Chapter 57 – I Won’t Be Alone Anymore
After closing my eyes for a moment in the brilliant light, my men and I were already back in the middle of the stadium where the opening ceremony was held.
Obviously, at the time of the opening ceremony, thousands of troops were tightly packed in this arena, but now only our Black Lion Knights are lined up here.
“Oh my God.”
In the wind, we naturally dominated the crowd’s gaze, and finally, a scream of half-sigh and admiration came out from one of the subordinates.
The subordinates were just embarrassed. It was the first time since the victory ceremony that even I was surrounded by such a large crowd.
‘Is this really over?’
Apparently, the battle with the Frost Knights was the last. This was a bit surprising.
No matter how harsh the surroundings of the battlefield were, I thought there would be at least one Knights who would seek an opportunity in seclusion while avoiding conflict until the end.
To be honest, even after winning the battle against the winning candidate coalition, I was prepared for a tedious chase.
But is it because the finalists are all knights who know honor? It seems that no one was so ugly that they longed for victory.
Still feeling a bit dazed, I turned my gaze and looked around, and a half-masked host from the relay seat shouted with loud gestures.
“The final winner is the Black Lion Knights!”
—Wowaaaaa!!!
It was almost deafening when the crowd of 100,000 cheered in unison.
“Black Lion Knight Commander! Look at me!”
“Wolfgang! Wolfgang! Wolfgang!”
The sight of countless people chanting my name without a break. It was only then that I started to feel a little bit more.
A Knights Competition where the best knights in the empire gather in one place and compete for supremacy.
Originally, it was an important event to the extent that all the people of the empire were interested in it, but this time, His Majesty directly intervened and exercised influence, so the topic was more topical than usual.
In such a position, he confidently won the championship.
Of course, just because we won the competition, it was unreasonable in many ways to see that we became the strongest knights in the empire. However, it was clear that an enormous honor had been given.
I don’t remember the specific details, but I heard that the material rewards were also considerable.
Maybe the prize money alone goes back and forth in millions of gold units. It will probably be even more amazing if you include all sorts of injuries.
Besides that, I wonder if there will be a lot of changes in the future.
“Okay! Please give everyone another round of applause to the Black Lion Knights who won the championship and to Sir Wolfgang who showed off his overwhelming force!”
— Clap clap clap!
“Captain…! Did we really win?”
“Yes, that’s right. Vice-captain.”
When I returned to my normal state and saw the vice-captain’s glowing eyes beside me, I was glad to see him, but I felt slightly awkward.
After saying such a sad goodbye, I didn’t know that we would be reunited this soon. Well, I guess it’s okay to just think that good is good.
“Euhaha! Captain! Victory, victory! This is all thanks to the captain!”
“Keuheuk… Until last year, I never imagined that we would be given such an honor…”
The sounds of applause, cheers, and the chatter of excited subordinates rang in my ears.
[Congratulations on winning]
When I finally heard the congratulatory speech from His Majesty the Emperor himself, a strange joy welled up in my heart.
* * *
Even after that, small events such as celebratory performances continued, but we were able to leave as quickly as possible with consideration for convenience.
I heard from the officials that there was a separate banquet for the winners, but most of the subordinates were happy and ran to eat and drink right away.
The vice-captain and I looked at the backs of those subordinates and smiled bitterly.
The captain and vice-captain couldn’t leave out the banquet, which was like an after-party, so the moment he was about to follow his subordinates.
— Bumping!
At the entrance to the banquet hall, the vice-captain held my arm and spoke in a most serious tone.
“Captain. Wish… Actually, I’ve already thought about what I’m going to ask you for. However, it’s a little too much to tell you now.”
“Well, make your judgment as carefully as possible.”
“No. It was decided from the beginning without any further thought. Me, when we’re alone later…”
I already knew what she wanted.
You should probably be prepared mentally. But now, as she said, wasn’t the time yet.
“Yes. I’ll be waiting. For now, let’s celebrate the victory with our subordinates.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Vice-captain Agnes said that and leaned his head on the armor on my left arm.
