‘What?!’ “What?”
Among the trio of idiots, the largest guy stepped forward confidently in response to my question.
Seeing that the other two didn’t stop him, it seed he was the representative, just as in the ga.
“I’m here to challenge you to a duel. The gods will grant victory to the righteous.”
At that mont, my head went blank.
I couldn’t think of anything to say because it was too ridiculous.
The gods grant victory to the righteous?
What the hell does that an?
So, are the people killed by monsters worse than the monsters themselves?
Are those who die fighting evil gods more evil than the evil gods?
It was such nonsense that I couldn’t even laugh, but I understood what this idiot ant by a duel.
A trial by combat.
When it is deed too ambiguous to determine right from wrong, opponents stake their claims and duel.
This was a practice that was actually carried out in the Middle Ages, and I knew about it because there was an episode related to this in the Soul Academy ga.
But is this really the right thing to say in this situation?
I wasn’t the only one thinking this way.
Mane, who had been desperately explaining various things just monts ago, stared blankly at the guy before urgently turning his head toward .
“Lady, may I speak for a mont?”
Mane’s face was flushed red.
Seeing him unable to hide his anger in front of , I felt confident he would speak for .
So, I nodded, and Mane stood in front of the guy.
“Rab. Are you proposing a trial by combat against Lady Alrn right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you... out of your mind? Do you really think it will work?”
“Is there a reason it wouldn’t?”
“Of course there is!”
A trial by combat doesn’t just happen at will. Otherwise, it would establish the logic that anyone with power can do anything they want.
“A trial by combat is only possible when right and wrong are unclear!”
What should first be considered when distinguishing right from wrong is the law.
It’s only when situations arise that are difficult to adjudicate under the law that a trial by combat takes place; there’s no reason to hold a trial by combat when the law can clearly determine right from wrong.
“Isn’t that still the case now?”
“What?!”
“Am I crazy enough to play tricks on the lady? I’ve never done such a thing.”
“You said it yourself!”
“Did I? I don’t rember. Anyway, if there’s no evidence, then claiming I have guilt makes the right and wrong unclear, doesn’t it?”
“Wha... what about the difference in status?!”
“Isn’t everyone equal within the academy?”
“No. No. No, really?! You have to understand that if you do sothing like this, it won’t just be you who suffers! We all will be in trouble!”
Ultimately unable to contain his frustration, Mane grabbed the guy by the collar, but the guy easily brushed him off by pinching Mane’s wrist with one hand.
As the son of a rchant and a wizard, Mane was no obstacle to the man.
“Lady Alrn, please answer.”
I looked up at the man who towered over .
There was no reason to listen to what this guy was spouting. If it went to trial, all his cris would be revealed imdiately.
While I was thinking that this guy must be losing it, suddenly the old man’s voice ca through.
“What is it, Grandpa? You said to handle this myself?”
“I get it; if it proceeds normally, it’s likely to go wrong, so he’s trying to drag it into a trial by combat.”
No matter what, if a trial by combat is established, the results will determine the guilt or innocence.
This guy was aiming for that. He probably believed he could force into accepting the duel, even if it ant provoking my pride, to ensure his own survival.
‘...What?’
If this guy loses to , not only will his guilt be confird, but he will also earn the ire of others.
However, even if he were to win against , the outco wouldn’t change. Other nobles wouldn’t want such a precedent to be set.
‘Don’t you think he knows that?’
The old man speculated that the representative of the idiots had so kind of backing. Otherwise, there was no way he would boldly declare his own suicide like that.
So this is it. Hmm.
“Grandpa.”
“So what should I do?”
Just explain that to .
I was already getting a headache from thinking and acting for myself.
And now, with various matters tangled up, I felt like my head might explode.
I was reaching overload! At this rate, I felt like I might die not from the evil god’s intervention, but from my brain bursting!
The old man stopped his explanation, sighed deeply, and then spoke softly.
‘And then?’
No. You just said I was getting a headache! How can you forget that so quickly, Grandpa!
“Grandpa?”
As I interrupted, the old man yelled.
‘Why didn’t you say that from the start? Thanks anyway.’
Now that my worries were resolved, all I had to do was execute the old man’s plan.
