Chapter 169 - The Duel and the Dog-Eared Swordswoman
I was walking toward the inn alone. It was located in the district ruled by the dog-eared House Wanland.
If I remembered correctly, the plan back at Marmie's mansion, at her suggestion, was for all of us to take a bath together. It should have been a moment of guaranteed bliss. But then Marmie started saying unsettling things about traveling with me… and marrying me. Well, she'd been saying it for a while, but it was the first time her parents had heard it.
Next thing I knew, Patricia, prompted by a glance from Augustus, landed a fist on my head, and Wake, signaled by Marina, threw me out of the mansion.
I wondered what I'd done, but I suppose her parents thought I'd done something.
Come to think of it, I did remember playing a prank on Mizuki-chan back when…
"Master!"
Fam came running up to join me.
"What about Mizuki and the others?"
"They're staying for the dinner party, and then they're spending the night."
It seemed I was the only one who got kicked out. Mizuki and the others were fine.
"I see. You should go back too, Fam."
"No, I'm staying with you, Master."
Her tone was stiffer than usual.
"What's wrong? Are you angry?"
"Marmie is the one at fault. You did nothing wrong, Master. But Patricia still hit you. I told them we should leave, but Mizuki and the others said they would stay."
They probably stayed to prevent a complete breakdown between me and House Starunion. I wanted to believe it wasn't just for the bath.
"Mizuki and the others stayed behind to help mend things between me and Marmie's parents."
"Is that so?"
"So you should go back too and make up with Marmie."
"…"
Fam fell silent, her head bowed.
"Fam, you need to cherish your female friends. With a face like yours, you could have as many male friends as you want. But making friends with other girls is difficult. Sometimes, you can't make them no matter how much you wish for it. I'm envious of the relationship you and Marmie have."
I wondered if my words, coming from someone with no friends of either gender, would have any impact. For a moment, the faces of Beers and Fang flickered in my mind, but I quickly banished them. I patted her on the head.
"And one more thing. The older you get, the harder it is to make friends."
"Master… I'll go back."
"Good girl."
Part of me wished she'd insisted on staying, but I gave her a light pat on the back. As she ran off under the reddening sky, her retreating figure seemed to shine a little.
The inn was right where Claire told me it would be. As usual, the ground floor was a tavern and dining hall, with lodgings on the upper floors. I'd heard that Shizuka, Lini, Fang, and the others were staying here. Yanan and her group had also mentioned this inn, so I thought I might run into them if they were having a meal. Just as I was about to enter, a dog-eared girl standing by the entrance approached me.
She had long hair and ears that stood straight up. Her slightly upturned eyes gave her a strong-willed look, but her features were refined and dignified. Her chest was perhaps a little smaller than Mizuki's. She wore the clothes of a town girl, but something about it felt unnatural. Maybe it was because she carried a katana, just like mine.
"I have been waiting for you."
That's what she said. I instinctively glanced behind me, but no one was there.
"For me?"
She nodded. I had no idea who she was.
"I hear the dog-eared girl in your company is looking for a girl named Samueim."
"…Are you, by any chance, Samueim?"
She neither confirmed nor denied it, just offered a faint smile. She seemed quite different from the impression I'd gotten from Fam. And she looked older than one of Fam's childhood friends ought to be. She seemed closer in age to Cecily or Aira than to Fam or Mizuki.
A dog becomes an adult in less than a year. Was it the same for the dog-eared race? Would Fam become an adult like her in just six months? I recalled that her own chest had grown recently.
As I was lost in these thoughts, she pulled off a glove and tossed it at me. It struck my chest and fell to the ground.
"Samueim, what is the meaning of this?"
"I request a duel. If you win, you may have me. If I win, I shall take your dog-eared girl."
Having her join us would be a fantastic opportunity, but I couldn't bring myself to use Fam as a bargaining chip. As I was about to refuse, a crowd of drunks from the inn spilled outside, cheering.
This whole scene felt familiar. Come to think of it, Fam had been part of a bet that time, too. Why do I always get accosted in front of inns? Do I just look like an easy mark?
"I heard you were bought as a slave by some adventurer. Do you even have the authority to make such a wager?"
In response, she rolled up her sleeve. There was no slave crest. I also noticed she wasn't wearing the usual light-blue clothes or carrying any items. That meant she served no one, and this duel was her own idea.
The customers who had come out of the inn were getting rowdy.
"Stupid woman. There's no way Mash is gonna lose! I'm putting my money on the guy!"
One of the customers was already trying to start a betting pool and make a quick buck. I looked to see who was egging on the duel and saw it was Beers. I instantly regretted almost counting him as a friend. Next to him were Fang and Doris. And Shizuka and Lini were there, too. Lini gave me a thumbs-up as a sign of encouragement.
Thankfully, Yanan and the other drakons were nowhere in sight.
"I don't want to fight. I don't think I can win."
