Arknights, but the sickly pretty girl starts

"......!!" Could it be that Sister Noah heard what he just said? Huh?!

Maria was completely panicked at this moment. She had only imagined that she might need help taking a bath when she was with Sister Noya in the future. She had absolutely no bad intentions. But Sister Noya seemed to think that she might have some improper intentions.

I swear to God, I'm a die-hard fan of both Margaret and Noah! How could I possibly have any improper thoughts about Noah?

Although Noah had been preoccupied and hadn't heard Maria's mumbling before, both of them were now in a state of heavy worry. As the saying goes, the more panicked you are, the easier it is to make mistakes. Maria and Noah were obviously in this situation at the moment.

"Maria, what I'm about to say may disappoint you... but I feel I still have to make things clear with you. After all, I've always treated you as my own sister."

"...!"

Sister Nuoya usually doesn't mince words. Sure enough, she heard everything! She must have been hesitant because she was considering her own feelings.

"Stop talking! Sister Noah! I understand everything you said!"

"...? You know?"

"I know!"

"...Oh, so... what are you thinking?" Noah panicked. Had Maria seen through her thoughts all along? She'd always thought Maria wasn't very good at guessing other people's thoughts. It seemed she might be a bit biased. Maria might actually be quite sensitive... Did she know that someone was working against her in that match?

If that's the case, then there's no need for me to waste so much time talking. It's a simple matter. It's dangerous for you to continue participating in the competition. As your sister, I can't let you take any more risks!

"Although I'm happy that you treat me like your own sister, Sister Noah...but I want to realize my dream even more (to be your bodyguard and stay by your side). Even if Sister Noah and Sister Margaret are against it, I will never give up!"

"......?" Noah tilted her head. Margaret objected? But she hadn't had time to tell Margaret the details yet. But if Margaret knew about this, she would probably do the same as herself and ask Maria to give up the competition. After all, it was too dangerous. But Maria's dream was to win a title in the Knight's Tournament? No... She wasn't that kind of person. So her dream...

Maybe she is protecting the Linguang family with her own strength, just like her sister?

...This child is too sensible. It's obviously not the time for her to work hard yet...

Noah was deeply moved. Faced with such a child, she could no longer look at her as a sister.

She had to respect a knight who insisted on protecting his home.

Her expression turned serious. "Maria, if you insist on doing this...it will be very difficult and dangerous. Are you really okay with this?"

"no problem!"

"If that's the case...Okay, I agree."

"Eh!?"

"I agree with your idea. Your idea has been conveyed to me. Although I wanted to persuade you at first... However, you have already made up your mind. I can't stop a mature knight."

“…Um…eh?”

Maria was stunned. Agree? Agree to what? Agree to let her stay with her?

But... I'm not yet at the stage where I can stand on my own.

So what did Sister Noah agree to?

"...Okay, I originally wanted you to stay with me first, but it would only affect your training. Since you want to continue, then focus on the next match with all your heart and soul. I will always support you." Noah smiled, a smile of relief as she gained a new understanding of Maria. "Unknowingly, Maria... you've really grown up."

"...Uh-oh." Although Maria didn't quite understand what was going on...but Sister Noah praised her.

Anyway...it should be a good thing, right?

Chapter 58: Crisis

Noah left the training ground. Before leaving, he felt that his previous thoughts had underestimated Maria.

I didn't expect Maria to have the courage to fight back even after finding herself in danger. She's Margaret's sister after all, so it's perfectly normal for her to have such courage.

Not afraid of hardship and darkness——

This is the family motto of the Linguang family. How could I forget it?

No matter how great the difficulties are, the people of the Linguang family will not turn back until they hit the wall... No, this group of people will smash the wall into pieces!

Margaret was like this back then, and Maria is even more so now. Who can say they are stupid? They are so upright that they can't even turn, and even walk in a straight line.

Noah felt sad that he had underestimated Maria. Perhaps he cared too much about Maria and forgot that she was Margaret's sister, and treated her as an ordinary person.

Casimir's Linguang family has no concept of ordinary people! Even Maria, who seems to be the weakest in the Linguang family, is a person with a golden spirit!

The Linguang family was full of loyal and brave people, and that was no joke. But even if Maria had made her decision, that didn't mean Noya could completely let it go. Even if she couldn't stop Maria from participating, she would still minimize the risk.

Since Maria insisted on being an independent knight, then I would provide her with the best logistics team while maintaining her status as an independent knight! It's just a matter of throwing money around! Throw it around! Even if I just throw it around, I can still get a top-notch configuration!

Maria hadn't realized Noah was serious about this, already setting her sights on the championship. She was so happy to have her goal validated that even practice felt easier. After all, to become Noah's bodyguard, she had to at least make it to the top 16! Aunt Zofia had made it to the top 16 too! If her aunt could do it, and her sister even won the championship, there was no reason she couldn't!

Set a small goal first, reaching the quarterfinals is victory!

