Even at the Moment She Receives the Medal of Victory, She Imagined Committing a Crime.

Today, Glory-Road, the imperial capital, was several times more lively than usual.

Crimson eagles wearing golden crowns, symbols of the empire, fluttered in the streets, and the delicious smell of street food wafted everywhere as vendors set up shop.

“Mom, I want a chicken skewer!”

“Kids, let’s take it slow.”

“Should we watch with beer today?”

“It won’t be over soon, will it?”

“There’s a celebratory performance after the knightly duel. There’s plenty to see.”

Young and old alike, those who came out to the streets enjoyed the festive atmosphere.

Children held toy swords and shields in their hands.

Some children even wore costumes that looked like knight’s armor.

There was one reason why so many people came out to the streets today.

Today was the day of the Knightly Mock Battle, one of the festivals held in the capital.

Originally, it was just a lighthearted event to show the citizens the duels of ordinary knights, but after many people flocked to see the martial prowess of the current Knight Commander, Iron-Blood Yuris, it became one of the empire’s representative events.

A knight who never loses.

She was a symbol of the empire’s victory and a reliable iron wall that allowed the empire’s citizens to go about their daily lives with peace of mind.

Naturally, she couldn’t help but become an idol of the citizens, and she was also one of the most popular people in the empire.

Today, the Imperial Central Training Ground was packed with people to see her.

“It’s really crowded today.”

Zeco said, looking at the citizens who filled the large spectator seats near the training ground.

“We have to crush those Second Order guys properly today, don’t we?”

Zeco asked with a chuckle.

“Don’t take it lightly. A mock battle is still a battle. Train as if it were the real thing.”

“Of course, Commander. Everyone will be on their toes, just like you said.”

She listened to Zeco’s words and checked her equipment one last time.

“But Commander, is that man you’re interested in coming today?”

“W-What are you talking about! That’s…”

“You said last time that you had a man you were interested in.”

“I didn’t say that!”

Yuris was flustered by the sudden surprise question.

A man she’s interested in?

Why do you keep saying that when there’s no such thing?

“Wasn’t it? Your expression was like a noble lady in love.”

“Zeco, you’re not from a noble family, how do you know that?”

“Kuhahaha! Before I started losing my hair, I was very popular with women. I made many young ladies cry tears.”

“…Are you saying that even though I’ve seen you with hair?”

“Oh, Commander.”

Having regained her composure, she sighed.

“There’s no such person. Even if there was, I’d tell them not to come.”

The faces of the bandit and the illusionary magician flashed through her mind for a moment, but Yuris shook her head.

They weren’t men she was interested in.

One was an illusion that projected her desires, and the other was just the owner of the store that provided it.

They’re nothing to each other.

“Are you really not interested in anyone?”

“Why do you keep asking? It’s like someone bet on it.”

“……”

“Did you really bet?”

When Yuris asked with narrowed eyes, Zeco waved his hands and shook his head.

“N-No way. Why would we bet!”

“How much did you bet?”

“…I bet 5 gold on ‘yes’.”

“5 gold? That’s enough money to buy a decent sword!”

“That’s how sure I am! You really are interested in someone, Commander. That expression is one you can’t make if you’re not!”

Yuris sighed.

“That 5 gold, you’re going to lose it in vain.”

“Kuek!”

As they chatted, the time for the knights to battle drew near.

Today’s mock battle was divided into two parts.

A team battle between the members.

And a one-on-one battle between the commanders.

The team battle was a place to prove how much the team could achieve in the absence of the Knight Commander.

At the same time, it could be seen as a place to prove the abilities of the current Vice Commander of the Knights.

This was because if a Knight Commander who had achieved results received a title and left the Knights, or died in action, the Vice Commander would take over.

Yuris was confident that the First Order could win.

Zeco was a more capable knight than anyone else, and his subordinates were the best in the empire.

It wasn’t just because she was strong that the Imperial First Order was the strongest knight order.

It was because everyone who fought with her was so capable that they were the strongest in the empire.

The Empress was giving a speech to the citizens of the empire from the highest seat in the training ground.

Her voice, the highest flower of the empire, melted the hearts of the imperial people.

-I hope that the noble battle of the knights, who have never stopped training to protect the glory of the empire, will be a model for everyone. I will watch this battle with you. I will personally place a laurel wreath on the winner.

Above her braided red hair, which shone much more beautifully than the red eagle symbolizing the empire, shone a golden crown as a symbol.

Her golden eyes looked down on the entire empire, and the citizens who met her eyes smiled with joy as if they had received grace.

That is charisma.

Yuris recalled the time when she had decided to be loyal to the empire at the sight of the Empress.

She, too, had been captivated by the beautiful smile of the Empress and had decided to devote herself to the empire to protect the Empress.

She was a great person.

An Empress who had married the empire and had not married anyone else, dedicating herself solely to the empire.

But, you know.

‘I don’t feel the same emotion as when I first saw her.’

What’s the reason?

A man came to Yuris’ mind as she was lost in thought.

-I am your husband.

-You’re not the real Yuris, are you?

-Spread them.

A man who mercilessly dominated her.

That bandit.

And the magician who smelled just like him.

As the images of the bandit and the magician came to mind, she couldn’t concentrate on the speech at all.

Ah, this is not good.

If I suddenly get horny on such an important day…

Her heart was pounding.

If everyone here knew what she was imagining right now, how would they look at her?

Of course, they would despise her.

