Watching that sight indifferently, I saw something unbelievable that I doubted my eyes.

Next to the Crown Prince, there were two sparkling golden chairs that I had seen somewhere.

A solemn voice rang.

“I decided to pick the winner that couldn’t be picked at the last hunting competition on this occasion.”

“. . .”

“I will give honor and sword of state to the winner. I promise you all in my name.”

The sword sheathed into golden scabbard instead of the golden stick entered my eyes.

Don’t tell me they will sit in that chair while holding the sword instead of the stick like last time . . .

“A parade will be held.”

As I stared blankly at the golden chair amidst the cheering students, Rany whispered to me.

“Who on earth likes that kind of thing? Why are they doing that embarrassing thing?”

No, Rany.

I think everyone but you and me likes it.

When Abigail, who was passionately clapping her hands, met my eyes, she slowly lowered her hands.

Looking away from her, I turned my gaze to where the professors sat.

I saw Zen in a robe.

Looking at him, who sat quite close to the Crown Prince, I realized again that there was a hierarchy among professors.

Professor Grein, who openly showed his dislike to me, sat at the end.

Rather than feeling delighted, only bizarre bitterness remained.

* * *

Students began to be noisy around the time of the semi-final.

It was already the fifth time that the swords of the students participating in the tournament had broken.

It wasn’t only the swords.

The shields and the worn armor, also the helmet.

The battle gear broke one after another or crumpled weakly.

People who were doubting began to whisper.

“Again?”

“Are they really defective products?”

I paid attention to the whisperings from my surroundings.

The female students were exchanging subtle glances.

The male students whose faces crumpled with annoyance.

The thing that was swollen up exploded in time.

“This, this result is wrong!”

The sword of the student, who was just defeated, broke into two pieces.

He, who was burning red, raised his voice to the winner in front of him.

“This is not my fault!”

Young Duke Bolton slowly approached the student that couldn’t accept the result, but that student, who couldn’t see anything else, spit out a rumor that wasn’t real.

“This sword, this is a defective product.”

“. . .”

The Crown Prince got up from his seat.

When he called his people and then whispered something, people around him began to move busily.

“God, there’s also a problem with the shields. I bought it because I heard it’s a high-quality item, but how can this be so easily crushed?”

There was some boo and hiss at the grumbling voice, but most of the students were silent.

It was because everyone knew there were strange things happening in the tournament to regarded that as only a justification of the loser.

The owner of the broken sword was one of the talents that was predicted to be the winner from the swordsmanship department.

Things that strangely continued to get ruined from the previous game.

Also, the winning candidate that was defeated in vain.

“Doesn’t this mean the rumor is true?”

“I also think this is strange.”

“It’s not only the swords. From what I heard, the ingredients of the tea bought by the young ladies . . .”

As the whisperings got louder, the tournament was obviously suspended.

There were others beside the just defeated student that were also full of complaints.

I saw the students that were defeated in the tournament flocked to the student council that was the promoter of the event.

Mago Philip pretended to be intimidated as she was helplessly pushed.

“If there’s a problem with the tournament, then we will investigate it. Be quiet everyone.”

As the Crown Prince said the waited statement, she, who fell, lowered her head.

I wondered if she wanted to hide the expression that she couldn’t control for a moment.

The professors gathered with a serious face, and retrieved the broken swords.

“Abigail.”

“Yes.”

She, who lost her excitement, approached me.

I already knew that this would happen, but when it finally happened, I was rather calm.

When I was preparing for this, I was angry that I planned to do whatever it was when this happened.

Whatever it was.

“Where is the ledger that I gave you?”

“Should I bring it to you?”

“. . .”

It was up to me whether we would use the ledger or not.

While I stared at Zen, who took a step back watching the situation as though he didn’t care, Rany approached me.

“Is something wrong?”

“You know, Rany. I was planning to go all the way to the end because I’m really annoyed and angry at the one who set this up so passionately.”

The pink hair of her, who was leaning on my shoulder, tickled my neck.

As the emotions that were filling inside me calmed down, there was me, who was counting.

“I don’t care.”

“. . .”

“Whether going all the way to the end, or ending it here, it is normal to think about which one is more advantageous.”

She smiled wide.

Her finger tapped on her head.

“Counting is something that everyone does. Rather than being a fool, it is far better to be smart.”

I was about to say something, but then one of the professors, who were discussing in a grave atmosphere, approached Rany.

Except for Young Duke Bolton, who was standing on guard next to the Crown Prince, everyone stared at Rany and me.

“Young Lady Rocke, let’s go to the dean’s office now.”

The expected moment came at last.