Chapter 299: translated
I Killed the Demon King. It was a Mistake.
Chapter 299
Gloria stood in the middle of the dueling arena.
Gloria looked around her surroundings.
The spectator seats were completely filled with people.
There were knights from Count Vex's family, students from the Vex Swordsmanship Academy, priests from the Royder Order, journalists active in Vex province, and nobles invited by Count Vex.
"Is that woman Gloria?"
"Why does her armor look so grotesque?"
"Is that really a greatsword? Who on earth made such an ugly greatsword?"
"It looks like a weapon a devil would use."
"From what I know, I heard she actually made a contract with a devil."
"Did she make a contract with a devil just to defeat Aurora?"
The spectators' gazes were certainly not kind.
The spectators were pouring out colorful criticism and absurd rumors about Gloria without exception.
The feeling of being criticized by over a thousand people was, to be honest, not pleasant.
Rather, it was overwhelming.
At that moment, Gloria spotted two people in her line of sight.
Raven, the world's greatest wizard.
And Gloria's master, Caesar.
Their presence was so intense that it seemed to erase the spectators.
-Master, can I win?
-Aurora's combat style is the pure classic knight's orthodox method. She is very skilled in using armor. However, Aurora does not currently have proper armor.
-Then I have an advantage, right?
-It's not an advantage. It means Aurora is entering the duel with a penalty. Aurora has lived as a knight for 15 years. The experience itself is different.
Gloria took a deep breath.
Until arriving at Count Vex's mansion, Gloria had learned from Caesar and Kos how to handle a pure classic-style knight.
As Caesar said, the experience gap was enormous.
Gloria's finger twitched.
It was not Gloria who moved, but Kos.
Looking straight ahead, Lady Olivia was coming forward, and Knight Aurora was following behind her.
Gloria did not look at Olivia and focused on Aurora.
'The armor...?'
It was not the lightweight armor she had worn at yesterday's party.
Somehow, Aurora was wearing proper armor.
Gloria saw Aurora's flowing silver hair and a full plate armor similar to it, with the morning star symbolizing her drawn on her chest.
Lady Olivia stared at Gloria with a venomous gaze.
"Having to face you from the new year itself is disgusting. I wish you would just die today."
Gloria was unfazed by Olivia's humiliating statement.
It just felt as trivial as a small mouse squeaking.
"I heard a bit about your story on the way here."
"...What?"
"They say all your brothers and sisters are knights, but you couldn't become a knight."
Olivia's gaze became murderous.
"So you think I'm pitiful? A member of the Vex family who couldn't become a knight and has no talent in swordsmanship?"
"No, I just thought you must have been lonely."
"...Huh?"
Gloria had heard from Caesar everything about how Olivia was treated in the Vex Count's family.
She learned that she did not receive love from her father, was treated like a non-existent person by her sisters and brothers, and was merely considered a tool for strategic marriage.
After hearing all those stories, Gloria realized that Olivia's harsh words and actions towards her were desperate attempts to become a family member, and naturally, she felt sympathy for Olivia.
"If I were you, it would have been very difficult."
Olivia's eye sockets reddened, and her hand holding the fan trembled.
"Who are you to pity me? Are you in a position to do so? You will die today."
"I won't die today."
"How do you know that? Do you know what kind of knight Aurora is?"
Olivia spoke while looking at Aurora standing with a firm expression.
"She has 31 dueling experiences, and has won 19 of them. She's a knight at a level that a mere first-year knight like you cannot fight. Do you think you can handle her with that grotesque armor and sword that looks like it was made by a devil?"
Gloria met Aurora's eyes.
Aurora's gaze was complicated.
She seemed to be conflicted, and also appeared anxious as if wanting to escape this situation immediately.
"I can win."
"Ha! On what grounds?"
Gloria spoke, recalling Caesar's words.
-So, master, can I win?
-Do I really have to confirm that for you?
-Yes. I want to hear it.
-You can win. Unconditionally.
-Why is that?
-You're my disciple. Of course, you'll win.
"Because I'm Master Caesar's direct disciple."
Olivia was momentarily overwhelmed by Gloria's confident tone and was speechless.
Gloria felt the same way.
Although thousands of harsh criticisms were being hurled, she felt no fear because she knew Caesar was on her side.
Instead, she was thrilled by the expectation that she could prove to them who she was and whose disciple she was.
At that moment, the referee intervened.
"The time has come, so we will begin the duel."
Gloria looked at the referee.
The referee was a veteran knight who had previously been a Holy Grail Knight and had since retired.
-The referee is also a member of the Vex family.
-Remember that he is absolutely not on your side.
The referee, despite being 80 years old, began speaking to the spectators with an incredibly resounding voice.
"This duel was proposed by Lady Olivia and accepted by Knight Gloria! This is a sacred duel… Last October, Lady Gloria Bellum gravely insulted and physically assaulted Lady Olivia Vex, significantly damaging her honor!"
Gloria was left speechless in disbelief. Although she had heard the duel might be biased, she never imagined it would be to this extent.
"As a member of the great Vex family, Lady Olivia first requested an apology with dignity, but it was not accepted. Therefore, Lady Olivia Vex applied for a duel to restore her tarnished honor, and Lady Gloria Bellum accepted it without understanding the shame."
The knight's sharp gaze turned toward Gloria.
