episode_0258

As we entered the stadium, everything was fully prepared.

As previously noted, the information on the two-part event was consistent.

Thanks to that, I was able to think quickly without panicking.

Arsien snaps his fingers after finishing explaining the rules.

“Before the game starts. Let’s keep the time for handing out tokens short.”

…ok?

I was about to pull the bowstring and prepare to start, thinking it was the beginning, but it seemed like there was this kind of event.

‘Ah. Now that I think about it…’

[ In the Hwangryong Martial Arts Competition, there is a custom of cheering on the archery event by receiving tokens from people close to them. This is not just cheering, but at the same time── ]

…Yeah. There was a custom like that.

I haven’t seen it in the game, but I think I’ve seen it in the noble etiquette book that I’ve been reading.

Putting down my bow, I decided to wait a little longer.

Well, I know. No one will come. But even so, Karsine’s awareness is not enough to give a token of support.

If you ask if that means I’m lonely, I can confidently say no.

Rather, I like this more because it doesn’t present any annoying options.

‘Who will come to give Karsain a token of support?’

As I wait with my chin resting on my hand, feeling at ease, someone approaches me.

If there is a feature…

She’s quite a pretty person.

She was an impressive woman with purple hair and eyes.

“Did you think no one would come? What should I do? There’s one person?”

…Yeah. There it is.

Someone who will support me.

Just like during the sports competition, I had one close friend.

“Don’t stare like that. Just hold out your wrist. It’s a badge, something you put on your wrist or arm.”

…yes.

He said that if you have a fiancée, it is common for her to tie the handkerchief for you.

However, I see something different now.

“Did you hurt your hand?”

“…!”

Harnie noticed this and turned his hand behind him as if to hide it, then quickly put on his gloves to cover it.

“Aren’t you hurt?”

“Oh my. Why are you doing that when you’re hurt?”

“No, that’s not it!”

“Take off your gloves again and show me. Then.”

“…”

See, you’re hurt.

“That, that, that’s cooking!”

“Cooking?”

…Don’t the maids in Harni do all that for you?

-match!

“billion.”

“Really…! Just hold out your hand. I’m busy getting the certificate…”

Ugh… Well, what does that matter?

I held out my wrist, leaving the meaningless question aside.

“It’s all done.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you. It’s something I should have done.”

Harnie smiled beautifully, took my hand, and returned to the audience.

‘…It’s a four-leaf clover.’

It wasn’t there anymore, but the handkerchief had embroidery that was crooked and looked like it had been done with a lot of effort.

That’s what happened.

I was wondering why my hand got hurt. Was it something like this?

As expected. Even though he’s straight, he’s secretly a bit silly in places like this.

I looked at the handkerchief and chuckled.

-Thud, thud!

“What the…!”

uh?

“…”

This is ridiculous.

A blond kid was behind me, kicking the dirt with his shoe. In one hand, he was holding a completely incongruous handkerchief.

“Hey…! On the way to Duke Bagrand…!”

Before long, Flora dug the ground hard, threw the handkerchief in front of me, and turned away.

“Why is it like that?”

Did you come to the wrong place while trying to find your sisters?

“Why are you like that? It’s because you always hang out with your fiancee.”

What the heck, why is this guy here again?

As soon as Flora returned, it was none other than Claire who started nagging her.

“Anyway. Give it to me quickly.”

“If you’re going to throw your handkerchief, then no.”

“Huh. What are you throwing!”

“Ah.”

Claire slapped my arm.

“I guess you came here because you don’t seem to have anyone to cheer you on?”

“Who are you? Me?”

What the hell is that crap talking about?

At that reaction, a cross-shaped vein appeared on Claire’s forehead.

-puck!

“Oh my!”

“Ah, anyway, I’ll get a whip! Huh? Is that something you’re going to say to your sister who came to cheer you on?”

“Oh! Hey! It’s forbidden for participants to check each other?”

“I’m not participating in this event, you punk!”

It was probably when I got lightly hit five or six times.

Claire, who had picked up the handkerchief that Flora had thrown, really started to tie a token to my shoulder.

Claire then attached the accessories she had made and left a mark of support like the other nobles.

‘Oh my goodness. It’s almost time for the sun to rise in the west.’

Did these guys eat their meals wrong as a group? Why are they like this?

At that moment of confusion.

Claire, whose tone had changed from before to a calmer one, asked me in a suggestive tone.

“Are you wearing the bow properly? If you don’t wear it, your hand will get cut?”

“Oh my. You can tell just by looking at this.”

“…Okay. Well. Okay. But you know.”

I waited, wondering if he had anything else to say, but he soon let out a sigh and started hitting me.

“Just take care of Flora! Don’t just think about your fiancée!”

Claire turns around and returns to the audience.

“…what the heck?”

After all that effort, that’s all you can do?

This… I feel like I had something to say, but didn’t say it.

And that’s not all.

It feels a little different from the second one I know.

I also felt strange on the other side.

But soon he shook his head.

“No. Why would I think about that?”

There weren’t any particular options.

I was on high alert in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances, but there was no sign of it.

That’s fine.

I don’t need anything else.

-Tiring!

▶The next game begins.◀

***

The horn sounds again.

The participants’ bows were drawn and struck the target countless times.

As archery requires a great deal of concentration, the variance varies greatly.

I tried to get a slightly higher score, but ended up falling and not being able to reach it.

The presence of a field that disrupts the flow of mana is the perfect environment for disturbing one’s composure.

