Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 47

—————
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!
Chapter 47
“And finally, Knight Kusto.”
“Nah, I’m not picking him.”
David muttered under his breath, his tone far more bitter than necessary.
He felt the weight of a sharp glare from beside him, but he forced himself to stare straight ahead.
‘Honestly, when she grabbed my hair, it hurt like hell.’
He had no desire to be caught like that again.
‘But His Excellency David really seems to like Kusto.’
Every time, David expressed a desire to team up with him.
There had even been reports of them being together before.
‘There’s even been a rumor that they live together in David’s estate.’
Surely that wasn’t the case.
In truth, David wasn’t entirely pleased with Kusto and David being paired together.
‘No matter how much his image has improved, they’re still not on the same level.’
It was selfish, but he wished David had paired with a knight of higher rank.
‘Look at Pavel and Deni. Deni’s completely carried by Pavel.’
When a popular knight and a less popular one stuck together, it became a problem.
One person benefited unilaterally from the arrangement.
Of course, the more popular knight gained something too from that dynamic.
But devoted fans of a single knight rarely admitted that point willingly.
What nagged at him more were the whispers circulating about Kusto.
They were too terrible to believe.
‘Surely that’s just baseless gossip.’
Still, he couldn’t help but worry.
Next, Joan selected her teammate.
Again, she carefully chose only the most excellent knights.
“Just as expected of Joan—sharp thinking. Pick only like that and you’ll be fine… Huh?”
When Joan picked Dmitri last, Joan was taken aback.
Dmitri’s image had improved by now, but back then it was a time when openly supporting him was difficult to express.
Moreover, Dmitri ranked dead last.
She couldn’t fathom why he’d been chosen.
But that confusion didn’t last long.
It was due to Edith’s shocking announcement.
“Each team member will compete against one another, and the knight with the highest score within the team will earn one hundred thousand points.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“No, that can’t be right!”
David and Joan gasped in unison.
So the two teams built with powerful members were at the greatest disadvantage.
Of course, David and Joan ranked first and second respectively, but they couldn’t afford to let their guard down for a moment. They would also face the most interference from others.
Soon, scenes of position assignments and practice emerged.
Everyone scrambled to avoid being assigned to cover duty.
It was obviously the most inconspicuous role with the least screen time.
Meanwhile, everyone was eager to be the leader.
“If I don’t get attention this time, I’m really sunk.”
“Same here.”
“Honestly, who’d want to do cover duty? Everyone wants acquisition or strategy.”
Disputes broke out over positions.
The editors particularly focused on Dmitri and Joan.
“I asked you to stay still, didn’t I?”
(Joan glares at Dmitri, and then Pavel opens his mouth!)
“We succeeded because of Dmitri. Shouldn’t we be thinking about changing leaders?”
(Joan, taken aback)
“Change leaders now?”
(The team atmosphere freezes rapidly)
“Is Dmitri insane? Joan’s the leader, so why’s he showing off?”
Joan snapped irritably.
Then a rebuttal came from somewhere.
“Honestly, Dmitri was more of a leader than Joan.”
“Right. We should change leaders. For the team’s sake.”
“Joan seems a bit selfish.”
“The selfish ones are the people trying to replace a perfectly good leader.”
Joan countered, but the majority had already sided against her.
David covered her mouth with her hand.
“Too bad. What can you do.”
Then she muttered softly to herself.
Joan shot her a sharp glare.
“Take your hand away.”
David dropped her hand at once.
A smile played at the corner of her mouth.
“You’re really——!”
But Joan couldn’t stay angry.
Mila’s bombshell announcement had just appeared on screen.
“To build the perfect team, I’m giving you the opportunity to remove one member.”
“What? Suddenly we have to drop someone?”
“How could she be so cruel!”
“After all this time training together, how can she just kick us out——.”
“To be honest, every team has obvious weak spots, doesn’t it?”
“Good idea. We should cut the deadweight who’s dragging us down.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Naturally, the atmosphere among the team members on screen turned vicious.
“I can’t be eliminated. I risked everything to get here.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Listen, honestly you’ve been holding us back every practice session. If you had any conscience, you’d leave.”
“What did you just say? Do you think you’re fit to be leader? You’re nothing but a loudmouth!”
Teams quarreling, teams in tears, and more.
Gripped by the raw drama, no one could look away from the screen.
Episode five ended without revealing who had been chosen.
“Why does it cut off there every time!”
“Your Highness is truly cruel.”
“No way. She wouldn’t actually eliminate anyone.”
“Right. She’ll be like, ‘Surprise! It was a teamwork test!'”
Those who hadn’t watched live began chattering their speculation.
Then it happened.
The screen, which everyone thought had gone dark, suddenly displayed the interim rankings.

1st Place ?
2nd Place ?
3rd Place Pavel
……
……
6th Place Maurice
7th Place Deni
……
9th Place Rafael
10th Place Kusto
……
17th Place Oliver
……
21st Place Pierre
……
27th Place Killian
……
39th Place Dmitri
……
Overall, the rankings showed little upheaval.
The only notable shift was Dmitri’s dramatic climb in the standings.
And most conspicuously, the top two places remained hidden.
“What? Why won’t they show us first and second!”
“It has to be David and Joan, one of them.”
“Is Joan hiding it because she came in first?”
“The way she’s whipping people into a frenzy to vote, you’d think she was possessed.”
After the broadcast ended, not a single person left to go home.
Everyone was absorbed in voting and leaving comments.
Some were even dragging people who hadn’t come to the square, forcing them to cast their votes.
The fervor for voting was reaching a fever pitch.
* * *
Did you hear about that?
Rumor has it people are buying Voting Rights with money lol
– Isn’t that illegal?
– Who? Come out and name them
– No wonder the mid-evaluation rankings looked weird haha
– I know who this post is targeting… but honestly, doesn’t everyone do it? lol
ㄴ Everyone does it??? First I’m hearing of it
ㄴ Look at them squirming because they got caught
ㄴ You’re the ones who bought Voting Rights, aren’t you?
The Emperor’s expression darkened as he watched the reactions unfold.
“Good heavens. People are actually buying Voting Rights.”
Duke Frederick spoke up carefully.
“Your Highness, the voting fervor has become far too heated, I’m afraid. Perhaps it would be wise to calm the atmosphere somewhat….”
“No. That’s impossible.”
Edith spoke with firm resolve.
The Emperor loved his daughter’s strength of conviction, but now his concern was palpable.
“We’ve reached the point where Voting Rights are being bought and sold. Surely we need to take countermeasures.”
“Of course. We must root out everyone who’s been buying or selling Voting Rights and punish them severely.”
“Quite right. Quite right.”
“But I don’t think this atmosphere is necessarily bad.”
“I beg your pardon?”
The Emperor and Duke Frederick exchanged bewildered looks.
Edith, meanwhile, smiled with easy composure as she continued.
“As the voting fervor burns ever brighter, most of the people have now received Status Badges. And when we severely punish those trading in Voting Rights, it will teach the people just how important it is to protect their rights as citizens.”
“Still, everyone is growing excessively fervent. Isn’t that dangerous?”
“Indeed it is. The composition of Kartamen grows increasingly provocative, which makes it all the more concerning.”
Duke Frederick echoed the Emperor’s worry.
But Edith was unyielding.
“Great achievements always come with risk. And I believe what we need now is something even more provocative than this.”

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