Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 43

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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 43
6th Place: Arsen – 211 votes
5th Place: Pierre – 320 votes
4th Place: Custo – 1,591 votes
3rd Place: David – 1,904 votes
2nd Place: Deni – 1,928 votes
1st Place: Killian – 4,017 votes
‘This score……!’
Norman Posey’s eyes widened.
Of all people, it was Killian—the one who had withdrawn—who claimed first place.
Sympathy votes may have played a part, but his extraordinary performance hanging from the ship’s hull with only one arm must have left an indelible impression.
Behind him came Deni, who had executed his role as leader admirably.
The full rankings soon appeared on screen.
□ Team Ranking
1st Place: Team led by Dmitri
2nd Place: Team led by Grimal
3rd Place: Team led by Deni
4th Place: ……
“By team record, Leader Dmitri’s team takes first place, and all six of his teammates will receive 100,000 points each. And!”
Edit gestured toward the screen.
Another ranking appeared on the display.
□ Individual 1st Place by Team
– Killian – (4,017 votes)
– Dmitri – (3,768 votes)
– William – (2,001 votes)
……
“These are the knights who received the most votes within their teams and will earn 100,000 individual points! And the first place among them is…… Knight Killian!”
“Wooooah!”
Norman Posey let out an involuntary cry and shot to his feet.
Coming to his senses a moment later, he noticed the other journalists in the press gallery were cheering as well.
Norman Posey quickly sat back down and feigned a cough, as though nothing had happened.
“Well, a journalist ought to maintain some decorum.”
Then he began scribbling Killian’s praises into his notebook.
* * *
“Everyone has done splendid work!”
Internal Waiting Room.
All the teams had gathered after completing their missions.
Edit spoke with a satisfied expression.
Everyone answered in unison with a hearty “Yes!” but the knights’ faces showed every shade of emotion.
‘The difference between those who placed well and those who didn’t is stark.’
And understandably so.
“The next event is the Mounted Group Dance assessment.”
At Edit’s words, the knights’ eyes gleamed.
The Mounted Group Dance!
A spectacle where riders performed choreographed movements as though dancing atop their horses.
Executed as a team, it created a truly magnificent sight.
It was also one of the training exercises that helped knights maintain formation during actual combat.
Moreover, it was a spectacle the common people adored.
Thus the outcome of this event hinged entirely upon the votes of the masses.
“The Mounted Group Dance assessment will naturally be held publicly before the people.”
“Yes!”
“You will be granted two weeks of rest before the Mounted Group Dance assessment.”
“Ohhhhh!”
The knights erupted in enthusiasm at the welcome news.
After such a grueling evaluation, rest was surely what they needed.
But Edit was not a princess who dispensed only carrots.
“And one important thing to keep in mind!”
The room fell silent.
“After the Mounted Group Dance assessment, there will be a Ranking Announcement Ceremony. I hope you all keep that in mind as you prepare for the next evaluation.”
The knights’ reaction was peculiar.
At the mention of the Ranking Announcement Ceremony, their excitement evaporated in an instant.
They were clearly terrified of the rankings being announced.
‘I’m going to work myself to death editing this.’
Edit cried out inwardly, grieving.
“All right, everyone dismissed!”
* * *
“Now this is real rest. A whole week off. I’m sad we haven’t seen each other, so what do we do about that?”
Maurice spoke as they made their way down the corridor leaving the Circular Arena.
“Right. Let’s set up a meeting and see each other often. Oh, and Shusu too!”
Pavel chimed in.
Olivier asked with a puzzled expression.
“Who is Shusu?”
“Oh, you don’t know.”
Maurice spoke with a look of tragic pity.
“Pavel calls Deni Binosu that.”
“Ah…….”
“Ugh…….”
A groan escaped the knights who hadn’t known this fact—as if they’d witnessed something they wished they hadn’t.
Only Pavel beamed.
It was just as they were leaving the Circular Arena.
“Joan! Joan!”
“Look, Raphael’s there too!”
“Dmitri!”
A crowd had gathered in front of the exit.
They were the knights’ fans—Mari and the Fans.
A platoon of soldiers was trying to clear a path for the knights to pass through, but they too were being swept about by the sheer mass of people.
“Let’s run.”
Olivier, having settled his business, said as much and quickly bolted.
The other knights followed, dashing through the narrow passage—or rather, the gap.
“Goodbye! Goodbye! Goodbye, everyone!”
“Wow, you came to see us?”
There were knights like Maurice and Pavel who greeted them one by one as they ran.
“Do you really like me? Why me specifically…….”
“Why not! Dmitri is so magnificent.”
“Our Dmitri—seeing him like this just breaks our hearts.”
Dmitri accepted their greetings awkwardly, unsure what to do.
Raphael too smiled with fascination, constantly looking around him.
Then it happened.
