Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Ask and Double

“Left side, 1 point.”

Adrianne looked down at the right gauntlet.

A line was long drawn on the thick gauntlet.

The princess accurately aimed at Adrianne’s right gauntlet.

The problem was that she wore the ring the princess gave on the right hand.

It was the ring the princess gave to Galahad.

If showing that Adrianne wore it—.

‘Absolutely not.’

Adrianne bit her lips.

Then, eyes met with the princess.

In the pupils red like blood a cool sign was full.

‘Does she not remember.’

Adrianne muttered softly.

Adrianne had gotten along with the princess for about half a day in childhood.

The princess in Adrianne’s memory was bright and warm, and dignified and leisurely.

To the extent the news of the princess coming was welcome.

Yet the princess faced again was different from before.

The princess became brighter, but no longer warm.

‘Let’s concentrate on the duel—.’

She lightly shook her head.

Now it was during the duel.

Pouring nerves elsewhere was not courtesy.

Adrianne adjusted the sword and recalled the princess’s movement.

The princess was fast to the extent hard to believe that she did not use aura.

Yet it was not to the extent of missing.

The problem was the point that one cannot use aura.

Not simply the level one cannot use, but one had to forcibly suppress aura.

Because of that Adrianne’s reaction had no choice but to be slow.

Exactly the feeling of facing a knight using aura without aura.

Then, the princess took a posture again.

It was a posture of slightly sticking the left foot forward and tilting the body.

At that Adrianne also took a posture,

Huu—.

When exhaling breath miscellaneous thoughts disappeared.

The princess kicked the ground. How fast that movement was it became close in an instant.

The princess’s rapier shot in a straight line was a point.

Adrianne chewed her lips and struck up the sword.

Adrianne’s sword struck the middle of the rapier.

Tung—. With a heavy sound the rapier bent.

That moment the princess’s wrist moved.

Exactly as if predicting Adrianne’s reaction—.

The bent princess’s rapier scratched Adrianne’s sword as is.

If first seeing it was swordsmanship one might be flustered, but it was already the sword Galahad showed.

Adrianne pulled the sword and twisted the shoulder.

As the center of gravity moved, she pulled the rapier.

However, the princess’s sword was faster than Galahad’s.

And that considerably—.

At the shock felt from the right hand Adrianne’s eyebrows stiffened.

One more line was engraved on the right gauntlet.

Almost similar position as just now.

The princess was blatantly aiming at the right hand.

Exactly as if trying to cut.

“Left side, 1 point!”

The corners of the princess’s mouth rose even deeper.

Adrianne recalled the competition of just now and shook her right hand.

A knight of level or higher could know the opponent if exchanging swords.

Exchanging swords was more effective than conversation.

Conversation can be decorated with lies, but the sword cannot be decorated.

The princess’s sword—.

‘······Vicious.’

Vicious like a viper confined for a long time in a barrel full of poison.

What on earth happened.

Then, the princess pointed at Adrianne with the rapier and fully laughed.

Even looking as the same woman it was a bright eye smile to the extent of undulating.

[The princess’s sword would be faster than me.]

The training with Galahad was a considerable help.

Actually the princess’s sword was quite similar to what Galahad showed.

And that very—.

Being able to imitate the sword to that degree was not a matter possible in a day or two.

‘What relationship on earth.’

Adrianne adjusted the sword and shook off the thoughts.

Now it was time to concentrate.

*

“Left side, 1 point!”

Again the princess’s score.

“Was the princess a Sword Master?”

“What kind of sound Sir Gilbert would do.”

“Yes?”

“Ah, it was Sir Gilbert.”

“What is that—. No, what swordsmanship is that excellent?”

“Because a sublime imperial family.”

“······Are all imperial family like that?”

“The surviving imperial family are all like that. And that degree is the weak side.”

Seriousness rose on Gilbert’s face. It seemed hitting now.

The princess leisurely returned to the seat.

Adrianne shortly shook her right hand. Debris of the gauntlet fell.

‘About two times.’

If pounding a bit more it seemed the gauntlet would break.

No matter how Adrianne is a genius, the duel was the princess’s domain.

