Chapter 106: The Duel (2)
Chapter 106: The Duel (2)
A few days after I issued the challenge, the day of the duel finally arrived.
The rumors about me that had been sweeping through the Academy hadn't even begun to cool down before this new fuel was added to the fire.
"Good grief. A freshman is taking on a sophomore and a junior back-to-back?"
"Idiot! He’s not just any freshman! Besides, one side is sending a proxy, so it might be someone from a different year."
"True... Oh? Does that mean we finally get to see the skills that supposedly took down an Archbishop?"
"Maybe? But don't get your hopes up. They said he didn't take him down alone."
The training grounds lent by the Academy were packed to the rafters. As if that wasn't enough, recording crystals and familiars could be seen hovering in the air.
I suppose those who couldn't get a seat were planning to watch the broadcast.
I knew this would draw a lot of attention.
...But I didn't expect it to be this much.
Personally, the more people the better, but isn't this a bit overkill?
As I scanned the stands with a strange mix of emotions, Carla held a cookie up to my lips.
"Would you like one too, Master? Open wide~"
"Ah—"
I reflexively accepted it. The rich flavor of butter filled my mouth, followed by the thick, gooey sweetness of chocolate hidden inside.
"What is this? It's actually really good."
"Hehe. Right? It's from that shop in the Market Street I bought from the other day."
"The one you said you used to visit all the time? I can see why you were a regular."
"Right, right? I was so impressed after eating this that I even thought about trying to bake them myself!"
"Oh... cookies made by a former noble lady. Now that's something I'm curious about."
Isn't a dish made by his own woman every man's romantic dream?
I briefly imagined Carla wearing an apron and oven mitts. For some reason, the image shifted to her wearing nothing but the apron while giving me a 'hand-job' with those very mitts, and a satisfied smile crept onto my face.
Seeing my expression, Elisha snorted and snapped her fan open, concealing her mouth.
"Oh my? Are you perhaps referring to those pitch-black, charred lumps you baked during last year's break?"
"Ugh..."
"Yandel. Are you curious about Carla's cookies? Just set anything on fire right now, and it will taste roughly the same."
"Elisha! You said they were delicious back then!"
"Hmph! Do you really think I ate them because they were good? I was merely offering a white lie out of respect for the effort you put in."
"What? Hmph! Well, that tea you brewed for me back then wasn't good at all either!"
"Don't bother lying, Carla. Elven tea is a luxury so rare that people in other countries can't even get their hands on it!"
"That's because it's blended for other races! Drinking a tea blended for elves with their sensitive senses just tastes bland to me!"
"Ah. ...Still, you said the aroma was lovely at the time!"
"And you said my cookies were delicious, Elisha!"
"Gyaaa!"
"Guaaa!"
Carla began pinching Elisha relentlessly, and Elisha retaliated by pinching her right back.
Wait, so they used to invite each other over every year to share cookies and tea?
I can't tell if they're on good terms or bad terms.
Well... I think they said they were originally close, but drifted apart due to excessive competition.
This felt different from the Elisha I'd seen in the game, or the Carla who had clung to me as a slave. I suppose this was a side of them you could only see when they were together.
As I leisurely watched the two of them fight amidst a flurry of cookie crumbs, someone tapped the back of my hand.
"Junior, Junior. Is it really okay to be this relaxed? The duel starts in ten minutes."
"Why wouldn't it be? I've already finished all the necessary preparations. All that's left is to relax so I can give it my all during the fight."
"I think you're a bit too relaxed..."
Fay tilted her head, looking unsure if this was right.
But soon, she gripped my hand tightly with a serious expression.
Maybe it's because she's short, but her hands were small too.
"Hey, Junior."
"Yes, Senior Fay?"
"Why are you going this far for me?"
"Pardon?"
What was she talking about now?
At my confusion, Fay lowered her head and continued.
"I mean, right? I've produced some results this time, but my goal is much higher. ...And nobody thinks I can actually do it."
"Well... even Elisha's first thought when she heard about it was the mass production of low-grade weapons."
No one believed Fay could perfectly craft artisan-grade equipment through alchemy.
"Yeah. So, you're the only one, Junior, who guarantees me the research I want to do along with a massive budget."
Only one person. Me.
Having said that, Fay slowly lifted her head.
Her hair was as messy as ever. Her dark eyes, peeking through her long bangs, were trembling incessantly with anxiety.
"So... I'm essentially subordinate to you, Junior. You don't have to go out and get hurt yourself for my sake."
