Edelweiss froze for quite a while before finally reacting. She puffed out her cheeks slightly. "Bronya, what did you take pictures of? Let me see them."
"Don't worry, Xiao Ai looks great on camera~"
Bronya reached out, part of her mech armor materializing as she took the tray from Edelweiss's hands.
"Hey, Bronya!"
"All right, Xiao Ai."
As she spoke, Bronya turned slightly and held her slender index finger to her lips. "Bronya likes Xiao Ai. The photos definitely won't get out, okay?"
"Mm..."
Yet before Edelweiss could say anything, Bronya had already briskly walked away.
Though she did not know how to pursue girls, pulling little tricks like this from time to time was fine. Of course, that was only if the other person did not dislike you.
Sure enough, Edelweiss did not bring it up again afterward. She brought over cakes, cookies, and other sweets, which, together with the Apple Pie Bronya had cut, nearly filled the entire table.
"Don't be shy, White Night. Try it and see how it tastes. I'm fairly confident in my cooking."
Even so, when White Night took a small portion of Apple Pie and put it in his mouth, Edelweiss still looked nervous.
Was it too sweet? Too bland? Or perhaps it did not suit White Night's tastes?
Hmm...
"It's delicious, Xiao Ai~"
The sweetness was just right, the fruity fragrance rich... paired with the crisp crust, it was absolutely delicious!
"I'm really glad you like it."
At that, Edelweiss revealed a happy smile and eagerly recommended more desserts to White Night. "Try this too, and this cake as well..."
Sitting beside Edelweiss, Bronya took small bites as well. "It really is good. So you were lying to Bronya before? Xiao Ai's is clearly much better than what Bronya made."
"Eh, no, Bronya's was also..." Edelweiss hurriedly tried to explain.
At that moment, Bronya smiled faintly, almost imperceptibly. Her little hand held out the bitten Apple Pie toward Edelweiss. "Just kidding. Xiao Ai, want some too?"
Because her thoughts had been thrown into disarray earlier, Edelweiss did not notice anything wrong and naturally took a bite.
"Just as expected, good things should be shared, right?" Bronya then withdrew her hand and chuckled as she took a bite where Xiao Ai's teeth had marked it.
Mm! Could this be... an indirect kiss?! Edelweiss finally realized it, and her fair, pretty face flushed faintly.
"Speaking of which, Xiao Ai."
White Night spoke next, staring directly at Edelweiss. "I mentioned it before. If you had to choose your other half, what standards would you have?"
"Of course, if possible, I'd like to hear my own name."
With the topic brought up, the blush on Edelweiss's face deepened. She unconsciously drew herself in and only looked cautiously at White Night after a long while. "D-Do I have to say it?"
That pitiful appearance was especially tempting in White Night's eyes. Bronya, on the other hand, had already hugged her from the side. "If Xiao Ai doesn't want to, that's fine too."
"That's right. I want to know Xiao Ai's thoughts, but compared to that, I'll still respect Xiao Ai's wishes."
White Night rested his chin on one hand, elbow propped against the small square table, and looked gently at Edelweiss across from him.
"..."
A silence followed.
Edelweiss's face grew even redder.
Still, Edelweiss was not an indecisive person. Once she made up her mind, she would not shrink back. "I don't know either."
"However, if I really had to make a choice, then I think that person... would be you." Determination shone in her eyes as Edelweiss looked at White Night.
Hmm...
I don't know what to say.
This is my first time putting a novel behind a paywall, so I hope everyone can subscribe. After all, this is how the author makes a living.
For the next few days, the author will keep up three updates a day and release some of the chapters I had saved up. I hope there will be more first-day subscriptions, since the data is very important and gives the author motivation to write.
As for this book, I'll do my best to make sure it reaches completion. Or rather, unless something special happens, even if the data isn't particularly amazing, I'll probably definitely make sure it gets finished.
After all, this is my first book, and it concerns my own reputation. If I get labeled a "pigeon," wouldn't that be the end of it?
So there's no need to worry about the author running away.
As for the comments section and chapter comments, I'm not good at managing those, so I won't set any restrictions in that regard.
Of course, if possible, please still pay a little attention and try to maintain a good atmosphere.
Then there's the matter of pacing.
Personally... I feel that the pacing in the Chivalry of a Failed Knight arc has been a little fast. But from another angle, at least I haven't padded it out.
Give me some suggestions if you can, and I'll see whether I can improve later. Though the chances may not be high. This is the author's first time writing too, and I've already done my best just to keep things from falling apart in that regard.
All right, that's probably it. The author doesn't know what else to say.
There's also an author group, so I'll just post the group number. Personally, I don't think the data is especially good, so I don't know how many people will join.
Group number: 699938529
Evening Banquet
Far East Region, Osaka City.
A port city far from the city center, it was filled with towering buildings, yet ordinarily completely deserted.
Several decades ago, a large number of high-rises had been built here amid the wave of urban development, only for the area to fail disastrously when it came to attracting businesses.
