Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 54

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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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Cast your vote for your knight!
Chapter 54
The reason for holding the debate.
It was to publicly clear Kusto’s name.
The people across the realm would only be satisfied if his innocence were established before all eyes.
Otherwise, the rumors would only multiply.
‘But there were no witnesses.’
The subjects of Pius’s domain kept their mouths shut out of fear of Tierry Borne.
Those who had been held hostage had all fled and gone into hiding.
‘And the lord himself would certainly never confess.’
In the end, Edith devised a method.
She would select the debate participants based on their “personal accounts.”
She launched a massive nationwide advertisement saying that Kusto’s fate hung on this debate.
‘Hoping that the hostages would not forget his kindness.’
Countless pleas and arguments poured in.
From among tens of thousands of testimonies, Edith finally found them.
– I am one of the hostages who was saved from slavery thanks to Kusto. I am ashamed that I am only now coming forward with the truth. ……
The accounts of hostages who wanted to help Kusto.
They had scattered far and wide, yet they still lived.
All while keeping their gratitude for Kusto buried in their hearts.
Edith invited them to the debate.
And she laid a trap to lure Tierry Borne.
The result was a resounding success.
“Seize Tierry Borne, lord of Pius, and investigate his estate for slaves!”
“Your Majesty! This is unjust! How can you arrest me based on the words of common folk……! Won’t you listen?”
“You always spoke of your precious subjects. Tsk, tsk.”
As Tierry Borne was dragged away, shrieking, Kusto clicked his tongue.
* * *
A few days later.
The investigation revealed that Tierry Borne had enslaved many of the hostages.
But that was not all.
He had committed numerous crimes, violated the law, and was even plotting treason.
Tierry Borne was stripped of his title and domain. He became a condemned man, locked away in prison.
On that very day.
A screen lit up in the Public Square once more.
The Imperial Palace hall where the debate had taken place days before.
The Emperor stood there.
Before him, Kusto knelt in reverence.
“Kusto.”
The Emperor placed his hand upon Kusto’s head.
And he proclaimed:
“From this day forward, I revoke the Pardon Authority granted to Kusto.”
“!”
“And I declare him innocent!”
Roaaaaar!
Cheers erupted from public squares across the realm.
Kusto looked down at the floor with a dazed expression, then flinched as he felt something dripping.
Tears.
Falling from his own eyes.
Tears of overwhelming emotion.
‘People helped me.’
No, he was never alone from the start.
Didn’t he have fellow knights who believed in him?
They cheered wildly for his acquittal from behind him.
Not all of them, but most did.
And now there were others beside Kusto as well.
Those he had risked his life to save.
‘I am no longer alone.’
His heart trembled.

