Please Vote for Your Knight! Chapter 45

“I believe Kusto will become the final survivor of Cartamen.”

“Isn’t that something we can’t know yet?”

“If I hadn’t seen any potential in him from the beginning, I wouldn’t have gone so far as to use my pardon authority to have him participate.”

Edith spoke firmly.

 

***

 

That day, their conversation about Dmitri and Kusto ended without reaching a conclusion.

The two men each had a secret.

One was the fact that Dmitri had deliberately become a traitor in order to bring down the tyrant.

The other was the fact that Kusto might die if he failed to become the final survivor of Cartamen.

Neither issue could be answered with certainty at the moment.

There was, however, one thing Dmitri did not refuse.

Staying at David’s mansion to recuperate.

Kusto also decided to remain behind and help take care of him.

Killian, too, trained to strengthen his injured leg at David’s mansion.

Olivier continued bringing medicine for Dmitri. At the same time, he would also prepare medicine to help Killian recover his leg.

“This medicine really seems to be working. My leg feels much easier to move.”

“Of course. This was—”

“Yeah, yeah. It was made by the genius Olivier, top of the Imperial Academy and first in pharmacology.”

In the meantime, the knights staying at the mansion became comfortable enough to speak casually with one another.

“Did you hear?”

Olivier said it as he arrived with another batch of medicine.

Everyone looked at him in confusion.

What did he mean, did you hear?

Olivier smiled brightly and continued.

“They’re selling portraits of us outside. And not just ordinary portraits. They’re depicting our exploits in Cartamen exactly as they happened.”

“People actually buy that stuff?”

Kusto asked incredulously.

Olivier nodded.

“They’re selling like hotcakes.”

He looked at Dmitri, whose complexion had improved considerably.

“How about we go take a look? It’ll be good to get Dmitri out for a walk, too.”

Dmitri slightly furrowed his brow.

Take Dmitri out for a walk?

That made it sound like they were taking a dog for a walk.

But then another thought occurred to him.

I suppose they are taking care of me like a dog already.

And, in truth, Dmitri was curious too.

I wonder if they’re selling portraits of me as well.

“I’m not particularly curious about that… but I was feeling a little cooped up anyway.”

Dmitri played it off nonchalantly.

“But we have to cover our faces so people don’t recognize us. You saw what happened when we left the arena last time.”

David warned them.

Kusto tilted his head.

“That was because everyone there had gathered specifically to see us. Would people really recognize us that much just walking down the street?”

“There’s no harm in being cautious. Let’s do as David says.”

Olivier agreed.

And so David, Kusto, Dmitri, Killian, and Olivier ventured outside, hiding their faces beneath robes and hats.

 

***

 

The busiest thoroughfare in the capital.

Arshin Street.

Named after Arshin, one of the Eques, it was packed with all kinds of shops, restaurants, cafés, and more.

A huge painting hung in the largest general store on the street.

It depicted the final match of the one-on-one duel in the Rank Reevaluation.

The painting was so exquisitely detailed that it looked almost real.

And its main subject was David.

That wasn’t all.

The display counters were filled with paintings of various sizes depicting the actual exploits of numerous knights.

And it wasn’t just paintings.

There were bags, handkerchiefs, slogans, fans, and all sorts of other merchandise.

“This just came out. It’s freaking pretty. I’m obsessed.”

“They’re seriously trying to drain my wallet again. You vicious bastards. Fine, I’ll buy it!”

“But isn’t this illegal? I heard official merchandise is coming out soon. Wouldn’t it be better to buy that?”

“Yeah, yeah. But I made some Dmitri slogans myself, so I’ll hand some out.”

Dmitri’s ears turned red as he listened to the people passing by.

People were now openly saying that they supported Dmitri.

It was completely different from how they had secretly cheered for him not long ago.

“This is actually real.”

Kusto muttered as he stared at a plate bearing his own face.

David narrowed his eyes at a handkerchief embroidered with his likeness.

