The trumpet sounded, a sign that the first set of 'open-for-all' battles would begin.
"Whoa, this is fun," Keith said.
"Ease your excitement. They are not here to kill each other. They merely have to push one another off the platform," Earl explained.
G6 remained silent, leaning back in her chair with her legs and arms crossed—the figure of a predator at the top of the pyramid, scanning for those she deemed unworthy.
Prince Dio glanced at her from time to time, trying to study the unpredictable storm beside him, careful not to press her buttons.
"NOW, THE FIRST SET WILL BEGIN!" the speaker announced.
The applicants for the first set slowly emerged from the gates around the arena, one after another.
After a few minutes of waiting, another trumpet sounded—the signal for the battle to commence.
As the trumpet's echo faded, the people below began to battle one another.
The arena erupted into a chaotic melee. Swords clashed against shields, and the grunts of effort filled the air. A large man with an axe charged forward, sweeping his weapon in a wide arc to clear space around him. A quicker, slimmer applicant ducked under the swing, using the man's momentum to shove him off the platform's edge.
To the left, two women fought back-to-back, fending off a group of attackers with coordinated strikes from their staves. One by one, opponents were disarmed, unbalanced, and sent tumbling onto the safety mats below. It was not a fight to the death, but a brutal test of strength, strategy, and endurance.
G6 let out a sigh, her face obviously displeased.
It's so noisy. I was never a fan of this fighting style. They're not even good; some are just big enough to push someone off the platform. What kind of exam is this? This makes me lose my interest. The hobgoblin I fought was way more interesting.
Her thoughts were nothing but complaints. The sound of weapons felt like static noise to her. The grunting and shouting of the warriors were nothing but a disturbance.
After twelve minutes of fighting, the first set concluded, leaving exactly twenty people on the platform.
The next set began—the same routine, the same scenario—and G6's face was undeniably dying of boredom. She even dozed off until they reached the final set.
"NOW, WE WILL BEGIN THE LAST SET!" the speaker announced, snapping G6's eyes open.
Finally, it's coming to an end. I have business to attend to.
The last set of applicants moved inside, and G6's eyes caught on a small figure.
"What the?" she said aloud, making her seatmates turn to her.
"What is wrong, Reise?" Prince Dio asked.
"Why is there a child? I thought this was only for those sixteen and up," G6 asked, her voice serious.
"A child? That cannot be true," Earl said, standing up to scan the platform. "I do not see anyone."
"Are you certain? I just saw one," G6 said, her eyes scanning the crowd.
Where the hell did that child hide?
"Reise, are you certain you did not mistake it?" Earl asked, sitting back down.
"Tch. Maybe," G6 said, ending the conversation.
As the trumpet sounded to begin the battle, her instincts told her otherwise.
<< Perfect Assassin Form: Activated >>
< Perception: Zoom >
Activating her skill silently, her eyes glowed with that faint, oblong white light again. She scanned the crowd for the child, and after a few seconds, she found him.
See? I'm right. How the hell did this child slip into the recruitment? What is the person in charge doing?
She kept her eyes on the child, who was just a feet taller than Lilia and looked around eleven or twelve years old.
This child… he's oddly familiar. Where have I seen him?
G6 remained silent, her gaze locked on the boy. The child was expertly avoiding all the conflict around him.
Hmm… he's using Physical Enhancement Magic. He's not an expert, but he moves with control. He knows his limits and capabilities. He has potential.
G6's silence and focus grabbed Prince Dio's attention. When he glanced at her, he saw her eyes glowing with an oblong shape. His brows furrowed in confusion.
What is that? What kind of spell is she using? he thought. Wait, it is not even a spell. Could it be a skill? I do not recall a skill that makes someone's eyes glow like that.
While the prince was confused by her ability, G6 was assessing the boy in the crowd.
