Chapter 11
Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Hollow Victory
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Today, the imperial capital Glory-Road was buzzing with several times more energy than usual.
The streets fluttered with red eagles wearing golden crowns symbolizing the empire, and the delicious aromas wafting from merchants selling street food filled the air everywhere.
"Mom, I want some chicken skewers!"
"Kids, let's go slowly."
"Should we watch while drinking beer today?"
"It'll be over quick, though, right?"
"There's a celebration performance after the knight orders battle, too. Plenty to see."
From children to adults, everyone out on the streets was enjoying the festive atmosphere as if a festival were underway.
Children clutched toy swords and shields in their hands.
Some kids even wore costumes that looked like knight armor.
There was one reason so many people had come out today.
Today was the day of the knight mock battles, one of the festivals held in the capital.
Originally just a light event to show the citizens a matchup between ordinary knights, it had become one of the empire's premier events ever since crowds flocked to witness the prowess of the current 1st Knight Order Captain, Iron-Blood Knight Yuris.
The knight who never knew defeat.
She symbolized the empire's victories and was the unbreakable shield allowing the empire's citizens to live their daily lives in peace.
Naturally, she was their idol, one of the most popular figures in the entire empire, countable on one hand.
To catch a glimpse of her, the central training grounds were packed with people today as well.
"Quite the crowd again today."
Jeko remarked, eyeing the citizens filling the expansive spectator stands near the training grounds.
"The 2nd Knight Order bastards better get thoroughly crushed today, right?"
Jeko asked with a chuckle.
"Don't get complacent. A mock battle is still combat. Treat training like the real thing."
"Of course, Captain. Everyone's on high alert, just as you ordered."
She listened to Jeko while doing a final check on her gear.
"But Captain, is that guy you're interested in coming today?"
"W-What are you talking about? That..."
"You mentioned it before. That you had a man you were interested in."
"I never said that!"
Caught off guard by the sudden ambush question, Yuris flustered.
Interested in a man?
She didn't have any such thing, so why did he keep bringing it up?
"Wasn't it? Your expression was just like a noble lady in love."
"Jeko, you're not even from nobility. How do you know about that stuff?"
"Keheh! Back before my hair started thinning, I was popular with the ladies. Made quite a few noble ladies cry."
"...And you're saying that even after I saw you with your hair grown out?"
"Come on, Captain."
Regaining her composure, she let out a sigh.
"No such person exists. And if there was, I'd tell him not to come."
For a fleeting moment, the bandit and illusion mage's faces crossed her mind, but Yuris shook her head.
They weren't men she was interested in.
One was an illusion projecting her desires. The other was just the shop owner providing the service.
They shared no real connection.
"You really don't have anyone?"
"Why do you keep asking? Like you've got a bet riding on it or something."
"......"
"You actually do?"
When Yuris narrowed her eyes and asked, Jeko waved his hands and shook his head.
"N-No way. Why would we bet on that?"
"How much?"
"......I put 5 gold on yes."
"5 gold? That's enough for a decent sword!"
"That's how confident I am! You definitely have someone, Captain. That look on your face couldn't come from nothing."
Yuris sighed.
"That 5 gold is about to go to waste."
"Urk!"
As they chatted, the time for the knight orders' battles arrived.
Today's mock battles were divided into two parts.
The squad battle between members.
And the one-on-one between captains.
The squad battle was a demonstration of how much the order could achieve without their captain present.
It also served to prove the vice-captain's capabilities.
Because if the captain earned a title and left the order or fell in battle, the vice-captain would take their place.
Yuris was confident the 1st Knight Order would win.
Jeko was the most capable knight there was, and his subordinates were the empire's finest.
The 1st Knight Order wasn't the strongest just because of her strength.
It was the empire's strongest because everyone fighting under her was exceptional.
From the highest seat in the training grounds, the Empress was addressing the imperial citizens.
Her voice, like the empire's loftiest flower, melted the hearts of her subjects.
-To protect the empire's glory, may the noble battles of these knights who never cease their training today serve as an example to all. I shall watch this fight alongside you. To the victors, I shall personally bestow laurel crowns.
Her red hair, far more beautifully radiant than the empire's symbolic red eagle, was braided atop her head where a golden crown gleamed like an emblem.
Her golden eyes overlooked the entire empire, and the citizens who met her gaze smiled in ecstatic joy, as if receiving a great favor.
That was charisma.
Watching the Empress, Yuris recalled the moment she pledged her loyalty to the empire.
She too had been captivated by that beautiful smile, vowing to dedicate herself to protecting the Empress.
What a remarkable woman.
The Empress who married the empire itself, devoting herself solely to it without wedding any man.
But...
'I don't feel the same thrill as when I first saw her.'
Why was that?
As Yuris pondered, a certain man floated into her mind.
-You're my wife.
-You're not even the real Yuris, are you?
-Spread 'em.
The man who had dominated her without mercy.
That bandit.
And the mage who carried the same scent.
Once the images of the bandit and mage surfaced, she couldn't focus on the speech at all.
Oh no.
On such an important day, suddenly going into heat...
Her heart pounded.
If everyone here knew what she was imagining right now, how would they look at her?
