Today, the imperial capital, Glory-Road, was several times more vibrant than usual.
Red eagles wearing golden crowns, the empire's symbol, fluttered in the streets, and the delicious aromas from street food vendors filled the air.
"Mom, I want a chicken skewer!"
"Kids, slow down."
"Should we watch with some beer today?"
"It'll be over quickly, won't it?"
"There's a celebratory performance after the knights' battle, so there's plenty to see."
Children and adults alike enjoyed the festive atmosphere in the streets.
Children held toy swords and shields.
Some wore costumes resembling knights' armor.
The reason so many people were out today was simple.
It was the day of the knight's mock battle, one of the festivals held in the capital.
Originally a light event to showcase knights' duels to the public, it had become one of the empire's flagship events since crowds began gathering to witness the prowess of the current commander, the Iron-Blooded Knight Yuris.
The undefeated knight.
She was a symbol of the empire's victory and a steadfast shield that allowed its citizens to live their daily lives with peace of mind.
Naturally, she became an idol to the citizens and one of the most popular figures in the empire.
Today, too, the central training arena was packed with people eager to see her.
"It's crazy crowded today."
Jeko commented, looking at the citizens filling the large spectator stands near the arena.
"We're gonna crush the Second Knight Order today, right?"
Jeko chuckled as he asked.
"Don't take it lightly. A mock battle is still a battle. Treat training like the real thing."
"Of course, Commander. Everyone's on edge, just as you said."
Listening to Jeko, Yuris checked her equipment one last time.
"By the way, Commander, is that guy you're interested in coming today?"
"W-What are you talking about! That's…"
"You said you had someone you were interested in last time."
"I never said that!"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Yuris panicked.
A man she was interested in?
There was no such thing, so why did they keep saying that?
"Wasn't it true? Your expression was totally that of a noble lady in love."
"Jeko, you're not even from a noble family. How would you know that?"
"Haha! Before my hair fell out, I was quite popular with the ladies. Made plenty of noble ladies cry."
"…Even after seeing your bald head, you still say that?"
"Come on, Commander."
Regaining her composure, Yuris sighed.
"There's no such person. Even if there was, I'd tell him not to come."
The faces of the bandit and the illusion mage briefly crossed her mind, but Yuris shook her head.
They weren't men she was interested in.
One was a projection of her desires in an illusion, and the other was just the shop owner providing the service.
They had no relationship whatsoever.
"Really, there's no one?"
"Why do you keep asking? It's like you've got a bet riding on it."
"…"
"You actually bet on it?"
As Yuris narrowed her eyes, Jeko waved his hands, shaking his head.
"N-No way! Why would we bet on that?"
"How much did you bet?"
"…I bet five gold that there is someone."
"Five gold? That's enough to buy a decent sword!"
"That's how confident I am! You've got someone, Commander. That expression isn't one you'd have if there wasn't."
Yuris sighed.
"Looks like you're about to lose that five gold."
"Ugh!"
While chatting, the time for the knights' battle approached.
The mock battle was divided into two parts.
A team battle among the knights.
And a duel between the commanders.
The team battle was meant to demonstrate how well the knights could perform without their commander and to showcase the deputy commander's abilities.
Since a deputy would take over if the commander received a title and left or died in battle.
Yuris was confident the First Knight Order would win.
Jeko was an exceptionally capable knight, and the knights under him were the empire's best.
The First Knight Order wasn't the strongest just because of her strength.
It was the collective strength of everyone fighting under her that made it the empire's finest.
From the highest seat in the arena, the Empress delivered a speech to the imperial citizens.
The voice of the empire's most exalted flower melted the hearts of the people.
- May the noble battles of the knights, who never cease their training to protect the empire's glory, serve as an example to all. I will watch this fight alongside you. I will personally crown the victor with a laurel wreath.
Her red hair, braided and adorned with a golden crown, shone more beautifully than the empire's red eagle.
Her golden eyes overlooked the entire empire, and the citizens who met her gaze smiled as if blessed.
That was charisma.
Watching the Empress, Yuris recalled the moment she swore loyalty to the empire.
She, too, had been captivated by the Empress's beautiful smile, vowing to dedicate herself to protecting her.
What an incredible person.
The Empress, who declared she was married to the empire and refused to marry anyone, devoted herself solely to the empire.
But then…
"I don't feel the same awe as I did the first time."
Why was that?
As Yuris pondered, a man appeared in her mind.
- I'm your master, slut.
- You're not the real Yuris, are you?
- Spread your legs.
The man who ruthlessly dominated her.
The bandit.
And the mage who carried the same scent.
With their images in her mind, she couldn't focus on the speech at all.
Oh, no.
Getting aroused on such an important day…
Her heart raced.
If everyone here knew what she was imagining, how would they look at her?
They'd surely despise her.
They'd say they trusted her, that they never knew she was like this, and condemn her.
