Chapter 327
(Kyle Calendar Year 514: Age 21)
The 1st Royal Capital Tournament ⑤: Team Matches
Qualifiers
Translator : PolterGlast
The morning
individual match preliminaries ended with a satisfactory result for the time
being, but for me, the real performance is the team matches. After all, the
most formidable enemy, Marquis Gorman's team, is staking everything on
the team matches.
He must have
definitely narrowed his target down to me and solidified his players.
「Even
so, Father-in-law is pleasingly easy to understand. To completely cut off the
individual matches like that is terrifying in a sense.」
「It's
probably my father's personality. This time too, he told me, 『You
are already Lord Takuhir's wife. Pay no mind to the affairs of our
territory, and support the Archduke with all your might,』 and
didn't tell me anything.」
「Hahaha...
so you couldn't gather any information?」
「That
is that, and this is this. He didn't tell me the answer, but looking at his
face when I asked the question... he cannot deceive his daughter's eyes.」
「...」
Looking at Yuka
laughing lightly, I couldn't say anything.
Yes, I will be
careful from now on too. So that I won't be told, 『You
cannot deceive your wife's eyes.』
「The
one who cannot be underestimated the most this time is Father-in-law. He has
probably heard a general overview of our efforts and player candidates through Arrogantz
as well...」
Yes, it's only
natural for a unit commander class of the Demon Territory Knights to
know that we are appointing excellent shooters even from those hailing from the
Istoria Imperial Kingdom and Empire soldiers.
「I
don't think that's the case. It seems my father also probed around that area,
but apparently Sir Arrogantz didn't speak about anything at all. Because
conversely, my father was happily praising him, saying, 『His
loyalty and sincerity toward the Archduke is splendid.』...」
「I see,
then Father-in-law too...」
「Yes,
I'm sure he will be surprised!」
Yuka also
answered me with a full smile.
Yes, the team match
participating players will enter shortly. The players participating for me were
clad in jet-black robes edged in crimson and white, wearing the hoods deep to
hide their faces.
Amidst a group clad
in leather or light armor prioritizing ease of movement, it was rather a
bizarre sight.
「Tch,
he's scheming something again...」
I heard such a
mutter from my brother, but I pretended not to hear it.
And then... When the
introduction of the participating players began, each player turned to face the
VIP seats and bowed deeply to both Majesties.
「...Next,
we will introduce the representative players of the Archduke's Direct Territory
from the Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom. Baronet Soldia von
Carleen...」
「「「「Ooooh!」」」」
A stir arose not
only in the VIP seats but among all the audience. Toward Carleen, who
simultaneously with her name being called, cast off her robe and bowed deeply
to the VIP seats.
Because her outfit
consisted of pure white and crimson upper and lower garments, clothing that
does not exist in this world, and she was clad in something looking exactly
like miko (shrine maiden) clothes. As if like... or rather exactly as it is, I intentionally made it that way.
Since Lilia,
who was introduced next, was wearing the same outfit, the audience got even
more excited.
Beautiful girls,
beautiful women, and miko clothes... for some reason they fit perfectly, but of
course! This is not my special fetish.
Previously, I
requested the clothing workshop in Gaia to make them out of a slight
mischievous spirit, and their evaluation was surprisingly good. Starting with
my wives, the girls wore them enthusiastically. Even Anne, who usually
only wears maid clothes...
And then, since
we're at it, let's participate wearing them at the Royal Capital tournament!
Before I knew it, that had become the flow of things.
I repeat... I
neither guided nor forced them. Certainly, I feel like I might have said
something about wanting to astound the Royal Capital audience with our clothing
too, but...
I want to believe...
it's not them reading the room for my sake.
Incidentally,
starting today, these miko clothes will also be on sale with high acclaim at
the antenna shop in Kylar.
In preparation for
this day, I had the sewing lines in Gaia operating at full capacity to
prepare a massive amount.
And the
announcements continue. Next, Aura, who served as the general in the
team match of the previous tournament, was introduced, and then Altena,
the winner of the individual match in the previous tournament...
