Duels Taste Best With Interference
Kael let out a soft chuckle.
"Looks like even the Irina faction is grumbling about how unfair this is. Their complaints must be pretty serious. Well, facing two factions back-to-back would be tough for anyone."
At Kael's words, Ling pressed her body close and asked,
"Lord Kael, do you think Lady Irina can win?"
"Not a chance. There isn't anyone in Irina's faction stronger than those three. Even setting aside the issue of exhaustion from fighting consecutively, showing your fighting style puts you at a disadvantage."
The impact of revealing one's combat style might seem like a tiny difference. But that tiny difference could decide the outcome of a match.
The Irina faction would have to fight while their opponents already knew their techniques, while they themselves had gained zero information in return.
"Hehe~ Lord Kael. I hope Lady Irina suffers a lot. I really don't like how she insulted you and acts so shamelessly."
Ming smiled as she rubbed her face against Kael's arm. She genuinely wished for Irina to struggle. To her, Kael was nothing short of a savior who had rescued both her sister and herself. And he had always been kind to them. The fact that Irina had given such a vicious insult to someone like that made the noblewoman an enemy in the eyes of the Ling and Ming sisters—someone who deserved to pay the price.
Professor Lucia explained the situation unfolding in the video.
"Lord Kael, the duels will begin at the center of the clearing. Each faction sends out three people, but in reality, the Eleonora faction and the neutral faction are sending six in total, while Irina's side has to block them all with just three."
Kael nodded.
"That's right. And if either the Eleonora faction or the neutral faction wins, Irina's side won't be able to buy a single sausage. Irina's faction has to defeat both groups to earn the right to purchase even one."
If the duels proceeded like this, Irina's faction would lose. However, even in defeat, since the results would be clearly decided through combat, they would likely accept today's outcome. They might harbor resentment and feel it was unfair, but for now, they would follow the results of the duels.
"Lucia, once the duels end, everyone will accept the results... but where's the fun in that?"
"Indeed. What are you thinking? Should I intervene subtly?"
At Lucia's question, Kael nodded.
"Yes. First, the player stepping up for Irina's faction in the opening match is..."
Lucia smiled and nodded at Kael's following words.
"That's easy enough. Leave it to me, Lord Kael."
A playful glint flashed in her sky-blue eyes. For a grand mage like her, something of this level was child's play.
"Alright, shall we watch?"
The duel began at the center of the clearing.
With tension weighing heavily on the air, Professor Egil stood as referee and spoke.
"Don't worry about injuries. Even if limbs get severed, my magic can heal them easily."
Egil spoke in a cold voice. It was the complete opposite of the kind attitude he showed toward Kael. To students who weren't Kael, he felt no need to be particularly courteous. The only reason he was faithfully fulfilling his role as referee was because he could sense, through Professor Lucia's magic, that Kael was watching.
The first duel featured Amos from the Eleonora faction and Viola from the Irina faction.
Amos was a sturdy male student with dull brown hair and brown eyes. As a member of the swordsmanship department, he boasted well-trained, solid muscles and a heavy sword as he stepped into the clearing.
On the other side stood Viola, a slender female student with violet hair and violet eyes. She also belonged to the swordsmanship department, but her feminine build made her look delicate compared to Amos.
"Begin!"
At Professor Egil's declaration, the duel started.
"I'll end this quickly!"
Amos charged forward, swinging his heavy sword. Viola lightly deflected his attack with nimble footwork. Her rapier sliced through the air, brushing his blade aside as if flicking it away. Her movements were elegant, almost like a dance.
She skillfully dodged and redirected Amos's powerful strikes, looking for an opening to counter.
"Viola! You're doing great!"
"Hang in there! Viola!"
Cheers erupted from the Irina faction. As Viola gradually gained the upper hand, hope bloomed on all their faces.
In contrast, sighs flowed from the Eleonora faction.
"Amos is getting pushed back!"
"Damn it."
"Get a grip, Amos!"
