Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: A Duel of Proof
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The Chamber of Judgment looked just as it had before, but the lighting was brighter from the very beginning.
Regardless, the layout was still unsettling.
In a way, it felt almost malicious.
It was designed to make anyone standing below feel like a sinner, regardless of their crime.
However…
“…?”
For some reason, the atmosphere was different from last time.
I looked up at the wall and immediately understood why.
Today, there was only one person on the wall.
‘That person is…’
A young man with teal hair that cascaded down like seaweed.
The Archmage Asad.
A man so reclusive he'd earned the moniker 'the Hermit'. Why was he here?
“You’re here.”
From the way he spoke, it seemed he had been waiting for me.
I stared up at his face blankly for a moment before greeting him according to etiquette.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Ruan of the Bednicker—”
“Spare me the stiff formalities.”
“Yes.”
“Sit.”
At Asad’s command, I sat back down on the table where I’d placed my things last time.
At this point, I was starting to wonder if it was my designated seat.
Looking at Asad, I asked the question that was most on my mind.
“Where is the Council of Elders?”
“Right in front of you.”
“You’re on the Council, Lord Asad?”
“Not officially, but I am affiliated. An honorary member, you could say.”
This was news to me.
Asad was looking at me with a bored expression.
He looked as if he'd been forced into a task he didn't want, and even so, he didn't seem to have the slightest interest in me.
It wasn't a particularly strange reaction.
Mages, as a rule, tended to have a screw or two loose, and they treated anything that didn't interest them as worse than dog crap on the street.
He probably didn't see me as dog crap, but more like a weed growing on the side of the road.
“Well then, Ruan Bednicker, let's start by confirming a few facts.”
“Yes.”
“The series of events in the Jewel Mountains. The betrayal of the Fang Knights and their true identity, your encounter with Sword Master Teacher Kaljak, and, according to Delac, your decisive contribution to the subsequent subjugation of the Jewel Beast. Is all of this true?”
“It is.”
“And afterward, you demanded a duel as a means of proof from the Council of Elders, who did not accept your testimony. Is this also true?”
“That’s correct.”
Asad’s words contained only the dry truth. Not distorted, exaggerated rumors, but the plain facts.
Judging by his attitude, he didn't seem likely to pass a harsh sentence.
Had Keian worried for nothing?
“Good.”
Asad propped his chin on his hand, his face a mask of boredom.
“It seems the Council was being unreasonable, but you were the one who brought up the duel. And as a Bednicker, you must take responsibility for your words.”
“…”
“Your opponent will be an apprentice knight from the Iron-Blooded Knights. Is that acceptable?”
An apprentice knight?
I had expected them to send one of their strongest members.
When I didn't answer, Asad pressured me with a look that radiated annoyance.
“I have no objection.”
“Is that so? We can proceed with the duel now, if you’re amenable. If you’re not in good condition, we can postpone it for a day or two.”
“No. Let’s do it now.”
“Then come to the training grounds in the garden. Immediately.”
*Whoosh.*
With those last words, Asad vanished.
Did he use magic?
‘He could have at least taken me with him.’
I grumbled to myself as I left the Chamber of Judgment.
* * *
As expected of the ridiculously large Bednicker main estate, there wasn't just one or two training grounds.
I knew of at least seven, but finding the one where the duel was being held was easier than I thought.
Because only one of them was swarming with people.
“What’s this?”
Why are there so many people?
As I stood there dumbfounded, a familiar face emerged from the crowd.
It was Arjan.
“Ah, Young Master.”
“What’s all this?”
“Didn't you hear? The Council of Elders made an announcement throughout the entire estate. That Young Master Ruan’s [Duel of Proof] would be held this afternoon.”
A Duel of Proof? What the hell.
Listening blankly to Arjan’s explanation, it seemed a voice had echoed throughout the estate while I was meeting with Asad.
To put it simply:
- A duel will be held at the estate's fourth training ground. The duelist is Ruan Bednicker. It will be an occasion for Ruan, who has obtained a new Blessing, to prove himself.
- Attendance is encouraged for those who are available.
They’d wrapped it up nicely, but their intention in publicizing an event that could have been held privately was obvious.
“They’re trying to bury me completely.”
“This is a good opportunity for you, Young Master.”
Arjan said, her voice slightly excited.
“With this many spectators, they won't be able to bury or manipulate the results. Look. It's not just knights and servants; even the Grand Master Teachers are in attendance.”
Where Arjan pointed, I could see a group of imposing figures.
‘The Grand Master Teachers.’
It was the first time I’d seen them all gathered like that.
“Where’s my mother?”
“She is with Sir Keian.”
“Good. Please take care of her.”
“Yes, sir.”
I gave Arjan a quick pat on the shoulder and headed for the training ground.
“Young Master Ruan.”
A voice I had heard once before called out to me.
It was the man who had been standing in front of the Chamber of Judgment earlier.
The more stern-looking of the two.
