By Zephyria 
With so many people having entered the Imperial Palace, there was no way my blood kin would be left out.
As with most performance venues, the First Arena also had separate seating reserved for royalty to watch. Thanks to a large canopy overhead, it was a spot where one could avoid prying eyes and sunlight, and comfortably watch the arena from a distance.
Several crystal orbs, suspended by Wizards, circled the perimeter of the arena. The angles illuminated by the crystal orbs were projected onto the wall behind the arena as large portraits, giving the impression of looking up close. This way, even those whose Eye Techniques were not sharp enough could observe the Knights’ expressions in detail.
All my blood kin, who had arrived early thanks to Ruben’s consideration, occupied their comfortable seats one by one.
It was a large group, including not only my parents and two younger siblings but also both sets of grandparents, my Uncle’s family, and Lucilla. The Empress Dowager had declined the invitation, stating she didn’t like crowded places, so we couldn’t bring her, but Lucilla alone was worth four or five people.
“Wow, wasn’t that Knight with the blue sash just at the 3 o’clock direction a moment ago? Why did they fall over at the 7 o’clock direction?”
“The Knight with the red sash just sent Sword Energy towards the 3 o’clock direction. The blue-sashed Knight used their footing to leap towards the 5 o’clock direction to dodge it, but the red-sashed Knight thrust their sword three times consecutively. The angle wasn’t one they could block, so they threw themselves towards the 7 o’clock direction and rolled.”
“Huh? Don’t you think they’re saying something right now?”
“The red-sashed Knight said, ‘Are you not hurt?’ and provoked them, and the blue-sashed Knight replied, ‘I don’t think I’ll be hit by such a blind sword.’ It looks like they’re about to clash again.”
At this moment, only Ruben, Lucilla, and my Uncle, who were swordsmen of comparable skill, could properly watch the sparring. While Michael and Asdel excitedly bounced around, Lucilla consistently provided answers. My grandparents, who were watching the distant sparring through opera glasses, also perked up their ears.
I kept thinking about it, feeling troubled, and swept the armrest of my seat a couple of times. Ruben’s hand, which had been gently examining my profile, immediately clasped my hand.
“What is it, Mika?”
“No… It’s nothing.”
“Really?”
“…It’s just… I was wondering why they are doing that there.”
“Ah.”
Yes, what I had promised was a guided sparring session for over five hundred Imperial Knights. I hadn’t expected so many spectators, but since I had decided to teach, I had no intention of backing down. The Knights of the Sierran Empire were all my Knights, so it didn’t matter who came to learn.
However, as I watched the Knights sparring in pairs for a long time before my guided sparring session, I couldn’t hide my unease. Why would they expend their energy before the training?
Asdel answered, not Ruben.
“It’s to show that your skill is overwhelming, and that the Imperial Knights’ strength is not weak.”
“Haha, that’s right. Michael is a formidable warrior who can easily contend with a Grand Sword Master. Since it’s obvious the Knights will lose to you, they’re trying to show how strong the Imperial Knights are beforehand.”
“But they won’t be able to follow my movements with civilian eyes.”
“That’s fine too. Look, over there.”
Wow, I heard a loud cheer and looked up.
The sparring had already ended. The swordsman wearing the red sash had won. Immediately after, the content of the sparring was replayed multiple times at a very slow speed on the large screen. It was so vivid that one could see the sparks flying when the swords imbued with Sword Energy clashed.
To my eyes, it was slow-motion video, but it was only slowed down about eight times the instantaneous moment. It was still difficult for non-martial artists to follow properly. There really were all sorts of Artifacts. I just nodded and closed my mouth.
The match between the last pair of Knights concluded. The announcer declared the winner and loser with a hearty tone. It didn’t stop there; she raised her voice and gave a speech. Her voice boomed through the arena via a voice-amplifying Artifact.
“The Sierran Empire has prospered as the ruler of the continent for the past thousand years! This is an undeniable fact, and among them, the Sierran Imperial Knights, as you can see, protect the Empire from countless threats with overwhelming military might!”
Wow, a loud cheer echoed through the arena.
“Awakened to Mana through harsh and rigorous training! Pioneers walking a path ahead! The armor of the Empire’s citizens! They block the invasion of monsters! They block the greed of the Five Kingdoms! They establish order in this land! We are precisely!”
Im-pe-ri-al Knights! Im-pe-ri-al Knights!
The crowd cheered again. Screams were mixed in between the cheers for the Imperial Knights. Were they not ashamed to praise themselves so shamelessly? Even just watching made my hands itch and my face burn.
The announcer’s face filling the screen was a very familiar one. Mac Weaber. That cute and dreadful face, which she herself boasted was sociable, now wore a beaming smile as she lowered her voice. But no matter how much she whispered, the voice-amplifying Artifact didn’t miss her words.
“However.”
Mac Weaber’s outstretched arm pointed towards the VIP seats where I was sitting.
“Are there not heroes who receive even these Imperial Knights?”
Ah, no way.
No, is she truly insane?
A crystal orb flew towards Ikyun. I almost drew my sword reflexively, but Ruben was still holding my hand, so I couldn’t.
Behind Mac Weaber’s Divine Body, my face appeared in a large projection. I couldn’t laugh or cry, just stared blankly ahead with a stoic expression. It was the first time in my life I had seen my bust magnified so largely.
