Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 45

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

Vote for your knight!
45
“I believe Kusto will become the Final Survivor of Cartamen.”
“How can you be certain of that?”
“If I hadn’t seen the potential in him from the start, I wouldn’t have gone so far as to use my Pardon Authority to have him participate.”
Edith spoke with absolute conviction.
* * *
That day, the conversation between Dmitri and Kusto ended without reaching any conclusion.
Two secrets between them.
One was the fact that Dmitri had deliberately become a traitor to bring down the tyrant.
The other was that Kusto might die if he failed to become the Final Survivor of Cartamen.
Neither question could be answered with any certainty at present.
Instead, Dmitri did not refuse one thing.
He would stay at David’s Mansion and rest and recover.
Kusto agreed to remain as well and help with his care.
Killian also stayed at David’s Mansion, undergoing Leg Strengthening Training.
Olivier continued to bring Dmitri his medicine. At the same time, he prepared medicinal remedies to restore Killian’s legs and brought them along as well.
“The medicine is definitely working. My legs move much more easily now.”
“Of course. This is…….”
“Yes, yes. Since it was made by the genius Olivier, top of the Royal Academy and first in pharmaceutical studies.”
The knights staying at the mansion began to speak more freely with one another.
“Did you hear?”
Olivier, who had brought another batch of medicine, spoke up.
He asked so bluntly if they’d heard.
When they all looked at him in confusion, Olivier smiled and opened his mouth.
“They’re selling portraits of us outside. And not just any portraits—they’ve painted our actual deeds from Cartamen.”
“People actually buy that?”
Kusto asked with doubt. Olivier nodded.
“They’re flying off the shelves.”
He looked at Dmitri, whose complexion had improved considerably.
“Why don’t we go take a walk and see for ourselves? It’ll be good for Dmitri to get out.”
Dmitri’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘A walk for Dmitri.’
It sounded like they were taking a dog out for a stroll.
But soon another thought crossed his mind.
‘I’ve already been receiving care like a dog anyway.’
And truthfully, Dmitri was curious.
‘I wonder if my portrait is being sold too.’
“I’m not particularly interested in such things… but my body could use some fresh air.”
Dmitri feigned indifference as he spoke.
“Still, we need to hide your face so people don’t recognize you. You remember what happened when we left the Circular Arena last time.”
David offered a cautionary reminder.
Kusto tilted his head.
“That was because the people gathered there were all trying to see us. Would people on the street really recognize us so easily?”
“There’s no harm in being careful. Let’s do as David suggests.”
Olivier said.
David, Kusto, Dmitri, Killian, and Olivier.
The five of them ventured out with their faces hidden beneath robes and hats.
* * *
The largest thoroughfare in the Capital, where the most people gathered.
Arshin Street.
Named after Arshin, one of the Eques, it was a street densely packed with shops, restaurants, cafés, and the like.
On this street, a large painting hung in the biggest general store.
It depicted the Rank Reassessment and the One-on-One Duel Final.
The protagonist of the intricately rendered image was David.
That was not all. The sales counter displayed paintings capturing the actual exploits of various knights in many different sizes.
Nor was it only paintings. Bags, handkerchiefs, slogans, fans, and all manner of merchandise filled the display.
“These just came in. They’re so pretty, I’m losing my mind.”
“They’re determined to empty my wallet again. Cunning merchants—I’ll buy them and show them!”
“Wait, isn’t this illegal? They said official merchandise will be released soon. Wouldn’t it be better to buy that instead?”
“Right, right. But I made a slogan for Dmitri, so I’ll share that with you.”
Dmitri’s ears flushed as he overheard the passersby talking.
People now spoke of supporting Dmitri as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Not so long ago, they’d hidden away to cheer for him in secret.
“This is really happening.”
Kusto muttered under his breath while staring at a plate bearing his own face.
David narrowed his eyes as he examined a towel embroidered with his likeness.
‘It looks worse than the real thing…….’
When the Imperial Household officially releases merchandise, I’ll have to ask them to pay more attention to preserving my features.
‘This is why illegal merchandise is…….’
David clicked his tongue.
Just then, Killian picked up a newspaper.
“Hey, wait a minute!”
“What’s the matter?”
“This bastard—he’s always been the one insulting us!”
The newspaper Killian had seized bore a column titled “Norman Posey’s Bitter Remarks.”
All five of them furrowed their brows and read the piece.
But…….
– Cartamen is a splendid competition that soothes the hearts of people wounded by Bobuwar’s tyranny. I make no boast, but I observed the second round, and all of you may look forward to it with confidence.
The column read less like “Norman Posey’s Bitter Remarks” and more like “Norman Posey’s Sweet Remarks.”
“What did this fool eat to change his tune?”
“Is he going to twist the knife next week, switching back to insults?”
All five of them distrusted his intentions and set down the newspaper.
“I’m getting hungry. Shall we find something to eat?”
Dmitri spoke then.
As the knights searched for a decent restaurant or café, they noticed something peculiar.
Every establishment was proudly advertising menus such as “David’s Special” and “Kusto’s Favorite Raspberry Toast.”
“Did you actually like raspberry toast?”
“What’s a raspberry?”
At David’s question, Kusto tilted his head in confusion.
“I nearly ended up buying a whole raspberry farm.”
David exhaled in relief.
These were all fabricated menus of mysterious origin.
Yet every shop was teeming with customers.
“This is strange. Is the public really responding to me this favorably?”
Dmitri, who had been quiet until now, murmured softly to himself.
He seemed genuinely bewildered.
Seeing this, Olivier smiled knowingly and spoke.
“There’s actually a place where you can see truly honest reactions.”
“Where’s that?”
“Below the Broadcasting Tower, there’s a Tablet where people can leave anonymous opinions. Since neither names nor status are revealed, it’s filled with raw, unfiltered impressions.”
Anonymous opinions. Dmitri pondered for a moment.
It sounded as though an enormous flood of uncensored remarks would be waiting there.
‘No. I won’t be hurt any more. I want to know what people truly think.’
Dmitri resolved and spoke.
“I want to see those reactions.”
“Oh, I do too!”
“I’m curious as well.”
Killian and Kusto agreed.
“Then let’s go see for ourselves.”
David spoke as though the matter held little interest to him.
He had already visited that place often in secret.
He had memorized the anonymous reactions by heart.
Of course, beneath his indifferent façade, he was quietly anticipating the new comments.
The five of them found a small plaza nearby.
Even this ordinarily quiet square was crowded today.
Everyone was voting on the Tablet or leaving opinions.
Dmitri’s eyes widened.

