Episode 168 - The Bitch's Desire Begins to Awaken!
“A duel arena... huh?”
“Yeah. She wants to kill me to wash away her humiliation...”
I urgently called Lizbet and Klea, then showed them the duel challenge from Celestia.
It was written politely, as befitting a noble, but the letter radiated an unsettling intent to kill me. Ugh... what the hell do I do about this? If I refuse, she'll just straight-up murder me when I'm outside the city? Did I put too much faith in my horse cock? I should've made Celestia even more addicted to it without slacking off!
“Pfft... I can feel her pointless thrashing about.”
“This isn't funny, Liz... If she ambushes me for real...”
“Don't worry. Any bitch who's tasted Master's horse cock can never escape him♡ She's just putting on a strong front♡”
Lizbet laughed it off like it was nothing as she read the letter, reassuring me with that dismissive attitude.
Is that... true? I had been feeling lately that my horse cock was something else entirely... but the letter's vibe was pretty vicious. And sure, nobles' duels on Earth were one thing, but in this world... this kind of noble duel challenge means she's dead set on killing me somehow. Can I really relax?
“Well, since she already sent it... Klea. What do you think?”
“Hmm. Indeed... Celestia versus Master... Master, you should accept.”
“...For real? Against Celestia?”
Klea rested her chin on her hand, pondered for a moment, then casually suggested I just fight her. What the hell? Why do my bitches look so damn calm?
“Celestia's level 52, right? Even if my stats are higher than my level suggests, aren't the odds against me?”
“Don't worry. From what I can see, your power is about equal to Celestia's.”
As I made a face like I couldn't believe it, Klea and Lizbet seemed to read my expression and began explaining in soft, soothing voices, like teachers instructing a student.
“Levels are tied to your ability caps. Esser capacity is separate, but... think of levels like expanding the size of a bucket.”
“Training and activity fill that bucket with stats like water. The stats you gain on level-up are like the water that was waiting for the bucket to grow.”
“And if you leave that water sitting, it naturally diminishes over time... Celestia probably hasn't trained or adventured much in ages. So...”
In other words, she's weakened compared to her prime while playing lord's wife...? And according to Klea, she's on my level now? Then... I might actually win this.
“...This is actually an opportunity.”
“Yeah, that's why I said it's pointless thrashing♡”
“She knows she's weakened herself. That's why she sent this challenge to Master.”
“Her monster hatred and pride blind her to it, but her bitch instincts are thinking of Master... Doesn't the challenge look a bit different that way?”
Listening to them, the emotions I'd sensed in the duel challenge started reading differently. Yeah. She's not really trying to kill me—she's just cutely lashing out...?
“Still, level 52 isn't something to ignore...”
“She has experience, after all. Let's prepare thoroughly♡”
“Ice-attribute mage, right...? In that case...”
My bitches began discussing how to handle the duel and drafting a reply to Celestia. Nice. Confidence surging now? Celestia. Pointless thrashing. I'll make you regret it. Look forward to it.
I challenge you to a duel to the death. Come to settle this humiliation, or face my wrath beyond the city walls.
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“I don't know what's going on, but... be careful out there?”
“Puhuhu. Don't worry, sis. I'll be back before you know it.”
Three days later, the day of the duel with Celestia. In my Marlborghini horse form, Lianna handed over the under-armor clothes to my bitches.
Lianna had originally planned to work daily for the first week after moving in, then just one or two days a week. When I urgently asked her for freeze-resistant clothes, she graciously delayed the shop opening to prepare them.
And today. With fire mage Lizbet helping all night, the freeze-resistant under-armor was complete.
“Sorry for delaying the shop opening because of this... sis.”
“Hehe. It's fine. If Sema who invested in me needs it urgently, two or three days is nothing... More importantly, resistance just lets you endure a bit longer—it won't fully block it. Keep that in mind?”
“Yeah, got it. Head back and rest well today. Shop opens tomorrow...”
“Alright. Go get 'em.”
With Lianna seeing me off, I loaded up my bitches and headed for the Lord's Castle.
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“...I didn't think you'd actually show without running. Pretty confident, huh.”
At the Lord's Castle entrance, waiting Celestia approached, glaring daggers at me.
