Idiot Veronica's Pointless Worry
Something about it left me puzzled.
What Leo had prepared was a Weakness Potion.
I knew its effects in broad strokes, but the exact time it took to kick in, how long it lasted—those details I couldn't be sure of. Potions varied wildly depending on the batch, so only Leo, the one who had gone out and acquired it, would know for certain.
In any case, I had no idea when or how he planned to force it down my throat. I had stayed on guard ever since the day before, yet so far there had been no movement at all.
Yesterday I had watched him hand the potion off to Elin. The duel was about to begin. If they still meant to dose me, time and options had both run out. I was still turning over the puzzle of how they intended to manage it when a faint presence brushed against my senses.
Had I not been certain someone would come and been watching for it, I never would have noticed. That level of stealth could only belong to an elf. I could guess well enough why Leo had given her the job. Even so, I still had no idea how she planned to get the potion into me.
The moment I felt that presence I moved without a sound, slipping behind the door. The plan was simple: the instant she opened the waiting-room's rear door I would subdue her cleanly, without raising a ruckus.
But the door never fully opened. Instead came a soft hiss of air—so faint I would have missed it if I hadn't been concentrating. I frowned.
What the hell is this?
The sound continued while I waited behind the door. She still did not enter. And then, so subtly that only heightened senses could register it, strength began to drain from my body.
Could it be…?
I hadn't expected this.
Elin Nidia was an exceptional archer. What would one day earn her the title of Divine Archer was her use of elven wind magic to guide her arrows. My guess was that right now she was using that same wind magic to seep the potion into the waiting room.
Like a humidifier, of all things.
I let out a dry laugh. Done this way, the potency ought to drop off a cliff—right? That turned out to be wishful thinking. When I tried to reach into my coat, my hand refused to move as quickly as I wanted.
I had forgotten the bastard was the heir of Duke Epsilt. With money practically rotting in the family's coffers, of course he would have bought the highest-grade stuff available.
Soon the faint whisper of wind died away. I waited until she was gone, then cracked the waiting-room door and let the last of the airborne residue dissipate. If I had assumed they would simply lace my drink or food and limited my precautions to watching what I swallowed, I would have been finished.
Fortunately I had my own countermeasure. I had begged and wheedled Count Wallenstein for it, endured a thorough scolding about how much money I was wasting, and finally received it. I might not match a ducal house, but I was still the son of a count.
I drew the detoxification potion from my coat and drank. The Weakness Potion's effects melted away. Had I swallowed the high-grade brew at full concentration, neutralizing it would have been far harder. Thanks to the diluted method Elin had used, enough of it had scattered into the air that the antidote was more than sufficient.
A short while later the waiting-room door slammed open. I thought the duel was finally starting—until Veronica walked in. I scowled. She ignored the expression completely and strode straight toward me.
"What."
Veronica scowled right back, looking as if she were wrestling with something for a long moment.
"Uuuugh…"
"What is it."
Just as my patience hit bottom she finally spoke.
"Louis! Don't you have anything to say to me?"
I kept my mouth shut. Frustration flashed across her face and she rushed on.
"Ah, seriously! Listen carefully. Leo prepared a Binding Scroll. It's not a proper one, but it's still dangerous, so…"
I was surprised. Why was Veronica telling me this?
"He won't be able to use it openly, but if you see any sign he's about to activate the scroll, dodge sideways immediately. Got it?"
The words that followed made her real motive clear. A Binding Scroll instead of a Curse Scroll? And she was telling me to dodge the moment I saw him try to activate it? I barely stopped another dry laugh from escaping. Veronica was wearing an unabashed expression that practically screamed Well? Aren't you grateful?
"So? Now do you have something to say to me?"
She pressed again.
"Yeah. I do."
"Heh! Go on, then…"
"Get out."
"…What did you just say?"
Anger flared in her voice.
"Hey! Even if you won't apologize, you could at least say thank—"
"I said get out."
