Magic Gems Gourmet

School rivalry taught by Dill. It was a short period of about a month until that day, but even Ain't appeared in the growing air of the school city day by day, it got in that festive mood.

The day of the confrontation that finally came. The battle took place in three days, a school city that was always busy with people, but it showed even greater buzz.

The weather is clear, and a number of students have high goals and aim to win the matches that have finally come.

Each day of the week the contents of the rivalry can be divided. On the first day there will be confrontational matches in literary subjects such as arguments. Schools aimed primarily at the civilian population and those attended by many nobles participate.

The venue rents and takes place several school facilities each year. Depending on the competition, public facilities were often used.

Ain was accompanied by two people, Chris and Dill, who had enjoyed a confrontation since their first day.

I was able to get a lot of inspiration because I also participate a lot at my age.

Warren and the others considered Ein's desire to watch the match due to a report from Dill. The result was judged to be a good experience for Ein as well, and permission was granted on condition that Chris be taken.

Ain't had a lot of fun with the debating tournament on the first day, etc., the second day had a rivalry with magic-specific content, and Ain had a meaningful time until the finals of a number of events, which took place in the evening.

Those working at White Knight basically had many knights, and the training Ein had received was dominated by the physical system.

Though Warren and the others planned to educate Ein about the magic system, that is now only being done in terms of seating.

That's why the opportunity to see so much magic so far has been a very enjoyable, precious time for Ain.

And that second evening. There was one problem with the arrow tip, trying to move to another venue and watch a new competition.

"Then Dear Ein. Shall we come?"

"Yeah. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next"

Ain't prompted by Chris to start moving. Next to it, Dill also refrains.

"Dear Ein. Looks like you're enjoying today's game more than you did yesterday, and I'm glad to hear it."

"It's hard to get this chance to see magic. But I also wanted to see Dill fight because of it. Is the martial arts system tomorrow?

"Yeah, it's tomorrow's date. I'm honored you're interested... but I'll show you in the castle if your father gives you permission."

Dill hasn't shown Ain his sword arm yet. More than that, they're not allowed to show off.

Lloyd, my father and Marshal of the Knights of Istarica, had not allowed it. Dill is still immature, which is why Ain't got to let Ain't get hurt, that's what he said and didn't get a chance to show off.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Dill can't show off that martial arts in a confrontation. Because he is also a set (first) of Royal Kingsland Schools. He can't compete in a rivalry, just like Ein.

Would Dill also have liked to fight on the big stage, this rivalry? Thinking of it that way, it was Ain that I'd just be a little vain.

"... you. No way. Is that Dill?

"Hmm? Are you... no way"

"Long time no see, Dill! I never thought I'd see you like this."

The man who abruptly spoke to Dill, he seemed to know Dill and was greatly pleased to find out he was Dill. You don't look so bad. Beautifully wrapped with short, golden hair, taller at about the same age as Dill. And his hips were equipped with swords.

"Yeah, me too, Clive. I've been in the same school city and I haven't seen you face to face in years...... sorry. We'll talk later, we're at work now."

"At work? You're supposed to be a student, just like me..."

Clive, who looked suspicious and turned to Ain and Chris. Today Chris is hiding his face with his helmet and wearing the armor of the Kingsguard Knights. As a result, the face could not be seen.

"Excuse me for this. Let me apologize for speaking up when I said I was on duty."

Clive saw the armor that Chris wrapped around and anticipated being escorted. I didn't even think of it as Wang Prince Ain, but still think of it as a trail for a noble nobleman, and honestly apologize.

Ain't replied before Dill replied to it.

"It doesn't matter. Dill, you can talk slowly for about 30 minutes. There's another escort waiting at the next venue."

Dill realized he didn't call Chris by his name. You don't put the name Ain on the table and you don't want to make the story too big. With that in mind, Dill responds to Ain by being careful with his choice of words.

"I won't! Never leave the escort in such a personal matter!

"Escort captain. About 30 minutes would be fine, right? Are you in danger alone?