No flashy noble dress—instead, an adventurer-like outfit that screamed high-level mage. Hmm. Unlike fellow mage Lizbet, this seems like her custom gear. You can really feel the high-level vibe from that cloak and staff... and that chest-exposed mage robe... Noble wife Celestia looking like a sexy fantasy game mage? Not bad at all.
“Puhuhu. What confidence? I couldn't refuse your summons, so here I am.”
“Riding around casually with your women... I clearly wrote I'd kill you today to cleanse my shame. You bringing them to the duel too?”
“Nah, they're just spectators. They won't interfere. I can have them wait far from the arena if you want.”
“...Fine. Their presence changes nothing—I'll still end you.”
Celestia glared, declaring she'd kill me, but her attitude felt oddly deflated for someone so intent on murder. ...Yeah, she's not actually gonna kill me, is she?
“Well then, hop on.”
“...Tch. So damn cocky...”
She clicked her tongue in annoyance but obediently climbed onto my lowered back. With Celestia aboard, I slowly moved through the city and out the gates.
“By the way, does the lord know you challenged me like this?”
I gradually picked up speed, heading away from Radia, then casually asked her.
“...He doesn't, but it doesn't matter.”
“Hmm?”
“...I just can't tolerate you. Nothing else to think about. Worry about your own neck.”
Whoa. Pretty resolute, huh? Even if the lord objects, she'll kill me first and deal with it later...? If that's the case, she could've just ambushed me or sent assassins... Dishonest bitch. I'll fix that dishonest attitude for good.
“...This far enough? How much farther you planning to go?”
“Yeah, looks good. Here we are...”
A vast plain with just a few scattered trees—nothing else. The duel arena, huh. Hmm... Yeah, bury the body and no one'd know.
“Then, preparations... Ngh!?”
“Whoa, what's wrong?”
After dismounting, Celestia fiddled with her staff, taking deep breaths. She turned with a resolved expression to speak, but her eyes widened and face flushed the instant she saw me.
“Ah~. This, maybe? Puhuhu. Not like it's your first time seeing it.”
The cloth draped over me in Marlborghini form had slipped off, proudly displaying my horse cock toward Celestia. Right on cue. Looks like you've been thinking about this guy nonstop, huh, Celestia?
“Th-this...!”
“My clothes slip every time I shift forms. Can't help it. Mind waiting a sec?”
I spread my arms, and my waiting bitches rushed over with clothes and armor, draping them on me. Celestia stared in disbelief, her face beet red.
“What the...! No shame at all...!”
“Oh my, isn't Master's body magnificent, Countess?”
“Any bitch would fall for such a perfect body...♡”
“Ugh...! Y-you, don't tell me the saintess and Miss Lizbet too...!?”
“They're my women. Got a problem?”
Celestia gawked at my bitches dressing me like servants, her face twisting in growing fury toward me.
“...You're a monster that must not be allowed to live...!!”
“Wasn't exactly a secret, was it? You must've guessed... Anyway.”
Once the armor was on, Lizbet handed me the bit. My two bitches retreated to a safe distance to avoid interfering. Glancing at them, I slung the bit over my shoulder and posed my pre-planned question to Celestia.
“Say you win and kill me, Countess... What if I win?”
“You, a mere level 20 runt, beat me...!?”
“No absolutes in a fight, right? Better make it clear.”
Daring to bet against me? You've got resolve, Celestia?
“If I win, spend the night at my place. Lady Celestia.”
Her body trembled at my words, face hardening.
“I rather like your body. Been hoping you'd drop by, but sending a duel challenge? You have no idea how surprised I was.”
Damn right I was surprised. I figured you'd just tsun around and show up eventually.
“Since it's come to this, if I win, you spend the night enjoying me at my place. A hot night to etch into that body and memory for good.”
“Trying to insult me again...!!”
Strong front from Celestia, but I could oddly read it in her angry face. She's recalling my horse cock from the lord's castle party.
“We're staking lives here—gotta have stakes. Or are you chickening out?”
“Shut your mouth, insolent cur! I'll kill you here today!!”
Celestia roared, shaking off visions of my horse cock. With that roar, a magic circle bloomed in her hand, ice shards scattering into the air.