Chapter: 226
‘What?’
“Eh?”
The biggest guy among the Shoddy Trio named by Mane in the game confidently stepped forward despite my question.
The other two must think he’s the representative since they didn’t stop him.
“He’s saying he wants to challenge you to a duel. The God will grant victory to the worthy.”
The instant I heard his words, my mind went blank.
It was so ridiculous that I couldn’t think of a response.
The God grants victory to the worthy, huh?
What a load of crap.
So, does that mean the people who died at the hands of monsters were worse than the monsters themselves?
Are the ones who died fighting the Evil God worse than the Evil God?
It was such nonsense that not even a snicker escaped me, but I understood what this guy meant by a duel.
Duel Trial.
This is when a duel is held to settle disputes when it’s hard to determine right from wrong.
This method was actually practiced in the medieval times, and I knew about it because there was an episode related to it in the Soul Academy game.
But this isn’t the right context for it, is it?
It seemed I wasn’t the only one thinking this.
Mane, who had been desperately explaining just a moment ago, stared blankly at the guy before quickly turning his head towards me.
“Excuse me, Young Lady. May I speak?”
Mane’s face was flushed red.
Seeing him unable to hide his expression that looked like a demon in front of me made me believe he would say something for me.
So, I nodded, and as if he had been waiting, Mane stood in front of the man.
“Rab. Are you proposing a Duel Trial against Lady Allen right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you insane… No, do you really think it’ll work?”
“Is there a reason it wouldn’t?”
“Yes, of course!”
A Duel Trial doesn’t just form any time. If that were the case, wouldn’t the logic imply that those with power can do whatever they want?
“A Duel Trial is only possible when right and wrong are unclear!”
When it comes to determining guilt, law should come first.
If the law can’t cover it, then a Duel Trial is held; there’s no reason to initiate one in a situation where it can still be judged fairly.
“Isn’t that the case right now?”
“What?!”
“Am I crazy enough to mess around with a Young Lady? I’ve never done such a thing.”
“You said it with your own mouth!”
“Did I? I don’t remember. Anyway, you call that a crime without any evidence, right? Isn’t the whole thing rather clear?”
“Wha… What about the difference in status?!”
“Isn’t everyone equal in the Academy?”
“No, no, no… Are you really some kind of lunatic?! If you pull this stunt, it won’t just be you that’s done for! We’re all going down together!”
Eventually, unable to endure the anger that burst from within, Mane grabbed the guy by his collar, but the man easily caught Mane’s wrist with one hand and pushed him aside.
As the son of a merchant and a wizard, Mane was nothing more than a minor annoyance to him.
“Lady Allen, please respond.”
I thought while looking at the man looking down at me.
There’s no reason for me to listen to this guy’s drivel. If I throw him into the trial, all his sins will be revealed immediately.
[Wait a moment, Young Lady.]
Just as I was assenting that this guy must be out of his mind, Grandpa’s voice suddenly emerged.
‘What is it, Grandpa? You told me to handle this on my own, didn’t you?’
[Don’t you think his attitude is too confident?]
‘If things go normally, he’ll be done for, and he’s trying to drag me into a Duel Trial.’
As long as the Duel Trial is established, it would then use the trial’s outcome to determine guilt.
This guy is aiming for that—hoping to get a rise out of my pride to make me accept the duel. That’s how he thinks he can survive.
[Ridiculous. The moment a duel is established, this guy’s finished, regardless of win or loss.]
‘…Huh?’
[Do you really think other nobles would let a peasant threaten them?]
If this guy loses to me, his guilt will be confirmed along with the additional charge of contempt.
However, if he somehow beats me, the outcome wouldn’t change. Other nobles wouldn’t want such a precedent to be set.
‘Does he not understand that?’
[There’s no way. He was the one who first brought up the Duel Trial.]
Grandpa suspected the Shoddy Representative had some confidence in something. He wouldn’t boldly declare he’d kill himself otherwise.
[Or perhaps he’s been spurred on by whatever that confidence is to provoke you.]
So, this is it. Hm.
[Understand? The threat directed at you is…]
‘Grandpa.’
[What is it?]
‘So what should I do?’
Just explain that part, please.
I felt like I’d die from a headache just thinking and acting on my own.
And then with all these different matters tangled up, it felt like my head would explode.
I could end up dying not from the Evil God’s unfairness but from my brain bursting!
Grandpa stopped his explanation, let out a long sigh, and spoke softly.
[We need to find out who is backing that guy.]
‘What next?’
