Ch.46046. Competitive Match

The competition is divided into preliminaries and finals for each grade level. Given the large number of cadets, the preliminaries are conducted as a battle royale where ten cadets enter an arena and only the top three survivors advance.

Once thirty cadets qualify this way, the eliminated cadets are gathered into two teams for another battle royale, with only one survivor from each team advancing to the finals through a revival match.

The finals, on the other hand, are conducted as a tournament format until the last person standing—the champion—emerges.

The 32 finalists face randomly selected opponents in one-on-one matches, with only the victors advancing to the next round. This makes quick analysis of opponents and developing tailored strategies crucial.

In practice, finalists attend as many matches as possible to gather information about potential opponents. Even against a cadet with superior piloting skills, a well-crafted strategy based on thorough analysis could lead to victory.

Through these successive duels, the last person standing becomes the grade champion.

After determining the champions for each grade, friendly exhibition matches are held before the award ceremony.

These matches are intended for seniors to provide guidance to juniors. This tradition arose because upper-grade cadets typically have deeper knowledge and superior abilities compared to lower-grade cadets.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible for lower grades to defeat upper grades. Princess Seraphina, currently a second-year student, won the first-year competition last year and achieved the feat of defeating all upper-grade students in subsequent matches.

This was possible because Seraphina had already received the title of knight and had battlefield experience at a young age, but occasionally exceptional lower-grade students did defeat upper-grade ones. Such cadets typically made names for themselves in some way after graduating from the academy.

After all friendly matches conclude, the competition award ceremony is held. Grade champions receive honor badges and prize money, while the overall winner of the friendly matches has their name recorded in the academy’s historical list of competition champions.

Usually, these honors went to famous noble families or the imperial family, though there was one instance where Maximillion, who now leads a massive mercenary guild, won as a commoner.

Meanwhile, the first-year division that Gilbert belongs to is receiving the most attention in this competition. This was the grade that experienced the unprecedented academy attack, and the fact that they repelled the attack without any casualties was the main reason for the interest.

What kind of talented individuals could there be that mere freshmen cadets could repel an attack by the Resistance?

This curiosity created a buzz both inside and outside the academy.

Naturally, interest in Gilbert, who was central to defending against the attack, began to peak.

Rumors had spread throughout the empire that the notorious son of the Iron Margrave, known as a scoundrel, had single-handedly repelled seven giant mechs without suffering any damage using just one mech.

A scoundrel and a freshman cadet who brilliantly repelled an academy attack. It was inevitable that attention would focus on the protagonist of such seemingly contradictory rumors.

And the people most curious about these rumors were those from the Lituania domain.

“Have you heard? They say that scoundrel knocked down all those Resistance bastards who invaded Demeia Academy.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? How could that dog-bastard possibly do that?”

“Dog-bastard” was the slang term used among the domain residents to refer to Gilbert. The commoners who suffered from his violent temperament always used code words when discussing him. This was because once, a commoner who mentioned his name was dragged away and returned severely beaten.

“But they say it’s true. Didn’t the domain buzz with news that the imperial family even awarded him a knighthood?”

“That was real? The world’s gone mad. That dog-bastard receiving such an honorable title.”

“No matter what a cursed bastard he was, blood doesn’t lie. I heard he achieved good results in the academy entrance mock battle too.”

It wasn’t just the domain residents who were amazed by Gilbert’s achievements.

Even in the Hart County family, Gilbert’s own house, most reactions were of disbelief. The family and servants who had observed him most closely absolutely couldn’t believe it, but they had no choice when the imperial decree conferring knighthood arrived at the count’s residence.

This led to questions in another direction.

How on earth did he become a knight?

“How in the world did my scoundrel brother become a knight?”

“Young lady! Please watch your words. If the Count hears you, he’ll scold you again.”

“I know, I know, but I have to speak my mind. Honestly, Anna, don’t you think the same?”

“Lady Dorothy!”

Dorothy Flamma Hart.

Gilbert’s younger sister, who aspired to be a knight herself, couldn’t believe that her scoundrel brother had received the honorable title of knight.

To be frank, Gilbert was trash. This fact remained unchanged even setting aside her subjective judgment and looking at it objectively.

More precisely, his abilities were negligible, and he was full of nothing but bluster and vanity. The only somewhat redeeming quality was his appearance, but even that was wasted on such a hopeless person.

To Dorothy, Gilbert was the kind of brother who brought her shame just by sharing the same blood.

But this embarrassingly worthless man began doing unbelievable things as soon as he entered Demeia Academy.

First came news that he ranked first in the entrance mock battle, then suddenly he became the exclusive disciple of Briana Tepeo Malkirab, renowned as the Sword Saint.

As a knight aspirant and fervent fan of Briana, Dorothy was shocked beyond belief that her inadequate brother had secured the position of Briana’s exclusive disciple—a position she herself dreamed of.

And now he had brilliantly repelled an unprecedented academy attack and received a knighthood?

It was beyond Dorothy’s comprehension.

“This won’t do. I need to go see for myself.”

“Go where? Surely not to Demeia Academy?”

“Yes. I need to see that scoundrel brother of mine. I’m curious how he’s managing to do these impossible things.”

“You’re thinking of going as the Count’s proxy?”

“Yes. Father won’t leave this place anyway.”

The Iron Margrave never left the Lituania domain. Out of responsibility and concern for what might happen in his absence, he had never once left the domain since becoming Margrave.

For this reason, he always sent a proxy to the Demeia Academy competition. Usually her second brother went in place of her scoundrel first brother, but this time she was determined to go herself.

“Since we’re on the subject, I should go now. Is Father in his office?”

“Yes, as far as I know.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Dorothy headed to the Lituania Count’s office with Anna, her personal maid. She requested entry at the office door and was promptly invited in.

“Dorothy, what brings you here?”

The Count didn’t look up from his paperwork despite his daughter’s arrival, and Dorothy got straight to the point.

“I want to go as your proxy to Demeia Academy, Father.”

The Count looked up at his daughter, briefly pondering her request, but the answer came quickly.

“It’s because of Gilbert, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I need to see my brother in person.”

The Count tapped his desk with his index finger. He recalled his brief encounter with Gilbert before he left for Demeia Academy.

Something had changed; Gilbert was markedly different from his usual self. The boy who always cowered before him had stood tall that day, his gaze unwavering.

Though he had told Gilbert to prove himself, the Count had honestly all but given up on him. His eldest son behaved no better than a local good-for-nothing, causing immense disappointment.

His challenge to “prove yourself” had been a father’s last chance and a way to sever his lingering attachment. The son he had observed until then seemed hopeless.

But as if mocking that assessment, Gilbert had been making significant strides since the entrance mock battle. At first, the Count thought the reports must be incorrect, but they weren’t.

As if he had become a different person, Gilbert was showing exceptional results.

Becoming a knight while still a cadet already exceeded the proof the Count had demanded.

“Very well. You may go. Your second brother will brief you on the details.”

“Thank you, Father!”

“That will be all. You may leave now.”

As Dorothy left the office, she immediately shared the good news with Anna, who was waiting outside.

“Father gave his permission!”

“Congratulations, my lady.”

“Let’s go to my second brother first. Father said he would brief me.”

“As you wish. Let’s go, my lady.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Dorothy headed to the training grounds where her second brother would likely be.

Fortunately, he clearly explained what she must do and what she must not do as the Count’s proxy. Thanks to this, she had no difficulty understanding her duties.

Now only one thing remained:

To head to Demeia Academy to see Gilbert.