They would criticize her, saying they believed in her and didn’t know she was this kind of person.

Her hands were full of sweat just imagining it.

Was it because she hadn’t been to that store because of mock battle practice and training?

She was breathing much more heavily than usual, and her heart was beating fast.

Just imagining it, her lower body was…

‘Wet.’

This had never happened before.

To have such lewd thoughts before a mock battle.

If the goddess knew, she would surely punish her for being lewd.

‘Concentrate, Yuris. Today is an important day.’

She clenched her thighs together and bit her lower lip tightly to strengthen her will.

But the wave of imagination that had already burst did not stop and continued to grow.

The knights looking down on her with contempt as she knelt before the bandit.

The imperial citizens who were as disappointed as they were expecting.

And the Empress looking at her like trash.

-Yuris Belethaon. I am disappointed in you. How can a knight representing the empire…

No.

At this rate, I’m just going to imagine…

But that imagination didn’t continue.

“Commander, I’ll be going now.”

It was because Zeco, who was leaving to participate in the battle after the speech, called her.

Returning to reality, Yuris patted Zeco on the back.

“Go and fight well.”

She pretended to be calm and sent Zeco off.

“I will bring victory to the Commander!”

Even at this moment, it was as if she could hear the bandit’s voice.

It was then.

“We’re going to win this time, aren’t we?”

A man approached Yuris, who was imagining being messed up by the bandit.

It was Veron, the commander of the Second Order.

The handsome man with silver hair tied back was smiling with a twist of one lip, his blue eyes sparkling.

“Oh, long time no see, Veron.”

“That sassy tone is still the same, isn’t it?”

“Same to you.”

“Tch! Anyway, it looks like you’ve been training hard today? Your face is so red.”

“I-I ran a few simulations in my head.”

“What was the result?”

Simulations? Until just now, strange imaginations were constantly replaying in her head.

“I won them all.”

Yuris had no choice but to lie.

A strange sense of guilt from the lie pricked her heart.

Veron, wearing sleek armor, stood next to her and looked at the Second Order coming out from the opposite side.

“We’re going to win today.”

“That’s a pretty confident voice.”

“Of course. I have a solid basis for that.”

“Basis?”

Veron looked at the audience and continued.

“My sister came today. I can’t show my sister a bad side of her clumsy brother, can I?”

“Sister?”

“You’ve seen her, too. The best spiritist in the empire.”

“Ah, I saw that arrogant noble lady once before. She was more beautiful than you.”

“Arrogant?”

“She spoke informally to me at first sight and said she would beat me. I was surprised because she looked just like you.”

Yuris knew Veron’s sister.

Helen, a famous spiritist who was recognized for her spirit sensitivity by the elves.

Veron called her the best spiritist in the empire, but as far as she knew, she was the woman who could summon the strongest spirit among the current human spiritists.

She had only met her for the first time a few months ago, but she definitely remembered her impression.

-Are you the knight who has beaten my brother every time?

That poisonous expression that treated Yuris as if she didn’t know her.

That expression of grinding her teeth as if she was resentful of the fact that she had beaten her brother was so fierce.

-Don’t be arrogant because you beat my brother. I’ll beat you soon.

-I’ll be joining the empire as a member soon, too. Let’s have a match then. I’m looking forward to seeing if you can remain the goddess of victory then.

Her personality was just like Veron’s.

“That happened? Kuhahaha! That’s my sister.”

Veron, who heard her words, chuckled.

“Ah, I can’t lose no matter what? I have to win.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

After a brief conversation, Veron left, saying he would run the simulations until the end.

As she talked to Veron about the match, the imagination of the bandit dominating her did not continue.

It was a relief.

She was able to find peace of mind.

She stood still and watched the flow of the team battle.

The team battle ended with the victory of the First Order.

As expected, Zeco’s performance was outstanding.

He was a talent who would have been fine as a commander in another knight order, so it was perhaps a natural result.

‘Excellent.’

And the remaining one-on-one battle.

“I will have a good match.”

“For the glory of the empire.”

Fully armed, she faced Veron.

Kwaaaang!

The outcome of the battle between the two knights who had reached the level of Sword Master.

“Winner! Yuris Belethaon!”

It was naturally given to Yuris.

“Damn it, I showed my sister a bad side of myself…”

I won again.

I should be happy.

I should be grateful that I won for the glory of the empire.

I should be happy that I kept the title of Goddess of Victory.

‘I’m not happy.’

It was a strange feeling.

Even though she had clearly won, she didn’t feel the same joy as before.

She wasn’t happy with the glory and victory.

“Congratulations. As expected, you are the symbol of victory that the empire is proud of.”

Even at the moment when the Empress pinned a medal on her chest with her beautiful hand.

‘Empty.’

Yuris couldn’t erase the empty feeling.

She should be grateful for the Empress’s blessing.

This should have been her joy.

Waaaaa!

Her satisfaction should have been filled with the cheers of the cheering citizens.

Why.

Why the hell.

-Aren’t you a pussy who wants to be raped by a dick?

Why am I happier with the bandit’s voice ringing in my head?

Why am I imagining them despising me?

Was it because of the constant questions?

Yuris didn’t notice the gaze staring at her from the audience until the end.

At the festival where all the knights were enjoying the victory.

‘It’s not enough. This is… not it.’

Only Yuris couldn’t enjoy the victory.

And she, as if possessed by something,

“I have to go.”

She left the training grounds, which were in the middle of the festival.