"... no, no problem. Dill, it's the first reunion in years in the corner. I hope you enjoy your words and have a little conversation."

Chris also gave permission for that amount of time. I was told to speak slowly to the two of you, Dill, and I just thought it would be a little rude to shy away from it any further, and the result would be sweet on the word.

But even though it was about half an hour, I realized my immaturity in the words that Dill wouldn't be a problem without.

"Well...... I would like to sweeten your words and enjoy a little conversation with an old friend"

"Yeah, that's fine. Then we'll go, and Dill can come back later."

And Chris and I, Ein headed to the next venue. He followed the scene early enough so that he could not understand who Ain was until the end.

"I can't believe you're surprised that Dill's already been on escort duty since we reunited."

It's an honor.

"... I knew you couldn't tell me whose escort you were taking?

"Oh, oh, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you. I'm friends with Clive, so I'd like to tell you."

Clive was concerned about Dill's subject of escort. It is treated as a well-known fact at the Royal Kingsland School, but I did not purposefully intend to inform the outside world. We had no choice if the information gradually spread, but there is no advantage in publishing it from our own special sources.

"Well, I guess so. By the way... you can't fight back, can you?

"It's settled, that's why"

"I am. I've always looked forward to fighting you in a rivalry. Yet you enrolled in the Royal Kingsland School and never had a chance to do so."

"... so am I. I figured how much fun it would be if we could fight over there with Clive, who competed when he was little"

"If so...! Then why did you go to that school?

The two of them have been competing for some time as childhood tamers. That's why Clive was looking forward to competing on the stage of this confrontation.

Even so, Dill decided to enroll in the Royal Kingsland School, making a set (first) from his first year.

As a result, Dill was unable to compete in the rivalry.

I didn't like that, Clive. I was never making a promise, but I felt like something had been betrayed, from which the relationship between the two of them became alienated.

"... to make my dream come true."

"You didn't tell me one of those dreams! Why not? Is that the kind of dream you don't want to talk about so much?

"No! I went into the Royal Kingsland School to make it happen. That's not embarrassing!

"Then why can't I tell you!

Dill has one dream. But it was never spoken of to anyone. Whether it's my father Lloyd or my mother Martha, I've never told her that.

But Dill's dream was a big, great dream that no one could be ashamed of. But now he just didn't have the courage to say it.

"... one day, when I can put my chest up and say it. I want to say that to Clive first and foremost. So I want you to wait a little longer."

"Huh...! Did you lose your temper just because you got into Royal Kingsland School, Dill? Enough, I'll move on, I'll... I'll be Ishtarika's strongest knight any day!

Clive, who looks a little irritated, said to Dill when he became the strongest knight, turning his back.

"Today. It was a pleasure meeting you, but I also felt a little sad. I don't know how you're going and what kind of dreams you have. Still... one day, I'll be waiting for you to compete with my sword again"

"... Me too, Clive. I'm sorry, I just don't have the courage."

"I know. There's always been a reluctant part of it, but it's full of things I'm not convinced of.... Tomorrow, are you coming to see?

What Clive has spoken of is one of the most exciting competitions, taking place on the last day of the rivalry. It is a tournament that determines the most powerful knights of the school city. Of course Clive will compete, but he was the head of the winning candidate.

"I think I'll probably go check it out. He was looking forward to it."

"Is that the escort child? Well... then take a good look at how strong I am."

Clive walked away without waiting for a response. Dill had a sad feeling somewhere, hard to put into words. Did I want to compete in a rivalry? But the closest thing to fulfilling a dream should have been the Royal Kingsland School. He couldn't figure out what was right when he thought so.

Then he went to Ain. Instead of being escorted, he conveyed his deep appreciation for the time he had given to speak with his friends and returned to his escort assignment.

But unlike before we broke up, I saw sadness somewhere. Ain and Chris noticed how it was, but they didn't listen to it with all their care.

I was curious about how Dill looked like that, but Ain't watched the next competition while acting as usual as possible. By the time I left, Dill's condition also seemed to have gone as usual and I was only able to feel a little relieved.

