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Summarizing the duel before my eyes, one might say it showcased the depravity of a wicked human.

Ophelia was using despicable and mean tactics that made the observing elves shudder.

Throwing sand was just part of the deal; she didn’t hesitate to target sensitive areas like the face. Keeping Eldisia constantly aware of her face, she blocked her vision and plunged inward at the opportune moment.

Then, she tripped Eldisia by hooking her leg, transitioning into a grappling hold.

“…Where on earth did you learn such joint locks?”

“….”

“Could it possibly be you…?”

“Hmm.”

Back in the day, during my time at the Cathedral of the Saint, I had laid Ophelia down as a form of punishment. The memory of her screams filled with agony still echoed in my ears.

In other words, everything Ophelia was doing now could rightly be traced back to my teachings.

It seemed the phrase “a shameful self-portrait” was fitting here.

“Ugh! Cowardly human scum!”

In the end, Eldisia unleashed a spirit and escaped from Ophelia’s grasp.

Her once-prized golden hair and armor were caked in dirt; sand must’ve gotten into her eyes, as they were bloodshot, and her face was smeared with dried blood from her nose. Blood trickled down from her cracked lips.

It was pitiful enough to be considered tragic; Eldisia was a mess.

Meanwhile, Ophelia, who had caused this, wore a smile that seemed ready to tear apart her face.

Ophelia’s personality leaned closer to that of a villain, protecting the strong and bullying the weak. And Eldisia was certainly among the weaker ones.

“Despicable human scum!”

“What? Got a problem? This is a duel among humans. It’s different from you lofty ear demons!”

No.

Human duels aren’t this petty.

“….”

“Feeling a bit embarrassed, huh?”

At Erwin’s taunts, I gazed into the distance, where Azar, Albrecht, and a pale-faced Emily were approaching.

“Elliot, what in the world is happening?”

“We got into a scuffle. It’s a duel.”

At that, Azar looked over at the duel and remarked, “Oh? Is the Saintess winning?”

“Well, of course.”

Still, it was a one-sided affair, not quite fitting the definition of a fair duel.

Eldisia was trembling at Ophelia’s tactics, throwing away her knightly honor.

“For the honor of the elves, I will definitely defeat you here!”

Eldisia raised her sword with both hands.

A tremendous amount of mana swirled like a storm and surged into her sword.

It was quite a formidable level of magical power.

Even I couldn’t help but widen my eyes in surprise.

Erwin whistled in astonishment.

“Oh, so she’s no loser even if she’s fallen!”

“Is it that impressive?”

“Well, it’s indeed considerable technique to embed a high-level spirit into a non-living object like a sword. The level of refinement seems decent too. She could tear through a barrier like paper.”

“Hm.”

“Honestly, I don’t think this is a technique you should be using in a duel, but it seems the little brat is furious. She looks ready to kill!”

“….”

Furrowing my brow, I glanced at Ophelia.

If she allowed that strike and got seriously hurt, I might just end up folding that brat Eldisia in half.

Amidst that council of concern, Emily tugged at my sleeve.

“Why?”

“Are you worried about the Saintess?”

Emily, smiling slyly, gestured for reassurance, while I turned back towards Ophelia.

“…What’s that?”

“I taught her some really good stuff!”

The barrier was a holy magic that covered all directions.

However, it seemed Ophelia had altered it with Emily’s teachings.

It would be more accurate to say she minimized the original area of the universal barrier and concentrated it into a single point. The density of the barrier created in this manner was solid enough to withstand any attack.

“We decided to call it the compressed barrier.”

“…I can see it could block, but…”

I squinted at Ophelia’s shrunken barrier.

“Isn’t it a bit too small?”

Only about the size of a palm.

To defend against an entire blade with such a small barrier would require considerable skill.

“Don’t worry, Sir Elliot.”

But Azar leaned against the railing, confidently reassuring me.

“It seems I’m not too bad of an educator.”

As I was taken aback, the moment I was pondering that, Eldisia, with spirit enveloping her sword, lunged forward.

Even from a distance, I felt the fierce momentum of her sword. However, at the moment her blade was swung at Ophelia, she struck with her shield while overlapping the barrier onto her forearm, redirecting Eldisia’s sword path.

Boom!

A golden concentric circle erupted.

My bangs fluttered.

Simultaneously, the formidable defensive barrier melding with the shield literally “bounced” Eldisia’s sword away.

Shield techniques like that were among the pinnacle of skills.

It was something commonly seen in games.

“Could it be that was a parry?”

“Indeed.”

But not just any parry.

Before my eyes was the ultimate technique combining holy magic, pure magic, and shield techniques.

“….”

Eldisia attempted to regain her stance, but the recoil was so overwhelming that Ophelia’s parry worked seamlessly.

Not missing a beat, Ophelia lowered herself and plunged inward towards Eldisia.

She didn’t swing the Branch of the World Tree. That would’ve put Eldisia’s life in jeopardy.