The boy moved not with brute force, but with an almost preternatural awareness. He wasn't attacking; he was flowing. When a large man swung a practice sword wildly in his direction, the boy didn't block or dodge in a panic. Instead, he took a single, precise step inside the arc of the swing, his small frame passing harmlessly by the man's side.
As the man stumbled forward from his own momentum, the boy simply placed a hand on his back and pushed, sending him stumbling off the platform. It was an act of effortless redirection, using the opponent's strength against them. The move was too refined, too economical to be luck. It was the beginning of a technique.
G6 scoffed, a sound of proud recognition. Yet, she was displeased. Why is he working so hard? Tch. What a pathetic child.
After that, a trumpet sounded. The battle had ended.
"ALL SETS HAVE ENDED! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO PASSED!" the speaker announced, which made the winners cheer with joy.
Yet, a man below the platform was silently raising a bat weapon with thorns against the boy, whose back was unguarded. In the blink of an eye, G6 stood up.
<< Death's Whisper Aim: Activated >>
"Bullet of Death," she whispered, pointing a gun-finger at the man's hand. A bullet of compressed wind shot forth and struck his hand.
The man screamed in agony, his weapon falling from his grasp. The scream drew everyone's attention, their faces filling with fear at what they had witnessed.
The spell was strong enough to puncture a hole clean through his hand, blood flowing aggressively from the wound.
"WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING!" someone yelled.
"WHO DID THAT?!" another shouted.
Earl recognized the spell. He stood up and grabbed G6 by the wrist.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, REISE!" Earl's voice was high and loud enough for everyone to realize the perpetrator was on the balcony.
Prince Dio shot to his feet, his own hand clamping down on Earl's. "I SHOULD BE ASKING YOU THAT!" he yelled back, his fury directed at Earl for laying a hand on her.
"Calm down! Okay? Dio… Earl!" Brenda said, panic clear in her voice.
"That man was trying to swing his weapon at the child you said didn't exist," G6 stated simply, not even flinching at the tension. Her voice was flat, a stark contrast to the shouting around her.
Earl finally calmed, releasing G6's wrist as Dio moved his hand away. He looked down at the arena floor, and his anger softened into shame. There was, indeed, a child.
"You're right…" Earl whispered, his voice failing him.
G6 scanned her surroundings. Keith was utterly shocked by the sudden confrontation. Zen, Brenda, and Eliza were visibly frightened by what Prince Dio and Earl had done, especially by her own cold reaction. Her three servants watched from the corner; the two girls' faces were etched with worry, while Edmund remained diplomatically neutral.
G6 let out a sigh and turned her back on them, facing the crowd. The palace medic team was already attending to the wounded man.
Whisper of the Gale.
Using her spell, G6's voice carried clearly to the entire arena. "I don't adhere to unfair battles. If you lost, it means one thing: you were too weak. Any attempt to harm someone because you can't accept your own failure is strictly forbidden in my watch. Try it again when I'm not looking." Her explanation, cold and logical, settled over the crowd. "Apprehend that man. He attempted to assault a child."
She turned away from the railing. Her gaze landed on Earl, and the air grew cold.
"The next time you grab me carelessly, your hand is next."
The threat was delivered with such flat finality that it sent a chill down the spines of everyone present. It was a stark reminder that she was not nice. The growing camaraderie between them had strict limits, and boundaries crossed without her consent would be met with brutal finality.
"Reise… I am sorry," Earl said, his voice still weak with shame.
G6 did not answer him. She simply turned and walked away in silence, followed by her trio of servants.
The silence she left behind was heavy enough to suffocate. Finally, Keith spoke.
"Why would you yell at her like that, Earl? You must have lost your mind."
"Do not forget your place, Earl," Prince Dio said, his tone icy, before he too turned and left.
"Tch. Now both of them are mad. You know how bad it is when Dio's mad, too," Keith added.
"Shut it, Keith. Earl knows what he did. For now, let us proceed to the final step of this recruitment," Brenda said, trying to restore order.
They all agreed and went on their way, the day's events forever marked by the chill of G6's warning.
