Chapter 23
"I, Emilia Beniti, in the name of honor and order, challenge Yuda Snakers to a duel."
As expected, something big came flying.
A duel challenge boldly declared in front of other students watching.
The place where the two people stand has already become a stage.
A white glove falling to the floor, an atmosphere heightening as if about to burst, spectators' attention focused on one spot.
It was a stage carefully designed by someone.
"The price of defeat... is leaving Galimar Academy according to the winner's opinion."
The girl who planned everything smiles.
The corners of her mouth twist unpleasantly.
Although it was a smile faded by jealousy, venom, and inferiority... it was rather a fatally beautiful sight.
Like a flower blooming hideously.
Her red lips are excessively luscious.
Her voice pronouncing each word clearly pierces sharply into the fingertips.
Like a whisper dyed ecstatically.
"Your answer?"
Did she know I wouldn't be able to refuse?
It was a question strangely full of confidence.
A sweet scent brushes the tip of my nose.
Denial melts away at such an alluring breeze.
"I accepted as if bewitched, you say."
It was a one-sided move, you could say.
The choice is forced.
If I refuse the duel here, it becomes an admission that I'm a bubble top student myself.
Given how many people have been doubting, it would be handing over something to bite at.
This must have been the purpose from the start.
To discredit the top student's image to an irreparable degree.
For Emilia, even if the duel doesn't happen, she would achieve her goal.
"How cunning."
It seems she put some thought into it.
A smile escapes with an endearing feeling.
'An expulsion bread, huh.'
I thought she was preparing something... but I didn't expect her to bring such an interesting event.
This is how proper academy life should be.
There should be some exciting fun, right?
Just imagining it felt like dopamine was charging.
As I'm smiling like that, Regia walking beside me speaks up.
"Y-Young Master... what should we really do...?"
"Hmm?"
Green eyes making a tearful expression.
She always had a fragile atmosphere, but now she looked like she might really cry at any moment.
Her voice trembles pitifully.
"Because of me, Young Master has to duel Lady Beniti... This can't be."
"Oh my."
I thought her expression looked bad since earlier.
It seems our protagonist was worried about me.
Well.
Regia doesn't know my strength either.
Like other students, she must have been uncertain, unable to make rash judgments.
Then a bomb dropped in the midst of that.
-I didn't think you'd accept... You really don't know your place, it seems.
Emilia Beniti, counted as one of the top elites of this year's class.
She was a powerhouse who took third place in the year.
Her mental state must have broken at the part declaring an expulsion.
Since it was a situation where I had stepped up to help Regia, she would have thought it was her fault too.
"I'm, I'm sorry, I'm always, a nu-nuisance, because of me..."
She was an especially tender-hearted protagonist to begin with.
She was a child who could endure others hurting her, but couldn't forgive herself hurting others.
Her excessively kind personality remained the same as in the original work.
Tuk-.
A hand moving automatically.
It gently strokes the fluffy pink hair.
Like taming a frightened puppy.
Slowly, and affectionately.
"Uh, Y-Young Master...?"
I'm glad you're worried.
But a smiling face suits you better after all.
"I'm alright, Miss Regia."
"......"
"Rather, I'm extremely happy that the situation has become like this. I feel like bowing to Lady Beniti."
"Pardon...?"
"Huhu."
I playfully poke the girl's cheek.
Behind the soft touch, a warm temperature dyes my fingertips.
How could I make someone like this cry?
"Because an opportunity has arisen for me to show Miss Regia my splendid performance."
I have to surprise you.
To the point where you're so surprised even sad thoughts disappear completely.
'I'm looking forward to tomorrow.'
It was truly a day to look forward to.
***
The snake moved away along the corridor.
Steps advancing leisurely.
The girl watching the situation from a slight distance mutters as if unable to understand.
"A strange person."
Transparent blue eyes shining calmly.
Platinum blonde hair disheveled following the gentle wind.
Charlotte, who had been stuck in her window seat, tilts her head watching the disappearing back figure.
It was a sign of a question.
"I don't understand what he's thinking."
It was a purely thrown question.
Yuda Snakers.
What on earth is he plotting?
The boy's unusual behavior made Charlotte's interest deepen.
Thanks to that, the Imperial Princess had been thinking of him often lately.
"It's difficult."
He was a person hard to understand.
While clearly able to overwhelm everyone with his ability, deliberately letting himself be bullied by Lady Beniti.
Having witnessed Yuda's power once before.
For Charlotte, his reaction of meekly taking it was just confusing.
-Shall I help?
-If you're taking it from the young lady because you're worried about the Beniti family... I can step in and stop it.
Perhaps he's concerned about the name of the Beniti family?
She even asked if he needed help.
-If I say just one word, she won't be able to bully you anymore.
Although she's not usually the type to step forward in such matters, it was someone she had been keeping an eye on after all.
She had also received help in the class assignment test.
She was also a bit concerned about the pink-haired commoner who accompanies him.
But,
-It's alright, Your Highness.
The boy firmly refused.
-I already have something in mind.
-I'd appreciate it if you just quietly watched. It will surely be enjoyable.
Yuda answered with a big smile.
An expression fully puffed up with anticipation.
While harboring an ominous aura somewhere, on the other hand a smile pure like a child's.
It was an unfailingly clean color.
Charlotte decided to follow his words.
He must have his own thoughts.
Perhaps it was strange to worry about Yuda.
When he could take care of the entire academy with a single gesture, who was worrying about whom?
She shakes off idle thoughts.
"I'll watch a bit longer."
The snake's voice flickering.