"Dill. I need to talk to you for a second"

"Father?"

At night, Lloyd spoke to Dill when he got home.

"What happened, be honest"

Lloyd immediately noticed how Dill was different from usual. Martha seemed to have noticed too, but today is the day she escorted Ain. I think Lloyd is more appropriate than I am, and I leave it to Lloyd.

"... it's not a big deal, but I haven't seen Clive in a long time"

"You've been alienated since you got into school. Wasn't it a good thing we got to see each other again? What a bad expression. I was wondering if something was wrong."

"If you didn't hear from Chris, you'll be fine. I was just wondering if I was going the right way when I was talking."

"... is that your dream?

"Yep. This was the best way to make your dreams come true, that's all."

"Hang out a little bit"

That's good. Pull Dill's hand hard, Lloyd. Just as they take him, Dill heads to where Lloyd is going.

The place you reached is the courtyard of the Greyshire family. It was also where the Lloyds conducted their training.

"Take it"

"All of a sudden... what's wrong?"

Lloyd gives Dill his training sword. It was a dill that didn't make sense to this sudden stream, but I took it exactly as my father said.

"I'm not as smart as Lord Warren. I'm not the kind of person Martha cares about. And like Ein, I wouldn't even call him a kind person. But I've never lied to a sword like that. I have risked my whole life to continue my efforts. That's why I believe I can put my feelings on this sword more than anyone else and keep shaking it"

Lloyd didn't get to his current position with his talent. We made it to the Marshal, where we continued to work several, dozen times harder than others.

And like Dill, Lloyd took a training sword in his hand.

"There's not much I can do. But I can convey my honesty to Dill through my sword. That's what I thought. So sorry but we can hang out...... here we go!

Training for the night that began abruptly. The usual times have been bogged down by Lloyd, Dill. I was worried it would interfere with tomorrow's escort, but I think it cleared my mind more than that.

I won't put it to words, but a big thank you to my father, Dill.

I thought it would be easier for me to get here than my father. My father's words and my father's connections have made me go through a number of things. As a result, I have even been assigned the task of escorting Ain.

I wondered how easy my situation would be if I thought so. He inherited the power of his father, who became Marshal, and was also born with numerous talents from his mother.

There is such a palpable result in front of me.

A man named Lloyd, who continued his efforts and became Ishtarika's strongest knight, even though he was told he had no talent.

Understanding that, Dill thanked him for everything that happened today.

The third day was the last day of the confrontation. The venue for this festive tightening competition was just an exciting one. This competition, which attracts a large audience each year, rents out an arena near the school city this year, and its competitions are held.

Excitement is a noose climb for a reason. Because the moment was finally approaching when the strongest knight in the school city was to be determined.

Ishtarika is also paying attention to all this day. That's why Lloyd, the marshal, is taking the guest table.

Ishtarika National Knights School. It was a simple name, but also a famous knight's school as a school. There's Clive, a friend of Dill's, enrolled there, taking him to the stage of this finals.

Its opponents are the Royal Kingsland School, the next three groups (third) of boys in the fifth year. The games that seemed close to each other at the beginning, if also at the middle, began to differ in local power, and Clive was gradually beginning to overwhelm.

And the moment of settlement, finally, comes. A sword waved by a boy student at the Royal Kingsland School, crumbling it from the front at the end of the meeting, with a sword on his neck and Clive raising the victory.

'We've made a decision! This fiscal year, school city rivalry...... the strongest knight has been decided to belong to the Ishtarika National Knights School! Clive!'

Clive's classmates sitting in the audience raise a loud voice of joy. Other than that, the venue was wrapped in great applause and cheer.

Clive had torn in the sixth year of the Royal Kingsland School a year ago and had finished in the semi-finals. After that, I've made my training even more demanding on the springs of remorse.

Having decided to win, Clive aims to receive a commemorative medal, Lloyd, who moved near the VIP seat.

"... Long time no see. Dear Lord Lloyd."