Although not comparable to Adrianne, the princess was also a woman who heard genius sounds.

“No matter how looking the movement is too fast. Isn’t it secretly using aura?”

“Didn’t I say. Because imperial family.”

“What correlation does imperial family and fast movement have?”

“Imperial family must be very sublime.”

Gilbert narrowed his eyes. At Gilbert who cannot understand Galahad clicked his tongue and added an explanation.

“Imperial family must be sublime. For that they eat good things for the body from childhood. Very a lot. With the money that entered the princess, one could make one battalion in the North.”

“Hey, do not lie.”

“Sorry but, I do not speak lies.”

Gilbert’s face twitched.

“······Isn’t it losing like that?”

Gilbert asked with a serious expression.

Since Gilbert does that kind of sound, how would others be.

At the consecutive defeats the surrounding atmosphere was already a funeral house.

The North side’s faces were dark. Those noisy guys could not even cheer.

There was no choice.

Because while the princess scored 3 points Adrianne could not even score 1 point.

Since the side that scores 5 points first is victory, one could say an overwhelming match.

However—.

“One will win.”

The match would not go to 5 points.

“As said I hung everything on Lady Adrianne’s side.”

“Well done, Tom.”

“What is everything.”

“Special Mission Unit public funds. Ah, Sir Gilbert, I also hung your salary.”

“······Yes?!”

“Why shouting Sir Gilbert. Surely do you not believe Adrianne?”

“That is not but—. No, where is the crazy guy who opens a bet on the match between the princess and Lady Adrianne?”

“There.”

“What crazy—.”

Gilbert who was standing roughly stopped abruptly. Subsequently he turned his head again as if cutting with a tuk tuk.

Because a high-rank magic beast··· no, the Grand Duke was glaring.

Galahad slightly hid his face behind Gilbert.

“His Grace the Grand Duke opened.”

“Then did His Grace the Grand Duke hang on the princess?”

“Truly a heartless father.”

Gilbert let out a low groan.

“No, if His Grace the Grand Duke hung on the princess side, isn’t it a big matter?”

“Calm. I have never lost in a match a few times. One can say a gambler.”

At Galahad’s confident answer Gilbert was softly relieved.

Then he suddenly felt something strange.

“Isn’t that the sound of having lost—.”

Then, the match resumed.

The princess kicked the ground.

At that Adrianne moved the sword.

The swords entangled again.

Sharp blade sounds continuously burst.

Adrianne knocked away the princess’s sword one by one.

Adrianne’s sword was honest. There was no superfluity.

In contrast the princess’s sword was flashy. It aimed at Adrianne like a living snake.

The two’s swords continuously entangled.

Adrianne slowly knocked away the princess’s sword one by one.

Sparks continuously bounced.

Then, Adrianne advanced for the first time.

Instead of knocking away the princess’s sword she pressed down.

And—.

Clang. Adrianne’s sword scratched the princess’s forearm.

A small scratch was engraved on the red armor.

“Right side, 1 point!”

Cheers burst from the North side.

Adrianne bowed her head with a bob and stepped back.

“Uh uh···? Tom! Did you hang properly?!”

Color rose on Gilbert’s face. At Gilbert’s question Tom confidently nodded.

Although only scoring 1 point, it seemed belief in Adrianne was rising.

Well since Adrianne treated as the North’s hero.

“As expected Lady Adrianne!”

Cheers poured from here and there.

Galahad quietly examined Adrianne.

Adrianne’s eyebrows were lowered.

It was not appropriate as the reaction of the one who just scored.

Adrianne would also have felt.

That the princess deliberately gave.

The fully angry princess had no thought of being satisfied with winning.

It was clear the intention of savoring as much as possible.

Then, the princess shook the rapier.

Exactly as if try charging once—.

Although the equivalent of being toyed with insufficient with losing, Adrianne politely paid respect.

This time Adrianne kicked the ground.

“Right side, 1 point.”

Cheers burst again.

*

“Right side, 1 point!”

“3 to 3! All caught up! Damn!”

Gilbert poured rough curses and cheered.

At the score that suddenly caught up everyone was emitting hot heat.