They'd despise her, obviously.
They'd trusted her, never imagining she was this kind of person—they'd condemn her.
Just imagining it made sweat pour from her palms.
Was it because she hadn't visited that shop due to mock battle practice and training?
Her breathing grew far rougher than usual, her heart racing faster.
Just thinking about it made her down there...
'It's wet.'
This had never happened before.
Having such lewd thoughts right before a mock battle.
If the Goddess knew, she'd surely punish her for obscenity.
'Focus, Yuris. Today is important.'
Clenching her thighs and squirming, she bit her lower lip hard to steel her resolve.
But once the wave of imagination crashed, it didn't stop—it only grew.
Her knights looking down at her kneeling before the bandit in contempt.
The imperial subjects' massive disappointment matching their expectations.
And the Empress gazing at her like trash.
-Yuris Beletaon. I am disappointed in you. How could the empire's representative knight...
No.
At this rate, just from imagination...
But the fantasy couldn't continue.
"Captain, I'm heading out."
The speech had ended, and Jeko, stepping out for battle, called to her.
Snapped back to reality, Yuris patted Jeko's back.
"Fight well and return."
Pretending calm, she saw him off.
"I'll bring victory back to you, Captain!"
Even now, it felt like the bandit's voice echoed in her head.
It was then.
"We're winning this time, you know?"
As Yuris indulged in fantasies of being utterly ravaged by the bandit, a man approached.
It was 2nd Knight Order Captain Veron.
The handsome silver-haired man tied back, his blue eyes sparkling as he smirked crookedly.
"L-Long time no see, Veron."
"Still got that cheeky tone, huh?"
"Pot calling the kettle black."
"Tch! Anyway, looks like you trained hard today? Your face is all red."
"R-Ran a few mental simulations."
"And the results?"
What simulation? Until moments ago, her mind had been replaying perverse fantasies nonstop.
"I won them all."
In the end, Yuris had to lie.
A strange guilt from the lie pricked at her chest.
Veron, in sleek armor, stood beside her, eyeing the approaching 2nd Knight Order.
"We're winning today."
"Pretty confident voice there."
"Of course. Solid grounds for it."
"Grounds?"
Veron glanced at the spectator stands and continued.
"My little sister's here today. Can't show my sis an embarrassing big bro act, right?"
"Little sister?"
"You've seen her. The empire's top spirit mage."
"Oh, that arrogant noble lady? Yeah, saw her before. Beautiful, unlike you."
"Arrogant, huh."
"Used informal speech on first meeting and bragged about beating you—uncannily like you."
Yuris knew Veron's sister.
Helen, the renowned spirit mage acknowledged by elves for her spirit affinity.
Veron called her the empire's best, but as far as Yuris knew, she was the strongest human spirit mage, capable of summoning the mightiest spirits.
She'd only met her once a few months ago, but the impression stuck firmly.
-You're the knight who always beats my brother?
That venomous expression, treating Yuris like a stranger.
The way she'd ground her teeth in frustration at her brother being beaten—so fierce.
-Don't get cocky just because you beat my brother. I'll beat you soon enough.
-I'm joining the empire's ranks soon too. Let's duel then. Wonder if you'll still be the Goddess of Victory.
Personality just like Veron's.
"That so? Kehahat! That's my little sis."
Hearing it from her, Veron chuckled.
"Ah, I absolutely can't lose now. Gotta win for sure."
"Looking forward to it."
Ending the brief talk, Veron left to run final simulations.
Talking victory with Veron pushed the bandit-domination fantasies from her mind.
Good.
She'd regained her composure.
She stood quietly, watching the squad battle unfold.
The squad battle ended in the 1st Knight Order's victory.
As expected, Jeko's performance stood out.
He was talented enough to captain another order, so it was only natural.
'Excellent.'
And the remaining individual battle.
"Let's have a good fight."
"Glory of victory to the empire."
Fully armored, she faced Veron.
Kwaaaang!
The clash of two swordmasters.
"Winner! Yuris Beletaon!"
Naturally went to Yuris.
"Damn, showed my sis an ugly sight..."
I won again.
She should be happy.
Grateful for victory in the empire's glory.
Pleased to uphold the title of Goddess of Victory.
'Not happy.'
It felt off.
Even having seized victory, the joy of before was absent.
No delight in glory or triumph.
"Congratulations. As expected, you are the empire's symbol of victory."
Even as the Empress pinned a medal to her chest with her beautiful hand.
'Empty.'
Yuris couldn't shake the hollow sensation.
She should be thankful for the Empress's blessing.
This should have been her joy.
Waaaaah!
The citizens' cheers should fill her with satisfaction.
Why.
Why on earth.
-You're just a pussy slut who wants to get fucked by cock, aren't you?
Why did the bandit's voice echoing in her head make her happier?
Why did imagining their contempt excite her?
Was it because of these nagging questions?
Yuris failed to notice the gaze glaring at her from the spectator stands until the end.
Amid the festival where the entire knight order reveled in victory.
'Not enough. This... isn't it.'
Only Yuris couldn't enjoy the win.
And as if possessed by something.
"I have to go."
She slipped away from the ongoing festival at the training grounds.