Volume 6 Chapter 2 [Kingdom SIDE] Kingdom Knights. New Commander Cain
Diamante Kingdom – Royal Office
"...Ranza. Is the preparation for the Blood Duel Cup going well?"
"Yes. We're managing the Spirit Dungeon, the 'Forest of Soul,' well enough. Clearing out the forest and building the arena cost a lot of money, but—"
"I heard Horace left behind golems. And that they have circuits built into them..."
A magic tool works by either inserting coins made of concentrated magic or putting magic power into it directly.
The golems left by Horace only do what they were made to do, but the user can still control how far they go.
So, if you pour in a huge amount of magic power, they can even blow up a mountain.
In other words, by adding circuits that control "how much" magic goes in, these golems can work like normal magic tools.
...Also, the golems' bodies and paint are too strong and well-made. They're so tough that even our kingdom's tech can't take them apart. So to fix them, we have to use tiny work holes that were made in advance.
To be honest, it's the kind of job that makes you want to scream, "It's not a ship in a bottle, damn it!" — a line the people at the newly built Royal Magic Tool Research Institute often say.
Still, they somehow made the tools they needed for building work properly.
"Yes. Thanks to that, we finished the arena at a pretty low cost."
"I see..."
"The Construction Guild was filled with people crying and losing their minds, though..."
"Yeah, probably."
The tools were so useful, it was clear—no, certain—that the guild would lose money... but there was no point talking about that here.
After all, a festival needs the right kind of stage.
"They could just make a group to run the place for these events. An arena that only works once every four years is too expensive and wasteful."
"I agree. But it's because we can do that, that we get to stay on the World Conference Permanent Council."
The Blood Duel Cup is held in a location built by the host country, so it was newly built here in the Diamante Kingdom.
Yes, it wasn't a fix-up of an old arena. It was built from scratch.
Why wasn't it built before? Because the Demon Lord showed up, so they didn't need to hold the event in the first place.
Even before that, the Diamante Kingdom was the lowest rank out of the seven council seats. They didn't have the power to hold the Blood Duel Cup, which is a big event to choose the strongest fighter.
That's why they had to build a new arena this time.
"Killing off the monsters was important too..."
"That's thanks to them, no doubt."
Right as Valzeil and Ranza said that, someone knocked on the door.
"Your Majesty. It's me, Cain."
"...Let him in."
Valzeil gave the order, and Ranza walked over to open the door.
Standing there was a boy, around fourteen years old. A very beautiful boy.
He had short, light purple hair. He wore full armor, but he looked more like he belonged on a stage than in battle.
"Excuse me! We've finished setting up the system to manage the 'Forest of Souls' dungeon! The soldiers are deployed, and the supply network is all set up!"
"I see... It's a big place, being a natural dungeon and all..."
"It's all right! I've seen everything!"
"E-everything...?"
"I'm the one managing the natural dungeon. Most people would never want the job. But even with that—!"
Valzeil and Ranza both looked exhausted.
"It was smart to name him Commander of the Knight Order, though some thought we were wasting his talent. I'm glad he had the chance to prove himself."
"Abel is working hard in the castle, so Cain can focus on his job with no worries."
Cain smiled brightly.
"...Cain and Abel. They're twins from a village near the edge of the kingdom. Hiring them was a good decision."
"More than good. It was a perfect call—better than we expected."
"Thank you very much!"
"...Now then, Cain. You will join the Blood Duel Cup too."
"Huh?! Me?!"
"That's right."
Valzeil gave a slow, clear nod.
"The Diamante Kingdom is the strongest country in the world in terms of power. That's why we can hold the Blood Duel Cup. But even if we're the strongest, that doesn't mean we have the best people."
"Even our great power mostly comes from using the golems Horace made—using every trick we can think of. If we don't send a strong fighter from our own kingdom, we'll look weak and shameful."
"What about Abel? If I enter the tournament, Abel will probably become the one in charge of the dungeon. But if the fighter and the manager are brothers, people might get suspicious..."
"No problem."
Valzeil said it clearly.
"The Blood Duel Cup decides the strongest... It picks the 'number one.' Only first place is announced in official records. Second and below don't matter."
"Some places show full rankings, but those are always unofficial. What the Diamante Kingdom needs to care about is who takes first. That's all that matters."
"And the one who takes first in the Blood Duel Cup is really the strongest. To be honest, no little tricks can beat that person. They'll crush anything in their way—and they should."
"People will talk. They'll say it's not fair. But a true strongest person—someone who really is number one—has a power that blows away all doubts."
Valzeil and Ranza looked straight at Cain.
"Don't worry. Just show the world how strong our kingdom really is."
"Yes, sir!"
Cain nodded with full energy.
If people expect this much from him... then he must be a real monster.
Cain, Commander of the Diamante Kingdom's Knight Order.
He will join the Blood Duel Cup.
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