Chapter 190 - The Council of Four Regent Houses and the Duel
"Remove the manacles from Hero-dono and Marianne-dono."
Augustus said. At his word, the guards removed our restraints.
In stark contrast to the heated Seime, the air in the council chamber was frigid. In fact, among the Four Regent Houses, only Augustus Starunion of the elves, who was leading the proceedings, and Seime Wanland of the dog-eared, who was raising his voice in a bid to bring about my and Marianne's downfall, had spoken at all. The human, Ishtvan Airally, and the dwarf, Katalina Skynorth, hadn't uttered a single word.
I couldn't help but be surprised at how easily Seime had fallen into the trap. It made me wonder what the point of this council had been in the first place. And now, he was pointing a finger at me, challenging me to a duel.
"Do you want to become an enemy of the gods? Even if I lose to you, the otherworldly hero who appears in a hundred years will annihilate your descendants."
I figured a random threat would make him back down, but while his finger trembled, he showed no signs of withdrawing the challenge.
Augustus cleared his throat.
"Seime-dono, on what grounds do you issue this challenge? If it is simply because you were shamed here, then we have no intention of indulging this foolish spectacle any further."
"Wait! This man destroyed the great cathedral and carried on an illicit affair with the head of our House Wanland!"
Seime answered.
"First of all, I have not had an 'illicit affair.' I am in love with Mash-sama. We intend to be married."
Marianne said. Was she trying to throw me a lifeline? I was impressed she could say something like that with a straight face, without a hint of a blush, in a situation like this. However, her future position was at stake, and I wanted to direct any resentment my way. I wished she had stayed quiet.
"Have I not told you that you are engaged to my son?"
"I am the head of House Wanland. I will decide matters concerning the future of my house. If you have a complaint, I will be the one to answer it."
Just as Marianne spoke, the sound of a chair scraping echoed through the room. Ishtvan had stood up.
"How absurd. I'm leaving."
With that, he and the man standing behind him started walking towards the door.
"Ishtvan-sama, I apologize for this unsightly display. I will come to offer my apologies at a later time."
At Marianne's words, Ishtvan gave a slight dip of his chin.
"If you're going to claim the title of head and sit there, then have the resolve to unite your house. And next time, let us meet when you are properly dressed."
He left with those parting words. Seeing this, Katalina also stood up.
"Katalina-sama…"
Just as Marianne murmured his name, a knight entered the room carrying her katana and short sword. She accepted them and handed them to her attendant. Katalina watched this exchange, then turned his gaze to Augustus.
"Did you not say the Hero-dono was the partner of your daughter, Augustus-dono?"
"Yes, that is true. However, he is a free man. And I am also looking after the young lady he is engaged to."
Augustus said, his expression as if he’d bitten into a bitter bug. Katalina stroked his beard as he watched him.
"An elf?"
"No, she is of the Rabbit-kin."
Katalina's eyes widened slightly.
"That is a rarity."
I couldn't tell if he was referring to an elf looking after a Rabbit-kin, or my engagement to one. Then he looked at me.
"You said you came from Richelle? Is Marianne-dono's short sword not yours?"
"Ah, she took it from me. I received this katana in exchange."
I took Marianne's katana out of my storage.
"Did you not have a matching katana forged for that short sword?"
"I did, but it broke."
I took out Aidan's katana as well. Katalina held out his hand, so I passed it to him.
He took the sword, drew it slightly, and stared intently at the blade. Then he sheathed it.
"Allow me to hold onto this sword."
"No. I treated it poorly and it broke, but it's important to me. I can't give it to anyone."
"Then all the more reason for me to take it. I will not do anything ill with it."
I'd clashed with the elves, clashed with the church, and clashed with the dog-eared. And now, a connection with the dwarves was forming. I had a very bad feeling about this.
"…Hmph. In that case, you must come to my home next. I will make the arrangements. I would like you to meet my granddaughter."
I gave him a vague nod. He said granddaughter, but he didn't look that old. Then again, dwarves were said to live for two hundred years. He could easily be over a hundred. Was he planning to set me up with his granddaughter? Come to think of it, I'd never met a female dwarf. I was curious, but I was confident I would faint if a woman with a face like his appeared.
Seime stood in Katalina's path as he tried to leave, just as Ishtvan had.
"Wait! This man obliterated the great cathedral! We must pass judgment on him!"
"Do you wish for this city to end up like the cathedral? This matter is for the church to take responsibility for. We will act if they fail to respond, but let me make it clear that I have no intention of confronting the Hero-dono."
I hadn't felt any hostility from him from the start, but I wondered what had softened his stance. Was it Marianne's presence?
Katalina pushed past Seime and walked out of the room.
All that remained were myself, Marianne, Augustus, and Seime.
"Guess I'll be going home too…"
I avoided Seime's gaze and headed for the door, muttering as if to myself. I could leave the rest to Augustus. He would know how to resolve a situation like this. He wouldn't treat Marianne poorly, either.
"Wait."
The word was thrown at my back. It was Seime.
"Our duel remains."
"I have no reason to accept."
I couldn't use Goddess Summon right now. I wanted to avoid any unnecessary fights.
