84 – 17. …… Engaged?
Declaration of duel by duel agent.
As if throwing up the white gloves wasn’t enough, I applied in front of people from all walks of life, so I won’t be able to cheat.
‘Now I’ll have to react to something.’
Slander against yourself? Rumors about menopause, gynecomastia, and sodomy?
If you want to ignore it, you can ignore it. It will be a bit difficult to clean up afterwards, but it is not impossible if the position of head of the family is kept stable.
I overheard a little conversation in the ballroom, and the gossip had long since spread sufficiently.
Even if you were stuck in your room, there was no way you wouldn’t have heard the rumor that even the upper class was invited to Arthur’s ball.
Even more so when Hector Arthur is a professional and an
Archer with excellent hearing.
But Hector Arthur did not respond to the slander. I just chose to ignore it.
If it comes to this, there is nothing we can do. I have no choice but to come out stronger.
“Can I say this again? I challenge the head of the family, Hector Arthur, to an honorable duel!”
“Three, oh my god. A real duel…!”
“Shouldn’t we stop it now?”
“But since you’re Lady Rain’s agent… If you step forward for no reason, you’ll end up in trouble.”
“Oh my…That pale young guy is urging me to do my bidding…”
Duel. A means of resolving conflicts or grievances between individuals in medieval Europe.
A duel that involves risking one’s life gives legitimacy to the winner.
No matter what the issue was or whose fault it was, if both parties agree to a duel, only the winner is justice.
Of course, it is a medieval story, but it is not much different in modern times.
Rather, duels in which a job holder is used as a duel agent were quite common in this world.
The surrounding bystanders did not question the duel itself.
It’s just that the other person seems to be worried about me as much as I am the other person.
‘Well, I think it will come out soon.’
Of course, a duel can only proceed if the other party also accepts it.
In other words, a duel cannot take place right at this ball without the head of the family attending.
But of course, staying still like this is the greatest shame in an honorable duel.
If I had applied in a completely unfamiliar place, this is Arthur’s mansion and Arthur’s territory.
Moreover, the justification is clear as he is representing Lane Arthur in the matter of his unfair engagement.
Just ignore the duel request here?
‘I just want to end my life as an aristocrat.’
Since her daughter challenged her father to a duel, the Arthur family itself is in trouble.
I originally didn’t plan on doing it like this……
‘Rain…… She was a scarier child than I thought…… ….’
A day before the ball, Lane, who was always out at the Arthur Mansion, sent me a Message.
Among her
Superpowers, it was the most clumsy and rarely used ability.
It seemed impossible to communicate with each other due to lack of skill, and Lane only spoke to me one-sidedly.
[Please be my duel agent, Namgoong Min.]
I gladly accepted it because it was a method I liked much more.
Originally, I was thinking of adding to the gossip, spreading another rumor at the ball, and concentrating the power of the family on Lucas through various political maneuvers to virtually force Hector out.
After all, it is a duel, the effect is direct.
‘Where are you?’
There will definitely be one.
Among the attendees of the ball, there is someone who will actually represent the will of the head of the family.
Someone who receives secret orders from the head of the family to monitor the family’s movements and plot secretly──
“… Junior, what are you doing?”
“Oh, Gregory Arthur.”
──It’s right here.
A subordinate who directly reports to the head of the family and takes care of all the dirty parts of the head of the house.
Despite coming from a minor family, he is an ambitious person who aims to become the head of the family, is the mastermind behind the skill thief case, and has a narrow-eyed look that just looks like he is saying that I am strong.
Gregory Arthur.
“It looks like the academy hasn’t quite run out of steam yet. This is France, Arthur’s mansion. It’s not an academy where juniors can move around as they please.”
“…Junior?”
“Isn’t that person Mr. Gregory? What I mean by junior is…”
“That duel agent is also an academy student?”
“What, are you really a duel agent?”
Roaring.
Gregory Arthur’s words stirred up the surroundings.
‘As expected, we have to resist somehow.’
If it had ended like this, I would have been disappointed in Hector Arthur.
Gregory is speaking, but since he is directly under the head of the family, it would be no problem to assume that it is actually the will of the head of the family.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Ha… Junior. If a new student who has just finished his first semester crosses the line like this, even the Academy cannot protect him.”
