For Sale. Fallen Lady. Never Used. - Chapter 108: Duel (4)

“Tempest Burn.”

As I invoked the spell, the spear shot forward and struck right in front of Frank, unleashing its contained heat all at once.

Whoosh!!

It was a combination of the intensely hot Flare, focused solely on temperature, and the spreading properties of Wind Blast.

Actually, this was just a weaker version of the Prominence Flare Carla once used.

Yet, it was still powerful enough to surpass the limits of lower-grade magic, as evidenced by the flames engulfing the entire arena.

I deliberately avoided hitting him directly, fearing it might kill him… Was this what they called a third-year’s strength?

He managed to block it, though not easily.

Frank gritted his teeth, pouring his mana into the shield, resisting the heat that seemed capable of melting it.

“Ugh!”

The way he quickly fixed his shield with magic whenever it took damage seemed painful, but it was stable.

He might be able to hold it off like this, but…

“Do you think I’m just playing around?”

Though the arena was engulfed in my threatening magic, Tempest Burn was my spell.

So I wouldn’t be harmed by my own magic.

Thud.

I stepped forcefully, the ground beneath me thumping.

I couldn’t cast other spells while maintaining the fire, but that didn’t matter.

Frank was too focused on his shield to move.

The distance closed rapidly, thanks to the lingering effects of Haste.

Woong.

The closer I got to him, the stronger the dagger’s humming became.

As if it were crying out to see the blood of a cultist right away.

…Was this thing cursed?

Thinking this, I struck Frank’s shield.

Crack.

There was a slight resistance.

But the shield, already strained by the flames, couldn’t withstand the impact of my accelerated weight.

Cracks starting from the sword’s tip quickly spread across the shield.

Crash!

Finally, it shattered like glass, and my dagger pierced through, hitting Frank’s shoulder.

“Cough!”

His face contorted in pain, but there was also a look of relief, as if he thought I had deliberately missed because I knew he was a cultist.

But that wasn’t the case.

He opened his mouth wide, pretending to bite down on something, perhaps for a counterattack.

But he wouldn’t be closing his mouth or activating Void Devourer at close range.

Flash.

A burst of light from the dagger tore through him.

“…!!”

Light was a cultist’s nemesis.

Overwhelmed by an intense pain stronger than ever, all Frank could do was gasp with his jaw hanging open.

I didn’t miss the opportunity and quickly struck.

Strike! Strike! Strike!

“Aaaaak!!!”

The screams of the guy, who was stabbed in the opposite shoulder and both thighs, resonated loudly.

It seemed like he was letting out all the screams he couldn’t before at once.

Naturally, this was due to the additional hit from the shining lion’s dagger, which scorched him with light.

Eventually, unable to withstand it, I grabbed Frank, who slumped down.

Shing.

The surroundings suddenly became quiet.

Some frowned at my seemingly brutal action during the duel.

While others were puzzled by Frank, who seemed slightly stabbed but in excruciating pain.

From left to right. After surveying the audience carefully, I raised the blood-stained dagger and shouted.

“Church of Righteous Radiance! Is there a priest of the Church of Righteous Radiance here?”

It was an unexpected shout, but surprisingly, someone immediately responded.

It was Helena, standing up with her mouth agape in the front row.

“I am here, brother! Why do you seek a daughter of Righteous Radiance?”

“Priestess Helena, perfect timing. You would know what this dagger is, wouldn’t you?”

Was it because the dagger had just made an additional hit? Or because it was stained with the blood of a cultist?

Helena nodded her head in a daze, looking at the faint glow rising from the shining lion’s dagger.

“Of course! Of course, brother! It’s a relic of our church, made from the tooth of Righteous Radiance himself! It was bestowed only on the heroes recognized by our Lord during the War of Gods!”

“You are well-informed. Then you must also know about this dagger’s abilities.”

“Yes. Most were lost during the war… But it’s famous because our Lord himself carved it from his body.”

“Would you mind explaining its effects to everyone here?”