「O...
ooh?」
「No
way... that can't be, right?」
「No...
but...」
Although there were
cheers as usual, voices of doubt began to rise from some people.
「Fufufu,
almost time.」
I unintentionally
let out words with a villainous face. And then...
「Whaaaaat!」 「My word!」 「Such a
thing!」 「So that's how
it is....」 「You've done it now!」 「You
certainly pulled one over us!」
Separate from the
audience getting wildly excited over the women in miko clothes lined up in the
venue, speechless words leaked from the VIP seats.
Because the final
player, Diana, another one of the three recommended by Christoph,
was introduced, and all 5 bowed to the VIP seats together.
The Knight Commander
and the legion commanders of the Royal Capital Knights in particular turned
pale and trembled. Their read was completely off the mark, and they must have
felt an unfathomable dread.
The reason and
purpose for my participation in this tournament lay here. To win the individual
and team matches of the tournament, and show off the active roles of female
players throughout the Kingdom.
The purpose of that
is to excavate human resources buried around the Royal Capital. Starting with
the Teigoon area, and as the entire Demon Territory Dukedom as
well, the gender ratio is heavily skewed towards men. That is not the only
reason, but conversely, there are many places for women to play an active role.
Through this
tournament, I intend to make it known throughout the Kingdom that there
are places for women to play an active role in the Demon Territory Dukedom, and recruit
ambitious women, literally uprooting them.
I'll probably be
resented by the men of Kylar, but... I was unpopular with the male
students at the academy too, and I'm already used to such things.
Even in this world,
the percentage of women taking on key positions and playing an active role is
extremely low. Except in the Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom...
It is nonsense in
the first place not to utilize the power of women, who make up half the
population, and in my territory, we constantly adopt opinions from various
quarters regarding policies to support working women, and immediately put them
into action.
This time, the
establishment of a guide for recruiting immigrants at the antenna shop, and a
separate consultation counter exclusively for female immigrants, is also a
measure for this.
Putting that
aside...
「Archduke,
you certainly entertain us quite blatantly.」
「Yes,
during my enrollment at the academy in the Royal Capital, I even earned the
nickname 'Harem Baron', after all.」
Saying this with a
wry smile, this is also a well-known fact. At the academy, Mary and Sasha
were always by my side, and female companions stood out in the Mage training
course as well. From the following year, there was additionally Yuka and
her school friends...
『Harem
Baron』, 『Amorous Baron』, 『Ero Baron』...
and so on. I received many such nicknames. It's an entirely unappreciated
story, but...
I had no choice but
to accept such backbiting with aloofness.
「So,
how about their skill? Gouras and the others seem to be panicking that
the story is different.」
「I
intend to have brought our country's highly skilled individuals as well.」
In fact, the team
match participants are all top-class, far stronger than Gail, Gord,
and the others.
「I
see... network of people... so that's what it is. Does it mean former enemies
are now powerful allies? I'm looking forward to the matches.」
「As you
say. Then, please excuse me to head to the venue.」
Saying so, I went
down to the match venue where they were waiting.
※
Upon descending to
the venue, the scenery I saw changed completely. Before the cheers of the
massive crowd and the spectators easily exceeding ten thousand, I felt an
indescribable, tremendous pressure.
「Amazing...
it's as if the surrounding walls are closing in on us. Everyone, you don't need
to get worked up thinking you have to win. You've got a souvenir story of
participating in a match before the King. The rest is just enjoying it.」
「「「「「Yes, sir!」」」」」
「Fortunately,
the most formidable enemy (Gorman's team) is in a different group in
today's preliminaries. Three matches today; I'll entrust the vanguard to Carleen,
Lilia, and Altena. Go all out!」
「「「Yes, sir!」」」
To the 3 who
answered vigorously and the other 2 as well, I handed the tasuki (sashes for holding up sleeves) made by each of my wives.
As expected,
Japanese-style clothing needs a tasuki...
When you put it on, it somehow gives a dignified feeling.
For Carleen, it was Anne, who has been together
with her since Est. For Lilia, it was Claire, her close best friend both publicly and
privately. For Altena, it
was Miseri,
who first called out to her during
talent excavation. For Aura, it was Yoltia, who counseled her after she immigrated. For
Diana, it was Yuka,
who looked after her as a fellow Wind Mage.
