"Lady
"Even without a Blessing, you ranked sixth in the mock battle during training, did you not? Your skill isn't the problem, and relying on me too much won't help any of you grow."
Leonore accepted this with a crisp "Understood," and withdrew without much fuss—clearly she'd only brought it up halfheartedly. Unlike her, Brother
"If
"In Dunkelfelger, they've all learned to cooperate and obtain the Blessing on their own. It would be a problem if Ehrenfest alone kept relying on me indefinitely."
...Besides, it seemed the decision had already been made not to raise Ehrenfest's ranking.
Since this was said while an eavesdropping prevention Magical Tool was in use, and it concerned everyone's morale, I kept those last thoughts to myself.
"At the end of today's Ditter, the adult knights from Dunkelfelger will put on a demonstration, won't they? Once the other duchies see that, they'll start trying it too. The goal is for everyone to work toward obtaining it on their own, and I hope Ehrenfest will make the same effort. Otherwise, it could end up that the Ehrenfest apprentice knights who did all that research to earn Divine Blessings end up being the ones who receive the fewest."
The King had said that those who wished could redo the Blessing ceremony after the graduation ceremony, and once back in Ehrenfest, we could arrange that. But no matter how many times they repeated it, if their prayers and offerings were insufficient, it would be pointless.
"I've also received information that the amount of Magic Power offered is the key to success. Please, learn to obtain the Blessing on your own."
"Yes, ma'am!"
As I watched the apprentice knights nod firmly,
"If you obtain the Blessing, you will indeed become stronger. The Dunkelfelger ceremony grants Blessings from multiple gods. And the more sincerely you perform the ceremony, the easier it becomes to receive Divine Gifts. However, you'll need to memorize the names of the gods to receive Divine Gifts, Angelica."
"Memorize... I wish
The studying at the
"If you could receive many Divine Gifts, your Magic Power consumption would decrease, and Stenluke would grow even further, you know."
Of all people, it was Angelica who wielded Stenluke and would benefit most from having as many Divine Gifts as possible to fight at an advantage.
"Huh!? I'd use less Magic Power?"
Angelica looked at me as though hearing this for the first time. It seemed the memorization of the gods' names had been part of a research project, and she hadn't understood at all what benefit it held for her personally.
"
"...Perhaps I was listening. I shall henceforth devote myself wholeheartedly to memorizing the gods' names."
"I'm glad you're motivated, Angelica."
"...If you'd gotten motivated a little sooner, Damuel's suffering would have been cut in half, Angelica."
Brother Cornelius murmured sympathetically, "Poor Damuel." Teaching a reluctant Angelica must have been quite the ordeal.
As I listened to Brother Cornelius and
In the mornings, the higher-ranking duchies basically moved about, paying courtesy calls to friendly duchies or those they wished to build closer ties with. Ehrenfest, however, hadn't been able to move at all during the morning. If we stayed put in the afternoon as well, we wouldn't get to see anything of the other duchies.
"Doesn't Ehrenfest need to make courtesy calls?" I asked my adoptive father while watching the preparations underway in each duchy's area for the afternoon.
He shot me a sharp glare.
"At a time when Ehrenfest is expected to conduct itself as a higher-ranking duchy, you want to slink around making afternoon courtesy calls like a lower-ranking duchy? And then what—request another round of trade negotiations in the afternoon? Is that your idea?"
I hastily shook my head in denial. I didn't want trade negotiations. I just wanted a peek at how other duchies' research was progressing and what their social venues looked like.
"You shall watch the Ditter and rest. Since you've already met the King, you cannot be absent from the awards ceremony again this year."
"But the lower-ranking duchies will be coming to pay their respects, won't they? Will there actually be any rest?"
It would likely be the same thing all over again as the morning. There was no way I could relax in a social setting with that going on.
"...Based on last year, I'd like to think there might be some room to watch the Ditter, but it depends on how the joint research ceremony has affected things."
"Ugh..."
For the joint research, I'd been listed as a collaborator alongside the ceremony participants. Apparently, there had been very few instances before where research of this scale had one's name listed alongside royalty, so the reaction had been considerable. In duchies without an archduke candidate—where a Senior Apprentice Scholar had attended on their behalf—it was being treated as an honor that even archduke candidates hadn't been able to obtain.
