Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 25

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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!
Chapter 25
Meanwhile, Edith moved through the crowds enjoying Foundation Day.
She’d wrapped herself in a Robe to conceal her identity.
She wanted to hear the people’s true sentiments unfiltered.
‘But why does this have to be so intense……’
As the Plaza’s barriers came down and spectators surged toward the curtained stage, Edith found herself swept along like driftwood in a tide.
‘Is this really the life of an imperial princess?’
I’ve never seen a possession or reincarnation like this before.
Edith swallowed hard and pricked up her ears.
“I thought we’d see Valkyria, but Cartamen participants? Please, stop pushing!”
“They snuck in through Foundation Day. Where’s their conscience?”
“I just hope we get to see lots of Olivier today……!”
Opinions echoed from all directions.
Some people were even cursing, yet none of them left.
They grumbled while remaining rooted to the spot, clearly curious about Cartamen’s first public appearance.
‘Everyone, keep expecting — it’s about to start!’
As if on cue, Amont’s booming voice rang out.
“Thank you for your patience. We now begin the Sword Demonstration!”
With that, the curtain suddenly swept open.
“Gasp!”
Majestic music flowed out amid the startled cries of the crowd.
It was the First Season Di Eques Dedication Victory Song.
“Wow, that music!”
“Every time I hear it, my heart races — really.”
“Their song selection is always uncanny.”
Everyone turned their gaze to the stage, faces lifted with anticipation.
There stood the Cartamen participants in dazzling Armor.
The overwhelming visual spectacle of the armored legion drew involuntary gasps from the crowd.
The participants raised their swords.
The blade tips cut through the air in perfect unison.
They fluttered like petals before striking at their opponents with deadly precision.
As the disciplined movements concluded and all came to stillness, David’s solo Swordsmanship demonstration began.
It was the privilege of center stage.
“I wondered why he didn’t wear a helmet, but it’s so we can see that face, isn’t it?”
“To witness David’s Swordsmanship with my own eyes. Truly moving!”
“He really shines alone.”
Next, the Second Tier wielded their swords together.
“Isn’t that person on the right end the slave gladiator we’ve heard about?”
“Slave gladiator — that term doesn’t sit well with me. His name is Kusto. Kus-to!”
One by one, they continued down through the lowest tier with their Swordsmanship.
Each tier had participants who caught the eye distinctly, yet the overall unity and harmony were excellent.
The Swordsmanship unfolded like a curtain drawing closed, one seamless flow.
“It’s like a painting, really.”
“Who is that person? They’re incredibly skilled.”
“That’s Deni Binoshu from the Administrative Department. Please vote for him.”
“Pardon?”
Still, with the stage arranged in tiers, the crowd’s gaze naturally drifted upward to the highest point.
As a result, the mistakes of the Fifth-Tier participants below went largely unnoticed.
Though not entirely unseen.
“Only the people up top are skilled — did you see the bottom tier?”
“Look at them all slipping together like that. I thought it was dominoes.”
Edith pressed her forehead with her palm.
‘I tried to hide it, but it shows anyway. I’ll need to edit that more carefully next time.’
Still, the reaction was more positive than expected.
Watching people already excited by the Foundation Day festival grow even more exhilarated by the Sword Demonstration filled her with satisfaction.
But this wasn’t the end.
There was the teaser to roll.
The Sword Demonstration at Foundation Day.
The reason she’d carefully built momentum all this time was for one thing alone.
‘Tomorrow is Cartamen’s episode two broadcast day!’
* * *
“Ahhhhh!”
His ears rang until the curtain fell again across the stage.
Kusto watched the people’s roaring ovation with an almost dreamlike detachment.
This was nothing like Slave Gladiator Combat, or any of the evaluations he’d undergone at Cartamen until now.
His heart hammered faster and faster, as if about to detonate.
‘What is this feeling?’
He swallowed the breath welling up in his throat and looked around.
Every other contestant’s face was flushed crimson.
Not from exhaustion, but from the exhilaration boiling over inside them.
They were all thinking the same thing.
That they wanted to experience this again.
That they didn’t want to be eliminated from Cartamen.
* * *
After the crowd dispersed, the Cartamen participants filtered out of the Plaza one by one.
“The next evaluation is in a week. Rest easy until the invitations are sent.”
