485 - The Tournament and the Course of Salisa's Love 1
As summer draws to a close, the tournament is held at Gurnol Fort, later than at other forts. Since the results of this tournament affect one's status and salary within the fort, it seems the Black Knights and their families tackle this competition in earnest every year. As for me, I used to be afraid of tournaments where large men swung swords around, and I had no interest in them. Last year, I spent the entire year shut away in the manor, so I had only enough interest to say, "Before I knew it, it was over." Leonardo apparently wanted me to come and cheer him on, but I didn't feel like spending my time going out just to have a scary experience, so I only make an appearance for a short while every year.
For that reason, it might be unusual for me to be preparing to go see the tournament since morning.
...It would be a waste not to wear the hat that Sophia-sama gave me, after all.
The fact that it has cat ears bothers me, but the hat is innocent. As for Sophia, she gave it as a gift for the Spring Flower Festival in her capacity as an aunt, so she is also innocent. It is just that I feel a little embarrassed that I, at seventeen years old, have to wear cat ears.
I tie the ribbon extending from the hat under my chin, and Mirshe checks the length of the ribbon. Previously, she was treated as a maid-in-training, but at fifteen, Mirshe was working as a full-fledged maid. Since Mirshe was bought by Leonardo, there is originally no need to pay her a salary, but Leonardo is gradually saving money as Mirshe's salary for when she eventually gets married. He probably intends to release Mirshe with what could be called a retirement allowance by the time Lucio saves enough money to buy her back and comes to get her.
It truly seems he only protected my friend in accordance with the law.
I have my thoughts about my friend becoming a servant, but considering that Mirshe would have remained a girl prostitute, I think the current arrangement is indeed the best. It is only a matter of a few more years of patience before we call each other "Mirshe" and "Christina-sama" as master and servant. Once Lucio comes to get Mirshe, we should be able to return to our original friendship.
"Kalisa, make sure you guard Christina-sama properly."
Wearing a small maid outfit that Salisa made for the nursery spirit (Kalisa), the nursery spirit beats her flat chest and says, "Leave it to me." Wearing a small hat also made by Salisa on her head, the nursery spirit took up a position on my shoulder.
"With Kalisa here, it seems we will be fine even if someone's sword breaks or is sent flying by accident."
"I even blocked Leonardo-sama's charge. In that regard, I am also relieved."
That said, Salisa's face clouds over as she says she is worried because she will have to step away for a bit halfway through today. Salisa apparently has some business, so she has entrusted the role of accompanying me at today's tournament to Mirshe.
...Since Salisa's love interest is apparently a Black Knight. I wonder if she is going to cheer for him?
I am also looking forward to seeing if the identity of Salisa's love interest will finally be revealed. Lately, everywhere I look, it is the height of spring despite it being summer. Jean-Jacques and Giselle seem to be doing well, and Alfred got married and returned to the royal capital. Felicia also married her favorite knight, and Alisa is said to be in the middle of wooing Iridal. Basilia and Dietfried got engaged, and Mirshe is expected to be picked up by Lucio, and Elke told me when I invited her to the manor the other day that she got engaged to the third son of a large store. Truly, matters that should be settled are being settled here and there.
...Well, Aaron and Petrona-chan still seem to be in a delicate state, though.
Regarding Aaron and Petrona, it is not something I can interfere with or speak on. Aaron is a Silver Knight who will eventually return to the royal capital, and Petrona is the heir daughter of her family. There is no way for the two of them to be together unless Petrona leaves home and goes to the royal capital, or Aaron quits being a knight and enters Petrona's family. And Aaron continues to be my guard without quitting as a knight even while losing his sight. Considering this, it would be hard to imagine that Aaron would quit being a Silver Knight and remain in the town of Gurnol.
While I am thinking about these things, my preparations are complete. Today's guard is Aaron, who usually guards inside the manor, since the destination is Gurnol Fort. Since Aaron remembers the layout of Gurnol Fort, I can entrust the guarding to him, and I even have a letter of guarantee from Siegwald.
As for that Siegwald, it seems he intends to secretly enter the tournament. He apparently submitted the application documents for a walk-on entry well in advance. Siegwald is supposed to be heading to the town of Gurnol as my guard, but he was a shrewd person who left no room for carelessness.
"...Huh? Is that you, Tina-chan? You've become quite beautiful."
"Hello, Teddy-san."
