The Duel (1)
Warren, Blair, and I sat together in a rest area on one side of the training grounds. When I mentioned the spar from earlier, Warren looked incredibly embarrassed.
“It was just luck this one time.”
“No. It wasn’t luck.”
When Warren spoke so humbly, Blair cut in bluntly.
“It was a remarkable display of skill. I believe the two of you would be evenly matched even if you fought with full strength.”
Because of her knightly, rigid personality, Blair wasn’t good at lying. Not just me—Warren must have known those words were sincere too. Sure enough, he wore a slightly surprised expression.
When I’d first told him to let Blair know if he ever needed anything, I’d wondered if such an opportunity would ever arise. But the perfect chance had come along.
There were two main reasons I’d introduced Blair to Warren as a training partner. The first was obviously to improve his skills. Training together was far more efficient than practicing alone. Since he’d obtained a new sword, learning a few more mana-handling techniques from Blair would be more than enough.
The second reason was to let Warren feel for himself just how strong he really was. While he’d heard it from me, hearing it directly from Blair—who had actually crossed swords with him—would hit differently.
Warren was already plenty strong. He just hadn’t realized it yet.
“I’m still a long way from catching up to you, Kael. I need to train even harder.”
Warren said this with a determined face. His skin was drenched in sweat, but his eyes sparkled with fierce resolve. Then he stood up and picked up his sword again.
“I’ll practice a little more by myself before I head back. You two can go on ahead.”
With that, he calmly crossed the training ground that was settling into darkness and headed for the dummies.
These days, Warren spent nearly every waking moment at the training grounds except for classes and sleep. He must have been exhausted, yet he picked up his sword once more and began swinging at the dummy. The guy had more than enough qualification to become strong.
“I can’t understand it.”
I was watching Warren from a distance when Blair muttered from beside me.
“I can’t understand it.”
At those words, I turned to look at Blair.
“What?”
“The fact that someone with that level of skill is friends with you.”
Warren had said earlier that he was still far from reaching my level. From an outside perspective, it was incomprehensible. Warren was in the upper class, while I was in the lower class. Besides, since we were in completely different classes to begin with, how we’d even become close was a mystery in itself.
“We just kind of got close somehow.”
I answered casually, the same way I had when I handed over the introduction letter at the café in town last time. Everything was no big deal to me.
What does Warren see in this guy anyway?
From what I’d observed these past few days, Warren treated me almost like a benefactor. It was puzzling why someone of Warren’s caliber would associate with a guy like me. Maybe there was some special side to me that she didn’t know about.
Come to think of it, Lady Ophelia also treated me with strange special regard. It made me wonder if there was something the two of them knew that I didn’t.
Just what was this lower-class commoner?
“Well, anyway, thanks for helping out. It must have been annoying having to do it every night.”
I said with an easy smile. She must have noticed the not-so-friendly looks I’d been giving her all this time, but I didn’t seem to mind it much.
“Not at all. It was good training for me as well.”
Moreover, I had casually handed over the introduction letter as if it were nothing.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t believe I properly thanked you last time because things were so hectic. Thank you. I will make good use of the letter.”
It was awkward, but I said it even if it was late. Lady Ophelia always said that gratitude and apologies should be given immediately. It was late, but I was simply following her teachings. After all, it was something to be grateful for.
“You sure took your time.”
I’d been wearing a slightly surprised expression for a moment, but then I started laughing. Blair narrowed her eyes at me. As expected, I really didn’t like this guy.
A few days later, Warren and I were on our way to the training grounds after having lunch together since our schedules matched up. I spotted Lucian’s group coming toward us from the front.
Warren flinched for a moment without realizing it, but then he clenched his fists tightly and steeled his gaze. He even looked straight at them without avoiding their eyes.
Glover, who noticed Warren, moved his mouth as if to say something, but then he spotted me beside him and closed it again. Of course, that didn’t mean he just quietly passed by.