"I told you before, didn't I? This is also a warning for my own sake."
"Mhm. Then tell me. Why did you drop the recording crystal and charge in when I got slapped in the alleyway?"
"What?"
"From your perspective, Junior, if you had just stayed still, you could have handled it much more cleanly..."
"Ah. I was wondering what you were getting at. I think I understand now."
I chuckled and cupped both of Fay's cheeks with one hand.
"Buuh?"
I laughed at Fay, whose mouth was puckered like a duck's, and continued.
"You're bothered by what Pelop said—that no one would protect you, right?"
"That's..."
"Man, you have a troublesome personality. You didn't need to beat around the bush. Especially right before a duel."
"I-I'm sorry."
"It's not something you need to apologize for... I'll make it crystal clear this time, so remember it well."
I spoke while idly squishing Fay's cheeks.
"I am your guardian, Senior Fay. An insult to you is an insult to me, and you getting hit is no different from me getting hit."
"......"
"I'm on your side."
"...Ah."
"So watch closely. Watch what happens to the bastard who dared to touch you... who dared to touch one of my people."
"Yeah... I will. I'll watch everything and won't miss a single thing."
I gave Fay a grin as she stared back with a dazed expression before finally letting go of her face.
Then, I heard small whispers from behind me.
"Elisha, Elisha. Look at that. Master is making a slave without a Slave Imprint!"
"Is she a slave to capital? Or a slave to affection? Either way, it doesn't seem far off."
"This is no time to be so complacent! We need to have a sense of crisis and show Master something ourselves!"
"...I agree for once. Honestly, those breasts are cheating."
Hey, weren't you two just at each other's throats a moment ago? Why are you suddenly getting along?
I briefly wondered what to do about Fay, who was blushing furiously and stammering as if she'd heard everything, but then—
Bong— Bong— Bong—
A massive bell tolled throughout the Academy. It was the sound signaling the hour.
At the same time, it was the signal for today's duel to begin.
The women, who had been joking and blushing just a moment ago, stiffened instantly.
I also tightened the slack in my nerves.
"Let's go."
Time to wrap this up.
*
—Waaaaaaaah!!
As I stepped onto the training grounds, cheers erupted from all sides.
I felt like a gladiator entering an arena.
I stood still and scanned the surroundings. I spotted a familiar head of dark red hair.
Wait, why is Professor Iona over there again?
I let out a dry laugh and gave a light wave.
Iona began hopping up and down, giggling.
Is that the dignity of a Lord-class vampire who's over 300 years old...? It's truly awe-inspiring...
I chuckled and pulled my staff and the Shining Lion Dagger from my inventory.
This combat style was familiar to me now.
My slightly stiff body loosened up and became fluid, while my mind became clear without a single cloud.
As I waited in a combat-ready stance, two figures soon stepped onto the training grounds from the opposite side.
One was Pelop. And the other, his champion...
"Huh?"
Why is he coming out here?
Neatly groomed brown hair—clean at best, plain at worst.
Features that left a faint impression, and a low presence that made even his breathing feel thin.
My second duel opponent, and a believer of the Boiling Silence, Frank Miller, had stepped out as Pelop's proxy.
"Heh... Did you think I'd bring some lowly commoner from the Knight Department? Too bad. Your opponent is a mage! The very Senior Frank you pointed out yourself!"
"Uh..."
I could understand why Pelop looked so triumphant.
Until they become capable of multi-casting, mages are extremely vulnerable in 1:1 combat against knights.
Therefore, for a mage who hasn't reached a certain level to face a knight, thorough preparation is required.
In fact, right now, my armor, the potions I'd pre-consumed, and the magical tools in my pockets...
Everything I was wearing was specialized for dealing with a knight.
Since he'd rendered all of that useless in an instant, Pelop must have felt he'd caught me off guard.
However.
======================
【Shining Lion Dagger】
A pure white dagger with a roaring lion carved into the pommel.
The blade, which feels more like bone than metal, occasionally emits a warm light.
The dagger, wreathed in holy radiance, will become even sharper than usual.
...And the radiance shall shine brightest in the darkness.
Hummm—
The dagger in my left hand hummed softly, pulsing with intermittent light.
As if it were begging to be swung right this instant.
I looked back and forth between the dagger—which was essentially a hard counter to cultists—and Frank, who was a cultist, and a dry laugh escaped me.
He probably thinks he can kill me this time by making it look like an accident, but...
"Jackpot."
I won't be the one dying today.