I’ve found the way!

Although, it may be shocking that Ca.s.s chose my route but thinking about it from another perspective, it might as well be the best route for my lil’ bro! Since there’s no way I’ll press him down and claim him for sure so, the 18+ incest route definitely will not happen!!

Another thing, my lil’ bro choosing my route might make him enter other routes slower or simply don’t give a d.a.m.n about those dogs…I meant the owners of the remaining 12 routes!

I smiled happily all the way through the journey till the carriage stopped at our destination…Camelot Military School.

I walked down from the carriage along with Salsaal. I flinched when I saw someone standing under an umbrella not far away. Their face was beautiful, so much that Salsaal murmured, “Such a beautiful person…”.

Yes.

Beautiful.

Super beautiful.

If they didn’t open their eyes, walked towards us and had to stoop down to look at us…

…with a height of nearly 2 metres.

I would’ve enjoyed this moment more.

“Um. Are you Gilbert Bedivere? Nigel told me to fetch you and bring you to the Round Table.”, the beautiful person smiled and said. ” Oh…I’m Helenus Percival. It’s nice to meet you.”

Percival, one of the to-be Dukes.

Helenus lead the way while explaining to us the details of the school. “The school is separated into different hierarchies which can be identified by the colour of your uniform: white is for Royalty, blue for to-be Dukes, Red for Marquis and Barons, and black for commoners.”, Helenus counted with his fingers as he spoke.

“Cla.s.ses will also be decided based on your uniform. We wouldn’t see those from other hierarchies that often apart from the monthly examination which is open to those from other hierarchies…I think that’s all.” He raised his brow and smiled. “We have arrived at the meeting room, the Round Table and um…

…welcome to the imitation Knights of the Round Table…Bedivere.”

The door opened slowly…

This place is the famed Round Table where to-be Dukes would hold a meeting…there are only 12 seats for the 12 households, no less, no more.

Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad, Tristan, Bors, Percival, Lamorak, Kay, Gareth, Gaheris, Geraint and Bedivere.

I spotted Nigel who was sitting beside Haref. I was about to walk into the room and greet them but I was slower than Helenus who strode in while dragging Salsaal with him…what?!

“I’ve brought Gilbert Bedivere, Gawain.”

Slam!

The door closed before my eyes.

…

WUT?!!

I froze, the corner of my mouth twitched. I could faintly hear sounds of protest from both Nigel and Haref…

“Wait!…Helenus, um…”

“…Gilbert’s outside. Who have you brought in instead?”

“…What?!”

“Normally, those who are born from the knights of the round table would have show-stopping features…”

Those were the excuse given by Helenus for bringing in the wrong person. Right now, Salsaal is being dragged out as to bring me in while all the other to-be Dukes remained silent.

The corners of my mouth twitched, I seriously want to slap the life out of this pretty-faced giant in front of me. Is he implying that he dragged Salsaal in instead because he’s more good-looking?! Huh! Salsaal’s good looking because of plastic surgery! He cursed himself so he can become more handsome, way more than usual. Waaaaaay more, only because he’s jealous of Nigel’s features.

“…But that guy…um, what’s his name? The one I dragged in before. He’s extremely handsome.”, Helenus Percival scratched his cheeks and looked at me. “…Um, he came with you. It’s not like he’s…cough…Bedivere’s illegitimate child right?”

Are you accusing my father of having a mistress!

“He’s Gilbert Bedivere’s shadow…”, Nigel who saw me biting my handkerchief for a while spoke up. “As for why he needs a shadow, I believe everyone here knows the reason.”

Because I don’t have ‘magic’.

In their minds that is.

“We won’t talk about insignificant things, Nigel Gawain.”, an irritated voice of Arian Galahad, a man with gla.s.ses who’s seemingly serious, sounded. “We should commence our Round Table meeting.”

Nigel’s argent eyes swayed for a second. “At this moment, all the to-be Dukes have gathered here. Then, in such a holy time as this…in the name of Gawain, I announce the commence of the meeting of the Holy Round Table with the topic of…”

“Dismissing to-be Duke Bedivere’s authority.”