"On the other hand, the duchies that were blocked by the Steuer shield are likely harboring quite a bit of anger and resentment. I don't expect anything to happen in a place with this level of security, but still..."
My adoptive father murmured while watching the Central Knight Order standing guard at various points. Causing a disturbance in front of knights who were already on high alert for a surprise attack would earn a punishment far more severe than what
...If incidents occurred two years in a row, the King would think us incompetent too, and the Central Knight Order would be desperate to prevent it.
"Now, let us resume the second half of the Ditter! For this half, we've added some special touches. Please, enjoy!"
Lueven's voice declared the start of the afternoon session.
The second half had been designed with Ehrenfest's struggles during last year's Hunderttaillen in mind, with additional surprises prepared for the competitors. The reasoning was that learning how to handle encounters with rare monsters was also important.
"This is quite advantageous for Ehrenfest. Building on last year's Hunderttaillen, everyone has been studying extensively in case Frau Lorentz's interference occurs again."
"Are there any duchies that have been proactively studying monsters on their own, thinking they might encounter them too?"
At Brother Cornelius's words, I tilted my head slightly. Dunkelfelger might have done so, but they'd been focused on improving the success rate of their pillar-of-light ceremony.
"Allrensberch!"
The first to fight in the second half was Allrensberch, with
"Adoptive Father, may I go watch from closer up?"
"...That's fine. If an important guest arrives, I'll call you back. Go watch with the apprentice knights."
With permission granted, I moved to a better viewing position alongside my guard knights. Richilda prepared a raised platform just as she had last year. When I climbed up, I could see the arena much more clearly than before.
...Oh wow, I've gotten bigger!
Looking down at the arena from my improved vantage point, I could see violet-cloaked figures waiting at the starting position, and Hirschur raising her staff to channel Magic Power into a magic circle. The circle blazed with light, and there, a mound-like Talcroche appeared.
"A Talcroche!?"
"Do you know what that is, Lady Rozemyne?"
At Angelica's question, I gave a vague "Well, yes..." I'd encountered one during the material collection at Yuele—a giant frog. Since the material collection was a secret, I couldn't go into detail, but I remembered the Talcroche well from our battle. It split apart when attacked. I recalled the scenes of being nearly swallowed alongside
"It has characteristics similar to last year's Hunderttaillen."
I could see the Allrensberch apprentice knights at a loss, facing an enemy they'd never seen before. But this was a speed-based Ditter. If they kept hesitating, time would slip away.
The knights seemed to steel themselves and launched probing attacks, but anything below a certain strength just bounced off with a rubbery rebound—the attacks didn't seem to be doing much.
"Let's go!"
"Yeah!"
Realizing they were getting nowhere, two apprentice knights charged their Magic Power and began making their swords glow with prismatic light. They were probably about to unleash massive amounts of Magic Power. The two charged their swords while the others prepared their shields for the impact. When the pair swung, an attack with complex, rainbow-like hues shot forth.
Two prisms of glowing Magic Power twisted together and struck the Talcroche. BOOM! An enormous sound erupted as the attack detonated, scattering shockwaves in all directions.
"We got it!"
"Not yet! The magic circle is still lit!"
The magic circle should disappear once the enemy was completely defeated, but its glow hadn't faded. A moment after one apprentice knight warned that it wasn't over yet, a shower of miniaturized Talcroches rained down across the arena.
"Wh-what?!"
"Take out every last one!"
The apprentice knights scrambled to fight off the falling mini-Talcroches. They were small enough to defeat quickly, but their wide distribution made them hard to locate.
"This is exactly the same situation Ehrenfest was in last year. ...Could this be Professor Hirschur's way of getting revenge?"
"Unlike the Hunderttaillen, they don't recombine just from being touched, and you can defeat them without grinding them down to the smallest size, so it should be considerably easier," Leonore said, and Judit nodded.
"If they were going to get revenge, I wish they'd just given us the Hunderttaillen straight back. That was truly a pain."
"The Hunderttaillen inhabits Allrensberch, so they probably brought out a monster with similar characteristics that those duchies wouldn't know about,"
"Lady Rozemyne, the Aub Ehrenfest is calling for you. The Aub and Aubess of Frevelterk have arrived. Please return to the social venue."