"This duel is being led by the fair and just Goddess Royder, so there will certainly be a righteous outcome!"
The knight spoke while looking at Lady Olivia.
"Lady Olivia, how will you conduct this duel?"
"I will choose a champion. My champion is Lady Aurora."
"What do you wish to achieve with the victory of this duel?"
Olivia stared at Gloria with a sharp, piercing gaze.
"If I win, I wish to regain my and my family's honor with an apology."
"Very well. Then what will Lady Gloria do?"
Gloria stabbed the Blood Moon into the ground while speaking.
"I will personally conduct the duel."
"What do you wish to achieve with the victory of this duel?"
Gloria did not look at Lady Olivia. She gazed down arrogantly from the highest point of the spectator seats at Count Vex.
"Once this duel ends, my master, myself, and Lady Raven intend to return to Homigraph. I request that Count Vex guarantee the complete and inviolable safety of our bodies, minds, property, and people until we arrive at Homigraph."
Count Vex eyebrows twitched. The knight shouted at Gloria in an angry voice.
"Speak of what Lady Olivia can guarantee!"
"Lady Olivia has not yet reached 20 years of age. According to imperial law, those who have not reached adulthood have the right and obligation to be protected by their parents. In other words, Lady Olivia is under the protection of her father, Count Vex, and cannot completely escape responsibility depending on the duel's outcome."
Gloria recited the duel precedent that Caesar had taught her.
"In the Imperial Year 219, May 8th, in Springfield Province, when Lord River, the second son of Count Vex, defeated Prince Jaeger, the youngest son of Count Springfield, the Springfield Count directly compensated Lord River with 500,000 dels."
The knight was flustered. He had never dreamed that Gloria would recite precedents herself, let alone mention a duel involving the Count Vex's son.
"Based on these grounds, I request a completely inviolable guarantee of safety from the Count Vex, no matter what happens. Please consider this carefully."
The knight glanced at Count Vex. Count Vex seemed lost in thought, touching the ring on his index finger.
"If Count Vex permits, we shall proceed."
Count Vex stood up after hearing the advice of the butler beside him.
"Fine. However, if you win through dishonorable means, regardless of the outcome, you will face my righteous wrath."
"Understood."
The knight cleared his throat and looked at Olivia.
"Ahem! Lady Olivia, please state the conditions of victory for this duel."
Olivia had not anticipated that this would involve her father, and her thoughts momentarily stopped.
"Lady Olivia?"
Olivia looked at Count Vex with anxious eyes. Count Vex did not look at Olivia. He was glaring at Caesar, who was sitting on the opposite side. Olivia was overcome with the impulse to bite her fingers but managed to restrain herself by gripping her fan tightly.
"...A fight to the death. The duel must continue until life is exhausted."
"Very well. Lady Gloria, will you accept?"
Gloria nodded.
"Yes. I accept."
The knight took out a gold coin from his pocket.
"Then, with the agreement of the duel conditions, we shall proceed. Lady Olivia, please retreat to a safe place."
Olivia did not even look at Gloria and moved to the spectator seats with anxious steps. She was thinking she might be severely scolded by Count Vex because of this incident.
In the meantime, Gloria decided to satisfy her curiosity.
"How did you obtain the armor?"
"Count Vex had my armor and sword. I used all my emergency funds to rent them for today."
"Did he say it was okay?"
"He said it might be better to be certain."
"Couldn't you obtain a helmet?"
"I didn't have enough money for a helmet."
Gloria let out a faint smile at Aurora's embarrassed appearance. What was the reason for laughter in a duel where one of them must die?
Ironically, it was because of Caesar and Raven, who were sitting quietly in the spectator seats. This duel was not being led by the Goddess Royder.
From the beginning, this duel was set up according to Caesar and Raven's intentions, and she knew that those who would cry after this duel were not the two here, but someone else.
The witness cleared his throat and spoke to them.
"Stop chatting and stand 10 paces apart."
Gloria and Aurora stood facing each other, 10 paces apart. Gloria lowered the Blood Moon to her lower left.
Her leg muscles were so tense that they could burst out at any moment.
In contrast, Aurora took a solid mid-stance. From Gloria's perspective, it looked so tight that not even a needle could penetrate.
- Classic-type knights are inherently excellent at defense.
- When wearing sturdy armor and charging, they can be destructive but slow.
- Especially for pure classic-type knights like Lady Aurora, they are even more skilled in defense.
- The crucial point depends on whether one can break through that solid defense.
Gloria rotated her aura intensely. Blood and aura began to surge into her legs to the point of overload, creating tension like a bow drawn just before releasing an arrow.
- So how does one break through that defense?
- It always lies in unexpectedness.
Ding!
The coin soared high into the sky and then crashed to the ground.
Simultaneously, blood flowed from Gloria's armor and caused a massive explosion upon touching the sword blade.
Boom!
The explosion was more powerful than imagined, and Gloria arrived in front of Aurora in the blink of an eye. Aurora could not hide her confusion, having never anticipated that Gloria would charge so quickly while wearing such heavy armor.
"……!"
- And when it comes to unexpectedness, there's nothing that compares to you.
Gloria immediately raised the Blood Moon upward. Faced with such a heavy attack that seemed capable of inverting earth and sky, Aurora could only respond in a hurry……
Boom!
Aurora's body was flung high into the air.