Chapter 16 : Appointment Ceremony

I finished eating in the Semal dining district and found lodging.

I’ve become so accustomed to the meat dishes served at the bandit hideout that I think I’ll need to readjust to the food here, which is full of greens.

I lay down on the shabby bed and opened my notebook.

Looking at Chapter 1 of the novel, it is described that Yuri Freesia receives the Spirit Master title directly from the Emperor.

However, because my record was better than expected, I was about to stand before the Emperor.

If that happened, the content would change again, and the Chaos Points would increase.

There is only one way.

Declare to the academy that I will transfer the qualification to stand before the Emperor.

If I do that, the qualification will naturally pass to Yuri.

The next day, all the students, including me, gathered at the appointment ceremony.

It was a place to officially appoint them as Spirit Masters, which, in a way, was the same concept as the entrance ceremony.

I wondered if there might be someone from Luden like me, so I looked around, but the guards’ gazes at me were unusual, so I soon stopped.

It wouldn’t be good to cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

Soon the appointment ceremony began, and the Emperor entered with the knights.

“On this occasion, I would like to express my respect to all those who have willingly chosen to become Spirit Masters for the well-being of the Armonia Empire.”

He looks younger than I thought.

Judging only by his appearance, he looked at most in his early 40s.

The knight next to the Emperor received a piece of paper and said, looking at us.

“Those whose names are called, please come forward and show respect to His Majesty the Emperor.”

Finally, the highlight of the appointment ceremony came.

The place where the Emperor gives blessings to the Spirit Master who finished the manifestation ceremony with the best record that year.

However, that place is no longer mine.

“Yuri Freesia.”

As soon as the name was called, everyone applauded and cheered for her.

She seemed a little embarrassed when her name was called, but she soon calmed down and knelt in front of the Emperor.

Surprisingly, giving up the qualification was easy.

Fortunately, the monastery seemed displeased that I, who was not a noble, was standing on the platform, and the work proceeded smoothly because our interests coincided.

As a result, the qualification was passed to Yuri, and my record was gone.

It seemed that it was explained to the students who witnessed my record at the time as a happening due to a malfunction of the hourglass.

“May the light of Osteon shine on your path.”

“…”

The appointment ceremony ended with the Emperor blessing her, and the students were appointed as probationary, but official, Spirit Masters.

Okay. This prevented further chaos from increasing.

The problem was, Yuri Freesia, who was walking straight toward me with a murderous look.

I felt a terrifying aura, as if I was about to be killed at any moment.

“…For what reason did you do that?”

“Yes? What do you mean…”

“You deliberately gave up standing in front of the Emperor. Don’t try to weasel out of it.”

I tried to change the subject, but I was quickly cut off.

“That was your place. Why did you go so far as to erase your own record?”

Because I don’t want to increase the chaos… I can’t say that.

I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Thanks to you, I’m so grateful to have a fake honor. To you.”

I knew that her pride was very strong.

Because I created that character.

I’m sorry for her, but it was an unavoidable choice.

“…I didn’t mean to insult you, Freesia.”

“…”

She made an expression that I didn’t know if she was angry or about to cry, and she went somewhere, avoiding me again.

I’ve been hated twice now.

Deep down, I couldn’t help but sigh.

Now, as in the novel, she will be a celebrity that all the students recognize.

It’s more comfortable for me to be an extra.

“Spirit Masters, as a token of congratulations, a meal has been prepared. If you are not busy, please visit the banquet hall.”

It was a banquet directly hosted by the Emperor.

And free food? I can’t resist.

Following the students, I moved to the banquet hall located inside the academy.

‘It’s spacious..!’

There were enough tables to seat hundreds of people, and countless huge chandeliers were shining on the ceiling.

I heard the sound of male students passing by me.

“It’s not a bad banquet hall.”

What? Not bad?

What kind of luxury have these noble guys been living in?

The Emperor’s orchestra began to play, and the students began to talk in groups.

‘A lot of popular people…’

Somehow, I remember my dark school days.

I wanted to eat a lot, so I piled up the food as much as I could and sat alone.

Just as I was about to take a big bite, the back seat was somehow noisy.

“Miss Freesia! May I sit with you?”

“Is it true that you set a record of 4 minutes? How did you do it?”

It was the seat where Yuri Freesia was sitting.

Male and female students alike were clamoring to get her attention.

And they were moderated by a female student.

“Don’t be like that, everyone. Yuri is overwhelmed.”

Slightly wavy brown bobbed hair.

The neatly dressed girl smiled kindly and sent the students away.

Her name is Carne Eckermann.

Just because she smiles kindly, don’t get close.

Carne is a scary, obsessive girl who clings to Yuri, monopolizing her attention and excluding all surrounding people.

