Chapter 111
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: The Judgment Duel
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Eshid bit his lip in frustration.
Like a protagonist on a stage, Christian looked over the crowd and continued.
“But the seals on these documents are genuine. It's utterly incomprehensible.”
Marquis Langham asked.
“So, what is it you’re trying to say?”
“That we must find the one who framed them.”
“!!”
“If they are innocent, then someone must have forged these documents.”
Christian shook his head.
“Who could have done such a thing, and why? For what reason?”
At his words, people swallowed hard.
A single person came to everyone’s mind.
Someone with the power to make such a thing possible.
And someone with a reason to do so.
As if to confirm their suspicions, Christian’s gaze shifted.
Directly toward Eshid.
“Do you have any suspicions, Young Lord Eshid?”
“!!”
“Someone with the means to forge all of their seals, and at the same time, a reason to pin the crime on them… I can only think of one person.”
Eshid clenched his fists.
Christian was trying to frame him!
The circumstances were certainly damning.
There was no one else who could have done this, nor anyone else with a reason to.
‘This damn bastard. You think I’ll fall for your scheme?’
It was simple.
There would be no evidence that Eshid was behind it, so all he had to do was lift his head and deny it.
However.
“Y-Young Lord.”
The accused were looking at him with desperate eyes.
As if pleading for his help.
And it wasn't just them.
Everyone in the tribunal was watching Eshid.
Waiting to see what choice he would make.
“Please think carefully before you answer. If we cannot prove this was a setup, these individuals will all pay for their crimes according to the family’s laws.”
In other words.
The moment Eshid denied it was his doing, they would all be executed.
This was a trap with only two choices.
Shield them, or abandon them.
‘This damn bastard.’
But it wasn't even a dilemma worth considering.
Eshid was, at his core, a sociopath.
The thought of suffering a loss for the sake of others was unimaginable to him.
And Chris, having seen through Eshid's nature, had set this very trap.
“It was not me.”
“!!”
A collective gasp swept through the hall.
Eshid gritted his teeth and continued.
“There must be another culprit. We have to catch them…”
“Yes, I suppose so. Though I can’t imagine who would dare to do such a thing.”
Christian jeered, and Eshid flinched.
The gazes fixed on him were icy.
Different from before.
It was only natural.
People now believed that Eshid had framed them.
The reaction from his abandoned retainers was especially dramatic.
“Young Lord Eshid!! How could you do this to us?!”
“To frame us, who have followed you with such loyalty!! Even the demons of Gehenna wouldn't be like you!!”
They screamed at Eshid in anguish.
The reactions of his other supporters were just as cold.
The suspicion of human sacrifice was one thing.
But to frame his own loyal retainers and cast them aside in front of everyone…
Everyone was utterly disappointed in Eshid.
In a flash, Eshid had lost the hearts of the entire family.
He had lost a massive base of support in a single moment.
‘Serves you right.’
Chris smirked inwardly.
‘I can't miss this opportunity.’
The moment people's hearts wavered was the perfect chance.
Christian put on a regretful expression.
“Since Young Lord Eshid denies it, we must punish them. However, I do not believe this is right.”
“Not right?”
“Yes, because I am certain they were framed. I believe in their innocence.”
At his words, the retainers looked at Christian with moved expressions.
Eshid, whom they had followed, had abandoned them, while Christian, whom they had persecuted, was defending them.
In that moment, many of the retainers had the same thought.
‘The next family head should be someone like Young Lord Christian.’
The reaction from the framed retainers was particularly striking.
‘If I can just clear my name, I will serve Young Lord Christian from now on.’
It was a moment that drastically shook the balance of power in the succession.
After today, a considerable number of retainers would come to support Christian.
Especially those who were framed today; if they survived, they would become Christian’s most loyal vassals.
Eshid, on the other hand, found himself in the opposite position.
With today’s events, he had lost a significant portion of his support base in an instant.
And that wasn't all.
From now on, everyone in the family would point fingers at him behind his back.
He had fallen from his place in the sun, where he was revered by all, to become the shame of the family.
Just then, Marquis Langham poured cold water on the proceedings.
“How will you prove their innocence? It’s impossible unless you can prove someone framed them.”
“If there is no evidence, then there is only one way.”
Christian looked at Eshid and spoke in a clear tone.
The final, most important goal of today's tribunal.
“I challenge Young Lord Eshid to a Judgment Duel.”
“!!”
In an instant, everyone held their breath.
When the truth could not be uncovered, it was a method where a duel was held, and the victor’s argument was accepted as right.
A primitive method born from the idea that the winner is the one who is right.
Though it was a method rarely used in recent times.
“Surely, you won't cower and avoid this too?”
At Christian’s provocation, Eshid let out a cold, dry laugh.
“…You’ve lost your mind. Fine. I have no reason to refuse.”
It was a natural reaction.
Chris was a 4-Star, and a Lower one at that.
