Half a month later, the first day of the school festival came.
　The first day of the long awaited school festival had arrived.

''Wow........''

　I am overwhelmed by the unusual scene at the school.

　There are so many people and the noise of the stalls calling out to customers.
　The smell of burning oil drifts out of nowhere.

　It's like a big market in a big city.
　The school festival is the perfect opportunity for the students to celebrate.

Yifa, don't get hung up.
Uh-huh.

　I take Yifa's hand and proceed through the crowds.

　This reminds me of a festival in the capital that I used to go to every year with my students.
　There weren't any fancy stalls, but many people, regardless of rank, had gathered to watch the gorgeous cavalcade and dengaku. Just like now.

　I remember that time, too, I was desperate not to get separated from my little apprentice.




You were too late.

　I managed to get through the crowd and arrived at the magic practical training ground.
　At the meeting place, Amu was already there.

''Sorry, sorry, there was a huge crowd...''
I'll be here when it's busy. The first game is about to start, okay?

　Amu, who puts his hands on his hips and says in a dumbfounded manner, already looks ready to go.

　He is wearing a simple but well-worn leather armor, including a breastplate and basket hand.
　It is said that they use blade-pulled swords in the swordsmanship tournament, but even so, this level of equipment is probably necessary.

　People were gradually gathering at this training ground where the match was to take place.

　Yifa said with a worried look.

''Amu-chan, be careful.
Don't worry.

　Amu laughs wryly.

''Only the students of the school can participate in the tournament. Taking on a nobleman is just like playing around.''
Now, how long can a mouth like that be beaten?

　Suddenly, a wild voice sounded.

　When I turned around, there was a large man wearing chainmail.
　Many similarly dressed people were waiting behind him.

''I've heard rumors, the daughter of the primary school. I think it's called Amu or something. She passed at the top of her class with a grade unseen in history, defeated one of the Lesser Demons at the entrance ceremony, and survived the underground dungeon in Rodnea Forest. The rest... what was it?
'Ha!　I've heard that you've scored very well in your post-entrance exams, especially in your practical skills!
'Ha!　I've heard that you've had a career as an adventurer in the past!

　The guys behind me answer briskly.
　And the big, burly-looking man nods in satisfaction.

It was so, it was so. It was so," he said, "but you know, commoner's daughter. You will never be able to reach the area I've reached with your sword. Do you know why?
What?　I don't know. I mean, who?
That's because your sword is only an adventurer's sword, a barbarian's sword, for dealing with beasts and monsters. The sword I practice is the sword that protects the people by cutting off evil people and demons. Yes, that is exactly what it is.

　The big man's eyes widen with a twinkle in his eye.

'Chivalry!　Let's make a name for ourselves here!　I am Darius Garlandleif, Knight Elidor Garlandleif's son and head of the Knights of Rodnea Academy, second year of high school!

　Amu is staring at the big man with a subtle expression.
　I mean, this guy was a student? And what's the school knights?

'My daughter. Your defeat is unassailable in the eyes of the chivalrous mind. But don't bemoan the misfortune of meeting me in the first round. You are after all the commoners under our protection. Take my strength into your hearts and rest in the future of the Empire. Kuhahahahahahaha!


****


　And Amu's first fight.

'Guhaaaaahhhh!

　Within a few moments of the start, Darius had been blasted away.

　Amu, who had put away his mock sword for the match, sniffed and said.

''I'm afraid for the future of the Empire.

　In the audience, the faces of the school knights are holding their heads in their hands.

''No way........it's impossible from a chivalric point of view for the leader to lose.......''
''What are we going to do? This is going to be chivalrous, and more and more people won't come to join us....
This is bad. I thought it over chivalrously, and after thinking it over, I bet ten silver coins that the leader would win.......can someone lend me some money?

　I can hear them talking like they're nuts.
　Are these guys licking their chivalry?

The best thing to do is to have a good time. The people around me were saying that the school knights are the name of the school's swordsmanship club. That's why it's not a proper knight's club,
Yeah right.

　I thought it was no use.
　That's why Amu doesn't want to go in there either.

But that doesn't mean they are weak, either. It's just that the leader was a candidate for the championship.

　The odds were clear on that.
　His body was well-trained, and he wasn't a bunch of people in name only.

　Even so, though, they were indeed no match for the brave men.

''Hmm... yeah.

　Yifa muttered with an odd pause.


****


　The swordsmanship tournament will be held over two days.

　The final match on the next day.
　There too, Amu won without danger, and won the championship safely.

　Or rather, the matches were so one-sided that there wasn't even anything to see on the contrary.

''Good work,''
"Hm.

　Amu replies curtly to my compliments.

"You don't seem too happy about it.
It's not that, but it's just not enough... After all, I have more fun dealing with monsters. Just like that time in the underground dungeon.

　Well, for Amu, I guess that's true.

'But you should be a little more affable at the awards ceremony. You'll make it repulsive again.
I know. Until you get your prize money. ...and Yifa?

　Amu scurries over and looks around.

'As soon as the game was over, I said I'd go get some food, and then I went away. I'm sure he'll be back soon.
Well you, dear.

　Amu lowers his voice.

'What are you making Yifa do?'
?
'I saw that girl talking to that Knight Commander Darius or something last evening. Is she up to something?

　I blinked a few times and shook my head.

No, I don't know. I didn't let you do that.
Really?
I don't know, well, you can ask him.
Well, I'm sure that's true, but...

　Amu says, a little awkwardly.

'It felt like ... well it felt like you were avoiding the public eye. It's not like this is small talk. So it's a little difficult for me to ask you, too.
....

　I return the silence, unable to come up with the words.
　What is it? I can't think of anything in particular that Yifa wanted to do with that Knight Commander, but....

Oh, Amu-chan!

　I looked in the direction of the voice and saw Yifa running over to me with a package of roasted chestnuts in her hand.

''You did it!　Congratulations on the win!
Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Yifa.

　Amu responded awkwardly to Yifa, who was frolicking as if it were her own affair.

　Even after that, I couldn't ask him after all.