I'm on the Ark, and I start out as Gretchen.

However, before she could finish speaking, a slender, snow-white finger pressed against her lips, stopping her.

"Shh, don't overthink it. Let's go, I'll take you to eat something delicious."

"But……"

Maria was stunned for a moment by Bianca's actions, and then instinctively tried to say something.

"There's no 'but' about it. Maria, you've always been the one to take me out to play before. This time, I'll take you instead."

After interrupting Maria and giving her a gentle smile, Bianca gently but firmly took her hand and led her forward.

"Eh……"

Maria, who was being led forward by the hand, was still a little dazed. However, even after she came to her senses, she did not resist Bianca's slightly forceful actions at all.

……

And so, in a daze, Maria was led by Bianca to a beautifully decorated café.

"Here's the menu. Just order whatever you want to eat."

Bianca couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at Maria, who still seemed a little dizzy even after sitting down.

"Well... okay then."

Maria, who had wanted to say something more, gave in after a long while of looking into Bianca's smiling eyes.

She took the menu with a helpless expression and then ordered.

Then, after all the desserts were served, Bianca spoke again: "What happened at the tavern earlier was just a minor incident in my opinion, and there's no need to take it to heart."

“I understand perfectly well what your elders, Maria, mean. They are worried that I am too strong and easily broken.”

"I know that, but why don't you explain, Bianca? You're clearly not like that..."

Upon hearing this, Maria first nodded slightly, then asked with some confusion.

"As for why I don't explain, it's simply because I feel it's unnecessary. If some things aren't revealed, even Maria would have doubts, let alone them."

Do you remember the scene when we first met?

Bianca patiently answered Maria's questions.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Maria blushed slightly, recalling her overreaction when she first met Bianca, and whispered, "Okay, stop talking! I won't dwell on such trivial matters anymore."

"Heh~ Let's change the subject then. How about trying some desserts? I think the desserts at this shop are pretty good."

"Uh-huh."

P.S.: Let's see if I can manage three updates today. I haven't been able to get the pacing right, and it's a bit frustrating that I haven't found my rhythm yet. I wrote a detailed outline, but when I actually started writing, it felt wrong, and what I wrote was different from what I had in mind.

Give it a push.

Chapter 33 The Format and Opponent of the Next Match

A few days have passed since Martin last had afternoon tea with Maria, and here he is at his pub—

On a sunny afternoon, the tavern looked rather empty because night had not yet fallen, with only a few familiar faces sitting there.

At that moment, Bianca was discussing the custom-made armor with the old craftsman Koval, who was sitting and drinking.

If the competition spanned a shorter period, the Goose might have given up on creating this set of armor, which was useless but belonged to him.

However, given the format of the Knights' Tournament, it will likely be a long time before Bianca wins the championship, so it wouldn't hurt to use that time to get a set of armor.

After all, as mentioned before, the armor she's wearing now, no matter how well it fits, isn't truly hers.

"boom--"

However, just as the people in the hotel were chatting and drinking, the wooden door of the tavern was suddenly flung open with a loud bang.

"..."

In an instant, all five people turned to look at the door, and the tavern fell silent for a moment.

"Hey, Zofia... Sister, what brings you here?"

After seeing who it was, Maria was slightly taken aback, and then spoke first in surprise.

Following Maria was Martin, the bald owner of the tavern. Looking at his dilapidated tavern door, a hint of heartache flashed in his eyes as he spoke:

"Zofia, my door... be careful, or you'll have to pay for it later."

"Uh, don't worry, I'll compensate you." After hearing what bald Martin said, Zofia turned around and glanced at the door behind her, coughed lightly, and said with a hint of guilt in her eyes.

"So, what's got you in such a hurry, Zofia? The last time I saw you act so rashly was a long time ago." The old craftsman Koval, sitting to the side, asked with some curiosity.

"It's not in a big rush, is it? I just learned some information, and I'm here to see Bianca." Zofia didn't try to hide anything from Koval's question and answered directly.

"Zofia, are you looking for Bianca? Is there some news about the competition?" Maria's golden eyes flashed with curiosity after hearing that it was about her friend, and she asked.

Upon hearing this, Zofia first nodded to her own child before noticing Bianca standing to the side and saying:

"The format and opponent for your next match have been announced. It's a team battle, and your opponent is the Snow Heel Knights."

"..."

