88 – 18. Duel under the stars
“……I guess it’ll be okay.”
“If you’re that fortune teller, you’ll be fine.”
A hotel with a view of Arthur’s mansion on a night when the stars rise.
Unable to hide her anxious expression, the princess sighed and put down her glass.
How on earth can you be truthful?
You can see right there in the distance, a talented student and prospective imperial fortune teller.
And…… Her friend Namgoong Min is risking her life.
“I was trying to stop you in the first place…A duel against that Hector Arthur…”
“……….”
“Against a hero who is not just an idiot, but even destroyed a meteorite when he was young…”
“……Princess.”
“…Why are you doing that?”
As the princess continued to regret and worry, Liu, who was sitting across from her, opened her closed eyes.
For a moment, the princess had doubts about her seemingly relaxed expression.
Liu looked out the window toward the Ardur Mansion.
“Did you see that bastard do things without thinking?”
“That’s…”
Entrance exam, first class, assassination threat, survival, and even the skill thief incident in the Great Lakes.
In all of these things, the fortuneteller acted recklessly and boldly, but it was never wrong.
That’s partly because of the mysterious fortune-telling, and the conversational skills that make you fall in love the more you listen to it may also play a part.
However, the princess could not let go of her anxiety despite Liu’s words.
“…I have to go and tell him right now. Namgoong Min is an important member of the Korean Empire’s imperial family, so killing him is—─”
“Instead, the issue of that psychic b*tch’s engagement will also be eliminated. A duel is a legitimate thing to risk one’s life for, but no one will accept it as a duel that guarantees survival.”
“I’d rather do it that way…”
“Now, there are less than three days left until the engagement ceremony. In the meantime, if the duel becomes useless, can you predict what the fortuneteller will do? No, more than anything.”
Liu’s sharp eyes pierce not through the window but at the princess.
…… It was also the first time the princess, who had seen Liu for a long time, was seeing him.
“Would Namgoong Min want that?”
“……….”
“In the end, you sent it to me. So now….”
“…Now?”
No way.
The princess, guessing what Liu was trying to swallow, opened her eyes wide.
Do you really mean that? No one else but Liu Yan?
This patient with a suspected serious disease…… ?
“…I have no choice but to believe it.”
“………Oh my god.”
I live my life to hear Liu Yan say that he trusts someone?
The princess was stunned for a moment, then realized that this was reality and burst out laughing.
“I don’t mean to make fun of you, but it’s a joke that no one will believe that such a wealthy person trusts someone.”
“…There’s nothing we can do, right? The damn fortune teller has already left…I have no choice but to trust and wait.”
“…….”
Just a little, just a little.
The princess seemed to be able to understand what Liu was feeling.
‘I said it was possessiveness.’
The princess clearly remembers the conversation in that back alley.
Rein Arthur and Liu Yen also show how twisted and dangerous their feelings are for Namgoong Min.
Rain is lacking, Liu is possessive.
Of course, it was a feeling she couldn’t understand, even though she prides herself on being normal……
‘The only person a wealthy person with a suspicious disease can trust…….’
…… Well, wouldn’t you like to have it?
Wouldn’t you like to have someone by your side and trust you?
Since long ago, Liu has been suspicious of others, but he has shown to be tired of that suspicion.
That’s why the princess snorted.
Even if that were the case, I had no intention of just putting Namgoong Min on display in Rio’s cabinet.
Of course, as a ‘friend’.
It was that time.
“……Huh?”
“…Ah?”
──A huge arrow shining blue is launched into the night sky and then falls.
A majestic blue flash of light covers the Arthur Mansion, reaching a distant hotel and flashing.
“……….”
“……………….”
Even if something like this happened, there would be no need for the police or military to show up. I had already informed the French government that there would be a duel.
It’s a legitimate duel, and since it takes place on Arthur’s private property, no one can interfere.
That is a clear fact.
It even made the princess break into a cold sweat.
‘…… ‘I’ll definitely come back.’
Victorious and alive.
Definitely.
“……Fortune teller…….”
And.
Liu’s eyes wavered.
…… Continue.
