The Joust and the Wager
Your final opponent is Kanne.
The man spoke in a blunt, prickly tone, jerking his chin toward the playboy knight.
At that, the man in question curved his eyes into a thin, charming smile.
So you want me to fight with that mindset and come back, is that it?
Kanne crossed his arms firmly and let out a smirk, then leaned close to Duke Paeroa’s ear as if whispering a secret.
You’ll have to beat Yarmouk first, though.
Kanne said it as if the idea were absurd, but Caironeia boldly thrust his fist toward the sky. Then he finally kicked his horse’s flank and set it moving.
That cheeky little brat.
Kanne muttered in disbelief. Nyx watched his subordinate’s small back as it grew distant. Just don’t get hurt and come back. That was his honest thought.
Ah, this is honestly so boring.
Kanne stood with his hands clasped behind his back, complaining with a dull expression.
It’s no different from fighting in our own backyard. I’ll probably end up facing familiar faces in the next match, and the one after that too.
That just means our young knights are that skilled.
An older knight spoke with a proud look. Someone else soon began mimicking Zylas in a petty voice.
Look at that slick face. I bet he polishes his own mug more carefully than his armor.
The war-hardened knights regarded Zylas, who looked like a single white rose, with crooked glances.
Wearing flashy armor like a clown and waving a blunt lance around doesn’t mean you know anything about war.
Zylas was an unfinished knight raised in peace. He had no experience of war, no borders to protect. Their only duty was to roam the world and receive hospitality under the pretext of guarding the day.
Guarding the world where the moon sets? They might as well say they attend to the Holy Mothers every night.
Behind the snickering subordinates, the lord remained silent.
Someone, noticing his devout presence, elbowed the others in the ribs, signaling them to shut their reckless mouths.
These days, among young knights, grooming is considered a virtue for ladies too, you know? We can’t just criticize it outright… or so I think…
Duke Paeroa was more pious than he appeared, so they had to refrain from insulting the moon and stars in his presence.
Everyone stole glances at him, but the man himself stayed silent inside his expressionless helmet, as if he might or might not be listening.
Watching the situation, Kanne whistled and slipped out of the tent.
Ugly bastards. Jealousy really is ugly. If it bothers them so much, they should’ve devoted themselves to the goddess too.
He thought spending time with men was the biggest waste in the world. So he went looking for someone pleasant to chat with.
Since he didn’t dare approach the VIP seats, the easy targets were, of course, the commoner women. It didn’t take long before he spotted a striking beauty in the stands.
Hello there, pretty blonde.
Kanne stole the gaze that had been fixed on Caironeia. The woman had been staring at him with surprised eyes. More precisely, she seemed curious about the horse he was riding.
First time seeing a Mountain Horse?
Mountain horse?
Yeah, a Mountain Horse. Pretty huge, right? It’s a native breed from Loudhill.
No. Wasn’t it improved or something?
Kanne mumbled uncertain knowledge and leaned against the wooden fence.
The woman Kanne had spoken to was Sera. Lanram, standing beside her, had been eavesdropping and now looked at the horse Caironeia rode once more.
As the man said, the horse was absurdly large and sturdy. It was so massive that the man sitting on it looked relatively slender by comparison. It seemed about one and a half times bigger and taller than an ordinary horse.
Sera replied in the clumsy manner typical of a country girl from the coast.
I thought horses ran across plains.
That’s what makes them special. They can gallop through high mountains without trouble. The sight of a Mountain Horse running down a slope… it reminds me of a huge elk. Do you know what an elk is?
Lanram didn’t know elk, but she knew elephants. She felt the same overwhelming sense she had the first time she saw one.
The Mountain Horse had a very long, abundant mane, and similar hair grew on its calves and the tops of its hooves, as if it were wearing boots. Up close, it even looked a little cute. Lanram was quickly captivated by the magnificent horse.
Have you ever been to Loudhill? Probably not. I’m from there.
The man pointed at himself and grinned slyly. He wanted to draw Sera’s attention, but it was Lanram who watched him more carefully. The stranger wore a gray surcoat. It was the same color and emblem as the Iron Horse Knights competing in the tournament. A large Mountain Horse rearing on its forelegs was embroidered on it.
The stranger glanced toward the arena with a bored look, then steered the conversation back to himself.
My name’s Kanne. Did you watch my match too?
You participated in the tournament? I didn’t know. We only just arrived.
We?
Only then did Kanne’s gaze reach Lanram as well. The man smiled smoothly, as if realizing there was another woman here.
Hello.
I’m Sera. This is Lanram.
Langlang?
The pronunciation was odd, but Lanram didn’t feel it was worth correcting and looked away. Few people ever got her name right on the first try.
He’s incredibly tall.
It was difficult not to notice the tall, handsome man. Somehow, just meeting his eyes made her feel shy and embarrassed, so she deliberately pretended to ignore him.
Kanne seemed even more intrigued by the foreign woman who had turned her head away. He leaned toward Lanram and spoke.
Then you probably haven’t heard that saying either?
Sera thought he was speaking to her and answered.
What saying?
That men from Loudhill are as big and sturdy as Mountain Horses down there too.
Down there?
Your thighs, I mean.
The man said, slapping his thigh encased in armor. When Lanram met his eyes, she was certain “there” didn’t mean his thighs at all.
It was an obvious, crude joke, but the man’s looks were handsome enough to forgive it. The knight gave her a light smile, and Lanram thought the smile didn’t feel unpleasant.
While Kanne flirted with an unspecified number of women, the Guarding Knight and the Iron Horse Knight adjusted their shields and raised their lances. Caironeia inside his armor looked as solemn as his well-mannered warhorse, and the helmet Zylas wore over his handsome face shone so brightly it was almost blindingly blue. Both of them looked impressive. Lanram pondered pointlessly over which one she should cheer for.
Once both were fully prepared on the track, the announcer blew a trumpet. The moment the signal dropped, they spurred their horses forward. They charged at each other at full speed. Breaking the opponent’s lance earned one point; knocking them off their horse meant immediate victory. So all they could think about was piercing their opponent with everything they had. From the eastern and western ends of the arena, the two knights galloped toward each other.
When they finally met in the center, they struck almost simultaneously. Caironeia staggered for a moment, but that was all. Neither fell from their horse, and neither missed their mark.
With a rough tearing sound, the wooden shafts split. Both men broke their lances cleanly and fairly, ending the first round in a tie. A complicated murmur of sighs rose—neither joyful nor disappointed.
Wow.
On the other hand, Kanne let out a short, soulless exclamation.
Which side did you ladies bet on?
We didn’t bet any money. We’re just watching.
Then how about a bet with me? Which side will you pick?
When both women hesitated without answering right away, the man quickly claimed the side he wanted.
Then I’ll bet on our guy. You ladies bet on the Guarding Knight. If I win, how about one of you goes on a date with me?
What? That half-hearted date invitation.
Sera snorted in disbelief.
Or both of you at once? I wouldn’t mind that either.
Kanne made a squeezing motion with both hands and laughed lewdly.
He was quite a frivolous man. Or perhaps he simply said whatever came to mind without caring. The talent for making everyone hear his thoughtless nonsense was thanks to his tall build and handsome face.