“The new legend of the Sierran Empire! Duke Michael Ernhardt is here with us today! Everyone, please give him a warm welcome! Passionate applause!”
I secretly bit my tongue. It was fortunate that I had practiced my expressions rigorously while relearning etiquette lessons. I could have shown a terribly embarrassed face in front of tens of thousands of people.
The children sitting next to me burst into laughter. The presence of my blood kin, cheering and clapping excitedly, made my vision blur. Ruben’s voice, which was gentler than usual as he interacted with my younger siblings, softly caressed my ears.
“Wow, but isn’t this a bit excessive?”
“No. The more people who can’t see or have loud voices, the more easily they are swayed by mob mentality. From today onwards, there won’t be anyone spouting nonsense.”
What do you mean, no?
Of course, I wasn’t without memories of wielding a sword in front of others. In my current life, I had performed small sword dances for my family, and in my past life, I had participated in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering multiple times.
However, sword dances were mere play to entertain my beloved family, and the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was originally a competition for rising stars.
Therefore, I had never once drawn my sword to receive cheers from strangers.
Who fully believes rumors about others’ skills? A martial artist’s prowess is decided in an instant. The one who survives is the strong one. Boasting loudly that I am this strong is something only the weak do.
While my mind was in turmoil, Mac Weaber continued her speech with a powerful voice, my face displayed largely on the screen.
“Duke Ernhardt! A talent among talents who became a Sword Master at the age of fifteen, he ascended the Yuil Mountains according to procedure to become an Imperial Knight. However, it was not us humans who first discovered his unparalleled qualities, but a being in a higher place.”
“…”
“While Duke Ernhardt! Walked a path of hardship and pilgrimage! Cleared the darkness that loomed over the Five Kingdoms! And defeated the Ninth God, the source of evil! We, the citizens of the Empire, waited, laughing and chatting in a safe continent! Waiting for when? For today!”
Mac Weaber tossed her fiery red hair, like a lion’s mane, and raised her head. Her flushed face stomped excitedly.
Following that, Mac Weaber recounted my exploits, some of which had even been performed in plays. Some were true, and some were exaggerated. Her voice was consistently sharp, persuasive, and full of enthusiasm. If one only listened to her, they would think I had gone to the Magic Territory with her.
“How difficult and arduous a path he walked, we humans do not know! But! We all know! He is the Knight of Knights! The Grand Sword Master of Grand Sword Masters! The greatest hero of Sierran who overwhelmed the Dragon, the strongest, and saved the continent! Is that not so!”
Ern-hardt! Ern-hardt!
Tens of thousands of people chanted my surname like a spirited song.
“He annihilated the Ninth God!”
Annihilated! Annihilated!
“He returned after defeating a god!”
Ern-hardt! Ern-hardt!
“What it is to fight a god, we humans do not know! However! We can learn how to face a god! Our Imperial Knights! To protect the citizens! We will follow in his footsteps! We pledge once more, here and now!”
Waaaaaaah!
The cheers of tens of thousands of people sent a chill down my spine.
The crystal orb was still projecting my face.
My face on the screen, looking down at the people, appeared composed. But in reality, I was frozen, my lips tightly shut, wishing only for this moment to pass quickly.
They said that the first thing one must practice to become a royal consort is to maintain a solemn expression, and indeed, Poplar Kiadris was right. I maintained my silence with a dignified face that I had practiced dozens of times.
From behind me, Asdel whispered to Ruben.
“Is this a script written by His Majesty?”
“No. I read it beforehand for censorship, but it’s the announcer’s skill.”
“Was her name Lord Weaver?”
“That’s right. She’s a cheerful friend.”
Ruben’s relaxed demeanor somehow made me feel resentful. How nice it would be to see the handsome face of a child on such a large screen. However, the crystal orb remained above my head, projecting me for a long time, and I just counted the minutes, looking down at the distant arena.
Then, a moment that felt like an eternity passed.
“…And now! The 510 Imperial Knights who will receive the teachings of the Adversary of Gods, Lord Michael Ernhardt, will enter!”
A loud drumbeat sounded. In time with the drumbeat, the doors on both sides of the arena opened, and the Knights poured out with disciplined precision. The crystal orb that had been hovering in front of my face suddenly moved far away, capturing the Imperial Knights. I let out the breath I had been holding and wiped my face with my dry hands.
The military boots, tightly laced up to below my knees, made a heavy, crisp sound with each step. The practical mission uniform of the Imperial Knights, worn only when ascending the Yuil Mountains, was black with many pockets. The belts, all of them, were cinched tightly, making them particularly noticeable.
Those with long hair tied them back neatly, and those with short hair swept their bangs back to avoid obstructing their vision, securing them firmly. Their determined expressions and perfectly aligned postures clearly showed their full readiness.
Ruben’s voice, trying to suppress laughter, gently chided me.
“Mika. You need to get ready now.”
“…Yes. Uh, …which direction should I go down?”
“Do as you wish, Mika. It’s fine however you do it.”
As soon as the introduction of the Knights concluded, I saw the crystal orb return to Ikyun. I had no confidence in walking down with that thing attached, maintaining a dignified demeanor.
Without further thought, I quickly got up from my seat and jumped down, stepping onto the railing of the spectator stands.