Duel Trial (2)

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"I hereby declare the duel trial open, right here and now! Your witness is the Empire's Second Princess, Rauga von Württemberg!"

With Rauga's bright, resounding cry, the curtains parted.

Asella and I stepped out without hesitation into the bright light of the arena.

"Young master, your shield's slipping."

"It's heavy. Don't worry—I'll hold it properly once the duel starts."

Asella snorted and strode forward, staff in hand. Her high ponytail of golden hair swayed with the motion. She'd donned her secret weapon for the duel: a magical battle dress. At a glance, she looked like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a little fairy fluttering her skirt.

I carried a massive shield and a shortsword. My armor was light greaves—low defense, but high mobility.

"I'll give you credit for not turning tail, Asella!"

From the opposite side emerged Georg von Württemberg, clad head to toe in full plate armor adorned with flashy enchantments. Legendary gear enchanted from top to bottom. The guy's loaded. If he'd had equipment like that, why not lend it to the hero?

Our arena was a small coliseum setup. The floor was dirt. As both combatants entered, polite applause rose from the stands—Imperial family members and high ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠nobles. This was a solemn imperial trial, not some spectacle for the masses.

Still, it's a big event: heirs spilling blood against each other. It had to be thrilling for them, even if the atmosphere was subdued. They were probably buzzing inside. Familiar faces dotted the crowd, including the current Emperor. He sat sternly, viewing his children fighting with swords and staves as a matter of course. If anything, he seemed expectant of what skills they'd display.

Rauga's voice boomed across the arena via amplification magic.

"We will now reveal the truth of the assassination attempt at the Schwarztshubaiku Duke's party! Both sides, prepare!"

Asella raised her staff in her left hand, ready to weave spells. Georg toed the ground, poised to charge at the signal.

"The rules are simple: the first to lose their life or surrender is the loser!"

As Asella's accessory, my will or survival didn't factor into the outcome.

"Honor in the left hand, will in the right. Only those who fight shall know justice!"

Rauga kissed a enchanted gold coin and tossed it into the arena. Amid the hush of the wind, the tiny projectile glittered in the sunlight before falling.

―Boom!

A puff of smoke signaled the start of the duel.

―Kaboom!

Georg kicked off the ground and charged simultaneously. Faster than expected.

Blessings. Must've hired a truckload of healers for those. Securing that many blessing casters wasn't easy. He was a walking pile of money.

"Ice Ball! Mana Wall!"

Asella swiftly began casting. Her strike shot toward Georg—a crude ice projectile hurtling faster than a major leaguer's fastball.

―Crack!

Her precise attack shattered harmlessly against Georg's armor.

Asella's eyes widened in surprise. "Magic resistance enchantment…!"

"I'll end this quick!"

Georg was nearly upon her. At this range, the frontline fighter had the overwhelming advantage.

That's why I was here. I wedged myself between Georg and Asella. He swung at me without hesitation.

―Whoosh!

I'd dodged blades from the Demon King's Four Heavenly Kings. My reflexes were solid, even without clashing directly.

―Clang!

My quick counter swept aside Georg's sharp longsword.

"What…?!"

Georg faltered at the unexpected parry. Defensive stance—the only sword technique Tanya had taught me in two weeks. I'd been jogging diligently too. I couldn't win a prolonged fight, but I could trade a few blows.

―Oho, he blocked the Second Prince's attack!

―Isn't he the Third Princess's personal physician? Who knew he had combat skills!

―The one who cured the plague? Mastering both pen and sword can't be easy.

Aw, shucks. Gotberg here. I'd love to flash a cool grin at the crowd, but no time.

I parried the next strike, then the third—Georg's relentless blade.

"How dare a mere healer deflect my sword? My blessing rivals a Sword Expert's power!"

"Blessings aren't exclusive to Your Highness."

"What?"

Boom!

My counter, infused with divine power, exploded against Georg's gut, shoving him back. No real damage, but it broke his stance.

"Dirty tricks… urk!"

Asella capitalized on the opening, slamming a spell into Georg's helmet.

"Take that…!"

Tough bastard. He shook it off and swung again. Not some snowflake—equivalent to a concussion grenade. Should've rattled his brain, but magic resistance runes galore.

Georg glared through his visor slits. "You're no warrior—don't grapple! Fall already, or no mercy if you crawl more!"

"Earth Palace has no higher floors anyway. Only three stories."

"Personal physician!!"

Thud!

Georg stomped, and rumble! Cracks spiderwebbed the arena floor. Dirt upheaved, dust billowing.

