"Let's have a match. In this upcoming martial arts tournament, properly."
At the protagonist's request, whose mindset could only be penetrated by the sword, we who were hiding and watching were perplexed but...
"...Haha."
It was then that Hecate finally laughed.
"Right. This is why I liked you."
The two knights, who had been the top and the second in their school days, exchanged glances for a moment.
"The gaze that fixes upon the predetermined spot without retreating... It was because of that look."
Ah, did it resonate?
Was it a line that worked well among knights? We all looked at Evangeline at once. Evangeline was covering her face with both hands, trembling violently.
"Damn. I almost fell for it too. Does Lucas have a way with words?"
"..."
The thought processes of the vanguard knights are hard to understand...
Anyway, Hecate and Lucas continued their conversation.
"Even if the world changes and everything falls apart... that aspect of you remains the same. Thank you, Lucas. I'm a bit relieved."
Lucas smiled silently, and Hecate nodded her head.
"Tomorrow, we'll have a match after a long time. I won't go easy on you."
"A revenge match on graduation day. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this day, Hecate. Let's see how much we've both grown and compete with all our might."
After that, the two knights walked along the street stalls with much lighter steps.
It was an emotion hard to understand, but anyway, if things turned out well, then it's okay...
Click-.
That was when.
Suddenly, someone blocked the way in front of the two knights. Everyone looked in that direction, startled.
Dressed in crimson armor without any gaps, and long black hair braided around her neck.
The Dragon Lady. Dusk Bringar.
"Hmph..."
She snorted and then glared at the two knights in turn.
"All this talk of matches and duels, such weak words."
Lucas stepped back in confusion, while Hecate looked at Dusk Bringar with a face full of mixed emotions.
Then Dusk Bringar walked past the two knights - towards me.
"Duchess...?"
I gave up hiding and awkwardly stood up to face her, sensing the ominous atmosphere around Dusk Bringar.
"I heard from Traha, Ash."
She sneered, baring her sharp teeth.
"The emperor and the prince talked about the Imperial Way."
"What? No, yes..."
"You couldn't answer right away, and you must have fallen into contemplation again."
The question the emperor asked me.
What to do with the 'darkness' of the world I seek to protect.
The emperor's sin, Dusk Bringar's sordid past, Hecate, the very shadow of the empire...
And the darkness each of the numerous people under my command harbors.
How am I to embrace it?
Not to turn away, not to avert my eyes, but to fully embrace it. And is it right to do so?
What is the way to preserve humanity, my own way?
The emperor had thrust this question upon me, and I was still deep in contemplation.
And Dusk Bringar seemed to really dislike that. That's why she came to see me in person.
"We're in the middle of a martial arts tournament right now. And this martial arts tournament is tied to the strategy and selection rights for the Black Dragon Subjugation Battle. Even if it's nestled within a festival, it can be said to be a preliminary battle for the Black Dragon Subjugation!"
"..."
"Facing a disaster that could destroy the world, are you still pondering what it means to be human? Facing such a formidable foe, how can you indulge in such weak contemplation?"
She gritted her teeth and stood in front of me.
"Everyone loves that about you. But in this battle, such a mindset is unnecessary."
"Duchess..."
"It seems Traha has shown you his own answer, so I, too, will show you my own answer."
Dusk Bringar's golden eyes seemed to blaze with fire.
"Forget such concerns until after you've killed the enemy. Think about them after all this war is over."
"...!"
"What's the use of pondering over such matters if you fail to survive? What's the point if, after preserving your humanity, all the people dear to you are dead?"
Dusk Bringar took another step closer.
Her daunting presence made the heroes under my command hastily form a protective formation in front of me.
Lucas and Hecate also stood behind Dusk Bringar, as if surrounding her.
But Dusk Bringar only glared at me and spat out.
"If you can just protect your banner, I'd be the first to throw away humanity and plunge into darkness. ...No, the other way around."
The Dragon Lady declared.
"To protect your banner, I will lead the way into the darkness."
I widened my eyes in surprise.
"Duchess, you don't mean..."
"Yes. You must have thought the same for my sake."
Dusk Bringar's index finger pointed straight at me.
"If I take command, then, Ash, you will be the first I exclude from the Black Dragon Subjugation Battle."
"...!"
"With your inclination to ponder humanity and the Imperial Way even in such moments, you cannot win against such a foe."
Dusk Bringar slowly raised her small hand wrapped in a gauntlet,
"Only those who can give up humanity, who can willingly plunge into darkness..."
She clenched her fist tightly.
"For the cause, who can wrap themselves in any atrocity, who do not choose means for protecting you, such Asuras, Rakshasas, demons will be selected."
"...!"
"Fortunately, there are plenty of heroes with talent for darkness on this frontline."
Dusk Bringar glanced behind her.
Lucas, with his fierce eyes flashing dangerously, had his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist.
And next to him, Hecate, too, gripping the handle of her parasol tightly... shot a fiery glance at Dusk Bringar.
The previously peaceful atmosphere vanished as Dusk Bringar turned to look at each of the two knights in turn, a savage smile flickering across her lips.
