Now, I've been to a place like the Colosseum, as described in the history books.
　So now I'm in the arena.
　Now, at long last, the moment of truth.

Are you ready?　Did I forget to equip you with anything?
　That said, the one who is carefully checking my equipment is Gert-san.
　For someone who says he did something bad and escaped from the Empire, this guy is so caring that he doesn't look like a bad person at all. .......

''It's okay . I have the sword and armor that Gert-san made for me, and I'm well equipped.

Yes, it's okay. You're doing fine now, Mr. Kite. Just relax and try not to be nervous.
　As opposed to Gert, who was even more nervous than I was, Aaron gave me one last pep talk to calm me down.
　No~Truly, I can't thank this man enough .

Yes, sir. I'm going to believe in what we've been doing, and I'm going to try to stay calm.

　and
Kite: ......
　The remaining Hélène was less cheerful than anyone else.

I'll be fine. I'll do my best. Can you give me a compliment when I win?
　Then I gave her a gentle hug.
　Half of it was to cheer Hélène up, but half of it was to share my Hélène power before the battle.

"Of course. I'll do anything for you if I win!　So, but ...... don't take it easy, okay?　It's funny that I said win and win, but ...... I don't need to win. I know you're strong. So don't force me to do anything I can't fix or injure you.
　Oh, Elaine is too cute: .......

"Of course I'm going to win this one unscathed. Then I'll look forward to my reward when I get back.
　I gave her one last hug and went to fight.

You're still like a hero. But the jewel princess really doesn't have a knack for kite.

The princess has grown up just as much as Lord Kite, you know.


　When I entered the arena, Horst was waiting for me.
"One year, two months and seven days since you dared me to say one year. It's been longer than the original year, so I'm not going to accept your excuses, am I?
　You're a very detailed man who remembers all those dates. ......

Yeah. Yeah.

Is that outfit ...... going to be a real fight?
　Horst looked me up and down and asked me a question.
　What kind of question is that? Is this a tactic to discourage me?

'Yes, but?　On the other hand, isn't Horst going to fight?

"No, I'm not going to run and hide. What I'm saying is, if you're going to abstain, now's the time to do it. You'll show your incompetence in the eyes of this king and these people. You're not going to be seriously injured, are you?
　What's the matter. You just want to say I'm strong.

"Huh ...... do you want to argue?　The King is waiting for us, so let's get on with it.
　I said this to Horst as I looked around for the king, who was watching from his special seat.

'You said it!　I don't care what happens to you!

Hi.
　So I'll just go in for the trouble.

　I used my electric spell and charged at Holst at high speed.
"Huh!

''Yeah ...... even though you're slower to react than Aaron-san, you're still not as skilled as you should be. If it was planned, I was going to take him out with this blow.
　I succeeded in blowing it up, but it did very little damage because it was defended at the last minute .
　The longer it goes on, the more I'm at a disadvantage because I don't have a lot of magic and I don't have the foundation to do it, so I'm in trouble. .......

''I'm going to kill you!　I'm going to kill you!
　What ...... are you so weak?

''You're showing such anger, ...... your sword is getting monotonous, huh?
　If you're going to be a swordsman, you would never let your emotions get the better of you like this.
　At least, Mr. Aaron would have a scary blank expression on his face!

"I'll kill you. You're weaker than I am. Absolutely weaker!

"Chill out once.
　I deliberately took Horst's attack with my sword and sent an electric current through the sword to Horst .
　You must have been chattering all over because I was wearing metal armor, right?

Yeah. Is that it?


　As I watched Horst fall, I released my stance.
　It's a good thing Horst is more inexperienced than I thought.
　If he was a proper candidate for the Sword Saint, he wouldn't have been able to win.

　That's what I was thinking: ......
...... ross.
　Horst is on his feet.
　And then I saw ...... already in front of me.

Wow!
　I hurriedly tried to keep my distance.
　But I couldn't get to ......

"Kill.
　A concentrated slash by Horst hit me in the chest.

'Kite ！！！！！'

"No. ...... I'm fine. I'm not going to get killed.
　Hélène's shout came from somewhere, and I replied as I thrust my sword into the ground and stayed there to prevent myself from falling.
　Thanks to Gert's armor, we avoided a fatal wound.
　This isn't working as well as it should...Geralt-san's really amazing.

Yeah. I know you're bleeding out, but you can still fight. ......

Die!
　As soon as I regained my position, Horst's attack came flying in.
　Yeah . He's still a candidate for the Sword Saint, even if he's rotten. ...... He's faster than my limit.

''Tch!''

But I can push the envelope.
　Catching Horst's sword, I activated my electric magic again.
　I don't have a minute to use my limit breakthrough now.
　If I don't make this split-second decision, I'll lose.

　Then I began to attack as fast as I could.
　Attack and attack, attack and attack.
　I need to leave Horst open for a counterattack.
　The moment my sword strikes Horst's sword and armor, I'll win.
　If I can avoid them for a minute, Horst wins.
　A battle has begun.

　Every millimeter of my attack will be avoided by the sharpened Horst.
　d*mn it!　We're almost there. 　What do you want to do?　If we don't, we're going to lose!