Although the misunderstanding between the two was a bit far-fetched, at least their short-term goals did overlap. However, Noah wanted to help Maria become the new champion and complete the achievement of sister championships. Maria, on the other hand, just wanted to reach the quarterfinals.

"Maria is such a good kid, I want to support her." Noah went to persuade her, but ended up turning himself against her, though Kuro had been prepared for this. After all, Noah was so kind to those around her. If Maria was just a little more determined, Noah would be a henpecked person. Her determination was only shown to others; when it came to her own people, she was always the weaker party. "Kuro, this might cause you some trouble... but the next game..."

"I know. If something really goes wrong, I'll take action." Kuro sighed. She knew Noah too well. "But there's no need for me to do anything. I think as long as you bring Maina with you to every competition... he won't be able to watch his niece get into trouble, right?"

"...That makes sense." Noah clapped his hands. Why hadn't he thought of that? "Please call Uncle Mainna for me. His job from now on is to watch Maria's games. He has to watch every game. I'll reimburse him for the tickets."

When it comes to her own people, Noah's brain really seems to be insufficient. The normally smart young lady now looks like a fool.

On the other hand, while Noah was preparing Maria for the championship level, Sona, who had returned to her own nest, was worried...

After winning the melee, I received a substantial bonus, enough to pay for a batch of oripathy inhibitors. However, the problem was that there were too many people to support, and even if I used them sparingly, I simply had too many people to care for. And in the entire Red Pine Knights, I was the only one who could consistently receive bonuses. The Red Pine Knights' current financial situation was beyond my control, and oripathy inhibitors were still too expensive.

Although Sona was happy to meet Maria Linguang on the field, meeting a real knight would not alleviate her current predicament.

"...Anyway, my condition isn't serious, so I'll give it to everyone else first." Sona looked at the potions in front of her, gritted her teeth, and decided to share her portion. "I remember a few members were in dire straits... It would be best to give it to those with more severe symptoms first. I still have two matches to go. As long as I win, there's always a way."

"You've been off medication for two months." Huimao, also known as Grenadi, said coldly, "How badly do you plan to deteriorate before you start taking medication?"

"..."

"I understand..." Sona shook her head helplessly, "But the medicine I bought is still not enough... for everyone."

"This is a bottomless pit, Sona." Huimao shook his head, "You will never be able to support your dreams with the bonus... unless."

"unless?"

"Unless you accept the invitation from the guy I recruited you earlier..." Huimao replied coldly, "But you won't agree, right?"

"Of course, how could I abandon you?" Sona smiled and pulled Huimao's shoulders. "I said this before. The purpose of the Red Pine Knights is never to abandon or give up!"

"Come on, you spent a lot of time thinking about it that day and prepared a whole set of principles for us, but you say something different every day." Huimao showed a helpless expression on his face. "Don't think about it too much for now, let's prepare for the next one first... Okay?"

"what happened?"

"...Tomorrow's match has been announced." Huimao stared at the terminal he was tinkering with. "It's the Flawed Light Knight versus the Rusted Bronze Knight."

"Rusty copper? That's the one..."

"We may have underestimated... the attitude of the Chamber of Commerce towards the Knight of Flawed Light..." Sona frowned. The Rusted Bronze Knight was notorious and could be described as a complete madman. His fighting style was not like that of a knight at all. He had no mercy or compassion, and treated any opponent cruelly and violently. Although this guy had a bad record, his matches were bloody and violent, which made many spectators like him very much. Therefore, he was bailed out again and again, and he had not been banned until now.

Maria Rinkou will face this kind of opponent in her next match...

Sona wouldn't believe it if the Commerce Federation didn't make any moves. They really didn't want to see another Brilliant Knight ascend to the top...

"What should we do, Sona?"

"...I don't know either." Sona frowned, "I can only wish the Flawed Light Knight good luck."

Chapter 59: The Sword of Kyrielight

Indeed, the Chamber of Commerce does not want another Radiant Knight to rise.

It is better to say that even in Casimir, those guys who insist on the so-called chivalry in the Grand Knight Territory are very annoying. Compared with letting the problematic knights enter the main competition, the Chamber of Commerce is more reluctant to see Maria, who is almost a replica of Margaret, enter the main competition.

When Zofia entered the finals, the Chamber of Commerce arranged for her to face the worst opponent. The Chamber of Commerce did the same now - what they wanted was to wipe out the Linguang family's aristocratic status.

The hatred between capital and knights seems to have existed since ancient times. In the era when knights were still knight lords, these merchants and knights were already quite at odds with each other. Now that knights have declined, everyone with a discerning eye knows that the Knights Association and the Knights Competition itself have become playthings of the Commercial Federation. Now, except for the knights fighting on the border who still retain the tradition of knights, there are no knights in the Grand Knight's Territory.

Those who were awarded the title of knight were at best just a group of glamorous products of capital.

Miracles don't happen twice. Maria Linguang must lose before entering the main competition.

Never allow the knights of the Linguang family to win the championship again!

This is the consensus of the business federation.

