Misora Chivalry of a Failed Knight: Volume 10

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-7183-4710-6
Verlag: J-Novel Club
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, Band 11, 250 Seiten

Reihe: Chivalry of a Failed Knight

Ikki's one big bundle of nerves as he steps out of the Vermillion Airport, not sure what it might take to get Stella's family, and her people, to accept him as her boyfriend. But to his surprise, the citizens come out in droves to greet him! ...Or so he thinks. In reality, they all challenge him to a duel! It seems Ikki will have to battle the entire nation if he wants Stella's hand in marriage. All the while, the evil lurking in the kingdom's shadows starts to make its move!

Autoren/Hrsg.

Misora, Riku

Weitere Mitwirkende

Won

Ningen

Leseproben

Still smiling, the two of them ground their foreheads against each other. It looked like they might start duking it out inside the restaurant. But then they suddenly broke apart and started laughing, their bloodlust dissipating instantly.

“That’s enough discussion of a fight that never happened,” Touka said, her smile turning genuine.

“Yeah. Neither of us is gonna admit defeat, so it’s just a waste of time. Besides, in this case, we’re both losers here. Our real goal is beating Kurogane, so the bar’s a lot higher than either of us.”

“Sounds like you’re planning on staying a knight even after you graduate, then.”

“Surprised?”

“Yes,” Touka said, nodding. “I thought you’d take over the family business and join the reserves.”

“I considered that, but...”

Reserve knights were still full-fledged, licensed Mage-Knights, but they worked civilian jobs and were only called upon to fight during emergencies such as invasions or large-scale operations to crack down on major criminal organizations. Most Blazers whose families had established businesses like Moroboshi ended up joining the reserve corps. Initially, that had been his plan too.

“Ya know, I finally got to hear my sister cheering for me. And that reminded me that I can still get a lot stronger. It’d be a waste to call it quits here.”

Touka nodded in understanding.

“Absolutely. I know just how valuable it is to have people supporting you like that.”

“We’re third-years, so we won’t be fighting in any more Seven Stars Battle Festivals, but... Toudou, what’s your plan for the future?”

“Well, for starters, I’m planning on training as hard as possible this summer under Sensei’s tutelage. After watching Kurogane-kun’s battles, I realized I wasn’t taking my training seriously enough. Then, once I graduate, I plan to join the national league. I want to make it to the A league.”

The A league was the highest-ranked league in the King of Knights circuit, which was the biggest tournament run by the International Mage-Knight Federation. Each country that was a member of the Federation was allotted only a certain number of representatives in the A league, and its matches were the most anticipated of all the KOK battles. Every A-league fighter was world-famous and had millions of adoring fans. For Touka, that lofty goal seemed worth chasing.

“So you’re gonna be taking the standard route, then,” Moroboshi said with a nod, and Touka gave him a puzzled look.

“You mean you’re not aiming to join it too?”

“Nope. Japan...or, well, really basically every country in the Mage-Knight Federation values magical prowess more than anything in knights. But my Tiger Bite isn’t all that impressive from a purely magical perspective. If I want to actually land it against an opponent, I need to use a lot of different martial techniques just to close in. The way I see it, for me, martial arts is a lot more important to my overall strength than my magical ability. But Kurogane beat me in a battle of pure martial arts.” Moroboshi didn’t believe his spear technique was world-class yet. His loss to Kurogane had proved that to him. “So I’m thinking of entering a bunch of martial arts tournaments instead.”

“You mean...”

There was only one tournament circuit in the world of Blazers that put an emphasis on martial arts. It was held across the sea on the vast Asian continent and was considered the most grueling of all the Blazer tournaments.

“I’m gonna join the War God league!”

Touka was stunned speechless by his answer. The War God league took an exceptional amount of resolve to enter. It was run by China, which wasn’t part of the Mage-Knight Federation, and filled with Blazers that were just as strong as the A-league fighters in the KOK. Some people even claimed that its Blazers were stronger than those in the A league.

Part of the reason for that was the difference in how the fighters were treated. In the A league, there were cutting-edge medical facilities right next to the ring, duels had strict rules governing conduct, and each fighter got long breaks between battles and was compensated highly. The War God league had none of that. Battles were held at an old martial arts temple, the Dragon Temple, and weren’t meant to be entertaining for spectators. Anyone could register regardless of their country of residence, but there was no prize money, no medical facilities, and no rules about what was and wasn’t allowed.

