Blue Ear Wine Cellar

A great deal of food for thought... Not to mention why the Armorless Union would listen to a traitor, to say nothing of how electing this girl would have absolutely no impact on his own death sentence. For what reason did he do this?

Before the arrow of his own colleague shot through his chest, did he think to cry out? To whom? Of what? To what end? Would it have been that easy?

......

If I remember correctly, you a Słoma employee, correct?

Y-Yeah... so far in the event, I've been responsible for liaising between the major companies and the Knights Association...

Errand work takes quite the toll.

It's no problem. If I can contribute to the business, that's what I'm here for—

No no no, your work is what they pay your salary for. You needn't use such humble language.

You apparently had your own business before. What made you abandon it?

Ah... I didn't have what it took...

What distinguishes failure and success may be more than ability. Perhaps you have chosen the wrong path to walk, or perhaps you walk as I do now.

P-People like me only...

In Kazimierz, anything is possible.

......

Zofia... feels like an age since I saw you.

Oh, Marcin...

...Have you seen Maria?

Something cropped up. Had her head back home.

I see—

—I smell blood. Hold on. What are these bandages?

Has Maria been hurt? Who was she fighting? What happened?!

I told her not to be rash! Why doesn't this silly girl—

Steady, now. It's some other kid who got hurt.

...What happened?

Someone went for the Ashlock and Flametail Knights out of nowhere... Ashlock got injured, and by a mighty stroke of something, they ended up in here.

This morning, they said they didn't want to cause Nearl any more trouble and left.

...Do things like that just happen?

They're in a hell of a tight spot, but our hands are tied.

Seen the news this morning?

......

What's Maria doing now?

Competing.

Competing in what? Against who?

Unguarded one-on-one, just like with Ingra. Head to head.

Against 'Left-hand' Tytus Topola.

Hold on—who?

Blade Helmet Knightclub commander. Noble knight, big commercial name, been as far as the Final 16. Tytus Topola.

But... But there should be no way Maria gets matched against him at her point level, and his social standing is...

Someone came looking for Maria. It wasn't good.

She's just like Margaret used to be. Obsessed with charging forward, no idea how to deal with the corporates.

You think... she's like Margaret?

Margaret KNEW what she was doing. Maria only got like this after falling for her own wishful thinking about her own ideals.

She's not even clear what's in front of her, and she doesn't know what to do about it. She can't keep pushing upwards like this!

Maria was so much more carefree before this... She doesn't need to be the kind of knight you and I were, does she?

You might be right, but you need to remember she's got her own mind for things. You can't decide it all for her.

She's still real young, and uneasy at that. Maybe her being carefree was all just so she wouldn't worry you.

......

Maria might not come off mature a lot of the time, but what kind of kid without a fighting spirit could overcome the Plastic Knight, come to a draw with Brassrust, hold third place in a melee?

Maybe she ought to lose a match. It'd sober her up.

If you're telling me that's what you really think.

......

...Which arena is it?

Ladiiiiiiies—aaaand gentlemeeeenn! Welcommme, to the Fireblade Arena, and welcome to a very special event today!

An event already drawing the greatest media attention since the start of the preliminaries! Right at this verrry moment, all twelve imprints of the Rose Paper Union are zeroed in on one arena!

And not just that—whoa, put your hands together now for the Fireblade Arena, the third largest in Kazimierz! Because today! Every single seat has been filled!

Are our opponents today just that popular?! Or is this going to be one seriously major show?!

It's my job to tell you the answer is—booooth!

And I gotta say—what a privilege!

In today's special event! Our first competitor, hailing from the Nearl family, the mania for her's off the charts! The marvelous maiden knight who's got all her fans talking—Maria Nearl!

And facing her—! The concealed blade, the height of status, named for the old knight of legend, it's the headliner of the Blade Helmet Knightclub, it's 'Left-hand' Tytus Topola!

Ooooh, man! Might be a first, today—the knights haven't even come in yet, but the prize pool is running insane numbers! Looks like I oughta stop running my mouth already—I bet y'all wanted me to stop, right?

I got you! No time to lose! Would our two knights please enter the arena!

......

First on the battlefield is Maria Nearl! Just like always, pure white armor! Just like always, a delicate stance!

After defeating 'Plastic' Szewczyk, she's been marching victorious! Big or small, no matter the event, Maria Nearl brings her A-game!

Standing here now, she declared way back she had to get a place in the Major! Can she use this match as a stepping stone, and rise to the apex of the Kazimierz knights? We're all waiting to see!

(I never did that...)

And in the other corner—please—

Shut up, motormouthed clown.

Your sort don't deserve to stand in my arena. Get off the stage. Get out.

—No mistake! That's Tytus Topola! I've been saying forever, we oughta give all our contestants microphones and let the audience immerse themselves in the heat of battle!

This event is joint sponsored by Mieszko Group, Rose Paper Union, Słoma Food Company and the Roar Guards!

The entire audience will get product coupons for goods from the aforementioned companies at any time! And once again, I'm gonna personally recommend a must-have for all you watching the game—Blue Ear Beer!

...Nearl.

Ugly sight. Struggling to hold onto your family's knighthood. Like a gloompincer out of water.

With no strength to bear a knight's name, what service will shamelessly lashing out do?

...Your words mean nothing to me.

So they shall. May the last Nearl knight be ruined by my own hand today.

Fear not. I'm a different breed from Ingra's dross... You will know today that not all who bear weapons can be called knights.

I smell gunpowder! Primed and ready to blow—!

I'm done holding you back, so may I have the honor to declare! Let the match—beginnnn!

——

Hmph.

—Wh-What just happened?! It was instant! The instant it started! Maria's sword got sent flying! And one swift follow-up kick—!

This is a HUGE power imbalance, alright—!

Pick up your sword.

(It-It hurts...! How does he...!)

Faster.

......

(The ułan... extended attack range, and agile, and powerful... and leaves no gaps.)

...Again.

Good.

You won't have it your way—!

Frail.

Nnfh—!

Cleaving... the light?

...Is that so hard?

I was thinking I'd rend your sword straight in two, hmph... the Nearl family sword.

You hold shakily to your faith, but you know nothing true of faith. You are naive—weak—feeble-minded—

Unworthy to stand before me.

And again! The Left-hand Knight makes it look easy! He waits for Maria to pick up her weapon, and then deals the next blow!

This is the power of Kazimierz's first-class Knightclub! This is the power of a true Major knight! Pals in the audience here for the first time, don't close your eyes, don't miss a thing!

'Cause this brutal battle'll end in a flash!

Ungh—!