Vote for Your Knight! - Chapter 59

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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!
Episode 59
Everyone’s attention fixed on Pierre’s lips.
“It’s the spider.”
“What?”
“This cavalry choreography is about chasing a spider, but there’s no spider at all.”
Pierre was right.
In the group dance, all nine knights and their horses were merely acting out the pursuit of a “spider.”
But there was no knight or horse actually playing the spider’s role.
“They’re chasing it here and there, attacking the spider that isn’t there, all pantomime with nothing to show for it.”
That made the choreography even harder to understand.
“If the ‘spider’ had a clear, tangible presence, the fear the knights feel and their desperation to destroy it would come through far more powerfully.”
“So you’re saying we should pick someone from among the knights to play the ‘spider’ and revise the choreography?”
“Exactly.”
Rafael nodded as if he understood.
“The message would be much clearer that way.”
Morris, who had been thinking quietly, spoke up.
“Then the center would become the ‘spider.'”
“Yes. We need to choose a new center.”
Pierre said this flatly.
Everyone’s eyes went wide.
“Choose a new center?”
“You’re saying you’ll give up the center position?”
Pierre nodded.
His face was cold and resolute.
They were all taken aback.
Other teams would fight tooth and nail over who got to be center.
But Pierre was relinquishing it himself.
His teammates couldn’t hide their bewilderment. Then Pierre offered an explanation.
“For the choreography to be truly complete, the spider should be played by someone with more flair. I’m an excellent horseman and rider, but I’m too conventional—I don’t stand out.”
“But are you sure you’ll be all right with that?”
David asked with concern.
Pierre showed no hesitation, nodding firmly.
“Don’t waste time drowning in sentiment. After this evaluation comes the ranking ceremony. So we think only of the team’s victory.”
At Pierre’s words, tension rippled through the group.
David spoke up.
“Fine. Then we’ll choose the center by vote—whoever best fits the spider’s role.”
“Someone quick and eye-catching.”
Pierre added to David’s words.
Everyone’s eyes began darting about as they considered who that might be.
David called out.
“Then each of you point to whoever you think best suits the center, the ‘spider.’ Go!”
* * *
The Valkyria, who had leveled cutting remarks at the teams before them, now made their way to Team One’s riding ground.
Seeing Joan’s confident expression, Ines’s lips curved upward.
“Looks like you’ve practiced hard.”
“Yes! We did our very best!”
“You’re the leader?”
“Yes!”
“I thought so.”
Joan seemed to believe she’d been praised and smiled.
“Our leader taught me so much. Joan can perform the Red Heart choreography with her eyes closed.”
Clover chimed in as well. Joan wasn’t foolish—she’d managed to cultivate an ally among her teammates.
Amonte spoke.
“When you talk it up like that, we can’t help but expect something. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Team One mounted their horses and took formation for the group dance. Then music flowed from the Image Orb, and the Red Heart choreography began.
Against the grand music honoring Di Eques, a bland choreography unfolded with mechanical precision in its movements.
No one made mistakes, but that was all there was to it.
Joan was clearly the best performer, but her excellence couldn’t elevate the dull impression of the entire dance.
When the choreography ended, the Valkyria’s response was cold.
“Your formation work was solid.”
“But that’s all there is to it.”
Amonte and Ines spoke in succession. Their assessment was harsh.
“Joan is the leader, correct? And it looks as though she’s also taking the center position?”
“Yes.”
Joan replied. Mila hummed thoughtfully, stroking her chin.
“Among your group, that was the best performance.”
“Thank you!”
“But compared to the other groups, I wouldn’t call it good. When the choreography is this straightforward, you should naturally execute it well. And you said you already knew this cavalry choreography beforehand? Taking that into account, the performance was disappointing.”
Mila, contrary to her usual demeanor, offered her critique without a trace of warmth on her face.
Joan was taken aback. She had assumed her group would receive criticism, but that she herself would be praised.
‘I’m getting harsh criticism too.’
This wasn’t part of the plan.
But it didn’t end there.
Ines spoke coldly.
“You’re the leader—didn’t it occur to you to modify the choreography?”
“That is… this choreography has a completeness to it as it stands…….”
“Well, yes. Di Eques created it.”
