Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: The Duel Begins
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"You? Out of the question. We can't place such a heavy burden on a guest."
"That's right. We appreciate the thought, but this is too dangerous."
Realizing the meaning behind my words, the Mulgear father and son immediately voiced their opposition.
It seemed that no matter how much they needed help, they didn't want to cross a certain line.
Bill Mulgear's face was firm as he shook his head, his refusal absolute.
But I had a way to persuade this hopelessly kind father and son.
'I'll just get paid what I'm owed for the trouble.'
To get through to a merchant, you have to negotiate like one.
"There's no need to feel burdened. I'll be collecting a fee for participating in the Grand Duel."
"Oh?"
"I plan to shamelessly demand an outrageous sum, so don't you worry."
My half-joking proposal seemed to please him, as Bill Mulgear's expression changed completely.
If this wasn't about loyalty but a paid transaction, then it was a different story.
However, despite his gentle smile, his next words were quite unexpected.
"But still. How can we trust your skills enough to let you compete?"
"Then bring anyone you like. I'll prove my skills."
"Ha!"
Bill Mulgear let out a sharp laugh.
He must have thought he'd caught me off guard, but I had shot right back.
Unable to fathom the source of my confidence, Bill looked at Frixon.
'That's right. Go on, sing my praises, my friend.'
I waited with a proud expression for the string of accolades that was sure to follow.
Student council president, top of the class, a legendary figure who always led the charge in every mission.
A prodigy of a generation who had defeated all the imperial princes.
Naturally, such words were expected at a time like this.
"This friend's skills are..."
But Frixon's words were cut short.
*Crash! Thud!*
The manor's front door was thrown open violently, and a group of people barged in.
"Y-You people!"
Bill shot up from his seat, his benevolent face contorting as he shouted.
The man leading dozens of burly men was someone I'd seen before—Frixon's uncle, Silant Mulgear.
"How can you eat after swindling our guild with such despicable tricks? You're a disgusting bunch."
Silant's jowls quivered as he spewed his rage.
He spoke as if he were the innocent victim, a man appealing to justice.
To those who knew the full story, his words were utterly absurd.
But the men who came with Silant nodded their heads as if it were only natural.
"We can't stand Jake's tyranny any longer!"
"The Mulgear Guild must be the only one making such unreasonable deals at the trading post!"
"Hand over the trading permit and leave at once! Poven has no need for scum like you."
They shamelessly began to slander the Mulgear Guild.
Jake, who had been handling the trade affairs in Bill's stead, was their primary target.
"What is this nonsense! What did we possibly do?"
Unable to hold back, Frixon stepped forward and shouted.
At that, Silant, a vile smile on his face, gestured with his hand.
*Thump! Thud!*
The men immediately threw half-rotten foodstuffs and torn fabrics onto the floor.
"And you still deny it with evidence like this? Do you have any idea how many merchants were forced to buy these defective goods?"
"Wh-What is all this..."
Jake's face filled with bewilderment as he checked the condition of the goods, the packaging, and the guild's mark.
They looked for all the world like they had come from the Mulgear Guild.
A broad shadow fell over the stunned Jake.
When he looked up, Silant was standing right in front of him.
"You people wouldn't admit to it anyway, would you? Even with such clear evidence before you."
"This evidence is fabricated. We inspect our goods at least three times; there's no way something like this would get through."
"Hehehe! Humans are always capable of making mistakes."
Silant spun around as if there was nothing more to see.
The gazes of the people who had been curiously peeking through the wide-open main gate focused on him.
He put on a feigned look of sorrow and continued.
"Look at this situation. For so long, we have suffered under the Mulgear Guild's tyranny. Yet even when presented with evidence, they refuse to admit their wrongdoing. So what is left for us to do?"
"A duel! A duel!"
"Poven's tradition is winner-takes-all!"
As a few of the men shouted, the murmuring of the crowd instantly amplified.
Silant, feigning a worried expression, pointed at Bill Mulgear.
"Even if we were to challenge him to a duel, that man would surely find a way to squirm out of it. It seems justice will never be served."
At that, the angry crowd began to shout at the Mulgear family.
"Accept the duel!"
"Accept! Accept!"
When their voices began to die down, Silant drove the final nail into the coffin of his scheme.
"That is why we make this request. At this very moment, with no time for preparation, right here and now! We demand this duel proceed."
"Waaaaah!"
The crowd roared in approval at Silant's declaration.
Soon, even people who had been strolling through the plaza flocked over, surrounding the manor.
Everyone urged Bill Mulgear to make a decision, their eyes gleaming with a frenzied light.
Watching this series of events unfold, I clicked my tongue.
'That guy... he's no joke.'
The audacity to present false evidence and the meticulousness to plant agitators in the crowd to manipulate public opinion.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the epitome of a villain.
Today's incident was undoubtedly a play he had carefully prepared in advance.