Of course, perhaps the only person who objected to this consensus was Noa Kirilet, the spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce. However, her opinion didn't really matter. After all, Kirilet, due to her knight family background, had been thrust into the position of spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce as the face of the Knight family's transformation into a business entity. What was truly needed was for this spokesperson to be silenced.

Therefore, the Chamber of Commerce directly ignored Noah's protest and stated that the competition was completely fair and open, with no cheating.

As for whether Noah believes it or not, that is not something the masters of the Chamber of Commerce should consider.

Although Noah herself had anticipated this, she had already put most of her energy into strengthening and improving Maria herself. She had given up most of her business activities these days and sent Kuro directly to Maria. After all, Kuro would not leave her. If she wanted Kuro to train Maria, she had to be present as well.

However, Kuro can only teach physical attack techniques. As for Originium skills, of course, Mainna herself is needed.

The Lin Guang family's Originium technique is light, and light has thousands of development directions, such as Margaret's super bright light that is so dazzling that you almost need to wear sunglasses to see it, or Maria's soft light. The Originium technique of light is inherently ever-changing and cannot be taught by people outside the Lin Guang family.

To Noah's surprise, Maria, upon learning who her next opponent would be, showed no sign of backing down. Instead, she became even more determined. She herself said that if it were her sister, she would have definitely chosen to face him head-on.

In short, although it was a last-minute cram session, on this day, Kuro and Mainna completely became Maria's coaches, and gave Maria a hard lesson in Originium skills and boxing skills.

After Maria was completely exhausted, Noah ordered Kuro to carry the now-unable Maria back to Zofia's house and throw her into the bathroom. Noah then came to Uncle Mainna's side and asked worriedly, "Can Maria handle the Rusted Bronze Knight now?"

"...?" Mainna was silent for a moment. "I don't know how powerful the so-called Rusted Bronze Knight is, but Maria right now does remind me of Margaret."

"...Can I take it that you are praising her?"

"..." Mainna felt that she must have said something wrong. In front of Noah, the word "Margaret" was a compliment. However, Mainna meant that Maria now had the same lonely courage as Margaret back then: immature, reckless, and full of courage.

Margaret won the championship with her sheer courage, but was eventually exiled. Perhaps Maria is now following in Margaret's footsteps.

"It's good to have courage, but I hope she doesn't just imitate her sister..." Mainna sighed, "She's not Margaret, and she never will be. Now she's just imitating poorly."

Noya didn't quite understand what Mainna was saying. She thought it would be a good thing if there were more Margarets in the world. But she didn't argue. She knew Mainna wasn't as indifferent as he seemed. With his qualifications, he could easily have become one of the most powerful people in the country, but he stayed here. If a free ranger stopped in a place, it meant that there was a treasure he must protect.

When Margaret left, the treasure was undoubtedly Maria.

In fact, Mainna has always doted on Maria, but this doting is not obvious...it is difficult to be discovered.

But Noah understood, because Maena was always by Maria's side...

Although she was still very worried about the competition the next day, all she could do now was to trust Maria.

Believe in Maria Linguang, believe in miracles, and believe that brave people will always find their own way.

Noah gripped the back of the wheelchair tightly. She had never wanted so much to stand up, to stand in front of everyone and protect others from the wind and rain.

She silently left Mainna's side and returned to her home accompanied by Kuro. There was always a sword beside her bed. It was a silver-white sword with the Kirilet family emblem engraved on the hilt.

The Kirielets were known for their archery skills, but their heirloom was a silver sword.

Only the head of the Kirielight family could wield this sword; in other words, it was the symbol of Kirielight. Noya acquired the right to wield the sword on the day her grandfather passed away, but she never drew it. After all, when she received it, she was already blind and crippled. She would never become the knight she had always dreamed of becoming, nor would she ever again wield the sword that symbolized the glory of the Kirielight family.

Now it is like an ornament, always placed next to Noah's hand, but never picked up.

She had long forgotten the courage and glory inherited from this sword.

But this time...

Noah fumbled and finally touched the hilt of the sword. In her memory, the sword was taller than herself... But now, when she touched the scabbard, she felt that the sword seemed to be about the same length as her arm.

She held the hilt of the sword in one hand and the scabbard in the other, slowly exerting force.

But just like before... not a single movement.

This sword did not acknowledge itself...

Noah's hands trembled slightly, and he was not surprised by the result.

I have tried it when I got this sword. My grandfather once said that when she can draw this sword, it means that she has truly become the heir of the Kirilet family.

Maybe she really doesn't have the qualifications...

She smiled and put the sword back in its place.

However, she didn't see that when she grasped the sword, the shadow behind her slightly opened its eyes. It stared at the sword as if it was staring at a comrade it hadn't seen for a long time.

Chapter 60: Chivalry

It sounds really ridiculous that a knight cannot draw his sword.

But Noya knew that she could no longer be a true knight. Perhaps she would never be able to draw this sword in her lifetime. No matter how glorious the past behind this sword was, it was now completely separated from her.

Now, I can only rely on my innate sixth sense to stir up trouble in the business world.