“It is time. Please step onto the training ground.”
“Alright.”
“Will you not be wearing armor?”
“Armor? Isn’t this a duel?”
“It is. However, a Bednicker duel is harsh. If you’re unlucky, you could lose your life.”
I thought about it for a moment, but soon shook my head.
“I’m fine.”
“You will regret it.”
His tone was rather cheeky.
When I stared at him, he added bluntly.
“I have warned you.”
“Right.”
I stepped onto the training ground.
As I stretched and loosened my joints, I heard a stir from the other side.
I looked over to see what was happening, and a familiar face walked out from among the crowd.
“So you didn’t run away.”
A face that shared my blood, but bore little resemblance to my own.
A not-so-welcome face smiled at me.
“I told you, didn’t I? That I’d teach you a lesson soon.”
“Hector.”
“Hector?”
“…Brother.”
I tilted my head and asked.
“I was told my opponent would be a member of the Iron-Blooded Knights.”
“That’s right. I am also a member of the Knights. I joined last year.”
“Hmm.”
I had a pretty good idea of what was going on.
None of this was a coincidence, of course.
The interests of the Council of Elders and Hector must have aligned. Both sides wanted to see me utterly crushed.
For the Council, they had secured someone who could beat me to a pulp without any repercussions…
And for Hector, it was a chance to finally teach me, his constant annoyance, a lesson.
“Would you like to put on armor now?”
The man next to me, who was clearly the referee, asked again.
Now that I thought about it, this Collector wasn't being rude; he was actually trying to look out for me.
“I’m fine.”
Still, my mind hadn’t changed.
I couldn’t sacrifice mobility for a bit of extra defense.
Everyone has their own fighting style.
“Understood. What weapon shall I prepare for you?”
“Hmm… a sword.”
I had planned to fight bare-handed, but changed my mind for now.
A knight quickly brought over a sword of suitable length.
I drew the sword and gave it a few practice swings.
‘They didn’t tamper with the sword.’
I suppose neither Hector nor the Council would be that despicable.
“I am Jain, the officiator for today’s duel.”
The stern Collector’s name was Jain.
*What a feminine name,* I thought, nodding.
He then went on with the usual spiel: the purpose of the duel was blah blah blah, since it was a duel he could intervene at any time blah blah blah, injuries were acceptable but taking a life was strictly forbidden.
And finally, he said.
“Both combatants, forward.”
I sheathed my sword and stood side-by-side with Hector.
Hector was still wearing that rotten smile, and I couldn't help but say something.
“Stop smiling and let’s take this seriously.”
“What?”
“I know you’re excited to ‘teach me a lesson,’ but this is still a duel. You should give your opponent your all.”
It was a matter of basic etiquette.
Even my Master, when teaching me in the context of a duel rather than training, approached it with a certain degree of seriousness.
“Haha.”
Hector let out a low laugh at my words. The scorn was infectious, spreading quickly through the crowd.
Looking around, I realized most of the onlookers were from the Iron-Blooded Knights.
‘They even prepared a cheering squad. How thorough.’
Hector said with a smile.
“You’re right. One should always give their all against an opponent. But you are no opponent of mine. Know your place.”
“Ah, yes.”
There was no point in arguing with someone like him, so I just gave a slight nod.
Even that seemed to annoy Hector, and his expression hardened.
“-Duel, begin.”
*Tap!*
The moment Jain gave the signal, Hector closed the distance.
Even faster was the speed of his draw; it was as if he moved faster than sound.
The gleaming blue blade reached my face in the blink of an eye, and I parried it.
*Clang!*
Hector looked slightly surprised, but he quickly continued his assault like a storm.
I focused on defense, observing Hector’s swordsmanship.
‘Is this the family’s secret sword art?’
No, its characteristics seemed slightly different.
Perhaps it was Hector’s own style, inspired by the family’s arts?
‘Fierce and explosive, entirely focused on offense.’
It was the kind of swordsmanship where, once you lost the initiative, it was hard to get it back.
As expected of someone called a genius, the overall completeness of his sword style was remarkably high.
During our brief exchange, I realized it would be difficult to beat Hector with swordsmanship alone.
*Clang!*
Just as I’d expected.
Before long, I lost my grip on my sword.
Hector smiled again as he watched my sword clatter and roll across the ground.
For a moment, even his assault slowed.
His smirking face looked as if he were contemplating where to strike next.
Treating me like a fish already caught in his net.
“Hah.”
From my perspective, it was so absurd that a small scoff escaped my lips, which made Hector’s expression tighten slightly.
Those who love to mock others can’t stand being mocked themselves.
Just before Hector could open his mouth, I kicked off the ground.
For an instant, Hector’s eyes widened, and I saw his sword hand twitch, but my fist was faster.
*Thwack—* Hector took a fist to the face and went flying, landing sprawled on the training ground.
“…”
“…”
I ignored the sudden silence from the crowd and spoke.
“I told you not to smirk.”