Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Esty's Victory and the Penalty
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The shot arrows scattered like shattering glass in an instant before ricocheting off the wind barrier floating in the air.
Tilia's face drained of color at the unimaginable long-range assault.
"W-Wait a second. How are you supposed to dodge something like this!?"
Even as Tilia grumbled, she rolled her eyes to track the arrows' trajectories, focusing intently.
She dodged by moving her body, created a flame clone to distract, and then batted away the pursuing arrows with her sword in resistance.
But the final arrow still grazed her thigh, drawing a line of blood.
"Gh!"
"S-Sis!!"
Diana panicked greatly as blood sprayed.
"That's Esty holding back, right?"
On the contrary, I thought the wound was too shallow.
"Yes."
Noah nodded.
"Miss Esty is a diamond-rank hunter who earned that rank for shooting down Logawell's giant bird, a national disaster-class beast that blotted out the sun.
If she'd shot properly, your leg would be gone."
I agreed.
It lacked the merciless power that had pierced the orc boss during the monster outbreak.
"She's probably adjusted her power to not kill, taking Dean Nakelius's words into account."
Meanwhile, Tilia seemed to gauge Esty's skill and hadn't gone for a killing blow right away.
The difference in strength was clear.
"I-I believed in you! Esty is one of only seven diamond-ranks in the kingdom."
Karen nodded repeatedly, deeply moved.
"Could you stop talking like we've already won?"
Tilia's sword blazed even fiercer. One might expect her momentum to falter, but she showed no sign of intimidation.
The gap in ability was obvious. She was bleeding, yet still eager to continue?
Her fighting spirit was impressive.
"Here I go!"
"......"
Esty sighed.
"One more wound's about to increase."
Tilia kicked off the ground. Without waiting, Esty summoned two arrows and loosed them in rapid succession.
What was astonishing was Tilia's response. She charged without stopping and leaped just before colliding with the arrows, jumping clean over them.
If she'd jumped after seeing the arrows, it would be impossible.
She'd prepared to leap the moment Esty nocked the arrows!
Having cleared the arrows, Tilia flashed a triumphant smile.
"No matter the direction you attack from, arrows can only fly forward, right!?"
Her flaming sword swung down.
Esty, standing in place, even stepped forward one pace and blocked Tilia's blade with her bow.
"Wha...!?"
Everyone, myself included, was stunned.
"Th-This...!"
Tilia planted her forward foot and lowered her stance to push with all her might.
But Esty's bow, gripped in one hand, didn't budge an inch.
"I acknowledge your bond with spirits, but your combat technique is lacking."
"Who do you think you are, trying to lecture me!?"
As Tilia abandoned all thought of self-preservation in her rage and shoved, Esty's bow began to give way little by little.
But that wasn't a crisis for Esty.
As Esty yielded slightly backward, Tilia's overcommitted motion collapsed.
Esty aimed to strike in that opening.
But Tilia's attack wasn't over.
"My sword demands you watch your back, elf...!"
After swinging her sword, flames erupted from the ground.
Esty then lightly stepped on Tilia's thigh and leaped, soaring over the rising blaze.
"Ah......!"
That wasn't the end.
Riding the wind in midair, Esty spun gracefully, nocked an arrow while looking down, and struck Tilia's shoulder.
She landed lightly behind Tilia like a feather. It was an elegant motion, like dancing in the air. What would Bella have said?
"Urgh......!"
Tilia momentarily lost consciousness and dropped to one knee on the spot.
That was dangerous. Unlike the graze on her thigh, this arrow had fully embedded.
Yet compared to the impression from when it was loosed, the wound wasn't that deep—evidence of Esty controlling her strength.
A major artery runs below the shoulder; a proper shot would have killed her for sure.
Esty's precise control, dialing it back to the brink of death, was impressive in itself.
"Do it more!"
But Tilia was impressive too, yanking out the arrow from her shoulder and standing again.
Esty, however, unhesitatingly retrieved her bow and returned to unarmed state.
Tilia ground her teeth in frustration.