“Ah…!”
Glover pretended to be looking straight ahead absentmindedly and bumped his shoulder into Warren as he passed.
I watched these punks who still hadn’t learned their lesson even after what happened last time and could only find it pathetic. They really were nothing but thugs.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Warren was no longer the type to just take it quietly. He glared sharply at Glover and spoke in a cold voice.
“Oh, it’s Warren.”
Glover acted as if he’d only just noticed him, even though their eyes had met just moments ago. It was an obvious lie.
“I didn’t see you because you’re so small.”
Glover sneered even more arrogantly, as if not wanting to lose to Warren who was glaring at him.
Warren didn’t back down either. He stared straight at Glover, then walked over with heavy steps and stood in front of Lucian.
“It’s good we ran into each other.”
He muttered in a low voice and stood as if blocking Lucian’s path.
Lucian looked down at Warren with a laugh, as if he found him ridiculous.
“What is it?”
“Give me back my money.”
At Warren’s words, not only Lucian’s gang but even I was surprised.
Money…?
I knew Warren had suffered all sorts of abuse from Lucian’s group, but I hadn’t realized they’d extorted money from him too. Come to think of it, on the day he went out and came back, I’d later realized he’d been with those guys. It must have been then.
These trash.
My eyes grew icy cold as I watched the confrontation in silence until now. The rest of the gang except for Lucian and Glover flinched and trembled at my gaze.
“Let’s settle this properly in a match. If I win, you give me back the money.”
Warren, still facing Lucian, spat out each word as if chewing on them.
“You’ve gotten pretty cocky while I wasn’t looking.”
Lucian looked down at Warren with the same contempt as always.
“You should pick your opponents more carefully.”
It was that gaze of Lucian’s that always seemed to press down on his opponents. Warren used to cower in fear every time he faced those eyes.
But now it was different.
“Why? Are you scared you’ll lose to me?”
Warren deliberately spoke loudly so others could hear. The attention of several other students passing by turned toward us. It was clear he was trying to provoke the prideful Lucian.
“How dare you speak to Lord Lucian like—!”
Glover intervened and shoved Warren. But Warren didn’t even flinch. He ignored Glover completely and continued glaring at Lucian.
Glover got worked up too. The guy who had been groveling at his feet not long ago was now glaring fiercely. It pissed him off that this bastard was completely disregarding him.
“You think a piece of trash like you is even qualified to face Lord Lucian?”
“Then why don’t you come at me first?”
“This crazy bastard…!”
Glover raised his fist threateningly, but Warren no longer shrank back from such things.
I won’t be afraid anymore. Just like Kael.
At that moment, Lucian stepped forward again.
“Fine. Let’s do it.”
Then he grinned and continued in a patronizing tone.
“But it’ll be two-on-two with that guy over there. Then I’ll take you on.”
As Lucian said that, he suddenly pointed at me.
Warren, who had been full of momentum until just now, looked at me with anxious eyes. This was his problem, something he had to overcome himself. He didn’t want to drag me into it.
“Kael has nothing to do with this!”
Warren snapped, but Lucian didn’t even respond. He just smiled slyly while looking only at me.
To Lucian, Warren was already out of his sight. He clearly remembered how I had humiliated him in front of his underlings. All he could think about was repaying that humiliation.
At the time, things had been chaotic and he’d shown an unsightly appearance, but after cooling his head, there was only one conclusion.
There was no way a mere lower-class E-rank mage could use that kind of magic at will. This was a chance to check whether I had used some trick.
Even if that power was real, it wouldn’t matter. All he had to do was take down Warren first and use him as a shield. No matter what magic I prepared, it would be over if he cut me down before I could cast it.
“Sorry, Kael. Let’s just…”
When Warren was about to say we should just ignore these guys and go on our way, I placed my hand on his shoulder.
“Sure. Let’s do it. I’ll accept.”
I casually accepted Lucian’s proposal.