Chapter 192
Winter was approaching the Kingdom of Saintcl.
A cold wind blew, stripping the trees of their leaves and leaving them bare and lonely.
The distant mountains wore white caps, and the people walking through town had begun dressing in heavier clothing.
As the whole country became dyed in this early winter scenery, people in the royal capital were oddly restless and excited.
The once-a-year grand event... the martial arts tournament was near.
"Wow, everyone's working hard. Isn't this what youth is all about?"
"Yes, though I hope no one overdoes it and gets injured."
To the words of Amlet, the department head, Clael responded with a thoughtful expression.
The staff room of the academy. The two of them were drinking coffee while looking down at the training grounds.
On the grounds, students aspiring to be knights were swinging swords and spears, training diligently.
"There are many general participants in the martial arts tournament, but... many students from the academy also compete. Everyone must be working hard to make it through the preliminaries."
Despite it being the start of winter, Amlet had his shirt open at the chest, pointlessly radiating masculine appeal.
Drinking hot coffee, fanning his open shirt at the chest... you couldn't help but want to ask if he was hot or cold.
"If you can make it to the main tournament, you're almost guaranteed a spot in the knights. Of course they'll be desperate."
Clael let out a bitter smile as he sipped his coffee.
The martial arts tournament is divided into 'Under 18' and 'Over 18' categories, and for those under 18, the Royal Academy has designated recommendation slots.
Thirty-two top-performing students are granted recommendations to the main tournament, allowing them to bypass the preliminaries entirely.
Since the king and guests from other countries are invited to the main tournament, participating in it makes it easier to join the knights or serve under influential figures.
Even without a recommendation, one can still enter the main tournament by passing the preliminaries... but since you'd have to compete against general participants, martial artists from commoner backgrounds, and challengers from other countries, the competition is extremely fierce.
"Sometimes, even among commoners, there are hidden masters... One of my classmates got completely beaten by one."
Clael recalled his student days.
Clael's friend, Roywood Belen, unfortunately did not rank among the top thirty-two students and had to participate in the general preliminaries.
However, just when he was about to pass the preliminaries... he lost to a certain female adventurer and couldn't make it to the main tournament.
"Oraah!"
From where Clael and the others were looking... a loud voice rang out from the center of the training grounds.
"You lot are getting slack! You think you can enter the martial arts tournament like that?!"
Shouting to fire up the other students was one of the main characters, Vincent Flame.
"Alright, next! Come at me!"
"Here I go...!"
Vincent was defeating the students one after another, achieving overwhelming victories without taking a single hit.
"Don't get scared! You're losing in spirit! And you over there, you're too tense. Your muscles are tightening up for no reason!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Next, please! Senpai!"
Vincent was instructing the other students.
All the students there were competing for the academy's recommendation slots... yet despite being rivals, he was offering advice like giving salt to the enemy.
"Vincent, huh... He's really changed, hasn't he?"
Amlet said with interest.
"He used to be self-centered, or maybe just lacked composure. But... over the past few months, he's started actively helping other students, and he seems to have grown as a person. Maybe it's thanks to Mr. Burn's guidance?"
"No, I haven't done anything at all, really."
It wasn't humility—it was the truth.
He had only teamed up with Vincent in a few incidents or had near encounters with him... beyond that, there had been no real involvement.
(If I had to say who's responsible... it's probably Reina...)
In the game, Reina and Vincent didn't seem to have any connection... but even so, she must have had some influence.
Perhaps something about Reina's actions had inspired Vincent to grow.
(Reina doesn't seem to have much involvement with the main characters... but Prince Eric ended up with an afro, Vincent and Will have matured as people, and Luy turned into a pervert... Reina is definitely having an effect.)
Though blaming Reina for the last one might be a bit unfair.
In any case, Reina truly is influencing the lives of the main characters as a heroine.
"Mr. Burn probably won't be directly involved in the martial arts tournament, but every year there are hot-blooded students who cause trouble. Keep a close eye on them, will you?"
"Yes, understood."
Nodding at Amlet's words, Clael finished the coffee in his cup.