"It's about Marianne. This woman was supposed to be my son's bride. You will fight my son."
"What? You decide everything for your son, from his bride to his duel opponents?"
So this was the man Marianne had told me about—the one who was nineteen but still couldn't speak properly, was prone to tantrums, violent, and confined to his estate. If I won, Seime would be rid of a nuisance. If I lost, he could force Marianne to marry the boy and crush both of us. It was a cowardly move, not fighting himself. A petty man indeed.
"No! In that case, I will fight in Mash's place!"
Marianne shot to her feet and shouted. Her eyes were wide, and I could see intense anxiety in them. She knew my skill with a sword. She thought I would lose. Seeing that look on her face made it even harder to back down. If I avoided the fight and ran, they'd say I was a coward, and if he sicced that man on her, it would be a disaster.
"…I accept the challenge. If your side wins, Marianne becomes that man's bride. Is that right?"
Seime nodded at my words.
"Alright. Then if I win, Seime, you will cut your belly open."
The Wanland estate was built similarly to the Starunion estate, though this building had an older, more robust and functional feel to it. It was a tall, rectangular structure built around a central courtyard. Part of the courtyard served as a training ground, its earth packed hard and flat. In the center of that ground stood Augustus and Katalina, who had apparently returned upon hearing we were going to duel. Flanking them were myself and Marianne on one side, and Seime and the man who must be his son by a concubine on the other. A troop of dog-eared knights surrounded the area, and that bearded man from before was glaring at me.
"When this is over, I'd like to buy them a drink. Think they'll be friendly?"
"More importantly…"
I followed Marianne's gaze. The man standing next to Seime. He had to be well over two meters tall. He looked to have twice my physique—a mountain of flesh. In his hands, he held a metal club that was nearly as tall as I was. His appearance reminded me of the Hekatonkheires I fought in the dungeon in Richelle.
From beneath his matted hair, which looked like it hadn't been cared for in years, his drooping ears were visible. From between the strands of his hair, I saw dark eyes that seemed to pull you into an abyss. He had a flattened nose, thick lips, and from his open mouth, a red tongue was visible.
He hardly looked human.
"So, Marianne, that's the kind of guy you're into…"
"I am not! It was decided without my consent!"
She said, then stared intently at my face.
"That said, if you were to ask if you are my type, I would have to say no. But having shared a bed, I find myself almost under the illusion that your face is my type."
"Hey, I have feelings too, you know! I'll never forgive you for that!"
"…More importantly, are you really going to be okay?"
There was no way I'd be okay, but I couldn't say that. My hand gripping Marianne's katana was slick with sweat.
"Maira and Aira are…"
"I sent for them, but not yet… Aira-san should be at the Starunion home, so I think she'll be here soon, but Maira-san is at the church in the House Airally district, so it might take a little longer."
As I scanned the faces of the spectating knights, I was startled to see Fam and Marmie.
"Fam came here early this morning, apparently. Marmie came with Augustus-sama."
I wanted to talk to them, but while they weren't captured, they were surrounded by knights, unable to move. They both stared at me in silence. Marmie looked like she wasn't thinking about anything, but Fam had the face she makes when she has a complaint for me. Now I was worried that Mizuki was missing. I hoped nothing had happened to her.
As I was thinking about this, Augustus cleared his throat and looked around.
"Shall we begin?"
At his words, everyone except for him—the witness—and myself and Seime's son left the field. I clad myself in the silver breastplate I received from the king of Heilong and took the katana from Marianne in hand.
There was no time to think of a strategy. I didn't know my opponent's strength. I didn't even know his name.
"What's your name?"
I asked, but the only reply was heavy breathing. Saliva dripped from his mouth. To say he couldn't speak well and was prone to violent tantrums was a massive understatement. He was nothing short of a monster.
"His name is Berard Wanland."
Augustus answered for the silent man. Can a concubine's child receive the Wanland family name? A pointless question drifted through my mind.
"Then, begin!"
Hearing Augustus's words, I brought my katana to a middle guard stance. Berard raised his club and leaped forward, closing the distance in an instant.
His massive body, which I had thought to be ponderous, soared through the air. The giant mass of flesh closed in on me with terrifying speed. Then, with immense wind pressure, the club came crashing down.
I barely managed to twist my body to the side and dodge. I should have cleared it completely, but the sheer force of the wind made my body sway. He followed up with a horizontal swing of the club. His movements were faster than I could have imagined. I narrowly dodged backward while extending a hand to create a block of ice with water magic for a counterattack. But it was shattered instantly by the club.
"Kuh!"
From there, I was completely on the defensive. I kept dodging the club as it was swung around wildly. I wanted to create some distance to reset, but Berard's movements were so unbelievably fast that simply backing away wasn't enough to break away from him.
"Mash, don't go back! To the side, move in a circle, and then, forward!"
Marianne's words flew at me. I knew it in my head, but I couldn't muster the courage to advance in the face of that club's swing, which felt like it would pulverize me with a single touch. Fear forced my feet backward. My hand gripping the katana was slick with sweat. I shifted my grip slightly to keep it from slipping.
