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Volume 3 Chapter 12.1

Translator: Kureha
Editor: Weasalopes

「How the hell did it end up like tis… ?」

Hiroshi muttered to himself as he started to lose touch with reality, with a wooden sword often used for practice in his hand. The thought of needing to face the giant in front of him exhausted Hiroshi. Many people stood around them to watch their battle.

「So you showed up without running away.」

「I still don know why I need to somethin’ like tis…」

To fully determined Dentlis, Hiroshi gave an unenthusiastic response.

「You’ve been rejected fair n’ square. So can’t ya just cut this foolish act and move on… ?」

「If you gave up after failing once or twice, you will never get anything you want.」

Dentlis did have a point. It was a very straight forward justification. However, such determination could only be perceived as a clinginess regarding relationship matter.

「Why do I hafta fight ya? I’m purty sure I’ve got nothin’ to do with tis.」

「Now that we have come this far, there is no point asking any questions. Now fight me like a brave warrior!」

「al’ight, al’ight,」

With Hiroshi’s enthusiasm only decreasing, he held the sword with its tip slightly pointing towards the ground.

「Now, if I win this duel, you will surrender your Haruna-kun to me.」

「How many times do I need to tell ya that we ain’t datin’…」

Dentlis’s enthusiasm skyrocketed as Hiroshi showed a very slight motivation towards this duel. However, Hiroshi still felt very burdened, especially after what Dentlis has just said.

「I am sorry, workshop owner.」

「If ya really feel that way, could ya please do somethin’ to stop that man… ?」

「Unfortunately, if he did listen to me, this duel would not have been a thing in the first place.」

「So I’ve git no other option…」

As Hiroshi desperately looked for a way out of this situation, he pleaded to the Queen who seemed very apologetic about this situation. Hiroshi won’t gain anything from winning this duel. But losing wasn’t an option either. For him, this was a very bothersome situation. Even if Hiroshi loses, if Dentlis does anything forceful without Haruna’s consent, then they can easily make this national matter, so the duel was pointless. However, the process of making this a national affair was very troublesome. So, he can already imagine what his party members would say if he loses this duel.

「Now, let us confirm the conditions for the last time.」

Although seeing how un-motivated Hiroshi was, seeing that he has accepted the duel, the Queen spoke.

「This will be a one-on-one duel, using a weapon which the participants are most familiar with. The duel will continue until one of them become unable to continue the combat. Skills which possess enough force to kill someone or skills which are used with the intent of killing their opponent is banned. A participant who uses such skill will be disqualified and will lose the duel with no exceptions.  The person who loses this duel will be banned from approaching Toudou Haruna from this point onwards. Do both participants agree to this condition?」

「Of course,」

「Yup, whatever’s fine…」

The Queen, who was has agreed to be the witness for this duel stated the condition and confirmed the agreement from both parties. The Queen nodded and raised her arm to signal the start of the duel.

「I must admit, I am impressed that you managed to take down that Gram Dawn. However, I don’t think you deserve Haruna-kun!」

「I really don care…」

Dentlis’s determination only seems to increase. He rushed into the battle with immense force. While Hiroshi remained un-motivated. Attacking back only because he has to.

Ten minutes later, Dentlis continued to attack without planning ahead. His weapon started to wear out. His stamina started to run low. He let his guard down from exhaustion. Then, Hiroshi attacked with continuous Smash. Dentlis was flung up into the air multiple times and Hiroshi won the battle with ease. 

 ==

When the duel ended, the Queen had few questions which she wanted to ask Hiroshi. So, excusing his friends, she took him to the Eastern hut to talk to him.  Expectedly, the audiences were waiting for the seclusion barrier to be lifted. 

「I am very sorry for causing you such a burden.」

「If ya think you’ve caused me some burden, then please, ‘t least try n’ have ya subordinates under control…」

「I could not agree more with your words. However, Dentlis is more of a guest than subordinates. So, it was difficult for the court to make a move as well. Even if there was a special condition on your side, on the surface level, you’re just an ordinary adventurer. So, matters relating to an intimate relationship will be put aside as personal issues.」

「On top o’ dat, people say whatever they like ‘bout ya decision. May I ask exactly in what area ya status is helpful?」

「What a blunt statement you make.」

To Hiroshi’s dead honest comment, the Queen gave a bitter expression and returned yet another honest comment. 

「Anyway, do you not think it was strange?」

「Strange?」

「Indeed, Dentlis can be blunt but he is not an airhead. He would have known that the way he fought would not have impressed the song muse. Well, I am sure even you would know that much…」

「Welp, he didn’t look ill, n’ there wasn’t anythin’ odd when he heard Haruna-san’s song. So I don think there was an issue on his side.」

「But it was true that he was very out of character when he fought today. Workshop owner, did you not think it there was something strange when you were fighting Dentlis?」

「To be frank, the reason why dat duel was a thin’ in the first place was strange.」

There were many aspects of that duel which Hiroshi would have liked some answers on. Since the purpose of the duel itself was very comical, Hiroshi was unsure where to start questioning so he gave a lazy answer.

「T’ begin with, I don understand why we needed to duel in the first place. But puttin’ that aside, tis hard to believe that Dentlis would fight like some arrogant jock.」

「He certainly does not. However, his combat skill does not match up to yours. I can understand his fighting style if the combat was based on how many critical hits the participant was able to give to their opponents. However, with the type of duel which we have chosen for today, even an idiot would know they would lose from fighting like that. Dentlis has seen you fight against a Gram Dawn. He would have known that he had to be smart about his tactics.」

「Yet he approached me so mindlessly, tis absurd.」

「Indeed, it is absurd in every way.」

「Um, I really don want to hear what ya might be thinkin’ to ask me…」

As Hiroshi made a whiny comment with a bitter smile, the Queen frankly asked the question which she just had to simply ask. Hiroshi’s comment was understandable, but if the Queen missed this opportunity, she would miss out on very important information.