___
"Do you know that child, Lady Reise?" Edmund asked as they walked toward the small extension of the arena where the applicants who had passed were waiting.
"He just looks familiar," G6 answered.
"You seem too agitated today. Was it because of Her Majesty?" Edmund asked again, his voice a whisper.
"Perhaps. Things are just not going well for us. We have nothing but mystery after another. Problem after another," G6 said, sounding completely uncomfortable with her current situation.
"I understand where you are coming from, Lady Reise," Edmund replied.
While the two conversed in hushed tones, Tina and Lilia walked quietly behind them.
Then, a voice called from behind. "Reise."
It was Prince Dio. G6 did not stop, but the prince hurried to her side. Edmund fell back to walk with the maids.
"Forgive Earl for his reckless action," Prince Dio said.
"I'm not mad," G6 stated.
"Are you sure?" Prince Dio asked.
"Aren't you the one who should be forgiving him?" G6 asked, turning her head to him without breaking stride.
"I was just… startled by how carelessly he grabbed you. But you know Earl; he is too… dignified to usually act that way," Prince Dio explained.
"Stop worrying about my feelings toward that geek. I was just reminding him of his place," G6 said, and then stopped walking.
"I see. I am glad to hear that," Prince Dio said, sounding calmer than before.
"Lead the way. What are you just standing there for?" G6 said, annoyed. She had stopped because she did not know where their next destination was.
Prince Dio collected himself and silently followed G6's command, leading the way to the arena's extension.
_____
[Extension Arena]
They entered the small arena and walked to the middle. G6 silently scanned the 'winners,' obviously looking for the child.
"Silence, everyone! The Prince and the Pillars have arrived," the speaker announced.
Whispers broke out in the crowd.
"Isn't one of them the one who attacked an applicant?"
"Really? Who?"
"I don't know."
Tch. A bunch of gossips.
"Lady Reise," Brenda called out as she and the others arrived.
Earl's eyes briefly met G6's before he quickly looked away, perhaps still figuring out how to appease the lady he thought was angry with him.
"Oh, you're here. So what's next?" G6 asked.
"We will be explaining the contract and the situation, as Earl said earlier, so they have the liberty to decide," Zen replied. "It seems Earl is not in the mood to explain. I will take his role. Excuse me, Lady Reise." He added, then walked toward Prince Dio, who was already speaking with a palace staff member.
Keith stayed beside Earl, who was not his usual diplomatic self. "I've never seen you so small before," Keith teased.
"Shut up, Keith. I will take my embarrassment out on you if you don't stop," Earl said.
"Don't take it out on me. It was your own fault," Keith shot back. "Anyway, don't worry. Once snow white has totally calmed down, he'll talk to you as usual again."
"Dio is not my concern," Earl said, his gaze drifting toward G6's strong figure.
"I know. Wait until the smoke clears. You know her—she's unpredictable and hates being manhandled," Keith said.
"You think so?" Earl asked, like a child afraid his friend would never speak to him again.
"You're quite a handful to reassure! Pull yourself together; you're pissing me off!" Keith said, and walked away.
"That stupid guy," Earl mused, then gently slapped his cheeks to compose himself before joining the crowd.
Eliza stood like a silent statue near Brenda and G6, who were standing idly in the middle.
"I wonder if that man is all right," Eliza said, referring to the man G6 had shot.
"Why don't you use your magic on him, then?" G6 said, obviously displeased with the side comment.
"He was taken by the palace knights… He is probably being interrogated right now," Eliza said in a low voice.
"Then, silence" G6 said, her voice flat yet chilling enough to silence further conversation.
Brenda offered Eliza a wary smile, trying to shrug off G6's harshness.
Suddenly, a girl shouted at G6. "HEY, YOU WENCH!"
"Excuse me? Who do you think you are talking to?" Brenda demanded, visibly angered by the blatant disrespect.
"Please forgive our Captain!" a boy said, frantically bowing his head.
