In fact, Algind had no intention of making the Tin Knight’s party clash with the Lennart family from the very beginning.

The Lion Duke’s bloodline was a huge group, and besides those directly bearing the Lennart name, there were many associated with them, such as disciples of their dojo or military personnel.

Even within the bloodline, the human relationships were truly complex and diverse, including pro-head of family faction, pro-elder faction, neutral faction, those who were pro-head of family but acted radically, and fools who were pro-elder but just went along with the surrounding atmosphere without knowing what consequences their actions would bring.

No matter how capable Algind was and even with the support of the Empress’ faction, it was impossible to grasp all these detailed elements and convey them to the Tin Knight’s party.

So Algind’s proposal was to just pass the first test, which could be considered preliminaries, smoothly, and start hunting lions from the second test when the number of people would decrease, but…

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says there’s no need to think complicatedly, and that if they just beat up all the blondes with violet eyes, they’ll at least be halfway there!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that it’s standard practice to work your way up from the bottom in these things!]

…With such assertions from the Tin Knight, her sensible and rational proposal was lightly ignored.

Algind looked at the other companions with a glimmer of hope, but this, too, was in vain.

The scarecrow, far from trying to stop him, even suggested specific tactics, saying it would be good to disguise themselves at first since they’d be found out eventually anyway, but it would be effective at the beginning.

The lion, muttering something that was unclear whether it was considerate or brutal, saying that while indiscriminately killing those not directly involved wouldn’t be okay, beating them up within the scope of the test shouldn’t be a problem.

The witch, who at first seemed to be restraining the other members somewhat, but when the Tin Knight quipped beside her—although Algind didn’t hear his voice directly, she could tell from the atmosphere—she eventually just shouted to let things be as they may.

Is this really the hero party that blew away two legendary great witches?

Algind had worried that they might end up blowing away the Duke’s faction along with the radical targets, but soon she had a great realization.

In the end, it would be the Duke who would suffer anyway, so why should she go out of her way to consider that?

Isn’t it ultimately one’s own fate to be beaten by a meteor falling from the sky in a Z-shape?

Algind quickly finished her self-rationalization.

Surprisingly, a peace like a quietly flowing river in her heart came.

Of course, as a result of Algind giving up like this, the young men of the Lion Duke’s bloodline who ended up being beaten by the Tin Knight didn’t enjoy that peace.

“Strike! Surround him!!”

“Damn it, what kind of monster is this!!”

Thud! Thwack!

Every time the Tin Knight flailed his limbs while wearing the mascot costume, members of the Lion Duke’s bloodline fell one after another.

The sight looked so ridiculous and simple that other participants around them even thought.

What, they’re weaker than I thought?

They say Lennart this, Lennart that, but I guess rumors always have some exaggeration.

If it’s just that much, even I could…

It was a misunderstanding that would have kept the young men up at night with indignation if they had heard it.

Objectively evaluated, their skills were by no means weak.

They were incomparable to knights of ordinary domains, and each one was skilled enough to easily massacre a bandit group armed to the teeth.

If they had faced the Tin Knight from the early days of his journey, the Tin Knight might have been at a disadvantage.

If they had faced the Tin Knight after he had repaired his magic circuits, they might still have been able to put up a decent fight.

However, what they were facing now was the Tin Knight who not only had repaired magic circuits but also had greatly increased mana capacity and added remote mana supply functionality.

Among the many abilities the Tin Knight possessed, at the very top was his mana manipulation, which was at a level that could be called perverse in its delicacy.

While ordinary knights might be limited to emitting sword energy or strengthening their bodies, the Tin Knight had numerous creative applications, such as creating spike-like sword energy on the soles of his feet to climb walls, or emitting mana in the opposite direction to increase the power of his strikes.

The problem was that each of these techniques consumed mana.

The Tin Knight, who had no function to produce or recover mana on his own, constantly consumed mana just by standing still, and because of this, he always had to be conscious of efficient fighting.

To use a game analogy, it was as if he had sealed dozens of continuous skills like [Fluid Mana Armor: Continuously circulates mana on the body surface to suppress damage when hit. Consumes 6 mana per second when activated.], minimized the use of single-use active skills, and fought mainly with normal attacks.

But now it was different.

While remote mana supply was much slower compared to directly transferring mana through contact, the important thing was that mana supply could be done without separate rest or reorganization, even during battle.

In other words, if he calculated the hourly consumption rate well, the Tin Knight could now spam skills as much as he wanted.

And the resulting power increase was enough to lightly crush the young men of the Lion Duke’s bloodline, who could have been mid-bosses in the early days of the journey, like small fry.

“…He’s really excited, isn’t he?”

Glancing at this scene from the corner of her eye, Dorothea shook her head.

For her, who might quarrel with someone out of necessity but didn’t have the tendency to enjoy fighting itself, it was truly an incomprehensible sentiment.

Some participants rushed at Dorothea, who was wearing a large robe and seemed distracted, but none of them succeeded in achieving their goal.

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

The staff in Dorothea’s hand drew a mysterious trajectory and subdued them by beating them in an instant.

It wasn’t that Dorothea’s staff techniques, which had leveled up steadily while restraining the Tin Knight’s antics, had finally reached a state of mastery… rather, it was the result of the staff moving as if it had its own will.

Dorothea let out a wry laugh as she looked at the staff in her hand.

The Witch of the North Orin’s words about “adding a function that protects the owner without the conscious use of mana”…

Dorothea had interpreted this to mean that barrier magic would automatically deploy even in case of unexpected attacks, but in reality, it seemed to have a much more comprehensive meaning.

“Like teacher, like student, I guess.”

Evaluating that she unnecessarily liked martial arts despite being a mage, she silently met the enemies rushing at her.