"It's been a long time, Clive. I'm glad to see you getting stronger, too"

The two of us having a conversation, and Lloyd, take out the medal and try to put it on Clive's neck, but Clive stopped it.

"Dear Lord Lloyd. The winner has the right to receive an Exhibition with an Authorized Knight. Is there any mistake?

"Mm...? Sure, I can nominate someone. What's wrong with that? Medal first..."

"Then there is one person who would like to nominate. He may not be an official knight yet, but he's on a mission from Ishtarika."

To Clive's attitude without saying yes or no, Lloyd decides to hear the content first.

"... with whom"

"With Dill. I want to compete with him for the last time. That... now on this occasion."

The conversation between the two is audible to the venue through the magic props. I heard that, Dill, and suddenly I can't hide my surprise.

"I see. Everything came to an end... you know what I mean"

How Dill looked last night, that's what I somehow understood, Lloyd. Indeed, Dill has a book as an apprentice knight. So there's no problem with letting him fight in this excursion.

I checked that in my head, Lloyd. And I uttered the words to the venue.

"The winner Clive hoped to make an exit on this occasion now! I'll allow that as a marshal! Play more games with the winner Clive than this and the apprentice knight Dill!

The venue boiled even bigger. Dill was also a famous figure in the school city, and it would have been natural if he had fought on this occasion.

"Dill. Go away."

"A, Dear Ein! But I have an escort assignment."

"You're happy, aren't you? Come on, about the last year of school life, you can have one of these. Hey, Mr. Chris?

"Well, that's what Master Lloyd allowed... I don't have the authority to stop it."

"Huh...!

Is it from joy, Dill, with a thin tear in his eyes? And I told Ain.

"Dear Ein. As Master Ain's escort apprentice, we will show you a shameless battle!

From Ain I heard that word, go! Yeah, Ain slapped me on the shoulder, Dill. He left Ain to go down to the arena. The face looked sunny, somewhere delightfully clear.

"Are you here?"

"You've been nominated."

Dill stepped down to the venue. On the front of it, Clive, now the winner of the tournament, waited now or now for Dill to come.

"But am I good? If you were a Kingsguard knight, it would have been a good experience for Clive."

"You're the one I want to take down, Dill. I wanted to fight you in this place, so when I won, I decided to nominate Dill."

"... well. I'm glad to hear that."

"You were watching, weren't you? How was my final fight?"

"I thought you were stronger than ever. Surprised."

Both of them keep the conversation quiet. The two of you have not heard the noise of the venue already.

"Both. Get ready."

The referee speaks up. The two people who were nearby distance the voice from the signal. And he changed his expression, and the air changed in an instant.

"... Begin!

The unusual excursion began as Marshal Lloyd watched. Clive, who seems tired, but the move seemed to be faster on the contrary, even compared to the earlier finals.

"Eww..."

"When all of a sudden you get cut off so fast, right? We're still going!

Clive, whose body is warming, takes the lead. Dill, on the other hand, is now on the defensive side.

"You can't win just by defending yourself!

Clive's health as if it seemed inexhaustible. A strong blow keeps swinging at Dill. The vibrant momentum was breathtaking for the audience in the venue.

"What's up, Dill! Are you sure you're out of your mind? I told you I have dreams, you!

"Oh, there is! To make it happen, I went another way with you!

"Then show me how strong it is! You can't even talk about it. Throw away those dreams!

In general, it is assumed manners to be cautious of private language during matches. But still, they didn't stop it. I didn't stop, I was fighting my feelings on the sword.

But Dill made me look immature. I get upset and distracted by the word "throw away" Clive's dream.

"Damn... Damn...!

Clive's blow was heavy and Dill, who couldn't defend himself well, knocked his body down on the floor.

"Ha... ha... hey Dill! What a pitiful look! You think I've been waiting forever to fight you like that!?

"Not yet. You're not done... Clive!

Rise and wave your sword at Clive, Dill. But I can't get through the upset about the earlier words, and it's just an attack that I don't really feel comfortable with.

