Chapter 46 - Descent

I almost got a little annoyed by Alicia's behavior when she came to me without saying anything in the middle of my busy schedule.

[Why?]

"No, it's not. Hehe..."

As the owl smiled and nodded cutely as if it were a person, I burst into a meaningless laugh.

I thought we had become close, so I gently stroked its head, and it was so adorable how it enjoyed my touch as if it were a dog or a cat.

[What! I knew you could laugh like that. Hehe... I didn't know you'd be weak to a cute kid. You unexpectedly have a kind side, didn't you?]

When I saw her disheveled appearance for a moment, Alicia stared at me with narrowed eyes and a sinister smile as if she had found a good excuse.

At that sight, I quickly straightened my expression and straightened my posture. It was because I felt a little embarrassed to show my sloppy appearance in front of her.

"Well. Let's just say that. But why did you come here all of a sudden?"

[It's because of the main event! Aren't you excited? This is the first time we've seen each other face to face at an official event!]

"So you mean, are you coming to watch the main event?"

When I asked again, wondering if I had misheard, the snow-white eagle owl nodded confidently, crossing its arms with its wings folded.

[Of course. I can't miss my one and only master in action.]

Now that I think about it, Alicia was right.

The last time she visited the Black Lion Knights was an exceptional situation, so we hadn't met in front of so many people yet.

"Hmm..."

I've already had physical relations with Alicia several times. It was clear that she was mine.

Since I took the virginity of the imperial princess, I always thought that I should let everyone know about our relationship someday.

However, the main event of the Knights' Competition is not a social gathering, but a kind of national event.

[Why? Why are you reacting so subtly? Aren't you happy that this lovely me is coming to cheer you on in person!?]

Even if I were to meet Alicia up close, I would never reveal our relationship openly.

But I can't pretend not to know. What on earth should I do about this? Should I pretend to know a little?

Furthermore, considering her perverted sexual preferences, of course I believe that she would never do something so thoughtless...

"No. Of course I'm happy. The princess's support must be a great help."

[Yes! That's the right reaction to show! The imperial princess is actually cheering for your victory. [Please consider it an honor]

"Haha. Then, I'll look forward to meeting you in a few days."

I couldn't help but worry that I might cause an unmanageable accident in front of so many people.

As expected. Just as I was about to have that thought, the eagle owl twisted its body and poked its wingtips.

[Of course, I'll be your bitch when we're alone. Hehe...! Last time, my master poured a lot of seeds into my baby's bag... and I got spanked while being roughly beaten...]

Look. I thought the conversation was ending normally, but here you are, talking dirty as if nothing happened.

My head was already starting to hurt. Please, please don't cause an accident.

"I'll do those things to you later when we're alone, so you can go back now. I'm working right now."

[Uh-huh... I understand. Oh! [I forgot to say something important]

While saying that I understood, I was wondering if I should get angry at the playful, strange smile on my face.

"Important story?"

Suddenly, as if something had occurred to him, he stood still for a long time.

[This finals will probably be very different from the preliminaries. See you later!]

—Flap flap!

Then, the owl left behind a meaningful word and flapped its wings vigorously outside the window.

"Different from the preliminaries. What, does that mean the scale will be a bit bigger?"

I muttered casually as I cleaned up the pure white feathers fluttering around my office.

I heard that the finals will be held in a large circular arena that can easily accommodate tens of thousands of spectators.

So of course, it will feel different from the preliminaries. I was already considering various variables when I heard that the main event would be held in a limited space.

After roughly organizing the information I got from the conversation with Alicia in my head.

[Sharing the results of tracking the Eclipse remnants]

When I opened the official document with the seal of the Heavenly Church to finish up the work, the inside was filled with obvious contents.

The boring reports continued on how persistently and cruelly the Inquisitors had tracked down their remnants.

And how many priests had been mobilized to purify the land contaminated with evil energy.

"Hmm?"

Then, unexpected content caught my eye.

[Sir Wolfgang, the devil's horn that you took as spoils of war while resolving the Persen County incident. The investigation results showed that a few more additional procedures were required, so I have handed it over to the Vatican for now.]

An unknown demon that used space travel.

The guy who looked like a high-ranking official at first glance seemed to be a big shot.

