Published: August 25, 2025
“Well done! The unexpected developments were very entertaining!”
After the competition, an excited Rufen rushed over. Being told that the numerous surprise attacks reminded him of Lord Ferdinand, I quietly lowered my gaze.
“I’m humbled by your words. However, Ehrenfest could not have won without using unexpected strategies. I am deeply impressed by Dunkelfelger’s training level. Such wonderful knight apprentices you have gathered.”
“Oh?”
Rufen turned his gaze towards the knight apprentices of Dunkelfelger. The apprentices looked at me with surprised expressions.
I looked up at the knight apprentice who had been commanding overall and smiled gently.
“Even when faced with the unexpected situation of being ambushed while transporting demonic beasts, the commander’s sharp rebuke swiftly restored order, and everyone understood their roles well, didn’t they? Moreover, amidst the surprise attacks involving the demonic beast’s enlargement and Cornelius’s full-power assault, you immediately acted to protect the lord candidate and successfully defended at such close range. These are things Ehrenfest could not accomplish.”
If Ehrenfest’s coordination had been as refined as Dunkelfelger’s, the initial surprise attack would have decided the match.
“You truly showed beautiful teamwork. We must reflect on this and devise better training methods for our knights to catch up to Dunkelfelger even a little. We hope Dunkelfelger continues to maintain such training as a model for all.”
At my words, one of Dunkelfelger’s knight apprentices, whose face brightened, spoke up.
“To receive such praise from a lord candidate of another territory is the utmost honor. We also gained insights from this Ditter, which is entirely different from the usual one involving just monsters. We look forward to a rematch against Ehrenfest, whom Lady Rosemine has trained.”
“… I will only ask the knights order commander to train the apprentices better, and this Ditter will be the last one. Still, I will do my best to improve our ranking in the territory competition.”
Since I plan to leave apprentice training entirely to the knights order, I gave a vague smile and brushed off their desire for a rematch with Dunkelfelger.
“Ah, it’s over? Who won?”
“Ehrenfest, Prince Anastasius.”
Anastasius returned without watching the match, saying he had a lecture to attend. As Rufen excitedly began recounting the match, Anastasius waved his hand to dismiss him, saying, “The result is enough for now.”
The sky visible from the arena was darkening, leaving no time to leisurely listen to the match details.
“The match was decided by the challenge you proposed. No objections?”
“Yes. Since the match decided it, I will withdraw.”
At Anastasius’s words, Restiraut knelt and declared he would withdraw from Schwarz and Weiss.
I sighed with relief, but Restiraut shot me a sharp glare.
“However, I have clearly seen your maliciousness with one surprise attack after another. I will never acknowledge that you are a saint.”
With those words, Dunkelfelger left the place.
Anastasius narrowed his eyes and looked down at me.
“… Did you commit some malicious act in the Ditter?”
“I think it was a clever tactic, but whether it was malicious depends on who judges.”
“I see.”
I honestly don’t care what Restiraut says. Even if called malicious, I had no choice but to use any means necessary to protect the library. I never called myself a saint. If he refuses to recognize me as one, all I can say is, “Is that so?” Lately, I’ve been overburdened, so I felt a bit relieved.
“Rosemine, since you have been decided as the master of the magic tools, come to my room at the third bell tomorrow. There is something Solange and I must discuss with you.”
“Understood.”
After receiving the prince’s summons, everyone dispersed immediately. Hilsure mounted his Mount and hurried back to his laboratory.
Casting a glance at Anastasius, who seemed astonished seeing a mount with a cockpit for the first time, we headed back to the dormitory.