I pass through the back gate and head toward the courtyard of Gurnol Fort where the tournament is held. On the way, I meet a familiar Black Knight and spread my charm as I did before. I think it was a charm with premium value because I was a young girl before, but unfortunately, I am no longer a young girl. I look younger than my actual age, but I should look like a girl of a decent age. I start to think that the charm spread by a girl of a decent age might not be as appreciated as the charm of a young girl, but then I deny this. In this life, my parents gave me a cute face. Regardless of actual age, it is the charm spread by a beautiful girl. I reconsider that it might have some value and spread my charm every time I meet a familiar Black Knight. A smile is the basis of social interaction. No matter how much of a shut-in I am, I know at least that much.
...The number of unfamiliar faces has increased quite a bit, hasn't it?
While moving and spreading my charm, it seems a rumor spread somewhere that I had come. Even Black Knights with unfamiliar faces come to greet me here and there.
...Are they newcomers?
Newcomers to the fort are first entrusted with the job of gatekeeper. Some of those gatekeepers were stationed as gatekeepers of the lord's manor where the master of the fort lives. Since I have seen the faces of the manor's gatekeepers, it is a bit rare to have newcomers I don't remember. Perhaps they were assigned to Gurnol Fort during the two years I was in the royal capital or the two years I was kidnapped.
Guided by a Black Knight, I show my face at Leonardo's tent, where Leonardo, wrapped in armor from head to toe, was looking through documents. Even on a tournament day (such a day), it seems the Knight Commander cannot escape paperwork.
...I don't see Leonardo-san in armor often, but he really has a vibe like an enemy character.
And even among enemies, he is a boss-class enemy character. His whole body is black, and perhaps because of his role as Knight Commander, the design of the armor is ornate and dignified, and to put it bluntly, the spiky shoulder guards look like nothing but a villain from a long time ago. This changes depending on the knight order one belongs to, but the color the Gurnol Knights use as an accent in their design is deep crimson, and it goes well with black. As a result, Leonardo, with his prickly jet-black armor and deep crimson cloak, has an appearance (vibe) that looks from any angle like he would start calling himself one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Realm. It would look great visually if the black dog (Oscar) were at his feet, but the only one I can prepare immediately to stand beside Leonardo is the black Shiba (Koku-maro). If a black Shiba, marked by white round Maro-brows, were attending at his feet, the boss character vibe would be ruined.
"...So the match between Leonardo-sama and Alf-san is first again this year."
"In other forts, the match between the commander and vice-commander is the biggest highlight of the tournament and is held at the end."
Because the master of Gurnol Fort is a bit special, the order of matches in the tournament also changes. Normally, the match between the commander and vice-commander, which should be called the main event, is held first, and after showing the vice-commander's strength, he is made to fight half of the vice-commanders of other forts. It was a system where if the vice-commander (Alf) were to lose here, the vice-commander of the other fort who won would be able to fight Leonardo, the commander.
At first glance, it seems Alf's burden is greater, but Gurnol Fort is a fort that has become truly special. Since the commander and vice-commander are also Silver Knights, it seems that dealing with the vice-commanders of other forts, who are Black Knights, is nothing at all.
...Huh? But Alf-san is different from the Alfred-sama who was here before... is he actually strong?
Since such a worry came to mind, I asked Leonardo secretly, and he answered that there is no need to worry. I had almost completely forgotten, but Alfred is also a member of the Silver Knights. When Alfred first came to the town of Gurnol, the pretext was that he had come as a Silver Knight to guard the research materials of Saint Yuuta Hiraga. This means that Leonardo, Alfred, and Alf are the three Silver Knights, so even if Alf and Alfred have switched places, he is said not to be inferior to a Black Knight in terms of strength.
"Assuming I watch all of Leonardo-sama's matches, ...who is Salisa going to cheer for?"
"I am not going to cheer, but... my match is after noon."
"...Hmm? I think I misheard. I heard something like Salisa has a match..."
"Yes. I said my match."
"...Pardon?"
When I asked back, thinking it was an auditory hallucination again, Salisa corrected me with a straight face, saying, "It is not a hallucination" and "It is correct that 'I am entering the match'." I repeated the same thing three times before I could understand Salisa's almost unbelievable words.
"...Why on earth is Salisa entering the Black Knights' tournament...?"
"There are times when a woman must fight."
"You're saying something cool with a very cool face, but I don't understand the meaning at all."
When I looked at the nursery spirit on my shoulder to see if they understood the meaning, it seemed the nursery spirit understood what Salisa wanted to say. Clenching both hands, they had a look on their face as if they themselves were about to go into battle. I think they are cheering for Salisa.
"...By the way, what about permission from Leonardo-sama?"
"The documents were properly prepared. Alf gave permission before I did, saying that such an event would be good once in a while."
Leonardo shows me the schedule, saying that Salisa's match is after noon, truly after lunch time has ended. Looking at the time slot the match is set for, it is probably treated as a side attraction of the tournament. If it is considered a side attraction, it shouldn't be that dangerous.
