The Lycoris Family's Crimson Eyes Have Always Been Very Keen

There is only one high platform at the dueling arena from which one can overlook the entire venue.

Even the captains of the Four Major Knight Orders are not qualified to come up here.

Because this place belongs solely to the apex of the Knight Academy—the Student Council that represents the Academy’s authority.

In fact, at the Auriel Knight Academy, authority ranks second; the first is strength.

However, practically all Student Council Presidents possess top-tier strength; those who can sit up there naturally have real ability.

This is the seat of the Auriel Knight Academy’s Student Council President.

“Young Master Naiye, please come with me.”

Led by a Student Council knight, Naiye carried the cake gift he had just received to the door of the high platform.

Young Master Naiye originally had no qualification to be here, but this was an invitation from the Student Council President.

He naturally could not refuse; after all, this high platform room was the only place from which he could survey the entire arena.

“Naiye~ you’re finally here!”

“Aye aye!”

Young Master Naiye’s height is the average for a man, but his build is relatively slender.

But before a female knight, that hardly made a difference.

President Meiyu warmly greeted Young Master Naiye inside, unfolding huge pale-blue wings behind her; with narrowed eyes and a gentle smile, she embraced Naiye.

She effortlessly lifted him up!

She hoisted him like a child, her warm, mature figure enveloping him.

This was genuine—Naiye could feel it—but President Meiyu was still being a little too deliberate!

President Meiyu had not put on armor; it lay neatly arranged to the side.

Instead she wore the white-and-black student uniform, a pale-red skirt, and white stockings that clung to her full thighs.

She looked every bit the excellent, pretty, youthful student.

Fortunately President Meiyu only hugged Naiye briefly and soon put him down, but her narrowed eyes immediately fixed on the cake in Young Master Naiye’s hand.

She clasped her hands and lightly fluttered her wings.

“Ah~ Is this a gift for me? Thank you so much.”

But Naiye extended his left hand to stop her.

“This is a consolation gift from someone else, not a present for you.”

Although Young Master Naiye refused, President Meiyu was not upset; she drew out a chair and invited Young Master Naiye to sit.

Beside them, bergamot tea and Kali coffee had already been prepared—made personally by President Meiyu.

Young Master Naiye sat without ceremony, admiring the more majestic view of the dueling stage from here.

This is why the dueling platform carries such weighty history and reverence.

Countless knights had climbed here to demonstrate their resolve and strength for the glory of the Knight King.

“Young Master Naiye, please.”

President Meiyu gracefully handed Young Master Naiye the Kali coffee, her manners and bearing perfectly that of a lady of rank.

She hardly looked like someone from an ordinary family—though her grandmother belonged to the Skywing Knight Family and she herself bore Skywing blood.

But Meiyu’s parents were actually impoverished commoners; she had truly fought her way up from the bottom.

This fact was known to everyone; although Fire Lina often challenged her, deep down she truly admired President Meiyu.

As for why President Meiyu knew Naiye, the reason was actually very simple.

During the days when Naiye was studying, he sponsored Meiyu when she was still an ordinary knight.

Meiyu came into prominence three years ago, by which time Young Master Naiye had long since graduated and returned home.

Moreover, no one knew the nature of their relationship then, because the two had not spent much time together.

Most importantly, as an ordinary knight, Meiyu actually had no qualifications to be at the side of Young Master Naiye.

Around him were countless noble-born, powerful knight ladies.

The time Meiyu and Naiye spent together probably did not even add up to twenty-four hours in total.

Each brief exchange was either Naiye instructing Meiyu or providing her assistance.

As for why Naiye sponsored Meiyu, the reason was very simple.

The Lycoris family’s crimson eyes have always been very keen; they are very good at reading people [this is actually Young Master Naiye tooting his own horn].

On the other hand, Naiye was also documenting and refining methods for training female knights, and the Dark Knight Weiluxika was the female knight he ultimately trained.

“Naiye, how is that girl you trained doing?”

“I’ve already trained a Student Council President —so why can’t I train a knight for the Lycoris family as well?”

Young Master Naiye’s reply was full of arrogance; he even took full credit for Meiyu becoming President.

If Meiyu had become Student Council President entirely because of Naiye Lycoris, that would be impossible; half of it was naturally Meiyu’s own effort.

“Young Master Naiye, are you that confident? Your Dark Knight doesn’t have any battle record right now, you know.”

“I’ve already seen the power of the Flame Lance knight Manaen, but today we will win!”

Young Master Naiye’s answer remained full of pride, brimming with confidence.

President Meiyu’s narrowed eyes conveyed a weighty atmosphere, but she did not reply.

This duel was not so simple; though it was a punishment for the Flame Lance knight Manaen.

Her heart indeed carried a burning conviction and a purpose for which she fought!

It all depended on whether the Dark Knight Naiye trained possessed a matching conviction.

She was very much looking forward to the performance of Weiluxika, the Dark Knight who is one of the Lycoris’s Three Flower Pillars.

Now, in the spectator stands around the dueling platform, the Four Major Knight Orders and their four captains had all arrived.

At present the Elemental Knight Order’s side felt a bit heavy, after all this matter had implicated damage to the Order’s reputation.

But Lady Fire Lina behaved magnanimously; she stood at the front, her neat short hair fluttering in the wind.

With conviction burning in her eyes, she looked at the Flame Lance knight Manaen.

There was no encouragement, nor any warning—just a silent gaze.

But for Manaen, that was enough!

The Sky Wing Knight Order sat to one side, very quiet; all the knight ladies watched the duel with rapt attention.

This is a knight’s duel—no mocking, no trifling, merely displaying noble bearing and composed demeanor.

These were the words Captain Nia had taught them.

Yet Nia was somewhat absent-minded, glancing from time to time toward President Meiyu and Young Master Naiye on the high platform.

The Three Moons Knight Order was also very quiet, though it was evident that only members of the Silver Moon and Crimson Moon Knights were present—none from the Dark Moon Order.

Rena Silvermoon stared fixedly at the Dark Knight Weiluxika.

Based on today’s duel outcome, she too was prepared to make a firm decision about one matter.

Finally came the Dragon Knight Order; Eren Dragonborn was the last captain to arrive.

Before this he had run back to see his grandmother Eiru Dragonborn, the true head of the Dragon Knight family.

He was still young and could only manage the Dragon Knight Order on behalf of his grandmother.

When he hurried to the stands, the first thing he looked at was not the two knights preparing to duel.

Rather, he nervously looked around—from Fire Lina to Nia, then from Rena and finally up to Young Master Naiye and President Meiyu.

Only then did his gaze finally land on the dueling platform in the center!

He nervously widened his dragon-like eyes.

‘Grandmother was right! All of this was within her calculation!’