I started to head back with my guard knights, then looked around and realized Hartmut was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh? I don't see Hartmut anywhere."
"He went to pay his respects to
It seemed he'd departed for Dunkelfelger while I'd been watching the Ditter. Would he be able to successfully persuade Clarissa's parents?
"There's no need to worry. The Ditter was banned this morning by Prince
They'd be deciding matters like how to communicate, what would be needed to send her back, and what kind of reception would be required if they came to collect her—all with the assumption that Clarissa might show up again uninvited if the marriage wasn't approved.
"If her parents are already in a difficult position just because it's Lady Rozemyne rather than Hartmut who has captured her heart, I imagine they'll have their hands full figuring out how to handle this."
As I murmured, "I wonder how it'll turn out," I approached the table where the Frevelterk Aub and his wife were waiting with my adoptive father.
"Rozemyne, this is the Aub Frevelterk and my elder sister Konstanze."
...So this is Lady Konstanze.
My adoptive father's second eldest sister, Konstanze—she was the rare person who, despite our being meeting for the first time, felt familiar because of her role in the romantic tales at the Noble Academy that had helped bring about my adoptive father's own love match. Her features seemed to lean more toward my adoptive father's appearance than
As for the Aub Frevelterk, his features were unmistakably those of someone who, placed beside
"Please allow me to pray for Blessings upon this rare meeting, ordained by the strict selection of the Life God Evilibé."
"I permit it."
After the greetings, I took my seat, and both of them looked at me with small smiles.
"I attend the Interduchy Tournament every year, but this is the first time we've actually exchanged words."
"
My impression of Rudiger wasn't bad—he'd been the one to invite me to the cousin gatherings and had gone to the Temple to increase the harvest. If the Offering Ceremony hadn't required me to return to Ehrenfest, I'd certainly have spent more time talking with Rudiger than Detlinde at the cousin gathering.
"I don't see Lady
Konstanze asked in a quiet voice, keeping an eye on those around her. The Aub Frevelterk was my adoptive mother's older brother, so seeing his sister absent from a social event would naturally be a cause for concern.
"It's not something I can make public just yet... but it may be best to inform my brother-in-law and sister. The truth is, there were signs of a pregnancy, and we've been taking precautions. We're monitoring the situation and plan to have her attend tomorrow, but..."
"What!?"
My eyes went wide at this unexpected news, and my adoptive father gave me a quiet "Keep your voice down." Nobles rarely announced a child's birth before the
...A sibling! That means I have to make another black-and-white picture book for a baby! I have to!
Unlike me, whose mind had launched into a baby fever, Konstanze looked at my adoptive father with an exasperated expression.
"A pregnancy at a time like this... Are you really not going to take any wife other than Lady Florencia? You're not at an age or a rank where you can afford to say such things. It's perfectly fine to be devoted to Lady Florencia, but do try to look around you once in a while."
Her words took on the tone of an elder sister lecturing her younger brother. My adoptive father pouted and rebutted in a low voice.
"It wasn't intentional, but I suppose it turned out that way. This must also be a gift from the Divine Gift of Liesgeshilfe—blessing me so I don't need to take a second wife."
"Making such convenient excuses again..."
Konstanze pressed her fingers to her forehead, while the Aub Frevelterk gave a wry smile.
"I was worried that as Ehrenfest's ranking rose, Florencia might be treated poorly, and that taking a second or third wife would cause serious problems. It's a relief to know she's still cherished."
Apparently he'd been concerned about exactly that—whether Ehrenfest's rising rank and potential additional wives would leave Florencia in a difficult position.
"How about Frevelterk? I heard that Lord Rudiger has started participating in religious ceremonies."
This year, Frevelterk had declined to hold their Ditter against Dunkelfelger and hadn't participated in the Offering Ceremony. But it seemed that nobles were gradually joining in on their own duchy's religious ceremonies.
"Ever since Rudiger began conducting Temple services, the harvest has visibly increased. As a result, other archduke candidates and attendants have started joining him, and the Leibe are actively filling the small Holy Cups to make their own land a bit more fertile."
"That's wonderful, but weren't there many who objected to archduke candidates entering the Temple and participating in religious ceremonies? Through conducting these ceremonies, I've learned just how strongly the Temple is shunned."
