Chapter 70
The loosed arrows scattered in an instant like shattering glass, then ricocheted off the curtain of wind suspended in the air, reflecting wildly in every direction.
At the long-range attack that surpassed imagination, the color drained from Tilia’s face.
"W-wait a second. How am I supposed to dodge this!?"
Even as Tilia complained, she darted her eyes back and forth, focusing as she tried to read the arrows’ trajectories.
She moved her body to dodge, created flame clones to confuse them, then struck down the pursuing arrows with her sword as she resisted.
But the final arrow still carved a blood-red line across Tilia’s thigh before passing by.
"Kgh!"
"S-Sister!!"
When fresh blood spattered, Diana was thrown into a panic.
"Isty went easy on her, right?"
I, on the other hand, thought the wound was far too shallow.
"Yes."
Noah nodded as she spoke.
"Miss Isty is a hunter who received diamond rank for shooting down the Giant Bird of Rogawell That Blots Out the Sun, a national calamity-class magical beast.
If she had fired properly, that leg would be gone."
I thought the same.
It lacked the power that had mercilessly pierced through the orc boss’s body during the monster outbreak.
"Most likely, she is adjusting it to a nonlethal level in consideration of what Lord Decal said."
On the other hand, hadn’t Tilia assessed Isty’s skill and immediately launched a killing blow?
The difference in strength was obvious.
"I-I believed in her! Isty is one of only seven diamond ranks in the kingdom, after all."
Karen said, nodding repeatedly as though moved.
"Could you not talk as if you’ve already won?"
Tilia’s blade burned even more fiercely. Her spirit should have been broken, but she was not cowed at all.
The difference in ability between them was clear. She was even bleeding, yet she still intended to continue?
That fighting spirit stood out quite a bit.
"Here I come!"
"……."
Isty sighed.
"You’re going to gain another wound."
Tilia kicked off the ground. Without waiting, Isty immediately called forth two arrows and fired them in rapid succession.
What was astonishing was Tilia’s response. Without stopping, she ran forward, and just before she collided with the arrows, she leaped and jumped over them.
If she had jumped after seeing the arrows, that movement would have made no sense.
She had already been preparing to leap the moment Isty nocked the arrows!
Having cleared the arrows, Tilia gave a triumphant smile.
"No matter what direction they come rushing in from, as long as they’re arrows, they can only move forward! Isn’t that right?"
The burning sword swung.
Isty, standing in place, instead took one step forward and blocked Tilia’s blade with her bow.
"What…!?"
Everyone, including me, was shocked.
"Th-this is…!"
Tilia stepped forward and lowered her stance to put strength into it.
But the bow Isty held in one hand did not waver in the slightest.
"I acknowledge your bond with the spirits, but your combat technique is lacking."
"Who do you think you are, trying to teach me?!"
When Tilia abandoned even the thought of protecting herself and pushed forward in a rage, Isty’s bow was gradually forced back.
But that was no crisis for Isty.
When Isty lightly stepped back, Tilia’s movement collapsed from having put too much strength into it.
Isty intended to attack in that opening.
But Tilia’s attack was not over.
"You have to watch your back against my sword, Miss Elf…!"
After Tilia swung her sword, flames surged up from the floor.
Then Isty lightly stepped on Tilia’s thigh and leaped, vaulting over the rising blaze.
"Ah……!"
That was not the end.
In midair, Isty rode the wind and spun lightly, then looked down and aimed her bow, shooting Tilia in the shoulder.
Then she landed behind Tilia as lightly as a feather. It was an elegant movement, as if she were dancing in the air. What would Bella have said if she had seen it?
"Ugh……!"
Tilia lost consciousness for a moment and dropped to one knee on the spot.
That was dangerous. Unlike when it had grazed her thigh, this time the arrow was completely lodged in her.
But compared to the impression it gave when fired, the wound was not that deep, which made me think Isty had controlled her strength.
Because an artery runs beneath the shoulder in the human body, if she had fired properly, Tilia would have died for certain.
Isty’s delicate control, reducing that to merely the brink of death, was impressive, but
"Keep going!"
Tilia, who pulled out the arrow embedded in her shoulder by herself and stood up again, was impressive as well.
But Isty retrieved her bow without hesitation and returned empty-handed.
At that, Tilia gritted her teeth in frustration.
"I’m still standing on my own two feet, and you’re quitting? I guess elven duels are that lukewarm?"