"We won't forgive you if you lose!"
Despite the so-called encouragement, Amos was steadily driven into a defensive position.
"Ugh, kgh!"
Amos's hands were growing increasingly unsteady. Under Viola's continuous assault, his defense was reaching its limit.
At that moment, Professor Lucia's magic activated secretly.
An invisible hand of mana gently pushed Viola's leg.
She had been driving Amos back with her delicate, precise movements, but her balance suddenly collapsed and she staggered.
"Ah!"
Viola's legs tangled, ruining her form.
"Now!"
Amos didn't miss the opening. He swung his sword with all his strength.
"Kyaa!"
With a sharp clang!, Viola's rapier was knocked away.
She barely managed to keep hold of her weapon, but she lost her balance completely and fell backward. As she lay on the ground with her back against the dirt, Amos pointed his sword at her.
"The first duel goes to student Amos."
At Professor Egil's declaration, cheers exploded from the Eleonora faction.
The Irina faction, however, fell into deep shock.
Irina rushed directly to the center of the clearing and helped Viola up, asking urgently,
"Viola, what on earth happened?"
Viola answered with a bewildered expression.
"My lady... suddenly some invisible force pushed my leg. It definitely pushed me!"
Irina's emerald eyes blazed with fury. She knew Viola's character well. Even considering her path as a knight, Viola naturally hated lies and possessed an honest personality. There was no way she would lie.
"Your Highness! Someone cheated! It's clear that someone used magic to push Viola's leg!"
Irina shouted at Eleonora.
But jeers poured out from the Eleonora faction.
"Just accept your defeat gracefully, Lady Rosenhardt!"
"That's right! Cheating? Accept your loss like a proper lady!"
"How unsightly! Boo!"
Irina ground her teeth.
Just as a massive backlash was about to erupt from Irina's faction—
"Enough."
Princess Eleonora calmly quieted her followers.
"We'll investigate this later. For now, I'll put this first match on hold."
Her faction immediately protested.
"Your Highness! What are you saying?!"
"We won! Are you really nullifying it just because Lady Rosenhardt is complaining?"
Eleonora had prepared words to persuade them.
"Stop. Do you really think Daniel or I would lose in a duel? If so, I'm truly disappointed. Can people who don't even trust me truly be said to follow me?"
Her red eyes shone with determination.
At that sight, her followers quickly changed their tune.
"No, Your Highness! That's not it at all!"
"That's right! Your Highness will definitely defeat Lady Rosenhardt!"
"Hmm, I see. So you wanted to step in personally."
"That makes sense."
Eleonora inwardly sighed in relief as she calmed her faction.
Good, they bought it.
For the duels to end cleanly without backlash, only two paths remained.
Either we take both victories in the next two matches, or we lose both.
She had no idea how it would turn out.
First, Princess Eleonora sent out Daniel.
"Daniel, go secure us a victory."
"Yes, Your Highness! I will definitely win!"
Daniel had the same hair and eye color as Amos, but possessed a leaner, more agile build.
From Irina's faction, Robert stepped forward. He was a male student with brown hair and gray eyes, similarly lean and agile in appearance.
"Robert, you must win. And if anything strange happens, shout immediately. I'll stop the match and investigate."
Since Robert wasn't one of her close followers, Irina maintained some distance. But perhaps delighted that she had called his name, Robert nodded with a wide, goofy grin.
"Understood, my lady! I will definitely offer my victory to you!"
And so the duel began.
Daniel and Robert swung their swords at each other in a tense, evenly matched battle. Both specialized in speed-focused swordsmanship, so their exchanges were fierce and relentless.
Clang! Clang!
Their skills were nearly equal. At this rate, it didn't seem like a quick conclusion would come.
But at that moment, Professor Lucia's second spell activated.
A sudden, savory aroma of fried chicken assaulted Robert's nose.
The rich scent of chicken violently stimulated the appetite of someone who hadn't even properly eaten coarse black bread at lunch.
"Ugh...!"