“Freshman? Then hasn’t it been half a year now?”
“For some reason, they thought I was too young.”
“There is no way Lady Rain would appoint such a young man as her duel agent in such an important matter.”
Oh, he speaks in his own way.
Gregory gently reprimanded me, emphasizing his status as a senior at the academy, and pretending that this was just an act of a freshman at the academy.
That wasn’t the only thing.
“I know that you are close to Lady Rain. Honestly, I think it was very brave of you to come forward like this… But it is too reckless.”
“…I see. Is that young man angry at Lady Lane’s unfair engagement?”
“Gregory’s consideration is clearly visible.”
“No matter what, it’s crazy to challenge the head of the family. Gregory was wise.”
Even worse, he labeled me as a ‘spirited young man who was angry at his friend’s unfair engagement.’
This is just a board laid down.
If I just accept it and step down, it will be clean and it will end without any problems.
‘As expected, he’s a smart guy.’
Is this the politics of narrow-eyed people? I didn’t say a word, but before I knew it, I had gone from being an ‘unidentified dueling agent’ to being a ‘new student moving around on a plane.’
He knows how to use his head, and he can use his tongue just as well. In many ways, the germs of agitation are visible.
‘You’re too far back.’
You’re showing your weaknesses too openly, aren’t you?
“Gregory, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Junior. Your courage may be imaginary, but it is reality.”
“No, I mean──”
“Huh?”
Whooooo!!!
“Eup, keuhuh!?”
Quaaa!!!
“What, what!?”
“Suddenly the two of you disappeared and Gregory was pinned against the wall…?”
“It’s ridiculous. You made Gregory look like that in an instant?”
“──Everyone, do you understand now?”
“……………….”
“……No way.”
“I am neither courageous nor reckless. So, let me say that again.”
I looked at Gregory, who was spitting out blood and glaring at me with disbelief.
I, a skilled , Defeated him with a single blow and smiled bitterly.
Fists are closer than words.
Not knowing that is your weakness.
“A first-year student at the Romance Academy, a close friend of Lady Lane Arthur, and her duel agent.”
“I challenge Hector Arthur to a duel.”
*
“What on earth…What…”
Lucas Arthur could not believe what he saw with his own eyes.
Even though I used several detection magics just in case, the sight before my eyes was not an illusion or a lie, but a clear fact.
“Namgoong Min… Gregory…?”
.
Lucas knows Namgoong Min’s skills. It was used to subdue Lily Whiterose during the first class, and Namgoong Min used it in many classes and exams, a skill that actually represents him.
I also know that it has quite a powerful effect depending on how it is used, as it forcibly transports the user and nearby objects to a subspace called ‘Jeomjip’.
However, I didn’t think I could beat Gregory.
Namgoong Min’s strength comes not from physical strength, but from his special ability called divination and his devilish tongue.
‘I saw it several times in class. Namgoong Min’s physical ability is not outstanding, to say the least.’
Rather, he ranks overwhelmingly last among the special occupation classes. Even against Liu Yan, Namgoong Min lost in arm wrestling.
Moreover, there are no other means of attack.
But how on earth did Gregory…? … ?
“……? Rain?”
“……I used it. Rain, what on earth happened to this? More than that, since when did telepathy develop to the point where we can communicate with each other──”
“……What?”
No way now…… Did you tell me to be quiet?
Lucas was visibly embarrassed. Even more so than Namgoong Min overpowering Gregory in an instant.
It wasn’t a reason to be unpleasant or arrogant.
‘Until now, Lane…… I’ve never had anything like this before.’
Like a dog that follows whatever its owner tells it to suddenly show its teeth.
Lucas could not hide his embarrassment because he was so used to being treated poorly and pressured by Lane.
Meanwhile, Lane’s telepathy continued.
“…Yes, Namgoong Min defeated Gregory in one blow. It seems he had some hidden power.”
“What?”
“……Huh, no way.”
Lucas looked at Namgoong Min with his eyes raised in surprise.
…… Okay, now it seems like I can roughly picture what happened.
“The princess… Also went in together?”
“……Amazing.”
The moment when everyone’s attention was focused on Namgoong Min and Gregory Arthur.
At the same time as using Against Gregory, the princess also enters the fortune book.
