"Brave gentlemen and graceful ladies! Open your eyes and look at the contestants gathered before us!
"They are the most seasoned and noble knights! They have come from all corners of the world in pursuit of glory!
"Please listen as I call out their names one by one, savor their titles, and welcome their arrival!
"First, the model knight of the Duchy of Toussaint! The glory of the cross and golden lily, Baron Palmerin de Launfal! ..."
...
"The Rose Knight of Redania, flame is his eternal emblem, Siegfried of Denesle!
"The quick hand from east of Zerrikania, the red-and-white Umbrella is his promise to those who suffer, Victor of Kaer Trolde!
"..."
Thankfully, the season was late autumn and the weather was not very hot. Otherwise, standing fully armed under the sun while listening to the name-caller slowly introduce everyone would have left a man fainting from heat by the time he finished.
The spacious racing arena was packed with spectators. More than sixty knights in varied attire stood beside their horses, heads high and chests out, accepting inspection from the tournament host, Miss Vivienne de Tabris.
Their helmets were decorated with gorgeous plumes, their armor gleamed, and even the horses' coats had been brushed until they shone.
Vivienne had to follow the name-caller's introductions and the crowd's cheers, walking slowly before the knights. Those who had advanced to the second day's riding contest were all elites, but half of them would also stop here, so granting honor before the contest was an indispensable part of the proceedings.
Taking advantage of the introduction time, Victor observed the defending champion on the platform, who wore "Black Sun" armor, and joked with Siegfried beside him. "So that's the target we need to take down? He doesn't look very strong!"
The blond Siegfried shook his head. "Underestimating Rainfarn will cost you. His combat skills are refined, no worse than mine!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. No worse than yours... which means no better than yours either, right? Sounds very weak!"
"Piss off! Try not using Signs, and you won't be above me either! We agreed to spar with swords, and then you used both sword and Signs?"
Victor snickered. "Going all out is respect for you! I haven't even used the secret ultimate technique of the School of the Wolf yet!"
Although he did not know what secret ultimate technique the witcher was talking about, based on the Rose Knight's understanding of him, it would certainly not be any proper method.
"Even if you want to use those little tricks, you'll have to get through the riding trial first. This year is not like previous years. The new test really does examine ability!" Siegfried said.
In previous years, the "riding competition" of the knightly tournament had actually been like go-kart racing... A group of people rode their horses toward the finish line, and the top thirty-two advanced. Along the way, they were allowed to attack and interfere with one another.
One could imagine how many "accidental slips of the hand" happened under such a system. If plate armor were not so powerful, a whole batch of people would have died every year.
Perhaps there were some rumors about mythical crossbow bolts piercing plate armor. But in reality, rumors were rumors, and myths were myths. Shooting a hand crossbow at blackened steel plate armor that had not been cheaply made would, at most, leave a scratch.
However, although the go-kart mode was bloody, only the initial melee was really exciting. Afterward, the knights who broke free and continued onward had no need to attack one another, and the spectacle dropped sharply.
So this year, it had been changed to a "single-person timed race." The top thirty-two still advanced, but it was not simply a contest of speed. Along the route, contestants had to slash straw men with swords and shoot hanging targets with crossbows. Failing to do so would deduct points. How to keep the horse from slowing down while smoothly completing the required actions was the essence of this test.
Victor shrugged. "Whether you believe it or not, this is actually the part of the tournament I'm most confident in. Have you ever seen man and horse become one? If not, you'll see it today!"
Siegfried rolled his eyes at him and said no more.
While they were chatting, Vivienne finally finished her salute and walked to the end of the line.
On the high platform, the name-caller gestured with both hands and began introducing the knight beside him. "Let us cheer with all our might for Rainfarn of Attre! This famous knight, known far and wide, was last year's champion. The one who wins today's contest will earn the chance to challenge him!"
After giving the crowd fifteen seconds to cheer, he blew the small trumpet to indicate the transition to the next segment, then shouted loudly, "Let us welcome the guardian of the tournament, Miss Vivienne de Tabris, whose beauty can move even beasts!"
Compared with yesterday, although she had changed into another long dress, she was still dressed in shades of bright yellow and dark green. "I sincerely welcome all you knights here! Please accept my blessings. May you all pass through the road of honor, bravery, and glory."
After Vivienne finished her opening speech, the emcee continued heating up the atmosphere. "Dear spectators, this year's revised competition format is extremely suitable for viewing, and of course, for wagering!
"Ladies and gentlemen, please seize the time and choose the knight you support through the attendants. They will be as swift as the wind, presenting us with astonishing sights and wonderful stories!"
...
In 1270, the reformed riding competition format was widely praised. Through the various obstacle designs on the course, it gave knights ample room to display their abilities, and gave spectators a gorgeous and exciting viewing experience.
The champion of the first edition was Victor of Kaer Trolde, known as the "Son of the Wind." His figure as man and horse became one was branded into people's hearts, establishing a new tradition for the knightly tournament!
When his steel sword smoothly beheaded straw men and his crossbow elegantly shot flying targets, his dazzling spurs cut through the air, shining like lightning!
, Excerpted from
...
After the competition ended, the name-caller shouted loudly, "To pay tribute to the venerable contestants, tonight we shall revel until dawn appears on the horizon! The camp will present the finest wine and cuisine. Anyone who can still move, hurry and enjoy yourselves!
"Ha! Forgive me, that was the script from previous years. Under Lady Vivienne's planning, this year's equestrian contest had not only no deaths or injuries, but was even more splendid than ever before. Let us cheer for her wisdom, which is no less brilliant than her beauty!"
At the center of the arena, bathed in applause and stomping feet, Vivienne presented the prize to the victor, Victor. "Congratulations. This is your reward, a saddle painted with the Umbrella emblem!"
"I'm deeply grateful! Did you sleep well last night?"
"Very badly. There was a hateful fellow who left without explaining things clearly!"
And so, the riding competition of the knightly tournament ended smoothly.
...
That night, while most people were reveling, Victor entered the nameless forest beside the arena alone and sat by the lake to meditate.
"The more I thought about it after I went back, the more wrong it felt. You cheated, didn't you? This competition format was suggested by you, so you must have been able to cheat through some method other people couldn't see!"
Hearing Vivienne speak, Victor opened his eyes. As expected, she was in her "bird person" form.
"Hey! What nonsense are you spouting, bird person? First of all, there is no problem with the competition format itself. I guarantee that on the honor of my grandfather and first love! Secondly, it's only cheating if you get caught. If you don't get caught, it's ability!"
She came excitedly to his side and sat down. "So you admit you cheated! You bad man, how did you do it? Watching your galloping and shooting movements from above, I was truly moved!"
Victor snorted with laughter. "There's no problem with the movements either. Those were carefully designed by me, a posture of perfect bodily performance. How could they not look good?"
"Uh... then where else could you cheat? No, show your ability!" Although she had a bird person's face, her confusion was still clearly expressed.
"Most people thought there was no problem with my man-and-horse-as-one riding skill, but I actually only learned to ride two years ago. I'm not that skilled."
"How is that possible!? That kind of riding almost made me think you were a nomad. Then your method of cheating was?"
Victor took a sugar ball from the herbal satchel and spread it on his palm. "Here! This is the 'Little Pony Poké Ball,' my grandmother's gift for my eighth birthday. It makes a horse docile and obedient for a short time, completely following commands."
Taking the sugar ball and examining it, Vivienne's eyes faintly gleamed. "So that's how it was... There is actually such a miraculous thing. The world truly is too wondrous!"
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