The jousting tournament didn’t conclude in a single day.
This was because there were so many knights participating. The jousting match that Keldric fought on the first day could be considered just an appetizer.
“It’s a strategy to draw in the audience. That’s why it’s customary to hold only a brief jousting match on the first day of the tournament,” Alyssa explained.
Thanks to the invitation of renowned knights such as Sir Rupert and Sir Ortwin, the audience’s excitement soared sky-high from the very first match.
This energy carried through the subsequent matches, and unexpectedly, Keldric’s match garnered the most enthusiasm after the opening bout.
Thus, the first day of the Bogenberg Tournament, which turned out to be much more boisterous than anticipated, ended in great success.
Keldric rode with a noticeably lighter heart. By the time he left the tournament grounds, the sun had already begun to set, and the surroundings were gradually growing darker.
Whether in rural villages or cities, activities typically came to a halt once the sun went down.
The difference was that in towns, people used oil lamps or torches to create artificial light, but even so, it wasn’t enough to fully illuminate the entire tournament grounds and continue the matches.
“Keldric! Today’s match was truly outstanding! It was one of the most impressive jousting matches I’ve ever seen!”
Sir Alan, who had ridden up with a beaming smile, clapped Keldric’s back enthusiastically.
Though he didn’t seem entirely trustworthy at first glance, Alan had desperately placed all his money on Keldric, clinging to even the slimmest hope.
As a result, Sir Alan not only recouped his losses from earlier matches but also ended up with a surplus, which left a constant smile on his face.
“Darn it! I should’ve bet my entire fortune! Arrgh!”
In contrast, Sir Henri was not as fortunate.
Unlike Alan, who had been all in, Henri had only bet a single florin gold coin out of lingering anxiety. In the end, that coin returned with seven times its value due to the odds.
While still a substantial sum, Henri couldn’t help but wonder how much more he could have earned if he had believed in Keldric a little more.
“I told you, didn’t I? You should’ve bet everything on me.”
“Damn it… It’s not just that I didn’t win much. What’s even more infuriating is that smug Britas knight made a fortune! It’s twisting my insides!”
“…”
Keldric stared blankly at Henri, who was now writhing in frustration.
‘Tomorrow… well, who knows.’
It was clear that opportunities for Sir Henri to strike it rich in a single day like today would become increasingly rare.
Keldric, making his first appearance in a jousting tournament, had dominated and utterly crushed his opponent in the first match.
Because of this, the betting odds on Keldric for future matches in the tournament were bound to drop significantly compared to today.
While the payouts for the second match would still be tempting, missing the chance to earn seven times the original bet was undoubtedly a major miscalculation.
“Alyssa, did you also make quite a bit of money?”
“…Hehe.”
Keldric deliberately averted his eyes from Alyssa, who was chuckling ominously.
No matter how indifferent one might be about money, it was impossible to live without it.
Especially for a wandering magician like Alyssa, financial stability was even more crucial.
“Thanks to you, Sir Keldric, I think I won’t have to worry about money for the foreseeable future. Truly, I’m grateful.”
“Oh, not at all. Trusting me and placing your bets was your insight at work.”
“No, it wasn’t insight so much as…”
From Alyssa’s perspective, it must have seemed less like a gamble and more like a sure thing.
The memory of Keldric lifting an armored knight high into the air with ease or reducing a rock troll to pulp was still vivid in her mind.
Having witnessed Keldric’s abilities time and again, Alyssa was confident.
In this tournament, betting on Sir Keldric was guaranteed to win!
“But Sir Keldric, you’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
Alyssa’s expression was deeply concerned as she asked this.
However, it was unclear whether her worry was genuine or if it stemmed from the prospect of future bets.
“….”
Keldric slowly rotated his left shoulder, assessing the damage.
That was the shoulder that had deflected Sir Bruno’s lance during the jousting match earlier.
The piercing thrusts delivered on horseback, focused into a single, lethal point, were far from a trivial matter.
Even wearing armor, taking such an attack head-on could have resulted in a dislocated shoulder or, in worse cases, torn muscles.
However, as Keldric tested his shoulder, the only issue he noticed was a slight muscle strain.
“It seems fine. I managed to deflect the attack well enough.”
Keldric’s instinctive twist of his shoulder had allowed him to deflect the strike, while simultaneously striking Sir Bruno with force as he approached.
To onlookers, it seemed as though Keldric had absorbed the entire attack with his shoulder.
This added to his reputation as a knight of incredible strength.
“Well, it’s a relief you’re unharmed… but how is that even possible?”
Even Alyssa tilted her head in confusion, but Keldric’s gaze shifted to the knights being carried off on stretchers in the distance.
“I wonder if Sir Bruno is alright.”
“Uh…”
Alyssa found herself at a loss for words.
It was already baffling enough that Keldric was unharmed; if Sir Bruno also possessed an inexplicably durable body, it would’ve been a whole other problem.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Sir Bruno had an entirely average knight’s physique.
After being thrown off his horse by Keldric’s counterstrike, Sir Bruno was in such poor condition that he could barely speak by the time Keldric went to honorably help him up.
Instead of displaying respect for his defeated opponent, all Keldric could do was watch as Sir Bruno’s attendants hurriedly loaded him onto a stretcher.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine. You didn’t intentionally cause harm during the match, so no one will hold it against you.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Hmm? Were you talking about Sir Bruno?”