This time the sound was from a muscular man, Duncan Kay. From what I can remember in the anime, his relations.h.i.+p with Gilbert isn’t bad? Is he kicking me out of the Round Table the first time we’re seeing each other?

“That is not the topic we will be discussing. Another thing, this is for Dukes to decide not to-be Dukes like us…”, Nigel didn’t even get to finish his sentence before Gla.s.ses Arian made a sound of discontent while Duncan raised his brow.

“Don’t be so delicate like your facial features Nigel Gawain.”, Duncan smiled in contempt. “We all know he’s useless. He can’t have an heir, has no magic. Instead of him just lounging around as Duke, doing nothing, would it not be better to have someone else who actually has abilities replace him?”

“Oh, so, are you saying you want to reduce the number from 12 to 11?”, Helenus raised his brow and smiled sweetly. “Or is it that the useful person you speak of is Ca.s.s Bedivere? Wow. Woow. Wooow. What a surprise Duncan, you’re actually a supporter of the power of darkness.”

“…Helenus’ idea is rather interesting. From 12 to 11, that’s not bad at all.”, Gla.s.ses Arian said and waved doc.u.ments around in the air. After a while, a debate happened. Over all, I’m worried, I guess, since I’m being kicked out of the Round Table.

Nigel’s countenance darkened as time pa.s.sed. Obviously, although I’m not paying attention, I can see that this generation’s Gawain is being overlooked unlike the last generations…it makes me think of Haref’s words that Nigel must prove himself in order to be accepted.

“Although this may be merely an imitation of the real Round Table but our performances will reflect our abilities and suitability as a to-be Dukes…”, Haref, who was sitting beside me said quietly. It made me raise an eyebrow. He narrowed his eyes and curved the corners of his lips.

Ever since that day, in that mechanism filled room, I’ve not seen him as frequently as before. My guts are telling me, something’s different about him…but I don’t know where.

I’m probably just overthinking it.

“If our performances are that important would that mean they’ll sell me just to get acknowledged by the Dukes?”, since the topic seemed delicate, I had to whisper to Haref. I moved my chair closer to Mr number-one-in-popularity and stared at the meeting…no, let’s rephrase that, this is a national debating compet.i.tion.

Nigel’s handsome face became colder and colder. If I had to compare it to something then, he’s a side-character who’s stepping up to become a tyrannical protagonist.

“Yes, they will. But if they do it, then they would have made a mistake.”, Haref said. “Knights who betray a fellow knight…what use is there to place your trust and life in their hands?”

It’s an interesting sentence…that I’ve not thought of before.

“But I’m not talented…”, I thought this was the main point as to why I’m being voted out of the Round Table.

“Not being talented doesn’t mean you’re useless or can’t be used for anything.”, Haref closed his eyes. “…it depends on how smart they are to be able to use you for your worth.”

“That…”

Crack!!

“Hey…Nigel Gawain, are you thinking of using violence?”

While I was talking to Haref it seems like the room has turned into a boxing ring… Nigel’s face became as cold as ice, a cold breeze escaped his body. I could feel tension building up within this room. Haref only narrowed his eyes slightly and sighed, “…Nigel’s lost it…”.

“Hm?”, I blinked and faced forwards. Duncan suddenly rose up from his chair and craned his neck.

“Mr future-leader-of-the-Knights-of-the-Round-Table, when did you turn into someone who uses violence to resolve conflict?”, Duncan smugly raised an eyebrow. This made Nigel’s face even colder.

“I use it…when I see that it is suitable.”, he narrowed his argent eyes, I could feel the room’s temperature decreasing. I scooted towards Haref to rely on his body heat. “Do you intend to make me sit there like a clown and listen to all of you as you speak over me? If that is your intention then where do you place Gawain in your minds, Kay, Galahad, Percival.”

Duncan raised an eyebrow, Arian adjusted his gla.s.ses, and Helenus whistled.