It looks worse than the real thing…

When the Imperial household released the official merchandise, he would have to tell them to put more effort into capturing his looks.

This is why illegal merchandise…

David clicked his tongue.

Just then, Killian picked up a newspaper.

“Oh, this!”

“What is it?”

“That bastard! He’s the guy who’s always badmouthing us!”

The newspaper Killian had picked up contained a column titled <Norman Fossi’s Bitter Words>.

All five frowned as they read the column.

But then…

Cartamen is an excellent competition that soothes the hearts of the people wounded by Beauvoir’s tyranny.

Not that I’m bragging, but I watched the second evaluation, and you can all look forward to it.

The column looked less like <Norman Fossi’s Bitter Words> and more like <Norman Fossi’s Sweet Words>.

“Did that bastard eat something weird?”

“Is he going to switch back to insulting us and stab us in the back when the next episode ends?”

All five of them eyed the article suspiciously before putting down the newspaper.

“I’m getting hungry. Let’s eat something before we go.”

Dmitri spoke up.

As the knights searched for a suitable restaurant or café, they noticed something strange.

Every restaurant and café seemed to be advertising dishes such as ‘David’s Special’ and ‘Kusto’s Favorite Raspberry Toast.’

“You like raspberry toast?”

“What’s a raspberry?”

Kusto tilted his head at David’s question.

“I almost bought a raspberry farm.”

David sighed in relief.

Apparently, all these places had invented completely fake, mysterious menu items.

And yet, every single one of those shops was packed with people.

“This is strange. Are people really reacting this positively to me?”

Dmitri quietly muttered, having remained silent until then.

He genuinely seemed unable to understand it.

Seeing him like that, Olivier gave a subtle smile.

“There is a place where you can see people’s truly honest reactions.”

“Where?”

“You can leave anonymous comments on the tablets beneath the broadcast towers. No names or identities are revealed, so they’re full of completely unfiltered opinions.”

Anonymous opinions.

Dmitri hesitated for a moment.

There would probably be all sorts of brutally frank comments.

No. There’s nothing left for them to hurt me with. I want to know what people really think.

Dmitri made up his mind.

“I want to see those reactions.”

“Oh, me too!”

“I’m curious as well.”

Killian and Kusto agreed.

“Then let’s go see.”

David spoke as though he didn’t particularly care.

He had already gone there secretly many times.

He practically had all the anonymous reactions memorized.

Of course, despite the bored expression on his face, he was actually looking forward to seeing some new comments.

The five of them found a small plaza nearby.

Even this plaza, which was usually quiet, was crowded.

People had gathered to vote on the tablets or leave their opinions.

Dmitri’s eyes widened.

“They have broadcast towers and tablets even here.”

“In plazas all across the Empire…”

“Cartamen became so popular that they installed additional ones in most plazas throughout the Empire.”

Olivier was about to answer when he stared at David in bewilderment.

Why does this bastard know so much about it like some kind of expert?

His face still looked completely indifferent.

Olivier suddenly felt anxious that he was losing his position as the resident know-it-all.

They waited in line and, only after their turn came, finally stood before a tablet.

“Wow. I didn’t expect people to have to line up just to see this here, too. It wasn’t like this before.”

Olivier eagerly provided even more explanation than usual.

“So, first…”

“You press here and look at the reactions.”

David interrupted him yet again.

Olivier’s eyes narrowed sharply.

David’s fingers moved with almost supernatural speed and precision.

In the blink of an eye, the anonymous community screen appeared.

“You seem pretty experienced with these tablets.”

Olivier asked in a subtly competitive tone.

David internally went, Oops, and shook his head.

“I’m just naturally good with this sort of tool. You could say I was born with it.”

“Wow…”

Olivier was stunned.

The same words he had always heard at the academy.

What an annoying guy.

He’s such a show-off.

He had always assumed those insults came from people who were jealous and envious of him.

But now, he thought he could finally understand how they felt.

Then—

“Uh…”

Dmitri let out a quiet groan as he stared at the screen.