Moreover, he had now been acquitted of all charges.
He could live without becoming the Final Survivor of Cartamen.
Yet another fire kindled in his heart.
So many people had helped him.
They were rooting for him.
‘I will never give up. I’ll go all the way. I won’t disappoint the people who believe in me.’
I’m going to become Di Eques, no matter what.
* * *
The Mid-term Ranking saw another tide of change.
Kusto’s position had surged so high that his name vanished behind the question marks denoting first and second place.
It was the aftermath of the public forum.
Occasionally Kusto’s name would reappear below the question marks, but he never fell below fifth.
Thus the day of the Fourth Assessment dawned.
“It’s been a while.”
“So much has happened.”
“Tell me about it!”
The knights gathered in the Circular Arena.
The Valkyria greeted them with bright faces.
The Valkyria were privately delighted that Kusto’s matter had been resolved well.
They had grown attached to the knights over time.
Edith watched the Valkyria with quiet satisfaction and spoke.
“I trust you all had good rest!”
“We did not!”
With all that had happened, they could hardly have rested easy.
Yet most of the knights bore bright expressions.
So did Edith.
“The Fourth Assessment is, as mentioned, an evaluation of the Mounted Martial Dance. Each of you will select and perform one of the dances that past Di Eques have demonstrated.”
“Ohhhhh!”
To recreate the Mounted Martial Dance of Di Eques itself!
This was tremendous honor.
‘Though it would be tremendously difficult, of course.’
Di Eques were the Empire’s finest knights.
Their Mounted Martial Dance was proportionally difficult.
Edith flashed a bright smile at the naive knights unaware of what lay ahead.
“How do you suppose we’ll choose which Mounted Martial Dance you perform?”
“A race?”
“Flag pulling?”
“Arm wrestling!”
Countless answers came forth.
But none of them were correct.
Edith was not so easily predictable.
“The answer is…… Courage Training!”
“?”
Question marks rose above the knights’ heads one by one.
The Valkyria, who had learned of the plan from Edith days ago, tittered to themselves.
Mila spoke playfully, her voice light with provocation.
“Do you know of the legend of this place, the Circular Arena?”
“Yes!”
“No!”
The answers split in two.
Those who had shouted “No!” rolled their eyes in confusion at the ashen expressions of those who had answered “Yes!”
Amont chuckled with delight and spoke.
“There is a Forbidden Secret Passage in this place. When you enter it……”
“A ghost drenched in blood appears and takes your head.”
With Ines’s words, the atmosphere turned cold in an instant.
Then it happened.
“W-w-wait! That’s nonsense!”
One knight spoke up boldly.
His legs trembling beneath him.
“That’s right. There’s no such thing as ghosts in this world!”
“That’s right, absolutely!”
The other knights chimed in, shouting their agreement.
“Yes, we’ll do our best.”
Amont encouraged them with a smile.
It was the most sinister encouragement in the world.
“Right then, we’ll divide you into groups now. Nine members per group—that means six groups total.”
“Each group member will be assigned by random number draw.”
“Of course, the numbers are based on the most recent Mid-term Ranking!”
The knights thought back through the previous standings.

1st Place ?
2nd Place ?
3rd Place Kusto
4th Place Pavel Shurb
5th Place Deni Binoshu
6th Place Morris Arno
7th Place Killian Gruci
8th Place Rafael Lorang
……
……
……
15th Place Olivier Morti
……
19th Place Pierre Simon
……
27th Place Dmitri Kassel
……
……
This time, it was the Valkyries—not the knights—who drew the numbers.
The Valkyries pulled the numbered balls without a trace of tension, one after another.
In moments, the unfurled banner revealed each group’s numbers.
Group 1: □□□□□□□□ ?
Group 2: □□□□□□□□ ?
Group 3: ……
But Groups 1 and 2 both had their numbers covered. Moreover, the last number in each was marked with a question mark.
“The two question marks are Sir David and Sir Joan.”
Ines continued, following Amont’s words.
“They may choose whichever group they wish.”
“A privilege!”
Choose a group without even knowing who your teammates are!
How could that possibly be a privilege?
Yet the knights were in no position to complain.
“Sir Joan, you may choose first.”
“No, Your Grace, David should go first…….”
“Enough!”
Mila suddenly cried out.
“We’ve been evaluating you together all this time, and you’re still using formal speech? From now on, regardless of rank, everyone speaks informally with each other! Effective immediately!”
It was a contradictory command, coming as it did from someone speaking formally herself.
But an order from a judge was an order.
“You choose first.”
“David, I’m telling you to choose first.”
Ines gave the command, unable to stand it anymore.
“Sir David should choose first, please.”
David hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“I’ll choose Group 2.”
“Then I’m going to win first place, so I’ll take Group 1!”
Laughter broke out at Joan’s words.
“That’s some serious confidence!”
“Jealous! The confidence of someone competing for first and second!”
Joan seemed to be in good spirits.
It was because he hadn’t fallen behind Kusto in this mid-term ranking.
“Now then, let’s see which groups these two chose!”
Edith peeled away the tape that had been covering Groups 1 and 2.
Group 1: 3, 27, 41, 7, 15, 9, 31, 22, ?
Group 2: 6, 10, 12, 19, 8, 52, 4, 5, ?
Group 3: ……

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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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