#405
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405
Helmut looked out the window where the sun was shining.
The sky on the day of the finals was surprisingly clear. It’s a refreshing morning.
From head to toe, my body’s senses were in optimal condition.
As if I had refined my body and mind just for today.
In the morning, a person from the Muthuhoe came and knocked on the door and spoke to Helmut.
“It’s almost time to leave. “You need to finish your preparations.”
The finals are held after noon, when the sun is at its highest. A martial arts festival attended by the imperial family and the Duke and Duchess of Rinosa. Since it was a finals event attended by dignitaries, participants had to wait early and undergo tests for safety reasons.
Since I’m not wearing armor, there’s nothing to prepare. Helmut, in his robes, extended his hand towards his iron mask.
It was comfortable to wear in its own way because it was imbued with the magic of Area, but few people like to hide themselves and their faces.
Helmut participated in this martial arts competition and always wore this mask whenever he had to go out.
Especially recently, as the Iron Mask contestant emerged as a strong candidate for the championship and attracted attention, many people were curious about the face behind his mask.
There were people trying to infiltrate the dormitory.
‘My original face is unfamiliar.’
Today will be the last day I will wear this mask. Helmut put on his mask tightly.
It fit perfectly on my face. He picked up his sword and left the room wearing the same clothes as before.
It is time to set out.
*
This comprehensive martial arts event, co-hosted by the Empire and the Principality of Linosa, attracted more people’s attention than any other martial arts event in history.
The city where the martial arts festival was held was crowded with people from all over.
A competition where the best talents can judge their skills. Perhaps we will be able to see commoners being reborn as nobles.
The prices of seats at martial arts events have skyrocketed, and even though ticket scalping is strictly prohibited, there are always people secretly buying and selling tickets.
Of course, the hardest thing to get tickets for was the finals.
This was the case even though it was a stage where unfamiliar people, not famous knights or mercenaries, named Helmut and Servant, came up to the end and aimed their swords.
Everyone was excited to see who would overcome this fierce battle and take home the honor.
“That guy with the iron mask. Did you say your name is Dark? “Is he someone who has watched his performances?”
“no. But I heard he never dragged out a match for too long before reaching the finals?”
“They said it was the stage with the shortest time compared to the price. “Except for the semifinal stage.”
“Ah, what a shame! “I was rooting for Violet.”
“I think most people who watched that match said that.”
However, due to the repercussions of defeating Violet, Dark, the man in the iron mask, immediately emerged as an unrivaled candidate for the championship. The man with the golden eyes, beating out the Servant.
“Where did you walk? “I bet on the dark side.”
“Wouldn’t it be the warrior of light who defeats the darkness? “I am a servant.”
“In the first place, the quiet one is stronger.”
“That guy named Dark, his face was disfigured from burns, so he was wearing an iron mask.”
“Oh my god, that’s too bad.”
The martial arts venue was filled with all kinds of false and unconfirmed rumors.
“I heard His Majesty the Emperor will be attending the final today?”
“The Grand Duke Rinosa’s family is also there.”
“My goodness, so many high-ranking people gathered in one place like this. “When will we be able to see a competition like this again?”
“That’s right. “It’s a good thing I didn’t pass up the tickets through scalping.”
Whether they were commoners or nobles, everyone who worked hard to get a seat in the finals was satisfied.
The general audience seats and the VIP seats, where nobles mainly lived, were separated, but it was not absolute.
Aristocrats with relative wealth grabbed as many tickets as they could and sat in the general audience.
Separately, there were separate seats reserved for the emperor’s family and the Grand Duchy of Linosa.
Next to the podium at the very top of the audience, a spacious and luxurious seat with an awning was prepared.
A large number of imperial knights and wizards were stationed around the area to prevent any unpleasant situation that might befall the precious people.
Since the day before, they had been checking the surroundings thoroughly to see if there were any suspicious people.
Today again, the entrance was made under tight surveillance.
For this final, if you do not enter before the Emperor’s family is seated, you will not be able to enter until the game is over.
From then on, the martial arts venue was crowded with people from early in the morning when entry was allowed.
Area, Xian, and Asuka, who were eliminated from the competition, finally arrived at the martial arts venue.
When Area appeared, cheers erupted from those around her.
“Oh my god, it’s Violet!”
Area still had Violet’s purple hair.
Even if you walk around in your original form, your face is the same, so people will ask you if you’re Violet anyway.
It was easier to maintain identity as Violet.
“Wow, nice seat.”
When Area sat down first, Xian followed, looked around, and stuck out her tongue. It was a front seat with a clear view of the stage.
Area had used her kindness to get tickets for Xian and Asuka.
Anyway, wouldn’t it be nice if all of your friends cheered and watched your boyfriend play together?