*
Bam!! Kwaaang!!!!!
“Ugh!”
A flash of light blinds your eyes and an explosion of sound explodes your ears.
Giant trees are easily uprooted, rocks break like sand, and the ground shakes.
What causes all this destruction is just an arrow?
I’m really amazed───Yes!
‘I almost went for the real goal…… !’
Thanks to Turned on with polarity, , And Still in effect, I just prevented the arrow from being pierced into my solar plexus, but arrows are still flying from everywhere.
It’s already at its limit because of the That fell from the sky earlier.
‘There are too many!’
The machine gun-like arrows flying from the front are a bit harsh.
Wouldn’t an arrow fired into the sky fall exactly on top of one’s head?
I suddenly shot at a tree and the arrow that hit the tree bounced back towards me.
It fires threatening shots in the path I run in, making me stop.
It was clearly a skill well-versed in combat.
But I……
“You’re needlessly brave.”
…… I have no choice but to keep rushing.
I improved my physical abilities with artifacts, but this is all I have.
There are no means of long-distance attack, so you just have to get close and fight somehow……
“Sigh!!”
As I run, all kinds of arrows are aimed at me, and even if I somehow get closer, I cannot defeat Hector, who is swinging a longbow.
Honestly, the arrows cannot pierce my body, which has been strengthened with artifacts, so attack and defense are established. If it weren’t for that, I would have died a long time ago.
But still, there was a reason for trying to get so close to the point of ignorance.
“……!!”
Ah, it was a bit of a waste just now.
I tried to grab his shoulder, but I ended up just tearing his suit.
…… Although it was only for a moment, I realized during the fight that Hector’s physical abilities were not as good as I thought.
Shooting a bow requires training your arms, waist, and legs, so I’m pretty good for my age, but in my current state, I’m clearly inferior.
He might have trained consistently like Scarlett Redfield, but Hector, who has been training with a bow for over 10 years, cannot beat his age.
Because aging is equal even if you have a job.
I guess it can’t be helped since I’m over 60 years old.
In other words, if I can somehow get Hector in my hands, I can defeat him in one go……
“Huh!!!”
Ping! Ping! Ping!
…… Yes, but
As an archer, his feet are extremely fast, so the distance is difficult to close.
Even though it is a mountain full of trees, there are arrows aimed precisely at me.
Well, I don’t think I can win a duel using such an ignorant method.
First of all, you have to guide Hector there until the effect of the artifact wears off──
“As expected, you are immature.”
“……!?”
Charralalalalak──!!
This…… What?
…… Line?
Ping! Ping! Ping!
“Oh my…!”
There is something like a thread connected to the end of the arrow.
It was night, I was in the forest, and Was so focused on Hector that I didn’t notice.
From Noble mtl dot com
Before I knew it, the arrows stuck in the trees and the ground and the threads connected to them were entangling my body.
‘Plus, this thread is tough!’
Is it difficult to quit even with my own strength?
If you concentrate, you can somehow break it, but Hector shoots an arrow much faster than I can cut the thread.
The arrows were no longer aimed at me. It just shoots around me, tangling the threads and tying me up.
…… It took less than a minute for me to get to the point where I couldn’t even lift a finger.
No matter how much you try, the thread only gets tighter and shows no signs of breaking.
And.
Hector aims an arrow at me.
Only then did I know the source of these threads.
“…No way, with a torn suit…!”
The suit top I tore off earlier is completely gone.
Is it possible that in that urgent situation, he untied the thread from his suit, tied it to an arrow, and flew it?
And that while maintaining the existing shooting speed?
Is that possible?
“You lack experience.”
Hector, wearing only a white shirt, looks between my eyes while maintaining a solemn expression.
Shoots an arrow.
Park!
“Ugh!?”
Park! Pop! Pop!
Aiming only between the eyebrows.
They keep shooting at the same place.
Most arrows fall without being able to pierce the reinforced skin, but after more than 20 arrows, the wounds begin to appear little by little.
If this continues, it’s only a matter of time before my eyebrows are pierced──
“Say you lost.”
“……What?”