The wives who had
connections to each respective player made them for them.
◯
Preliminary Group 1
·
Westlights Demon Territory Dukedom - Archduke's
Direct Territory
·
Frontier Duke Model
·
Count Cornell
·
Royal Capital Knights
◯
Preliminary Group 2
·
Frontier Duke Hastburg
·
Frontier Duke Hamish
·
Marquis Gorman
·
Marquis Solis
Since our opponent
in the first match was Frontier Duke Model, I sent out Lilia. And
she showed us a flawless victory, taking out all five opponents by herself!
Looking next door... Milia was it?
Marquis Gorman's female player had won a flawless victory, taking out
all five opponents against the team my brother prepared.
The second match was
against Count Cornell, but this time Altena splendidly pulled off
a flawless victory, taking out all five opponents. On the other hand, Marquis Gorman's
side also had a player who won the past supreme tournament advancing by taking out all five opponents.
The third match...
although we hadn't directly confronted each other at this point, it was already
clear that this was a showdown between me and Marquis Gorman.
Carleen, who
had improved her skills even further than before, flawlessly swept 5 fierce individuals
selected from the Royal Capital Knights, and on Marquis Gorman's side, Arrogantz
suppressed 5 players from my father Marquis Solis's territory.
Even in the eyes of
the spectators at the venue, they sent massive cheers to the rapid advance of
both sides yielding to neither, and the players supporting it.
「Am
I... are we... still facing such a high wall...」
Muttering so, Knight
Commander Gouras was collapsing with teary eyes. In the spectator seats,
Legion Commander Hoffman and Legion Commander Schultz were also
hanging their heads.
「Tch,
for me to have all the good parts taken by my younger brother... my position as
an older brother is...」
My brother said so
while looking down. But... it wasn't me who beat you, Brother, right? It was
Marquis Gorman, you know.
「Why?
What is the difference between me and Gorman? Please... someone tell me.」
Father, the answer
is simple.
Because
Father-in-law has the accumulation of continually walking alongside the
territory residents since the beginning, earnestly, with himself and his
daughter (Yuka) involved.
When a rebellion
occurred within the country, there is also the anecdote of the lord's daughter
taking a crossbow in hand herself to protect the territory residents, leading
them and fighting on the front lines, and this has become a legendary tale in
the Gorman territory.
The thoughts the
territory residents put into the crossbow are completely different from those
in Father's territory.
Well, I wonder if
that's the only thing? Is it also partly because I snatched away all those with
talent in archery in the Solis territory...? Maybe a little? Well, I
haven't laid a hand on the new domains at all, so that part isn't my fault, you
know.
「Hahaha,
Duke Model, to lose this clearly is rather refreshing.」
「Exactly
as Duke Hamish says. Our master (Lord Takuhir) is still at an
unreachable height. That is what it means.」
「We
were working with Lord Gorman as our goal, but we still have a long way
to go. I felt the need to dispatch an inspection unit and work thoroughly to
see if there is anything to improve.」
Duke Hamish,
Duke Model, and Count Cornell's camps seemed rather to accept the
situation refreshingly after being overwhelmed to this extent.
「Fufufu,
as expected, the man I set my eyes on is different. Or should I praise Lord Gorman
here?」
「Hohoho,
Your Majesty, that can wait until after seeing the results of tomorrow's
finals. Truly, this is a fine thing.」
「How
about it? Shall we adopt the crossbow in our country as well, and aim to turn
the territory residents into a military force?」
「Your
Majesty, that would be excellent. Fortunately, I hear that Salaam has
already begun working on it as a whole city under the Archduke's guidance.」
「Is
that so! Then let's promptly drop by Salaam on the return journey, and
exchange cups with my drinking buddies while consulting them!」
No... those drinking
buddies are Zahark
and the others, right? The sight of them drinking alcohol while trembling with
pale faces floated into my mind again.
Thus, those who advanced their pieces according to their speculations, and those who burned out with their speculations missing the mark; the contrasting team match preliminaries closed their curtains.
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