"I could have killed you when you first came in. I don’t want to do anything Darling doesn’t want. That’s why I went easy on you."
"……."
Tilia seemed to be at a loss for words.
Anyone could clearly tell there was no falsehood in Isty’s words.
"I also want a sincere apology from the Vanguard family. That is why I stepped into this duel.
I will not forgive anyone who wounds Decal’s body. Even if that person is a noble. Even if they are a fellow elf."
"I see……."
Tilia sheathed her sword.
It seemed she had realized it was time to admit defeat.
"I lost. ……I still have a long way to go. I thought you were just a somewhat strong elf. But if your archery is like that, I’ve heard of you before."
"……."
"I heard there was an elf with godlike skill who saved the kingdom from crisis."
"Sister!!"
When Tilia staggered, Diana rushed out and supported her body.
"Ah……. I just felt dizzy for a second. I’m fine."
"Healer, hurry over here!"
The people from Tilia’s family hurriedly gathered around them.
While Tilia received first aid, Isty walked over to us.
"Isty!"
Karen embraced Isty and rejoiced.
"I’m so glad! I’m really glad you won. I’m glad neither my brother nor you got hurt."
That was right.
Isty had completed the task I had given her without a single scratch.
"Well done, Isty."
As expected of my precious elf.
"I worked hard for Darling."
After finishing her hug with Karen, Isty approached me and embraced me.
I stroked Isty’s head gently.
"That’s my beloved girlfriend."
"I love you, Darling."
Isty tightened her arms around me and held me close. The delighted expression on her face, after shedding that cold blank look, was cute.
It made me feel warm inside.
Perhaps their first aid was finished, because Diana, wearing a guilty expression, and Tilia, looking refreshed as if she had won, approached.
"Decal. I lost."
"Mm."
"I failed to recognize what kind of person you were. If the one by Decal’s side is the Lofty Hunter, then the examiner is Sir Veil Noah, the Iron-Wall Examiner, isn’t she?"
"I am not someone worthy of being called by such an impressive title."
Noah lowered herself and showed humility.
I had been slapped merely for carelessly saying a noble’s name, yet Noah was being called Sir by that very noble.
The ways of this world were hard to understand, even when you thought you did.
Maybe if I had introduced who the two of them were first, we could have avoided the duel?
No. Either way, the Vanguard family would have challenged us to a duel.
Because the resolution she spoke of was a matter tied to the honor of her family.
"Decal. I’m curious about who you are.
These two are not people who would move for honor or money. Many families tried to hire them, but all failed.
Yet I’m watching those two serve one person. It’s astonishing. At this point, I don’t think I’d be surprised even if Decal were the king of a fallen nation."
The king of a fallen nation, huh…….
In other words, she was saying that only that level of justification would make it understandable for me to have both of these people with me at the same time.
It felt so good it made me itch inside.
This, too, would not have happened if the timing had not happened to overlap so perfectly with the hero candidate selection period.
All the women currently by my side had met me through that incident.
The hunter who designated the emergency mission, the examiner who judged that mission, and even the companion who made it through the emergency mission with me.
"I’m nothing.
Just as I introduced myself at first. I’m a simple adventurer, and now I’m planning to go become a candidate at the Hero Academy."
"……Mm. We want to apologize for our rudeness. Since we lost the duel, we have nothing to say."
Diana’s complexion was dark.
Was she blaming herself, thinking it was her fault?
"I’m sorry, Sister. Because of me, you suffered such a terrible wound……."
"It’s fine. This much will heal if I rest a little."
Exactly. This girl had the wrong person to apologize to.
She still wouldn’t even glance at me, and the only one she felt guilty toward was her sister.
In Diana’s world, I was simply someone who did not matter.
Clap.
I clapped my hands, drawing the attention of the two of them to me.
"The result of the duel is out. Now you’ll have to pay the price. I won’t go easy on you."
"Mm."
Tilia nodded.
"If there is any damage to your carriage, we will compensate you. Also, I will order our servants to help clear away the kelip."
She began reciting what she herself considered a sincere apology.
"No. I told you that much isn’t enough, didn’t I?"
"……?"
"If you’re truly sorry, you should show sincerity. Kneel down and bow. Then beg me for forgiveness."
"What……?"
The sisters’ faces filled with intense hostility.
Their attitude, as if they had never imagined such a thing even in death, amused me.
"You'll have to take off every stitch you're wearing first."
"Y-you scoundrel who deserves death!"
