Duel in the Imperial Capital, Asrian
The grandest city of humanity, Asrian, had been abuzz for months with preparations for the crown prince's wedding when an unexpected rumor began to spread like wildfire.
The Weapon Master had challenged Duke Valentia to a duel.
A rare clash between aura users—something seldom seen. While the more refined sorts frowned at the Weapon Master's disruptive behavior as a national envoy stirring up trouble, the overwhelming curiosity of the masses drowned out their voices of reason.
Even so, the nobles dismissed the rumor as mere gossip, which made perfect sense to them.
"If aura users fight and one gets seriously hurt or killed, wouldn't that be a national loss?"
"Exactly. There's no safe way to duel like mages do."
"Injuries from aura are hard to heal even with divine power. If it's a fatal wound..."
A situation where national assets like aura users could be crippled in a mere duel, not even war. Even if the parties involved wanted it, they figured the emperor of the Aslan Empire—the sovereign himself—would never allow it.
But then.
His Majesty the Emperor granted permission for the duel.
As one absurd rumor after another rocked the capital, just days later, the duel date was set abruptly and decisively.
And moreover.
- We'll prove to the world that the empire's sword is the strongest!
- Ridiculous! I'll show everyone that humanity's true champion belongs to the Alliance!
With both sides openly escalating the stakes in their back-and-forth, the duel was scheduled not in some private estate or secluded palace garden, but in the mighty Colosseum.
It quickly overshadowed even the crown prince's wedding news, becoming the hottest topic in the capital.
"Whoa! We get to see the superhumans duel!?"
"Hurry, let's go!"
"I heard we need tickets?"
"Who cares? I'll empty my pockets for them!"
"Might have to sell everything I own..."
An enormous event erupting just a week after the rumor first surfaced. Crowds began flocking to the Colosseum arena on the outskirts of the capital.
* * *
"It used to host massive clan duels back in the day, but for the last century or so, it's mainly used for imperial knight tournaments and such events."
Duke Valentia's explanation of the massive circular arena—which devoured entire blocks of the bustling capital—was almost too straightforward.
Thus, Jenas, following close behind, quickly added more details.
"That's just how knights see it, my lord. In truth, it's more like the capital's 'cultural hub'—hosting grand theater performances with magic or opening for national events."
Marble pillars engraved with heroic knights holding up the ceiling, flanked by vibrant murals everywhere in the Colosseum.
"A cultural hub... I can see why."
Tiny's admiring voice as he looked around carried genuine awe.
In his previous life, he'd only seen its half-ruined state from the empire's civil war. He'd heard that the duke and Cloi hadn't had the funds to restore it amid other pressing civilian needs.
So this was his first time seeing the Colosseum intact.
The duke's eyes flickered briefly at Tiny's honest admiration, but he said nothing.
Now wasn't the time to get distracted.
But this time, Jenas disrupted the duke's focus.
"That said, my lord... I'm not sure if we should view His Majesty's permission for the duel positively. It worries me a little."
"Hm..."
Something no one had expected.
The duke had even considered requesting a private audience with the emperor if needed, so he couldn't just brush it off.
"...He must trust me."
...Does he, really?
Jenas swallowed the truth threatening to rise in his throat.
There were already plenty of bad rumors circulating—like the emperor checking the duke by bolstering Roheter, or worse.
Of course, if those were true, permitting the crown prince and lady's marriage wouldn't make sense.
Yeah, it can't be...
He pushed aside the other rumor—that the crown prince had aggressively pushed for the wedding to make it happen.
His lord, who'd spoken at length with the crown prince himself, would know best...
- His Highness the Crown Prince arrives!
"Hup!?"
Jenas's uncharacteristic startled expression wasn't the only reaction to the sudden announcement.
"Wh-why are you here!? Oh man..."
Tiny, with his deeply awkward history involving the crown prince, jumped in shock and scanned for a place to hide. The duke let out a dry chuckle, signaling he knew nothing of this visit.
Regardless of their feelings, the stone door to the waiting room soon opened, and in strode a golden-eyed youth in opulent robes embroidered with golden dragons.
The crown prince, Bradley van Aslan—his striking features so captivating that the dozens of escorting knights and attendants faded into the background—flashed a smile at the duke.
"It's been a while, Duke."
"To what do we owe this visit, Your Highness?"
The duke hastily bowed to the smiling crown prince.
Officially, princes and dukes ranked equally in protocol, but the crown prince was a special case. Even as the crown prince's prospective father-in-law, decorum demanded respect.
Naturally, Jenas and Tiny followed suit, kneeling—only for the crown prince to wave them off.
"Here I am, burdening you right before your big moment?"
"Nonsense, Your Highness. It's an honor."
"Hahaha, good to hear. I came because of some unpleasant rumors floating around—to dispel them before they cause issues. I hope I'm not adding undue pressure."
Everyone listening subtly shifted expressions.
In this context, "unpleasant rumors" could only mean one thing.
What Jenas had feared: the emperor was checking Duke Valentia.
Hoping he'd get badly hurt—or die—in the duel.
A whisper spreading among the nobles.
"Haha, only fools pay mind to baseless gossip, Your Highness. You worry too much."
