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Thud.
A large, thick foot emerged from the carriage and landed on the ground.
Following it, a large woman stepped out of the carriage.
Students who had casually turned their heads gasped.
"The Witch of the Battlefield!"
"The Iron Lady Swordsman!"
"Countess Espin Ellaina!"
Especially the students of the swordsmanship department, their eyes sparkled.
Of course, in terms of reputation, Professor Leo Martiang of the swordsmanship department could be said to be higher.
But Leo Martiang was someone they encountered every week at the academy.
Countess Espin Ellaina was a living legend living in a distant provincial city.
Espin was more mysterious.
Espin, after a brief greeting with Professor Leo Martiang, approached the table where Davian was.
"Does the food suit your taste?"
"Yes, Countess. Thank you. You didn't have to go this far."
"It's just a small amount of money. I told you about my wealth, didn't I?"
Espin Ellaina smiled as she looked at Luna and Karin.
But the only ones who realized that expression was a smile were Davian and Luna.
Belum, staring at Espin's fierce face, thought to himself.
'What is it? Why is she suddenly frowning her facial muscles? Is she angry?'
"Luna, Karin, it's been a while."
"Yes! Hello! Countess."
"Hello."
"Davian, I've prepared ships so that everyone on the field trip can ride a pirate ship tomorrow. There are five ships in total, so it should be enough. I heard you've already divided into five groups, right?"
Nubes shouted without realizing it.
"Pirate ship!"
Espin, turning her head, slowly scanned Nubes's body.
"You have a tremendous body at a young age. What's your name?"
A living legend, the Witch of the Battlefield, asks for his name.
Nubes stood up on the spot.
"Yes! I am Nubes Arbo!"
"If you've built your body to this extent... your inner strength must be even more incredible. Are you the swordsmanship ace of Elton Academy?"
That's...
He only built his body.
"Ah, well, that's. I focused on external force to become the best tank!"
Espin's eyes gleamed as if even more intrigued.
"You only trained external force to become a tank? How did you make such a decision at such a young age?"
"Well, Davian advised me, and the professor thought it would be a good idea too!"
"Most people don't realize they have no talent for swordsmanship and only choose to focus on external force after wasting time. It's a bold choice at a young age."
Nubes raised an arm as thick as Espin's and scratched his head.
"I'm actually not very talented in swordsmanship..."
"That doesn't matter at all. Rather, thanks to that, you properly utilized the advantages of your body. You, if you don't find a job you like after graduation, come find me. I'll put you in my army. As an officer, of course."
Nubes Arbo.
18 years old, tank.
Confirmed job at a major company.
Nubes bowed so deeply that he almost hit his head on the table.
"Thank you! Countess!"
"What, I'd be grateful to have someone like you. By the time you graduate, there won't be many who can stick a sword into your body."
Espin, gesturing for Nubes to sit down, turned her head.
"You must be the eldest daughter of the Meridiem family? Your name is..."
"Latia Meridiem."
"You're a great beauty as I've heard. I'm envious."
Espin, throwing a joke, laughed heartily.
Belum thought to himself again.
'What is it? Why is she suddenly wrinkling her facial muscles and making a hoarse sound again? What point is she angry at?'
Espin put her hand on Davian's shoulder.
'Is she angry at Davian! Run! Davian!'
"Davian, Luna, Karin. After the field trip schedule ends tonight, would you like to come to my castle? I've prepared a small party. With fireworks."
Fireworks.
Gunpowder and shells exist in this world too.
But there are only a few people throughout the continent who can handle gunpowder delicately enough to make fireworks.
If an amateur expert tries to make firecrackers, an explosion accident is likely to occur.
Therefore.
Fireworks are sold at a very high price.
It's only used for royal banquets.
To do it properly, a lot of gunpowder is needed, so it's necessary to surround it with layers of magical shields.
Luna's eyes sparkled.
"Yes! I'll definitely go, Countess! Davian, Karin, you guys are going too, right?"
There's no reason not to go when she's inviting them.
Just as Davian and Karin were about to nod.
Belum quickly moved next to Karin and whispered in her ear.
"Karin! Tell her you can't go to the party today. Please."
"What are you talking about?"
"Huh? Please. I'll grant you one wish unconditionally later. Okay?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"There's a reason. Please, okay? Please, I'm begging you, Karin."
It's okay to go or not go.
Since he's asking so much, there's no reason not to grant it.
Besides, it's actually a benefit to have one wish granted unconditionally later.
"Countess, I'm not feeling well today. I'm sorry."
"Really? That's a shame. Davian, you're coming, right?"
"Yes, Countess. I'll go with Luna tonight."
"Okay. See you tonight. Then goodbye."
The afternoon schedule passed with a visit to historical ruins on the outskirts of the city.
Davian and Luna, with the permission of the head of the swordsmanship department, left the hotel without attending dinner.
"The Countess sent me. Please get in."
A carriage sent by Espin was waiting at the hotel's main entrance.
"She said she prepared a small party..."
The Countess's castle ballroom was filled with nobles who had been invited from all over.
"...Lord?"
"Davian, it's been a while."
The most influential ducal family in the Alcancia Kingdom.
The best magic family on the continent.
The head of the Meridiem family was also there.