Eshid, on the other hand, had reached the 5-Star Elder Class.
“Young Lord Christian, this is a bit much.”
“Please reconsider.”
Those who had been looking at Christian favorably now spoke out in concern.
They believed Christian had no chance of winning.
They thought the probability of him being severely injured or killed was high.
But then.
“Heh heh, a Judgment Duel. What an impetuous proposal.”
Everyone drew a sharp breath.
It was Nordian!
The Old Lord spoke in a voice that sounded somewhat amused.
“What do you think, Marquis? It seems difficult to uncover the clear truth anyway, so settling it with a Judgment Duel doesn't seem like a bad idea. Of course, this old man is merely here to observe, so the decision is yours, Marquis.”
“……”
Marquis Langham fell silent for a moment.
Whose opinion was this that he could dare ignore it?
However.
‘…There’s no way Christian can beat Eshid, right?’
It was an absurd thought.
The difference in their levels was immense.
Just to be safe, Marquis Langham assessed Christian.
4-Star Lower.
The ‘Prime Low’ class.
The gap in their levels was so vast that an upset was impossible.
Marquis Langham spoke to Christian.
“There is one condition.”
“What is it?”
“Whatever happens during the duel is your own responsibility. If you don't mind losing your life, I will permit the Judgment Duel.”
He was telling Christian to be prepared to die.
This was also a message for Eshid.
He was to use the Judgment Duel to behead Christian without fail.
As if understanding the message, Eshid flashed a vicious smile.
Christian just smirked.
“Don’t worry.”
Christian’s gaze turned to Eshid.
Coldly.
“That is exactly what I was hoping for.”
That was right.
Chris planned to use the duel to finish Eshid off completely.
And so.
The duel that would completely overturn the line of succession was set.
* * *
In accordance with the Magitech Empire's law on Judgment Duels, the date was set for one month later.
This time frame was intended to allow for a resolution through agreement rather than a duel, but that did not apply to these two.
The pretext was a duel to uncover the truth, but everyone in the Dark Magic House knew.
This was an official duel for the position of successor.
Their fates would be decided by this duel.
The loser would lose everything.
The winner would take a giant leap toward the position of Grand Prince.
However, almost no one predicted Christian's victory.
No, to be honest, no one did.
It was a 4-Star versus a 5-Star.
An insurmountable gap, like a vast wall.
“Why on earth did Young Master Christian make such a decision?”
“Wasn’t it to stand up for the retainers who were framed? Young Lord Christian may have a roguish side, but he also has an unexpectedly upright character that makes him care for others.”
“That’s true.”
If Christian hadn't requested the Judgment Duel, the retainers who were framed would not have survived.
“Those retainers were, in a way, Young Lord Christian’s enemies, yet he stepped up for them like that. It’s amazing.”
“He’s nothing like that scoundrel Eshid.”
Thus, the Majin of the Dark Magic House praised Christian with admiration.
To those who didn’t know the full story, it looked as if Christian had gone to great lengths for the sake of the unjustly accused retainers.
It was a completely different reputation from before, when he was dismissed as a scoundrel.
“But he was too reckless. No matter how much of a genius Young Lord Christian is, this duel is impossible.”
“That’s right. It might be better to cancel the duel now.”
Those around Christian thought the same.
“…What in the world are you thinking.”
Merian shook her head from side to side.
Christian, sipping the strawberry juice Mari had made for him through a straw, asked.
“What is it?”
“You ask as if you don’t know?! To do something so reckless!”
“You don’t have to worry so much. Mari, could you get my aunt a glass of juice too?”
[Ohoho. Should I prepare it with a virgin’s blood? Or the new recipe I’ve been working on, a bachelor’s blood juice? Or perhaps her tastes lean toward a handsome, middle-aged man’s blood juice?]
Merian’s face contorted into a deep scowl.
“No, thank you. What do I need juice for? Ridan, you say something too!”
Ridan.
That was Count Cazar’s name.
He had come to the main house because of this incident.
“…I believe in Christian.”
“Believe? Then why do you look like that? Anyone would think the world was ending, looking at your face.”
“……”
Just as Merian jeered, Count Cazar’s face was clouded with shadows.
It was due to worry.
‘I believe in my son. But.’
It was too reckless a challenge.
No matter how much of a genius Christian was, the gap was too wide to bridge.
Just then, Melin interjected from the side.
“Please don’t worry too much, you two. This is Young Lord Christian we’re talking about. I’m sure he has a brilliant plan to win.”
She continued, her eyes full of trust.
“He is the Young Lord who fought me to a standstill when he wasn’t even a 2-Star.”
At her words, Merian and Count Cazar looked at Christian.
Christian was still sipping his strawberry juice with a relaxed expression.
A leisurely demeanor that showed not a single hint of worry.
“…Fine, let’s hear it. What kind of secret plan have you cooked up this time?”
“I don’t have anything like that.”