3 bar menu

Volume 7 Chapter 4 Part 9

Alexis Doucet, the leader of the Fantasia Union, is one such Lord, to give you an example.

There is no shame in not agreeing to a one-on-one fight. In fact, they now live in an era where people who challenge others to a one-on-one duel would become laughingstocks for being so openly old-fashioned.

However…

「I accept your challenge! 」

Theo said in a loud voice that echoed throughout the battlefield.

「Lord Theo…?! 」

Siluca looked back at Theo with a speechless expression on her face, but she quickly collected herself.

「It’s absolutely out of the question! I know that you’ve been preparing yourself for this situation, but there’s no need for you to take any unnecessary risks. If you end up losing the duel, there will be no one left capable of stopping Milza, and when that happens, what is the future of the continent going to be?! 」

「It’ll work out somehow. 」

Theo answers with a troubled look on his face.

「Challenging you to a duel sounds very much like something that Milza would do. But you’re not like him, Lord Theo! A Lord can only demonstrate his ability if he sticks to his own way of life without succumbing to provocations like that! 」

Siluca desperately tried to persuade Theo not to go through with it.

「No, this is my way of doing things as well. 」

Theo said while looking directly at Milza. His thoughts were already focused on the upcoming battle with the Viceroy of Dartania.

(I had a hunch that it’s going to turn out like that.)

It seemed like Theo was just too determined to see this through. And whenever he gets like that, Siluca knew that there is no point in stopping him. That’s why he accepted Milza’s challenge to a duel so loudly.

However, if Milza hadn’t challenged Theo to a duel, it is very possible that Theo might’ve done that instead, because he was convinced that for the two of them, this battle was something inevitable.

「If you really have to go through with this… then at least make sure that you’re going to win… 」

Siluca begged him

「That’s impossible…「

Theo simply shook his head.

「That’s just not like me. 」

Then he drew his sword and raised his shield.

The sky was cloudy, but the metal itself glowed bluish-white. Along with the set of armor he was wearing, it was a gift that was given to him by the Mages Association as a part of the reward for capturing The Black Witch.

. They’re both made from mithril, a metal that exists only in another world. It wasn’t a material from a monster, but from a projected raw ore from another world, and it had magical characters engraved on it to prevent it from corroding.
「Are you planning on dying in this battle? 」

「No, of course I don’t plan to do that. 」

Theo finally looked back at Siluca and smiled.

「I told you. I don’t want to lose to Milza. 」

「Yes, of course. 」

Siluca nodded.

「Trust me, I’ll do everything I can to emerge victorious. 」

Theo then ran towards Milza.

Mirza dismounted his horse and spread his arms tauntingly. As if the horse he was riding has finished the job it was supposed to do, it foamed at its mouth and fell over on its side. It suffered injuries all over his body, and his heart probably couldn’t keep up as it kept responding to Milza’s harsh demands.

「He’s mine, so don’t dare come to my aid no matter what happens. If you want to make yourselves useful, then make sure that no one will come to his aid either! 」

Milza shouted to the Dartanian warriors who had dismounted from their horses and formed a circle around him and Theo, and they shouted back in response.

「When is it my turn yet? 」

Aishela asked Siluca, but Siluca’s eyes were fixed on Theo, and although she could hear her voice loud and clear, she didn’t even have the energy to answer her immediately.
「Let’s not get in the way of their duel. If we do, Lord Theo’s reputation will be tarnished. However, that doesn’t apply to the other Dartanian warriors. Let’s take them all down. Even if the duel is going to be settled and Milza will be the one to emerge victorious, we will take care of him then, when everything’s going to be finished. 」

Deciding that they’d be of no use to Theo right now, Siluca declared as such, and Juzel Rossini agreed with her.

「Are you really fine with that? 」

Aishela looked down at Juzel.

「I shouldn’t be? 」

「No. What she said is absolutely correct. 」

Aishela winked and spun around on the spot.

「Warriors of the desert! Do you have the qualifications to be God’s chosen warriors? 」

Then she spoke her tried and true line and leapt high into the air.

With that as a signal, Irvin, Emma, Luna, and the warriors chosen as Theo’s personal guard moved into action as well. Dartania’s warriors, who were trying to protect Milza, also attacked them. The skirmish quickly turned into a series of close quarters encounters.

In the meantime, Theo and Milza’s duel began.

* * *
Siluca forgot to even blink as she watched the duel between Theo and Milza.

Her heart was beating like a bell, and she could barely catch her breath with each movement the two of them were making.
「Ura! 」

Milza raised his voice with enthusiasm as he drew out his blade and swung it in a phantasmagoric manner.

「Khh!!! 」

Theo uses his sword and shield to stop or deflect his blade. Even though Milza knew that this was Theo’s way of fighting, it still seemed like he was being attacked without any intention of fighting back.

After making two feints, Milza’s blow evaded Theo’s shield and reached his torso… but just as Siluca was about to scream, Theo turned his right hand holding his sword and blocked it with his gauntlet. He made it in time, but Siluca thought he lost his right arm. However, Theo’s armor made a high-pitched metallic sound and scatters pale white sparks around, completely repelling Milza’s blade.

「What is that armor?!! 」

Milza exclaimed in surprise.

「It was given to me by the Mages Association as a reward for capturing a The Black Witch. Apparently it is made of metal from another world. It’s light and hard, and doesn’t hinder the movement of my body in the slightest. 」

Theo answered and readied his sword and shield again.

「You sneaky bastard! 」

「Does a duel need to be fair, even down to the sword and armor? 」

「I don’t care about it!! All I have to do is cut off your head! 」

Milza roared and began swinging his sword again.

Theo doesn’t wear a helmet because he doesn’t like his visibility getting worse. The armor’s shoulder pads are designed to protect against blows to the neck, but Milza would easily be able to dodge past them and aim for the neck regardless. However, if the target area is limited, it will be easier to prevent it from happening.

Milza used all his techniques to attack, but Theo reacted to all of his attacks in time. His gauntlets stopped the blade, and soon must have gained confidence to overcome the onslaught by using his full body armor as well.

「You coward! Why are you not attacking me?! 」

Milza seemed to have stopped all the attacks and was furious, roaring this question at Theo.

「Because this is my way of fighting. Even if I tried to attack you from the side, I’ll just create an opening for you to exploit. That’s why I’m going to wear you down and aim for a draw. 」

Theo calmly replied.

「You bastard… you’re fighting me in a duel, and you still have the audacity to claim that you’re going to stall for time?! 」

Milza’s face got warped by anger even further.

「That’s not my intention. I just think that the battle is going to be over before we’re going to wrap things up here. 」

Even as he said that, Theo didn’t take his eyes off Milza for even a second.

「Datania’s warriors are brave and proud. They won’t be defeated so easily! 」

With a shout, Milza began to swing his sword fiercely again. Siluca’s eyes can’t even follow his movements. Theo didn’t feel like he had any leeway either. He continued to block Milza’s attacks, but if even one of them is going to reach him, it might prove to be a fatal one.

Eventually, Mirza’s attacks began to show more some potential openings, probably from fatigue and impatience.