"I challenge you to a duel."
The moment I felt something touching me from my back while at the same time hearing that voice, I turned my head to my back.
'You really can not even control your mind, huh? Such a blatant and easy guy to manipulate.'
With that thought, I faced the man with blonde hair, looking at me with mocking eyes.
'All Seeing Eye.'
---------------
Name â€" Damien Dalton
Age â€" 23
Class â€" Spear Master
Mage Rank â€" 2-start
Knight Rank â€" 4-star
Attributes â€" Metal
----------------
'Ho, look at his stats. He is good. He is a noble, it seems.'
I thought, looking at the panel in front of me.
"Huh? Will he really challenge him to a duel?"
"Isn't he noble? Why is he wasting his time like that?"
"What? Don't you know that Damien guy is famous for chasing these adventurers?"
"Ah... So, he is that guy. Now it makes sense."
Ignoring the sounds of exclamation coming from the people, I focused on the boy in my front.
"Are you sure?"
"HA! Of course, I am sure. Do you think I, Damien Dalton, am scared of someone like you who can't even show your face? Don't make me laugh."
With a mocking smile on his face, he said."
"Are you sure you can bear the consequences of the duel? Are you ready to obey the rules of the sacred duel?"
With the same tone, I asked, repeating the question.
"Heh... It looks like someone is scared.... If you beg for forgiveness while licking my shoes, then I will withdraw from the duel. How about it?"
"....."
Without answering, I picked up the glove he threw toward my back.
"I accept the duel."
"Good."
"When should we conduct it?"
"Right now, on the guild's training grounds."
"Good."
"Let's go then."
Nodding my head as the response, I slowly walked towards the place where the man was headed.
"Huh? Did he accept the duel? What a dumb guy."
"Yeah, it seems he didn't know much about this Damien guy."
"Right. He still likes to do it. He might look sloppy, but he is one of the strongest adventurers in this city right now."
"Indeed. There are only twenty 4-stars in this city, and he is one of them."
"This guy is doomed, then, isn't he?"
While I was walking, I heard the sounds of people coming from the sides.
In the first place, people tend to underestimate those who have yet to see the prowess of others, especially if they are giving the impression of someone young.
Reaching a ground where an arena with some signs of being used was shown, I entered the circle taking my position.
"What are the conditions?"
Turning my head towards the young man getting ready for the duel, I asked.
"Nothing much. If I win the duel, you will be my slave from now on."
"I see."
"So, what do you want? Though you won't ever win."
"Nothing much. I just want not to be held accountable for the outcomes of this duel."
"Hoh? Is that so?"
"It is."
"Okay. Slave 1, write those conditions over the parchment."
Saying that, he turned his head towards the girl holding a parchment.
"Understood, young master."
Saying that the girl wrote the contents onto the paper. And then, after putting our blood on it, we finished the preparations for the duel, making everything formal.
In the first place, using mana oath while dueling has become a trend, with honor-less people tarnishing the sacred of duels.
"Good, now we can start."
With his hands holding a golden spear, he looked into my eyes.
The same receptionist girl that I sold the cores was going to be the referee of the duel.
With her hands slightly trembling, the girl first looked into my eyes.
"A-are... A-are y-you ready?"
/NOD/
Seeing me nod, the girl turned her head toward the boy in my front.
"A-are you ready?"
"Yes."
"T-then.... S-start."
/SWOOSH/
The moment the girl said that, the boy named Damien jumped over me with his spear raised, attacking me from a distance.
In the first place, most of the time spear would have an advantage over a sword if there is enough place to move since the spear has a longer reach.
But, that advantage would only be effective at the hands of those who really know how to utilize it.
"YOU STUPID COMMONER. YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE COMING TO MY CITY LIKE THAT!"
With a loud shout and a crazed smile on his face, his attack was about to reach me.
"Hisss...."
Releasing a frost breath, I took my position again, with my sword in his place, in his sheath.
"Such ignorance. Live by using your upper head next time."
'Annihilation Sword. Last Breath.'
/RUMBLE/ /CIIZZT/
With lightning imbued on me and my aura for a second, I disappeared from the place I was standing.
/SWOOSH/
And reappeared from his back with my estoc raised to the side.
/THUD/
"Huh?"
And there, a head fell to the ground with his mouth wide open.
/SPLURT/
Following that, a geyser of blood spurted from the headless body that slowly collapsed to the ground.
"What?"
"What did just happen?"
"Did he just die?"
"YOUNG MASTER!"
The moment the environment realized what had happened, people started screaming while the bodyguards behind the boy were looking at me with bloodshot eyes.
"YOUNG MASTER! STAY WITH ME!"
Saying that those men started looking at me with their weapons raised.
"YOU BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU DO THAT!"
And then tried to attack me.
"Stop."
/FLINCH/ /FLINCH/
However, before they could even move any further, I activated my trait [Tyrant's Aura], making them shiver in response.
/SILENCE/
At that moment, there was a dead silence filling the place.
Even those two girls were looking at me with their eyes, scared.
"Remember the mana oath we had just signed, and don't make any stupid judgment.... I won't be held responsible for the results of this duel, as we signed. And if you make any attempts opposing that, I will take it as Dalton Family has abandoned their honor. Objections?"
With my eyes scanning the crowd, I asked.
"No? Good."
After that, I left, not looking back.
'I have already finished my business here. Now, let's keep going.'
With that thought, I reached the marketplace supplying my food rations....