"Is that so? Then I will be taking the dog-eared girl."
She didn't seem to be listening to a word I said.
"Gyahaha! Don't be so humble! There's no way you'd lose to a woman like that!"
"Grr…"
With Beers riling everyone up, it looked like I wouldn't be able to avoid this duel.
"Could we at least change locations?"
"Very well. Follow me."
She nodded at my suggestion and began to walk, leading the way.
"Hey, you're not gonna fight here?!"
Beers shouted, but of course, I ignored him. I followed her.
"Is Samueim famous in Migul?"
"I doubt it. I don't think many people know of her."
She answered. I'd asked because everyone except my acquaintances, like Beers, had looked at her with uniform surprise.
I thought the whole crowd would follow us, but no one did. Beers and his group were being held back by the other patrons.
She had a strange aura about her—a presence, or maybe it was dignity. There was something in her demeanor that seemed to command obedience.
Since she was Samueim, I had no choice but to follow, but I also felt myself being drawn along by whatever it was she possessed, trailing in her wake.
The sun had set, and night had begun to fall. The streets were empty. With no knowledge of the area, I had no idea where she was taking me.
I hadn't wanted Beers to come, but I wished someone else had. I wanted someone to mediate.
Eventually, we arrived at an oval-shaped plaza. It was a training ground with packed-earth flooring. A crescent moon hung in the sky, casting a pale, bluish light over the area.
"A chariot training ground…"
She was talking about the horse-drawn vehicles.
"Indeed. Though chariots haven't been used here for a very long time. The city's army no longer possesses them," she replied.
"Well then. Shall we begin?"
She tapped the hilt of her katana and loosened the blade in its scabbard. The embroidery on the hilt and the make of the guard were closer to a true Japanese sword than my own.
She rested a hand on the hilt and slowly lowered her stance.
"I don't want to fight."
I said, even though it was far too late.
"Then you will simply be cut down where you stand," she replied.
"Then could we at least change the prize?"
"Now that you have heard the name Samueim, your demand will not change. Nor will mine."
"How about we use wooden swords, then?"
She didn't answer that one.
Resigned, I drew my sword and took a stance. She pressed the mouth of her scabbard with her left thumb, pushing the blade slightly forward.
"A quick-draw stance…"
"So you do know of it. As expected of an otherworld hero."
She smiled, then unleashed a sharp killing intent.
Something about her felt wrong. Samueim was supposed to be a village girl, just like Fam. Yet here she was, with this perfectly composed stance. Fam's growth rate was accelerated by my special skill, which boosts experience gain. It had been less than a year since this girl was supposedly kidnapped. Could she really have improved this much in such a short time?
Was she really Samueim?
For a while, we faced each other, weapons at the ready.
I couldn't gauge the distance.
I didn't know the length of her weapon, so I couldn't tell where her reach ended.
If I approached carelessly, she would cut me down in a single stroke.
A drop of sweat trickled down my back.
If I rushed, I would lose. But it was also true that we couldn't stay like this forever.
I could read her swordsmanship. From that stance, she could only unleash two attacks: a reverse diagonal upward slash or a horizontal one. And if she had the same profession as Fam, she could use the vacuum-blade skill, Kikuichimonji. She might use it if I tried to carelessly close the distance.
If I could parry that, I had a chance of winning.
I dug my toes into the earth, pulling myself forward and closing the distance ever so slightly.
That instant, with a piercing cry, her body moved. A white blade danced through the air.
I moved my katana to intercept her predicted path, but a fierce impact sent it flying back.
After her reverse diagonal slash, she raised her sword high above her head and closed in on me.
I caught the descending blade with my own, a hair's breadth from my skin. Strands of my hair drifted down, and blood trickled from my forehead.
I tried to back away to create distance, but she wouldn't allow it, stepping in and delivering a second and third strike. The slashes were so fast I could barely follow them with my eyes. It was a ferocious assault, meant to overpower an enemy with sheer force. To put it bluntly, her swings were wide, but her form was flawless.
I weathered the storm, thinking of the complex, weakness-targeting attacks of someone like Avea. I was cut several more times, blood flowing just as it had from my forehead.
I could block her attacks, but if this continued, I would only be pushed into a corner.
Timing my move with her next strike, I stopped retreating and stepped forward to halt her attack.
A harsh metallic clang echoed as our blades locked.
"I did not expect you to be able to block my sword completely."
She smiled, sounding just like Avea.
"Shut up."
I snarled.
She was about half a head shorter than me. I tried to use our height and weight difference to push her back, but her body didn't budge an inch. Her legs and core were impossibly strong for her frame.
I aimed a kick at her legs to sweep them, but she leaped back to dodge, swinging her sword down at my wrist.
I parried the blow and swung my own blade at her head.
Another violent clang of metal reverberated.
My sword, which had clashed with hers as she swung it upwards, had broken at the hilt.
The tip spun through the air before embedding itself in the ground.
