Chapter 106 – Duels (2)

A few days after requesting a duel. The day of the duel finally arrived.

The rumors about me that swept the entire academy had a new firewood, a duel, even before the embers were extinguished.

“Oh my gosh. A 1st year duel with a 2nd and 3rd year senior in a row?”

“Idiot! You’re not an ordinary freshman! And one side will send a proxy, so another grade might come out.”

“It is, but… Uh? Then, can you see the skill of defeating the archbishop today?”

“Maybe? But don’t expect too much. You said you didn’t catch it alone.”

The spectators filled the arena rented by the academy. As if that wasn’t enough, I could see crystal spheres or familiars flying through the air.

Those who couldn’t enter the arena would at least take a look at it.

I thought it would be a good topic.

… I didn’t know it would be like this.

It’s me, the more people crowd, the better, but isn’t this too much?

As she gazed curiously at the crowd, Carla pushed one of her cookies to her mouth.

“Would you like to have one too, Master? Oh~”

“Ah-“

Let’s take it reflexively. The flavor of butter spreads in our mouth, and the gooey sweetness of the chocolate hidden in it.

“What is this. It is very delicious.”

Hehe. Yes? These are the cookies I bought on the market street the other day.”

“Carla, did you buy it at the store you often go to? I can see why she became a regular.”

“Right, right? I ate this and it was so amazing that I tried to make it myself?”

“Five… Cookies made by a former young lady. I’m curious about this.”

For men, cooking cooked by their own woman is like a romance.

It took a moment to imagine Karla wearing her apron and oven mitts.

For some reason, she started her glove goddaughter with her naked apron, and I smiled happily without knowing it.

Seeing my expression like that, Elisha snorted at her and shook her fan! She stretched out, and she covered her mouth.

“Oh? Could she be that charred cookie she baked last vacation?”

“Ugh….”

“Yandel. Did you say you were curious about Carla’s cookies? If you burn anything right now, it will taste roughly the same.”

“Elisha! They said it was delicious then!”

“Huh! Did I really enjoy it because it was delicious? Since there is sincerity in making it, it is a white lie.”

“What? Joy! None of the tea you brewed in the past tasted good either!”

“Don’t lie for nothing, Carla. Elven Tea is not available in other countries, so it’s a high-quality tea that you can’t eat?!”

“It was blended for different races! Even if I try to drink the blending tea for elves with sensitive senses, I’ll just go numb!”

“Ah. … But back then, you said it smelled good!”

“Elisha, you said my cookies are delicious too!”

“Gyaaaaagh!”

“Guaac!”

Carla starts to pinch Elisha, and Elisha fights against Carla with pinching as well.

No, did you invite each other to share cookies or tea every year?

I don’t know if the two of them are good or bad.

What… Originally, they were good friends, but did they say that it turned out to be due to excessive competition?

It felt different from the image of Elisha, which I had never seen in the game, or the image of Karla, who was clinging to me as a slave.

You can see this only when the two of you are together.

As I was leisurely watching Karla and Elisha fight over the scattering of cookie crumbs, someone tapped the back of my hand.

“Brother, junior. Is it okay to relax like this? The duel starts in 10 minutes?”

“What can’t you do? You have already made all the necessary preparations. All that remains is to relax so that we can fully demonstrate our full potential during the duel.”

“I think you are too relaxed….”

Is this correct? Fei tilted her head with a wanted expression.

But soon, with a serious expression, he squeezed my hand tightly.

Is it because of my short stature? Hands are small

“There you are, junior.”

“Why, Senior Fay?”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Yes?”

What is this again

At my question, Faye lowered her head and continued.

“That, isn’t it? I’ve made some progress this time, but my goal is higher. … And no one thinks I can.”

“What… Elisha immediately thought of mass production of low-level weapons as soon as she first heard about it.”

No one thought that Faye would be able to create perfect artisan-level weapons with alchemy.

“Yes. So, you are the only one who guarantees me the research I want to do with a huge budget, right?”

Only one. Except for me.

Having said that, Faye raised her head secretly.

Still messy hair. The black eyes peeking through the long bangs were trembling non-stop, wondering what was so unsettling.

“That, so… I’m practically subordinate to my junior. It’s okay if you don’t have to go out and hurt yourself.”

“You said that last time? It is also a warning for me.”