The entire city had nearly been abandoned, the policy a complete failure. Usually, it was as desolate as a ghost town; even stray cats were hard to spot.
But now, the whole city had been revitalized.
At some unknown point, water and electricity had been restored throughout the city.
Street vendors lined the roads, while the buildings that had once been as barren as a desert were rented out one by one. Clothing stores, accessory shops, fast-food restaurants... all kinds of establishments filled every corner of the city.
There was only one reason for this.
Two days later, the annual Student Knight Festival would be held at this city's Port Dome:
—The Seven Star Sword Martial Festival!
Moreover, compared to the KOK League for professional Magic Knights, the Seven Star Sword Martial Festival drew far more attention from the people of the Far East.
After all, there were not many contestants from their own country in an international competition like KOK.
Especially after World Clock retired, Yaksha Princess was the only active competitor from the Far East who still held a high ranking.
But the Seven Star Sword Martial Festival was different.
Furthermore, with the previous National Dawn Academy incident, this year's popularity had even far surpassed that of previous years.
In fact, starting seven days before the tournament, this city had already been caught up in an unusual frenzy.
Of course, it was not only spectators who arrived at the venue early. The representative contestants for the Seven Star Sword Martial Festival had mostly arrived as well.
"Is this necessary?" (White)
In the dormitories specially prepared for contestants, Edelweiss carefully tied a necktie for White Night.
Edelweiss then took several steps back and examined White Night's fitted black suit from afar. Nodding in satisfaction, she said, "Of course. You should dress formally for an occasion like this."
—The Seven Star Sword Martial Festival officials had organized an evening banquet specifically to entertain the contestants who arrived early.
As for Edelweiss?
Given her status, she had originally not been interested in things like this. But now that she and White Night had established their relationship, and he was taking part, she naturally came along to show her support~
She had disguised herself along the way as well.
It was very simple: merely an ordinary casual outfit and a baseball cap... but that was already enough.
Bronya held Edelweiss's arm the entire way, helping her conceal her identity.
No one would think she was that "Twin Wings." Twin Wings could not possibly be as ordinary as she appeared! Even if someone saw her, they would only assume she looked alike.
"Even so, there's no need to wear a suit, right?"
It was called formal attire, but in White Night's impression, few people at a banquet dressed normally. Everyone had their own distinct style.
Take Bronya, for example: the outfit style of Secondary Silver Wings could be worn as a formal dress entirely. Of course, it also had the Leg Ring that could be called its "essence."
"Wouldn't neat casual wear be enough? This suit, on the other hand..."
As he spoke, White Night tugged open his tightly fastened collar, giving him somewhat of a suited thug air instead. "It feels too tight, and it doesn't fit my temperament either."
Stare—
"All right, all right, I get it." White Night raised his hands in surrender, defeated beneath Edelweiss's gaze.
After saying goodbye to Edelweiss, White Night and Bronya headed toward the banquet venue together.
Since he was with Xiao Ai, White Night was, as usual this time, still acting independently.
In the hotel specially prepared for representative contestants, the top floor contained a banquet hall—that was where this evening's banquet was being held.
Taking the elevator at the end of the corridor, White Night and Bronya arrived at the hotel's top floor.
A huge and splendid double wooden door stood before them, with lively clamor spilling out from behind it.
"This is the place."
There was no need for any mental preparation. White Night had seen plenty of grand occasions, so he stepped forward with Bronya.
"You two are representative contestants participating in the Seven Star Sword Martial Festival, correct? We've been expecting you. Please come in."
Upon seeing the two arrive, the attendant at the entrance immediately revealed a flawlessly courteous smile and opened the doors for them.
A wave of warmth washed over them.
Before their eyes was a spacious hall.
A rouge-colored carpet spread across the floor, and exquisite crystal chandeliers added to its luxurious splendor. The overall arrangement was exceptionally elegant.
The neat tables were also covered with exquisite food and fine wine of all varieties and styles.
Under the dazzling lights, dozens of figures moved among them, raising glasses and chatting merrily.
"Looks like there are a lot fewer people." (White)
"That's normal." (Duck)
After the footage of the battle at Broken Blade Academy had leaked, many contestants withdrew from the competition, and the roster underwent emergency adjustments.
—Not everyone had that kind of mental fortitude. More students had never experienced actual combat, so they chose to back down.
Accordingly, those who still chose to remain were basically people with considerable confidence in their own strength.
Elsewhere, when the banquet hall doors opened... the conversation in the hall abruptly fell silent, and everyone's gazes converged on the entrance.
"They are...?"
"They're the Twin Fangs of Lightning."
"...I think I've heard of them. Didn't they seem to do nothing much during the qualifiers?"
"What are you talking about? They were keeping a low profile."
"..."
Whispers rose all around.
A small number of people doubted White Night and Bronya's actual combat strength, since they truly lacked any notable record.
White Night did not care about such remarks in the slightest. Nor did he need to prove anything—why would the strong care about the opinions of the weak?
Before you continue