Published: September 9, 2025
※ Correction of typos made on 2015/5/30.
This is Satou. Back when fighting games were popular, I loved battling strong players whom I knew I couldn’t beat. Even though I lost one-sidedly, I learned a lot from them.
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A priest hurried over to Mr. Jureberg and began healing his hand.
The effect of the advanced healing magic was incredible; the shattered hand was restored in the blink of an eye.
“Lady Liza, your strength is genuine.”
“I’m honored.”
After finishing the treatment, Mr. Jureberg spoke to Liza.
Liza responded with a composed face, but her tail was flicking nervously. The tail doesn’t lie.
“The Shiga Eight Swords are both the shield and spear that protect the country,” Mr. Jureberg suddenly started telling Liza.
“Therefore, I believe that as long as one possesses true ability and a noble heart that cares for the nation, one should not be bound by race or pedigree.”
It seemed this wasn’t quite sinking in with Liza, but apparently, he wanted to recruit her into the Shiga Eight Swords.
“Currently, there are three vacancies in the Shiga Eight Swords, and two of them are being used by the nobles as tools for their factional battles. However, I’ve wrested the right to nominate for the last seat.”
Could you stop glaring at me when you mention factional battles?
“I want to recommend you for that seat. Will you accept?”
With a sharp look, he said this to Liza.
The people around me looked anxiously at Liza. Only Nana was playing at her own pace with Shiro and Crow’s feathers.
“I must decline.”
In a casual voice, Liza refused Mr. Jureberg’s invitation.
Alisa and Pochi sighed in relief. That’s fine, but Alisa, stop rubbing your face against my leg in the confusion. Mia, don’t imitate Alisa!
“Why? You may be a slave of Sir Pendragon now, but if you join the Shiga Eight Swords, you will be freed from your slave status by royal authority and gain the honorable title of Count. Facing a rank and honor unattainable for demi-humans, why refuse?”
Liza stopped Mr. Jureberg’s words as if she couldn’t believe them.
“Indeed, I consider it an unexpected honor.”
“In that case—”
“But my loyalty lies not with the country but with my Master. I am not qualified to owe allegiance to the Shiga Kingdom as a member of the Shiga Eight Swords.”
That was a somewhat dangerous statement.
At that moment, the mood-maker Alisa interjected.
“That’s right! We are the ‘Seven Brave Knights of Pendragon’! Together with our Master, we will become the new protectors of the world, rivaling the Shiga Eight Swords!”
What’s this “Seven Brave Knights of Pendragon”? Were you paying homage to the Sanada Ten Braves?
She probably said it to lighten the mood, but seeing Alisa’s confident face, it looked like she really meant it—and that was scary.
“Oh! You declared that you’d stand alongside the Shiga Eight Swords?”
“But she defeated the ‘Unyielding’ Lord Jureberg. She surely has the qualifications.”
“Ah, the birth of the new guardian of the Shiga Kingdom who wields the Spear of Light!”
“‘Black Spear,’ no, ‘Demon-Slaying Light Spear’ Liza!”
“Glory to the Seven Brave Knights of Pendragon and the Shiga Kingdom!”
Somehow, the names Alisa declared spread among the crowd as if they were official titles.
The whole scene felt suspiciously staged, as if someone had arranged plants in the audience, but the crowd’s enthusiasm was genuine.
Was Liza’s defeat of Lord Jureberg really such a big event?
Some in the audience apparently spotted Liza using the demon blade cannon, so it seems she earned a new nickname.
I don’t think Alisa’s declaration stopped Liza’s entry into the Shiga Eight Swords, but at least it succeeded in postponing it. We’ll consult Nina or someone else later to decide the next steps.
By the way, I only learned much later that “Seven Brave Knights of Pendragon” was a title from a novel Pochi had created.
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I wanted to show my face soon at Baron Muno’s place, who was waiting at the Royal Castle, but the crowd around us showed no signs of dispersing.