The match between Leonardo and Alf, which should have been the finale of the tournament, ended in no time. Just as I thought they exchanged a few blows to warm up immediately after the match started, Leonardo's sword, swung down with force, "cut" Alf's sword. It was magnificent, without any resistance, a clean cut.
Because Alf instinctively raised his shield, he escaped harm, but the shield that stopped Leonardo's sword was also cut halfway through. It wasn't smashed or dented, but literally "cut."
Normally, the swords Leonardo and the others use cannot cut like this. Rather, to cut, a blade sharpened like a Japanese sword is necessary, and while flesh and bone can be cut, it is difficult to cut a lump of iron like a shield. Even if possible, it would only scratch the surface, and it would be impossible to sink the blade halfway through a thick shield.
When it comes to the swords Leonardo and the others use, the sharpness drops several levels. If a Japanese sword is something that literally "cuts," this is closer to being described as "hacking" or "smashing." In exchange for inferior sharpness, the blade has thickness and is that much more durable. The inferior sharpness is compensated for by hammering the sword into the target with arm strength.
And Leonardo was "cutting" Alf's sword and shield with a sword of poor sharpness. This is not just a little, but abnormal. Even I, an amateur regarding swords, can tell.
Because Alf's sword and shield were cut, the match ended right there with Leonardo's victory. The two, who returned from beyond the square fence that served as the match venue with dissatisfied faces, were both tilting their heads. They are probably worried about the same thing.
"...I didn't intend to put that much strength into it."
"Hasn't your monstrous strength been increasing year by year? No matter how extraordinary your monstrous strength is, thirty is about the age where it should start to decline."
Far from declining, they both make difficult faces at the monstrous strength that has reached an unreasonable level. Since it wasn't an atmosphere where I could intervene, I silently moved to Leonardo's tent, and the Black Knights provided juice and sweets.
"Since I showed my face after a while, the service is amazing."
"I think that's not it..."
Since they are sweets, Mirshe, the nursery spirit, and I share them happily. When I shared the sweets with Leonardo and Alf, saying "Good job," Alf had a wry smile.
"You're too carried away with my sister. I'll increase the training later."
"Not your sister, but your fiancee, Leonardo-sama."
I correct Leonardo's statement, telling him not to mistake it. It is too small a thing, but I feel that if we don't steadily correct our awareness from small things, we will always be just brother and sister. Even if he frowns and says I'm persistent, I have no intention of giving in here.
"That is a separate story. I am considering adding training in the sense that you are too relaxed."
"Since today is a great opportunity for all the Black Knights to find lovers, I think it can't be helped if they are a little carried away, but..."
Until a few years ago, this tournament was almost the only opportunity for the Black Knights of the fort to appeal themselves to the young women of the town. In recent years, by accepting the children of Black Knights' families as cupids to deliver gifts to the fort during the Spring Flower Festival, the number of Black Knights who get wives or lovers has been increasing. It shouldn't lead to a situation where marriage is delayed by a year unless they get into a good atmosphere with a woman during the tournament (today) no matter what, but today must still be a special day for the Black Knights.
"...Then, Christina-sama. I shall take my leave for now."
"Salisa's match was right after lunch, wasn't it. Then, I will also go and cheer."
I was a little interested in how strong our house maid, trained by Iridal, was. According to a story I heard from Kalisa before, Kalisa was the weakest among the sisters. I had heard that even the weak Kalisa could suppress at least one Black Knight, so if Salisa is entering the match, I should be able to see a good fight.
...Since the nursery spirit will protect me, it will be fine even if a sword or spear accidentally falls on me.
As I stood up with a light heart, Leonardo was looking at me with an indescribable face. When I tilted my head, wondering if he had something to say, Leonardo slowly shook his head. Somehow, I think he doesn't want me to watch Salisa's match. Even so, he doesn't seem to intend to restrict my actions, and while making a subtle face, his hand reaches out to escort me. When I place my hand on that hand, Salisa gave a knight's salute, not a maid's, to me and Leonardo.
"I think it might be a bit different from what Christina-sama expects, but I will do my best."
"Huh? ...Um, I'm cheering for you, so please do your best."
"In moderation."
Seeing off Salisa as she left the tent, the next time I saw Salisa was inside the square tournament venue surrounded by a fence. Salisa seemed to use a spear as her weapon and wore simple armor such as gauntlets and a breastplate over her maid outfit. And the opponent who arrived at the venue slightly later was Pearl, who was escorted—no, that word is wrong. To prevent her from escaping—no, that also feels a bit off, but I'll stop worrying about it. Anyway, Pearl, surrounded by Black Knights, appeared at the venue.