“Yes. Well then When I was slapped in the alley, why did you throw away what I was recording with the crystal ball and run at you?”

“Yes?”

“From the point of view of my junior, if I had just stayed still, I could have handled it much more neatly….”

“Ah. I suddenly said something. I get it now.”

She smiled and cupped both of her cheeks with one hand.

“Pour?”

He continued giggling at Faye, who pouted like a duck.

“Are you worried about what Pelop said at that time that no one will protect Fei-senpai?”

“That is….”

“Oh, you are such a troublesome person. I don’t have to say it back. Even right before the duel.”

“M-I’m sorry.”

“That’s what I’m going to apologize for… I will tell you clearly on this occasion, so remember it carefully.”

I squatted on Faye’s cheek for no reason and opened her mouth.

“I am Fei-senpai’s guardian. Insults towards seniors are insults towards me, and being beaten by seniors is as good as being beaten by me.”

“…….”

“I am on the senior side.”

“… Ah.”

“So watch closely. How dare you, Senior Fei… What happens to the guy who touches me.”

“Yes… I will. I’ll keep an eye on you without missing anything.”

It wasn’t until she smiled once at Fei, who had a somewhat hazy expression on her face, that she let go of her hand.

And a small whisper from behind.

“Elisha Elisha. Look at that. Master is making slaves without slave marks!”

“Are you a slave to capital? Or are you a slave to affection? Either way doesn’t seem far off.”

“Isn’t it time to be so carefree? Shouldn’t we have a sense of crisis and show something to the master?”

“… I agree with you this time. Honestly, those breasts are a foul.”

No, didn’t you guys just squat and fight? Why did you suddenly get along again?

Dang- dang- dang-

A huge bell rings throughout the academy. It was the sound of announcing the hour.

At the same time, it was also the sound of today’s duel starting.

Women who stiffen in an instant, as if they were ashamed of playing around.

I also tightened the string of tension that had been stretched.

“Let’s go.”

To finish this job.

***

-Waaaaa!!

Cheers resounded from all sides as they stepped into the arena.

Somehow I feel like a gladiator in the arena.

I stopped and glanced around. And I found the familiar dark red hair.

No, Professor Iona, why are you still there?

He smiled and waved his hand lightly.

Then, Iona jumped up and down laughing.

That’s the dignity of a road-class vampire over 300 years old… ? It’s really heartbreaking….

I smiled and took out the staff and the Shining Lion Dagger from my inventory.

A fighting style I’m used to.

The slightly stiff body becomes flexible, and the head becomes clear without a cloudiness.

Waiting like that, ready to fight at any time, soon after, two figures stood on the other side of the arena.

One is a pelop. The other is his champion….

“Uh?”

Why ishehere?

A well-groomed brunette at best, and a plain, well-groomed brunette at worst.

Her low-key features and low presence made even the sound of her breathing faint.

Frank Miller, my second duel opponent, a Seething Calm follower, entered as Pelop’s surrogate.

“Keuk… Did you think I would bring in even a shallow commoner from the Knights Faculty? Too bad. Your opponent is a wizard! The senior Frank you pointed out with your own hands!”

“Uh….”

It is understandable that Pelop is so elated.

Until double casting is possible, wizards are very vulnerable against knights 1:1.

So, in order for a wizard who has not reached a certain level to deal with a knight, thorough preparation is required.

Actually, the current me is the armor, the potion I drank in advance, and the magic tools in my pocket.

All of them were dressed in things specialized for dealing with knights.

Since I made this all at once in vain, Pelop must think that I was caught off guard.

However.

======================

【Shining Lion Dagger】

A pure white dagger with a carving of a roaring lion on the pommel.

The blade, with a texture closer to bone than metal, sometimes emits a warm glow.

A dagger clad in holy brilliance will become even sharper than usual.

… And the brilliance will shine brightest in the dark.

– When attacking, 10% chance to apply additional light property damage.

-Increases critical hit damage by 30%.

– When dealing with cultists, the extra hit rate and critical hit rate are fixed at 100%.

======================

Ugh-

The dagger in his left hand made a small cry and emitted light intermittently.

As if he wants to swing it right now.

When I look at the cultist’s hard counter, the dagger, and the cultist, Frank, in turn, I burst into laughter.

It looks like he’s trying to kill me by faking a mistake this time….

“Honey.”

It won’t be me who dies today.