Although everyone cheered, the face of Adrianne who was the protagonist of the reversal was dark.

The princess was fully laughing.

Then, the princess looked at Galahad.

The princess’s red pupils were exactly as if whispering.

That she herself is more superior.

It was a blatant gaze.

‘This degree would be sufficient.’

Galahad openly turned his gaze to Adrianne.

And—.

“Wife, almost there! Cheer up!”

He shouted raising his voice.

Whether Adrianne concentrated fully, she just adjusted the sword.

The princess’s momentum sharpened.

To the extent even Galahad far away could feel—.

Then, the soldier announced the resumption of the match.

The princess kicked the ground twice unlike before.

At that foot movement where the gap slightly misaligns the princess’s figure shook.

There was one technique not informed to Adrianne.

The reason was two.

Anyway even if knowing one cannot block, and there was no need to block.

Then, Adrianne’s sword moved quickly.

‘Oh—.’

Adrianne did not block the slowed rapier and rather stabbed the sword.

This was not from calculation but instinctive sense.

‘Handling aura better than before.’

Skill increased more in the meantime. As expected a genius.

Galahad sincerely admired.

However, the opponent was not good.

The princess rather deeply pushed the rapier, and caught Adrianne’s sword with the guard part.

And—.

Struck up as is.

It was an action hard to predict.

At that Adrianne’s center opened brightly.

If making a wound near the heart it was 2 points.

It was a moment one could end the match.

However, the princess aimed at Adrianne’s right gauntlet not the heart.

Clang!

With a sharp sound gauntlet fragments bounced up.

The joint of the gauntlet rolled on the floor.

One beat late the gauntlet split as if breaking.

Thud, as the gauntlet fell a heavy sound was heard.

Tok—.

Red blood that fell from white Adrianne’s wrist wet the gauntlet.

Then, the princess’s eyes became large as if tearing. The corners of the mouth shook wildly. Exactly like a person hard to hold laughter.

Soon the princess’s red lips largely tore.

Between that—.

“Hahaha!”

Violent laughter burst.

How refreshing and clear the laughter sound was the ones watching were startled with a heumchit.

It was a fiercer reaction than expected.

Then, Adrianne urgently hid her hand behind. She realized looking at the position of the ring.

‘Wore on the ring finger.’

Galahad let out a small groan.

“Haha!”

The princess laughed roughly and turned the sword.

Aura blazed from the sword in an instant.

The princess’s aura—.

“······Is that pink?”

Before Gilbert’s question ended, the princess moved.

A pink point aimed at Adrianne.

‘Ended.’

In the duel aura was prohibited.

If taking out aura it was defeat regardless of the score.

However, the reason Galahad was certain of the princess’s defeat was not simply because of the rule.

Then, aura fully rose from Adrianne’s sword.

It was pure white aura.

The pure white aura where not a single drop of impurity mixed lightly pressed the pink mixed with red and white.

The aura made in the imperial family and the aura tempered for a lifetime on the front line—. Which of the two is firmer belief was clear.

If the duel was the princess’s domain, aura was Adrianne’s domain.

The match was in an instant.

Adrianne’s sword was pointing at the princess’s heart.

“Ah—.”

Adrianne gaped her mouth.

As that indifferent face broke, fluster rose.

The moment Adrianne who came to senses tried to say something—.

“My defeat.”

The princess put down the sword and stepped back.

Adrianne to that back—.

“Thank you for the teaching.”

Bowed her head.

‘Pure evil.’

Although Adrianne would be sincere, because of that it was rather more effective provocation.

*

“The second match is 2nd Battalion Captain Liam and······.”

“It was a cool match. No, why axe eyes again?”

“This is not right.”

At Adrianne’s scolding Galahad laughed bitterly.

“Using a precious gift, inducing the opponent’s excitement—. It was an action not befitting the duel.”

“Right, quite low.”

When Galahad obediently nodded, Adrianne’s eyes became a little large.

“However, if not that you would have lost.”

“That is because my skill is insufficient so no choice. Defeat is not shameful. One cannot only win every time.”

It was orthodox.

Although defeat would be a bit heavy for the North’s hero, to think of not being ashamed at all—.

