Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Double Duel Challenge
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"...Huh."
...Huh?
How did things end up like this...?
All I'd done since coming to the Academy was sleep, take candy from Lize, and wander between the campus cafeteria and cafes.
Yet for some reason, most of the students in the auditorium were staring at me.
No, it had started this morning—every time I walked the Academy corridors or entered a classroom, eyes locked onto me.
Hmm.
Hmm...
"Isn't that the girl who picked a fight with the Rosaki Lady?"
"Leonhardt? Why that family? They're just a tiny house from the south."
"I have no idea! She's from some no-name family, so she probably wasn't raised right."
"Gasp."
"That's why the Rosaki Lady said she'd discipline her herself in today's magic class...!"
"Oh my god...!"
...How did this really happen? I had no memory of doing anything to Grace Rosaki, and things with Karen had been totally normal.
I couldn't understand why I was caught up in this or hearing these rumors. It really felt like I hadn't done anything wrong. What the hell?
"...Ella."
"Who are you?"
"Isn't that too much...?"
"Everyone's been staring at you since we came to class...! I'm scared too...!"
"...Yeah, fair enough."
Hmm... Ella was right. Honestly, I was a bit intimidated myself.
Yesterday had been fine, but since this morning, this kept happening, and there was nothing I could do.
I was the one in the middle, so I could handle it somewhat, but Ella couldn't.
"...What did I even do wrong?"
I even muttered it to myself because I genuinely had no clue. What exactly had I messed up...?
I really hadn't done anything wrong. So why did she come at me over playing with Karen? I couldn't fathom why she'd challenge me to a duel.
The classic siscon...?
Maybe that's it. Yeah, it felt a bit like that. More intense than just a kid wanting to play with her big sister.
But I'd never seen a siscon type before, so I wasn't sure.
"Ella."
"Yes."
"Um... what should we do?"
"Why are you asking me...!"
"Well, do I need to win the duel? Or throw it?"
I was so lost that I asked Ella straight up.
How should I handle Grace to make this go away...?
"Isn't just losing an option...?"
"There's zero chance of me losing one-sidedly."
"...You're so cocky."
"Um... but I really don't feel like I'd lose... I can't lie about that...?"
No matter what Grace was really like, the thought of losing to her never crossed my mind.
Challenges usually come from the weaker side first, right?
So naturally, I didn't think I'd lose.
"Next period is magic class right away. What do we do? She's still Karen's little sister, so I can't go too hard... but letting it slide feels annoying..."
Hmm.
What to do for real?
*
Magic class arrived before I could agonize over it long.
Well, it wasn't actually that fast; it just felt that way to me, but anyway...
"Ah..."
I really didn't want to do this.
I was hunkered in a corner of the auditorium, waiting for magic class to start.
The instructor hadn't arrived yet, and I didn't want the stares from the other students, so I had to hide like this.
Not exactly hiding, though.
"Everyone gather!"
"...Ah."
I'd been killing time in the corner when the instructor came in. The bell hadn't rung yet... Was she early because today's class was different?
Anyway... I joined Ella.
Of course, the moment I approached the group of students, eyes were on me again.
"As explained before, we'll do duels today. You haven't learned much magic at the Academy yet, but magic is key here. To gauge your skill levels..."
The usual instructor spiel.
Nothing special. Just explaining why new Academy students were doing duel class today, excluding anyone who couldn't make it—standard procedure.
"Excluding those opting out, everyone must do at least one duel. If you don't have a partner, pair up now."
"...Ha?"
Wait. They'd pushed equality in the Academy so hard up till now, so why this?
Dorms were balanced, classes were averaged out, so why here...
My head hurt.
I wouldn't boldly voice my opinion to the instructor, but I didn't like this setup.
I'd figured Ella and I would just pair casually, but then the duel challenge happened... That's why, huh.
I let out a big sigh, then slightly lifted my head and saw Grace approaching me.
"........"
"Ha! At least you didn't run—I'll give you credit for that!"
"Uh..."
"Not running from me, standing here all bold, even though you could've skipped—impressive!"
"Haha..."
Hmm... Should I say I'm sick now?
Karen was so quiet, innocent, and kind... So why was Grace like this?
No idea.
"If you say right now that you won't play with my sister anymore, I'll let you off once!"
"No. I'm good..."
"You think you can beat me? Me, who can cast ten low-tier spells?"
"Hold on."
"...?"
Grace was yapping in front of me when Nordal cut her off and approached.
What...?
"Leonhardt Lady. Duel me."
Nordal suddenly said that while looking at me. What the hell? Why say that to me?
No, why had she been acting weird toward me since yesterday?
I'd never had any connection with Ivana Nordal, and our first meeting wasn't rude at all.
"...Pardon?"
"Not possible?"
"No, why me all of a sudden...?"
...My already aching head throbbed worse.
Grace was barely, really barely, somewhat understandable, but Nordal? No clue.
Why were both coming at me...
They were both from way higher families than mine, so I swallowed my sighs desperately.
"The Rosaki Lady next to you asked first... Sorry. I appreciate the offer, but I can't."
"Hmm."
"She's been asking for a duel since yesterday. Canceling on the Rosaki Lady would be too rude..."
I said that to de-escalate as much as possible.
No matter how tough, a viscount's daughter like me rejecting a duke's heiress outright could cause issues.
And Grace had asked first, so this was my best move.
"Hmm... Rosaki... was it?"
"Yes, Grace Rosaki, second daughter of the Rosaki Family!"
"Do you really need to?"
"Pardon?"
"You're going to lose to the Leonhardt Lady anyway. Is the duel necessary?"
"...?"
What was she even saying...?
With both ladies arguing in front of me, naturally all the auditorium students stared our way.
My head really hurt.
"You think I'd lose to her? To some viscount house Leonhardt?"
"Yes."
"You're a duke's heiress, sure, but aren't you underestimating me too much!"
"......."
"Hey!"
"Uh... yes?"
Grace turned from Nordal to me mid-convo. What now?
Honestly, I was seriously considering faking illness to bail on this duel class.
"Did you say something weird to the Nordal Lady!?"
"No...?"
"Then why's the Nordal Lady defending you!"
"Is this..."
Defending?
It looked like bullying to me?
"There's no way she'd go after someone like you otherwise...! Just like with my sister, did you... uh... use that pretty face for something shady!?"
"...Pardon?"
"You think that innocent 'I have no idea' look ends it?"
"No..."
...I really have no idea.
She probably didn't get this situation either, but I was the most confused.
Grace picking a fight over Karen, Nordal following me yesterday and now challenging me to a duel.
"......."
I glanced at Ella.
But...
*Shake shake...*
Ella frantically shook her head side to side, so I decided not to call her or do anything that'd drag her in.
Calling her now would just make things hard for her.
"Um... you two?"
I couldn't pick one, but facing both was way too much.
That'd be...
Super annoying.
"The instructor's staring hard this way. Shouldn't we decide quick?"
In this mess, best to invoke someone higher and stronger than both.
Others were watching, and they were from much loftier families... No choice.
Everyone in class saw this, so I was kinda screwed already?
"Rosaki Lady. Is this so urgent for you?"
"Yes!"
"I'm in a hurry too..."
"Ugh..."
"Could you yield this once? I'd love if the Rosaki Lady gave me the chance."
"......."
"No?"
"Well... that's..."
Hmm.
Power really is everything, huh.
Even as a viscount's daughter sputtering excuses, one word from a duke's heiress crumbled it all so easily.
I thought that watching money couldn't buy that kind of authority.