Chapter 31
Episode 20: The Contents of the Duel Application
After the morning classes ended, we picked up sandwiches and drinks from the cafeteria and moved to the courtyard to have lunch.
Slaine-sama decided that the courtyard, with fewer people than the cafeteria, would be a better place to review the duel application that the seniors had handed over this morning.
At the courtyard table, it wasn’t just me, Selen-sama, and Slaine-sama; Cantera had also joined us.
We started eating our sandwiches while going over the application.
The contents of the application were as follows:
1. The duel will be a 3-on-3 match.
2. The duel will be conducted in a knockout format.
3. The order of the participants is as follows:
A: [Selen → Selen → Slaine]
B: [Gale → Severus → Cole]
4. If A loses, Selen must obey Prince Zex’s orders.
5. If B loses, they will apologize to Prince Slaine.
6. The duel will take place on the weekend when the application is submitted to the administration.
「This means… if we lose, Ren will be forced to become Prince Zex’s plaything!」
Cantera, his face flushed with anger, spoke in a trembling voice.
「This is just like my brother… Slaine, we can’t accept these conditions!」
「You’re right; we can’t accept this. We’ll demand changes.」
Just as Selen-sama and Slaine-sama decided to request changes, the seniors approached us.
「Slaine-sama, have you signed the application? Was there a problem?」
「We can’t accept the conditions if we lose. We demand changes.」
「We do not accept such requests. You entrusted us with the application. If you refuse, it will be considered a loss, and that commoner girl will be taken to the prince. What will you do?」
With a malicious grin, they pressed us for an answer. Selen-sama and Slaine-sama, unable to suppress their anger, responded.
「Fine, we’ll accept it! Slaine, make sure there are no other strange conditions before you sign!」
「Alright… I’ll play along with my brother’s game.」
Both of them were clearly furious…
After carefully reading the application and finding no other issues, Slaine-sama signed it. The seniors confirmed the signature and were about to leave when I called out to them.
「Before you submit the application to the administration, I want Slaine-sama and the seniors to sign a pledge to ensure the application isn’t tampered with.」
「Are you saying you don’t trust us?」
「Are you stupid? Of course, we don’t trust you, which is why we’re asking for a pledge. Or are you planning to tamper with it secretly and therefore can’t sign?」
「A mere commoner, how dare you… Fine, we’ll write it!」
The seniors copied the contents of the application and signed a pledge that the contents were accurate before handing it to Slaine-sama, who also signed the pledge.
After that, Slaine-sama submitted the application to the administration, confirming that the duel would take place.
–
Episode 21: The Duel – The Strongest Warrior in Martial Arts
The duel application was accepted by the administration, so the duel was scheduled for the weekend of that week.
Since it was publicly announced, it became the talk of the academy… Everyone assumed that we, the first-year students, would lose.
Especially the men around me—they seemed to be imagining me becoming Prince Zex’s “concubine”, their lecherous gazes making me uncomfortable.
I endured these unpleasant feelings every day, telling myself that it was only until the duel was over.
Finally, the weekend arrived, and the day of the duel came.
The duel was scheduled to take place after the weekend classes, and the arena was packed with students eager to watch.
As the duel participants appeared in the arena amidst the charged atmosphere, the crowd erupted in cheers.
「There are a lot of people here to watch. It’s kind of embarrassing…」
「Well, it’s no surprise since it was publicly announced…」
「We just need to do what we came here to do!」
The three of us exchanged glances and spoke.
「It looks like everyone’s here! Hurry up and start the duel already. I have things to do with that commoner after I take her home!」
Prince Zex, seated in the front row of the arena, shouted loudly with a vulgar expression.
Then, the duel overseer from the administration stepped into the arena and declared the start of the duel.
「The duel will now begin. The content is as per the public announcement. The duel overseer is Reibach. Both teams’ vanguards, step forward!」
As I and Gale-senpai from the fourth-year S-Class stepped into the arena, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Gale-senpai had placed third in the academy’s annual martial arts tournament and was reputed to be the strongest warrior in martial arts at the academy.
Most of the cheers were for him.
「Prince Zex said he’d let us have a turn with you after he’s done. Just thinking about it… I haven’t been able to contain my excitement since last night!」
His disgusting gaze raked over me, and I decided to end this quickly.