Amont, apparently pleased with today’s performance, dismissed them with a cheerful smile.
There had been some mistakes among the lower-ranked participants, but given the short preparation period, the results were quite respectable.
The contestants left together, carrying equal parts relief and joy.
David quickened his pace.
Any delay and admirers would surround him.
He didn’t dislike them or find them bothersome—he simply felt exhausted and wanted to retire early tonight.
But unmistakably, he heard footsteps following him.
‘This wretched popularity.’
Since he couldn’t ignore it, David turned around politely.
But the figure behind him was utterly unexpected.
“Kusto?”
David couldn’t hide his shock.
Kusto stood at the furthest extreme from his admirers.
The one person who ignored David’s attention entirely.
And now, surprising words fell from Kusto’s lips.
“You were amazing today. You’re definitely worthy of standing at the highest place.”
“Suddenly?”
Despite his words, David’s mood lifted so much that he couldn’t help but smile.
It certainly had a different quality than the blind praise his followers offered.
‘The way he speaks—like he truly accepts me for who I am—it feels refreshing.’
When was the last time he’d heard praise that actually moved his heart? A very long time ago.
When his brother Wigo was still alive.
“Where are you staying these days? You weren’t at the lodge.”
“Were you looking for me?”
“Yes. I thought you might have nowhere to go, so I searched—and it looked like you’d already made a friend.”
Kusto shrugged.
“More like I’m staying with a former teammate.”
“A teammate?”
David murmured to himself, “Right, I see,” and nodded.
“You look tired, and I’ve kept you too long. Go on now.”
Kusto extended his hand coolly. David clasped it.
But as they shook hands, Kusto’s expression shifted subtly.
“Your hand….”
David caught himself short.
“It’s fine. It’s nothing.”
David’s hands were covered with small wounds.
David smiled as if nothing were amiss and turned to leave.
The wounds were from his training.
‘Did I overdo it?’
As he passed through the Garden heading home, David stopped short.
One corner of the Garden.
A Simple Practice Martial Arts Ground, set up for him to train anytime, anywhere.
‘One more short practice session shouldn’t hurt.’
He made his way to the practice ground.
“Surely you’re not planning to train again?”
The Butler asked with concern.
“Yesterday you were at it until dawn as well…….”
David seized a practice sword with stubborn determination. The Butler shook his head in disapproval.
“You train more diligently than the lowest servant, yet no one knows it. People will think you’re first simply because of your natural talent. It’s so unjust.”
“There’s nothing unjust about it. I do this because I want to.”
The Butler regarded his master with a look of regret.
“It’s because of Wigo, isn’t it?”
“…….”
“That’s why you’re so earnest about it?”
“At first, I thought it was.”
David lowered his sword for a moment.
“Now I’m not sure anymore—whether I’m doing this to fulfill his dream, or my own.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s strange…….”
David recalled the one-on-one matches.
Opponents who trembled the moment they saw him, unable to show their true strength.
But there was one person who was different.
‘Kusto.’
His skill fell short of David’s own, yet he didn’t flinch in the slightest—he drew his blade cleanly and decisively.
The thrill of steel striking steel.
He couldn’t forget that sensation.
‘Well, the team matches were entertaining enough in their own way.’
It would have been more enjoyable if he’d been partnered with Kusto.
Next time, he’d make sure to be on the same team as him—the one who kept his distance.
‘Strange. The more he avoids me, the more I want to be with him.’
With that thought, David threw himself back into training.
‘I should train today and get to bed early.’
* * *
Late at night.
Standing in Victory Plaza, the greatest square in the Capital, was an enormous tower.
On the tower carved with the Victory goddess, Edith had installed a transmission device.
The screens had been taken down when it wasn’t Cartamen broadcast time, but the Tablet in front of the tower remained installed.
A figure approached it.
A man wrapped thickly in a Robe.
He registered his Identity Card on the Tablet.
The screen lit up brightly.
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☐ Cartamen Voting
Please select a participant to vote for.
You may select up to 10 participants total.
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Cartamen Voting was always available, even outside broadcast hours.
But instead of voting, the man scrolled down.
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☐ Leave Feedback About Cartamen
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This was the button he selected.
The screen changed, and opinions left by the common people appeared.

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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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