"You're stopping just because I'm still standing on two feet? Is an elf's duel that half-hearted?"
"I could have killed you from the start. I don't want to do anything Darling wouldn't like. I was just going easy."
"......"
Tilia seemed at a loss for words.
Anyone could transparently see there was no lie in Esty's words.
"I too want a sincere apology from the Vanguard family. That's why I entered this duel.
I won't forgive anyone who wounds Decal's body. Noble or not. Even another elf."
"Yeah......"
Tilia sheathed her sword.
She seemed to realize it was time to acknowledge defeat.
"I lost. ...I'm still far from ready. I just thought you were some strong elf. I've heard of that bow skill."
"......"
"An elf with divine marksmanship who saved the kingdom from crisis."
"Sis!!"
As Tilia staggered, Diana rushed out and caught her.
"Ah....... Just a momentary dizziness. I'm fine."
"Healer, hurry!"
Members of Tilia's family rushed over in a panic.
While Tilia received emergency treatment, Esty walked over to us.
"Esty!"
Karen hugged Esty tightly, overjoyed.
"I'm so glad! Really glad you won. Glad neither Bro's body nor your body got hurt."
Indeed.
Esty had completed the task I gave her without a single scratch.
"Good job, Esty."
As expected of my cherished elf.
"I pushed hard for Darling."
After finishing her hug with Karen, Esty approached me and embraced.
I stroked Esty's head gently.
"Worth of my beloved girlfriend."
"I love you, Darling."
Esty squeezed her arms tightly around me. Her cold expression melted away, revealing a cute, joyful face.
It warmed my heart.
Once the emergency treatment was done, Diana—with a guilty expression—and Tilia—with a refreshed look like she'd won—approached.
"Decal. I lost."
"Mm."
"I misjudged people. If the lofty hunter is by your side, then the executor must be Sir Veil Noah, the 'Impregnable Examiner,' right?"
"I'm not worthy of such a grand title."
Noah humbled himself modestly.
I'd gotten slapped for casually using a noble's name, yet Noah was addressed as "sir" by that noble.
This world is unpredictable.
If they'd introduced who these two were first, maybe the duel could've been avoided?
No. The Vanguard family would have demanded a duel either way.
To her, settling it meant resolving a matter of family honor.
"Decal. I'm curious who you are.
These two aren't the type to move for fame or money. Many families tried to hire them, but all failed.
Seeing two like them serve one person is astonishing. At this point, even if you said you were the king of a fallen kingdom, I wouldn't be surprised."
King of a fallen kingdom......
That's the level of prestige needed to make sense of having both these women at once.
It tickled me pleasantly inside.
This wouldn't have happened without the hero candidate selection period overlapping so perfectly.
All the women by my side now had met centered around that incident.
The hunter who assigned the emergency quest, the examiner who judged it, and the comrade who cleared the emergency quest together.
"I'm nothing special.
Just like I introduced at first. I'm a simple adventurer, now heading to become a hero school candidate."
"......Mm. We want to apologize for our rudeness. Having lost the duel, we have no words."
Diana's face darkened.
Was she blaming herself?
"I'm sorry, Sis. Because of me, you got such a bad injury......"
"It's fine. This much will heal with some rest."
See? This girl had the wrong target for her apology.
I still wasn't worth a glance, yet she only felt guilt toward her sister.
To Diana's world, I was utterly irrelevant.
Clap.
I clapped my hands, drawing both sisters' attention to me.
"The duel result is out. Now you pay the price. I'm not going easy."
"Mm."
Tilia nodded.
"If your carriage was damaged, we'll compensate. Also, I'll order our servants to help clean up Kellip."
She listed off what she considered sincere apologies.
"No. I said that's not enough."
"......?"
"If you're truly sorry, show some sincerity. Kneel and bow. And beg me for forgiveness."
"Wha......?"
The sisters' faces flushed with strong hostility.
Their attitude—like they'd never even imagined such a thing even in death and rebirth—delighted me.
"You'll have to strip off all your clothes and do it."
"Y-You, you deserve to die, you bastard!"
Diana screamed in fury.
