Chapter 137
Chapter 137. Bloom and Scatter
The next day, midnight.
The training grounds illuminated by the brilliant moon.
“—Based on the above declarations, I, Chief Jijiivart Reiju, recognize that Lumiafia Reiju challenges Zilbagias Reiju to a duel by spear!”
Jijiivart declared in an incredibly loud voice.
Oh wow… The crowd of ordinary demons buzzed in awe.
Then, standing there with a serious face, was me, and next to me, Lumiafia was clutching her spear, trembling but putting on a brave face.
How did it come to this…?
“It’s your mother’s fault.”
Well, that’s true.
Even when I glanced to my side, Lumiafia was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she didn’t even notice my gaze, barely managing to stand on her own willpower.
“Hey, isn’t the princess still a squire? Challenging a viscount—especially that prince—is totally reckless…”
Someone in the audience muttered with half annoyance and half sympathy.
“Seriously, it’s obvious she was dragged out against her will.”
“Looks like she’s being made to take responsibility… like a tail being cut off…”
“There’s validity to what the Dios family members said…”
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Lumiafia, who didn’t look remotely eager, raised doubts among some regarding the Vart family’s intentions.
“No, no, the princess was fired up before she saw the prince’s training.”
However, some people casually chimed in.
The three fools—or rather, Albar Aoril and his lackeys.
“I’ll blow them away because I’m not happy about it! Back then, she was really confident.”
“But then that guy caught wind of it, and things turned out like this…”
“Still, once you’ve said something, you can’t take it back, right?”
As the three fools shared the behind-the-scenes story, the demons nodded in understanding.
“That’s right; before seeing that training…”
“We didn’t really think it was true, either…”
“No way we could back down now without looking weak…”
The gazes of the demons watching Lumiafia turned from pitying to warm and concerned.
“Uugh…”
Lumiafia trembled while doing her best to hold back her tears.
Having been proclaimed so boldly and facing everyone’s scrutiny, there was no way to escape this, and frankly, this duel felt more like a public execution than a contest…
It was technically decided that there would be no killing, though.
I recalled Platy’s words—
†††
“Well, I’m not really looking forward to this,”
I meekly protested after the Chief’s family left the room.
“Of course.”
Platy nodded with a composed face. It was like hitting a stake in a swamp, her lack of response suggesting she didn’t even grasp my protest.
“But you see, Zilbagias. That concerns me.”
“Concerns… you?”
Huh? What does she mean by that?
“…You are too soft on women.”
Platy gave me a look as if I were something pitiful to behold when I tilted my head in confusion.
“Your liking for women is… well, it can’t be helped.”
It seemed she held back some of her words.
“It’s not good to be soft on them. If this duel were against Eijivart instead of Lumiafia, you wouldn’t hesitate as much, would you?”
…….
I can’t deny that.
“No, it’s really not a gender thing. If the opponent were a guy almost my age, I’d hesitate too.”
“Is that so…?”
Platy looked like she barely believed me.
“Incidentally, I also agree with this lady right now.”
Antendeixis, you too?!
“As a mother, I can fight her without any special regard. But if I have to fight a beautiful woman, I shouldn’t lose my fighting spirit.”
Platy clapped her fan against her knee and glared at me.
“You, when on the battlefield, can you properly kill a woman?”
“—I can kill.”
I answered quietly, staring straight back at Platy almost defiantly.
“I understand that daily life and the battlefield are separate matters.”
This wasn’t even about gender; in the case of an alliance, I would hesitate against anyone.
But I must maneuver as the Demon Lord’s Prince. If necessary, I will kill anyone.
I’ve made up my mind about that.
Don’t underestimate me.
“…Right. For now, let’s leave it at that.”
Platy opened her fan with a flourish, hiding a smile at her lips.
“Tomorrow’s duel is — on the battlefield. If you can mercilessly hurt a beautiful girl of your kin, then you should have no problem with anyone else. No matter how much you hurt them, it’s all consensual. Since it’s family, it won’t become a political issue. A perfect practice partner has come, how fortunate.”
With a huff, Platy laughed.
“—Go at it with the intention to kill. You can’t hold back.”
“…Understood.”
I nodded, forcing a serious expression, feeling a bit uneasy.
“This guy definitely doesn’t forgive that little girl…”
Antendeixis muttered in disbelief.
Hmm.
I should be cautious not to incur Platy’s wrath…
†††
And so it began.