At my words, Konstanze smiled. "Frevelterk was the same way."
"We were in a situation where we had to try absolutely everything that might be worth even a little effort."
The Aub Frevelterk smiled and said, "Konstanze was the first to accept Rudiger's proposal."
"Whether it's appointing archduke candidates as High Priest or Chief Priest, having one's own children participate in Temple ceremonies, or making other startling decisions—those who carry Ehrenfest's blood have a habit of doing things that surprise people. Lady Rozemyne, with your constant stream of new initiatives, I think you are a truly fitting archduke candidate for Ehrenfest."
Currently, Frevelterk was rapidly reforming its Temple so that nobles could come and go, and so that everyone in the duchy might benefit even a little.
"This year, a religious ceremony was conducted with royalty in attendance, which should have eased some of the aversion toward religious rites. I thought it might be a good idea to take this opportunity to let the duchies that lost in the political upheaval know that they should participate in the Prayer Ceremony and Harvest Festival."
Konstanze said that while no one had listened to Frevelterk's suggestions before, now that everyone was interested in religious ceremonies, there might at last be some duchies willing to listen.
"Starting next year, when archduke candidates begin touring their direct territories and participating in Prayer Ceremonies and Harvest Festivals, won't you join Frevelterk in a joint research project on the resulting changes in harvest? Since it's been increasing for two consecutive years, I believe it's research worth publicizing widely. What do you say,
Currently, only Frevelterk and Ehrenfest had data on the effects of archduke candidates touring direct territories. At Konstanze's words, my adoptive father gave a wry smile. "Students are the ones who conduct research, dear sister."
"How about it, Lady Rozemyne?"
Those blue eyes were full of expectation. If there were examples of increased harvest from archduke candidates touring their territories and performing religious ceremonies, more duchies might embark on Temple reform. I had no objection to joint research with Frevelterk. But I'd rather devote my time to the Magical Tools for the library.
"I'm only scheduled to remain at the Noble Academy for this year. So rather than me as the High Priest, it would be better for
"Then I'll go speak with Lord Wilfried and Lady Charlotte. Lady Rozemyne, I appreciate your support."
The Frevelterk Aub and Aubess headed toward Wilfried and Charlotte's table. Watching their retreating figures, I murmured to my adoptive father.
"All this time, they kept it a secret from other duchies that Lord Rudiger was entering and leaving the Temple. But the moment royalty began reviewing Temple ceremonies, they approach us with research only they can do. Even with their lowered ranking, they really are a former upper duchy."
"They fell in rank because of the political upheaval, but the Aub Frevelterk was always excellent. Once harvests stabilize and the number of nobles increases, they'll climb back up the rankings in no time."
My adoptive father muttered that what he needed was to reform noble consciousness on his side to avoid dropping in rank.
"Aub! Ehrenfest is up next!"
The apprentice knights had come to fetch us—we needed to get ready to watch. We rose from our seats and moved toward the front to watch the apprentice knights' battle. When I climbed onto the platform, I could see dark-brown cloaks darting about. Gilessenmaier was fighting.
"What on earth is that?"
My adoptive father looked down at the arena and spoke. Five round, yellow, pointy things were bouncing around the arena floor with an electric crackle.
"They're... Taunadels, I believe."
They were fish-like magical beasts resembling yellow sea urchins or pufferfish with tails, and to my eyes, they seemed utterly useless in an arena battle.
"Wouldn't that be an easy win?"
"Not at all. They fire the long, thin poisonous spines covering their entire body in all directions as an attack. If you don't know how to counter them, they're extremely dangerous."
At my words, the apprentice knights watching the Ditter nodded gravely.
"The apprentice knights lying on the ground over there were probably taken out by the first attack. Since they inhabit the sea, you could keep your distance and wait for them to die, or surround them with wind shields to force them to exhaust all their poison spines, but both methods take a long time."
Watching Gilessenmaier struggle against the Taunadels, the apprentice knights' faces grew increasingly tense.
"What will they bring out for us? I never imagined I'd be this nervous at the Interduchy Tournament Ditter."
If an unfamiliar monster appeared, we'd be in real trouble. Leonore, who handled the knowledge portion, stared at the arena with a stiff expression.
"Gilessenmaier—finished! Up next is Ehrenfest!"