"Of course, I knew you wouldn't take it seriously, Duke. But with the wedding so close, strange rumors aren't helpful... so I wanted to nip it in the bud. Oh, and I have other business too."
With that mention of "other business," his gaze drifted somewhere.
Tiny, head bowed as low as possible, felt a prickling on his scalp.
A deeply uneasy feeling. He glanced up cautiously—and sure enough.
All eyes, led by the crown prince, were on him.
"...M-me?"
X, we're screwed.
He pointed at himself, fighting a trembling lip and feigning calm.
"Haha, of course. Ta... er, Toren, was it?"
...Huh?
The crown prince grinned, using Tiny's alias.
Tiny panicked outwardly but felt inner relief.
If the crown prince knew and was playing along, it meant no needless imperial suspicions.
...As expected, you've got it all figured out, old man!
Seeing the duke's knowing smile, Tiny sighed inwardly in relief—then promptly flattened himself to the floor.
"Wh-what an honor, Your Highness! For a mere squire like me to be remembered..."
His trembling was genuine, making the act convincing.
Of course.
But why come all this way?
Grateful as he was for the cover, the ideal would be avoiding attention altogether.
Especially now, posing as Jenas's squire to stay close to the duke.
"Ah! My schedule's packed, so I couldn't warn you ahead. But I figured now or never."
"Pardon?"
He got the part about no time to spare.
But... why here...?
As Tiny shot the crown prince a baffled look,
"My fiancée saw the puppy you raise and wants to meet it."
"Ah... P-pardon?"
An utterly unexpected response.
Tiny's not-so-great brain spun like lightning.
With the wedding nearing, Cloi was secluded in the palace for bridal lessons, unable to meet family except the duke.
Her only companion was Vivian, her lifelong designated guard—who also couldn't leave the palace. It must be stifling.
But why single him out...?
Was this pre-arranged with the duke?
A subtle nod from the old man confirmed it.
Well, yeah... works in our favor.
No need for deep thought—this was an opportunity.
Of course.
- Kur, keng!
He sensed his soul companion's protest.
Just once, please!
- Kiiing.
After forcing reluctant consent, he summoned Wolrang from his bosom while still prostrated and carefully lifted it out.
"Kiiing."
"Is this the one?"
"Oh, yes! Wolrang, right? No wonder she wants it. Adorably precious."
The tiny puppy(?) with fur gleaming silver drew gasps from the crown prince and soft exclamations from the attendants.
No idea how much the duke had shared, but the crown prince's pleased expression as he took Wolrang seemed genuine.
"You sure it's okay if I take it?"
"An honor, Your Highness."
"Haha, no—I'm the grateful one. Sorry, but it'll have to ease my fiancée's loneliness until the wedding."
"It'll consider it an honor too."
"Keng!"
Wolrang barked with a what-the-hell grimace, but in this form, even that was cute.
Just bear with it a bit. Please.
At his current level, he could maintain the summon even in the palace.
From past experiments, the palace barriers' mana control couldn't suppress his overwhelming mana sensitivity.
Superhumans could, but otherwise, just me... Wait, hold on?
"Thank you for coming, Your Highness."
"No trouble, Duke. Hope I didn't disrupt this crucial time."
"On the contrary—it energizes us."
"Then I'm glad."
Watching the duke and crown prince exchange pleasantries with smiles, a flash of insight hit: this was all part of the plan.
And the duke's words right after the boisterous entourage left confirmed it.
"Since you went to the trouble of coming here, we have to make use of your abilities, right? Fortunately, His Highness obliged when I mentioned guarding against potential demon worshipper provocations."
"...Lucky break."
"Keep a close eye inside the palace—especially around my daughter—for anything suspicious."
"Of course."
"...And just in case: no pervy spirit antics, or else... Got it?"
The duke's throat-slitting gesture drew a helpless chuckle from Tiny. Jenas turned away, stifling laughs.
"Ugh, seriously!! I'm trying to be serious here...!"
"...I'm dead serious."
Tiny's smile froze under that menacing glare.
"...No worries, my lord. I want Lady Cloi safe too."
"Good. That's how it should be."
The duke patted his shoulder and turned.
"Already sent a letter via falcon to that Grid fellow. Loser grants winner one request. Don't care what he wants, but you know mine."
Nod.
"Our strongest card is the Weapon Master. Can't let this chance slip."
Just as the confident duke finished,
Murmurs rose from outside the waiting room, deeper into the Colosseum.
After that, neither Tiny nor Jenas uttered a word.
About thirty minutes later,
The duke, who'd been honing his focus, shot to his feet.
"It's time."
As if on cue, an explosive cheer erupted from the Colosseum interior.
- Wooaaah!
- Weapon Master!
- Aura user! Superhuman!
- One of the continent's Seven Great Knights!
Tens of thousands roaring in unison.
"Heh, my first time in a spectacle like this."
The duke smirked faintly at the cheers, opened the waiting room door, and strode into the Colosseum.
His opponent emerged almost simultaneously from the opposite side, baring teeth in a grin.
At the same time.
Shoooo...
- Wh-what is that?
- Why suddenly...
A crushing pressure silenced nearly half the audience, spreading in all directions.
"Grid... Hah, still the same."
Seeing his arch-rival shut down tens of thousands with sheer intimidation, the duke flashed a feral smile of his own.