　I'm not sure if it was because of such impatience or because the desire to hit the attacker preceded it: ...... I unconsciously sent a mass of electricity toward the holst.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

!
　The moment he was hit, Horst stopped moving.
　It was small, but my body reacted to the unexpected blow.

　And then my sword slammed into his neck.
Kill!　It's a disgrace to be beaten by you!

I don't like it. We're about to go to war and you have fewer people to fight for. Besides, ...... I'm a little overwhelmed.
　The effect of the limit is wearing off and I'm unconscious.


Yeah, ...... where is this?
　When I woke up, I saw the ceiling that I'd known for years.
　Huh?　I thought you said I was going to the arena?

This is your bedroom. I've been sleeping all day with the side effects of pushing the envelope.

''Oh, Elaine . . a side effect of breaking the limit ...... means I've won, right?
　I'm glad. It's not a dream come true that we won.

"Yeah. It was close, but I got the win. Mattius said it wasn't overwhelming, but I brushed it off.

There's Elaine. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Haha. ......

What?　Did I ever have anything to sigh about?

'I'm just glad I kept my promise to Elaine for now...'
　I'm glad I kept my promise to be strong in a year.

I'm sorry about that ....... I know it must have been confusing to have just been brought to you, but I'm sorry for saying such a selfish thing.

Well, I was hurt at the time. But at the same time, I wanted Elaine's approval. I wouldn't have made it this far without Hélène. So don't look so sad.
　I've been able to be strong because of Hélène, who's always there to push me when I'm weak and to heal me when I'm hurt.
　It was because of her that I was able to be strong and have her become the king.



'Kite is ...... really sweet. Normally, it would have been easier for Leeds than for me, who has such a bad personality. ......

'Really?　I don't trust Leeds, and Elaine's easier to hang out with because I can talk to her without reservation, though, right?

'That can't be true. ....... Because until you came along, I was always alone. I started collecting jewelry to take the edge off the loneliness of being alone.

It was: ......
　I thought Elaine was a lonely person ...... but she was really alone.

I didn't say anything to comfort you. I'm not lonely right now!
　I mean, is that ......?

"I've enjoyed every moment since you've been here. I've been looking forward to talking to you every day. All I could think about for the past year was you. I never touched a piece of jewelry, except for this pendant.
　As she said this, Hélène took out a pendant from her chest and showed it to me.
　Indeed, the pendant had a beautiful jewel on it.
　But there were many more beautiful jewels in Hélène's room. .......

'This is, you know, ...... my mom's keepsake.
　Ah, so that's what I'm talking about: .......

"My mom wasn't always going to be the queen. There was a potential queen and she had a fiancée. But there's no way her father, who was the incarnation of an orc, would have missed out on her mother, who was said to be the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.
　You're a hell of a pig. Can I roast a whole pig with my electric magic now?

Your mother, who was forced to marry and became a queen without being prepared for it, was so stressed every day that she was weak and sick and died before I was ...... ten years old.
　Not so fast: .......

"In this castle. There was no one there to help me and my mom. Always giving me the cold shoulder and telling me I was in the way. It's horrible. Your mother didn't become the queen because she wanted to be.
　So you're the next queen and you were always alone: .......
　As Aaron said, this country is so rotten .

"Mother, I've always looked at this pendant. I never said it, but it was probably given to me by the man I was supposed to marry. When I looked at it, you looked up at your mother's face for some reason. So I thought that looking at it after your mother died would make me feel better. ...... but it only made me miss your mother even more.

'No matter how many other gems I tried, I couldn't . No matter how many rare gems I looked at, they never filled my heart.

But hey, ...... now I can see why.
　As I said this, Elaine crawled up to my bed.

'Your mother was soothed by seeing this pendant because it was given to her by her beloved. So it didn't mean anything to me.

""......"

Hey, can you do me a favor?
　After a moment of silence, Hélène cut him off.

'What?　Say anything.
　I'd give my life for Hélène.

Will you wear this pendant ......?
　Huh?　You see this pendant?

'Okay, but ...... is it the other way around?　It's your mother's memento, right?
　I know it doesn't make sense mentally from what I just said, but it's still important, right?

No. You wear it most days. Then give it back to me when you go to war. I'll keep it to myself while you're gone.

　Huh?　That's ......
"I know this pendant is bad luck. But that's why. I'll make a connection with the love of my life for your mother. I want to make up for my mother's disappointment. So I'm going to use this pendant.
　That makes sense.

All right then. We'll be happy for Hélène's mothers, too!　I'll take care of this pendant as if it were Elaine.

'Wait!　I'll wear it. Close your eyes.
　I was about to take the pendant from Hélène when she hurriedly withdrew her hand.

''Huh?　Are you going to meditate?
　You're just going to put it around my neck, right?

Oh, for God's sake, shut up!



"Wow, okay. ......
　What's the surprise?
　As I was thinking about that, I felt a weight on my shoulders and neck .

'Don't open your eyes yet. ......

Yes. Reward of the day.

　kiss