Bianca's expression remained completely unchanged after hearing Zofia's words, showing no surprise whatsoever. If one had to pinpoint a hint, there was a slight...

weird.

As for the reason for the strange look in his eyes, it was of course because of this extremely familiar arrangement.

The silly goose already knew something was fishy about his next match, but he didn't know exactly what kind of trickery had been used. Who knew that now, upon closer inspection, it looked strangely familiar.

Moreover, she had a pretty good idea of ​​who these higher-ups planned to send to deal with her.

But to be honest, Bianca felt a little underestimated.

Although she had been hiding her strength, she believed that her previous performance was not weak, so why did she make no changes and end up with these people as her opponents?

"You don't seem surprised?"

After noticing Bianca's calm expression, Zofia raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with some curiosity.

“Yes, what you said is all expected. So, how many against how many in this little battle?” Bianca said, nodding to Zofia, who looked curious.

"A five-on-five team battle is at a disadvantage for you...?" As she said the last part, Zofia's tone suddenly became strangely uncertain and unsettling...

"So, Zofia, you came to see me because you were worried about this?"

"Well, I originally came because I was worried that you didn't have enough suitable teammates."

As a fairly straightforward person, Zofia made no attempt to conceal her intentions.

"I see. I appreciate your kindness, but I won't trouble Zofia with this matter. I can handle it myself." Upon hearing this, Bianca gave Zofia a gentle and confident smile and replied.

After hearing Bianca's answer, Zofia's lips twitched involuntarily, and then she said in a tactful tone:

"...Are you planning to play alone? Although you are indeed very strong, it would be safer to have teammates."

Honestly, after experiencing and witnessing so many times, Zofia wasn't surprised at all by Bianca's choice this time; in fact, she was completely unmoved.

"Yes, I also think Zofia is right. Although Bianca is very strong, it is a team battle after all, and it is safer to have teammates."

After listening to her aunt's words, Maria nodded in agreement.

The other old men in the tavern, though silent, shared a similar attitude with Zofia and the others.

"..."

This time, Bianca didn't rush to answer. She just tilted her head slightly and looked at Zofia and the others with a strange expression.

"What's wrong?"

Upon noticing the strange look in her friend's eyes, a hint of doubt quickly appeared in Maria's beautiful golden eyes.

"This match was specifically designed to target me..."

After organizing her thoughts, Bianca slowly posed a crucial question: "Why do you think the Business Federation would give me teammates?"

"..."

Bianca's short sentence plunged everyone else present into an eerie silence.

Before they could speak, Bianca said again, "Based on what I know about those people, if I go to find my teammates in the next match, then my 'teammates' will definitely get into trouble."

At this point, the silly goose paused slightly, then flashed a confident smile before continuing:

"So, instead of dragging others down with our teammates, we might as well just give them what they want. Since they're so confident, why not give them the chance and let them try?"

"..."

Bianca's words, coupled with her confident and dazzling smile, made the tavern even quieter.

A moment later—

"Haha, young people have such drive! Now that you've made up your mind and have unwavering faith, go for it!"

"Yes, young people these days are getting better and better, unlike when we were young."

"Sigh... whatever makes you happy."

P.S.: Please give me some votes to encourage me.

Chapter 34 Reveals the Details

"Sigh... whatever makes you happy."

Admittedly, Bianca's words did convince everyone present. After all, they were all somewhat familiar with the Business Federation's style.

“Well, so don’t think too much about it, Zofia. I might not be that good at other things, but leave the fighting to me.” Bianca smiled gently at Zofia as she spoke.

Upon hearing this, Zofia raised an eyebrow slightly, took a few steps forward to Bianca's side, and then said "annoyingly": "Hmph, no manners... At your age, you should be calling me 'older sister' instead of Maria."

Although the two had started calling each other by their first names when they became closer, Zofia didn't think there was anything wrong with it at the time because Bianca acted quite composed.

But now, for some reason, after her good intentions were politely rejected, Zofia felt inexplicably annoyed and couldn't help but "nitpick".

“…Heh~ Yes, yes, Zofia, thank you for your concern this time.” After hearing Zofia’s words, Bianca was taken aback at first, then smiled and said.

While speaking, he stood up and helped the person to a stool to sit down.

"Pfft, that's more like it... Well then, I'll accept you as my little sister!"

Seeing Bianca's "serious" expression, Zofia finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, and then jokingly teased her.