Chapter 67 |
"Luna, are you there? I've come."
The fountain where Luna often came.
However, Luna's figure was nowhere to be seen.
'Hmm, she's not here either.'
I went to the girls' dormitory, but I was told Luna wasn't in her room.
That means she must still be out wandering around.
I felt like I had been walking around for at least an hour, but still couldn't find Luna.
'Surely not, right?'
The incident of Luna's arm being severed.
This is too much of a joke.
'Keke, Luna. You'll really get scolded when we meet again.'
I'll feed her until her stomach bursts.
Dress her in cute clothes with long lace.
Praise her.
And mess up her hair as much as I want.
Is that scolding?
No, does it always have to be scolding? Can't I be nice for once?
'I must be going crazy. To think such illogical thoughts.'
It's all Luna's fault.
So she'd better show up in front of me right now, Luna.
This brother gets really scary when angry.
Suddenly!
Eek! What a shock!
I almost screamed.
A girl had jumped out of the bushes.
"Pant... Pant... Fo, found you."
Her voice was softer than the sound of insects.
Moreover, she was panting heavily.
Now that I think about it, her clothes were torn here and there.
She was a strange girl.
'And what's with her bangs, so long and flowing? Can she even see?'
But then I put that thought aside.
Judging someone based on appearance.
Am I not doing the same thing people do when they see my slit eyes and make their own assumptions!
She must be able to see well. Even with my slit eyes, I see the world so clearly!
Hang in there, Bangs Girl!
"Keke, hang in there."
"Ye, yes?"
"We are comrades. I understand your pain."
"...?"
Thanks to me, she'll be able to live vigorously from tomorrow.
It was when I was about to leave.
Bangs Girl grabbed the hem of my clothes.
This is why being a popular guy is troublesome.
"Keke, this will be troublesome. I'm a bit busy."
"...help."
"Excuse me?"
"Da, danger. Lu, Luna is..."
Luna? Why is Luna coming up in this conversation?
"It's, it's because of me... She tried to, to protect me..."
"Calm down."
"Sob, sob..."
This is bad. The girl is in a panic.
It's clear something bad happened to Luna.
'Stuttering, timid personality, panic, crying.'
I quickly made a diagnosis.
She was in such a bad state, it was the worst for obtaining information.
In a critical situation like this.
"It's okay to stutter. Explain with words, not sentences. What's happening and where?"
Then the girl desperately gasped for air.
"Du, duel! Du, duel!"
She meant Luna was in a duel at the duel grounds.
"Well done. Rest now."
After patting the girl's head, I immediately started running.
Towards where Luna was.
The duel grounds.
* * *
Teron's mouth split wide open when he was challenged by Luna.
Of course, he acted like nothing was wrong on the outside.
"What's this all about? Challenging me to a duel out of the blue."
"Drop the pretense. Just come out. This is exactly what you want, isn't it?"
"I don't understand. Oh, is it because Godner is under my command?"
"Do you need a pretext? Fine, let's go with that. Godner is your subordinate. Happy now?"
Teron smirked internally.
Such a refreshing personality.
Where else could he find someone so easy to manipulate!
"Well, then I have no choice. I must take responsibility."
Teron started to rise but then hesitated.
"Ah, right. Unfortunately, I can't fight."
"Why? Trying to run away now?"
"That's not it. Look at this."
Teron pulled out a wooden plaque.
A plaque engraved with the word 'notarized'.
All eyes of the children turned towards him.
"As you can see, I am currently performing official duties. Since you've requested a proxy duel, you must be aware of the conditions under which a proxy duelist can be appointed."
※ Cases where a proxy duelist can be appointed
The elderly, children, those suffering from illness who cannot duel, and...
"...those who are performing official duties."
Acting on behalf of official duties is indeed a form of performing them.
Thus, at this moment, Teron de Vyuern is...
"I will appoint Daike as my proxy duelist."
"...!!"
A huge shock fell over the duel grounds.
Teron's hunting dog and...
The strongest first-year student at Annwood Academy.
'Daike, the Great Sword.'
He who swings a great sword as tall as Luna with ease in one hand.
The problem was not just his strength, but his real skill in swordsmanship.
"Only someone at Rodelin's level might stand a chance."
That was the word of a teacher who instructs in practical swordsmanship.
To appoint such a skilled fighter as a proxy duelist.
"That crazy bastard...!"
Yuridia's true feelings burst out.
It was that serious a situation.
'That son of a bitch! How could he set such a meticulously laid trap!'
Yuridia had an intuition. Something big was about to happen.
Such a tightly woven trap.
It couldn't possibly end with just a simple proxy duel.
Yuridia headed towards where Luna was.
"Luna, declare your defeat."
"What are you talking about?"
"Please! I'll handle the rest. I'll do whatever it takes to prevent your expulsion!"
Luna laughed lightly at Yuridia's desperate persuasion.
She knew it too. The end of this proxy duel.
It wouldn't be pretty.
'If I avoid expulsion... I can return to the academy with Zero.'
But.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Zero is here."
"What?"
"If I back out, Zero will become the target. So I have to settle this here."
That was Luna's decision.