My tone was ice. She put on an outrageously wounded look and left.
A Curse Scroll was not something you could dodge. It simply activated on its target the moment it was cast. I had never expected Leo to deliberately leak part of his plan and use even Veronica as a snare. Perhaps he was counting on me trusting her, making a fuss about scrolls before the duel. Since the observer, Professor Ian, was already in his pocket, it wouldn't matter. A perfunctory search, a declaration that nothing had been found, and suddenly I would look like the petty one.
Leo was using his head for once. Not that it mattered. I already knew every piece of his plan. None of this would work on me. And even after reading him down to the final detail, I had no intention of calling the duel off.
A little longer, and at last Professor Ian Dexter arrived at the waiting room. He escorted me out to the dueling ground set up in the center of the training hall.
Finally, the duel was about to begin.
Before the duel, Professor Ian explained the rules. No foul play would be tolerated in a sacred duel. Only pre-approved dueling weapons were permitted. At that particular line I allowed myself a sneer. And whatever the outcome, both parties were required to accept the result. That one, at least, I liked.
I let the rest of the professor's tedious speech wash over one ear and out the other, turning my attention instead to the crowd packing the training hall. Duels had always been popular entertainment. This time the combatants were the heir of Duke Epsilt and Hero candidate on one side, and the heir of the traitorous Count Wallenstein on the other. For days the entire academy had buzzed with rumors. As a result not only our class but students from other classes—and even other years—had gathered in droves.
Perfect. An excellent stage.
When I absently turned my head I even spotted the princess among the spectators. An odd woman, that one. Our eyes met and she offered a small smile; I smiled back. A few student-council members stood around her, including that fellow Sasha I had seen before. Honestly, if he was just going to stand there reading a book, what was the point of coming to watch?
While my attention wandered the professor finished speaking and stepped outside the ring. We took our places at opposite ends of the dueling ground and drew our swords.
Leo Epsilt shouted,
"Louis Wallenstein! If you know your place and kneel even now, this body might specially grant you mercy!"
The students who had been cheering for him since earlier were, as ever, generous with their praise of how magnanimous he was—even after that cringeworthy classic-villain line. I didn't bother answering. A sneer was enough. Leo's face hardened, and the staring contest ended.
From outside the ring Professor Ian Dexter finally called out,
"Begin!"
The instant the word left his mouth, mana began to swirl around Leo's blade. Unlike our previous spar I made no effort to move quickly. With a deliberately leisurely air I let my sword hang loose and walked toward the center of the ring.
The spectators seemed confused, but I saw the relief that flickered across Leo's face. A considerable amount of mana now coated his sword. He pulled the blade back and charged. The technique was the standard greatsword form—whatever else it lacked, the destructive power was real. I did not dodge even when he closed to point-blank range. Triumph lit Leo's features as he swung in a great arc…
…and I slipped out of the path of the blade half a beat later than I should have. The near-miss drew gasps from the crowd. What filled Leo's eyes was not shock but regret. My sluggish movement had convinced him the potion had taken effect. Good. I wanted to see the despair of a man who believed that.
At the same time I whirled the loosely held sword in a full circle. This was a duel, not a spar. Instead of simply subduing him, the flat of my blade cracked across his cheek. I made no attempt to hide the laughter that burst out of me.
"Ahahaha!"
Staggering, enraged, Leo summoned mana again.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
This time the attack came from overhead—a simple downward chop I had watched him use a hundred times during party assignments. A sword path that might work on monsters but not on people. Again I waited until the blade was almost on me before stepping sideways. In the same motion I smashed my sword against the arm still gripping the weapon that had just slammed into the floor. Pain twisted his face.
I only had to avoid killing him. Until I found a replacement Hero candidate I still needed to be somewhat careful. So instead of breaking his body I intended to shatter his spirit completely.
Howling, he charged once more. Facing the murderous wave of mana head-on, I smiled brightly.