More importantly, the Vatican. If the matter had gotten that far, I thought I should keep in mind the possibility that someone from the Celestial Church would come looking for me at any time.

"I didn't even realize how much time had passed during the mission. The follow-up process really took forever."

I closed the official document with a bitter smile.

Since that day.

While I was busy with my schedule and workload that had not decreased at all, I had to worry about preparing for the main event separately, so time flew by without me realizing it.

When I came to my senses, the opening ceremony date for the main event was just around the corner.

.........….

The place where I was standing now was the largest circular arena in the vast empire.

It was called the Arena of Prominence.

A few days ago, I finally understood why Alicia had come to me separately and emphasized the main event in advance.

The scale of this place was far from being simply vast.

Aside from the fact that it felt wide open because of the open ceiling, it was hard to see the end of the closed space.

—Wow!

—Gyaaaaaaah!

And what about the number of spectators who had gathered?

It was truly a huge crowd, as if all the residents of the island had gathered here to watch the opening ceremony.

They said the maximum capacity was close to 100,000, and it really seemed like the stands were filled.

"Chief. There are so many people that they look like grains of sand. This is my first time in a place like this."

"That's the same for me."

The vice-captain's eyes widened and she turned her head here and there.

Recently, she had been much more blunt than usual, but today, she didn't hide her emotions and showed them.

That was understandable. The scale was so much bigger than I expected that even I was surprised.

"We've come all this way. Oh my... I think I'll die without any regrets." "I'm already dying! Even if I die, I'll make it to the finals and then die!"

"No, Sir Karl. Why can't I even joke around?"

The subordinates also showed their own reactions.

"Am I dreaming right now..."

"We have to fight another knight order in front of all these people? Is this all a joke?"

Even the commanders' reactions were like this, the sight of the ten captains and the knights lined up at the back waiting to enter was even more impressive.

Aside from that, the time for the Black Lion Knights to stand in front of the audience was also approaching.

The 16 knight orders that had advanced to the main event after fierce preliminary rounds held by region.

Our order of entry was coincidentally the last.

"Next up, the Unity Knights! Ahh, that majestic sight! Everyone, please give them a round of applause!"

—Waaaaaaah!!!

—Knight Commander Kairos! Gyaaaaah! What should I do!! Look here!

The Unity Knights are the second to last to enter.

They marched towards the stadium with a calm demeanor as if nothing had happened.

I heard they were one of the strong candidates for the championship. They must be used to advancing to the main tournament.

"Black Lion Knights, all prepare to enter!"

"Prepare to enter!"

As the Unity Knights entered and headed to their designated locations, it was finally our turn.

Since they were the last to enter, the host, who was already being overbearingly loud, shouted in an especially loud voice.

"Now, the last warriors we've been waiting for have appeared! The Black Lion Knights, proud of their history and tradition! What kind of power will they show after advancing to the main tournament after 20 years!"

—Wow!!!

—Long live the reverse!

—The army of hell is truly unparalleled! The demons of the preliminary round!

For some reason, it seemed as if a cheer containing some strange content was being heard, but the knights who had finally advanced to the main tournament all entered the stadium.

According to what I had heard in advance, the next order was the speech of His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief.

Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've seen his face.

By the way, the opening ceremony was like this. I was really looking forward to how much my heart would beat when the real match began.

A strange thing happened.

—Tingle!

My sixth sense, which had been in a deep sleep for a while, suddenly started sending me warning signals without rest.

"This… is it?!"

"Commander?"

The gaze of the heavens above.

The presence of a transcendent being that seemed impossible to resist no matter what I did.

"Commander? Why are you suddenly doing this?"

"…Kneel down right now."

—Kwoong!

I didn't have time to respond. I quickly knelt down on the stage.

Why would someone who should have shown up in the finals show up now?

—Gyah! I'm surprised… Why on earth is the Commander of the Black Lion Knights doing this?

—What? What's going on?

After a few seconds, the other knight commanders who had belatedly realized the situation also began to kneel one by one.

Soon, as the silhouette of a single person slowly appeared, the thousands of troops all bowed to the ground in unison.

An oath of loyalty that shook the heavens and the earth.

Eternal glory to the Imperial Family! Eternal loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor!

The sun of the Empire, His Majesty the Emperor.

He has now arrived here.

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