This sudden turn of events left Rita speechless. “Are you mistaking me for someone else, or do you just not recognize me?”
Valfis made small gestures with her hands. “How could I not recognize you? Aren’t you that person? Yes, that very one!”
If Rita hadn’t only given her name to the princess, the Innkeeper, and the staff who just checked the certificates, she might have actually believed that Valfis could say her name properly.
After watching Valfis stammer for a long while, Rita couldn’t hold back anymore. “Rita. My name is Rita.”
Valfis seemed to have been waiting for this moment and immediately hit her palm. “Ah, right, right, Rita! Look at my memory.”
What was this girl even saying? You clearly don’t know!
Rita glanced around.
Most of the examinees were either whispering quietly or simply daydreaming.
For most of them, the opening ceremony and even the assessment were just a formality.
Hardly anyone was paying attention to Cecilia, and no one was watching her and this little green-haired girl.
Rita turned back, full of suspicion. “So what exactly do you want?”
“To cooperate.” Valfis tried to pat Rita on the shoulder, but Rita twisted away.
As a future Holy Knight, Rita really wanted to maintain her image as a cool, beautiful girl with white hair and red eyes.
“Don’t touch me.”
Valfis didn’t feel awkward after being avoided and gave a crooked, mischievous smile.
“Simple. I provide the info, you provide the strength. You bring me along to fight, and we rack up high points together.”
“Points?” Rita had never heard such a gamified term before.
Although this was a game world, after all.
Rita’s question made Valfis widen her eyes.
“No way? Sis? You don’t know about this?”
Rita was about to get irritated, but Valfis snapped her fingers quickly, not giving her the chance to lose her temper.
“It’s no secret. As a goodwill gesture, I’ll tell you for free. After the assessment starts, every one of our performances will be scored. That’s why the examiners are here. If your points are high enough, you can go to the King’s Capital for the final exam.”
Rita nodded.
Structured interview, huh?
Got it.
Valfis continued, “No one knows the exact scoring criteria, but it doesn’t matter; the process is similar.
The first round is unavoidable—it’s a boring Arena Battle. Points are based on your performance, the strength of your opponent, and small bonuses. It all depends on your personal ability.”
Swiss-system Tournament, huh?
Got it.
“The Arena Battle is only part of it, to lay the foundation for the next Task Assignment. The examiners will release a task, and our performance in completing it will affect how many points we earn.”
At this, Valfis paused slightly and revealed a sly smile.
“See? There’s plenty of room for some sneaky moves here—bribing examiners, hiring people as opponents or teammates.”
Cecilia had told Rita that if she became her person, she could obtain the Holy Knight qualification.
As the chief examiner, Cecilia could indeed make that happen.
But Rita had no reason to spread the word.
Make money quietly.
Pretending to be nervous, Rita said, “So, judging by what you’re saying, our chances aren’t that good, huh?”
“The big shots up top aren’t fools. The real fools couldn’t get into those positions. Who would actually pick a bunch of trash to be Holy Knights?” Valfis shrugged. “I’m telling you, sis, this exam mainly filters two kinds of people.”
“Which two?”
“One kind are the well-connected—daughters of Nobles, sons of the Merchant Association bigwigs. Wealth and connections are enough. The royal family gives them a respectable job, and in return, they provide considerable help to the crown. It’s a reasonable, albeit not entirely aboveboard, deal.”
Damn it, nepotism everywhere!
Wait, I guess I’m a connection myself.
“And the other kind?”
“The other kind are the true Holy Knights.”
“True Holy Knights?”
“Seriously? Sis, you don’t know anything? Like Banana the Slayer, Kars of the Scorching Sun, Nina of the Sky Box—those famous Holy Knights!”
Why do all these Holy Knights sound like they have nicknames?
Titles.
Titles.
But they’re pretty cool.
Rita thought about how if she ever got a title like Sword of Dawn or Daedalus’s Woe, she wouldn’t be able to help humming happily.
But her own safety wasn’t guaranteed yet; better not think about such distant things.
Seeing Rita still hesitating, Valfis wanted to pat her shoulder again but, remembering Rita’s earlier resistance, ended up putting her hands on her hips.
“Anyway, you have to trust me. I, Valfis, have a knack for reading people.”
R-Right?
An information broker who can’t even find out her own name—Rita wasn’t too sure she could trust her.
“The opening ceremony is almost over. I’ll be waiting for your good news.” Valfis glanced at the stage and gave Rita a thumbs-up.
Cecilia’s speech was just ending, and thunderous applause broke out from the crowd.
“Also, I will set a Special Qualification Condition.” After the applause died down, Cecilia didn’t rush off the stage but spoke again, “A succubus has infiltrated Solus City. Whoever brings me the tail of that succubus will be allowed to pass the test directly.”
Rita felt a chill down her spine.
She was almost certain Cecilia didn’t know she was that little succubus.
But Cecilia wanted to buy her firm little tail that went all soft the moment it was touched.
The following segments were much like what Valfis had said, divided into several rounds of Arena Battles.
Besides the first round being a five-person free-for-all, the subsequent rounds were all one-on-one fights.
The Arena Battles would officially begin at noon, but before that, there was some free time.
However, the free time was relative to others.
Rita was just about to find a place to eat lunch—though she didn’t need to eat, enjoying food was one of life’s great pleasures—when a soldier came to escort her back to the Lord’s Mansion.
Rita was led into a small reception room in the Lord’s Mansion.
It was a bit secluded but the decor was far from shabby.
Two things were more eye-catching than the decor: one was Cecilia, freshly finished with the opening ceremony, still wearing that gorgeous dress Rita had seen yesterday.
The other was the dazzling treasure filling the entire room.
“You’re here, Rita.” Cecilia casually gestured toward a small Gem Box on the table filled with jewels. “See these?”
“Yes,” Rita nodded.
“These were gifts from others. A few of them will even be your opponents in the upcoming Arena Battles.”
Cecilia reached into another box and grabbed a handful of Crushed Diamonds, letting them fall through her fingers.
Rita suddenly understood Cecilia’s intention in summoning her.
She was under Cecilia’s command, and those connections had given Cecilia a substantial reward.
Cecilia even openly displayed these treasures before her eyes.
Valfis had mentioned that some people would hire others as insiders during the assessment; deliberately throwing matches was part of this scheme.
So, rigging matches?
Rita felt a little disgusted, but now Cecilia was both the biggest wildcard and the only person she could rely on.
She had no other choice.
“Princess, I understand.” Rita frowned slightly.
“Understand what?” Cecilia asked.
“To remember their names, clear obstacles for them, then intentionally lose to them… is that what you mean?”
“No, you don’t need to remember anything.” Cecilia snapped shut the box of Crushed Diamonds. “You only need to do one thing—when you face an opponent who’s not strong enough, beat them to a pulp.”