"Radiant Knight Margaret Nearl, of the Nearl family known for the golden Pegasus emblem, and a two-time Champion of the Grand Tournament. For many of our international viewers unfamiliar with the golden Pegasus, allow me to offer a brief explanation."
"On the other side, we have the Candle Knight, a noble light from Leithanien. In her very first appearance in knightly combat, she earned her knighthood. In her first Grand Tournament, she attained the rare moniker of 'Great Knight'—becoming one of the youngest in history to do so. She has since been nominated for Most Popular Knight multiple times, and has received eighteen individual honors."
In the Central Arena of the Grand Knight Territory's Cavaleria city, as the Radiant Knight and Candle Knight took the stage, Bigmouth Mob launched into a sweeping introduction of the two contenders.
Tournament conventions—such as the audience being able to spend money on gear to support their favored knight or hinder their opponents, or place bets—were far too established to change in a short time. These traditions had existed for decades and would require a gradual process to reform.
However, what could be changed immediately was commentary. Bigmouth Mob's current role was to praise and elevate both Radiant Knight and Candle Knight, building their popularity and public prestige.
This was something the old Commercial Union would never have allowed—they had been committed to suppressing Nearl's reputation.
Another change was the removal of targeted commentary against Infected knights. Though the role of commentator might seem minor, their influence was significant: over time, their words shaped public perception. The Commercial Union had weaponized this subtle method for years.
Bigmouth Mob was a talented commentator, and with his dreams of living well and bringing his mother to Cavaleria, Daniel had no qualms about giving him this opportunity.
In another world, Daniel might've thought living in rural areas wasn't such a bad thing. In fact, rural life was often quieter and more peaceful than the hectic bustle of cities. It was ironic: rural folks fought to move into cities, while many wealthy urbanites dreamed of escaping to the countryside.
But unfortunately, in Terra, that was not viable. Natural disasters made cities the only places capable of withstanding environmental threats. Cities also offered better protection from Originium beasts, bandits, and bounty hunters. A peaceful life here was a rare luxury.
"Oh! I've never seen such passion! Here's an interesting stat: even before this match began, it already had the highest number of viewers of this year's tournament!"
"During the match, we'll be randomly selecting ten audience members here at the arena. Each lucky winner will receive official limited-edition merchandise! Who will the lucky ones be?"
"Though it seems no one is paying attention to that right now. So please enjoy what is sure to be the tournament's first true clash of Great Knights!"
As Bigmouth Mob finished speaking, Nearl and the Candle Knight met in the center of the stage. However, instead of launching into battle immediately, they began to talk.
"Didn't expect to see you here too. Interested in getting on stage and showing your face?"
As Nearl and the Candle Knight exchanged words, Daniel made his way over to a Capri in all-black attire—Black Knight Młynar. She had come to Kazimierz as well.
Strictly speaking, Black Knight had already joined Rhodes Island, given that Enciodys was now the Operator SilverAsh. As his bodyguard, she naturally followed. With Leithanien's Lin Zhi and even Pramanix's application submitted, the three siblings were about to reunite at Rhodes Island.
In other words, Black Knight's debut was only a matter of time.
"To bring down the Commercial Union in such a short time… I'm curious how you managed it."
"Simple. Sufficient strength."
"Strength like Yelagun's?"
The Snow Mountain Incident had revealed the existence of the divine Yelagun—clearly showing that gods truly existed. This alone had taken a massive burden off SilverAsh's shoulders.
He had always feared that a weak Kjerag would attract covetous eyes. Now, with Yelagun's divine presence made clear, anyone eyeing Kjerag would have to think twice. It was like planting a divine pillar of deterrence, allowing SilverAsh to slow down and develop more carefully. This was likely a reason he felt comfortable becoming an operator.
"Something like that," Daniel said with a casual nod.
"Interesting," Black Knight said, turning her attention to the stage just as Nearl and the Candle Knight began their match.
The two women displayed remarkable technique and speed right from the start. The clash of lance and longsword carried a rare grace—perhaps because both knights were stunningly beautiful, giving the scene a surreal elegance.
"Beauty in battle... that's Leithanien's dueling aesthetic."
Even Black Knight was surprised. She and the Candle Knight were both Leithanien natives. The Candle Knight possessed exceptional talent in Arts—most people like her would have specialized in magic. But she was also a top-tier swordfighter.
"Light and heat... and darkness. Quite a diverse set of Originium Arts. But trying to win with light against the Radiant Knight? That's the wrong opponent."
As the fight progressed, the Candle Knight was the first to activate her Arts. From seemingly nowhere, a candle appeared in her left hand, its flame faint and flickering, as if it could extinguish at any moment.
But it didn't. That fragile light continued to burn—symbolizing the Candle Knight herself, who stood firm even amid overwhelming adversity.
The Candle Knight was a noble's illegitimate child in Leithanien. Unlike other nations where that was normal, Leithanien treated such births as taboo—illegitimate children were either exiled or executed, even by the highest-ranking nobles.
Though Daniel didn't know her exact parentage, the fact that she was adopted by Grand Knight Commander Russel made her noble lineage clear.
"A fireball of that size... This isn't game-tier Candle Knight—this is Contract Mode Candle Knight, complete with extra difficulty modifiers."
