Beneath the moonlight [1]

My mind blanked temporarily at the announcement. 

"The demonstration will be between the top two cadets of the year. It'll be a fight that will demonstrate the general skill level of our top cadets and something that will be viewed by the top executives of the fifteen guilds." 

From how he spoke, he was making it seem as though it was something important. It probably was, but... 

".....Is it compulsory?" 

I blurted out all of a sudden. 

The gazes of everyone in the classroom fell on me. 

"Compulsory?" 

Professor Hollowe looked at me with a strange look. He seemed to be getting an idea of what I was about to say next. 

"Well, I wouldn't say it's compulsory. Howev—" 

"I forfeit." 

"....." 

The classroom turned silent. 

Feeling everyone's gazes, I shrugged. What? Did they really expect me to accept this absurd request? 

Firstly, I could fight Leon whenever I wanted. He was my knight.