Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: The Duel
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"Young Master Beonald, should I chase him away if this gets too much?"
"No. We're just here to select our majors today. Let him be until he tires himself out and collapses."
"Yes."
In response to Heidi's question, Beonald gave his usual cold reply.
It was true that a merchant's connections were necessary and would undoubtedly be beneficial. However, looking at it purely from a commercial standpoint, comparing his own current knowledge to that merchant family's scion was like pitting a child against a knight.
The first principle of war was 'never fight a battle you cannot win.' Therefore, Beonald intended to avoid him at all costs.
"That should be the end of major selection and class registration. Now we just need to submit these and head back..."
"Huh? You're becoming a bureaucrat? You don't seem the type."
"Go your own way, merchant. I'm not dealing with you."
The man still clung to him like a leech, prompting a sharp retort from Beonald. He had told Heidi and Sean not to engage, so they simply followed Beonald, completely ignoring Darren.
Despite this, the man named Darren did not give up, continuing to follow and speak.
"Do you have something against merchants?"
"Just feelings? I've been wronged by them, that's why. You're all like bugs obsessed with gold..."
"But they are bugs the world cannot do without now. Isn't that right?"
Darren shot back sharply, but Beonald only grew more annoyed.
He looked at Darren with a displeased gaze and asked,
"...That's true. So what do you want?"
"First, to start as friends, open up commercial connections, and serve by taking on various tasks for you, Lord Beonald."
"You say 'serve,' but you mean you want to run businesses under me, don't you?"
"Hahaha, you could put it that way."
"Fine. Then I'll gladly keep your company if you fulfill just one condition."
"Oh? What is it?"
Darren's eyes lit up with anticipation, thinking a door had finally opened. However, Beonald intended to give him a task that was nearly impossible.
And as it happened, there was a perfect, hard-to-obtain task to test him with right now, so Beonald presented it immediately.
"Bring me a map. A world map depicting the entire continent would be even better. At minimum, it must show the locations of all six currently existing nations and the major mountain ranges."
"Huh? A map, you say?"
"Yes. A merchant should be able to procure that much, right? If you can't, then stop pestering me and get lost."
"A map... a map... Uuuuuum..."
Even after 500 years, a map was still a map. Its value could not be simply measured in money.
It allowed for planning strategy, tactics, economics, and more. Furthermore, due to the conflicts over the past 500 years, a significant amount of data had been lost. With the six nations at war and keeping each other in check, creating a new one would be impossible.
"I think I'll need a little time, but would that be acceptable?"
"...Do as you wish. But you know it can't take too long, right?"
"Hahaha, of course. Then I'll prepare it swiftly."
"Do so."
Finally having removed that sticky leech, Beonald was satisfied.
Afterwards, he received the class schedule by department and left the academy.
Formal classes would begin tomorrow.
Since they were already out, he decided to have a meal at a good restaurant in the capital before heading back. He and his party were heading towards a restaurant when, right after exiting the academy, someone else was waiting for him.
Judging by the white uniform, it seemed to be a student from the Noble Faculty.
'Today... it's just one dirty entanglement after another.'
"So you're the one called Beonald. How dare you repay kindness with enmity! To betray the grace of the benevolent Her Highness the Princess in such a way! You half-breed scum! I cannot forgive this."
"You seem to be from a noble family. Wouldn't it be proper to introduce yourself first?"
"Hmph! I was just about to. For your information, I am the third son of House Barment, a second-year political science major at the Imperial Academy, Yuris Barment. And this is my loyal knight, Sir Sren."
"So, what do you intend to do? Should I go apologize to Her Highness the Princess?"
"Don't make me laugh. Do you think Her Highness's wounded heart would be mended by your mere apology? For her heart and honor, I challenge you to a duel."
Thwack!
A white glove struck Beonald's uniform over his chest. He picked it up and looked at Yuris.
He had anticipated that duels between nobles might occur within the academy, but for such incidents to happen one after another on the very day of enrollment was utterly exasperating.
In any case, having received the glove, he asked Yuris with a bored expression,
"So, how will the duel be? Directly between us?"
"Don't be ridiculous, you half-breed! I know you can use 'Aura.' That wouldn't be fair. Therefore, my knight, Sir Sren, will fight on my behalf, staking his honor!"
It might seem laughable to talk so big without fighting personally, but Beonald, having once been a mere alchemist who employed a 'proxy knight' in his previous life, nodded as if it were natural and brought out a prepared statement for such occasions.
"I see. However, while I can use 'Aura,' I have not been knighted. Therefore, I cannot accept a duel between knights. So, I will field an honorable knight to fight in my stead."