“It would be my honor!”

Excited, Helena began explaining the effects of the shining lion’s dagger in detail.

As excited priests often do, her explanation was a bit lengthy and exaggerated at times…

But she was accurately describing what I had seen on the status screen. And then…

“…Thus, it’s usually strong, but it regains its original power against cultists… huh?”

She came to the conclusion I intended to reveal.

Helena blinked her sun-like golden eyes slowly, alternating her gaze between the dagger and Frank.

Then she tilted her head in confusion.

“Cultist…?”

Pleased with the expected reaction, I demonstrated.

“Yes. As a divine object made by Righteous Radiance himself, this dagger can fully exert its power in front of a cultist… Like this.”

Stab.

“Aaaak!!”

Frank writhed in agony from the light penetrating his body, even though I only slightly pricked his hand.

But one demonstration wouldn’t be enough for proof.

Stab. Stab. Stab.

Sparkle. Sparkle. Sparkle.

“Kak! Kyaaak! Krrr…!”

With each stab, the glow surged. Frank writhed excessively in agony.

Helena’s expression gradually twisted into something sinister.

“Cultist…!”

It was the same word, yet it felt different.

I nodded in agreement to Helena’s voice, heavy with deep anger.

“Exactly. It might just be Frank’s bad luck, but it’s more plausible that he’s a cultist. In fact, I even received an attack suspected to be from an Evil God’s power during the duel.”

I briefly explained how I felt a bad sensation and dodged it, hearing a chewing sound behind me.

Then I threw away the clump of hair in my hand.

Plop.

Frank collapsed, writhing helplessly.

Looking down at him, I produced a cold voice.

Lowly, yet loud enough for everyone here to hear.

“I hereby accuse Frank Miller of being a cultist! Additionally, as the winner, I request an investigation on Felop for choosing Frank as the champion!”

“What?! No! I didn’t know… I really didn’t know!”

Felop, bewildered by the turn of events, frantically waved his hands, but…

He was only met with sharp hostility.

Sensing his doom, Felop started to step back hesitantly.

However, someone grabbed him by the nape to stop him.

Thud.

“Wait a minute. Where do you think you’re going? Huh?”

Red hair and a seductive figure, but everything was overshadowed by her playful demeanor.

“Have a little chat with the pretty professor, student!”

Iona smiled, her sharp fangs glistening.

A typically careless smile.

Yet, there was an unmistakable chill of refusal in it.

Iona’s hatred for heretics was famously known to all.

Felop might just be a spoiled brat, but it was satisfying to see his pale, frightened face.

Giggling, the professor from the Divinity Department, who was officiating the duel, finally declared,

“The winner of this duel is Yandel, first-year of the Magic Department! Also, the accusation against Frank Miller and the requested investigation of Felop Brondei are hereby recognized in the name of the Duel Committee!”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. We’re sorry for not noticing, even when it was right in front of us. However, given the nature of this matter, we need your cooperation…”

“Do you need the power of the relic? I’ll cooperate as much as needed.”

The old professor was as sensitive to cult matters as a priest should be.

This worked out for me.

I could use this chance to expose the dangers of the Boiling Silence Church.

Nodding in gratitude to Iona and the old professor, I descended from the arena.

Heading towards the three women waiting for me.

Carla clapped like a seal with her usual bright smile.

Elisha was proud of the elemental magic she created.

And Faye was clueless about the situation, having had no prior explanation and being unaware of my abilities.

I lightly kissed Carla and, still awkward with public displays of affection, gently patted Elisha on the back.

Finally, I shrugged my shoulders teasingly at the still-confused Faye.

“You saw that? If anyone bothers Senior Faye again, just tell me. I’ll take care of them.”

Faye’s dazed face gradually began to move.

“Yes… I’ll always remember that you’re on my side, Junior.”

She smiled happily, pulling up the corners of her mouth.

It was the complete opposite of the expression I saw in that dark alley a few days ago.

Yes. That’s enough.