“Is that why you used your powers? To make us obey you and listen to you?”, Arian narrowed his eyes before the corners of his lips twitched. “… our generation’s Mr ‘future’ leader is rather disappointing…I thought you would be smarter than this. Or, should we change our generation’s leader to Lancelot?”

Nigel’s face darkened even more, so did the temperature in the room.

I think arguing is pretty hard for Nigel since he’s doesn’t speak much so his experience in arguing with others is as low as possible.

No! I should become stressed over this! If Nigel can’t argue with the others properly then I’ll have to leave the Round Table! If I leave now, when Ca.s.s enters the school…

I pictured my tiny lil’ bro and looked at the collection of 11 members of the boyband in front of me…

Dangerous! Utterly dangerous!

I thought I should say something…

“Umm…”

“Or should we change this meeting’s topic to changing our leader? Sometimes I think the leader should have changed ever since the last generation…”

“Ummm…”

“Normally the Percival household is neutral but if this generation’s Gawain is like this then…”

“Shut the h.e.l.l up!!!”

Those aren’t’ my words.

They just came out of my mouth, that’s all…

I’ve gone mad.

Cras.h.!.+

My foot lifted and kicked the oh-so-holy Round Table bravely as 11 pairs of eyes stared at me. My face became smug – ready to defy anyone. “All of your twittering’s so G.o.ddam annoying! What are you even on about when you said using violence is equivalent to not having a brain? It’s just an excuse from weaklings who’s only good points are their brains, that’s all!”

Those whose only good points is their brain…that was probably address to Arian who’s rapidly adjusting his gla.s.ses right now.

“Nigel who likes to use violence to solve problems…that’s no good Nigel. As a childhood friend, I’d like to warn you, it’s best if you don’t…no matter how much they may be talking, twittering, growling, grunting, it’s best if you don’t use violence against them to make them listen to you, since they won’t be able to understand anyways…”

Doubt laced Nigel’s Argent eyes. I curved my mouth into an overly sweet smile and put my feet on top of the table. I narrowed my eyes…

“Well, not like we can help it, after all…a dog won’t be able to understand a human…”

Boom!!!

“b.a.s.t.a.r.d!!!!!”

Duncan’s axe flew right pa.s.s my face. I was scared mentally but my face was still decorated with a relaxed smile. So cool…

“Mr to-be-Duke Kay, when have you became the idiot who uses violence to solve their problems?”, I said teasingly. Nigel narrowed his eyes and Haref sat still. Help me. Please help meeeee.

“I’ll murder you…I’ll f.u.c.king murder you!!”, Duncan’s eyes reddened as I tried to hold back my laughter. I walked towards Nigel smoothly.

“…To-be Duke Bedivere, you might have forgotten”, Arian narrowed his eyes, “just a moment ago, we were still able to converse…right?…woof.”

“…It’s cause I’m clever. Can’t you even think of such a simple answer, Mr to-be Duke Galahad.”

Arian’s face morphed into a complete mess…

Nigel closed his eyes and mumbled to himself quietly. He did not move his mouth but I could hear it.

“Prince?”

A transparent hand extended pa.s.s my eyes, with it came black threads which were st.i.tched to me, along with a faint sound which sounded in my ear.

“…I really do like how smart you are, Nigel Gawain.”

Ghost Salsaal’s out of his coffin!

“…There’s no way optimists like you guys would be able to say such cute words! That’s why, leave it to me…mwahaha.”

I felt like crying while Nigel sighed. I know Nigel’s worried of our lives from now on. We will have a total of 9 enemies! So, Prince, if you would be so kind as to leave my body. There’s still time for my brightly lit school da…

“…slaughter all of them.”

…Salsaal, you used some kind of spell to force Nigel to say this right?….

[ Tea time behind the curtains -Stressed- ]

Gilbert: “My body’s been ravaged way too many times. Cry…”

Calis: “Please use the right words before friend becomes foe!”

Nigel: “Sometime’s I think the Prince’s got too many skills.”

Salsaal: “I will glad you give you one or two of my skills. In exchanged, let me curse you and make your features ugl…I meant make your features average.”

Nigel: “Let’s just say, I didn’t say anything.”