“Yes. That’s why I couldn’t touch it carelessly.”
“But this is old cavalry choreography from decades ago. Do you really think the crowd will be thrilled watching it?”
“If it doesn’t feel like a funeral, we should count ourselves lucky.”
Amonte chimed in.
Then he continued.
“It seems like the leader here, being familiar with this choreography, chose the easy route with familiar steps?”
“No, that’s not it!”
“It’s not? Really?”
“No…….”
Joan answered, her confidence crumbling.
“Then modify the choreography. You can’t perform like this in front of the people. It’s a disgrace to Kartamen.”
Joan’s face flushed crimson under Amonte’s cold judgment.
Mila spoke.
“Joan must have been exhausted taking on both the leader and center roles by herself. That’s probably why she didn’t have time to revise.”
“No, I’m fine!”
Joan answered hastily. At that, Mila sighed.
“You’re being evasive, and I can’t understand you. I’ll just say it plainly. Taking on this many parts by yourself is greed. You’re not executing any of it properly.”
Mila cut off Joan’s stubborn protests. Joan’s face went scarlet.
“Have different people take the leader and center roles.”
The Valkyrias departed after thoroughly deflating Joan.
“What… what do I do now…….”
Clover spoke with a face full of worry.
He had been relying solely on Joan.
Meanwhile, Kusto, Dmitri, and Olivier exchanged knowing smiles.
Everything had gone according to plan.
A few days earlier, when the three of them had gathered.
Olivier had spoken with a tone of complaint.
“Isn’t it too much for Joan to be greedy about both the leader and center positions?”
But Dmitri had replied with composure.
“Leave it alone.”
“Do you have some good idea in mind?”
“Think about the nature of the Valkyrias. They don’t favor participants who are greedy.”
Kusto added.
“The Valkyrias will solve the problem for us.”
And everything unfolded exactly as they had anticipated.
Having gauged the judges’ temperaments, they had accomplished their goal without lifting a finger.
“Let’s gather and discuss what to do next.”
Kusto spoke.
The group members, led by a dejected Joan, shuffled reluctantly toward the center.
“How much better can we possibly do at this point?”
Joan said bitterly.
Killian furrowed his brow.
“You heard what the Valkyrias said. We need to revise the choreography.”
“But I’ve already memorized the entire routine…….”
“Then learn it again. You’re not lacking the ability.”
“No, I…….”
Joan said nothing. She’d managed to project confidence this whole time, but now she couldn’t bring herself to admit she couldn’t do it.
She pressed her lips together firmly.
As Joan fell silent, Dmitri spoke up.
“The problem with the Red Heart is that it’s too dull. Frankly, it’s boring. So we need to overhaul everything—the choreography, the music, all of it.”
“Wait, overhaul everything……!”
Joan was taken aback.
If that happened, her only advantage—already knowing the Red Heart inside and out—would be rendered useless.
But the rest of the team seemed to agree with Dmitri.
Kusto spoke up.
“I have a good idea.”
When the team heard Kusto’s proposal, their eyes lit up with approval.
To be honest, his concept looked solid to Joan as well.
Olivier chimed in too.
“I’ll handle the musical arrangement to match it. Some people might not know, but…….”
“Olivier is the top student in music at the Royal Academy.”
Dmitri said it for him.
“Come on, why bring that up?”
Olivier scratched his head and laughed bashfully, having completely forgotten his earlier impulse to tout his own credentials.
* * *
The area in front of the Circular Arena was bustling from the early morning.
Today was the day of the new Kartamen evaluation.
It wasn’t just the ten thousand people who’d won spots to watch.
There were those who’d gathered hoping to catch a sound from outside, to feel the atmosphere.
Even those who’d come in hopes of glimpsing a single strand of hair from a Kartamen knight.
The area before the Circular Arena was a sea of humanity.
More people arriving by the hour.
And the viewing application rate had doubled compared to the last evaluation.
Two people had made it through that fierce competition to be here.
They were Brin, the second-ranked graduate of the Royal Academy, and Agnes, the former vice student council president.
Of course, they absolutely hadn’t come to cheer on Olivier, the top-ranked graduate.
‘Why on earth would we root for that unlucky fool?’

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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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