“No magic until one side can’t fight anymore. We’re having a pure spear duel.”
Jijiivart looked back and forth between me and Lumiafia as we faced off, spears at the ready.
“Well then, let’s begin!”
He shouted with a stern expression like a statue.
“…………”
The audience held their breath in anticipation, along with Jijiivart and his family.
Zikvart had an icy expression while Eijivart squinted his eyes, looking like he didn’t want to see but couldn’t look away.
My allies, including Liliana, Garunya, and Leila, stood off to the side, all displaying equally distressed faces.
The only one who was grinning widely, waving her fan, was Platy.
“Are we going or not?”
Yeah, I’m going.
Returning to the battle, I turned to face Lumiafia.
“…Ugh, …guh…”
Lumiafia stood there, completely frozen, pointing her spear at me.
This was the basic stance. It seemed she hadn’t skipped her training; her legs and weight distribution were solid.
But unfortunately, she was so tense that it felt like a light poke would send her tumbling. This wasn’t even a match.
“—You, can you properly kill a woman on the battlefield?”
Platy’s question echoed in my mind.
Suddenly, I found myself reflecting back to the beginning.
Usually, I try not to think about it while with everyone, but—eventually, I will betray almost everyone here.
Platy, the entire demon race. The foolish three. The serious Eijivart, —and finally, even the Demon Lord.
Kill.
Not just the demons. Viene and Virosa, whom I rely on as night elves. Even Garunya, who serves me with sincere loyalty…
I will betray them all and kill them.
“—You, can you properly kill a woman on the battlefield?”
But likely, before that, I will have to lay hands on comrades in battle.
Countless comrades.
To protect my position as the Demon Lord’s Prince. To gain the power of the taboo…
And then—on that day, I will destroy the Demon Kingdom…!
I looked once more at the girl opposing me.
The demons I must loathe.
Age? Gender? Doesn’t matter. She is an enemy.
“—You, can you properly kill a woman on the battlefield?”
Ha ha.
What a ridiculous question.
“…!”
Lumiafia gasped, her face paling as she staggered back, sweat breaking out on her brow.
“As long as you’ve challenged me to a duel, I won’t hold back, even if you’re weaker than me.”
I quietly opened my mouth, and Lumiafia flinched, not expecting me to speak.
“But even if told not to hold back, if I waste you like this, it would be unfair to the warriors on the front lines. Morally, your injuries will be up to me to treat.”
I openly made a reluctant expression.
“But— I also don’t want to feel unnecessary pain. Understand?”
I tilted my head exaggeratedly as Lumiafia stammered, “I-I understand…”
“Exactly. So, I came up with a good idea.”
In my hand—
The tip of the spear—the Holy Sword trembled.
“—If you die, then I’ll no longer need to treat you, right?”
I asked with the best smile I could muster, and Lumiafia’s eyes widened in shock.
Magic power surged throughout her body.
She stepped in all at once.
The sheltered demon girl before me—couldn’t react to my approach and just stared blankly at the advancing blade.
“Die.”
I aimed the Holy Sword at her unprotected neck—
“Wait—”
Ha! What does waiting mean in a duel?
—I struck.
The seemingly dull blade of Adamas easily found its way to her slender neck, slicing through the carotid artery and nearly severing her head—
“Whoa!”
—Right before it could, I pulled back the sword.
With a splash, Lumiafia’s blood sprayed across the training grounds, the girl with vacant eyes losing her balance and collapsing.
“[Transfer]”
And I exerted all my strength to press my hand against my neck while taking on that wound.
“…”
A jagged gash opened on my neck, hot blood surging forth.
“…Lumia—!”
I saw Zikvart rushing towards me, his face changed in horror, with Eijivart and Jijiivart looking equally pale.
“She’s not…dead yet.”
I rasped out while pointing at the rolling Lumiafia. As long as I was alive, she couldn’t be dead. Though, she probably thought she was gone.
Damn it, so this is what it feels like to have your neck almost cut. I could feel my face growing pale, and my vision was narrowing—
“Get a hold of yourself!”
Antendeixis, popping out of me, materialized to hold my wound and help stop the bleeding.
“Wahhh!!”
I could hear Liliana’s voice faintly crying in the distance.
I turned my eyes to look at Platy.
—She had an incredibly exasperated look on her face.
Heh, how about that.
I really tried to kill her…
That’s when I felt the breath of Liliana nearby, and I lost consciousness like a candle flame being snuffed out.