Diana shouted in fury.
"Do you even know what you're saying right now?!"
Diana's enraged voice rang out. Compared to this, her anger just moments ago had seemed like a joke; her spirit was tremendous.
Hearing the commotion, the servants of the Vanguard family who had been keeping their distance began edging closer.
"To make light of a sacred duel and say such a thing!"
"A sacred duel?"
Unable to hold back my laughter, I burst out laughing.
"The one making light of the duel is you. You walk over with that relieved look on your face, toss out a few words of flattery, and think you can end it there, don't you?
Does not being afraid to spill blood in the middle of a fight make someone a brave warrior? No.
The losing side in a duel receives a wound that can never be washed away. The Vanguard family—I’ll create a lifelong disgrace for you right here. That is the price of this affair."
"Sister, don't just stand there. Say something to this man.
Father won't stand for this. This is……!!"
Diana looked anxious.
Because the strength of the sister she had believed in had crumbled.
But did she know? From this moment on, Diana would be betrayed by that very sister she trusted.
"No, Decal is right."
"S-Sister?"
"If Decal wants that apology, then you must undress and prostrate yourself. The world of victory and defeat is cold and absolute."
"……Wh-what are you saying?!"
"Your sister says so."
"Urk……!!"
Diana's face flushed red and blue, as if she could no longer control her emotions properly.
"However, for a young lady of Vanguard to expose her skin is an act that requires resolve equal to death.
Could I do it in Diana's place?"
"No."
"……."
Diana stared blankly at the exchange between her sister and me.
As if it were not something happening in reality.
"I know you could do it. That wouldn't be any fun. Someone who would rather die than do it. Someone who absolutely must not do it. This apology only has meaning when it comes from someone like that. Understand?
Diana. You alone will be enough to undress and bow."
"U-uurgh……!"
Diana suddenly lowered her head and began retching.
It seemed she had received an enormous shock.
"Don't you think so, Tilia?"
"……."
Tilia placed a hand on Diana's shoulder.
"There's no helping it, Diana. We lost the duel. We have no choice but to do as Decal says."
"Ah, aaah……. Sister. I-I don't want to. Protect me. Please……. I don't want to do this. Rather than show my skin to this, this hideous man, I would rather die……!"
"……."
Tilia stared coldly at the pleading Diana.
"There's no helping it, Diana."
"Hic. Haa……."
Driven into an unimaginable corner, Diana even began to hyperventilate.
"You must pay the price of the duel, Diana. At the very least, I'll undress you with my own hands."
"N-nooo…!!"
Tilia clenched her teeth and moved to strip Diana's clothes off.
I watched the scene with delight.
"What do you think you're doing, you bastards!"
What now? A crowd of people came pouring out from the Vanguard family's side.
They were armed guards.
"What are we doing? Watching the price of defeat be paid."
"Nonsense! To threaten the women of the Vanguard family—you have no fear. You criminal scum!"
"……."
"Y-you people……."
Diana cried out tearfully.
"Drive these people away! Protect me!"
"Protect Lady Diana and Lady Tilia. Separate them from those men!"
"Yes, sir!"
There were about eight guards?
Just as I decided I should take care of them and pulled my hand out of my pocket—
Something black passed by Tilia and Diana and blocked the guards' path.
It was Noah.
With the black tonfa she had drawn at some point, Noah swung, smashing the approaching guards' swords one by one, pushing them back and subduing them.
"Push through her! She's just one Enforcer!"
Noah's black tonfa spun with the movement of her wrist.
Not a single soldier got past Noah. Without even moving her feet from where she stood, Noah shattered the soldiers' weapons, cracked their armor, and knocked them all down.
"Th-this is…!"
"Impossible. That's not the skill of an ordinary Enforcer."
"Step back. The Vanguard family lost the duel. Lord Decal is receiving his rightful price. Punishing criminals is, by nature, the work of an Enforcer.
I will not allow you to treat Lord Decal as a criminal as you please."
"But…!"
"Noah. Well done!"
Noah really did understand me.
There had been no need to hypnotize her. Without even looking back, Noah answered with her back, and in the meantime, Diana was completely trapped.
"Aaah……."
Tilia began taking off Diana's dress.
Diana covered her chest with her arms and sobbed.
"Lady Illesia. Help us with your light……. With your light……."
Was she desperate enough to pray?
I felt like clapping and cheering.
I had no intention of stopping at all.