Whoosh!

Hot energy surged, turning the air sweltering.

"Tch."

Asella's forming magic circle lost shape, oozing and melting midair.

That stomp was the signal. Glimmering stones peeked from the fissures.

Mana-decomposing anti-mana stones buried in the floor. Common in Demon Realm granite beds. Anti-mana, but inert until a mage activates them. Georg's plan to seal Asella's magic, prepped by his minions.

"Hahaha! Behold the might of Georg von Württemberg! Cower before me, unable to cast a single spell! See, Your Majesty? This is the charisma to crush the masses and lead the Imperial family!"

Georg pumped his fist like victory was his.

Asella sneered in contempt. "Cowardly, Georg. You declared an honorable duel, yet rigged the arena with traps."

"Traps? No idea what you mean. Still hiding your incompetence, Asella?"

The pro-Imperial princes and princesses murmured at Georg's retort.

―Seems the Second Prince pulled a trick.

―That's his skill too. Using all your abilities is what a duel is.

The watching Emperor nodded agreement.

―Wealth and manpower are a ruler's own abilities. If Asella loses to that, she's inferior to Georg.

Asella tried casting again, but the circle wouldn't connect.

"Anti-mana stones. Probably cost around 3,300 gold to fill the arena."

Georg scowled. "How do you…?"

"Didn't you know? Palace budgets go to His Majesty in reports. Public info."

Enemy scouting 101. Earth Palace's recent budget spikes and crate sizes screamed anti-mana setup. And we had time to prepare too.

"Knowing changes nothing… hmph. Useless. Asella can't cast, and you can't beat m—Achoo!"

Georg started sneezing uncontrollably, face soon snot-smeared.

―Something hazy floating in the arena.

―Just dust?

I eyed Georg and activated my skill.

"Diagnosis."

Georg had no major illnesses or injuries, but this allergy was his weakness. I'd ordered Moonlight Palace knights to gather heaps of chrysanthemums and dust the arena with pollen. When the anti-mana activated, it'd kick up the particles.

"What did you do, achoo! you bastard!!"

"Count your blessings—no chrysanthemums in the Imperial Palace."

"Personal physician!!"

Georg began glowing brightly. Healers outside piled on extra blessings.

All strength buffs. He's going for the win.

He charged me, desperate to force a power clash before things worsened.

Music to my ears.

I grabbed a prepped syringe from behind my shield.

I jabbed the strength enhancer into my unarmored inner thigh. Adrenaline surged, body heating up.

―Kaboom!

I blocked Georg's shield-rush. Like colliding with an iron rhino—thanks to his armor. Arms numb, legs skidding through dirt. But I held.

"Why! Achoo! Why won't you fall?!"

Georg panicked. By size and gear, it was a bus vs. bicycle. Bizarre for him.

My C-rank alchemy-boosted enhancer bumped strength by 50—mid-tier knight level now.

"Urgh…! Just topple this guy!"

Break me, and spell-less Asella falls easy. Allergy-fueled panic left Georg sloppy, no stance, just brute force. Tears blurred his vision; arms tiring.

Stalemate. Georg sneezed massively again.

"Achoo!"

I sidestepped into the gap.

"Wha?!"

His momentum betrayed him, balance lost. Perfect.

From behind, with him off-guard—magic would land clean. I shouted,

"Princess! Now!"

Asella dropped her staff, crossing her arms. Fingers formed a single sign. No circle needed—mana converted instantly inside her.

"Disarm."

―Clang!

"What?!"

―Boom!

Georg's ornate armor exploded in shards, peeling off him.

―Thud!

Off-balance, he toppled. I whipped out a syringe and plunged it vigorously into his exposed buttock.

"Hngh!"

Georg's eyes rolled back as he collapsed, twitching and rolling in the dirt like a newborn.

"P-Personal… ph-physician!!"

Spunky. Even foaming, he glared and gnashed teeth at me.

"Young master."

Asella approached, ponytail swishing like a tail.

"Yes, Princess."

"Hoisted by his own petard. I like that strategy. Think of it again sometime."

Her twisted tastes. I joined her gaze on Georg, holding up the syringe.

"Your Highness, that was the black magic poison the assassin had—the same one that hit the Duke."

"Wh-What…?!"

Crunch. I popped a rose candy from my pouch. Showed him another syringe.

"Antidote's mine alone. What'll it be?"

Georg's eyes darted—Asella left, me right.

Oof, he's done for.