The next morning, at the first-year Class A training ground.

  Irene and I had just finished a practice match there.

  "Hey Rid, do you think I can win the female academy tournament?" Irene asked.

  "Hmm, I don't know. Besides the first-year female students, I haven't seen the strength of any other female students in previous year. Maybe only Princess Amelia has seen their strength because i fought her ?directly. So I can't assume you're strong enough to win the academy tournament."

  "Well, the important thing is, if you want to win this tournament, you have to be confident first. I don't know the strength of the other male students in previous year either. Although I've fought against Senior Vyn before, I'm sure he hadn't unleashed his full strength yet. But even so, I'm confident I can still win this tournament. If I win this academy tournament, no one will doubt why you chose me as your partner," I said.

  "What do you mean, Rid? Isn't there no doubt that you and I are now a couple?" Irene asked.

  "Well, that's only within the academy. You're the daughter of a Duke, and you were also a participant in the ~Matchmaking Battle~ with Princess Amelia. If you suddenly find a partner at the academy, news will definitely spread outside the academy. At the academy tournament, many people will be watching. Not just the other students, but also important people and nobles. They'll definitely come to the tournament to find out who your partner is. They'll definitely judge whether I'm worthy enough to be the partner of a Duke's daughter,"

  "If I win this tournament, others will realize that I'm very strong and worthy of being the partner of a Duke's daughter, even though I don't have noble status. Even though our relationship is just pretend, we have to make others think our relationship is real," I said.

  "I see, what you said makes perfect sense, Rid," Irene said.

  "I'll make sure I win this tournament and make others not doubt me because I'm your partner," I said.

  "Besides, the people targeting me right now probably think I'm weak. If I win this tournament, they'll definitely reconsider targeting me. Well, they'll probably still be targeting me later," I thought.

  -

  Several days have passed, and now it's Sunday, the day before the academy tournament begins.

  In the main hall of Elevrad.

  Even though it's Sunday, a holiday, we Elevrad members still gathered in the hall to discuss the tournament and the festival.

  "Good job, everyone. We've already finished our preparations for the academy tournament, and this time we've also finished our preparations for the academy festival," said Senior Vyn.

  "Finally, we can relax and focus on the tournament," said Senior Gretta.

  "The tournament will start tomorrow at 10 a.m. People from outside the academy will probably start arriving around 7 or 8 a.m. I might still be able to greet them at that time, but if it's past 8 a.m., I won't be able to. Since I'm participating in the tournament, I'll be waiting in the participant waiting room, so I won't be able to greet them. Therefore, since you two aren't participating, I'll leave the welcoming to you two, Sophie and vice chairman?," said Senior Vyn.

  "Roger, Chairman," said Senior Florian and Senior Sophie.

  It should be noted that many Elevrad members will be participating in the academy tournament. For the fourth year, Senior Vyn, Senior Gretta, and Senior Alisha decided to participate. For the third year, Senior Darryl and one female senior decided to participate, while Senior Florian and another female senior decided not to participate. For the second year, Princess Amelia, Senior Nadine, and Senior Vanina decided to participate, while the other two female seniors decided not to participate. Meanwhile, for the first year, all members decided to participate. Since all Elevrad members who decided to participate in the tournament successfully qualified, their participation in the tournament was confirmed.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "We first-years seem to feel guilty because we all decided to participate in the tournament, even though some of the seniors aren't," said Charles.

  "Relax, Prince. We're not stopping you from participating in this tournament. Even if all the Elevrad members participate, there's no problem. While we, as Elevrad members, are tasked with preparing for the tournament and festival, the academy will take over the actual implementation. Miss Karina and her staff will handle the implementation. We're also allowed to help them when we have free time, like Sophie and vice chairman. I asked them to because they won't be participating in the tournament anyway. So, you first-years don't have to feel guilty if you all decide to participate," said Senior Vyn.

  "I see. Thank you for your concern, Senior," said Charles.

  After that, we all began to leave the Elevrad room. I was the last to leave before Senior Vyn. As I was about to leave, Senior Vyn spoke to me.

  "I'm looking forward to tomorrow's academy tournament, Rid. But I hope I don't meet you in the first match. It would be better to face you in the final, but that's if you can make it," said Senior Vyn.

  "Don't worry, Senior. I'm confident that I'll reach the final and win this tournament. Even if I meet you in the first match, I'm confident I'll win and win this tournament," I said.

  "You're very confident," said Senior Vyn.

  -

  The next morning, at the academy gates.

  Many horse-drawn carriages began arriving at the academy. The carriages carried nobles and other important figures from the kingdom. Although the tournament was open to spectators, only nobles and important figures were allowed to watch. If commoners also attended, there might not be enough seats to accommodate them.

  As the nobles and important figures dismounted and began walking into the academy grounds, a luxurious horse-drawn carriage escorted by numerous soldiers suddenly arrived. The carriage stopped right in front of the academy gates.

  "Doesn't that horse-drawn carriage belong to....!?!???,"

  "All of you move aside, make way for Her Majesty the Queen," said the people there.

  It turned out that the luxurious carriage belonged to Her Majesty Queen Kayana. Realizing this, the people who had been on the road leading to the academy began to move to the side of the road. The knights who had been escorting the carriage began to move and move to the front of the carriage door. Then a middle-aged man opened the carriage door. The carriage door opened, and Her Majesty the Queen dismounted.

  Her Majesty was now dressed in her royal attire. She wore a crown on her head and held a scepter in her right hand. The scepter she held was not an ordinary staff, but a magic wand. Her Majesty the Queen began walking toward the academy grounds, escorted by the knights around her. Meanwhile, the people who had previously pulled over began to bow and pay their respects to Her Majesty the Queen.

  "I'm just watching the tournament, but why do I have to wear this outfit? It's so troublesome," said Queen Kayana.

  "What are you talking about, Your Majesty? That dress is the Queen's honorary attire, and it's only right that you always wear it when traveling to show your dignity as Queen," said a middle-aged man.

  This middle-aged man followed Queen Kayana behind her. He was well-built and quite muscular, and he also carried a sword at his waist. His uniform was distinct from the other knights surrounding them.

  "Stop that, Sir Oliver. Is it the duty of a supreme commander of the kingdom to regulate the Queen's attire?" asked Queen Kayana.

  The middle-aged man with her turned out to be the Supreme Commander of the Kingdom of San Fulgen, Oliver Stabile.

  "Forgive me, Your Majesty," said Commander Oliver.

  -

  Meanwhile, another luxurious horse-drawn carriage arrived at the academy gates. Although not as luxurious as the one Queen Kayana rode in, it was still luxurious. It was also escorted by several knights. The uniforms of the knights escorting the carriage were distinct from those of the soldiers escorting Her Majesty the Queen.

  After dismounting their horses, the knights immediately rushed to the door of the luxurious carriage. They lined up on either side to provide the same escort as the knights had previously provided to Her Majesty the Queen. Then, one of the knights opened the carriage door. A bespectacled man got out of the carriage. He looked remarkably young, even though he should have been middle-aged.

  "It's been a long time since I've been to this academy. It seems like nothing has changed since I last came here."

  "I decided to come here because my daughter and my nephew will be participating in this tournament, so I needed to see their match. Also, I need to personally monitor the student named Rid Archie in this tournament to determine what we should do next," said the Duke of San Quentine, Remy Laterza San Quentine.

  -To be continued