「To start with, have you seen something similar to today’s incident previously?」

「Welp, I certainly have seen somethin’ similar to today’s incident. Even though tis a burden to explain it.」

「Just as I thought. Another thing I would like to confirm, did it happen after you fought against Barold?」

「 No, not after za battle.」

Either of them didn’t think to bring up a mindless question such as “Barold should have died”. Hiroshi took down the one in Farlane and the Queen took down the one in Darl. There was a report on someone who has claimed to spot a creature in Torrid desert which closely resembled Barold. No matter how many Barold people took down, there was no exact way to tell if all the Barold has been defeated.

「And what happened precisely?」

「Durin’ the incident at Farlane, there was one purson who was mind-controlled. Everyone thought the purson’s gone insane from some kind o’ illness. But nothin’ changed even after Haruna-san’s son’ or from priest’s exorcism.」 

「I see, how did this person go insane?」

「Tis purson’s hatred towards my group seemed to git worse by the day. Apart from dat, the purson was completely normal. So in general, it jist looked like the purson had a reverse grudge towards my group.」

「I see, it does sound very similar to our current situation.」

The Queen compared the information which Hiroshi has given out and concluded that the two cases were very similar very easily. Ignoring the precise details, these two cases were identical.

「Do you know how Barold mind controls others?」

「Unfortunately, no. However, with tis purson in Farlane, there was no record o’ em meetin’ up with someone suspicious. So I recon’ Barold is usin’ an item which no one would suspect it to be the cause o’ mind-control.」

「Is there a way to free the individual from mind-control?」

「At Dentlis’s level, puttin’ him through intensive counsellin’ n’ makin’ him realise there’s soemthin’ wrong with his thoughts n’ actions would be the only way. If the situation gits worse, then ya can stop it by pourin’ all purpose potion on the item that’s causin’ the mind control. But that won’t dispel the mind control.」

「How terrible.」

「The most troublesome thing ‘bout mind-control is that tis different from status disruption. If a speech spell is used tu slowly manipulate the purson’s thoughts, then there’s no difference from someone changin’ their values after goin’ through a traumatic experience. So I doubt a potion or a spell would work against za mind-control.」 

「That truly does sound troublesome …」

After hearing Hiroshi’s explanation, the Queen stated in a dull tone. When it came to things which were this bothersome, it was only natural for people to want to resolve the matter as quickly as they can. However, that is usually not the case.

「There is really nothing we can do?」

「Not by usin’ potions.」

「Not by using potions, so there is a way?」

「Dere are solutions tu most problems. However, tis method is not formally accepted.」

「Just the general description will suffice. Could you provide me with some details on this method? Just in case the time comes to use it.」

「Za context is simple.  Use a psych based magic n’ dispel the mind-controllin’.」 

The context was really simple. However, as Hiroshi said, this method is not formally accepted. If they were to make any reckless move, it could result in the individual completely losing their sense of self. Yet, if the mind-controlling was to continue, there would be nothing which they can do. There was a reason why their enemy targeted Dentlis, who was one of the authority figures in this country with no successor. This would be a huge advantage towards their enemy. The Queen understood why Hiroshi was hesitant on mentioning the possible cure. Now that she knows the method, she has decided that this was a risk which was not worth taking.

「Very well, would you agree to only allowing this cure to be used when the situation worsens and there is no other option left?」

「T’ would be the a normal decision. However, their plan seems tu be a little violent compared tu the incident in Farlane. How should I put it, t’ almost seems as if they don’ haf a solid plan…」

「I was not able to gain any precise information regarding the incident in Farlane. Is this situation that different from back then?」

「Welp, they certainly didn’ use a method which could be seen through so easily. Thanks to their method, we didn’ realise it until the very last minute. Then at the worst timin’ Haruna-san was injured n’ it gave everyone a chill.」

「Putting aside your friends, it is strange that the Prince and the King of that nation did not notice anything.」

「T’ really was real strange. Yet, t’ was understandable why they didn’ notice anythin’. On top of Barold’s method, while they were evacuatin’ the civilians who worked at the palace, the royal family mistook the enemy as one of nobility’s maiden. N’ then other kinds of mistakes piled up n’ the incident took place. Welp, I’m sure Barold manipulated the situation so that there would be some kind of mistake made.」

Barold’s sophisticated plan has failed miserably due to a simple factor named Hiroshi. If Barold was really behind their current incident, he would not have chosen such a half-a**ed method. He would have either be very violent to the point where nobody could predict his next move. Or detect Hiroshi’s presence and use a method which can be executed swiftly but difficult to deal with.

「I thank you for your insight. I shall research the rest myself.」

「Ya don mean to say…」

「Do you not think it is a bandit-like solution?」

「I beg ya to not get dragged along with Dentlis-san’s pace…」

「Of course, anyway, putting that aside…」

As if to say she has gained enough information, the Queen’s attitude shifted from a politician to seductive woman. To her feminine energy, Hiroshi’s face turned pale and winded the already long enough distance with the Queen. Then, he started to tremble in a corner of a room. With the incident which has caused Hiroshi phobia, the female student who was arrested for attempting to kill him also had seductive energy similar to the Queen. Obviously, the female student had no interest in Hiroshi. She also had some self-inflicted issues. However, she only made the attempt to kill him as she imagined how satisfying it would feel when she manages to kill Hiroshi.