To use this opportunity to her advantage.
'To crush Teron's faction.'
So, Luna had no intention of backing down.
Whether it was Teron, Daike, or all of Teron's faction.
She planned to tear them all apart.
'So that's how it is.'
Yuridia realized.
'This is a girl in love... Indeed, the power of love is great.'
At the same time, she was angry.
How could a guy who treats a girl like disposable trash be worth anything!
'Where is that slit-eyed bastard at such a crucial moment?'
It was the start of Yuridia's misconception.
"Alphonso! Go! Bring a teacher here immediately."
"They might block us."
"Break through by force if necessary. I'll leave the decision to you."
"...Understood!"
Alphonso and some other kids set out.
As they left, a small cheer spread through the crowd.
A fight to break through the wall Teron had set up had begun.
"How pitiful for Luna."
"Fighting Daike, that's insane."
"Will we be okay? Aren't we just going to get hurt getting involved?"
"Yu, Yuridia. What should we do..."
Kids gathered around, expressing their concerns.
Some were worried about Luna, but most were concerned about the fight with Teron's faction.
'Teron's strategy is starting to work.'
His strategy of fear was taking effect.
Declare protection for Luna here?
Yuridia's faction might get torn apart.
It's a collapse from fear.
But.
"I will prioritize protecting Luna."
"Yuridia, but..."
"We gathered to ensure everyone can enjoy life at the academy, didn't we?"
"Uh...!"
The kids' eyes changed. They were united.
This was Yuridia's hidden strength.
She chose kids who were not particularly skilled but had warm and strong hearts.
And now that was starting to shine.
'We're united. But the problem isn't over yet.'
Glance-.
A boy warming up, swinging a great sword.
Daike.
He was the problem.
'Is there anyone who can beat that monster?'
Even she herself couldn't be certain of facing him.
But Yuridia had planned to intervene immediately if she found Luna to be in danger.
"Luna, hang in there and buy some time. The kids have gone to get a teacher."
Luna just smiled at her words.
Hang in there?
'No.'
I'll defeat this guy and drag out Teron.
And tear his throat to shreds.
* * *
There was a brief maintenance of the duel grounds.
Godner, who had been brutally defeated, was taken away, and the broken stones were cleared.
"...Impudent girl."
Teron muttered, looking at Luna from the opposite side.
Not satisfied with showing her teeth, she even dares to bite.
His thoughts had changed.
'I'll have to cut off one of her arms.'
It was a problem that she didn't know her place, but her skills were better than expected.
It's best to cut off the bud early.
One arm would be enough as a warning to Zero.
"Daike."
"Yes."
"Bring me one of that impudent girl's arms."
Daike hesitated.
Use lethal force in the Academy? And that too without a priest present?
If the bleeding isn't stopped in time, death wouldn't be surprising.
"But that's..."
"It's an order."
Teron's command.
Daike didn't defy any further.
He had been taught to obey unconditionally to the word 'order'.
He was raised that way.
'I am not a person, but a hunting dog.'
Just a son of a bitch blindly loyal to his master.
A dog that can't carry out its orders has no right to live.
So.
'I'll cut off the arm.'
He silently carried out the order.
"What, you're just coming now? Men who are late aren't attractive."
"Sorry about that."
"Oh, you don't need to apologize."
"You'll understand the meaning of this duel once it ends."
Luna cracked her neck from side to side.
"Ah, is that so? Well, then there's no need for long talks."
"I'll give you the first move."
"How generous..."
Clang!
"Thanks!"
Luna charged in, and the duel began.
Luna knew. Daike was stronger than her.
'That figure that took down three ants at once. Impressive.'
But she had grown too.
Did she have time to train while playing with Zero?
After Zero entered the dormitory.
That was Luna's training time.
The front of the boys' dormitory was Luna's training ground.
'Well, I did follow Zero on his night walks and watched from afar.'
Luna had her moments of training.
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as their swords collided.
As expected, it wasn't easy. How could someone wielding such a large sword have such solid defense?
'That's enough of probing.'
Luna spun around and swung her sword.
Targeting Daike's waist.
Clang!
Daike laid his sword flat to block the attack.
Just as she expected. Luna lifted her foot and kicked the flat blade.
Thud!
The recoil pushed them both back a bit.
Since she kicked the flat side of the sword, there was no damage.
But.
'It's important that I created some distance.'
A slightly widened distance.
Crackle-!
As Luna sheathed her sword, she started to charge forward.
Her left knee slightly bent, her sheath set at a right angle.
Luna's hand moved like lightning.
The first secret technique of the Lester Family Style.
One Flash.
A single streak of light flashing towards Daike.
He slightly spread his legs, getting into position.
Daike's first original technique.
Scheitelhau. (TL Note: It's german a two hander technique.)
A vertical slash downwards.
Just a normal vertical cut.
But the impact on the duel grounds was anything but normal.
Crack!
It split. The flash of light Luna released.
And the ground of the duel grounds.
Crack-crack!
"Damn!"
The stones flew due to the shock.
Luna dodged to the side, moving her feet quickly. And what Luna faced next was.
Daike's massive sword.
--TL Notes--
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