"Captain?" Brenda asked. "Are you a party from the Adventurers' Guild?"
"Yes, why?" the girl said, still proud.
This rude brat. This is Riza from the guild. What the fuck is she doing here? G6 thought, remaining silent.
Brenda scoffed in disbelief. "I TOLD YOU TO WATCH WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO!" her voice was high.
G6's eyes twitched toward Brenda's unexpected outburst.
"Calm down, Bre," G6 said, making Brenda retreat slightly behind her as if seeking protection.
"What is your problem?" G6 asked Riza, as if it were their first meeting.
"Nothing. You just have the same hair color as a bitch I hate. But hers is longer and more vivid," Riza said, clearly referring to the woman standing right in front of her.
In her persona as G6 Arcadia, her hair was styled completely differently from her usual appearance, and more importantly, no one at the guild had seen her eyes, as she always wore sunglasses so she's completely safe from being recognized fully.
Don't tell me. Edmund, you good-for-nothing. Was this the reason for his weird getup? To avoid being recognized by these fools?
"So, I resemble the hair of a woman you hate, and you bluntly disrespect me?" G6 said, her voice dropping to a dangerous level.
"W-what are you talking about…" Riza said, backing away.
"Didn't you see her crest? She's a Worthon! And the other is from Nocturne! Captain, you must be looking forward to your death!" the boy, Rich, exclaimed.
"What? Why didn't you tell me sooner? You're useless!" Riza panicked.
"How could you not know? The Pillars' crests, alongside the royal family's, are common knowledge in every book a commoner can access!" Rich retorted.
"What is going on here? Riza, you promised you would not cause trouble in exchange for being allowed to tag along," a familiar voice cut through the tension.
Fuck. It's the social maniac, G6 thought. Where the hell are Edmund and the others?!
"Sebastian!" Rich called.
"Riza yelled at and disrespected the Pillar nobles," Rich whispered to Sebastian.
"What? Riza, you promised! Apologize now!" Sebastian insisted.
Riza hesitantly bowed her head to G6 and Brenda. "Please forgive my disrespectful actions. Please spare us," she pleaded.
"What does she mean, 'us'? Is she dragging us into this?" Rich whispered in fear.
When Sebastian finally looked at G6, it felt as though time had stopped. It was the first time he was seeing her as Reise Worthon, but his foolish heart beat the same way it did for the G6 Arcadia he knew.
"G-G6?" Sebastian whispered.
What the fuck is he talking about? He must have lost his mind.
"What are you talking about, Captain? You must have really lost it. Xena, do something!" Nick said.
G6 cleared her throat. "Raise your head, you foolish girl," she said. "The next time you speak to me so casually, I will have your head as payment." She said, threatening Riza as if her words don't carry a weight against these poor commoners.
Her words made Riza hiccup in fear, and Rich bit his fingernails frantically.
"Forgive her, my lady," Sebastian said. "And forgive me, too, for mistaking you for a woman I know. You oddly resemble her." He offered a curt bow.
"What are you talking about? Lady Reise is the most beautiful woman in Einston! How dare you compare her to some woman you know," Brenda retorted, displeased with Sebastian's comment. "Tch, they're really pissing me off," she added, crossing her arms in annoyance.
"Lady Reise!" Edmund called, finally emerging.
"Where the hell have you been?" G6 said.
"Forgive me. Prince Dio asked us to help hand out the application forms and contracts. Tina and Lilia are still helping," he explained as he approached his cornered mistress.
"Good. Take these people to the side. Keep them away from me; they're annoying," G6 said, gesturing to the group in front of her.
"Again, forgive me, my lady," Sebastian said, "and you as well, miss," he added, nodding to Brenda.
"Don't 'my lady' me. You're annoying." G6 said, finally leaving as Edmund intervened.
Brenda threw a sharp glance at the group before following G6. Eliza offered them a quick nod and also left.
As G6 retreated, Sebastian watched her. "She feels oddly like her," he murmured.
