Chapter 108: Duel (4)
Chapter 108: Duel (4)
"Tempest Burn."
With the incantation, a spear of mana slammed into the ground right in front of Frank.
Then, it unleashed the heat it had been suppressed within.
Fwaaaaah!
It was a combination of Flare, which focused purely on high temperatures, and Wind Blast, which had the property of spreading wide.
In truth, this was merely a lower-tier version of the Prominence Flare that Carla had used once before.
However, while it hadn't reached the level of Intermediate Magic, it was still powerful enough to have long since surpassed the limits of Basic Magic.
The flames engulfing the entire dueling arena were proof of that.
I had intentionally detonated it on the ground instead of aiming directly at him, fearing I might actually kill him... but I suppose a third-year is a third-year for a reason.
He actually blocked it.
Though, it didn't look like he was having an easy time of it.
Frank gritted his teeth and poured mana into his shield as the heat threatened to melt it away.
"Ggggh!"
The way he patched up the shield with mana the moment it took damage looked painful, but it was surprisingly stable.
At this rate, he might actually manage to hold out. But.
"You think I'm just standing around?"
Even if it was a threatening spell burning through the entire arena, Tempest Burn was ultimately my magic.
There was no way I would be harmed by a spell I had cast myself.
Tap.
I kicked off the ground with a powerful stride.
I couldn't cast other spells while maintaining these flames... but it didn't matter.
Frank was pinned down, forced to focus all his energy on his shield.
Thanks to the remaining effects of Haste, the distance between us closed in an instant.
Wrooom.
The closer I got to him, the stronger the dagger vibrated.
It was as if it were screaming, desperate to taste the blood of a cultist right this second.
...Is this thing actually a demon sword?
With that thought, I slammed into Frank's shield.
Crack.
There was a slight resistance.
However, the shield was already at its limit from holding back the flames.
There was no way it could withstand an impact backed by the full weight of my body and the acceleration of Haste.
The cracks that started at the tip of my blade instantly spiderwebbed across the entire shield.
Shatter!
With the sound of breaking glass, the shield burst into fragments.
The dagger lunged through the shimmering shards and pierced Frank's shoulder.
"Kehek!"
His face contorted in agony. Yet, strangely, he also looked somewhat relieved.
Did he think I had missed on purpose? Did he think I wouldn't show mercy to someone I knew was a cultist?
Not a chance.
He opened his mouth wide, making a biting motion as if to counterattack.
But he would never get the chance to close his jaw, nor would he be able to trigger Void Feast at point-blank range.
Flash!
Because the radiance erupting from the dagger was already tearing through his insides.
"......!!"
Light is the natural enemy of cultists.
Faced with a pain more intense than anything he had ever felt, all Frank could do was gasp and wheeze, his jaw hanging open so wide it looked ready to dislocate.
I didn't miss the opening and moved my arm swiftly.
Stab, stab, stab.
"Aaaaaagh!!!"
His screams rang out shrilly as I plunged the blade into his other shoulder and both thighs in rapid succession.
It sounded as if he were letting out every scream he had been holding back all at once.
Naturally, it was because he was being seared by the light from the Shining Lion Dagger's additional attacks.
Finally unable to endure any longer, Frank collapsed. I reached down and grabbed him by the hair.
Thud.
The surroundings had suddenly fallen silent.
Some people frowned at my actions, which seemed excessively brutal even for a duel.
Others looked on in confusion, wondering why Frank seemed to be in such deathly agony from what looked like relatively shallow stabs.
I slowly scanned the crowd from left to right before raising the blood-stained dagger high and shouting.
"The Church of Righteous Light! Is there a priest of the Church of Righteous Light here?!"
It was an abrupt shout, but surprisingly, someone responded immediately.
Helena, who had been sitting in the front row with her mouth agape, leaped to her feet.
"I am here, Brother! Why do you call for a daughter of the Righteous Light?"
"Priestess Helena. Perfect. As a priestess, you must know exactly what this dagger is, don't you?"
Perhaps because it had just unleashed its power, or perhaps because it was coated in the blood of a cultist, the Shining Lion Dagger was emitting a faint, holy radiance. Seeing this, Helena nodded with a dazed expression.
"Of course! Of course, Brother! Is that not a holy relic of our church, crafted from a tooth pulled by the Righteous Light herself? During the War of the Gods, it was an item bestowed only upon heroes recognized by our Lady!"
"You know it well. Then you must also be aware of this dagger's specific properties."
"Yes. Most were lost during the war... but they are famous because our Lady carved them from her own body."
"If you wouldn't mind, could you explain those properties to everyone here?"