Putting the tangled questions behind, the Little Prince quietly turns her steps.
***
The duel was realized the very next day without dragging it out.
The public training ground where we had the class assignment test last time.
Originally it was a space difficult to reserve due to tightly packed schedules, but Selena who appeared from somewhere resolved it.
It was perfect timing as if she had been waiting.
-As it's an incident that occurred in my charge class... I will prepare the venue.
-The Dean is scheduled to be the judge.
-All faculty members are also planning to observe this duel.
Not only that, but news that other faculty members would also attend.
It seemed the stage was getting bigger than I thought.
Moreover,
I didn't expect professors notorious for their heavy bottoms to come rushing in droves.
Normally, as the supervision of a duel is divided into roles of [Judge, Manager, Executor], it's common for the number of attending faculty not to exceed three.
This duel was an extremely exceptional case.
'Well... I understand roughly.'
These people saw me save Charlotte after all.
The power I showed then was only a tiny fraction... but it was output beyond the frame at a student level.
Overwhelming the Steel Princess.
Truly a one-of-a-kind talent.
They have the blood of educators flowing in them.
How could they not be interested when a brilliantly shining raw gem flickers?
Therefore, this duel was a kind of appraisal.
Measuring how great a value it contains.
'The professors are one thing, but...'
What surprised me was Selena.
It was too unexpected, you could say.
In the original work, the 'Drunkard' was never the type to take interest in such matters.
-I will be in charge of 'Execution' for this duel.
-I hope both of you will compete safely and fairly.
It felt unfamiliar for her to come out so actively.
What on earth is she plotting?
She seems lost in thought for a while, but soon shakes it off.
For now, the situation at hand came first after all.
"Whew... A scale I can't get used to no matter how many times I see it."
I stop walking after a short exclamation.
The center of the circular arena.
I leisurely look around.
Perhaps because news of the duel spread quite by word of mouth, despite it being a weekday, the spectator seats were full of students.
More than I thought.
"I'm nervous."
"If you're scared, you can forfeit even now."
A voice suddenly heard.
Looking straight ahead, blue roll-shaped hair is inevitably visible.
"Lady Beniti."
"Honestly, I thought you'd run away... I should at least praise your courage for facing a duel like this at least."
"Thank you."
"Ha."
Emilia looked particularly in a good mood.
An expression smiling unpleasantly.
The desire to break her spreads.
As I'm catching my breath with a gentlemanly mind, the girl gives an eye signal to the surroundings.
"Will you be alright?"
"Hmm?"
"You're about to be humiliated in front of so many people... If it were me, I'd die of shame."
"Huhu, is that so?"
That sounds quite exciting.
I desperately hold back laughter.
Suppressing the boiling instinct for trouble, I gather lies at my fingertips.
"It seems we're about to start."
A faculty member is seen walking from the opposite side.
Everyone's gaze focuses.
A stage right before the climax.
Two actors looking at each other.
I suddenly opened my mouth.
Before all the chaos about to unfold, one question was needed.
For your sake.
"By the way... may I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"I just want to know the reason why Lady is doing this."
"Reason...?"
"Yes, reason."
Emilia Beniti.
With what heart did you bully Regia?
With what thoughts do you despise those lacking, and with what pain do you crave recognition so much?
I ask about the terrible background.
'A vain person.'
What made you like this?
They say life is suffering the disease called adulthood, but what is the reason you've already forgotten your childhood?
What happened to your star?
"Praise is truly sweet."
Recognition received from others.
Being praised as the prettiest, best-dressed, richest, smartest.
But how does it feel to lose yourself by being buried in this?
The girl is always sharply on edge.
She tears down, pushes away, hurts others to receive praise.
But if you erase everyone from your life like that.
"I dare ask... the reason why Lady wants to stand at the top so badly."
A star left alone.
What use is the praise that pours down then?
"What a trivial question."
Emilia answers with an indifferent expression.
As if asking why I'm asking something so obvious.
Contempt is contained in her twisting mouth corners. It was clear mockery.
"Because I'm excellent."
A distorted view cannot see ahead.
It just blindly runs towards the goal.
That's the process of becoming an 'adult'.
"Unlike a fool like you who has no qualifications, I'm someone who rightfully should be standing in that position."
"So that is Lady's answer."
"So, forfeit now if you don't want to be broken uglily."
"My, my... That would be difficult."
There's someone who wants me to win.
Pink hair visible among the wide spectator seats.
The girl is praying with her hands clasped.
I laugh softly.
"Well, I'll do my best."
"How foolish."
"Huhu... Perhaps so."
The light chat ends.
The faculty member serving as the middle judge stands in the center, and soon began conducting the duel.
I calmly take my stance.
《Warriors, please standby in your positions.》
《The duel will proceed as a match. The duel ends when you subdue or incapacitate your opponent.》
《Additionally, the duel also ends if one side forfeits.》
The basic rules seem similar to the class assignment test.
Following the announcement ringing through the arena, I take my designated position.
The same goes for Emilia.
"Ready."
The middle judge recites the signal plainly.
A single coin glitters. It's to fairly signal the start of the duel.
The judge picks up the coin with his fingers.
And then.
Tak-!
He flicks it into the air.
A golden afterimage falling to the floor.
The coin spinning round and round soon loses momentum, then hits the ground with a loud noise.
Clang-!
At the same time, the figures of the two standing on stage disappear.
The shadows scattered like a handful of smoke reappear none other than at the center of the arena.
Two blades clash.
It was the first exchange colliding in an instant.
Clang-!
And so.
The duel begins.