"We will now begin the Knight's Individual Tournament! Please welcome the most skilled knights of the Imperial Knight Order with your applause!"
The imperial attendees filling the Colosseum stands cheered enthusiastically, elevating the atmosphere.
Knights, servants, and even some nobles from outside the palace had gathered.
Asella sat in the mid-level VIP section with the other princes and princesses.
I positioned myself slightly behind them, like a shadow.
Looking up at the higher tier, I could see the Emperor watching the arena with great interest.
Representative knights from the eight factions had come forward to compete in one-on-one duels in the spacious arena.
For the Emperor, this was pleasant entertainment for his eyes and ears, but for the succession candidates participating, it was a blood-draining battle.
"The first opponent is from the First Prince's faction, Ilseong Palace. He's known as a Sword Expert, a famous young talent."
The head maid explained to me.
With the bell, the match began. Tanya and the opposing knight clashed swords, releasing sword energy.
The audience couldn't take their eyes off the palpable fighting spirit that reached even the stands.
No matter how many knights there were, skilled swordsmen were rare.
There were only two Sword Masters in the entire Empire, so a duel between Experts was truly a rare sight.
"Ohhh...!"
The Emperor's eyes widened at the unexpectedly excellent match.
The swords barely grazed each other's bodies as attacks and defenses occurred simultaneously.
—Clang!
Tanya's sword energy sharply struck and subdued the opposing knight.
The opponent, who had expected to easily overpower Tanya, gradually fell behind and clicked his tongue.
It's about time he used some tricks.
He took something from his chest and threw it to the ground, where it burst.
—Boom!
Artificial black smoke enveloped both fighters.
A smoke bomb.
Items and artifacts that could be used besides swords were all permitted in duels.
This was the Empire's style of combat.
Silhouettes moved busily in the smoke.
The enemy knight intended to circle behind Tanya and strike her back while her vision was obscured.
"Tch...!"
I could hear Asella clicking her tongue. She must have thought Tanya was cornered.
Clang!
The sound of swords clashing violently rang out as the smoke cleared with a whoosh!
"What's the result!"
"How did it end!"
The audience focused intently.
Tanya stood proudly over her defeated opponent, holding her sword to his throat.
"Ohhh! Wolgwang Palace defeats Ilseong Palace!"
"Who is that knight?!"
"How did she react in the darkness?!"
The audience marveled, turning their attention to Tanya.
Even the Emperor showed interest, stroking his bearded chin.
'Smoke bombs are the most basic tactic of the imperial army.'
Of course, we had prepared countermeasures.
I took out a small glass vial containing an orange potion from my chest.
———————————
Vision Enhancement Ampoule [Double Enhanced]
Effect when consumed: Improves night vision. You can see clearly even in darkness!
———————————
This potion was created while making various vitamin supplements.
After extracting vitamin A from two hundred high-quality carrots entering the imperial palace, I ended up with a potion that had only this peculiar effect.
Asella turned to look at me.
"Hmph."
I decided to translate her snort as words of praise.
Tanya easily defeated her semifinal opponent as well, advancing to the finals.
Endurance is also combat power. The individual matches continued without breaks.
"Her opponent in the finals is from Tojin Palace."
"Yes. It's a knight from the Second Prince Georg's faction. Also an Expert."
Even in the Imperial Knight Order, an Expert would typically serve as a commander or the Emperor's direct guard, yet somehow all the participants were Experts.
This showed how seriously the factions were taking this tournament.
"Haha, so Asella's knight is the opponent. How strange. Asella, I didn't know you had a Sword Expert?"
The voice was light in tone. It belonged to a lavishly accessorized man in his mid-twenties with tanned skin.
It was Second Prince Georg.
Asella, without taking her eyes off the arena, snapped back as if swatting away an annoying fly.
"That's none of your business, Georg."
"My, how frightening. Don't be so cold. You should call me 'big brother.'"
Asella merely showed him the same rotten expression she'd reserve for an execution, without bothering to reply.
Wow, that's scary.
I unconsciously gulped.
I wonder if Georg knows how his actions that upset Asella will come back to haunt him.
Instead, he seemed to enjoy her reaction and laughed heartily.
Enjoy it while you can.
The Second Princess, Lauga, slapped Georg's shoulder and scolded him.
"Brother, why are you trying to intimidate Asella?"
"I'm just proud of our Asella. She's working so adorably hard as a member of the imperial family."
"Don't use insulting expressions."
Asella, who had been quiet until now, retorted against Georg.
Being treated like a cute youngest child rather than a succession candidate had touched a nerve.
"Insulting? Asella."
Georg turned serious and leaned his large frame toward Asella.
Despite his frivolous behavior, he was born with the blood of the Emperor. He had the aura of someone born to rule.
"The most important thing for a person is to know their place. To know their limits."
Even Lauga, who was directly above Asella in age, was already twenty.
To them, Asella must look like she was playing house.
"In settings like this, just behave like the youngest. If you don't cause trouble, I'll pat your head and give you piggyback rides."
