87 – 18. Duel under the stars
A night with stars rising in the sky.
Even late at night, every corner of the city was brightly lit, and the Arthur Mansion was no exception.
The mansion where countless people lived was running regardless of day or night.
Just today, there was an unnatural silence.
“……….”
Tuk, thuk.
The same was true for Lucas Arthur, who was tapping on the desk with a somewhat nervous look.
Normally, he would have gone back to his room a long time ago, but today he was sitting in the living room of the main building, dressed in a suit.
The steaming black tea was left on the other side as well.
“……….”
Tick. Tick. Tick.
People move around quietly and remain silent without anyone making a sound.
Because of that, all Lucas could hear was the sound of the clock.
How long has it been since he tapped his fingers to that ticking sound?
“Are you worried?”
“…Yes, of course.”
When Lucas closed his eyes, Namgoong Min was there, savoring the black tea he had prepared.
Black suit, red shirt, white gloves and even a relaxed smile.
It was the appearance of a fortune teller that never changed.
…… Just for today, I don’t know how it will be.
“I’m speaking for the last time as a friend…”
“I will win and come back.”
“……………….”
“That’s all I have to say.”
“……….”
Yes, it is too late to try to stop him now.
More than anything, Lucas himself is also worried about Namgoong Min…… Because I had a vague belief that maybe I would really win and everything would be resolved.
This was not something to say to a friend who was about to face a duel.
Lucas composed himself and stood up.
“I wish you good luck.”
“Hey, now that I think about it, who are you rooting for? Your friend or your father?”
“…Don’t use your tongue even in situations like this.”
“I understand, I understand.”
Tight.
Likewise, Lucas stood up and held hands with Namgoong Min and faced him.
I was still worried about whether this was the right choice and whether I would lose a friend I could confide in.
The arrow has already left the demonstration a long time ago.
“……………….”
“……………….”
Lucas, who had been shaking hands for a while, took his hand away first.
In those eyes, instead of anxiety, only determination remained.
“I did everything I could. Once the duel begins…No one will be able to interfere now.”
“Well, of course you should.”
“…Yes, you laugh even in situations like this…”
Is that why he was able to trust the fortune teller named Namgoong Min and become his friend?
When I first entered the academy, I never imagined that I would make friends, even if they were subordinates.
This fortune teller was an opponent who far exceeded even his standards as a meritocrat and made him feel like he was winning to the point where he wanted to follow him as a friend.
Lucas did not speak for a long time.
Now the results will prove everything.
“See you later.”
“…Okay, see you later.”
Please, I hope to see this delightful friend alive again.
Lucas prayed to God for the first time in his life.
*
“You’re here.”
“Yes, I’m here.”
A small mountain within the grounds of Arthur’s mansion.
Even though it was small, it was a dense forest with all kinds of bushes and trees growing there.
The top of that place. In a place where there are no trees or rocks to cover the surroundings, only ankle-length grass.
Hector Arthur was waiting for me under the stars, holding his longbow.
A place filled with only the quiet moonlight and wind.
Hector and I looked at each other.
“There is one minute left until midnight.”
One minute until the duel begins.
Needing to tell you something that I should know very well is not to encourage you to relax or to be considerate by telling you the time.
This is an ultimatum.
A reminder that after one minute there will be no turning back.
‘Perhaps if I kneel here, I can withdraw the duel.’
Instead, he would have to become Hector’s limb in many ways, but it is not impossible.
Of course, there was no reason for me to reverse the duel just because I realized that fact.
“I see.”
“…Okay, is that your choice?”
Hector, who had confirmed to the last that my will was firm, closed his mouth.
I guess there is no need for words anymore.
I didn’t have the heart to say anything more.
Untie both arms and legs and check necklaces, rings, and earrings.
After activating In advance, kiss the ring on the ring finger of your left hand.
“……….”
For a moment, Hector’s eyebrows twitched, but then he just fired his longbow as if nothing had happened.
He also checked the quiver on his back and touched the string of his longbow once.
1 Minute is over.
It was midnight.
And.
“──Inhale!!”
Hector, who fired ten arrows in an instant, glares at me.
But I didn’t have time to make eye contact with him or smile leisurely.
‘This is much more than I thought…… !’
Out of the ten arrows, none had the same trajectory, and none failed to hit me.
As soon as midnight hit, he quickly escaped, but Hector fired the arrow accurately as if he had predicted even that.
Three feet forward, five feet in a curved line, and two feet in the sky.
