The preliminary rounds of the swordsmanship tournament proceeded smoothly.

The second round of preliminaries featured the rising star of Refined Magic Sword Corps—Flail Gardawind's group.

“Oraa! I'll keep going full throttle!!”

As expected, his swordplay was far from knightly, cutting down his opponents with sheer brute force.

──Not that I have much room to talk, but that's quite the rough and unrefined fighting style…

Being part of the knight order’s special forces, Refined Magic Sword Corps was known for its strict and specialized training, starting from daily life to battle techniques and swordsmanship.

Because of this, their sword handling and combat techniques were said to be refined and corrected to a certain degree—at least, that’s what Gilflare had told me.

In reality, the swordsmanship of the Seven Peerless Swords shared similar traits, a style honed through generations and proven to be highly effective. Those who mastered this swordsmanship and polished their talents beyond the rest could become one of the Seven Peerless Swords…

“Hmm… still a work in progress, huh…?”

He’s only been in the order for a little over a year, so it makes sense… Still, Flail’s swordplay was disorderly and unrestrained, seemingly contradicting the teachings of Refined Magic Sword Corps.

“Well, this is a done deal.”

Despite that, he was undeniably strong. He had likely earned his current position through sheer merit.

More than half of the contestants were already sprawled out in defeat. The remaining ones had pale faces, their fighting spirit completely drained.

“Unbelievable! Just like Freesia in the first round, the second round is another one-sided massacre! Flail Gardawind is utterly overwhelming!!”

Before long, the victor of the second round was decided. Listening to the enthusiastic commentary from the host, Spica Louder, the two commentators beside her wore troubled expressions.

“……”

“Yessss!!”

That reaction alone spoke volumes about his character within the knight order.

──My condolences.

Internally, I sympathized with Gilflare. I mean, come on, don’t start holding your head in your hands as if you’re already trying to figure out how to discipline that problem child.

Not in public, and definitely not at a festival event like this. No one wants to see a knight they admire looking that exasperated.

Round three. This time, it was Weiss’s group.

The third-round group had the impression of being filled with burly warriors and rough-looking men. Among them, Weiss, whose appearance was indistinguishable from a beautiful girl, stood out like a sore thumb.

“Wait, is this a crime…?”

“I know what’s going to happen. That girly-looking guy is about to be surrounded by those burly men and—”

“Strip! Strip! Strip! Strip! Strip! Strip! Strip! Strip! Strip—”

A certain group of noblewomen, breathing heavily with eyes alight, were getting overly excited.

Are you ladies really aristocrats…? Though, honestly, the wealthier they are, the more twisted their personalities and tastes tend to be.

──Better not get involved…

Once you acknowledge them, it's over. They’ll drag you down into their corruption.

Meanwhile, in the combat arena below, the situation was escalating further.

“Ghehe, what a cute face you’ve got there… Are you really a guy?”

“Fuhihi… Guess we’ll have to strip you down and find out?”

“We’re open-minded, y’know. Doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or a girl. It’s an era of diversity, after all. Actually, that just makes it even hotter…!!”

“Tch! You scumbags…”

──Uh, is this really okay?

The match hadn’t even started, yet the burly men were already raring to go. Surrounded by them, the would-be hero furrowed his brows, his gaze sharp and threatening.

I mean, yeah, I get that this is a heated tournament battle, but doesn’t this conversation seem off? Stop it. There are still young children watching, you know???

“Fuguaa!?”

“The glare of a humiliated pretty boy… exquisite!!?”

“Crap, my nose won’t stop bleeding…”

Also, those idiots getting aroused in broad daylight seriously need to control themselves. What if Alice gets the wrong idea?

“…Brother? Why is everyone so excited?”

“Uh, they’re all just looking forward to Weiss’s performance…”

“Then we must cheer for him with all our might!”

Seeing my little sister’s pure enthusiasm made my jaded heart feel cleansed.