There were many instances where participants, sweating profusely and out of breath, were unable to even reach the target.

Increased difficulty compared to last year.

An environment where control difficulties arise for complex reasons.

Along with the competitive spirit, there are also wavering emotions.

For complex reasons, everyone was having a hard time.

However, even in these times, there are those who maintain their composure until the end.

-Bam!

“Ohhh…!”

Arrows consistently hit Carcein’s target.

There was no other topic of conversation in the stands like this.

“Did you say that the mana released into the field shakes the participants’ minds?”

“That’s right. There must be the same mana current spreading across the field… How can Genji be so calm?”

“Even the right position is quite difficult. That place is more affected by the mana flow.”

“There are even moving targets, not just fixed ones…”

After the first two or three shots, he has been hitting the target without missing a single arrow.

Some people even suspected that only Karsine’s field was different.

Some people have raised questions and demanded answers about fairness.

But that doubt was quickly put to rest.

“Of course, the mana field for this game was not designed by me. I changed the concentration of mana significantly 15 minutes before the game started. It was none other than my big brother.”

It is said that the person who changed the concentration of mana was none other than Arsien’s older brother.

In other words, Albert Schenian Peselos.

The first prince and crown prince of this empire.

And he was the vanguard that led the era of imperial unification, and was called the iron-blooded war hero.

The most fair and upright person.

No one could dare to play fair in front of him, who was considered a candidate for the next emperor.

Back to the present where the game is taking place again.

-Bam!

Finally, Karsain managed to hit the bull’s-eye with his arrow, the most difficult target.

Praise and exclamations, amazement and applause followed.

“That’s right! That’s it!”

“Oh, look. Isn’t this the Duchess’s front?”

“Is dignity a problem in this beautiful sight?”

“Ahem ahem.”

Even though he said that, all the vassals around him felt the same way.

‘Ahem! That’s right. Bagrand shouldn’t be pushed aside by other families.’

‘How can it be that Bagrand, who is at the pinnacle of nobility, is being pushed around so miserably?’

‘It is right to push forward overwhelmingly, not to mention being pushed back. Just like now!’

As was the case at the symposium, many noble children also participate in the Yellow Dragon Martial Arts Tournament.

Since the participants included children of nobles, it was only natural that there would be a strange atmosphere between each family and each noble. If an outstanding successor of a family could flatten the noses of the other children, the momentum would naturally increase.

For that reason, Bagrand’s vassals were very relieved by Karsain’s activities.

Isabella answered with a smirk.

“Haha. Don’t worry about it and enjoy it. I feel the same way.”

“Hmm. Did you all hear? The Duchess gave her permission─”

Bam!

“Master! Please wipe them all out!”

“See this guy?”

“I wanted to say this more than you!”

““Hahahahaha!””

The vassals of the Bagrand Dukes began to cheer for Karsain with more enthusiasm than the other spectators.

But one of the vassals who was watching this sight felt a thrill all over his body.

‘…oh my god.’

Viscount Ptois with his mouth wide open.

It was he who felt the thrill all over his body.

At first, I couldn’t understand why he asked me to make such a bow. I figured there must be a reason why Karsain made such a request, so I made it for him.

But, when I actually knew the structure of that bow.

Know the weight and texture of the arrow.

When you put together all the supporting factors, it’s almost creepy.

‘Your Majesty… has calculated everything…!’

What line should I draw for that one arrow to hit the target?

How much power should the bow have, and what should be the power to shoot the arrow?

How much power is lost due to wind, and how much height and angle is bent?

Each one carefully and meticulously.

I calculated everything without missing anything.

Even the changes in mana concentration and airflow that had been changed 15 minutes ago were checked and optimized with just three shots.

That’s not some kind of coincidence that idiots talk about.

It is a result determined through thorough calculation.

Everything up until the moment that one arrow hits the target is a continuous calculation in his head.

-Gulp.

‘As expected…! My eyes weren’t wrong!’

Viscount Ptois clenched his fist and smiled triumphantly.

***

The point-based archery event ended with an overwhelming victory for Karsene.

The results for the events held in a competition format were not much different.

Ultimately, this meant that the event ended in Karsain’s dominance.

“…”

Arina, who was looking at the rankings, took a sip of water and moistened her dry throat.

Although he had been harshly criticized when he didn’t see any equipment in the waiting room, Karsane was now wearing all of his equipment.

Yeah. It’s not that they didn’t have the equipment, they just hid it.

It’s only natural not to show your weaknesses to others.

I had completely forgotten this obvious fact.

‘Shit.’

-Keep going.

The cup filled with cool ice water was shaking.

In the meantime.

Someone came looking for me.

“Princess Ariana.”

“…Count Stern.”

“Yes. I have something urgent to tell you, so I came to see you in person.”

“Something.”

Count Stern paused for a moment and then answered.

“The Princess’s sponsorship is currently sufficient. Therefore, I appreciate the offer, but I would like to withdraw.”

“Is that so.”

Well, there’s not much he can do to help.

The sponsorship is sufficient even with only other vassals.

Arina said it was okay and tried to respect Count Stern’s wishes.

However, Count Stern was sweating profusely and then, as if he was trying to catch a glimpse of the situation, asked for one favor.

“But… my feet aren’t very wide, so could you connect me to Lord Karsein?”

At those words, Arina’s eyes widened.

-Tiring!

▶Arina’s intimacy has decreased.◀

[ Current figure: 25% ]