Then, as if embarrassed, she blushed and ran into the banquet hall as if to run away.
I had a lot of thoughts about that appearance, but I decided to put off the complicated thoughts for later.
“Whoa… Okay, let’s catch our breath now.”
Even so, my body was demanding alcohol and meat very violently.
It’s a banquet for the winners, so you don’t have to worry about the taste or quality of the food.
‘Damn it.’
However, contrary to expectations, I couldn’t just relax and relax.
It was because as soon as I entered the banquet hall, I was swept away by the crowds of various nobles who rushed in like a tidal wave.
—Ururu!
“Sir Wolfgang! I’ve heard of his fame as a war hero. The insolence he showed was like that of a war god.”
“Are there any plans to select new knights or servants?”
“Nice to meet you, Sir Wolfgang. I heard that she has not yet had a relationship with you. She has a daughter who is about to marry, but she is very off-white…”
When did you hear the news and wait in advance?
Obviously, I thought that I would not be able to live a quiet life like I have been living in the future.
But I’m already at this point. I was really dizzy.
I didn’t like the calculating aspect of the aristocratic society, so I had been avoiding social activities as much as possible, but it was inevitable since I was noticed.
“I will politely decline any personal contact or request.”
It was annoying, so I responded as roughly as possible, but the nobles who were already half-blind did not know how to back down.
“No, don’t…”
“There is a higher position prepared for you. Are you not interested in a higher position in the Unified Command?”
Just turn everything off I mean, I’m hungry now.
When you’re suddenly irritated and you’re seriously contemplating whether you should even let out a lion’s roar.
— Again, again…
At the sight of a woman approaching from afar, the crowd of aristocrats who had flocked to me split into left and right sides in an instant.
The appearance of a dazzlingly beautiful woman, accompanied by attendants and imperial bodyguards to the left and right, approaching me in a most splendid and elegant manner.
“Hmm… Are you the winner of this Knights Competition, Sir Wolfgang?”
“Yes, it is. Her Highness the Princess.”
Her true identity was Alicia.
Not in a lewd or perverted appearance like being naked or insane, but properly dressed and showing her dignity to the fullest, something didn’t seem to be the Alicia I knew.
But that was it, and she had never felt as welcome as today.
I got down on one knee for her Alicia and paid my respects to her royalty.
The way she greeted her with a vague nod of her head.
“By the way, it’s really noisy. I’m sure this banquet is supposed to honor the victor, but what are you guys here for?”
Before long, Alicia began to show her displeasure rather overtly.
Considering her public reputation, it was an unusually radical attitude. It’s a bleak momentum that even surprised me.
“That, that’s…”
“No, no. We just…”
“It doesn’t look very nice to see people coming here for a purpose other than pure celebration. I won’t say much longer because I don’t want to break the fun atmosphere.”
When Alicia’s piercingly blue eyes stared into the face of a marquis who was talking about a high-ranking position, most of the nobles gathered here, including him, slipped away like the ebb tide.
I looked up at her face with dazed eyes.
First of all, thank you, but what the hell are you going to do later?
Of course, since she is a descendant of the imperial family, it is true that she is in a position where she does not have to worry about other people’s eyes. However, isn’t there such a thing as a reputation that has been built up over the years?
What’s more, Alicia was a noble person whose every trivial act could be interpreted in ten ways. I knew what kind of rumors would circulate because of my current actions…
—Smile
No, looking at that meaningful expression, it seemed like it was intentional in the first place.
“Commander of the Knights of the Black Lion, Wolfgang von Schwarz. I sincerely congratulate you on winning the knights competition. It was truly admirable.”
“…Thank you.”
As our eyes met, Alicia twitched the shape of her mouth so that only I could see it for a very brief moment.
“Master, did I do well?”
… Well done, bitch.
I’m going to give her a slap on the ass later.
—Bad!
“No, where is the ice all of a sudden on this hot day?!”
“…Sorry.”
And, the vice-captain, who was watching us from afar, froze an entire table.