"Do you know what you're saying!?"
Diana's roar echoed thunderously. Her previous anger seemed like child's play by comparison; her spirit was formidable.
Hearing the commotion, the Vanguard family's servants, who had been keeping their distance, began approaching cautiously.
"You're mocking a sacred duel with such words!"
"Sacred duel?"
I couldn't hold back and burst into laughter.
"You're the one mocking the duel. What, approaching with that smug face, spouting a few flattering words, thinking it's over?
As long as you don't fear spilling blood mid-fight, you're a brave warrior? No.
The loser of a duel bears an indelible scar. Vanguard family, I'll etch an eternal disgrace here. That's the price for this incident."
"Sis, don't just stand there—say something to this guy!
Father won't let this slide. This kind of...!!"
Diana looked anxious.
Because the sister she trusted had been proven powerless.
But did she know? From now on, Diana would be betrayed by the sister she believed in.
"No, Decal is right."
"Wha, Sis?"
"If Decal wants that apology, I have to strip and prostrate. The world of contests is cold and solemn."
"......Wh-What are you saying!?"
"Sis says so."
"Urgh......!!"
Diana's face flushed red and pale, emotions uncontrolled.
"However, for a lady of Vanguard to bare her skin requires resolve equal to death.
Can't I do it in Diana's place?"
"No thanks?"
"......"
Diana stared blankly at the exchange between her sister and me.
As if it weren't happening in reality.
"I know you could pull it off. That'd be no fun. Someone who hates it even unto death. Someone who absolutely shouldn't. The apology only has meaning from that person. Got it?
Diana. You stripping and bowing is enough."
"U-Ugh......!"
Diana suddenly bowed her head and started dry-heaving.
She seemed utterly shocked.
"That's how you see it, right, Tilia?"
"......"
Tilia placed a hand on Diana's shoulder.
"No helping it, Diana. We lost the duel. We have to do as Decal says."
"Ah, aah....... Sis. I-I don't want to. Protect me. Please....... I don't want to do that. Rather than show my skin to such a filthy man, I'd rather die...!"
"......"
Tilia coldly stared at the pleading Diana.
"No helping it, Diana."
"Hic. Heok......"
Diana, cornered beyond imagination, even started hyperventilating.
"You have to pay the duel's price, Diana. If needed, I'll undress you myself."
"N-Nooo...!!"
Tilia gritted her teeth and reached for Diana's clothes.
I watched the scene with great pleasure.
"What are you doing, you scum!"
Now what? People from the Vanguard side came rushing out again.
They were armed guards.
"What do you mean? We're just witnessing the price of defeat."
"Nonsense! Threatening women of Vanguard? You've got no fear, trash criminal!"
"......"
"Y-You all......"
Diana cried out tearfully.
"Drive them off! Protect me!"
"Protect Lady Diana and Lady Tilia. Take them down!"
"Yes!"
About eight guards, huh?
I'd just pulled my hand from my pocket, thinking it was time to clean up.
Something black passed Tilia and Diana, blocking the guards' path.
It was Noah.
Noah swung her black baton, which she'd drawn unnoticed, smashing and repelling each approaching guard's sword one by one.
"Push her! It's just one executor!"
Noah's black baton whirled in sync with her wrist movements.
No guard made it past Noah's back. Without even shifting her feet from the spot, Noah shattered their weapons, cracked their armor, and felled them all.
"Th-This...!"
"Impossible. That's not an ordinary executor's skill."
"Stand down. Vanguard lost the duel. Decal is receiving rightful recompense. Punishing criminals is the executor's duty.
I won't allow you to brand Decal a criminal at your whim."
"Such...!"
"Noah. Good job!"
Noah really gets me.
No need for hypnosis. Without even turning, she answered with her back, and Diana was completely trapped in the meantime.
"Ahh......"
Tilia began removing Diana's dress.
Diana covered her chest with her arms, sniffling.
"Lady Ilesia. Aid us with your light....... With your light......"
Desperate enough to pray?
I wanted to clap and cheer.
I had no intention of stopping.