“You have already lost. By the time you find yourself in this situation, it is already over. So surrender.”
Hector’s eyes flash and he cajoles.
Nevertheless, the demonstration with arrows attached did not let go.
“If you surrender now, I will marry you to Raine. I will also give you a suitable family.”
“……………….”
“I think that’s how much I want you. I don’t want to lose out on a talented person who will be of great help to the family because I can’t get over a moment’s emotion.”
“……….”
“So just say one thing. You lost.”
…… Tell me you lost? Are you saying you’re going to marry me to Raine?
You are so persistent. Is that why you like me that much?
Oh, well. Okay. You can surrender.
But.
“Apple.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you going to apologize to Lane…?”
“……….”
Silence was a great answer.
Then that’s it.
What I’m going to say is obvious.
“Get out.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ping.
After the refusal, Hector protested without any hesitation.
At that time, I instinctively prepared for the second , Even though I had a feeling that the arrow would pierce between the eyes.
Hwareuk.
“…Hmm?”
Fire.
The flame is burning.
Swallow the arrows, swallow the threads, swallow the forest.
By swallowing me too.
The fire of Burns.
“This is…Lucas’s…!”
Hector raises his eyes at the familiar feeling.
Hector, realizing that the flames were not a natural phenomenon, urgently fired an
Incorporeal arrow──
“I told you to f*ck off!”
“Big, big!!”
Wow!
…… Oh, it’s so damn hot.
Lucas, even if he casts a spell, how strong is it?
But thanks to you, I was able to punch the head of the family in the face, so I’m just grateful.
“Big……!”
Hector, vomiting blood and staggering, turns his fierce eyes towards me.
While he is out of his mind, you have to run right away and deliver a follow-up blow.
‘…… The effect is over.’
10 Minutes have just ended. Really amazing timing.
My whole body was sore and painful, blood was flowing from between my eyebrows, and even burns were occurring all over my body.
Hector was only hit once, and I was completely injured.
As I took a deep breath and calmed my trembling hands and feet, Hector, one of his cheeks torn and swollen, glared at me.
I smiled at him and said,
“Tell me, I lost.”
“……What?”
“Isn’t your vision shaken? Even your brain is concussed. If you shoot an arrow in that situation, how many hits would it take?”
“……….”
“So, surrender before I really kill the head of the family. Didn’t I tell you? I’ll have to kneel, so at least I’ll leave you with a leg.”
“…Ha, ha! hahahaha!!”
hahahaha!!!
Hector, who threw off his solemn expression and atmosphere and laughed out loud while coughing up blood, gritted his teeth.
He raises his longbow with a fierce smile and anger on his face.
“I think I know how you felt. I felt sorry earlier.”
“……….”
“So, let me answer too.”
Kirik.
Hector, who had tied an arrow to his longbow with his trembling hands and eyesight, raised the corner of his mouth.
It was a smile that showed his hidden true nature.
“Turn it off.”
“I’m sorry.”
Ping!
Shoots an arrow. But it doesn’t fit.
I walked one step with trembling legs.
Ping!
Shoot the arrow again. This time I brushed his shoulder.
I run slowly, holding on to my shaking legs.
Ping!
I shoot an arrow again. Maybe I was unlucky, but it got stuck in my forearm.
Once I started running, I was able to keep running even without any strength in my body.
So I ran and ran again.
To Hector who keeps messing around──
“Where!!!”
An angry Hector gave up on protesting and continued to swing his longbow.
But, it is not correct.
Because I didn’t run towards Hector in the first place.
Booung.
The longbow is swung in the air.
I passed him and ran toward the back.
“……Hmm?”
Only then did Hector seem to realize how far he had come.
I started at the top of the mountain, came down the mountain path, and now I can even see a building in front of me.
Hector himself came…… The Arthur family’s old annex.
“……….”
And then the fortune teller, standing in front of the wide open door of the annex, smiles.
Stay confident even though your whole body is shaking and you are breathing heavily.
“If you’re scared, you don’t have to come in.”
Raising one hand, he waggled his fingers at Hector.
It was a great provocation.
“…The damn guy?”
It was the reaction I expected.