Joan struck Raphael’s shoulder with incredible speed and rushed past.
He then climbed into a waiting carriage.
“Hey, Joan. How about us……!”
Raphael cried out desperately, but the carriage door shut firmly.
“What a disloyal man……!”
Pavel, huffing and puffing as he ran alongside, muttered with a pouting lip.
“What is this. Have I been abandoned?”
Just then, someone rushed up beside Pavel and spoke.
“Hey, Shusu!”
…….
“Shusu didn’t abandon me, so I’m fine!”
Pavel said, embracing Deni—or rather, wrapping his arm around Deni’s waist.
“Whoa! Did you hear that? He said Shusu!”
“Hearing it with my own ears makes it feel even more sacred, truly!”
Hearing the screams coming from all around, Deni quickly pulled Pavel away.
“Let’s just get somewhere without people.”
Just then, a carriage even larger and more ornate than Joan’s appeared beside his.
The door swung wide open, and David emerged.
“Get in!”
Several knights scrambled into the carriage at once.
Once it was so full they could fit no more, the door closed and the carriage departed.
Only then did everyone catch their breath and look around at the faces near them.
“Thank you, David. That awful Joan left without a shred of loyalty, but you gave us a ride anyway—me and Deni.”
“Deni rode with us?”
David smiled calmly, and Deni’s face went pale.
“D-David too? You’re calling me by that horrible name……!”
“Ha. Just joking.”
“I knew it? But that’s going too far…….”
“Deni.”
“No, David!”
Deni wrapped his head in his hands, writhing in agony.
Besides Pavel and Deni, three others were riding in the carriage.
Killian, Dmitri, and Custo.
David smiled when he spotted Custo.
After dropping off Pavel and Deni first—who conveniently lodged at the same residence—the carriage had a bit more room.
“Killian, I hear you’re doing Leg Strengthening Training.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve been doing it here and there while staying at my lodgings.”
“Your lodgings?”
David asked. Killian explained where his accommodation was. It was a place near the Slums that barely deserved to be called lodgings at all.
David frowned.
“From now on, you’ll stay and train at my estate. There’s even a modest training ground in the garden, so it’ll be convenient.”
“No, I couldn’t impose like that. I’ve already received so much help during the team matches—how could I burden you with my presence at your own home?”
David tilted his head and asked.
“Do you really think staying at my estate would be an imposition?”
“Of course.”
“A place that spacious, overflowing with wealth and food?”
“Well…….”
“One more person living there—is that really such a burden?”
“That’s…… I suppose not?”
Though his tone carried a faint smugness, everyone in the carriage found themselves convinced.
And so Killian ended up staying at David’s estate more or less by default.
David turned his gaze to Dmitri.
“Dmitri, you’re invited too……. But you look unwell?”
Dmitri shook his head, his face gone pallid.
“I’m just tired today.”
“Well, being the leader must have worn you out.”
Custo said.
Just then, Dmitri’s estate came into view.
“I’d like to rest alone for a while.”
With such a clear statement, David couldn’t press the invitation further.
“Thank you for the ride.”
Dmitri climbed out of the carriage and walked off alone, his steps heavy.
David watched him go, then seized the moment to ask Custo as well.
“And now that I think of it, Custo, I’d like to extend an invitation to you too…….”
That was when it happened.
“Ungh…….”
Dmitri’s brow furrowed, and he suddenly collapsed sideways.
“Dmitri!”
Without hesitation, all three of them leaped from the carriage and rushed to him.
Custo, lifting the fallen man, gasped.
“He’s burning up with fever!”
“How long has he been like this?”
“Get him inside first.”
David instructed the coachman and attendants to wait, then entered Dmitri’s estate with the other two.
As David and Killian stepped into the cold, bare interior, they froze.
“The master has arrived, so why isn’t a single servant coming out to greet him?”
Custo, still carrying Dmitri on his back, spoke.
“There’s no one here.”
“What?”
“There are no servants. No one wants to work under Dmitri.”
Custo entered Dmitri’s room with practiced ease.
Then he laid him down on the cold bed.
“This fool, in this state, wanting to be left alone…….”
Custo bit his lip.
“We need to fetch a physician.”
“At least we should get some water into him.”
At Killian’s words, Custo and David headed to the kitchen together.
“When he comes to, we should have some bread ready for him.”
David said.
Fortunately, there was bread that hadn’t spoiled.
It looked rough, as if made by hand.
“Making bread too—he’s got hidden talents, hasn’t he.”
Custo tore off a small piece cautiously and took a bite.
And he felt it immediately—a surge of emotion.
“No wonder his body’s so weak, living on nothing but this! It’s enough to break one’s heart……!”
“What is it?”
David took a bite as well, then hurried to toss the bread into the trash.
“His cooking skills…….”
He sighed, then spoke without hesitation.
“Let me nurse Dmitri at my estate instead.”

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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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