Dusk Bringar then scanned Evangeline, Damian, and Junior who had taken up battle positions in turn.
"My pure cause to protect."
Again, she looked at me.
"This is my destiny. The darkness sown by my ancestors, the sin I must harvest. Thus, you need not embrace it on your behalf, nor need you ponder it."
"Duchess..."
"Tomorrow, I will go with all my heart. The command of the Black Dragon Subjugation Battle will be mine."
Dusk Bringar spun around swiftly. The cloak on her armor, almost black in its deep crimson, fluttered.
"If you don't have the courage to stop me, even by killing, then disappear from before me."
And Dusk Bringar walked past, striding between Lucas and Hecate.
"..."
"..."
Suddenly, the gazes of Dusk Bringar and Hecate locked for the last time.
Glory Knights' commander.
The empire's specter.
Dragonblood.
Curse...
The two, entangled in so much with each other, did not exchange a single word until the end.
Dusk Bringar, now distant, disappeared into the other side of the city submerged in the evening and night.
Watching her figure until the last moment, I murmured with a complex feeling.
"...She made quite the declaration before leaving."
Not just to my main party, but also to the Glory Knights.
She declared war to every party watching this place from all around the festival.
Once Dusk Bringar disappeared, the air around us relaxed at last... Slowly, the noise of the surroundings returned, and the street stalls reclaimed the festive atmosphere as if they had never frozen over.
People laughed, chattered, handed coins to the stalls, and bought food as if nothing had happened.
This festival keeps getting splashed with cold water because we are facing the world's end.
Yet, people desperately continue the festival also because we are facing the world's end.
"Don't hold any ill feelings towards the Duchess. She's... just that desperate."
Neither side is at fault. It's not about who's right or wrong.
Damian responded with a broad smile to my words.
"Of course. The Duchess is doing this because she cares deeply for the prince."
"..."
Yes, I know.
The more I know, the heavier it feels.
"Lucas, Hecate! Come here!"
Not knowing what to do in the awkward atmosphere, I beckoned to the two hesitating knights.
"Let's have fun together."
At my call, Lucas quickly approached, but Hecate still hesitated.
Between the stalls, in the shadows. They didn't come out under the festival's torches where we stood.
Then Evangeline approached Hecate with a very serious face and extended her hand forward - offering a handshake.
It occurred to me this was their first greeting.
"Hello, Senior Hecate! I am Evangeline Cross, the top of the 375th class! The first in the academy's history to graduate three years early!"
"..."
Hecate looked at Evangeline with a surprised face for a moment.
Did Evangeline know? The reason she graduated early was to succeed Hecate.
And that Hecate had canceled that appointment.
Though they had never met before, the fates of the two had already crossed once.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Evangeline."
And, perhaps forever hiding that fact within,
Hecate smiled faintly and reached out to shake hands with Evangeline.
"I'm Hecate Whiteblossom, graduated from the 369th class."
"Hehe, let's get along well, fellow valedictorians! Oh, and now that you're here in Crossroad, there's a rights council you need to join..."
Evangeline chattered away, naturally leading Hecate along.
Evangeline stood in the middle, with Lucas and Hecate following closely on either side.
Watching this heartwarming scene, Damian clapped his hands in what seemed like emotion, while Junior had a complex expression.
And I looked one last time in the direction Dusk Bringar had gone.
"..."
My Dragon Lady.
No matter the outcome of the martial arts tournament... I want to enjoy and laugh at this festival with the Duchess too.
I wish you were not in the shadows but next to the festival's bonfire.
Because it might be the last festival we spend together.
It could be the last festival of this world...
"..."
The words I couldn't convey twisted inside me before eventually fading away.
Following Lucas, Evangeline, and Hecate, I squeezed myself between Damian and Junior, throwing my arms around their shoulders and wobbled along.
The second night of the autumn festival deepened.
***
The third day of the autumn festival dawned.
The martial arts tournament proceeded breathlessly. The finals had to be completed before this evening, so the schedule was quite tight.
So, from the morning, our main party also went out to compete.
Our quarter-final opponent was the 'New Outsiders'.
The representatives of the four major races - King Poseidon, Kuilan, Kellibey, Verdandi, and the representative of the hybrids, Hannibal, making a five-person party.
What could be the strategy against this formidable squad?
"Mwahaha! That would be to focus on the weakest one!"
I wickedly licked my lips, pressing the flagpole against Hannibal's cheek, who I had grabbed.
As soon as the battle started, I used 'The Foremost Flag' to create a magical barrier, confusing everyone's vision. In the confusion, I successfully kidnapped Hannibal, who didn't know what to do.
"If you don't want to see this poor boy tormented, surrender quickly! I trust in the nobility of the race representatives."
I tickled Hannibal's side with my free hand not holding the flagpole. Hannibal screamed with laughter, begging for it to stop.
"..."
"..."
Watching my petty behavior, not only the four representatives of the races but also my own party members looked at me with deadpan faces.
Come on, guys, this is the most effective and harm-free way to quickly decide the outcome! They're too strong!
Just declare your surrender already-!