"It would be my honor!"
An excited Helena began to rattle off the effects of the Shining Lion Dagger.
As priests often do when they get worked up, her explanation was a bit long-winded and peppered with exaggerations...
But she was accurately describing exactly what I had seen in the status window. And then.
"...Thus, while it is powerful normally, it regains its true strength when facing a cultist... Huh?"
She reached the conclusion I was aiming for on her own.
Helena blinked her sun-like golden eyes, looking back and forth between the dagger and Frank.
Then, she tilted her head.
"A cultist...?"
I smiled satisfied at her expected reaction and gave a demonstration.
"Indeed. As a divine object made by the Righteous Light herself, this dagger only reveals its full power in the presence of a cultist. ...Like this."
Poke.
"Hgyaaaaagh!!"
I had only lightly pricked the back of his hand, but Frank thrashed in agony as the light bored into his body.
But one demonstration wouldn't be enough for proof.
Poke. Poke. Poke.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
"Agh! Kiyahhh! Grrr...!"
Radiance erupted with every prick. Frank flailed about, his agony far exceeding the severity of the wounds.
Seeing this, Helena's expression began to twist into something cold and grim.
"A cultist...!"
It was the same word, but the nuance was entirely different.
I nodded at the thick thread of rage in Helena's voice.
"That's right. It's possible Senior Frank is just incredibly unlucky... but 'cultist' seems far more plausible, doesn't it? In fact, during the duel, I was subjected to an attack I suspect was an Authority of the Evil God."
I briefly explained how I had dodged an attack out of instinct, only to hear the sound of chewing behind me.
Then, I tossed the head I was holding aside.
Splat.
Frank lay there, twitching feebly.
Looking down at him, I put on a cold, stern voice.
Low enough to sound grim, but loud enough for everyone present to hear.
"I hereby accuse Frank Miller of being a cultist! Furthermore, by my right as the victor, I request an investigation into Pelop, who chose Frank as his champion!"
"W-What?! No! I... I didn't know! I really didn't know!"
Pelop, who had been watching the arena in a daze as the situation spiraled out of control, waved his hands in a panic...
But all he received in return were sharp glares of hostility.
Sensing that he was screwed, Pelop began to back away tentatively.
However, someone grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and stopped him in his tracks.
Grab.
"Wait just a second. Where do you think you're going? Hmm?"
Dark red hair and a seductive figure. But her playful behavior washed away any sense of elegance.
"You need to have a little chat with your pretty professor, student!"
Iona smiled, her sharp fangs glinting.
It was her usual ditzy smile.
But beneath it lay a chilling aura that refused to take 'no' for an answer.
Iona's hatred for cultists was famous enough that everyone knew about it.
Pelop was likely just a spoiled brat who couldn't fix his habits... but seeing him turn pale with terror was quite satisfying.
As I chuckled to myself, the Theology Professor acting as the referee finally made the declaration.
"The winner of this duel is Yandel, a first-year in the Magic Department! Furthermore, in the name of the Duel Committee, I accept the accusation against Frank Miller and the request for an investigation into Pelop Brondel!"
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. If anything, I should apologize for not noticing even while watching the fight right in front of me. However, since this is a serious matter, we will need your cooperation..."
"You need the power of the holy relic, right? I'll cooperate as much as you need."
As expected of a priest, the old professor reacted sensitively to anything involving cultists.
This was good for me.
It was a perfect opportunity to spread awareness about the dangers of the Boiling Silence sect.
I bowed to Iona and the old professor to show my cooperation and stepped down from the arena.
Then, I headed toward the three women waiting for me.
Carla was clapping like a seal, her face bright with its usual innocent smile.
Elisha had a proud smirk, seemingly pleased with the magic I had created through element combination.
And Fay, who hadn't been told anything beforehand and didn't know the full extent of my skills, just stood there with a blank, dazed expression.
I gave Carla a light kiss and gave Elisha's butt a playful pat—she was still awkward with public displays of affection.
Finally, I gave a playful shrug to Fay, who still hadn't fully processed the situation.
"Did you see that? If anyone bothers you again, Senior Fay, just come tell me right away. I'll teach them all a lesson."
Only then did Fay's dazed face begin to move.
"Yeah... I'll always remember that you're on my side, Junior."
Her lips curled up into a blissful, happy smile.
It was the exact opposite of the expression I had seen in that dark alleyway a few days ago.
Yeah. That was enough.
"Oh? Then what happens if I bother you, Senior Fay? Can I touch your chest?"
"...As if! Give me back my touching moment!"
Darn, worth a shot.