"... Dill. I thought I'd be there for you if it was your dream. But now I'm only feeling so sorry for you. How did you get so worked up, that's enough. I keep going, put you down... I'm gonna be Ishtalika's strongest knight... Shh!

Attack following dill. I no longer feel I can exert my powers as usual.

I thought Clive had been honest with his dreams and had worked hard for it.

But how about yourself? You're no longer understanding the right answer, and if you think so, you're gradually losing the power to wave your sword.

I'm sorry, Master Ain. It wasn't your escort. That's what Dill thought in his mind. He said he was supposed to stand with Lloyd yesterday and be ready. I felt sorry for my mental weakness, which upsets me so far with just one word of childhood tampering.

Like slow motion, I can see the sword movement Clive shook up. I'm sure I won't be able to protect that. I'm already losing, I thought so.

"Dill!

From afar, I can hear Ain calling himself. Oh...... I have nothing to say. I'm just sorry. That's what I was thinking.

"... you swore an oath! Don't even think about the hard part! You told me you'd make me the strongest knight ever!

... right. Dill took an oath. For Ain's sake, I had decided to be the strongest knight.

"I'm sorry. Clive... I'm not allowed to lose."

Clive gives a surprise look at the mere words of the escort, and whether that changes the aura so far. Clive's feelings are tightened to that face and aura that was different from earlier.

"Eh... what are you. You suddenly changed...!

"I let that one say that much. I'm sorry, but I understand. I don't need anything difficult, you're absolutely right. You just have to keep going to get results... that's all"

Like a light prep movement on the spot, the look of a sword-wielding dill. True to the contrary from earlier, he showed a soft movement as if his body had been broken. Dill is not the type to use force moves. Purely soft and fast swordsmanship as a strength. It is as beautiful as a painting, a serene sword technique as a spiral.

"Hey, Clive."

"... what"

"It's my dream. I'll tell you what, I can probably... speak. Because I don't think I'm scared."

"Huh!... right. Then we'll look forward to that too, and let's continue... Whoa!

Clive launches a harsh attack just like earlier. The only difference was how Dill, the recipient, looked.

"I'm used to that already. You can't hide your frustration from yourself. I've shown him so many different fights."

Clive, who was supposed to have launched the attack, collided on the ground. I can't seem to kill the power, I hit the ground from my head. The attack was lightly flushed by Dill and, conversely, it hit the momentum.

"Oh, you...!

"Come on, keep going, Clive. It's nobody's sword, it's my sword. Get a good taste of the sword that Dill attracts!

"Absolutely. Show me something unusual..."

"Mr. Lloyd. Are you here?"

"It's the only job I've been entrusted with to give you the medal, so it's the hole my son fell out of. I should bury it."

"... but that was odd, Master Lloyd"

Lloyd took Ain and Chris to their seats.

It was easy to find them because they were two people sitting in seats reserved for nobility.

"Uhm. Sure...... but in the words of Ein, it looks like he has somehow gotten back on track"

"Hey, Mr. Lloyd. What's odd?

"Dear Ein. There's no way you can always escort a man who fought like that."

"That's right, Master Ain. Dill was chosen because of his excellence. Even when it comes to escort apprenticeships, to the extent that they are good at their age, they will not be chosen."

"Then the usual dill, if you're a person called that clive..."

"It's bad for them, but it's not supposed to be Dill's strength to be them. I used to antagonize there, but Dill also trained me and Lord Chris, and he's already trained himself in the castle. If you say that, it's natural not to be the other person. Too mentally immature was the problem..."

Listen to Lloyd and Chris, Ein thinks.

Then I wonder why you were fighting so much.

Now I've started to gain an advantage for some reason, but even that seems strange.

Even as Ain and the others have this conversation, the fierce battle between the two continues. Already in his advantage, Dill, Clive has gained even more momentum and launched a harsh attack on Dill.

"... you've decided to win or lose"

"Lord Chris is right. Clive can only wave his sword harder now"

Tensions seem to be rising, and the two voices become even louder and begin to reach under the Ains.