'Not bad. I should use that tactic myself someday.'
As I was having that thought about Silant, Bill Mulgear finally made his decision.
"Very well. Let's do it. The duel."
* * *
"So it has come to this."
"I had no choice. His preparations were too perfect."
Bill closed his eyes with a sorrowful expression.
But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't think of anyone suitable to put forward as a champion.
Finally, Bill Mulgear looked at me, his face set.
"Your life could be in danger. The opponent is formidable. Why don't you reconsider?"
His son brings a friend home, only for him to be sent into a grand duel.
For Bill, a man who valued trust and conscience, it was an agonizing situation.
But I had offered to help for my own purposes from the start.
I wasn't just being a busybody.
"It's fine. As long as I'm well compensated."
"Right. We were just talking about that. What is it you want?"
"Lend me your information network. A guild of your size must know this area inside and out, right?"
"That's a more modest request than I expected. My conscience won't allow me to give you only that. I'll throw in a small sum of gold as a participation fee."
"I'm not one to refuse a gift. I'll accept it gratefully."
"Thank you for your help."
The participants were decided simply.
After all, the only skilled fighter the Mulgear Guild had was Talos, the head of the guards.
Adding myself and Frixon made exactly three, fulfilling the conditions for the Grand Duel.
Silant, who had clearly come fully prepared, set up the dueling grounds in an instant.
From summoning a notary from the Poven County family to setting up the champions, everything was done with lightning speed.
"We will now begin the dispute-resolution duel between the Silant Guild and the Mulgear Guild."
The notary summoned the champions from both sides.
I casually followed Frixon up to the arena.
'Oh... This is a first for me.'
The crowd filling the area near the plaza looked to be at least several hundred strong.
It seemed that all of Poven's upper class and trade-related personnel had turned out.
The feeling was quite different from the student council president election I'd fought in back at Venderford.
*Clank! Clank!*
Soon, the champions from Silant's side began to enter the arena.
They were all burly men with imposing looks, clad in plate armor.
"Not even removing their helmets during a pre-match meeting. How rude."
Talos, the head of the Mulgear Guild's guards, scowled as he examined the champions.
But since they were completely covered in black armor, there was no way to identify them.
Finally, the man in the lead lifted his helmet's visor.
*Click!*
"Hmph! As long as we follow procedure, that's all that matters, right?"
It was Malcolm, the one who had beaten up Jake.
As his detestable face was revealed, Frixon growled.
"I'll make sure you die by my hands."
"Hehe! You seem to be mistaken about something. Studying abroad doesn't change your trash skills."
"What did you say, you bastard?"
As the atmosphere grew heated, the notary quickly stepped between them to mediate.
"Save the fighting for after the duel begins. For now, we are only confirming the rules."
At the notary's firm voice, Frixon and Malcolm each took a step back.
"You are all aware that it's the best of three, correct? However, you may adjust the match order as you wish. Return to your corners and send out your first champion."
As I moved to the Mulgear's waiting area, I spoke to Frixon.
"Those two look a little unusual."
"They're probably hired from the outside. That's why they can't reveal their identities."
"You think they're from that Crimson Blood Cult or whatever?"
"I doubt he'd bring outlaws like them all the way here. If he did, Silant's side would be banished along with them."
"So they're operating legally, but they're concerned about exposing their faces?"
"That's what I think. We'd know for sure if we could see their forearms."
"Why?"
"The Crimson Blood Cult tattoos fangs on their arms. They seem to believe it holds some kind of mystical power."
At Frixon's explanation, I glanced at the black-armored knights.
But since both were clad head-to-toe in black armor, there was no way to confirm the presence of any tattoos.
"Alright. Anyway, who's up for the first match?"
At my question, Frixon looked up at Talos.
The simple-faced giant smiled confidently.
"Leave it to me. I will go and break the enemy's spirit."
Talos saluted like a general heading off to war and stepped into the arena.
His sturdy back somehow inspired confidence.
I nudged Frixon with my elbow and asked.
"He's quite something, isn't he?"
"He's been the guild's guard captain for a long time. The problem until now was that he was our only real strength."
It would probably be difficult for a merchant guild to find a guard captain as capable as Talos.
That's why they'd had a deterrent against duels until now.
Soon, a champion from Silant's side also came out and stood in the center of the arena.
It was one of the two who had kept their helmets on.
'Something about this feels...'
Looking at the black armor, a sense of unease washed over me.
Then, Alkheim's voice suddenly echoed in my mind, making the feeling even more ominous.
—That one is imbued with a disgusting energy.
—What are you talking about all of a sudden? What's disgusting?
I immediately used Spiritual Voice Transmission to ask Alkheim.
But it was at that very moment.
"Grand Duel, first round, begin!"
*Splat—!*
The moment the notary's starting call fell, the air was painted with crimson blood.
And what fell with a hollow thud, rolling across the ground, was none other than Talos's head.