.
Perhaps it was because they’d all watched the first broadcast together.
Everyone now acted with awareness of the Video Sphere. They spoke less and moved with restraint.
‘But once the evaluation starts, things will change.’
Edict smiled faintly and looked at the Valkyries standing beside her.
Amont stepped forward and began her explanation.
“You all know the event for this evaluation is ‘Hunting.'”
“Yes!”
“The location is a Contaminated Forest teeming with Monsterified Beasts. In this evaluation, you’ll need to breach the Barrier surrounding the forest and capture monsters.”
Tension rippled through the participants, though some had half-expected this.
“There’s no need to worry. It’s a place we’ve already subjugated in the past, so there are no monsters savage enough to threaten your lives. It’ll simply be a bit more challenging than ordinary hunting. That said, if anyone feels they cannot proceed, you’re welcome to forfeit here.”
“No way!”
“Then allow me to explain the rules. You’ll form teams and hunt monsters in the Contaminated Forest of Liquea.”
Liquea — the Contaminated Forest.
Long ago, in the early days of Di Eques, hunters had exterminated the monsters there, leaving the place scarred.
The truly dangerous monsters had all vanished by then.
But the problem was a passage from which low-rank monsters kept pouring out.
Unable to seal that passage, they’d cast an entry-prohibiting Barrier around the entire forest.
Before the tyrant’s reign, Di Eques members would occasionally venture in to cull the lower-rank beasts, then withdraw.
“Still, it’s been decades since anyone conducted a proper subjugation there.”
“The monsters must be swarming by now.”
“Even low-rank monsters are still monsters — what if someone gets hurt?”
“What do you mean ‘what if’? We have to do our best for the people!”
The participants murmured among themselves.
Some of them struck deliberate poses, conscious of the Recording Devices capturing their every move.
Amont continued.
“Those aspiring to become knights should already know about the Prey Hierarchy. The team that captures the most high-ranking prey wins.”
The Prey Hierarchy was as follows:
1. Deer
2. Wild Boar
3. Fox
4. Mountain Hare
The Liquea Forest was home to Monsterified versions of these very creatures.
“Now, those ranked one hundred through eighty-one, please step forward and choose an Armband corresponding to your desired Position.”
Amont gestured toward the front.
A table stood there, lined with Armbands in various colors.
“Wow, they’re giving the lower-ranked contestants first pick?”
“At least they’re leaving us a way out.”
“I’m glad I placed eighty-ninth — I knew something like this might happen.”
“But what exactly do these Positions mean?”
The lower-ranked participants grinned, delighted by their advantage.
The higher-ranked ones, by contrast, looked distinctly displeased at what they saw as unfair.
Kusto surveyed the faces of those examining the Armbands.
“Hey, what are these?”
“Master, Servant, Hunting Dog?”
At their bewildered reactions, Mila let out a bright laugh.
“Yes, exactly! Each of you will take on a Position necessary for the hunt. Each team has five members total. A Leader, a Servant, a Beater, and two Hunting Dogs!”
A Leader, a Servant, a Beater, and two Hunting Dogs.
The participants froze, shock and horror washing over them.
“Hunting… Dog?”
“People are supposed to play the role of hunting dogs?”
Mila beamed and exclaimed, “Yes! You’ve understood perfectly!”
They’d all come here to become knights, and now they were being asked to play the role of hunting dogs in a hunt.
This wasn’t just hard work — it was humiliation.
Even the roles of Servant or Beater didn’t appeal to them, but compared to being a Hunting Dog, those seemed almost acceptable.
“Don’t be so discouraged about the Hunting Dog position. In actual combat, you’ll face far worse trials,” Mila said mildly.
“If you truly detest the role, you can simply use your wits to choose a different Position,” Ines added curtly.
There was no way around it.
They could either forfeit, or they could strategize carefully to select a team and avoid the Hunting Dog role.
Since no one wanted to give up, a fierce, cutthroat scramble to escape the Hunting Dog position began.
Naturally, all participants ranked one hundred through eighty-one chose the Leader Armband.
At that, Amont spoke again.
“Next, those ranked eighty through sixty-one, please come forward and select your desired team and Position. If your preferred team or Position is unavailable, a higher-ranked participant may displace a lower-ranked one.”
The moment Amont finished speaking, fortunes shifted.
The faces of the lower-ranked participants fell while the higher-ranked ones cheered, and the Recording Devices captured it all with brutal clarity.
“If we get pushed out, it’ll be absolutely mortifying.”

“Please, let nobody push for my spot.”
Kusto, who’d drawn 1st Grade and 9th place, had to choose his position last.
‘All nineteen of us in this rotation picked Leader position.’
The Leader was the true star of the hunt.
He directed the entire operation and attacked prey with his bow.
The Attendant’s role was to support the Leader.
The Beater worked alongside the hounds, driving prey into a corner.
The Hound chased the prey, attacked at close range, and retrieved the kill.
Still, a Beater was human.
The Hound position was literally a dog’s work.
“Must be nice ranking in the top twenty. You’ll pick Leader, right?”
Someone approached Kusto with envy in their tone.
“I’m not sure.”
“Either way, you won’t take Hound. That’d be real shame to your house.”
Instead of answering, Kusto bowed slightly and moved forward.
Leader was fine, but if possible, he’d rather take a position with more presence.
Kusto studied the Leader Armbands and the participants who’d already chosen Leader.
David met his eyes with a burning gaze, as if calling him over.
‘That won’t work. He’ll just gather his own followers.’
Kusto would be buried in the crowd.
He turned his head to find Dmitri watching him with expectant eyes.
It felt heavy.
‘Not a single capable participant ended up in his group.’
Only those who’d been pushed out from other teams and had no choice but to come.
The same would be true if Kusto became Leader himself.
‘In that case, Dmitri’s team might be better—at least the two of us could combine our strength.’
As Kusto approached Dmitri, his eyes went wide.
‘Why? You told me to come over.’
Kusto said nothing, just picked up one of the Armbands in front of him with his eyes.
Everyone gasped at the unexpected choice.
“Why would he pick that……?”
“What’s he thinking, that guy.”
“Did he throw the game?”
What Kusto had chosen was Hound.
Then the reversal began.

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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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