First, I was told to extract the na of the backer from the idiot representative, right?
That won’t be an easy task. No matter how foolish he is, he’s not going to blab about who’s backing him. He will try to protect that na until the end.
But I have a thod.
The thing that makes it hard for a person to speak is reason.
In other words, if reason is gone, locked lips will chatter freely.
I stared into the eyes of the idiot representative looking down at .
Full of confidence. He was convinced he wouldn’t be in trouble at all.
I stood up because I didn’t like the position of my gaze, but still, the idiot representative was looking down on .
There’s clearly a limit to how high my gaze can rise.
I can’t help it. I’ll have to lower the opponent's gaze.
“Have you decided...”
As the idiot representative began to speak, I thrust my fist into his solar plexus.
The fist sank cleanly, and I felt sothing break at the end of my punch.
Could it be that a bone is broken? No way. He’s a second-year student at the academy; there’s no way a bone would break from this.
There must have been sothing in there.
Holding his solar plexus, he staggered and fell forward, and as I looked at the idiotic representative, I thought to myself that I was finally satisfied, turning my head toward Mane.
“I’ve closed the door.”
Already? Without even saying a word, he picked up on what I wanted! He’s quick-witted!
I smiled and praised him while kicking the face of the idiot representative.
His body, which was likely double mine in size, rolled like a ball and crashed into the wall.
“Lady?! What on earth is going on?”
“I said I’d duel, so I’m dueling. Is there a problem?”
If there was a problem, I would have been willing to listen, but the opponent didn’t open his mouth further.
Instead, as if it were a replacent, the idiot representative, who had been sprawled out, staggered and rose to his feet, calling out.
“Coward...”
“Coward? Are you serious? You’re picking a fight with a cute and fragile girl who’s right at her solar plexus, and you’re calling cowardly?♡ Puhuhut♡ Puhahat♡ Puhahahat♡”
At that mont, a wave of exhilaration surged through , and I burst into laughter, fueled by the direct hostility I received from my opponent.
“Hey, hey. Then what’s honorable?♡ Bullying a little girl?♡ Acting wronged after instigating first?♡ Strutting around and then getting your ass kicked?♡”
As I recited the deeds he had done so far with mockery, the veins in his neck popped out.
“Shut up!...”
“By your logic, you’re really clean trash, huh?♡ If this is the kind of trash that the gods bless, then it must be alright to be in heaven’s trash can!♡”
Still, it wasn’t enough. His reason hadn’t completely flown away. If it continued like this, I might not be able to get him to keep talking.
I needed more to press the issue correctly.
“I’m so jealous♡ How can I beco trash like you?♡ Hmm~♡”
“...”
“I guess I can’t help it. I didn’t end up looking disgusting like you~♡ Is this what talent is?! Phew. Heh. Truly amazing!♡”
As if I genuinely praised him, I clapped my hands and let out a laugh, and the idiot representative finally closed his mouth.
Even so, I could still sense his thoughts.
The muscles bulged on his forehead. His eyes, bloodshot, glared at . His fists trembled.
All of it ant one thing.
“Are you angry?♡ You’re angry, huh?♡ So what are you going to do about it?♡ What can a pathetic commoner like you even do?♡”
“What can I do?!”
“Oh!♡ I bet you can fantasize♡ Picture yourself crying in your house while imagining that you’re winning!♡”
“I’ll show you! You bitch!”
As I saw him rush in with wild eyes, I was certain that he had completely lost his reason.
After easily dodging the reckless punch thrown out without thinking, I grabbed his wrist and threw him back into the wall.
With a loud crash! the idiot representative hit the floor headfirst.
But that’s fine. He wouldn’t faint from just that.
Look. Even while staggering, he’s glaring at like an enemy.
Now it’s ti to trample on that self-esteem of his.
To make him say just how great he thinks he is. To make him say who he thinks is recognizing him.
“Wow, you’re really pathetic♡ You think it’s okay to challenge with that level of skill?♡ Aren’t you ashad?♡ Don’t you feel any self-loathing?♡ Or are you just trying to provoke to get hit on purpose?♡ You disgusting masochistic pervert!♡ Just bite your tongue and die!♡”
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