Instead, Ophelia thrust the pointed part of her shield directly at Eldisia’s breastplate.

Boom!

Eldisia’s body flew away like an autumn leaf, stopping only after colliding into a tree.

“…Huh.”

The Saintess, still holding her shield, wore a triumphant smile.

It was Captain Ophelia.

*

Eldisia’s life was not in danger.

However, she wore an expression as if she had lost something more important than her life.

She’d have no words for the situation, really. She attacked the party’s backline mage and was utterly defeated in a direct confrontation.

In fact, more than half of Elvendell’s citizens had witnessed the entire thing.

Pride, dignity, all of that lay trampled in the dirt.

“So what happens to her now?”

“What’s going to happen? Nothing.”

Erwin spoke casually.

“It was a duel agreed upon by both parties. Just this alone won’t harm her. Well, she might carry the label of being utterly defeated by a human until the day she dies.”

“…Hmm.”

Hearing that made me pity her a little.

But Ophelia didn’t seem to think so at all.

She approached the dazed Eldisia and promptly stripped her of her amulet and armor. As a victor, no one in the knight order could stop Ophelia.

“I’ll take this as a service.”

In a savage manner, Ophelia also claimed Eldisia’s sword.

Like a victorious general, Ophelia approached us with confidence.

Dressed in Elf traditional clothing, she held the Branch of the World Tree in one hand and Eldisia’s relic shield in the other. Lastly, draped over her back were Eldisia’s armor and amulet.

It was as if we were witnessing a successful robbery, making it somewhat embarrassing to be on her side.

“So, what did you think, Elliot? About my duel!”

“…Hmm.”

I expressed my honest feelings regarding Ophelia’s words.

“It was dirty and low.”

“That’s all stuff I learned from you!”

“I never taught you to do such things.”

But still, it seemed I should at least return the favor.

“Well, winning is all that matters.”

“Right, winning is indeed what counts.”

“Especially that last parry; it was quite impressive.”

It was a level that wouldn’t be embarrassed to be on the front lines.

With that level of skill, even against the Cathedral Knight of the Saint or the Swordmaster of the Empire, she might secure a victory about four out of ten times.

As long as it was under the assumption of striking unexpectedly against an unguarded opponent.

Upon hearing my praise, Ophelia beamed brightly and handed me the amulet she was holding.

“This is yours.”

“That belongs to that Eldisia girl.”

“It’s mine now. And also yours.”

Though she said it in a roundabout way, it felt like a gift from Ophelia.

I received the amulet in surprise.

It seemed like a magic item, but I wouldn’t know its effect until I assessed it directly.

Regardless of what it was, it couldn’t be bad since it belonged to a knight.

Feeling too shy to simply express my thanks, I also turned my words around.

“…What’s the occasion for you giving me a present, Ophelia?”

“What’s the occasion? How rude. Don’t get the wrong idea. Consider this a thank-you gift for the ring I gave you last time.”

At her words, Ophelia’s face turned red.

She gave a sheepish smile and equipped the armor she had taken.

Eldisia’s armor, seemingly designed for the elves’ agility, was partial armor.

“This doesn’t feel heavy at all. It must be enchanted, can I wear this?”

“…Well, as long as it doesn’t hinder your movement, I suppose it’s fine.”

Showing the reason why she should put on the armor, Ophelia bounced with joy at my approval.

However, the next moment, a loud shout echoed, making my ears ring.

“What on earth is going on here!”

A heavily armored elf man strode out of the Fairy Palace, shouting.

From the bruised Eldisia and the elves’ conversation, he seemed to have pieced together what had happened.

“Humans daring to turn the vice-captain into this state….”

The man looked significantly older for an elf.

The armor he wore and the large spear at his waist projected an intimidating presence.

Ophelia observed him, then slowly stepped forward.

“Why? Do you have a problem?”

Ophelia’s strength lies in her fearless demeanor against anyone, while her flaw was her utter lack of awareness.

“If you have a problem, do you want to fight me? That armor looks pretty good on you.”

“Ophelia, it’s better to back off!”

I advised, but she didn’t listen.

“…Did you make Eldisia look like this?”

“Yep. It was a very legitimate duel.”

The elf man frowned at Ophelia’s armor. His powerful hand clenched into a fist.

Thinking this might escalate into a significant issue, I hurriedly stood beside Ophelia.

“Excuse me, who are you?”

“Taius. This capital’s Knight Commander.”

The answer came from Erwin.

“Legend among living elves, he’s been in the Commander’s position for over half the reign of the current Fairy King. Just so you know, he also played a role in defeating the last Demon King.”

“….”

Upon hearing that, Ophelia’s expression stiffened.

She subtly hid behind me and gently pressed against my back.

“Wh-Whatever, whether it’s Taurin or Tauris or whatever! Come at me, you stench-ridden ear demon! My great warrior will fight in my place!”

“….”

With Ophelia clinging to me like a cicada, I sighed deeply, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.

“…Ophelia, do you realize how ugly that is?”

“Shut up.”

 

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