Later on, she doesn’t hesitate to discriminate based on status, and as a result, she is a person who participates in bringing a bad end to Yuri.

Yuri Freesia, who doesn’t know that, thanked Carne.

“Thank you. What’s your name?”

“You don’t have to be formal. I’m Carne. Call me comfortably.”

As expected of Carne, she’s good at getting close.

While eavesdropping on their conversation, someone spoke to me.

“Why are you sitting alone?”

“Because I don’t have any friends… Gack…!”

As soon as I checked the identity of the person, I choked and coughed repeatedly.

The man in front of me is none other than the Emperor of the Armonia Empire.

“Your Majesty…!?”

“If you don’t mind, may I join you?”

There’s no reason to refuse.

I got up from my seat, pulled out a chair, and prepared a seat for him.

He seemed concerned about the knights around him, so he told them not to worry about him and to move away.

“Formality is fine. I have something I’m curious about.”

“Me..?”

“You refused the position of today’s protagonist. Was there a special reason?”

I’m doomed.

Does he mean, how dare you refuse my favor?

However, his next words were unexpected.

“I personally like you.”

“…?”

“You must have judged that standing on the platform, considering your hair color or status, would have a bad influence on the academy’s perception, right?”

That’s not it.

Fortunately, he seems to have misunderstood for the better.

“It’s good to think about the big picture, but sometimes take care of yourself. If someone like you stood on the platform, it would have a good influence on social awareness.”

“..I understand.”

“Well, I’ll see you again if I get the chance. Saya.”

He seemed to have heard from the officials, and he knew my name.

The Emperor left first, and of course, the surrounding students couldn’t have missed this scene.

They whispered to each other.

“Who is she, what did she talk about with His Majesty…?”

“Isn’t that the one who was selected through the commoner quota?”

Who is the commoner quota?

I didn’t really want to be friends with these guys.

They wouldn’t welcome me either.

I was going to eat roughly and leave, but…

‘It’s so delicious I can’t get up…’

The quality was different from what I ate yesterday.

Steak, pudding, chicken.

Things that I had to pay a lot of money for even in reality were piled up generously, so I couldn’t easily get up.

While I was eating with my head buried in the plate, I felt a presence.

“Excuse me, are you the participant who woke up in 3 minutes at the manifestation ceremony? Right?”

Was there a student who witnessed it?

I looked up and saw her.

“I’m Carne Eckermann. What’s your name?”

Huh..?

“..Saya. I don’t have a last name.”

I answered inadvertently.

Carne Eckermann.

I shouldn’t get involved with this woman. I have to get out of here quickly…

“Why don’t you eat with us?”

“Yes?”

Carne pointed to the table where Yuri was sitting.

What’s her plan?

“Yuri, is it okay?”

“…..”

Freesia is silent.

“I’ll take it as okay. And… did you say Saya? Call me Carne comfortably. I’ll do the same.”

Dropping formality in just one minute of meeting.

Scary sociability.

I was seated as if pushed by Carne.

The three-way meeting with Yuri, led by Carne, was so chilly that you might mistake it for freezing the air.

“Yuri, this is Saya…”

“I know. It’s the first time I’ve heard the name, though.”

“..Really? You two were already close.”

Could it be that the meaning of close has changed to mean that you can tell that you hate me just by looking at my eyes..?

“….”

“….”

Both were silent.

In the end, unable to endure the atmosphere, I spoke first.

“If you’re angry because of me…”

“I’m not angry.”

“…”

Did Carne expect this kind of atmosphere?

I don’t think so.

Even Carne, a master of social skills, just smiled and couldn’t easily speak.

Still, trying to somehow break the atmosphere, she opened her mouth.

“Hey, why don’t you two speak informally to each other? It’s stiff to have only two people using honorifics when three people are gathered.”

“Okay.”

Yuri surprisingly coolly accepted.

“You don’t need to apologize. It happened because of my lack of ability.”

She has a strong desire for achievement, but she’s not a narrow-minded person.

At the appointment ceremony, she only expressed her dissatisfaction with me giving up the position, but she never showed any hostile feelings.

I tried to smile and respond.

“..If so, that’s good!”

“But, as a sign of getting closer to you, I have a request I want to make. Will you listen?”

A request?

What could she possibly request from me?

“What’s the request?”

“Actually, I was curious about your skill, which ended the fight with Osteon in 3 minutes.”

Yuri got up from her seat and said.

“Fight me. Saya.”

“…Huh?”

[Emergency Quest]

Win the duel against Yuri Freesia.

Reward: 「Armonia Chronicles」 Chapter 2

Along with the quest that appeared before my eyes, what she requested was a duel with me.