Arrows are flying in front of my eyes, on both sides, and in the sky at the same time.
Hook! Sigh! Poop!
“Whoa!?”
Of course, there was no way for me to avoid that.
I was able to read the arrow’s path through , But that was it.
A total of ten arrows were lodged in the body of a person with ‘destructive physical aptitude’.
Arms, legs, waist, stomach, back.
Because I blocked my head with both arms, the arrow didn’t hit me between the eyes, but in less than a second, I turned into a hedgehog.
Of course, it didn’t end there.
“Hmm…!!”
Ping, ping, ping pipipiping!!!
Even though I was confirmed to be helpless, there was no hesitation or mercy in Hector’s hands.
He pulls the misshapen longbow, which is as big as his height, as if he were firing a machine gun.
Arrows are fired in all sorts of directions and trajectories, and additional arrows that predict movement are also fired.
Like a homemade bombing, the area around me is covered with arrows.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths.
In the past, the archer who represented Europe and was called the one who shot down the stars fired hundreds of arrows in just three breaths.
“……Whew.”
Was it too much for you to breathe, or did you think it was enough?
The rain of arrows that seemed like it would never end stopped.
It was then that Hector’s gaze became sharper.
“There you are.”
“……………….”
It is unusual to speak during a life-threatening duel.
However, my condition was so dire that Hector stopped archery.
From head to toe, there was no place that wasn’t pierced with arrows, and the arrows were so dense that it was impossible to see his appearance or clothing.
It was not just the front, it was a terrible sight, with arrows covering everything up, down, left and right.
Hector continued speaking while looking at me.
“How long do you plan to postpone?”
“……………….”
“If you’re going to deceive, you have to deceive properly. If you hit an arrow and don’t bleed a single drop of blood, it’s just deception.”
“…I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to deceive you.”
Patter!
When Hector moves his body in response to his sarcastic words, the arrows stuck in his body fall out.
Well, nothing is really stuck in my body.
“That ring….”
“Isn’t it okay? It’s a pretty cool artifact.”
I shook my body a little and all the arrows fell to the ground.
Hundreds of arrows hit the target, but none of them stuck properly.
Of course, it’s not my skill.
“It was a gift from a friend.”
Artifact .
This is an artifact that boosts her physical abilities for 10 minutes when a pure virgin breathes into it.
Luckily(?), The virgin was determined to be a virgin, so I could also use it.
Of course, I got it from Liu.
Is that all?
“All those earrings and necklace.”
“It’s an artifact. Everything.”
Left earring . An artifact that prevents up to 5 surprise attacks that the user is not aware of.
Right earring . An artifact that reduces the shock to the user by half.
Necklace . An artifact that can absorb the power of an artifact and strengthens the user’s body depending on the artifact absorbed.
With , The first surprise arrow was blocked from piercing the suit.
The onslaught that followed was withstood with , , And , Which had already been fed with Artifacts.
‘f*ck, this thing’s intestines are absolutely crushed.’
Of course, there is no damage. Although the impact was reduced and the body was strengthened to the point where arrowheads could not pierce it, an arrow hit was a hit.
The constant shock agitated my brain and body, and I had already coughed up blood several times.
Thanks to , The blood was removed and it looks fine.
“……It’s not honorable.”
“Isn’t it better than dying?”
Of course, this kind of thing is taboo in a duel.
If you go to a duel wrapped in artifacts, it is obvious that you will win or lose.
That’s why Hector left all the countless artifacts in the family and prepared ordinary longbows and arrows.
If he wanted, he could have postponed this duel under the excuse of tarnishing his honor and fought again without the artifact in the presence of a notary.
“And, it doesn’t seem like the head of the family is making any objections either.”
“……………….”
Hector said nothing.
That guy’s thoughts are obvious.
‘Anyway, Hector’s purpose is to kill me.’
Killing me who knows the whole story and covering it all up. That’s why Hector accepted the duel.
If the use of the artifact is protested for the re-duel, Hector and I will be able to engage in all kinds of political maneuvering again until a new date for the re-duel is set.
From Noble mtl dot com
In that respect, Hector is wary of me.
‘Because I have Liu and the princess.’
So, rather than creating a useless variable, he will just try to kill me in this duel whether he uses the artifact or not.
That’s also why I openly brought in artifacts and used them.
‘Are you confident?’
In the end, even if I came out wearing an end-level artifact, Hector would use it to block the arrows.
I am confident that I will win and kill him.
Is that arrogance? No way.
‘Hector Arthur is one of the few strong men who can fight Scarlett Redfield for more than a minute.’
