I gathered the Black Prince and Sir Fluffy, then tried to persuade them.

The Count had already done his best.

At his age, already retired, he had defeated that monstrous knight named Stefan.

Isn't that enough?

It looked like he intended to continue the match, but even if he managed to injure his opponent, it would be difficult to secure a victory.

And his defeat wouldn't be a clean one.

This time his shoulder was pierced; next time, he'd be lucky if he didn't lose an arm.

The Count wasn't young like Walpole, so it was questionable if an arm could even be reattached.

Since I would be taking care of the remaining opponents anyway, let's have the Count step down.

"...."

The Black Prince listened silently before looking at me.

"So?"

"So, let's switch the fighter."

I looked at Fluffy.

"I believe Sir Fluffy was next in line."

Fluffy nodded.

"That is correct."

After a moment of thought, the Black Prince sought the opinions of Fluffy and Lady Ashley

"What do you sirs think?"

Fluffy replied in a calm tone.

"It makes no difference to me."

Lady Ashley answered.

"I also agree with Sir Ashuban's opinion. I do not think we should allow the head of the family to continue the match in his current state."

The Black Prince looked at Fluffy.

"Then, Sir Roetgel. Ascend when you are ready."

"Yes."

Fluffy steadied his breathing, then gripped the hilt of his sword and muttered something under his breath.

I was glad the number of people who talk to themselves was increasing, but to be honest, I was worried.

Sir Fluffy had been in a state of meditation, holding onto Vlad, since yesterday.

I asked Sir Fluffy.

"Sir Fluffy. Are you alright?"

Fluffy looked at me with clear eyes.

"There is no problem."

"Really?"

"Indeed."

"Then hurry up and get out there. What are you mumbling about and dragging your feet for?"

"...."

Fluffy stared at me, his hand on his sword's hilt.

For a second, it felt like he might draw his sword, so I took a slight step back and watched his eyes.

They were as tranquil as a deep lake.

Vlad must be sleeping somewhere in those depths.

...Though I've never seen a lake that red.

"Devil."

"What."

"I can control it to some extent. But the more I draw out its power, the more I lose control."

It meant that the stronger the opponent, the more he would have to draw on Vlad's power, increasing the chance of him going berserk.

But since I couldn't get on the stage this time, he seemed worried that there would be no one to stop him if he lost control.

I dispelled Fluffy's worries.

"Don't worry. The referee over there is a great Royal Knight, and in the worst-case scenario, that pompous Frost Knight up there can be dispatched."

"...I see."

Fluffy confirmed Aron on the field and Frost Knight up above, then nodded.

They would take care of it.

If, by some chance, even they couldn't handle it, I would just have to step in the moment Fluffy left the stage.

"Then, I shall be on my way."

"Go. Show them the terror of a wandering knight."

The great wandering knight ascended the stage.

I watched his retreating back, then tilted my head.

Come to think of it, his eyes seemed unusually calm.

***

Count Hermann met the eyes of the red-eyed wandering knight, Fluffy.

Then, he looked down at the Black Prince below the stage.

When the Black Prince nodded and gestured for him to come down, the Count let out a deep sigh and dispersed the aura he had gathered.

Step, step.

The two knights passed each other as if in a crossover.

"You've worked hard."

"I leave the rest to you."

With calm steps, Fluffy advanced to the center of the arena.

Sir Lionel, who had been watching Fluffy approach from the opposite side, glanced back and exchanged a look with the First Prince.

'The Red-Eyed Devil has appeared.'

'Good. We proceed as planned.'

Aron spoke.

"Are you ready?"

Lionel nodded, and Fluffy raised a hand.

"A moment."

Shing—

He drew his sword, then lightly cut the side of his hand, letting the flowing blood feed the blade.

Kiiiiing!

The blood-soaked blade let out a roar, spewing forth a bloody aura.

It looked like lava boiling over, or perhaps like sparks flying.

Seeing this, the crowd began to murmur.

"A red blade! Could that be the legendary...!"

"That is the ninth famed sword of Ophosis...!"

"The last famed sword of Ophosis!"

"The Black Prince has a King's Knight!"

The murmurs began with the people the Black Prince had planted in the crowd for the match.

Thinking about it, the words were clearly intentional, but no one thought that deeply.

