Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 29

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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!
29
“Congratulations, Kusto.”
“Congratulations indeed.”
Kusto flinched.
Far more people than he’d expected were offering their congratulations.
These were the same ones who’d refused to meet his eyes at first.
‘This feels strange.’
But it wasn’t unpleasant.
“I knew it’d be you, Kusto.”
David came rushing over from a distance and pulled him into an embrace.
‘I didn’t think we were this close.’
After an awkward hug with him, Kusto turned to head toward the stage, then suddenly looked back.
Dmitri was watching him.
But surrounded by so many people, Dmitri couldn’t bring himself to approach.
It seemed he was worried that drawing closer might actually harm Kusto.
Kusto walked straight toward Dmitri.
And extended his hand.
Dmitri’s eyes widened, and then he clasped Kusto’s hand in return.
“I owe this to you, Dmitri.”
“No. It’s because you performed well.”
Kusto let out a quiet laugh.
“Even though you helped me when I was fumbling around… anyway, your name will be called soon too.”
“I…”
“I’ll be waiting over there.”
And Kusto turned back toward the stage.
When Deni Vinoshu was called for ninth place, Pavel wept with joy.
Seeing him release his clasped hands after his name was announced, it was clear he’d been praying for Deni all along, not for himself.
“Eighth place goes to the participant who showed such a gentle appearance yet unexpected strength—Rafael Lorang!”
Rafael stepped forward and spoke through tears.
“Kids at our orphanage, if you’re watching… you all, I love you!”
An unexpected confession of love. The seventh and sixth place participants who followed each made their own declarations of love to parents and friends.
Only six places remained now.
First through fifth.
And the final fifty-fourth place.
But the waiting area was still crowded with many people.
Edit glanced at Dmitri, then spoke as if nothing were amiss.
“And in fifth place, someone we thought was small and cute but turned out surprisingly formidable—Pavel Shurb!”
Pavel jumped to his feet and bounded forward like a rabbit.
He sprang out, hugged Deni by force, left his comments of “Mom, I love you!”, and sat back down.
And after fourth and third place—
The candidates for first place were David and Joan Zinola.
David was the presumed first-place favorite.
And Joan was a participant who’d earned steady popularity through his handsome features and polished performance, without a single rough edge.
“David will take first no matter what.”
“Who knows? Maybe people are tired of David always getting first.”
The already-ranked participants in their seats whispered among themselves.
Even David swallowed hard, tension setting in.
“First Kartamen Ranking Selection Ceremony, first place is…!”
Edit opened the card she’d received from Valkyria.
The personal score each candidate had earned through evaluation so far.
Combined with the votes cast by the people using their Identity Badges.
“First place is… David Bertie!”
It was the result everyone had anticipated.
But David exhaled the breath he’d been holding.
He quickly regained his composure and climbed the stage with a smile.
Waiting for him was the grandest, most elaborate seat at the very center.
He gazed at it deeply, then took his place.
‘Brother, I came in first.’
Just as I promised—I’ll make the top five and bring a Kartamen Weapon to your grave.
‘And I want to become Di Eques too. Watch me.’
David closed his eyes tightly.
“Now only one final survivor remains!”
Tension settled over the Circular Arena, which had moments before been at fever pitch with excitement over the first-place finals.
One seat still sat empty.
The fifty-fourth position chair.
About half of the participants had not yet been called.
Every last one of them stared at that single chair.
“That’s Kilmen’s seat.”
“Right. How can it be that he hasn’t been called yet?”
Dmitri heard whispers near his ear.
They came from the participants surrounding Kilmen.
They consoled him even as their own eliminations seemed likely—
because Kilmen’s eyes had reddened with fury, his jaw clenched so hard his face twisted.
“Why! Have I been lacking in something all this time? Why am I stuck at fifty-fourth at best?”
He’d already convinced himself that final seat was his by right.
It seemed he couldn’t even imagine that he might be eliminated.
He didn’t grasp that his performance had failed to resonate with the common people.
Dmitri watched Kilmen and let out a hollow laugh.
‘The difference between him and me is simply whether one understands one’s own measure.’
Dmitri had already made peace with his heart.
To say he’d held no “surely not” hopes at the start would be a lie.
But with each ranking called, it became clearer that this stage held no place for him.
‘I’ve disappointed Her Highness.’
Still, to be eliminated at the very first ranking ceremony.
After she’d gone to such lengths to have him participate.
He’d never believed that mere broadcasts and a couple of Swordsmanship exhibitions would soften the people’s ill will toward him.
Dmitri watched the victors onstage with a peaceful heart.
Yet somewhere deep in his chest, a small ache throbbed steadily.
“Now we’ll announce the fifty-fourth position candidates!”
Just as with the first-place announcement, two names would be called this time.
It would heighten the tension further.
“First candidate—Kilmen Brudy! Please step forward.”
Kilmen shot to his feet as if he’d expected nothing less.
Yet the rank of fifty-fourth still seemed to sit poorly with him.
He walked roughly, his footsteps heavy and harsh, and took his place before the stage.
“The next candidate is…….”
Forty-five participants prayed with desperate longing—some clasping their hands together, others pressing their heads to their knees.
Please let the name called be mine……!
Only one person sat still, erect, his face serene.
“Dmitri Kassel!”
It was Dmitri.
At first, he froze as if turned to stone.
But those around him called his name and shook him until he finally came to his senses.
“You’re the fifty-fourth position candidate.”
“Me, me……?”
“Yes! Hurry up and get to the stage!”
A few other participants lifted Dmitri to his feet and pushed him toward the stage.
There was something subtly encouraging about it, and Dmitri’s feelings grew complicated.
Yet he still couldn’t believe he was the fifty-fourth candidate.
Even if he became fifty-fifth, or rather, he likely would become fifty-fifth—had so many of the people truly chosen him, to reach such a high ranking?
‘A traitor to this empire?’
Edit let out a soft laugh as Dmitri, looking bewildered, climbed onto the stage.
For once, he seemed almost dopey, and there was something endearingly innocent about him.
Kilmen, by contrast, frowned—displeased even with his competition.
“Well then, both of you have made it to the fifty-fourth position. Let’s hear your thoughts. First, candidate Kilmen Brudy!”
“I can scarcely believe it. In many ways. But I’m grateful that you’ve chosen me, and I promise to work even harder going forward.”
It was a greeting that sounded almost grateful for having achieved fifty-fourth.
Now it was Dmitri’s turn.
He hesitated, then opened his mouth quietly.
“Coming this far is already a great honor to me. I still owe debts to so many people. Thank you for giving me your vote despite my shortcomings. I won’t forget this.”
It was the opposite of Kilmen’s confident words.
As if he’d just finished his time at Kartamen and was now offering final reflections—his tone was calm and measured.
Yet at the same time, his eyes held a wistful gaze, as though he were remembering countless things.
‘How could they be so different.’
Edit bit her lip.
‘The crosscut sequence just came through.’
She concealed her true feelings and drew out the final card that Valkyria had passed to her.
“The First Kartamen Ranking Selection Ceremony! And now, the last survivor standing, the champion at fifty-fourth place is……!”
Everyone in the arena held their breath.
Edit swallowed once, then cried out with full force.

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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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