"Captain, you are indeed madly in love with G6," Xena said. "Let's fill this out and read the contract before you and Riza lose your heads. That lady's temper seems worse than G6's."
"I was about to say that," Dante agreed. "The captain is always attracted to complicated ladies," he remarked, making Xena and Nick laugh.
"No way! Sebastian! You're in love with that witch adventurer?" Riza whined, herself being in love with Sebastian.
"Lower your voice, Riza. And you two, stop it," Sebastian said.
Edmund quietly handed them the forms and contracts, then left them to their paperwork.
G6 strode to the stage, where seats had been set up for them to oversee the proceedings. She sat down with an annoyed sigh, taking a seat next to Earl. He awkwardly avoided looking at her, sensing her foul mood.
I just told Edmund how complicated the situation is, and now these stupid fools are here. Why did they even apply? Tch.
Her face was a mask of pure annoyance. Prince Dio, who was standing at the front with Zen, turned and observed her.
"I wonder what's wrong now," he said, voicing a thought meant to be kept silent.
Zen heard him and followed his gaze. "Lady Reise seems to be a woman who is perpetually unhappy," Zen remarked with a smile. "I have concluded that is simply her way."
"Did I say that aloud?" Dio sighed. "Shall we get this over with?" he said to Zen, who nodded in reply.
On her side of the stage, G6 was boiling with internal rage, unaware of who was sitting around her.
How do I get rid of them? This is fucking annoying.
Keith then silently slid into the seat beside her, shoving Brenda away just as she was about to sit there. "You, Keith! I was about to sit there!" Brenda whined.
"Don't be such a baby! You already live with her; give me a break!" Keith barked, making Brenda huff and sit next to him. Eliza was already sitting quietly in the empty chair beside the silent Earl.
"Now, if all of you have your application forms and contracts, please read the contract carefully before you fill anything out," Zen began.
The people below the stage started examining their contracts.
"Before that! Excuse me for interfering, sir! But how did this kid get in?" a man asked, pointing at the boy standing quietly to the side.
G6's attention snapped back to the boy. Prince Dio and Zen also turned to look at where the man was pointing.
"Right, registry staff! How did a child slip through the screening?" Prince Dio asked, his displeasure clear.
"Forgive us, Prince Dio. There were only two of us earlier, and there were many applicants," the speaker explained.
"Such a failure is unacceptable," Dio said. "The child will be disqualified. This is no place for playtime." The boy's brows furrowed in defiance.
"Wait! Your Highness!" the boy shouted. "I know lying is nothing to be proud of, but I earned this! I passed the written and battle exams. The only trick I used was about my age!"
Finally, G6 remembered him. He was the beggar child. What is he doing here? Is he just trying to find free food and shelter? Tch. What a lousy kingdom—they seem rich, yet there are still people like this.
"What you did is indeed unforgivable. However, even if you earned it, the rules are clear. Only those sixteen and above are permitted to participate," Dio stated firmly.
"I am twelve! And… and I am not here to play; I can be of help!" he insisted.
"Hey, kid, just go home. Don't argue. This place isn't for you," one man said.
"Right," another agreed.
The crowd murmured in consensus. The boy lowered his head; his desperate plea was falling on deaf ears. Despite his potential, it was not enough.
Yet, G6's eyes remained locked on him, observing every emotion he displayed.
If this child is left to roam, it won't be long before he turns to crime.
G6 then spoke. "Tell me, kid…" she said from her seat, drawing the attention of everyone around her, including Prince Dio and Zen.
"What is your reason for joining? Are you aware of why this rushed recruitment is happening?" G6 asked.
The boy raised his head, looking straight at her. "I am not yet aware why it is happening…" he said, "…but I see it as an opportunity. To train to become a knight who can help others. And protect the helpless." His voice was desperate.
The crowd's focus was entirely on him now. The weight of the nobles' gazes, and all the other stares, pressed down on him.