As Keldric and Alyssa were speaking, Sir Henri, who had calmed down somewhat, rode over to join them.
Though he flinched slightly upon seeing Alyssa, he quickly masked his reaction. Keldric nodded without comment.
“Yes. I was wondering if I had been too harsh.”
“Well, it was a bit harsh. I’ve got a good eye for injuries, and in Sir Bruno’s case, it’s probably more than a broken bone or two.
He’s unlikely to send you a medical bill, but it was wise of you to reduce the prize money he owed you.”
Though injuries were an inherent risk in combat, leaving an opponent severely incapacitated didn’t sit well with Keldric.
The small reduction in the winnings he claimed from Sir Bruno was a gesture reflecting those sentiments.
“That was an honorable action, so it’s not much of a loss. You did the right thing.”
“Yes. Even if I worry more, there’s nothing I can do about it now.”
“Ahaha! That’s the spirit! If Sir Keldric rides this momentum and wins the championship, I’ll become a rich man too!”
“…I’m in on that.”
“How could a defeated Britas knight possibly win the championship? Don’t be ridiculous. That’s laughable.”
“Damn you, you miserable Frankish knight! Let’s duel!”
“Fine! Let’s settle this once and for all!”
“You two, stop making a scene.”
Despite their usual bickering and trading of insults, Keldric couldn’t help but smirk at the sight of the two clashing yet again.
‘Just how much did I win?’
He had only won a single match, but the scale of his earnings was beyond his guess.
The heavy weight of the money pouch in his pocket constantly reminded him of the windfall, forcing him to suppress the grin that threatened to spread across his face.
Though there wasn’t an urgent need to spend the money, having more was always better.
While money couldn’t buy happiness, it certainly made life more comfortable and enjoyable.
Keeping that wisdom close to heart, Keldric spurred Boreas forward.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
The jousting tournament continued into its second day.
While only twelve matches were held on the first day, as it doubled as an opening ceremony, the second day’s events, which began early in the morning, were much busier, with over twenty matches taking place.
As a result, Keldric had to head straight into his next match after competing on the first day.
In large-scale tournaments, particularly one like the Boggenberg Tournament, it wasn’t common to advance directly after a single victory.
Such exceptions were usually reserved for renowned knights like Sir Ortwin, who had displayed their prominence on the first day.
For Keldric, there was no choice but to play match after match without complaint.
“Who’s your opponent today?”
“Not sure. But whoever it is, they’re probably stronger than Sir Bruno from yesterday.”
Keldric nodded at Sir Alan’s words.
Indeed, after his performance on the first day, Keldric could sense that talk about him was starting to spread.
Although not many, a few nobles recognized Keldric as he entered the stands and even offered words of praise.
Some of them subtly inquired if Keldric could deal with marauding beasts or bandits plaguing their lands, but Sir Henri and Sir Alan were quick to express their outrage on his behalf.
“Do you think Sir Keldric is someone to handle such menial tasks? This is an insult to his status!”
“Such work is better suited for butchers. Sir Keldric’s blade is not something to be used by just anyone.”
Keldric found himself wondering if they were crazy, but he was glad the matter had blown over without further trouble.
“Is my match next?”
“No, it’s the one after that. We should head down soon.”
“I’ll be rooting for you. Maybe this time I’ll strike it rich…!”
“What gives Sir Frank the right to dream of such luck?”
“You’ve gone too far this time!”
“Sir Keldric, good luck out there.”
With the trio seeing him off, Keldric descended towards the arena.
“Excuse me, I’d like to place a bet.”
“Ah, you must be Sir Keldric of the Velaf family. Which side will you wager on?”
“Match after next. Place it on me to win.”
“Understood. Wishing you victory, sir.”
As Keldric made his way to the arena, he didn’t forget to hand his bet to the servant collecting wagers, just as he had seen done the previous day.
He carefully inspected his armor, examined the jousting lance handed to him inside the arena, and secured his helmet in place—a practiced routine.
Keldric felt no nerves. If it were his first time, that might have been different, but having already experienced this once, there was no reason for unease.
Yet, his heart raced furiously, but not because of anxiety.
“The match is decided! May the Lord console the vanquished!”
As the voice of Canon Kuno and the thunderous cheers echoed from outside, Keldric took a deep breath.
There was no time to bask in the glory of yesterday’s victory. Keldric had to chase after greater fame, greater wealth, and greater honor.
And that opportunity was still right before him.
All Keldric needed to do was reach out and seize victory.
“The knight from the Yellow Rapeseed team for the next match is…”
Even as the announcement continued and the next match was underway, Keldric maintained the tension he had deliberately summoned in his body.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Keldric felt restless. The glory of victory, the electrifying energy of the crowd, and the thrill that could only be felt in this moment—it was all intoxicating.
“The knight for the twenty-fourth match from the Red Mahogany team is the honorable Sir Gaspare of the Vera family!”
Keldric gripped his reins tightly. The lance in his right hand creaked under the pressure of his grip.
“And facing him, from the Blue Dragoons team, the brave knight, the honorable Sir Keldric of the Velaf family!”
As the gates opened, Keldric spotted his opponent in the distance.
A helmet that gleamed excessively, topped with an ostentatious feathered plume so extravagant it was nearly comical.
That was the knight Keldric had to face.
He nudged Boreas forward, riding into the arena while savoring the gradually rising excitement.
There was no need to rush. The chance to bask in the glory of victory still awaited him in abundance.
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