──My little sister is seriously a pure angel. It’s unbearable how cute she is…

Honestly, those degenerates tainting the atmosphere with their twisted desires should learn from her.

“No, actually, they should worship her.”

“And now, the battle-hungry warriors can hold back no longer! The third-round match begins!!”

Just as I let my thoughts slip, a sharp crack echoed through the arena. The second round of preliminaries had begun.

“Hya-haha! Let the full frontal strip show begin!!”

As if rehearsed, the contestants encircled Weiss.

Rather than protest, the audience grew even more excited. They had long since lost their sense of reason. However, the hero in question remained completely calm.

“Haa… Relax. I’ll show Clay-kun the results of this past week’s training!”

As the roughnecks lunged at him from all sides, the hero swung his sword in a single horizontal slash—

“Sorry, but I’m finishing this instantly!!”

With just that, the swarm of attackers was blown out of the arena.

“Wha—!?”

“I-Incredible strength!!?”

The spectators, commentators, and even the other contestants were left in stunned silence. But to me, it wasn’t surprising.

“Honestly, you guys underestimated Weiss way too much.”

A smile crept onto my face.

He was my top disciple, and he had endured my grandfather’s direct training throughout the summer break. There was no way he’d let himself get taken down so easily. That one strike alone confirmed my suspicions.

“He’s gotten even stronger…”

At this rate, the day he surpasses me might not be far off.

After that, Weiss continued cutting down his opponents with overwhelming force, securing his place in the preliminaries.

Now then, after the third match full of thoughts, comes the fourth preliminary match

Compared to the previous participants, this match might lack impact, and the spectators may feel that there are no standout contestants. However, for me, this was the group I had been looking forward to the most.

"Now, how will this turn out…?"

My gaze drifted to a female swordsman clad in a kimono rarely seen around here. She wielded a katana forged with a unique Eastern technique, and she toyed with the bell hanging from its hilt.

Even her presence was skillfully concealed, blending seamlessly into the surroundings. If I hadn’t pointed her out, only the prince and a few nobles would have noticed her. Otherwise, she would have remained undetected. She was, without a doubt, a swordswoman who piqued my curiosity endlessly.

Now then, just how skilled is she—?

"Now, let the fourth preliminary match begin!!"

With the announcement from the host, Spica Lauder, a sharp burst of sound echoed through the arena. My eyes fixated on the battlefield below, watching intently. And in the next instant, an unexpected sight took my breath away.

"!!"

"Wha… wh-what is going on!?"

The contestants had begun moving as they pleased, but in the next moment, as if in a ripple effect, they started collapsing around the kimono-clad woman.

"…"

At first glance, it appeared as if she had done nothing. To an ordinary spectator, the scene would have seemed unnaturally bizarre. However, I had not missed what had truly happened.

—What was that just now…?

Even so, I couldn't grasp the exact mechanics. Perhaps the two members of the Seven Peerless Swords, who were watching from closer up, had figured it out.

In a single motion, that female swordsman had drawn her katana with a sharp flash. And in the next instant, the contestants closest to her began collapsing as if struck down.

It wasn't the pressure of her swing or the gust from her blade that felled them. Something far greater—an unmistakable attack—had assailed everyone except her.

"I don't know what principle or technique is at play here, but this is a stunning upset! The slender female swordsman has advanced through the preliminaries by sheer fortune!!"

The once-lively Arena fell into complete silence, leaving only Spica Lauder’s voice ringing through the void.

The audience was dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what had just transpired. Even the two guest commentators—renowned as the finest knights—had fallen silent, abandoning their role as commentators.

Their reaction indicated they were deep in thought. Normally, I would have been irritated by their lack of professionalism, but I could sympathize with them in this instance.

"Even the greatest knights can’t immediately see through this unknown swordsman, huh…?"

Now this was getting truly exciting. The unexpected emergence of a formidable warrior set my heart racing with exhilaration.