The five temple knights left the 'arena'.

　There was a slight buzz in the arena.

　That's how unexpected the victory of Aase and the others was for them, and their 'strength' was a surprise.

(I'm a little proud of you.)

　It's not like I was the one who fought, but it makes me happy.

　Eventually, Aase came back to his seat.

'That was an impressive victory, Aase.
You made it.

　General Roberto, followed by Ms. Kilt, all of them gave her a good word of thanks.

　Me, too.

'Thank you for your hard work. Mr. Aase, that was really awesome.

　I told her I meant it.

　She smiled and

'Thank you, my dear Jingu.'

　He responded so happily.

　His Majesty the Empress Ameldas was watching us from her seat above.

　And

It was brilliant.

　A dignified voice descended.

　The ten of us looked up at that great Empress.

　Her red eyes, wrapped in blue eyeshadow, stared straight back at us.

"The first task is yours to pass. But it does not end there. Now we shall have a second ordeal.

　I told him so.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Inside the empty arena, another warrior appeared.

　It was a slender figure, a rarity among the muscular Tolugans.

　His age was maybe in his fifties?

　Dressed in a hemp robe and with many rings lodged in his hands, which were made of bone and stone, he held a wand with a magic stone on it.

　--A wizard.

　That's how it was instantly recognizable.

　And behind the man who was a wizard, there was a 10-medium long 'metal golem' waiting behind him.

　In other words, he's a 'golem-using warrior'.

(............)

　Now you want me to fight that giant golem?

　I'm stunned.

　Before, I fought the Stone Golem in the underground sewers of the royal capital, Mulia.

　His movements were slow, but his strength was strong and his body seemed strangely hard.

　And now, the one in front of me was not a stone, but a stronger 'Metal Golem'.
　Moreover, its size was a ridiculous 10-med.

　It was like being told to 'fight a giant robot in the flesh'.

' "Now, choose your warriors.

　Her Majesty urges us on.

(What shall we do?)

　In the first place, is that an opponent that you can resist with a sword?　That was the question from there.

　I look at the other nine.

(...maybe, if it's magic?)

　It occurred to me that I looked at Solstice.

　Our gazes met.

'.............'
..........

　When she realized, she shook her head tremendously with a buzzing, terrific force.

''Absolutely no!''

　You can feel the determination.

(Well, yeah...)

　I don't know if the magic really works in the first place.

　I just thought about it, too.

(But then again, who the hell would want to fight?)

　When you think about it.

I think it's my turn.

　Mr. Reidle said comfortably, getting up from his chair.

(Oh?)

　General Robert says.

'Can you do that?'
Of course.

　He nods with a gentle smile.

　I look at Kirt's profile as if to make sure.

　Mr. Kilts, too.

It's all yours, Raidle.

　He called out to her with a look of trust.

　Mr. Reidl laughed, 'Oh,' and tapped his subordinate, Mr. Amieukel, lightly on the shoulder.

'Well, I'll be off. Keep a close eye on him.
Oof.

　Mr. Amieukel nodded.

　He smiled again at that, and then headed into the arena.

　The dragon cavalry captain, Leydre Kwokka.

　The strongest dragon knight in the Shumuria Kingdom became our representative for the second test.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Mr. Reidl walks into the arena.

　In the center of the arena is a huge metal golem. The 'Golem-using Man' is about 20 meters away from the back of the 'Golem-using Man'.

　.................

　The difference in size between the two sides is strange.

　Looking at it, it seemed like little Raydol-san was about to be blown away by a single blow.

''Is it alright, Raidle-san........''

　I mutter.

　Then.

You'll be fine.

　Ms. Amieukel, who was sitting in the back seat, said with a mortified look on her face.

　She glanced at Mr. Kilt.

The people prefer Quilted Amandes, of course.
..........
''But if it's called 'the strongest in Shumuria' among the Kingdom Knights, it's definitely 'Ladle Quodka'.

　I say.

(The strongest knight in Shumuria....)

　It's true that the captain of the 'Dragon Cavalry', which is called the strongest in Shumuria, has to be able to become the captain of the 'Dragon Cavalry' without the ability to do so.

　Just like Kirt-san, a knight who bears the name of "the strongest".

　That's Reidl-san.

I've been watching that up close and personal for a long time. There's no way our captain could be beaten by that scrap metal.

　Mr. Amieukel assured me.

　I look at Mr. Kilt.

'The man is strong.'

　Mr. Kilt said clearly.

　And.

But above all, he's not a man.

　I continued.

(???)

　You're not alone?

　When I couldn't gauge the meaning of those words, Mr. Reidle, who was in the 'arena', was holding something to his mouth.

　A small wooden tube.

　Is that.........a flute?

(But I can't hear you.)

　I listened closely, but heard nothing, and I craned my neck.

　And just then, a black shadow fell over Mr. Raydor, who was standing in the arena.　

(Huh?)

　I'm a little late.

　Buh-boom!

　The sound of a giant flap of wings fell from the sky.

　The 100,000 gathered spectators noticed it and started buzzing.

(Ah.........!)

A dragon was descending from the blue sky above the "arena".

　It was ten meters long.

　If you include its wings, it was more than 20 meters long.

　The red scales surrounding its entire body have many scars that tell us that it is a fierce fighter of the past, but its expression is so divine that we can even feel its grace.

　Leydre Kwokka.

　He was a 'Dragon Knight'.

　And the captain of the Shumurian Dragon Cavalry, the pride of the Shumurian Kingdom, is a dragon among dragons.

　100,000 toluga warriors were gazing at him.

The 'Golem User Man' also opened his eyes.

''........Ho?''

　Even His Majesty the Empress Ameldas let out a breath of admiration.

　Smiling, Raydor-san smiles.

　Above his head, the red flying dragon stagnates.

　A fierce flapping wind is hitting our skin.

　And.

"Goooooooooooooooooooooong!

　The Red Flying Dragon howled majestically.

　The giant 'Metal Golem' and the Red Flying Dragon glared at each other, and then the second ordeal began.