Every swing Berard made was filled with his entire strength, and I could hear the sound of it cutting through the air. You'd think such wide swings would leave openings, but the moment one ended, the next attack was launched without a moment's pause.
"Damn it!"
In desperation, I used earth magic to create a stone sphere and launched it at him. It was a beginner-level spell that didn't take long to prepare. The stone sphere hit his body, but Berard smashed through it without a second thought. The club caught my shoulder guard, and a harsh metallic clang echoed out. An intense pain shot through me with the impact. My body staggered. And Berard had already raised his club for the next strike.
"M-Master!"
I heard a cry that sounded like a scream. Hearing that voice, I used earth magic to create a volley of stone pebbles and blindly fired them at Berard. One of the countless stones must have hit him near the eye. The club's trajectory shifted slightly upward. I ducked under the blow and slammed my own attack into his shin.
"Gofuh!"
It was the first time I'd heard anything resembling a voice from Berard. Seeing him stagger, I raised my katana into an overhead stance.
"Mash, the blade is facing the wrong way!"
Marianne's scream reached me. This is fine, I answered in my head. He looked like a monster, but he was a dog-eared, just like Fam. I'd met him for the first time today, and we were being forced to fight for reasons we didn't understand. But I held no grudge against him. He probably felt the same. I didn't want to turn my blade on an opponent like that. Of course, it was still a lump of iron. It could kill if I hit him. But with this opponent, it would probably be fine. As long as I didn't kill him, Maira and Aira could fix him up.
That was my thought in the split second before I brought the katana down. Faster than my own strike, Berard's club swung out horizontally. The sound of metal plate being pierced rang out, and my body was sent flying like a rag doll. I slammed into the ground.
"Ah… agh…"
A groan that wasn't quite a voice escaped me. It wasn't just the spot where I was hit; my entire body ached violently. The pain robbed me of my thoughts, and I couldn't think at all. I desperately tried to pull back my rapidly fading consciousness. I tried to find Berard in my field of vision, but black spots flickered before my eyes, and I couldn't even make out the surrounding scenery.
"UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!"
Berard's roar echoed, shaking the very earth. He was behind me. If he brought that club down, I would die. My body froze in terror. Then, the heavy presence suddenly vanished. He must have leaped into the air to bring down the finishing blow. There was some distance. I still had a little time. Using the voice and the sound of his footsteps, I predicted his position and thrust out my hand.
"Water Magic: Icicle!"
I had no room to worry about my opponent's well-being. I envisioned Marmie's mother, Marina, in my mind and unleashed a barrage of icicles. I heard the sound of ice shattering. Berard must have smashed the icicles with his club. If so, my aim wasn't off. I used water magic to create as many more icicles as I could, and kept firing.
There was no counterattack from Berard. The pain in my body subsided somewhat, and my vision began to return, albeit faintly. I put strength into my arms to stand up, and my whole body screamed in protest. I endured the pain and got to my feet. Berard was standing a short distance away. He'd been hit by icicles in several places, and blood was gushing out.
He seemed conscious. He held his club, his eyes tracking my movements. I tried to take a middle guard stance, but my left arm wouldn't move from the pain. I had no choice but to hold the katana with one hand and approach him. I couldn't manage a proper sliding step. It was just a single, staggering step. But if he so much as took one step forward, I would cut him down instantly.
With that thought, I took a step. In response, he took a step back. I took another step forward. He dropped his weapon and stumbled back. I took another step, and his legs tangled, and he fell to the ground with a soft thud, sitting down. I pressed the tip of my blade to him, and he just waved his hands to shield his face, as if to say 'no.' His body was trembling uncontrollably.
"My win, right?"
Augustus nodded at my words. I lowered the tip of my sword and let out a long breath.
"Master!"
Fam came running, shattering the silent air, and caught my body as my strength gave out and my knees began to buckle.
The katana fell to the ground.
"""Mash!"""
Maira and Aira were there, and Cecily too. There was a strange sense of reassurance. Seeing them there made my eyes grow hot. I reached out a hand, wanting to touch them, and Maira embraced me.
"I'll start treatment right away!"
Maira looked like she was about to cry, too.
"Yeah… please take care of that guy…"
I shifted my gaze to Berard.
"That man was definitely trying to kill you, Mash," Aira said in a cold tone.
"…I know. But…"
I looked at Marianne, who had come to my side.
"He's one of her retainers."
"Mash…"
Marianne whispered.
"Marianne, you still have things you need to do. I told Seime he had to kill himself if I won. I didn't think your uncle was such an idiot, but he has supported House Wanland until now. You need him, don't you? If you cast aside your pride right here and now, and beg for his life in front of everyone, I might just let him live."
Marianne's gaze shifted to Seime. He was on his knees, stunned by the outcome of the match.
"Marianne, this is as much as I can do for House Wanland. You understand?"
"Yes, I'll do my best with the rest. But if things get dangerous, I will rely on you again."
Marianne smiled and nodded deeply. A faint sheen of tears floated in her eyes.
Thank you for reading. To those who have clicked the like button, bookmarked, or rated this work, your support is a great encouragement.