"And why is that? Why do you want to protect the helpless when you almost lost your head earlier? Are you being idealistic, or just ignorant?" G6 asked again, her flat tone a stark contrast to her usual ruthlessness.
Tina lowered her head in pity for the boy, while Lilia stood quietly beside her.
"I don't know if I'm either of the two… but I want to be a person who can protect the helpless, people like me…" he said, then gathered his courage to meet G6's intimidating stare. "I want to be like the person I look up to. The only person who truly saw my agony and difficulties. The one who purposely shattered the wrong hope I was clinging to and gave me a new one. A better one." He was on the verge of tears.
He remembered the ruthless woman who had saved him from high commoners bullying him in the street. The woman who had stepped on the bread—his first meal in days—only to give him a gold coin to buy clean, new food. The woman who had saved him from turning into a criminal. That woman was G6.
G6 narrowed her eyes. This kid. He must be stupid. What kind of sick person gave him that thinking? Tch. What a fool.
"That's a sobbing story. Now take it with you as you leave," G6 said, without a hint of empathy.
But the boy's next words made her freeze. "Thank you for saving me again," he said, still looking at her. Instead of being hurt by her bluntness, he was smiling.
Again? Wait—don't tell me—was he referring to me? You have got to be kidding me.
G6 came to realize that the sick person she was referring to turns out to be her.
Prince Dio and Zen furrowed their brows in confusion. "Again?" Keith mused.
"Take that kid out of here," Zen said politely to one of the staff.
"Let him join," G6 said, taking back her words. "I saw how he fought. He could be a great support, a page boy."
"Are you certain, Reise? He is just a child," Prince Dio said.
"He is a street child. His life experience is greater than his age," she added. "Take him."
Dio, though not entirely comfortable, was becoming unable to refuse G6. He conceded. "Then, as per my fiancée's request, you may join. But only after you hear the full explanation for this recruitment," Dio announced.
A glimmer of hope flooded the boy's face, and he smiled.
How the hell did he recognize me? Why does he even remember me? Tch. I'll deal with him later.
"Dio is really becoming a 'yes' master to you, Reise," Keith said, giggling at how the cold prince could no longer say no to her.
"Keep quiet; you're too loud," G6 said to Keith.
"Come on, now you're just being mean. My voice is practically a whisper!" Keith said, pouting.
G6 just stared at him sharply.
Then, she felt a gaze from below the stage. When she looked toward its source, she saw Sebastian.
What is this sicko looking at? Tch. He makes me want to blind those eyes. That stupid captain.
"Now, let us begin," Zen said, regaining control of the crowd. "The reason for this sudden recruitment is the Southern Kingdom's activation of its knight forces."
The crowd began to murmur again, a mix of voices asking if a war was coming.
Prince Dio cleared his throat. "We do not yet know the exact reason for their mobilization. However, as the Queen says, prevention is better than cure," he said, calming the crowd.
"Your Highness, should we mention the odd monster disturbance just right out of the capital?" Zen asked in a whisper.
"Not yet. We are unsure of the situation there. A potential breach in the Charnel Lands' barrier is more terrifying than a kingdom recruiting knights," Prince Dio replied.
"That is the full reason. So if you are unwilling to bet on this prevention, you are free to leave your forms and contracts on the table and depart," Prince Dio announced to the crowd. "However, as mentioned, your pay will be twice what you earn in your daily routine. It is nearly the salary of a noble knight."
That damn cement. He really hit them where it hurts—their stomachs. G6 observed.
"That will be all. We will wait five minutes for you to fill out the forms and read the contracts," Zen said.
He and Prince Dio then walked away from the center stage and took their seats beside G6 and the others. Prince Dio sat quietly near Earl but did not bother to look at him—a sign that his anger over Earl's earlier behavior had not yet subsided.
Keith, sensing the tension, stood up and moved his chair between the two. Eliza, who had been sitting beside Earl, was now fully blocked by Keith's chair and broad shoulders. He then launched into a conversation of pure nonsense, making the two men shoot him warning looks to shut his mouth. Keith just grinned at them and continued running his mouth.