Xian gave Asuka a slap in the face.
“Hey, you can go upstairs and take a look. “It’s a waste of tickets.”
“Wouldn’t it be an honor to see this body together? “Don’t be so rude.”
It was Asuka who almost pretended last night while eating with high-ranking people.
My father is also uncomfortable, and there is even an emperor. The Emperor said, looking down at Asuka with her curious eyes.
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‘I heard that your sword skills are very good. However, I heard that he is full of blood.’
It was a nuance that stung. Did what he always said to the crown prince reach the emperor’s ears? But Asuka couldn’t stand it anymore.
Although Asuka was not overtly rude, she did pick a fight with the prince in order to keep him in check.
If Grand Duke Rinosa and his wife weren’t there, I might have been slapped by the crown prince.
Later, Archduke Farnese scolded Asuka and told her not to attend the martial arts festival tomorrow.
Asuka readily accepted.
In any case, the crown prince will have no time to fool around there, and Charlotte will be busy keeping an eye on the martial arts competition. The uncomfortable seat was a specification on this side.
‘You just need a ticket. It’s the final after a long time.’
Fortunately, I had a ticket for the talented Alea, so I was able to watch the finals with her. Otherwise, she wondered if she should buy her ticket as a member of the royal family.
“It’s a fateful day and I can’t not watch the finals.”
“He’s going to win anyway.”
They were all confident of Helmut’s victory.
“Meow.”
Elaga, who followed from the feet, responded. Elaga quickly climbed onto Area’s lap.
Cats don’t need seats.
Area frowned, but eventually placed her hand on Elaga’s head.
An automatic growling sound rang out from Elaga. It was on Area’s lap, a first-class spectator seat.
“Oh, hello. Violet. “The cat is really cute.”
At that time, someone came up next to me and spoke to Area.
She was a beautiful noblewoman dressed in fancy clothes and holding a fan.
“Meow.”
“Oh, I see you understand what I’m saying.”
[This guy has eyes.]
“hello.”
Whether Elaga was proud or not, Area accepted the greeting from the unknown woman. She is the woman who saved me tickets to the finals.
Just because you are a participant in the Martial Arts semifinals does not give you the right to a ticket to the finals.
The noble lady in front of her was from one of the empire’s leading noble families, although her family name was not given.
She went to get tickets and suddenly appeared in front of Area as she came back from the counter, saying she was a fan of Violet and politely asking if she needed tickets to the finals.
Thanks to her, Area was able to easily obtain tickets for Xian and Asuka.
“I briefly heard my companions talking. “Is the person you think is the likely winner the one wearing the iron mask?”
“That’s right.”
“You faced the author in the semifinals, right? “I heard that Violet is acquainted with the author.”
Before Violet became famous, she sometimes hung out outside, so it’s not surprising that there are rumors about her.
Area looked at her expectantly. And spit it out.
“This is my boyfriend.”
It was a direct sound that made Asuka and Xian, who were next to them, turn around.
“yes… … Neet?”
With a loud cry, she covered her face with her fan. Her wide eyes showed how surprised she was.
“So please support us.”
“Oh, my. “Of course.”
The noble lady turned around with an awkward expression. Soon, it will be rumored everywhere that the man in the iron mask is Violet’s boyfriend.
But I guess it didn’t matter. The martial arts festival will soon end, and Area will leave this place.
“… … “Wow, my God.”
When Xian belatedly let out an exclamation, Asuka accepted it.
“Now you’re doing that openly.”
There was silence between them, as if they had heard something shocking that they already knew.
Only Elaga was purring and happily waiting for the finals to begin.
Not long after that, the imperial family and Grand Duke Linosa and his wife entered and sat at the head table.
Because of that, everyone had to get up from their seats and show respect to those people who could not even be seen.
“Charlotte, you seem nervous.”
Grand Duchess Linosa sat down and spoke to Charlotte. Charlotte’s expression was noticeably stiff.
She couldn’t sleep at all last night.
For this position, I told Helmut to participate in a martial arts club, and he ended up coming here.
It was a nerve-wracking moment for Charlotte, who was fully prepared for today.
Magritte, completely unaware of it, was as radiantly perfect as yesterday.
She was carrying out her role as Grand Duchess of Rinosa with flawless elegance.
He even seemed a little excited today, perhaps because he was caught up in the heated atmosphere of the martial arts venue.
Charlotte looked at her face, then lowered her gaze.
When the finals are over and his identity is revealed… … .
I couldn’t imagine what my mother’s face would look like.
Charlotte soon answered in a subdued voice.
“I’m a little nervous. “It’s the last time.”
“Yes, the last one.”
Her end and Charlotte’s end had very different meanings, but Marguerite did not know that fact.
Charlotte’s opening speech soon followed.