「Enough with the pointless talk. Begin!」
Gale-senpai wielded a greatsword, while I held my spear at the ready.
Despite his large frame, he moved with surprising speed, closing the distance between us and swinging his greatsword down.
But his attack was so wide and exaggerated that I easily dodged it.
「You dodged that? Not bad. But I’ll end this with the next strike!」
He complimented my dodge.
With confidence, Gale-senpai declared he would finish it with the next move.
He prepared to swing his greatsword up from a low stance, but his movement seemed slow to me.
I lightly tapped his hand with the butt of my spear, and with a grunt, he dropped his greatsword.
I then stopped the tip of my spear just before his face, and the teacher declared my victory.
「The winner is Selen! The loser must leave the arena. Next, the second in command, step forward!」
The arena fell silent as the academy’s strongest martial artist was defeated in an instant… Gale-senpai, looking desperate, tried to make excuses.
「That doesn’t count! My hand slipped!」
Such a pathetic excuse… (How lame)
「Hey, stop talking nonsense. If you don’t get out of here, I’ll personally throw you out of the arena myself.」
Gale-senpai, once called the academy’s strongest martial artist, retreated under the teacher’s light but menacing glare.
–
Episode 22: The Strongest Magician
As Gale-senpai, his face twisted in frustration, descended from the arena, he was rebuked by the lieutenant who was passing by.
「What a disgrace! It is the duty of us, the 【Royal Guard】, to carry out our mission without letting our guard down!」
「I’m sorry. I’ll leave the rest to you…」
The scolded Gale-senpai could only respond with weak words.
I thought they might comfort each other since they were comrades, but instead, he got scolded…
They should try to get along better, I thought.
Then, the lieutenant, with a staff in hand, stepped into the arena and, glaring, raised his voice.
「I am Severus, the top-ranked magician of the fourth year at Tiarad Academy. I won’t let my guard down like that, so be prepared!」
「I was prepared the moment I decided to participate. My only concern is defeating you seniors, so don’t worry.」
I replied to Severus-senpai with a smile, and the teacher lightly cleared his throat with a 「Ahem」 before prompting both of us to prepare for battle and raising his voice.
「Now, begin the second match!」
As soon as the match started, Severus-senpai began chanting a spell at high speed.
To be honest, it’s really helpful when they chant because it lets me know what’s coming, making it easier to defend.
「I am one who feels the breath of the wind; O wind, gather at my command. Then unleash—〚Storm Shot〛!」
「Protect me—〚Ice Wall〛!」
The wind bullets struck the ice wall!
「Thud, thud, thud.」
Despite taking all the hits, the ice wall didn’t crumble, leaving Severus-senpai surprised.
He tried to chant another spell, but of course, I didn’t intend to give him that chance.
I quickly closed the distance and struck his solar plexus with the butt of my spear.
「Thud!」
「Gah…」
I must have misjudged my strength because Severus-senpai, blood trickling from his mouth, barely managed to distance himself from me.
Instead of using magic, he poured magic power into the ring on his left hand, and a black shadow appeared.
「I’ll use my trump card—〚Summon: Cerberus, Guardian of the Underworld〛!」
Severus-senpai used a magic tool to summon Cerberus, the Guardian of the Underworld.
Wiping the blood from his mouth with his sleeve, he gave instructions to Cerberus.
「The rules don’t prohibit the use of magic tools. This is my trump card! Cerberus, Guardian of the Underworld, torment that commoner girl!」
「How cowardly! Ren, forfeit!」
Selen-sama shouted from below the arena.
Severus-senpai had a triumphant smile on his face, confident of his victory now that he had used his trump card.
But it was no problem.
「Don’t worry! 〚Tempest Rain〛, annihilate the enemy!」
The fierce raindrops, like bullets, struck Cerberus, the Guardian of the Underworld.
「Thud, thud, thud!」
「Yelp!」
The bullet-like raindrops pierced Cerberus, causing it to shatter into pieces and disappear.
As Severus-senpai stood in stunned silence, I closed in on him, pointing my spear at him, and the match was decided.
「The winner is Selen, as Severus has lost the will to fight!」
The top-ranked magician of the fourth year was weak. I couldn’t help but think that Selen-sama might be stronger.
With this pace, could the last one be an easy win too?
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