The mere thought made her hands sweaty.
Was it because she hadn't visited the shop due to mock battle training?
Her breathing grew heavier, and her heart beat faster than usual.
Just imagining it made her…
"I'm wet."
This had never happened before.
Having such lewd thoughts before a mock battle.
If the goddess knew, she'd surely punish her for being depraved.
"Focus, Yuris. Today is important."
Clenching her thighs and fidgeting, she bit her lower lip, steeling her resolve.
But the wave of imagination, once unleashed, only grew stronger.
Her knights looking at her with contempt as she knelt before the bandit.
The imperial citizens, as disappointed as they had once been hopeful.
And the Empress, looking at her like trash.
- Yuris Belletaon, I'm disappointed in you. How could the empire's representative knight…
No.
If this keeps up, I'll climax just from imagining…
But her imagination was cut short.
"Commander, I'm heading out."
Jeko called out to her as he prepared to go out after the speech ended.
Returning to reality, Yuris patted his back.
"Fight well."
She saw him off, pretending to be calm.
"I'll bring you victory, Commander!"
Even in that moment, she could almost hear the bandit's voice.
Then.
"This time, we'll win."
A man approached Yuris, who was imagining being ravaged by the bandit.
It was Veron, the commander of the Second Knight Order.
His silver hair tied back, the handsome man with sparkling blue eyes smirked.
"L-Long time no see, Veron."
"That rude tone of yours hasn't changed."
"Same goes for you."
"Tch! By the way, you must've trained hard today. Your face is all red."
"I-I ran some simulations in my head."
"And the results?"
Simulations? Her mind had been filled with perverse fantasies until just moments ago.
"I won every time."
Yuris had no choice but to lie.
A strange guilt from lying pricked at her chest.
Veron, clad in sleek armor, stood beside her, looking at the Second Knight Order across the field.
"We'll win today."
"You sound pretty confident."
"Of course. I've got solid grounds for it."
"Grounds?"
Veron glanced at the spectator stands and continued.
"My little sister came today. I can't show her a pathetic side of her big brother, can I?"
"Your sister?"
"You've seen her, right? The empire's greatest spirit summoner."
"Oh, that arrogant noble lady? I saw her once before. Unlike you, she's beautiful."
"Arrogant, huh."
"She spoke informally from the start and said she'd beat me. She's just like you."
Yuris knew Veron's sister.
Helen, a renowned spirit summoner acknowledged by the elves.
Veron called her the empire's greatest, but Yuris knew her as the human summoner capable of calling forth the strongest spirits.
They had only met briefly a few months ago, but her impression was unforgettable.
- You're the knight who keeps beating my brother?
That venomous expression, as if she didn't know Yuris.
That fierce look, gritting her teeth in frustration over her brother's defeats.
- Don't get cocky just because you beat my brother. I'll defeat you soon enough.
- I'll join the empire soon, too. Let's have a match then. I'm curious if you'll still be the goddess of victory.
Her personality was exactly like Veron's.
"That happened? Haha! That's my sister for you."
Hearing about it, Veron chuckled.
"Now I really can't lose. I have to win."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
After a brief exchange, Veron left to run his final simulations.
Talking about the duel with Veron stopped the fantasies of the bandit dominating her.
It was a relief.
She could regain her composure.
She stood still, observing the flow of the team battle.
The team battle ended with the First Knight Order's victory.
Jeko's performance stood out, as expected.
In another knight order, he would already be fit to be a commander, so it was perhaps inevitable.
"Well done."
Then came the individual duel.
"Let's have a good match."
"For the empire's glory."
Fully armored, she faced Veron.
BOOM!
The duel between two swordmasters ended…
"Winner! Yuris Belletaon!"
Naturally, in Yuris's favor.
"Damn it, I looked pathetic in front of my sister…"
I won again.
She should have been happy.
She should have been grateful for winning for the empire's glory.
She should have been pleased to uphold her title as the goddess of victory.
"I'm not happy."
It was a strange feeling.
Despite achieving victory, she didn't feel the same joy as before.
Glory and victory didn't bring her happiness.
"Congratulations. You are truly the empire's symbol of victory."
Even as the Empress pinned a medal on her chest with her beautiful hands…
"It feels empty."
Yuris couldn't shake the hollow sensation.
She should have been grateful for the Empress's blessing.
That should have been her joy.
ROAR!
The cheers of the crowd should have filled her with satisfaction.
Why?
Why, then?
- Aren't you a pussy slut who wants to be fucked by a dick?
Why was she happier hearing the bandit's voice in her head?
Why was she imagining them despising her?
Perhaps it was because of these constant questions.
Yuris failed to notice the gaze glaring at her from the stands.
While the entire knight order reveled in victory at the festival…
"It's not enough. This… isn't it."
Yuris alone couldn't enjoy the victory.
And, as if possessed, she said…
"I have to go."
She left the bustling festival arena.