The important point is that the parties currently at odds are not Irid and the Duke of the North. The ones fighting are their champions.

It’s a battle of wills among the knights who have drawn their swords for the honor of their lord. What this implies is that my precious trump card—Sentra and Heart—won’t work here.

If I were to say in front of the loyal knights, “I can do whatever I want with your lord’s precious person!” they might think that this wicked sorcerer should be dealt with before he can sow discord in front of their lord.

Of course, if I were to shout through a loudspeaker so that the Duke of the North, far away in his carriage, could hear, “Your Heart is here!” I could potentially change the game.

But what if I were a deity? If some sorcerer were to spout scandalous rumors and their lord came rushing out of the carriage… I might just be inclined to take their head, even if it meant disobeying my lord’s orders.

Thus, a very servant-friendly persuasion method is necessary.

I need to make them realize that stopping the fight now ultimately benefits their lord.

First, I must inflate my presence. No one will pay attention to a sorcerer they’ve never met before. A third party needs to carry enough weight to open the negotiation table.

“……..”

The knight from Irid seemed to have heard of me, so that was okay. She was waiting with her heavy two-handed sword in neutral gear.

“You ask what I am.”

“If you’re inquiring about me, it’s only natural to respond…”

That growling warrior from the Northern Empire is all that needs to be dealt with.

I greeted them with a distinctly noble flair, stringing together various titles. I adorned myself with a nameplate, matching my stature.

“I am an external advisor to the ‘Reformist’ faction of the Goddess Church, the financial officer of the Purple Mage Tower, and here, I present myself as a gentlemanly mediator.”

“Mediation is done with blood and iron, not with a tongue, you fool.”

Next comes the image-making.

A weak or frail appearance in front of the Northern beast is a disadvantage. Even in the face of blatant threats, one must act like a man. There’s a fitting concept for this: the vibe of a war merchant.

I exaggeratedly spread my arms wide.

“How could I be unaware of the long-standing traditions of the North? Worry not… once you see how much blood this soft tongue can spill, you’ll be taken aback.”

“…Huh?”

“Though it’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time! I won’t take too much of your time, my lady. Just two phrases. Then surely, we can reach a good consensus.”

“You really smell unpleasant… go ahead, speak. Let’s see if that soft, squishy thing in your mouth can hold as much blood as my axe.”

Quite literary.

That growling demeanor… it somewhat reminds me of Kim Lulu, a rogue-like attitude. It’s likely a high-probability concept.

She acted like a beast picked up from the snowy mountains, both in appearance and demeanor. Yet, within her, there was undoubtedly a coldness. If she truly lived by instinct, the Northern Empire wouldn’t have kept her by their side.

What does it mean to be the first to resolve an incident when it occurs in a procession? It signifies that she is the most trustworthy among the group.

If she were a light-headed battle maniac like the magical girl Kim Lulu, she would have been pulled to the rear long ago.

…Then perhaps persuasion might be easier. If she clashed without retreating due to her lord’s face, simply opening a way out would likely cause the incident to fizzle out on its own.

I settled on two phrases.

“This city is a sacred land watched over by the Goddess. If you have business at the Hero Selection Tournament, you must also respect the faith of the Goddess Church, which is the foundation of the event, don’t you think?”

“Hmph.”

“Furthermore—’If you have received meat from your brother, you must repay him with wine.’ The Duke’s family owes a debt to the Goddess, so now it’s time to follow the long-standing proverb of the North. Following the words of our ancestors is not a shameful concession.”

“That scratches my temper. What debt does the Duke’s family owe to the Goddess?”

I stuck out my tongue as I spoke.

“Well, it’s a debt regarding the unfortunate incident that befell the Duke’s daughter on her long journey. Thanks to the Goddess’s protection, she was able to save herself from the ambush of bandits.”

“…”

“I’ll see you later. I’ll visit the Duke’s family with the lady before it gets too late, so please prepare to welcome your guests. As for the accompanying drink… warm spirits would be nice.”

“I’ll wait. I won’t back down, even in the light of the Goddess! It’s unbecoming to come as a guest to a festival and cause a ruckus, and heh. It would be more irreverent to not yield while trying to assert dominance!”

We retreat for the sake of the Goddess’s dignity, but those of you who stubbornly refuse to back down until the end are the irreverent ones who show no respect for the Goddess.

The northern warrior cleanly led his group away after a trick. The grand procession of the Northern Duke turned to take a different road, leaving a wide-open road in front of Irid’s procession.

The princess’s attendant, with her purple eyes, watched them retreat for quite some time.

“Thank you for your mediation, wizard.”

She gave me a brief nod.

The slight tilt of her head and the golden hair cascading down gave me a peculiar feeling. Upon closer inspection of her body, I could sense genetic traits similar to Yuna’s.

Perhaps that’s why, even though she was a complete stranger, I felt a little more inclined to open my heart. It seemed natural to start with a certain goodwill towards a friend’s family.

Since she shared the same bloodline as Yuna, I found myself somewhat at ease. Thus, I knew it was better not to speak of the lady’s secrets, yet I couldn’t help but meddle.

“What do you mean? But…”

I hesitated for a moment and voiced my question.

“Are you perhaps using dark magic?”

“…Yes?”

“Then it must be a fable. I’m not skilled in prescriptions, but I understand that there’s nothing good to be gained from it. If possible, you should restrain yourself.”

“………….”

Should I call it a scent? Or should I say another sense?