"Hmph, if you can, then do so."
"Yes. Allow me to introduce her. A low-ranking knight from the Callermain Earldom, Sir Heidi Zelkerd, daughter of Baron Zelkerd."
"What?"
"I may be a half-breed, but I am of noble blood. And it's knight versus knight. There should be no problem with the duel, correct? Sir Yuris? Sir Sren?"
Sir Sren answered with a silent nod. Yuris looked back and forth between Beonald and Heidi with a bewildered expression, but ultimately had no choice but to agree.
He had probably wanted to see Beonald get beaten by Sir Sren, but he had no grounds to object.
"Fine. Then right here..."
"There are many eyes here. How about we move locations? Also, we should establish the victory conditions for the duel and agree on what the winner and loser must do before beginning the fight, shouldn't we?"
"Grrrrr!"
Yuris had likely thrown down the gauntlet thinking it would be a simple, quick affair. However, perhaps because his opponent was also of noble blood, he knew the procedures all too well. In the end, they moved locations as Beonald suggested.
The location was the training grounds inside the academy. As today was the enrollment ceremony, it was very sparsely populated.
"What should the victory condition be? First Blood would be good, wouldn't it?"
"Who would engage in such a petty duel? Of course, it's until one side can no longer fight or surrenders!"
'He's just full of hot air, spouting nonsense. Sigh~ How on earth was he raised in his family?'
No matter how common duels between nobles were, setting such a no-holds-barred condition was usually reserved for cases involving family secrets or severe insults.
For a petty quarrel like this, a simple First Blood to determine superiority should suffice. Making a big deal out of it was just frustrating.
"Heidi, I don't know the opponent's skill level, but this is a good opportunity for you. Consider it accumulating real combat experience as a knight. Give it your all."
"Yes."
"A piece of advice: a duel is different from war. In war, you can push infantry or scout to gauge the enemy's capabilities. But a duel is one-on-one. Since you don't know the opponent's level, don't overexert yourself at the start. Fight with the mindset of assessing their skill."
"Yes!"
Heidi responded to Beonald's words and stepped forward.
When the stoic Sir Sren drew his sword first, Heidi also drew hers. They faced each other, waiting. Then, Beonald and Yuris finalized the terms for victory and defeat.
"If I win, you will leave the academy immediately and never return."
"Then what if I win? Hmm... I see. Since this is a fight for Her Highness the Princess's honor, I shall accept it in gold coins. I will accept an amount equal to the value Sir Yuris places on Her Highness the Princess's honor."
"Hmph! Sir Sren won't lose, but fine! Let it be so. Then, Sir Sren! You may begin!"
"Heidi! Begin!"
Clang!
The moment their masters gave permission, Sir Sren, who had been silent, was the first to move. He drew up his Aura and swung his sword.
Heidi was momentarily surprised but managed to block it, and a fierce exchange of sword strikes began between the two.
Sir Sren was clearly a knight Yuris had brought specifically for knight-versus-knight combat. He displayed very seasoned and agile swordsmanship.
"......"
"Good! That's it! Sir Sren, push forward!"
'Hmm, this will be good nourishment for Heidi.'
Clang! Shaaaang!
As Beonald had advised, Heidi fought primarily by drawing up her Aura to counter Sir Sren's attacks, all while trying to gauge his capabilities.
Even after the last war, she had tirelessly trained in mana breathing techniques and swordsmanship, but her weakness remained her lack of experience. Fighting an opponent who was physically weaker and had less Aura than her, but was rich in experience, was excellent training.
"...Hmm!"
'The speed... changed! No, this is! Ugh!'
'He's indeed experienced. He's inferior in Aura quantity, strength, and speed... yet he's pushing Heidi back with technique alone. His control of sword speed and feints are artistry.'
To the point where Beonald was impressed, Sir Sren swung his sword slowly at times and swiftly at others, or quickly then slowly, breaking through Heidi's defense and putting her in peril.
But Heidi corrected her stance, enduring the humiliation of rolling on the ground, and evaded.
"Quite... impressive."
"Hoo..."
This was Heidi's first one-on-one duel, let alone one fought for her lord's honor.
Her opponent was clearly a knight specialized in single combat, with superb skill and technique.
She had faced the mid-ranking knight Sir Bent before, but back then, the battlefield itself was a variable. This time, it was pure one-on-one on flat, featureless terrain, making it difficult to create any variables.
Nevertheless, Heidi steeled her resolve and continued to parry Sir Sren's strikes, striving to find an opening.