Please Vote for Your Knight! – Chapter 54

Author: Asternkm

The reason for holding the debate.

It was to publicly clear Kusto’s name.

Only by clearing his name in front of everyone could the people across the empire accept the truth.

Otherwise, it would only create even more rumors.

‘But there were no witnesses.’

The people of Pius were keeping their mouths shut because they were afraid of Thierry Born.

And the former hostages had all fled and gone into hiding.

‘And there was even less chance of the lord confessing with his own mouth.’

In the end, Edith came up with a plan.

She would select the debate attendees through their “stories.”

All while heavily advertising throughout the empire that Kusto’s fate was at stake in this debate.

‘Please, let the hostages remember what Kusto did for them.’

Countless letters of appeal and testimonies poured in.

And among tens of thousands of stories, Edith finally found them.

I am one of the hostages who escaped becoming a slave thanks to Lord Kusto.

I am ashamed that I am only now trying to reveal the truth. …

Stories from hostages who wanted to help Kusto!

They had scattered in every direction, but they were still alive.

All while keeping their gratitude toward Kusto hidden in their hearts.

Edith invited them to the debate.

And to lure Thierry Born out, she set a trap.

The result was a complete success.

“Temporarily detain Thierry Born, the Lord of Pius, and investigate his estate for the presence of slaves!”

“Your Majesty! This is unjust! How can you detain me based on the words of mere commoners…?! Let me go!”

“Weren’t they your precious people just a moment ago? Tsk, tsk.”

Watching Thierry Born being dragged away while screaming, Kusto Marie clicked her tongue.

***

Several days later.

The investigation revealed that Thierry Born had been keeping numerous hostages as slaves.

And that wasn’t all.

He had committed countless acts of corruption, violated the law, and had even been plotting treason.

Thierry Born was stripped of his title and territory.

Then he became a death-row prisoner and was locked away.

On that same day.

Another screen lit up in the plaza.

It showed the imperial palace hall where the debate had taken place several days earlier.

The Emperor stood there.

Before him, Kusto was kneeling reverently.

“Kusto.”

The Emperor placed a hand on Kusto’s head.

Then he proclaimed,

“From this day forth, Kusto’s pardon is revoked.”

“!”

“And I hereby declare him innocent!”

Waaaaaah!

Cheers erupted from the plazas throughout the Empire.

Kusto stared blankly at the floor.

Then he flinched when he saw something falling drop by drop.

Tears.

They were falling from his own eyes.

Tears of overwhelming emotion.

‘They helped me.’

No.

He hadn’t been alone in the first place.

Hadn’t he had his fellow knights who believed in him?

They were cheering wildly from the back of the hall at his declaration of innocence.

Not all of them, but most were.

And now there were other people standing beside Kusto as well.

The very people he had risked his life to save.

‘I’m not alone anymore.’

His heart trembled.

On top of that, he had now been officially recognized as innocent.

Even if he didn’t become the final survivor of Cartamen, he could live.

But another flame began burning inside his heart.

So many people had helped him.

They were rooting for him.

‘I will never give up. I’ll see this through to the end. I won’t disappoint the people who are cheering for me.’

I will become a Di Eques.

***

Another wave of change swept through the midterm rankings.

Kusto’s ranking shot upward until it disappeared behind the question marks representing first and second place.

It was the result of the public debate.

Occasionally, Kusto’s name would reappear beneath the question marks.

But he never fell below fifth place.

And so, the day of the fourth evaluation dawned.

“It’s been a while.”

“A lot has happened.”

“Tell me about it!”

The knights gathered in the circular arena.

The Valkyria greeted them with bright smiles.

Even the Valkyria were secretly pleased that Kusto’s situation had been resolved.

They had grown attached to the knights over time.

Edith looked at the Valkyria fondly before speaking.

“Did everyone get plenty of rest?”

“No!”

Considering everything that had happened, they probably hadn’t been able to rest easily.

But most of the knights looked cheerful.

Edith was no different.

“As I said before, the fourth evaluation will be an equestrian drill performance. Each of you will choose and recreate one of the mounted formations previously performed by the Die Eques.”

“Woooooo!”

Recreating a Di Eques formation!

It was an incredible honor.

‘Of course, it’s also incredibly difficult.’

The Di Eques were the finest knights in the empire.

Naturally, their mounted formations were equally difficult.

Edith gave the innocent knights, who had no idea what awaited them, a fresh smile.

“How do you think you’ll choose which mounted formation to recreate?”

“Racing?”

“Flag grabbing?”

“Arm wrestling!”

Countless answers came flying out.

But none of them were correct.

Edith wasn’t that easy to fool.

“The answer is… a courage test!”

“?”

One by one, question marks popped up over the knights’ heads.

The Valkyria, who had heard the plan from Edith several days ago, snickered to themselves.

Mila cheerfully teased them.

“Do you all know the legend of this circular arena?”

“Yes!”

“No!”

The answers split into two groups.

The knights who had shouted “No” looked puzzled when they saw the faces of those who had shouted “Yes” turn ashen.

Amond let out an amused chuckle before speaking.

“There is a here. If you go inside…”

“A blood-soaked ghost appears and takes your head.”

Ines’s words immediately sent a chill through the atmosphere.

Then—

“E-Eh! No way! That’s ridiculous!”

One knight spoke boldly.

Despite his legs trembling violently.

“That’s right! There’s no such thing as ghosts!”

“Exactly! Absolutely!”

The other knights joined in, shouting in agreement.

“Good. Then do your best.”

Amond smiled encouragingly.

It was the most terrifying encouragement in the world.

“Now, we’ll divide you into groups. Nine people per group! That makes six groups.”

“Each group will be determined by drawing numbers at random.”

“And of course, the numbers will be based on your most recent midterm rankings!”

The knights carefully recalled their previous rankings.

< Cartamen Midterm Rankings >

1st: ?

2nd: ?

3rd: Kusto

4th: Pavel Schurbe

5th: Denny Vinosh

6th: Maurice Arnaud

7th: Killian Grouchy

8th: Raphael Laurent

……

15th: Olivier Morty

……

19th: Pierre Simon

……

27th: Dmitri Cassel

……

This time, the Valkyria would be drawing the numbers instead of the knights.

Without the slightest hint of tension, the Valkyria plucked balls bearing the numbers one after another.

In no time, the numbers for each group were displayed across the banner.

Group 1: □□□□□□□□ ?

Group 2: □□□□□□□□ ?

Group 3: ……

But the numbers for Groups 1 and 2 were both hidden.

And the final number in each group was marked with a question mark.

“The two question marks are Sir David and Sir Joan.”

Ines continued after Amont.

“The two of them may choose whichever group they want.”

“It’s a privilege!”

They didn’t even know who their teammates were, yet they were being allowed to choose their groups!

How was that supposed to be a privilege?

But the knights weren’t in a position to complain.

“Sir Joan, you may choose first.”

“No. Duke David, Your Grace, you should choose first…”

“Oh, come on!”

Mila suddenly shouted.

“You’ve been doing evaluations together for so long, and you’re still using honorifics? From now on, regardless of rank, everyone will speak casually to each other! Get to it!”

It was a contradictory command, considering she herself was still speaking politely.

But what could they do? It was an order from a judge.

“You pick first.”

“I told you, David—no, David, you pick first.”

Unable to watch any longer, Ines ordered them.

“Sir David, choose first.”

David thought for a moment before speaking.

“I’ll choose Group 2.”

“Then I’ll take Group 1 because I’m going to come in first!”

Joan’s declaration made everyone burst into laughter.

“That’s some serious confidence!”

“I’m jealous! The confidence of someone fighting for first and second place!”