"From the beginning... you should have done that from the beginning, why are you always... Huh!

"I've got enough to worry about! But I've already decided... so no matter what happens to you, you can't lose!

"Then say it! Your dreams and shit! You can tell!? Come on, say it!

The two of us continue our conversation as we engage in an intense battle. As we approached the end of the phase, the conversation grew bigger.

"Oh, I'll tell you! Clive... my, my dreams!

"Say it, Dill! If that's what you can really be proud of!

Clive's sword was wielded with the most momentum ever. Clive's sword, Dill flushes it to the side of his body and uses the momentum to disfigure Clive. And I stuck a sword in my neck from behind.

"My dream doesn't just mean I'm going to be the strongest knight! Father... it's about defeating Marshal Lloyd and taking that mightiest seat!

And the excursion ended with a dramatic tabernacle. The words, spoken by Dill, resonated throughout the venue and were to be heard by all the audience.

The venue after the Exhibition was a fuss. Not only was Dill's bomb statement, but also because the excitement was a chilling circumstance in the contents of the battle.

Ein eventually managed to see the gap and get in the carriage and return to the castle.

It would take a lot of time if we didn't use the water train, but still, if we look at the situation today, we can't help it. Four of Ain and Chris and Dill were aboard the carriage for the castle.

"I apologize for showing you impudence, Master Ain! It is only natural that you should be relieved of your guard duties! I deeply apologize for applying mud to Mr. Ain's face!

In that carriage Dill kept apologizing to Ain. That he looked unusual for a long time, until he won. That was also an apology to Ain, who was the subject of the escort, for thinking that he had caused shame.

"You don't have to apologize so much. Because you won. That's all right."

"So..."

"It's tough, Dill. Ain't no objection to what Ein says."

"... Ha. Marshal."

"Well, well. Don't you have to be so angry, Mr. Lloyd? You looked so happy until just now."

"Ah, Dear Ein, how about that..."

Lloyd scolded Dill, but now Ain't praised me the other way around. To that, Dill wondered what had happened.

"Dill, I have to reward you for winning today."

"Yes, no. There is no such demise either!

"Dear Ein, hey, no way is that reward..."

"Well, take it, Dill. I heard Dill's dream was to defeat Lloyd and take his seat, and Lloyd was so happy he'd never seen it before, right?

"No, I don't know..."

Lloyd reacted out of embarrassment or not knowing what it meant. But Ain't never missed it.

"Hey, Mr. Chris? Isn't that right?

"Yes, as Ein said, I thought that was a happy face."

"Nooo... when I use Lord Chris haha!

Father.

Dill, hearing the words, lightened his expression a little and spoke to Lloyd. I didn't say His Excellency the Marshal, I called him Father, but Lloyd also loses track of blaming him for it.

"... what?

"I'm not aiming for a marshal. But… sooner or later, we will defeat your father without skin, and take the throne of Ishtarika's mightiest knight into this hand."

Dill's face, full of confidence, looked dazzling to Ain as well. It was sunny, and now he also has a courageous and splendid look to say the word.

"I'm not going to give you this seat so easily. Until I die, you'll never think I can take it away."

As sunshine somewhere as well, Lloyd's expression looks delightful. A lot happened today, but even as Ain, it was an intense day I felt it was a good day.

"Hey, Dill."

"Ha!"

"Dill promised me he'd try to be the strongest knight. I'm not saying anything to that, just waiting for the day Dill becomes the mightiest knight. Waiting more than anyone for that day to come...... ok?

"... as you say. Your Highness."

Ain't smiled when I heard Dill's reply.

For Dill, the day he swore true loyalty to Ain was this day.

Don't worry about anything, don't doubt it. My own monarch who just said he would wait for me to take that seat.

For his sake, let's risk our lives to continue serving. Yes, I swore to my heart. Whatever happens, I'm on Ain's side and become a shield.

The thought was, above all, an important oath to keep until Dill finished that life.