***

Before participating in the test, Adelaide was deep in thought about one thing.

What attitude should I take?

Considering that this was Friedel’s revenge drama, it would naturally be right to approach it seriously and solemnly.

But at the same time, she was aware.

If I keep maintaining a heavy attitude, I might end up taking out my anger in the wrong place.

Just as repeating smiles could make one feel positive emotions, actions and emotions were interconnected.

After letting loose once at the Tower of Control, the resentment and anger inside Adelaide had considerably subsided, but if she kept burning with fighting spirit while being conscious of revenge, there was no telling when the diminished embers might spread like wildfire again.

And that wasn’t what Adelaide wanted.

Neither to sully Friedel’s honor by massacring innocent people under the pretext of revenge, nor to hinder her companions’ journey to collect the kingdom’s sacred treasures.

Therefore, she decided to set one standard.

While donning the mask, she mustn’t think about things like grudges or revenge.

Act lightly, cheerfully, as if she had forgotten about grudges, to the point where someone might point fingers asking if it was right to laugh and joke around when her family was murdered.

Gather all the negative things in a box deep in her heart, lock it, and temporarily misplace that key somewhere else.

And someday, when she took off the mask.

When the box opened.

At that time.

《—As stated above, only participants who meet at least one of the three conditions will be given the qualification to move on to the next test. Also, the number of successful candidates may be less than 100.》

“Ah.”

Adelaide’s consciousness, lost in thought under the mask, returned to reality.

She quickly scanned her surroundings.

Perhaps due to her bright golden hair and small frame.

Even though she was just standing still, there were many gazes directed at her.

Some looked at her with eyes that seemed to consider her easy prey, thinking she was an easy target.

In contrast, others directed feelings of suspicion and wariness towards her.

Neither was particularly positive. The only one directing a warm gaze was the green-haired scarecrow who had applied to the same test site.

Immediately after the signal announcing the start of the test rang out, several people rushed at her with swords pointed.

And right after that, a large empty space was created in the center of the test site.

“Huh?”

“W-what?”

Few people could properly see what had happened.

“Good heavens.”

And one of those few, Lin, the leader of the adventurer party given the title “Blue Gold” by the guild, let out a deep sigh.

She replayed in her mind the scene she had just witnessed.

After the test started, the golden-haired girl wearing a mask picked up something from the ground.

A pole about 3m long, whose purpose was difficult to discern.

That thing, which had been rolling on the ground so naturally and was too long for anyone to think of as a weapon, was grasped by the golden-haired girl with both hands as she rotated.

And all those within the rotation radius, without leaving a single one, were thrown outside the test site.

As if sweeping away trash with a broom.

“What kind of strength is that?”

Swinging a 3m long, thick metal pole itself was already an impossible action for an ordinary person.

And not just swinging it, but swinging it with several people hanging onto the pole? Moreover, while making fine adjustments so that the heads of the flying opponents didn’t crack when hitting the ground?

As the leader of a top-tier adventurer party, Lin quickly instructed her companions, “That masked girl, absolutely don’t touch her.”

“I think I know who she is. Surely, it’s that Friedel’s—“

“Adelaide von Lennart!!”

It wasn’t just the Blue Gold party who had guessed the masked girl’s identity; a roar erupted from among the participants.

Golden hair, violet eyes.

A young man displaying the easily recognizable characteristics of the Lion Duke’s bloodline and his companions denounced the opponent with faces full of anger.

“I’ve heard rumors about you! The foolish girl who colluded with the Magic State and spread ridiculous rumors about the main family!”

“Does a traitor like you know what kind of test this is and came here!? Do you not know shame!?”

Originally, denunciation by many had the power to intimidate the listener just by itself.

Moreover, if it came from those wielding swords and emitting killing intent, even more so.

But the girl, without showing any sign of intimidation, slightly tilted her head and then—

“Does the main family teach you to fight with your tongue instead of your sword?” she declared the greatest provocation as if it were nothing.

To those who were speechless with excessive anger, Adelaide showed a momentary surprised look with an, “Ah” and then continued, “Oh, um, I’m not particularly trying to say anything, I just found it a bit strange. If I offended you, I’m sorry.”

If intentional, it was a sharp move worthy of admiration, and if unintentional, it was several times more frightening, as a cutting remark.

Its effect was proven by the bloodline members and disciples, their faces flushed red, charging en masse.

Facing those approaching, Adelaide once again swung the metal pole.

Those among them who tried to cut the pole or deflect the attack with their swords were shot down on the spot, but those who focused on evasion were able to approach right up to Adelaide’s nose.

At the moment when sword blades carrying sharp sword energy were about to pierce Adelaide’s body, her body moved flexibly.

“—?!”

A total of five.

The swordsmen, who had rushed in from different directions, widened their eyes as if they had seen something unbelievable.

It was astonishment at Adelaide, who should have been pierced like a hedgehog, completely avoiding the attacks just by lightly stepping.

They didn’t know.

While Adelaide had recently been actively engaging in fights utilizing the power of the belt, originally she was an evasion-type swordsman.

She struck and broke shins, jabbed elbows into sides, grabbed the back of heads to collide them with the heads of others, and kicked chins with her toes.

Adelaide, who had crushed five elites in an instant, then threw the young men she had grasped somewhere.

Several participants who were aiming for Sophia rolled on the ground after being hit by the flying human projectiles.

“Thank you, Adel.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. But, um, could you look at this person here? Their bones seem weaker than I thought, so the attack went a bit deeper than intended.”

“Ah, I should treat them. Along with the person next to them whose jaw is crushed.”

Seeing the two casually conversing, the other participants thought simultaneously.

Madmen had arrived.

***

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