On the other side, Brenda scooted her chair closer to G6, quietly satisfied to be near her again.
Then, Lilia approached G6 with a glass of water. "Here, Lady Reise! You must be thirsty. It is still cool," Lilia said, smiling, trying to cool down her heated mistress.
G6 took the glass and gulped the water down as if she were swallowing her annoyance and the day's accumulated problems.
"Would you like one too, Lady Brenda?" Lilia asked, smiling.
"Yes, please, if it is no trouble," Brenda said, returning Lilia's sweet smile.
Lilia nodded and cheerfully went back down the stage to fetch another glass.
"Lady Reise, do you think the barrier in the Charnel border has fallen?" Brenda asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
"I don't know. I am not the type to jump to assumptions," G6 said.
"If it has, the first towns and villages in danger would be near Scutum… The world is becoming so complicated," Brenda said, frowning.
"The world has always been complicated, Brenda," G6 said, her eyes fixed on the crowd. "Look how desperate they are to gamble their lives on the unknown." She added, "All for money."
Brenda then looked at the busy crowd, all excitedly filling out their forms, motivated by the high pay. "Indeed…" she mused.
"You will never know how chaotic the world is if you do not go and see it for yourself. Not everyone lives in luxury as we do. Most people have to gamble everything just to survive," G6 said.
Brenda looked at G6 with a sense of awe. As the heiress of the First Pillar, she should have been the most ignorant of commoners' struggles, yet she spoke as if she had seen the world at its worst.
Before Brenda could reply, Lilia returned, carefully carrying two more glasses of water. "Here you go, Lady Brenda!"
Just then, the five minutes ended. Zen stood up and addressed the crowd once more. "Time is up. Those who have decided to stay, please line up to submit your forms. Those who have chosen to leave, you may do so now with our thanks for your time."
The vast majority moved into a line, their faces a mixture of determination and anxiety. Only a few hesitant individuals also joined, but none chose to leave.
So, no one ran away? Well, the pay is indeed tempting. What a cunning move.
G6 watched the boy—the street child—clutch his form tightly as he joined the line, his small frame standing tall amidst the adults.
You've chosen your gamble, kid, she thought. Let's see how far you'll go.
As the two registry staff gathered the forms, Zen once again moved to the center of the stage.
"We are grateful to see that all eligible applicants have decided to stay. For now, you may return home and deliver the news to your families. We expect you to return tomorrow at six in the morning to process your identification cards. Latecomers will not be permitted to proceed, as the afternoon is scheduled for your formal introduction to the Bastion and your superiors," Zen explained. The crowd was silent, absorbing the information. "I repeat, arrive at six tomorrow morning. The Professional Guild staff will be waiting for you. This concludes our proceedings today. May God Eldrin bless us all." He then retreated from the center stage.
G6 immediately rose from her chair, signaling Edmund with her eyes to meet her downstairs. She descended from the stage, and Edmund followed before anyone could notice they were gone.
They met at the end of a hallway, far enough from the stage. "Edmund, get that boy," G6 commanded. Edmund did not bother to ask questions and immediately followed her order.
A minute later, Edmund returned with the boy, who looked every bit a beggar.
"My lady!" the boy said cheerfully, recognizing her.
"Shut it. What did you mean earlier by 'thank you AGAIN'?" G6 asked, her tone flat.
"You know what I mean," the boy said.
"I don't," G6 replied.
"Hey, brat, answer the lady properly," Edmund retorted, finally taking off his strange eyeglasses. "These things are making my head spin," he mused.
"It was obviously you who helped me! Look," the boy said, revealing the gold coin G6 had given him.
G6's brows furrowed. He didn't spend it?
"I don't know anything about that," G6 said, maintaining her facade.
"The moment I saw you during the opening speech, I had a feeling it was you. You may look a little different, but I knew it was you," the boy said, warmth in his voice.