"…!"
Clutching the handle of my now-pointless sword, I hastily jumped back. She didn't pursue. I reached for my short sword, then stopped.
No other blade would stand a chance against her. My only remaining option was to summon Racshell. Facing her swordsmanship, I had no time to hesitate.
Just as I was about to shout, she held up a hand to stop me.
"Wait. Are you planning to summon a goddess?"
"You know about that? Yes, I am."
"What are the chances that I could cut you and Racshell-sama down before she fully descends?"
She asked me a question that she had no business asking an enemy, and that I had no obligation to answer.
"If you can break through her charm effect."
"Can you truly summon her? And is it really Racshell-sama?"
"As thanks for breaking my sword, I'll summon her for you right now. You can see for yourself."
"I understand. I surrender."
As if our fierce battle had been a lie, she sheathed her sword and readily admitted defeat.
I pulled the broken tip of my blade from the ground. All things with form must one day break.
Still, an overwhelming sense of loss washed over me. This blade had saved me from countless predicaments. More than anything, it was a gift from Aidan. When I held this sword, I felt like Aidan himself was lending me his strength.
It would never be the same again. But I couldn't bring myself to throw it away, so I put it in my storage.
"I am sorry. I knew that last strike was dangerous. It may not be much of an apology, but I would like you to accept this sword."
Saying so, she offered me her own katana.
"No, that's yours. I can't accept it."
"What are you saying? As we agreed, I am now yours. That is why I want you to have this sword. I have others."
She insisted, pressing the sword into my hands.
I returned to the inn with her in tow.
Beers and the others were waiting.
"How'd it go?" he asked in a low voice, his brow furrowed. Was he actually worried about me?
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Doris came over and cast a healing spell on me.
"So, did you win?" Fang asked.
"Yeah… somehow."
At my words, Beers threw his fist in the air.
"Hya-ha! The bet's mine! I win!"
He started collecting money from the surrounding patrons. I was furious with myself for even considering him a friend for a single second, so out of spite, I snatched a handful of the money he'd collected.
With that money, I ordered food and ale for myself and the girl.
Shizuka and Lini came over. Beers and the others seemed to be celebrating with the other customers.
"This is Samueim. I'll have her meet Fam tomorrow."
The two of them exchanged complicated looks.
"Are you gonna do it with her?"
Lini's question made me spit out my ale.
"Shizuka! Stop teaching Lini weird things!"
"What? That's why you brought her back to the inn, isn't it?"
Shizuka's point made me snap back to reality.
"Now that you mention it, I did just bring her back on impulse."
I glanced over at Samueim.
"It's alright. I came here with that intention. I am prepared."
She blushed and averted her gaze. We had met barely an hour ago. Was she serious?
Without thinking, I reached out and cupped her breast. It was firm yet soft—a good breast. I made sure to locate the small nub and coax it to attention.
"Ngh, khu…"
She let out a sweet moan but showed no sign of resistance. She seemed serious. Her face was bright red as she looked down. She seemed innocent, but I wondered if she had any experience with this sort of thing.
Her bashful appearance was incredibly cute. What happened to the killing intent she'd directed at me just moments ago? Was she just that desperate to get Fam back? But if so, she had surrendered the moment I tried to use my special skill. It felt more like I had been tested.
Fam's face flashed through my mind. Even Marmie, who was in an impossible situation, had a strong aversion to the idea of being my lover. If Fam heard that I'd slept with Samueim, she might stop speaking to me altogether.
"Um… shouldn't we do this in our room… nnngh…"
She said, letting out a sweet breath.
"Sorry. But it's weird to leave just one of them standing…"
With that, I made the other nipple stand at attention before pulling my arm back.
Then I noticed Shizuka and Lini staring at me with cold eyes.
"Wh-What?"
"Why isn't it me! Seriously, please, let's just have sex already!"
"N-Not today. I'm not sleeping with Samueim!"
My declaration made Samueim look surprised.
"Why…"
"So you can meet Fam. Do you have any idea how much she's worried about you? Weren't you worried too?"
"I…"
She faltered at my words.
Something still felt off. Was she really Samueim?
"Anyway, we'll do this after Fam and Samueim meet tomorrow."
"So you're not doing it tonight?" Shizuka pressed.
"…I don't think so. Probably."
I wiggled my fingertips, savoring the lingering sensation of her breast on my palm.
"Then I'm sleeping in your room tonight, Mash."
"Lini sleep with Mash too!"
Lini chimed in after Shizuka's declaration.
Thank you for reading. To everyone who has liked, bookmarked, and rated this story, your support is a great encouragement. Thank you always for pointing out typos. It's a huge help.
Please also check out "And so, the Dog-Eared Man Became Emperor," which I'm writing on Shōsetsuka ni Narō. I'm updating it daily at 7 PM until July 14th. It's 31 chapters in total. Looking back, I should have made him carry a cute girl instead of an old man.