"Georg."
Asella picked up the golden goblet placed in front of her.
"Flame."
Whoosh!
In an instant, magic circles appeared, and the golden cup was engulfed in flames.
Drip, drip.
The golden ornament with its elaborate patterns melted, losing its shape and flowing onto the floor.
Seeing this, Georg became serious as Asella calmly warned him.
"If you touch my head, you'll end up like this."
"Tsk, how annoying that a magical weapon has such strong pride."
Georg shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
He smiled again, pretending to be relaxed.
"It seems our Asella has prepared diligently. Haha, I can't be careless. That knight seems quite skilled. Right, brother?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, indeed."
A man with a small build answered quietly when Georg called him.
It was Gunther, the First Prince, who had been instantly defeated by Tanya in the first round.
His timid attitude didn't suit the current heir apparent.
"Even so, there are weight classes among Sword Experts. How embarrassing would it be to lose to Asella's knight?"
Georg raised his voice, swaggering.
Since Asella showed little reaction, he changed his target to the First Prince to continue his psychological warfare.
"Haha, our Huke is known to be the next Sword Master. Watch carefully, brother. A child of the Emperor should know how to employ knights of this caliber."
Georg put strength in his shoulders and smiled with a relaxed attitude.
Lauga tapped his shoulder repeatedly.
"Brother, your knight just fell."
"What?!"
Georg jumped up from his seat in surprise.
In the arena, the final match was already ending in a sandstorm.
In the middle of it, Georg's knight lay face down with his backside pointing skyward, while only Tanya stood proudly.
"What, how could this...!"
Georg gaped in disbelief, but what could he do? The result was already decided.
Whether he underestimated Tanya or overestimated his own knight.
"Huke couldn't have lost so easily. What trick did you pull, Asella!"
Asella didn't give Georg the answer he wanted, but instead glanced at him and raised the corner of her mouth.
How irritating.
"Brother, so that's the level of knight you employ? I enjoyed watching."
Lauga giggled, further provoking Georg's anger.
"What kind of accident is this in front of His Majesty! Falkenhain! Was there a problem with the knight's condition!"
Georg's physician, Falkenhain, stepped forward from near me to answer.
"Your Highness, I report that Knight Huke's health was in perfect condition. The epidemic was completely healed by the royal physicians..."
"Then why on earth!"
Georg looked up.
The Emperor seemed pleased with the final match, chuckling deeply as he leaned back in his chair.
The announcer approached Tanya to speak with her.
—Let's hear a few words from our champion. Please introduce yourself.
The voice amplification magic echoed throughout the Colosseum.
Tanya cleared her throat a few times and answered in a deep tone.
—I am Tanya, a knight of Wolgwang Palace.
What's with that speech pattern?
Did Tanya have stage fright?
—You seem to have been a rather inconspicuous knight until now. When did you join the Imperial Knight Order?
—A month ago. I serve as a guard to Dr. Gotberg, Princess Asella's physician.
—So you're the physician's guard knight. Dr. Gotberg would be the newly appointed physician, correct?
—That is correct. I came from the North with Dr. Gotberg.
—The North! So you won with swordsmanship honed in the North?
Tanya shook her head.
—Though my sword struck true, it would have been impossible without the doctor's support. The doctor prepared tactics and medical potions to counter the other knights.
—That would be the doctor who created the masks currently popular in the palace, correct? I know well. Were you originally in service to the doctor?
That was a slightly sensitive question.
Why would the announcer ask such a thing?
He must belong to another faction.
But Tanya, being politically naive, didn't understand the intention and answered calmly.
—It is true that I am loyal to the physician, but it was Princess Asella who selected Dr. Gotberg as her physician. We both received her grace. I came as a representative knight of Wolgwang Palace.
—I see. A big round of applause for our champion, Sword Expert Tanya of Wolgwang Palace!
Cheers and applause echoed off the Colosseum walls.
It was a perfect answer.
"Ho ho, so Asella's knight has won," the Emperor laughed with delight.
As if his children's competition made for good entertainment.
"Grrr...!"
Georg slammed the armrest of his chair and gritted his teeth.
"Luck happens only once. The final victory is determined by the overall score, so second place is fine for now. There won't be such misfortune in the next match."
Georg glanced at Asella.
Ignoring his gaze, Asella turned to me.
"Dr. Gotberg."
Why suddenly?
The gazes of the other princes and princesses turned to me when they heard my name.
"Gotberg, hello!"
Lauga greeted me casually, and I responded with proper etiquette.
"So that's him, Dr. Gotberg."
Georg twitched his eyebrows as he looked at me.
I stepped out from among the servants and stood before Asella.
"For what reason have you called me, Your Highness?"
"Tell me what the next match is."
Asella would know the tournament schedule better than anyone.
Perhaps she wanted to show me off in front of the other succession candidates.
"Next will be the knights' group mock battle."
Asella seemed pleased, raising the corner of her mouth just enough for me to see.