"...Davian? What are you doing here?"
"Jenny?"
It was Jenny Arond, the second daughter of the Arond family.
"My father is over there. He'll be happy to see you, Davian."
Jenny Arond dragged Davian to greet Thomas Arond.
"Oh! Davian Naone, is that you? It's been a year. Nice to see you."
Davian finally realized the purpose of this small party.
Countess Espin Ellaina came over and put her thick arm on Davian's shoulder.
"How is it? Davian. These are candidates to join the Davian Alliance in the future."
"You deliberately called them here like this."
"Yes. It's good for them to get to know you, Davian. And it's also good for them to meet each other often and build friendships. Come here, I'll introduce you to Count Manon."
Davian greeted nobles from all over the continent with Countess Espin.
They were all nobles with strong military power or who had strong power themselves.
In the process, Espin did not mention a word about the "Marino Empire" or the "Davian Alliance."
She was a person who knew the order of things and knew how to proceed properly.
Instead.
She boasted about Davian until her mouth went dry.
"This is Davian Naone. You know him, right? There shouldn't be anyone on the continent who doesn't know Davian already..."
"He's the student who made a contract with the Ice Spirit Glacie. My goodness... The founding contributor Glacie chose to make a contract with a human again."
Of course, there was some exaggeration in the process.
"He's young, but his skills are so outstanding. He uses both swords and magic, and both are top-notch on the continent. There's no one who can beat him on our continent anymore."
"It wouldn't be strange to give him the position of captain of the guards right away, would it?"
And.
She never forgot to say this last thing to everyone she introduced Davian to.
"He is the boy who saved my daughter's life. I, Espin Ellaina, am ready to give my life for Davian Naone. I will grant any request from Davian, and if there is anyone who harms Davian, I will gladly draw my sword."
In fact, it was a comment that contained the purpose of today's banquet.
If you become Davian's ally, you will become the ally of Countess Espin.
If you become Davian's enemy, Countess Espin will not stand still.
A place to firmly establish the relationship between Davian and herself to the main nobles of the Alcancia Kingdom.
It was the purpose of the noble banquet that Espin Ellaina held for the first time since becoming Countess.
Bang. Boom.
"Now, the fireworks have begun. Let's go out to the terrace and watch."
Some nobles exclaimed in admiration.
"Ooh."
"Oh."
There were rumors that Countess Espin Ellaina had accumulated a lot of wealth.
Bang. Boom.
But they didn't know that she would throw gold coins indiscriminately into the night sky like that.
The fireworks were more splendid than any other banquet and lasted for a long time.
"Davian."
"Hmm?"
"Want to... take a walk for a bit?"
Davian's head was already throbbing with the scent of the nobles' perfume.
It was okay when he met one or two people, but with dozens of people in one space, the different scents of perfume mixed together, and his sense of smell was almost paralyzed.
It was also because his senses were maximized by raising his inner strength.
"Okay. Let's go outside."
Luna and Davian left the banquet hall and walked along the backyard trail.
The refreshing night air tickled their noses.
Boom. Bang.
The light from the fireworks, which were still going on, repeatedly illuminated the two people and then disappeared.
"The noble's banquet is so chaotic. Right? Davian."
"Tell me about it. I almost lost my sense of smell."
"Your sense of smell? Why?"
"Because of the perfume."
"Ah... Davian, you trained your inner strength, so your senses are sensitive, right? It must have been hard."
"It's refreshing and nice to be outside."
"That's a relief."
How much time had passed?
Luna, who was walking quietly, clenched both fists tightly.
'Now's the time! Luna Pueri! You can do it!'
Luna's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would explode.
She was worried that Davian, whose senses had become more sensitive, would hear her heartbeat.
"Davian."
"Yeah?"
"Would you like to sit there for a bit?"
"Okay."
Luna and Davian sat on a secluded bench.
Sigh.
She took a deep breath in.
Phew.
Luna, who took another deep breath out, opened her mouth.
"Davian. There's something I want to..."
Her left hand is in the side pocket of her school uniform jacket.
In Luna's small, white hand is a handwritten letter that she stayed up all night for days to write and rewrite.
"There's something I want to give..."
"Shh."
Davian spread his index finger and brought it to Luna's lips.
Luna's round eyes grew even rounder at the sudden touch of his finger.
"Davian, why all of a sudden..."
"Shh. There's someone over there."
Davian stared intently at the roof of the building where the banquet hall was.
Luna also turned her head, following Davian's gaze.
'Oh...?'
As Davian said, two people were walking on the roof.
Judging from their dark clothes.
It was clear that they were not banquet guests.
At that time.
The two people on the roof turned their heads at the same time.
Luna could only see that their heads had turned.
Davian could see it clearly.
The faces of the two people, who looked exactly the same.
And.
The two people's pupils.
Were looking directly at Davian.
Tatat.
The two people's feet fell from the roof at the same time.
Swaeak.
With a sharp whistling sound, the two people flew straight toward Davian.
Chwarrarack.
He hastily created an ice sword.
Clang!
He blocked the two people's swords that were swung at the same time.
Davian, who was holding Luna, was pushed back a long way.
The two people tilted their heads at the same time.
The two opened their mouths at the same time.
"Blocked it."
"Who is it."
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