[There are several ways. First…]
No, just moments ago I said I had a headache, and now you’ve forgotten already! Grandpa!
‘Grandpa?’
As I interrupted, Grandpa shouted.
[I get it! If you just want to handle the main culprits, pass their names to Luca! He’ll clean them up nicely!]
‘You should have said that from the start! Anyway, thank you!’
Now with the confusion in my head resolved, I just need to execute Grandpa’s plan.
First, I was told to get the name of the guy’s backer, right?
That’s no easy task. No matter how shoddy he is, he wouldn’t casually spill the names of those who protect him. He’d try to keep that name safe until the end.
But I have a method.
What makes it hard for a person to talk is their reason.
In other words, if reason flies away, the locks on their lips will open up and they’ll blabber away.
I looked into the eyes of the Shoddy Representative looking down at me.
Those filled with confidence. Eyes filled with the certainty that he wouldn’t get into trouble at all.
When I stood up because I didn’t like the position of our gazes, the Shoddy Representative still looked down at me.
It seems there’s a limit to how much I can elevate my gaze.
It can’t be helped. I’ll just lower his gaze.
“Have you decided…”
Before he could finish, I punched straight into his solar plexus.
The punch seamlessly sunk in, and from the end of my fist, I felt something break.
Could it be a bone? No way. He’s a second-year in the Academy, so there’s no way he’d break a bone from that.
He must have had something in there.
While he clutched his solar plexus, gasping for breath, I turned my head towards Mane with a feeling of satisfaction as I saw the Shoddy Representative tumble forward.
“I’ve closed the door.”
Already? Before I even said anything, he figured it out exactly! So perceptive!
I praised him with a grin and kicked the Shoddy Representative’s face.
He rolled like a ball, smashing into the wall.
“Young Lady?! What the hell is this?”
“Isn’t it because you wanted to duel, so I’m dueling? Is there a problem?”
I was ready to listen if he had a problem, but he didn’t say anything more.
In its place, the sprawled Shoddy Representative staggered up and shouted.
“Coward…”
“Coward? Are you serious? You provoke a cute and delicate girl near her solar plexus and call it cowardice?♡ Puhuhut♡ Puhahat♡ Hahaha♡”
The moment I received his outright hostility, ecstasy surged through me, and laughter burst forth.
“Hey, hey, then what’s being honest?♡ Bullying a little kid?♡ Playing the victim after throwing the first punch?♡ Putting on bravado only to get beaten down and cry?♡”
As I laughed and recounted the things he had done until now, the veins on his neck throbbed.
“Shut up!…”
“If you go by your logic, then you’re truly the cleanest piece of trash, huh?♡ The Shoddy God would definitely approve of this garbage sitting in Heaven’s trash can!♡”
Still, it’s not enough. His reason hasn’t completely flown out. At this rate, he might hold his tongue.
To truly tease him, I needed a little more.
“I’m so envious♡ How can I become trash like you?♡ Hmm~♡”
“…”
“Can’t do it, huh? I don’t look as disgusting as you do~♡ Is this what talent is?!! Puh, Keuk, so amazing!♡”
As I clapped my hands like I was sincerely praising him and exploded in laughter, the Shoddy Representative shut his mouth.
Yet, I could still sense what he was thinking.
The bulging veins on his forehead. The bloodshot eyes glaring at me. The trembling fists.
It meant one thing.
“You’re mad?♡ You’re angry?♡ So what are you planning to do about it?♡ What can a piece of Shoddy trash like you even do?♡”
“What can I even do?!”
“Ah!♡ I bet you can daydream♡ Imagining yourself winning while sobbing in your corner!♡”
“I’ll show you! You bastard!”
Seeing him charge at me with a crazed look, I was certain he had blown his reason away.
Easily dodging the punch he threw out without thinking, I seized his wrist and slammed him back into the wall.
BAM! After a loud sound, the Shoddy Representative hit the ground headfirst.
But it’s all good. He won’t pass out from that.
Look at him. He’s struggling to get up while staring at me like I’m his enemy.
Now, it’s time to stomp on his pride.
I’ll make him say how great he thinks he is. Who he thinks recognizes him.
To get that out of him.
“You’re truly Shoddy♡ How dare you challenge me to a duel with such skills?♡ Aren’t you ashamed?♡ Doesn’t it give you self-loathing?♡ Or maybe you intentionally wanted to get beaten and initiated the duel?♡ Disgusting masochistic pervert!♡ Just bite your tongue and die!♡”