“I’ve heard from Sensei that the people running the War God league believe knights should treat every fight as if it’s happening on a lawless battlefield. The tournament’s designed to emulate real-life conditions, and fighters are even allowed to team up against other participants or attack them in their sleep. Sensei said it’s more dangerous than the average underground fighting ring. Since they don’t care about fighter safety at all, way more people die in it than in the A league matches.”

The only Japanese person to have ever won that tournament was Touka’s instructor, War God Nangou Torajirou. Thus, she knew that everything he’d told her about the tournament was no exaggeration.

“I know, but there’s some things you can only learn by facing death head-on and making it through,” Moroboshi said, nodding in response to her warning. “That’s how Kurogane was able to steal Twin Wings’s techniques too, ya know.”

“Yeah...you’re right.”

Moroboshi had a point. Ikki had improved drastically after surviving a life-and-death duel with Twin Wings Edelweiss. Likewise, both he and Stella had only improved so rapidly during their own duel because they’d been willing to go all out without regard for each other’s lives. It was in that liminal boundary between life and death that a person’s soul shone the brightest, and that they could gain strength that would have otherwise required decades of continuous training. Moroboshi was looking to experience that moment, which was why he was willing to throw himself into such a harsh environment and push himself to his limits.

Understanding as much, Touka knew it would be rude of her to try to stop him. Instead, she raised her mug in respect.

“There’s no money or special privileges for those in the War God league,” she said, “but that’s precisely why those who make a name for themselves there become world-famous. In fact, I’ve heard that just surviving for long enough there can get you a ticket into the KOK A league.”

“That’s right. I don’t care about the other national leagues, but the A league’s different. The monsters who fight in it have reached the level of mastery I’m aiming for. I plan to fight in the A league eventually too—I’ll just be taking a different path to get there.”

“In that case...we’ll have our rematch then.”

“You got it.”

Moroboshi clinked his mug against Touka’s as the two of them made a promise of their own.

?????

As she watched Touka and Moroboshi discuss their respective futures, Toutokubara Kanata decided that it was high time she had the important talk she’d been putting off for a while. She scooted over to Beast Tamer Kazamatsuri Rinna.

“Mmm, commoner food ish prethy gooh,” she mumbled through a mouthful of okonomiyaki.

“Pardon me, milady,” Charlotte said before kissing Rinna on the cheek.

“Bwah?! Wh-Wh-What was that for?!”

“You had some sauce on your cheek.”

“O-Oh, thank you— I mean, well done, my loyal servant. B-But please recall that this holy altar has a cloth of cleansing. Next time, be sure to use that instead.”

Rinna and Charlotte weren’t joining in with the rest of the group to look at pictures, mostly because Rinna was still eating.

“Long time no see, Rinna-san,” Kanata said cordially.

“Ah, you must be the Toutokubara family’s daughter...” Rinna replied, not seeming particularly interested in her. Since they were both from wealthy, influential families, they’d occasionally met at social functions, but they weren’t friends, and from Rinna’s perspective, they had nothing to talk about.

“I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you since enrolling in Hagun.”

“No matter. The great Queen of the Night cares not for such trivial social pleasantries,” Rinna said, then took another bite of okonomiyaki.

“Sorry, that was supposed to be sarcasm. At any rate, may I sit next to you?”

“Ashh y’wish.”

“What my mistress means is ‘Go ahead.’”

Kanata elegantly sat down beside Rinna.

“I must say, I’m surprised. The Toutokubara family was aware that the Kazamatsuris had underworld connections, but I never imagined Kazamatsuri Kouzou-sama would order his own daughter to join Rebellion...”

“Thash not whah happened.”

“Hmm?”

“Regardless of what the master’s affiliations may or may not be, my mistress is not a member of Rebellion,” Charlotte said, explaining in Rinna’s place.

Because Rinna’s father, Kazamatsuri Kouzou, and Prime Minister Tsukikage were old friends, Tsukikage had been over at the Kazamatsuris’ house often and played with Rinna when she was little. As a result, Rinna had volunteered of her own...