Fueled by her flame, her attacks extended beyond swordplay to include Arts. A massive fireball nearly two meters wide forced Margaret to activate her own Arts to cleave it in two.
"I was deeply disappointed by what I found in Kazimierz. Radiant Knight, can you tell me—what does it mean to be a true knight?"
They continued speaking as they fought. The Candle Knight looked visibly lost. She had grown up reading knight novels—idealizing Kazimierz and its chivalry. But what she found was a far cry from her fantasies.
"A knight is a beacon that illuminates the world," Nearl replied.
Had anyone else said that, it might've sounded pretentious. But from the Radiant Knight, the words carried a natural weight. Daniel remembered them well. These words were what made him willing to help Nearl—because in Kazimierz, she was a lone warrior. But now that he was here, she wouldn't be alone anymore.
"Not everyone can light the entire world, Radiant Knight. Most people are just faint candle flames, struggling to see their own way."
"And some people don't even have a candle to guide them. In this age of confusion and blindness, is it really possible to illuminate the whole world?"
"Viviana... are you doubting yourself?"
"I used to be just like you. After I was exiled from Kazimierz, I was lost too. But then I met them—and realized I wasn't alone. There are people out there who press forward, no matter how dark or uncertain the road. They never waver in their beliefs."
"Rhodes Island," the Candle Knight said softly.
"Yes. Them."
"I'm curious about them. But before that..." The Candle Knight's tone shifted as she began speaking in her native Leithanien.
"If your conviction burns as steadily as the sun, then please allow a mere candle like me to try and steal a moment of your radiance."
As if reciting a spell, the candlelight in her hand flared to life, flooding the arena with brilliant illumination.
"Impressive Arts. Not quite outstanding, but certainly excellent. Still... using light against the Radiant Knight? That's never going to work."
Daniel grinned to himself. "Looks like Rhodes Island is about to gain a new operator. I wonder—will she be classified as a Guard or a Caster?"
Though the arena was too far for ordinary people to hear their conversation, Daniel had no problem. Just hearing their exchange, he could already tell—the Candle Knight would join Rhodes Island. Nearl had gained a fervent new admirer.
In the original timeline, the Candle Knight was exiled by the Commercial Union for helping Nearl. That was how powerful the Union's grip was—they exiled the adopted daughter of the Grand Knight Commander herself.
But that was before. The Commercial Union no longer stood in the way.
"That was a clash of radiance! Both knights unleashed their Arts!" Bigmouth Mob shouted excitedly.
As the Candle Knight reached her full power, Nearl also activated her Originium Arts, and the two collided in a battle of luminous strength.
"A clash of radiance... but it's clear Nearl anticipated it. That sword strike—meant to snuff out the light—resembles Eclipse Blade. But unfortunately, it's already been bathed in light."
The Candle Knight's illumination was preparation for her next attack. Going from extreme brightness to sudden darkness disorients the average fighter.
"I concede."
After her decisive strike was blocked, the Candle Knight declared her surrender—without any hint of disappointment. In fact, she looked pleased.
"Victory goes to the Radiant Knight! What a magnificent display of knightly combat! A duel of light, without a doubt—that is this match's theme. A tiny candle dares to challenge the brilliance of the sun! Even without being experts in Originium Arts, our audience must have felt the extraordinary skill of both knights!"
As the match concluded, Bigmouth Mob launched into his professional commentary. Of course, he hadn't actually grasped the full depth of what had just transpired—but that wasn't his fault. Very few could.
Even someone as skilled as the Left-Hand Knight couldn't discern the deeper meanings behind their Arts.
"Viewership for this year's Grand Tournament has shattered all previous records! Moments like this make me wistful—if only we lived in a science-fiction world, where people from all nations could watch together online..."
Indeed, Terra had its fair share of sci-fi stories. Daniel had been curious too, just like members of Rainbow Six wondered what sci-fi fiction in this world looked like. Daniel had read and watched several examples, only to discover that most sci-fi stories shared one fundamental assumption: a world where all nations could communicate freely online.
A noble concept—but difficult to achieve. Not just because of Catastrophes—even without them, it would be a tall order.
Even Lungmen only got match replays, not live broadcasts.
"Come on. All three champions are here—we should get a group photo or something," Daniel said as he invited Black Knight after the match.
"...Alright." After a brief pause, Black Knight nodded.
"They're hyping this up again? People never get tired of it..." As Nearl and the Candle Knight exited together, the tabloids went wild—especially the gossip rags. They dredged up tales of the Candle Knight bathing in red wine and being served by a hundred handsome butlers.
Obviously false—anyone who thought about it could tell. A bath full of red wine? That'd be disgusting. Just like those ancient tales of wine pools and meat forests—gross and impractical.
But most people loved sensationalism. The tabloids thrived on it.
"Mackie claimed to love the Candle Knight. But even with Rosepaper Group's clout, he let these rumors circulate. Shows how much of it was about profit."
"Have him scrubbed."
Daniel didn't bother personally dealing with gossip rags—it was a waste of time. Let Red handle it instead.
"Now it's a four-member team, huh?"
Sure enough, upon returning to Zofia's estate, Daniel found the Radiant Knight's squad: Shining, Nightingale, Nearl... and now the Candle Knight.
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