And what if the princess stabs her fist just as Gregory is confused by the sudden change in space?
“Gregory, thrown out of the fortune teller, returns to reality and is thrown against the wall…”
The princess and Namgoong Min were within close range. If you want, it would be possible to hold the princess’s hand and go in together the moment you use the skill.
Some people would have seen the princess disappear as well, but it didn’t even take a second for her to use the skill and leave her Gregory.
A person with a job like Lucas wouldn’t know, but what would the average person see clearly?
This is absurd considering that there are less than ten people in this position.
‘How would you know, even if you had a job, that the princess would have gone into subspace with Namgoong Min, beaten Gregory, and come out together?’
Only people who know Namgoong Min’s skills can know that.
In other words, the princess and Lucas are the end.
It is a perfect crime committed openly.
“…Your guts are amazing.”
Nam Goong Min proved his fighting ability by tricking Gregory into thinking he had defeated him with a single blow.
He said that the duel agent he was in charge of was absolutely no stranger and that he would actually challenge him to a duel.
For a moment, Lucas got tired of that confidence and shamelessness.
Anyway, people around him began to take action in response to the obvious act of force.
“Now, wait a minute! Even so, isn’t this too much?”
“This is a ballroom, not a duel hall! I won’t deny that it’s a legitimate duel, but dueling is not allowed here!”
“…I know your abilities, but are you really Lord Lane’s representative? As far as I know, Lord Lane never comes out of his room—”
“I hereby certify in the name of Kim Eun-ha that this male student, Namgoong Min, is the legitimate representative of Lane Arthur and has been permitted to conduct the duel on his behalf. Do you have any objections?”
“……………….”
“Hmm, hmmm.”
“If the princess guarantees it…”
Could it be that the princess was dragged in because of this?
To get a duel proxy guaranteed by a notary who is more reliable than anyone else?
…… In the end, Namgoong Min proved everything.
Everything from the reason for the duel, the qualifications of the agent, and even the fighting ability.
Now all that’s left is──
“……I can’t help it.”
“Go, matriarch!”
“Hector! Are you just staying in your room all this time?”
“You’ve come to the right place! About this arbitrary decision to get engaged and the rumors…!”
──The duel opponent just appears.
It was my father who I had not seen in a long time.
Short silver hair, sharp eyes, wrinkles and beard that show age, a disciplined posture, and even a somewhat haggard appearance.
Although the father returned home after the end of the semester, he did not meet his son for various reasons, and locked himself in his room after arbitrarily arranging his sister’s engagement.
Of course, like those who rush to see their father as soon as they see him, Lucas had a lot to say.
“Everyone, be quiet.”
With just one word, the crowd becomes quiet.
Is it because of his incomprehensible behavior and seclusion for about a week?
For a moment, the vassals had forgotten what kind of man Hector Arthur was.
“……………….”
“……………….”
“……………….”
“……………….”
One of the best archers in the world. A hero who single-handedly blocked the gate that attacked Europe. The one who pierced the stars. The head of the great family Arthur.
Hector Arthur may have been old, but he was a strong man that even those with a decent job could not dare to surpass.
“……………….”
＜…………….＞
From Noble mtl dot com
“……….”
Lucas, Rain, and even the princess cannot open their mouths without permission.
There was only one person who was okay with the intimidation and charisma that Hector exuded.
The only duel agent is Namgoong Min.
“…Are you the agent who will duel on behalf of Raine?”
“Yes, matriarch.”
“Follow me.”
“As you wish.”
Boom.
Hector, who suddenly appeared, suddenly left without even looking at Gregory, who was pinned against the wall.
However, even though the door was closed and the pressure was gone, no one could open their mouth or move.
I am just overwhelmed by his presence that remains like a reverberation.
And.
＜……… I still….＞
“……………….”
Rain’s telepathy filled with tears.
Lucas was silent, at a loss for words.
Even interrupting a conversation. He also told me to be quiet. A confident tone of voice. And he ends up crying after being pressured by his father.
Because it was the first time I saw my younger sister.
‘……… Lane.’
That’s why Lucas lowered his head.
My mind was confused as to whether I should comfort him or reprimand him.
As the older brother of his younger sister, he didn’t know what to do.