A knight wielding a famed sword was a symbol of a King's Knight.

The intention was to subtly impress upon the people who the rightful heir to the throne was, who the true king of Blake was.

However, anxious voices were also mixed in.

"Then... is that man the Red-Eyed Devil?"

"No way. He looks different from the wanted poster."

"You fool. He defeated the Frost Knight. How could he do that without wielding a famed sword of Ophosis himself?"

"Uh... now that you mention it, that makes sense."

"That terrifying Red-Eyed Devil became the Black Prince's knight?"

"Son of a bitch. Shouldn't we be praying for the First Prince to win?"

In people's imaginations, the Red-Eyed Devil was a bloodthirsty fiend.

That was understandable, as rumors were rampant that he had laid waste to the Varangia territory overnight.

However, among them were not a few who idolized the Red-Eyed Devil.

He had coolly killed the nobles who had tormented them, nobles no one else had dared to even think of touching.

It was, in fact, cathartic.

There were even those who secretly hoped, 'Will he come to our territory?'

It was not uncommon for commoners to gather and whisper among themselves, calling him their hero.

"But... if you think about it, the only ones the Red-Eyed Devil killed were Baron Barankia and his knights, right? I heard he was killed while trying to steal the Ophosis dagger."

"What? He didn't lay waste to the entire territory?"

"No. My relative lives there, and they said the demon only rampaged through the baron's castle. And he didn't touch the maids or servants at all."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I heard that too. They said he only killed the baron and his knights, and the commoners were safe. Apparently, those guys tormented the people that much."

"Didn't he beat them to death in front of everyone?"

"I heard the people of Barankia territory think of the Red-Eyed Devil as a hero."

"That's right. Even on the wanted poster with a 100-gold reward, the only crime listed was the murder of a noble."

"Look at him. He doesn't look like a fiend."

Sir Fluffy, standing calmly on the stage, looked like the very model of a knight.

His posture, his gaze, his expression—nowhere could the terrifying demon of the rumors be found.

"Then... the Black Prince, who took such a Red-Eyed Devil as his knight..."

Does that mean he condones the killing of such wicked nobles?

It was clear that, at the very least, he was not on their side.

And so, public opinion began to shift.

Amidst the murmuring, someone shouted.

"Win! Red-Eyed Devil!"

Starting with that, cheers for the Red-Eyed Devil and the Black Prince poured out.

This was an outcome even the Black Prince had not anticipated.

"Devil! Wipe out those noble bastards!"

"The Black Prince must be king! The Black Prince must be king!"

"Kill the damn nobles!"

At that, the faces of the nobles on one side of the arena turned beet red.

"How...!"

"How dare those lowly commoners, in a place like this...!"

"Arrest them immediately! Arrest them!"

Of course, such a vehement reaction only came from the First Prince's side, seated on the right.

On the left, among the Black Prince's faction, surprised glances were exchanged.

"This is unexpected."

"Could the Black Prince have intended this?"

"I don't think so. He looks surprised too."

"I suspect the existence of the Red-Eyed Devil, who murdered a noble, has become a kind of catalyst for the people who have been oppressed by the aristocracy."

"Hmm. That seems plausible. He is a man who has shattered the most important law of the current royal family head-on."

Even in this chaos.

The King's eyes merely shone with interest.

"Hoh... so that is the demon sword."

"...."

"Sir Serkov."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"When you fought the Devil. Was the Devil wielding that sword?"

"He was not."

"Then he must have found it afterward. And this man received the sword from the Devil?"

"It would appear so."

"Who is that man?"

"He is called Sir Röetgel, a wandering knight. A man who roamed about capturing wanted criminals."

The King smiled slyly, his gaze alternating between the master of the demon sword in the center of the arena and the blind swordsman watching from below the stage.

"So this was the intention behind appearing with his eyes covered."

The King tapped the armrest of his chair and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Amusing, very amusing."

"...."

Frost Knight stared blankly at the King tapping the armrest.

Suddenly, someone's words came to mind.

'What's the chair you regret buying the most? An armchair.'

The King looked quizzically at Sir Serkov, who had suddenly started coughing.

"What is it?"

"...It is nothing, Your Majesty."

With all eyes focused on the center, Aron's voice echoed through the arena.

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