Rigged Fight...? Duel (4)
Kriel acted contrary to Morgina's intention of suggesting they go at it bare-handed.
Hey, let go! It's gonna break, it's gonna breaaaak!
Kriel held firm to the horn dagger without letting go. Morgina happily joined in the test of strength. Empowered by her abundant holy power, she matched Kriel evenly—until, in an instant, she suddenly lifted her feet off the ground. The force, now directed in one way, accelerated her forward. Her body flew in like it was pulled by the horn dagger. Contracting chains. Through the thin veil, Morgina's eyes met Kriel's, glowing in the shadow of his helmet. They were close enough to see their reflections in each other's pupils.
I knew she'd come at me like this—she prefers close quarters, especially grappling. Kriel grinned. It was time for his final trick. He released the horn dagger. Orishin bounced on the floor with a shriek, but no one took it for more than whining.
Kriel lunged and seized Morgina's right forearm. Covered by his massive hand, she let out an ambiguous "Eh?"—shock or something like it. Then Kriel hurled her away just like that. Her weight was unchanged, separate from the muscle enhanced by holy power. The door through which she'd entered was still open. Kriel's throw sent her straight through it.
Of course, Morgina wasn't one to be put out of commission by such a half-hearted attack. In midair, she twisted her body, kicked off the courtroom wall, and reversed her trajectory exactly. Her red mace gleamed menacingly in both hands.
But Kriel didn't respond to the attack. He was just picking up the fallen horn dagger from the floor.
"...What the hell are you doing?"
Morgina, deflated by his utterly absurd sight, shot back.
"I won, didn't I?"
"What?"
"Your Honor! Confirm the duel precedent!"
"Ring-out rule, you mean? Indeed, in duel trials by custom, if one party leaves the dueling area, it's considered a loss, but..."
They hadn't mentioned ring-outs at the start. The religious judge's expression clouded in confusion.
"Isn't the duel trial itself rooted in customary law? If we didn't agree otherwise beforehand, following precedent seems reasonable to me."
Kriel had no intention of properly fighting Morgina to a finish. What was the point of tangling with that wild boar saintess?
"Hey, come on—!"
Morgina stretched her arms downward with a grunt. If she weren't holding maces, it might've looked kinda cute. The judge tilted his head.
At that moment, Armed approached the judge and handed over a slip of paper. It listed the replacement cost for the shattered dueling arena flagstones and the repair bill for the wall cracked by Morgina's earlier stomp. She'd calculated it lightning-fast the instant Kriel tossed her out.
The judge adjusted his glasses. These were inevitable damages from the trial proceedings, so he wouldn't have to pay—but it was obvious the court chief would give him that look: Why'd you let it get this bad?
"...Duel ends!"
"Hey, no—Your Honor! I object!"
"The duel is won by Armed Ket's champion, Sir Kriel!"
Daukrius admired Sir Kriel's clever handling—resolving a situation where either the champion or the saintess's honor would suffer via a ring-out—yet he was disappointed it ended without a drop of blood spilled (excluding what Morgina used to forge her weapon).
"Hah. Thought I'd get to see the saintess throw punches for once."
Mazar Gabi couldn't believe what this kindly old priest was saying.
"Truly a shame. Once Sir Kriel figured her out, he donned his armor, making the match drag on dully. In lovers' quarrels, a bit of blood makes the bond even tighter..."
"Old timer, what the hell are you talking about?"
Mazar tossed in a baffled remark. Daukrius shrugged nonchalantly.
"Don't think the saintess held back, mind you. Should've made 'em fight outdoors if I knew."
Wait—saintess? Mazar, unaware of Morgina's exact status, recoiled in belated realization.
This priest watched his order's champion and saintess duke it out and complained there wasn't enough blood?
What a batshit insane church. His bias against Eve Kaha deepened as Mazar hung his head. The duel trial had ended in defeat.
"Father..."
Thud.
Someone slumped beside him. Mazar turned to check the silhouette. A stern impression verging on cold-blooded. Hair the color of bleached bone, ominous blood-red eyes.
"...Here to mock the loser?"
"Ran for it."
"Huh?"
Kriel casually pointed at the arena. There, Morgina—furious, clutching something like a black cloak—scanned around wildly.
"She was gonna charge yelling 'Duel's over, this is personal payback,' so I blindfolded her with the cloak and bolted. Won't think to check the loser's side, so it'll buy some time."
Mazar let out a hollow chuckle at the ridiculous situation delivered so matter-of-factly.
"Well. Found your love, eh? Congrats. Knightly romance and all."
"Dedicating love to a noble lady is one facet of chivalry."
"Then go back to your ladylove."
Mazar waved him off. Not his courtroom, but the "get lost" intent was clear. Unexpectedly, Kriel didn't budge.
"Mocking the defeated isn't the act of one who upholds chivalry."
"Nor is ignoring one in distress."
Kriel shrugged.
"First words after accepting defeat: 'Father.' Pretty meaningful. Tied to your ambition to become family head somehow?"
"......"
Mazar meant to brush it off as personal business, but Kriel suddenly stood, cutting him short.
"Oops. Spotted me. Time to bounce."
He leaped lightly from the spectator seats to the arena—a drop twice a man's height. Routine for a trained knight, but impressive up close.
"If you need a knight instead of Armed's fiancé, hire me!"
Kriel landed with feigned bravado—only to become Morgina's dropkick target. He didn't take it lying down. Blocking with his greatsword's flat, he caught the rebounding Morgina gently in his arms.
"This is a courtroom. Mind your manners."
"Toss me again!"
"Nah. Loser accepts the result."
"You sneaky bastard!"
From the opposite seats, Mazar Gabi glimpsed Armed watching the pair bicker. A chill ran down his spine.
Right after wrapping up the duel farce with a trick, Orishin whispered to me.
I've got an eye for this as a unicorn. That Mazar guy doesn't strike me as a total scumbag. Seemed like he had reasons to force his way to family head—why not casually probe him?
I took the guy's advice, seized the chance to sound out Mazar's intentions, and holy shit.
"Happy you won like that? Huh?!"
Here I was, collared by Morgina. Should've ignored the horse-head's yapping.
That's not on me—you poked him with weird talk first, didn't you?}
"Not answering."
"What, punk?"
"Ah. Not to you— to Orishin—"
"Cut it out."
Armed wedged in amid the chaos. She eyed Morgina warily.
"My fiancé, recognized by duel trial."
Morgina pondered. Show her true colors? Or keep up the public face? The dilemma resolved itself fast. As Kriel slyly slipped free from her grip toward Armed, words burst out automatically.
"Is that so? Pleased to meet you. Lady Armed Ket. I am Morgina, saintess of Eve Kaha who appointed Sir Kriel as champion."
Appointed where? You never did that, Kriel thought, catching Armed's betrayed glare.
"Me? You?"
"Yup. You, to me."
Morgina grinned and added,
"You heard the pontiff yourself—saintess decides the champion, in principle."