"What are you talking about? Are you nuts?" G6 asked.
"The way you move, speak, and your presence… I just knew. And… your preference for black," the boy said, referring to G6's all-black attire.
Was my disguise that poor? Tch.
"Your disguise was perfect! I was a little doubtful until you attacked that man during the battle exam," he added, answering the unspoken thoughts of G6.
"Watch your mouth. I didn't do it for you; I just don't like dirty tricks on my watch," G6 said. "And you're wrong. I am not the woman you're referring to. You must be delusional."
The boy just smiled, understanding why she would not admit it. "I will take it as that, then, my lady! I am grateful you allowed my application," he said.
"What is your name, anyway?" G6 asked, still annoyed.
"Pete! My name is Pete."
"Then leave now, Pete. Pack your things, as I am sure you will be one of those lodging in the Bastion," G6 said, dismissing him.
Pete looked down. "I… I have nothing to pack…" he whispered.
Ah. Right. He's a beggar. What a pain in the neck.
"Edmund, can't he lodge in the Bastion yet?" G6 asked.
"No, Lady Reise. He has not been issued a staff card," Edmund replied.
G6 was silent for a moment. "Then have him stay at the Utility Magic Department for tonight."
"Are you certain?" Edmund asked, looking at Pete.
"Yes. Tell Felicia. Have her attend to this brat and ensure he doesn't do anything foolish," G6 said. Pete simply stood quietly.
"Then, if that is your order, I will follow it," Edmund said, bowing. "In that case, will you return to the West Villa first?"
"Hmm. I suppose I will. Take care of him," G6 said and began to walk away.
"Thank you, Lady Reise!" Pete yelled, not even bothering to question the arrangement made without his consent.
However, the kind gesture was not because she was worried about him. But the danger of her and Edmund's double life getting out to others, as the Queen already blatantly declared to them that she knows what they're up to. In her day full of problems showing up, G6 couldn't afford letting this boy roam free.
The nobles were already at the gate of the Palace Arena, waiting for G6 and Edmund, who had disappeared.
"I wonder where they are," Brenda said.
"Those two. They always move first without telling anyone," Keith remarked.
Prince Dio remained silent, also wondering where G6 had gone this time.
Lilia and Tina stood silently to the side, equally unaware of where the two had gone.
Just then, G6 emerged alone.
"Lady Reise! There you are. Let us return to the palace and use the teleportation tool to go back to the Collegium," Brenda said, smiling.
"That will not be necessary. I will be returning to the villa with Tina and Lilia," G6 said. "Let's go, you two. I'm tired."
"What about Edmund, Lady Reise?" Tina asked.
"I told him to attend to something at the Utility Magic Department. He will return when he is finished," G6 replied.
"Reise, are you taking a carriage?" Prince Dio asked.
"Obviously. Why would I walk? I just said I'm tired," G6 answered, losing her composure again.
Keith struggled to contain his laughter, fearing Dio would finally lose his temper and set him on fire.
"Lady Reise, would it be all right if I joined you?" Brenda asked, trying to tag along.
"You cannot. You still have an hour left in your working hours. Attend to your obligations," Prince Dio said sharply, not allowing anyone the luxury of spending extra time with G6.
"What a pain," Brenda mused.
"Then, please, return to the villa early and rest," Dio said to G6.
She did not answer and simply left with Tina and Lilia.
The others sighed and made their way back into the palace to teleport to the Collegium.
And so the day's tumultuous events drew to a close. As G6 departed in her carriage, the weight of the recruitment, the secret she shared with Edmund, and the Queen's looming knowledge settled upon her shoulders. Behind her, the fractured dynamics of the noble heirs—Dio's simmering frustration, Earl's shame, and Brenda's unwavering fascination—lingered in the arena's shadow. The kingdom had gained new knights, but the most dangerous player had just been cornered in a game she never asked to play. The pieces were now in motion, and the next move would be hers alone.
— To be continued… —