Chapter 57
“W-who the hell are you...?!?!”
Guy spun toward the intruder in anger, but the moment he saw him, he was at a loss for words.
“Sounds interesting. Count me in.”
“...”
The man with the insolent, irreverent air was――Roger-san, leader of 'Meteor Shower.'
Of course, Guy and the others knew of Roger-san, an A-rank adventurer.
Faced with the sudden appearance of such a big name, Guy and the others were bewildered.
Roger-san continued, addressing Guy, who was still trying to process what was happening.
“I’ll act as the witness. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
Roger-san fixed Guy with a piercing stare.
“Y-yeah...”
Intimidated, Guy nodded without giving it much thought.
“What about you, Rento?”
“Yes, of course.”
I nodded as if it were only natural.
Roger-san was acting as though he’d just happened to be there, but this was all a charade.
The favor I’d asked of Roger-san and the others when we went drinking the other day――was for him to act as witness to the duel.
In other words, everything was going according to my――more precisely, MP’s and my――script.
Roger-san asked:
“So, what are you each putting on the line?”
Guy had finally calmed down, and now he was glaring at me.
“If I win, you stop draining us of our magic.”
“Draining...? I’m just collecting what I’m owed.”
“Quit yapping! Enough with the excuses. Just shut up and agree!”
“Yeah, exactly!”
“That’s right!”
“Fine. That works.”
At my words, the three of them wore twisted smiles.
They were smiles that distilled all the ugliness of humanity.
“And what are you putting up, Rento?”
“If I win, you stay away from me and my party members from now on.”
The terms were nowhere near an even exchange.
But that was fine.
What I really wanted wasn’t the reward for winning the bet.
I could take most things with my Skills.
I could take those things from them later, slowly tightening the noose around their necks.
In this duel, what I’d take from them was their pride.
I was going to beat them soundly in front of everyone.
This was the first step in my revenge against the people who’d made a fool of me time and again.
“Are you okay with that?”
“Anything goes. I’m gonna win anyway.”
At Roger-san’s question, Guy replied with a confident grin.
He was certain there was no way I could win.
And he was right.
Until a little while ago.
But――it was already too late.
So I continued, radiating confidence too.
“Besides, I don’t want to hear the other two whining afterward. I don’t mind if it’s three against one, so come at me together.”
“What?! Don’t you dare look down on me!”
“Don’t you dare mess with me!”
“You sure are cheeky for someone like you, Rento!”
“All right, then. Let’s head to the training grounds. Guild receptionist, take care of the paperwork.”
“Y-yes!”
When Roger-san started walking, the adventurers who’d been watching made way for him.
“Hey, they’re having a duel.”
“Roger of 'Meteor Shower' is acting as the witness.”
“This is a big deal, huh?”
“Now that I look closer, isn’t that the 'Sky-Cleaving Sword'?”
“You’re right. I’ve seen them before.”
“Are they fighting among themselves?”
“One of them’s been in this town for a little while now.”
“Yeah, I recognize him too.”
“Isn’t he the guy from that decoy incident?”
“He was drinking with Roger-san and Namilia-san the other day.”
“Huh, sounds like it’ll be interesting.”
While the spectators chatted as they pleased, I followed Roger-san.
Guy and the others followed too, grumbling.
And adventurers from throughout the guild streamed after us.
Rinka was mixed in among them, too.
――Good. Just as planned.
That was why I’d asked Roger-san to act as witness.
Though the 'Sky-Cleaving Sword' had made a name for itself, they’d been away from this town for more than two years.
Many people didn’t know us.
If it had just been a duel between us, it wouldn’t have drawn this much attention.
But bringing Roger-san into it changed things.
Roger-san was the leader of 'Meteor Shower,' the strongest party in town, and a major figure everyone knew.
A duel with Roger-san acting as witness was bound to draw everyone’s attention.
And so, the spectators would trail after us――.