For Sale. Fallen Lady. Never Used. - Chapter 106: Duel (2)

A few days after the duel was announced. The day of the duel finally arrived.

The rumors about me that were sweeping through the academy hadn’t died down before they were fueled by the new fire of the duel.

“Wow. A first-year challenging second and third-year seniors in a row?”

“Idiot! He’s not an ordinary freshman! One side will send a proxy, so those from other classes might participate too.”

“Really? Will we witness the skills of the one who took down the archbishop today?”

“Maybe. But don’t get your hopes up. He didn’t do it alone, remember?”

Spectators filled the sparring arena provided by the academy.

Those who couldn’t enter the arena were watching through the floating crystals and summoned beasts that were seen in the air.

I thought a lot of people would come.

…But not to this extent.

Wasn’t this too much, though?

As I looked at the audience with mixed feelings, Carla offered me a cookie.

“Would you like one, Master? Ah~”

“Ah~”

I reflexively took a bite, savoring the buttery flavor and the rich sweetness of the hidden chocolate.

“What’s this? It’s really good.”

“Hehe. Right? I bought these cookies in the market last time.”

“You bought them from the shop you often visited, right? I see why it’s your favorite.”

“Exactly, right? I was so amazed that I even tried making them myself.”

“Oh… A cookie made by a former lady. Now, that’s interesting.”

A man’s dream was to eat something his woman made, right?

I momentarily imagined Carla with an apron and oven mitts.

For some reason, she started wearing nothing but an apron, and I couldn’t help but smile warmly.

Seeing my expression, Elisha snorted and opened her fan, covering her mouth.

“Oh, my? Are you talking about the cookies you burned black last vacation?”

“Ugh…”

“Yandel. Are you curious about Carla’s cookies? Just burn anything, and you’ll get a similar taste.”

“Elisha! You said they were tasty!”

“Hmph! Did I really eat them because they were tasty? I lied out of kindness because you made them.”

“What? Hmph! I also found the tea you brewed tasteless!”

“Don’t lie, Carla. Elven tea is a luxury even in other countries because it’s unavailable anywhere else!”

“That was blended for other races! To me, tea blended for elves’ sensitive senses tastes bland!”

“Ah… But you said you liked the fragrance back then!”

“Elisha, you also said my cookies were tasty!”

“Aaah!”

“Aaah!”

Carla began to pinch Elisha mercilessly, and Elisha retaliated in kind.

Did they always invite each other over for cookies and tea?

I wasn’t sure if they were good friends or not.

Well… they used to be close, but their relationship turned sour due to excessive competition.

This side of Elisha, which couldn’t be seen in the game, and Carla, who clung to me as a slave, felt different.

Such scenes could only be seen when they were together.

As I leisurely watched Carla and Elisha’s crumb-scattering fight, someone tapped my hand.

“Junior, Junior. Is it okay to be so relaxed? The duel starts in 10 minutes.”

“What’s the problem? I’ve already finished all the necessary preparations. Now, it’s just about relaxing to unleash my full power during the duel.”

“But you seem too relaxed…”

Faye looked at me, tilting her head, wondering if this was right. However, she soon grabbed my hand firmly with a serious expression.

Was it because she’s short? Her hands were too small.

“Hey, Junior.”

“What is it, Senior Faye?”

“Why are you doing so much for me?”

“What?”

What was she talking about?

Faye continued with her head hung low, responding to my confusion.

“You know it, right? I was successful only recently, but my goals are higher… And no one thinks I can achieve them.”

“Well… Even Elisha initially thought of mass-producing low-grade weapons.”

No one believed Faye could create master-level weapons through alchemy.

“Right. So, you’re the only one who gives me a huge budget and guarantees the research I want to do, right?”

Except for one person. Me.

Faye then timidly raised her head.

Her hair was still messy. Her black eyes, peeking through her long bangs, were trembling ceaselessly, as if she were anxious.

“So, in a way… I am practically dependent on you. You didn’t have to intervene personally.”

“I told you before, right? It’s also a warning for me.”

“Hmm. Then why did you rush over, abandoning the recording crystal, when I got slapped in the alley?”

“What?”

“If you had just stayed put, you could’ve handled it much cleaner…”

“Oh. I was wondering where this was going. Now I understand.”

I smirked and gently pinched both of Faye’s cheeks.

“Ooh?”

Faye pouted like a duck, and I chuckled.

“Are you worried about what Felop said? That no one would protect you?”

“That’s…”

“Really, that’s such a troublesome personality. There’s no need to beat around the bush, especially right before a duel.”

“Sorry.”

“No need to apologize… I’ll make it crystal clear this time. Remember it well.”

I spoke while playfully pinching Faye’s cheeks.

“Your protector is me. Any insult towards you is an insult to me, and if you get hit, it’s as if I got hit.”

“……”

“I’m on your side.”

“…Ah.”

“So, watch carefully. See what happens to someone who dares to mess with… my person.”

“Okay… I’ll watch closely without missing anything.”

After giving a light smile to the somewhat dazed Faye, I let go of her hand.

Then, I heard a faint whisper from behind.

“Elisha, Elisha. Look at that. The Master is creating a slave without a slave mark!”

“A slave to capital? Or a slave to affection? It seems like it’s not far off either way.”

“It’s not the time to be so relaxed. Shouldn’t we also feel a sense of crisis and show something to the Master?”

“…I agree this time. Honestly, having a big chest is cheating.”

Weren’t you two fighting just a moment ago? Why were you suddenly getting along?

As I was contemplating what to do with the blushing and stammering Faye…

Dang. Dang. Dang.

The massive bell rang throughout the academy. It was the sound announcing the hour.

Simultaneously, it signaled the start of today’s duel.

The women, who were just playing around and blushing, instantly tensed up.

I also tensed up.

“Let’s go.”

To put an end to this.

“Woahhhhh!!”

As I stepped into the sparring arena, cheers echoed from all sides.

I felt like a gladiator in an arena.

I stopped and glanced around, spotting familiar, dark red hair.

Why was Professor Iona here?

I chuckled and waved at her lightly.

Then Iona, giggling and hopping, a 300-year-old Lord-level vampire… Truly majestic…

I smirked, pulling out a staff and a glowing lion dagger from my inventory.

I was now accustomed to this fighting style.

My body, initially stiff, loosened up flexibly, and my mind became crystal clear.

As I waited, ready to fight at any moment, soon, two figures ascended into the arena from the opposite side.

One was Felop, and the other was his champion…

“Huh?”

Why was he here?

Neatly, or rather plainly, combed brown hair.

Blurry features, a low presence, and barely audible breathing.

My second duel opponent, Frank Miller, a follower of the Boiling Silence, was representing Felop.

“Kek… Did you think I’d bring some vulgar commoner from the Knight Department? Too bad. Your opponent is a magician! It’s Senior Frank, whom you pointed out!”

“Oh…”

I understood why Felop was so smug.

Until dual casting became possible, magicians were extremely vulnerable in one-on-one fights against knights.

Hence, a novice magician needed thorough preparation to face a knight.

And I came fully equipped with armor, potions, and magical tools, all specialized for fighting knights.

Felop must think he outsmarted me by rendering all these preparations useless.

But…

Glowing Lion Dagger

Description: A pure white dagger with a roaring lion carved into the pommel.

The blade, more bone-like than metal, occasionally emits a warm light.

The sacred radiance around the dagger will make it even sharper than usual.

…And the light shines brightest in the dark.

10% chance to add light attribute damage on attack.

Critical damage increased by 30%.

Against a cultist, both additional and critical hit chances are fixed at 100%.