I could feel that her soul was injured. Just like Bennett had crushed his soul with dark magic to extract mana.

I didn’t originally have such an ability; it was only recently… that is, after accepting the malignancy, I gradually learned to sense it.

Presumably, ‘it’ is an entity that takes pleasure in tormenting humans, so it would possess sensory organs to gauge the scale of suffering. Perhaps that has been inherited by me… that’s what I think.

When that Yurensto’s attendant used her fable ability, I distinctly heard the sound of her soul cracking.

Was she cursed, or was it… like Elaine’s previous fable, attached with a radical self-harm function?

Whatever the cause, one thing is clear: the more she uses the fable, the shorter her lifespan becomes.

The Yurensto attendant, whose secret had been pricked, displayed a look of surprise on her face, just like Yuna when she was caught off guard. Then, she smiled like the remnants of burnt ash.

“It doesn’t matter. Thank you for your concern.”

“………….”

“It seems the prince is looking for you. You should go back…”

With that strange response, she sent me away.

——–

As soon as I got into the carriage, I brought up that topic.

“Prince, about that… attendant. She seems to be dying every time she uses her fable.”

“How did you perceive that at first glance? No, when you’re involved with her, you shouldn’t apply common sense. If you saw it, it would be quicker to talk.”

Did he already know?

Irid opened the door to the story, fiddling with the artifact while ensuring communication security, revealing an unexpected fact.

“Crazy wizard, it seems you seriously want to jump into the Hero Selection Tournament. But that’s not the case for us.”

“…What?”

Then what does it mean that you led this enormous procession and came all the way to the holy city of Trumpet Hall?

Irid quickly clarified my question.

“The reason I came here… of course, there are secondary motives, but fundamentally, it was at my sister’s request. She asked me to bring the knight you witnessed, Cissel Yurensto, to participate in the tournament. And—”

And.

“She requested that I ensure she does not win.”

“Help her win… rather than make her lose?”

“That’s right. Cissel Yurensto intends to become a hero, heal her soul, and return to the Eastern Front. However, my sister’s wish is different. She hopes for her retirement.”

It’s a strange story.

As revealed in the brief clash just moments ago, the knight was a seasoned warrior who had reached the end of her fable, and if she were to show her true strength, she would surely be among the best in the empire.

Her loyalty is unblemished. If she fights for the empire with all her soul, it would be a devotion that literally sacrifices her life.

To wish for such a precious asset to retire?

“The imperial family commands countless people beneath them from the moment of birth until death. I was the same. As that happens… a natural attitude towards accepting one’s own vassals arises.”

Irid tapped the table lightly. An image reminiscent of a spider web made of documents seemed to stretch around him. This is merely a fantasy created by my imagination, but it likely isn’t far from the essence.

He wields control over everything through administrative processes. Although his power is still insufficient and immature, there are some loose spots in the web here and there.

If Irid were to wear a crown, this web would stretch across the entire empire. From his seated position, he would ensnare caterpillars from miles away.

Such is his type.

“I do not employ the untrustworthy as vassals. Those who slip from my grasp, those whose solitary actions stand out, I generally keep at a distance.”

“Do you not use me significantly?”

“You are not my vassal, and to be precise, you are the one using me. You always move freely and talk quite a lot.”

On the other hand.

Irelain is a vanguard drawn as if in a painting. She is a warrior who advances, wielding a large flag, her platinum hair flowing behind her as she sees the path ahead. Thus, the masses follow her.

“My sister leads her vassals with her unique charisma. Whether it be a rampaging wolf or a hyena blinded by power, as long as they stand under her flag, she accepts them all. Yet, there are exceptions even for her.”

“Exceptions?”

“They say they do not use those who have lost themselves. Those devoid of desire, those whose hearts are empty, are deemed unworthy to stand beneath their own path of domination.”

From noble mtl dot come

I could empathize.

Those who do not dream are simply uninteresting.

Thus, the intention was to expel the knight, who fights by carving her soul, from the military.

It was a remark that sounded harsh at first, but the emotion that flickered in Irid’s eyes was far from winter. I, too, do not believe that the Elaine who has changed is such a cold person.

Exiled from the military, and thus.

“…Cicel Yurenst must be hoping to find her own life.”

For that reason, Irid looked at me and made a request.

“Your magic has completely transformed me and my sister.”

“Indeed, it has.”

“We do not wish to see a talented knight waste her life in vain. Give her a chance to change. If you do, I will gladly cooperate with your plans.”

“…….”

Elaine, who wishes for her servant to find her life, and Irid, who has come running here on tiptoe to fulfill his sister’s request. How cute.

The corners of my mouth lift.

In such a situation, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

They are hoping for a session with me. My precious two players have brought a new player along. And they wish to harvest whatever tragedy befalls her… as a game!

If that’s the case, I gladly accept. After all, isn’t she from the same household as Yuna? I can certainly provide ample family service!

“Leave it to me. That’s my specialty.”

“……I can’t possibly trust you with that sinister smile. Control your expression a bit, will you…!”

I will. I will understand her problems and help her find some meaning.

The first tournament. The tournament of “Courage” is approaching. Let’s weave a story using this splendid stage. It’s a good stage.

Let’s write. People gathered to become heroes, each with their own stories. And the tale of a female knight who, while fighting and interacting with them, finds the pieces she has lost.

If I were to give it a temporary title.

“The Adventures of the Female Knight ~ Clash of the Passionate Tournament~.”