It was not for nothing the aura is pure white.

“In empire style duel inducing excitement is also included. In the capital they do worse. There is also a knight who curses the parents to induce the opponent’s excitement. Does very amazingly.”

“Just because others do wrong actions, wrong actions are not justified.”

It was a person honest to the extent of annoying.

Because of that it would be the sword that stabs the king of the demon race.

Shaking with the ring gift was not a foul in empire style duel, but there was no need to particularly scratch more.

“Understood, sorry.”

When obediently apologizing Adrianne shook her head.

“The target to apologize is not me.”

That gaze was toward the princess. At that Galahad clicked his tongue and waved his hand.

The princess quietly looked at Galahad.

With eyes fully bloodshot from not blinking—.

“I will formally apologize.”

“Understood.”

Adrianne sat beside Galahad. Although the axe eyes released, the eyebrows were still lowered.

“And wasn’t I hung on the duel. I wanted to win somehow. If losing by any chance, wouldn’t one not be able to hold your hand. I was also desperate.”

When saying containing sincerity, Adrianne’s eyebrows slightly rose.

“Rather than the capital without you the barren and cold while barbaric North with you is better.”

“······One can stop. I understood. Looking at it there is also my fault.”

Adrianne who exhaled a small sigh nodded.

Galahad’s eyes shone.

“Correct words.”

“···Yes?”

“Thinking about it the proposal was me, but the one who implemented was you?”

Adrianne’s eyebrows shook.

“No—.”

“Even wore on the ring finger. You, I did not see that way but the scheme is very deep.”

The surroundings became noisy. Probably someone scored.

Galahad looked at Adrianne.

Adrianne’s eyes shook wildly.

“Properly toyed. While sticking out the ring finger like this with a ppijuk—.”

“When did I do that!”

“Looking at raising the voice, it seems guilty.”

“No—.”

Soon Adrianne exhaled a deep sigh.

“So what do you want.”

“This if someone hears, they would know I said because I want something.”

Adrianne narrowed her eyes for a moment.

“However, one cannot betray your expectation. Give your hand a bit for a moment. It seemed a wound earlier.”

“Aren’t you going to the duel soon?”

“So it is necessary.”

Saying one will hold the hand because necessary for the duel—.

Adrianne could not understand.

Looking at the raised corners of the mouth it seemed there is some scheme again.

“Hand.”

Adrianne exhaled a sigh and held out her hand.

*

“Come, the last match is Special Mission Unit Captain Galahad and Bunch.”

“Then I will go.”

Adrianne blankly looked at Galahad’s back going up to the arena while staggering.

How strongly Galahad held, the hand was tingling.

‘Why?’

Adrianne muttered while looking at the hand that turned red.

Galahad was a smart one. Such Galahad held Adrianne’s hand ahead of the duel.

And that longer than usual—.

That was an act of consuming power.

Why he did such an action, Adrianne seriously pondered.

Then, Gilbert approached.

Gilbert’s face was much better than usual.

Because it was a face exactly asking to ask, Adrianne opened her mouth.

“Is there something good?”

“Ah, I earned a lot.”

“Earned?”

“Isn’t it the captain hung money on Lady Adrianne’s match.”

Gilbert laughed sinisterly with a heuheu—.

Since the Grand Duke liked betting, the Grand Duke would have opened.

“When the captain hung the entire fortune adding even my salary I was a bit surprised but—.”

Gilbert laughed sinisterly.

Looking at laughing it was clear he earned.

Since it was the story that Galahad hung the entire fortune on Adrianne, it meant the Grand Duke hung on the princess.

At the Grand Duke hanging on the princess, Adrianne’s chest became stuffy.

Yet Galahad hung the entire fortune—.

Stuffy while somehow itchy.

‘Entire fortune—.’

Adrianne coughed softly.

Then, Gilbert boasted that he hung all the money earned on Galahad again.

At that Adrianne furrowed her eyebrows.

If Galahad was thinking of winning, he would not have particularly held Adrianne’s hand.

It was clear there is another scheme.

Probably that—.

“Heuheu. I am rich now.”

Adrianne ignored Gilbert.