Is it possible to fight with the grandfather who is the strongest in that world? It is a skill worth being proud of.
The only problem is that that is the standard for the ‘heyday’.
How strong is Hector Arthur, who has been away from the bow for over 10 years and whose body is also aging?
That was something I didn’t know about.
All you have to do is check from now on.
“Then let’s go again!”
“……!”
Quang!
The physical abilities strengthened through And Far exceeded even my expectations.
Even though they both have a 10-minute time limit, I think this is a bit excessive.
I may not be as good as a hero or a princess, but at least I can run at a speed comparable to Sasaki Ito and punch like that──
“You’re immature.”
──Hector, who lightly dodges the punch, hits me with his longbow.
It was said that I compensated for it with the artifact, but before I felt numb from the impact for a moment, Hector grabbed the arrow with his other hand and stabbed it into my waist.
“Huh!?”
“I don’t have calluses on my hands, and my fighting skills are poor. How can you approach a topic like that?”
“Of course…You have thoughts!!!”
.
“……This?”
In an instant, the battlefield changes from a grassy field to a dark fortune teller.
Hector was momentarily taken aback by the sudden movement, but then quickly got away from me with cool eyes.
“…Is this a subspace movement skill? The space is not wide…And I can’t see any singularities.”
“Cluck, cough! Whoa… But, seeing as you stepped back, I guess you were scared?”
“Yes. When I was younger, I ignored skills that seemed insignificant and got seriously hurt.”
I felt it both in the game and in reality, but forced movement skills like Are very rare.
Everyone was embarrassed when I used this at the academy.
But the opponent was a man who was called the hero of Europe, and the archer of archers who had gone in and out of the gate countless times.
Of course, I have experienced this type of skill before, and I am cautious.
‘In reality, it’s nothing special…….’
Has no effect internally. Going out is just a matter of stepping out of the blackout curtain.
So, inexperienced students could easily destroy it by simply swinging their swords or charging at them.
Rather, since he is an experienced veteran, he does not move easily.
Usually, skills that summon to subspace either give the user some advantage or are often traps.
Even in the game, these types of skills were all powerful at the end level.
Oh, except for .
“…First of all, it doesn’t seem to be an offensive ability since it doesn’t move. There are also strange decorations and tables. Is this some kind of altar?”
“……………….”
“Well, it doesn’t really matter. I have plenty of time anyway.”
Hector was relaxed. I had no choice but to relax.
Anyway, a duel ends when one side dies or surrenders.
During that time, he will be able to leisurely destroy .
“He’s even more amazing than that. To have such skills at that age… If I had known this would happen, I should have encouraged him more before the duel.”
“……………….”
“But there is no turning back now. Now that this has happened, I will dig you up.”
His eyes shine, and his pupils turn into a cross shape, like the shape of an aiming gun.
Archer job skill .
The longbow sparkles once. Then, arrows like blue water appear in the demonstration, waving shapelessly.
Archer job skill .
The muscles of the protesting arm pulsate. One arm grows bigger little by little, and even tears the suit he was wearing, becoming stronger.
General skill .
Hector stops breathing. While holding your breath, attach the To the string, look at the ceiling with , And pull the string with the .
Hold your breath through the whole process and activate the last skill.
General skill .
While breathing stopped, I stared at the ceiling covered by the blackout curtain with a concentration far beyond the normal range.
It shoots out.
Quaaa
“……………….”
The arrow fired with a sound comparable to that of a missile destroys With just a shock wave and disappears into the distant night sky.
Hector finally exhaled and looked at me.
“Use every skill, every ability, every artifact you have. I am ready to take it all, and I am prepared to destroy it all.”
“……….”
“As a tribute to a talented young man, I will look at everything about you and pass it on to Lane.”
──The duel agent named Namgoong Min was truly a great person. He says you killed that person.
“Of course, you will return to your corpse.”
Hector declares.
As a powerful archer, as the head of Arthur’s family, and as a duelist who accepted the duel.
I will face the duel without any hesitation.
“……Those words.”
Of course, whether you come out like that or not.
“I’ll give it back to you, matriarch.”
I will do my best to win.
Liu, the princess, Lucas…… And with Lane.
Because I promised my friends.
“…Huh, indeed.”
“……………….”
“The more I look at it, the more I like it.”
Arrows fall from the sky.
The That Hector had shot into the sky a little while ago was returning to this spot.
…… Yes, the duel has just begun.
It is still far from over.
The arrow fell.