“So they’ve installed Broadcasting Towers and Tablets even in a place like this.”
“Throughout the Empire’s public squares…….”
“Cartamen became so popular that extra units were set up in most of the Empire’s squares.”
Olivier, who had been about to answer, turned to David with a bewildered expression.
‘How does this bastard know so much, like some kind of expert?’
His face remained utterly indifferent all the while.
Olivier felt his footing as the resident explainer slipping away.
They had to stand in line and wait their turn before they could approach the Tablet.
“Man, I never thought people would line up here just to watch this. It wasn’t like that before.”
Olivier launched into his supplementary explanations with even greater zeal than usual.
“So, first of all…….”
“You just press here and watch the response.”
When David cut in again, Olivier’s eyes hardened visibly.
David’s fingers moved with an almost possessed speed and precision.
In a blink, the Anonymous Opinion community feed appeared on screen.
“You’ve handled Tablets quite a bit before, haven’t you?”
Olivier asked, a note of challenge in his voice.
David caught himself and shook his head inwardly.
“I’m naturally skilled with tools like this. It’s a gift, you might say.”
“Wow…….”
Olivier was taken aback.
Words he’d heard countless times at the Academy.
‘So aggravating.’
‘What a show-off.’
He’d always thought they were crude insults born of envy and spite toward him.
But now he felt he could understand their resentment.
Then it happened.
“Ah…….”
Dmitri, peering at the screen, let out a small gasp.

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