Rose Paper Union

Very well, I'll let you keep your right hand for just a little longer... Just a little longer.

(—These aren't tears... It's sticky... Is it blood?)

(...So much blood...)

(My heart's beating way too fast... I...)

Pathetic. The way you swing your weapon is no better than those clowns knocking at the knightly orders' doors. It's laughable.

Aside from your looks, you are nothing like the Radiant Knight.

I... I'm not going to lose!

Good, now I want to tear your face off even more, you naive noble prick!

Ingra! He's chasing her like a storm!

This is the most destructive match the Roar Arena has seen this event—! The Butcher of the Field! 'Brassrust' Ingra!

Just last month, at the season's first event, poor 'Foehn' got absolutely decimated when the 'Brassrust' kept pummeling him until all of his limbs were crushed!

You heard that right! He pummeled with his bare hands! That's definitely not the kind of thing you'd expect a knight carrying a giant axe to do!

All eyes are on Maria Nearl here at the Roar Arena today, but is this also where we see her meet a bloody fate? Let us know what you in the audience think!

Just like that! 'Brassrust' Ingra! Smear the battlefield with your opponent's blood!

Haaahh... haaahhh...

(Everything feels so heavy—)

Maria! Just forfeit!

It's one match! There are other chances to score the points you need—!

Maria—!

Haa... haah...

Hah! Not a bad counter—That really gives me all the more reason to tear you apart!

But it'll be no fun if we end this so quickly. I'll smear your blood all over that irritating face... the Radiant Knight's face!

We both know... you're at your limit too.

Hah! A little blood's not going to stop me!

Maria!

Well... I didn't expect Ingra to join the fray so soon...

The National Council let him go early. Hmph, it's like the whole trial was just a sham.

Looks like the corporation coughed up quite a bit of money for him.

Uh huh... the Rose Paper Union's full of money anyway.

It really pisses me off. They're raking in money manipulating public opinion, and other unscrupulous means. That commentator even dared to talk about it openly in a public event.

That just says they aren't afraid.

Yeah, I mean, what do they have to be afraid of?

Well, they have us to be afraid of. Ingra's a bad loser, and I'll absolutely destroy him.

Come on, didn't we agree to let me fight him?

Before that... If the young Nearl doesn't come up with an idea soon, she won't make it out of this in one piece.

—Her blood is still in her body! Maria Nearl is much more stubborn than any of us could've thought!

What are you waiting for? Doesn't a knight like her just tear at your heartstrings?! Don't forget! Thanks to the generosity of the good-hearted souls at Roar Guards Company, this season's commission fee is just half the normal rate!

—Hold on! Something's happening here!

The two of them are at a standoff, but Maria's laid down her shield! What is happening here?! Is she hoping to take on Ingra's giant axe with that fragile sword of hers?!

There's an enormous difference in both size and power!

I can't emphasize this enough—! Commission's half off! Isn't this act of courage worth a few dozen gold coins?!

Hahh... haahh...

...Not bad, kid... A faint light envelops your blade. Is this your last gasp?

Ha, excellent! I'll rip your arms out, and gag you with your own flesh—

Ahh—!

O-Owww...

...Came around finally?

Auntie...? What... happened...? Oh.

Do you remember now?

...Did I lose?

Yep.

......

But Ingra passed out too. Neither of your scores changed at all.

I-I see. Phew... That's good—

It's not good! You're hurt!

You should've forfeited the match, going up against an opponent like that! It's just a single match! There are so many ways for us to get those points back!

If you just want to get a title and keep your family's nobility, there's no reason to go that far—

I... I never thought about forfeiting, not even once.

Maria!

Do you have any idea how lucky you are to get out of a fight against Ingra in one piece?

If you get hurt again, what good does getting into the Major do to you?!

...He's really strong, but...

He's not like the other knights. He comes from an insanely well-off family, and he's only in the competition to hurt people. He lives for it. That's the kind of man Olmer Ingra is.

Maria, if you get hurt like this again, I won't let you fight anymore.

I—

Listen to me!

F-Fine...

Don't move so much. Get some rest.

That match ended in a draw, but you'll have more and more companies trying to woo you... Marcin and I will turn them down for now. Try to rest up and get better.

Yeah...

Oh... What's that sword?

...That's the sword I used to carry. I dug it out while you were training the other day.

But why are you carrying that sword specifically...?

(Even though Zofia's already...)

No reason at all.

But if something bad happens to you because of him, I'll kill him personally, even if it means I'll have to face the National Council.

Y-You're way overthinking it...

...Can I see it? It kinda looks like it hasn't been used in a while.

No. Get some rest.

I might start to rust if I lie in bed all day...

No dice.

Please, Zofia! Auntie! I won't ask for anything else! I'll be good and rest up!

*Sigh*... You're becoming more and more like your sister...

Take it. Don't you do anything weird with it. I'm quite fond of it.

Eh... This is pretty dusty...

That's the proof that I treasure it!

Where are you two going, carrying all that stuff with you?

We're going to pay Maria a visit.

I will never forgive Ingra for doing that to our girl...

Spare her the noise and give her some peace and quiet. Zofia will take care of Maria.

Well, I can't just sit around and do nothing! Did you see that last swing Ingra took at her? What happens if that comes back to haunt her?

We've got an old knight and an old craftsman here. There's bound to be something we can do to help.

What if you run into Młynar instead? Do you think he won't throw you two out the door?

...That prick wouldn't dare do that to us when his old man was still around, and I know when to run if it comes to it!

...Hmm, the moment the two of them left, I got a new customer. They just might be the albatross around my neck.

Welcome. It's been a while since we've had such a beauty in here. What can I get you?

Hm...

...This one has a pretty name. Let's go with this one, the 'Thorn Tear.'