Chapter 22 : Duel
「Well then Arichan . Are you…… . . Really going to do this? 」
「Yes, best regards . Ansan」
The back of the guild .
Adventurers are quickly gathering after hearing about the duel .
Aria who was asked such a question by Arnold is nodding with calm expression .
「Well then, we’re going to start the duel between D-ranked adventurer Aria and her pet, Tama, against C-ranked adventurer, Ka.s.sman, the eldest son of a baron house . In case the latter is victorious, Aria will become his wife and Tama will be executed . In case the former wins, the execution of Tama will be revoked . Both parties, are there any objections? 」
Arnold who become the umpire by Aria’s request is explaining the conditions .
「Naturally, none」
「Not at all」
There’s no objection from Ka.s.sman as the one who devised such conditions .
He’s grinning from ear to ear while replying so .
Aria also has no choice but to accept this duel .
She nods with an annoyed face .
The conditions for the duel is as written below:
・Either party is killed .
・Either party gives up
・When the other party judged to be unable to fight .
The victor is decided by fulfilling any one of these conditions .
「Well then, both sides get ready……………BEGIN! ! 」
「NYAN《Icicle Lance》! ! 」
As soon as Arnold said so .
Tama who was burning with fury launched the first strike .
His skill of choice is the spear of ice, 《Icicle Lance》 .
Aimed at the left chest of Ka.s.sman .
(For the crime of making my dear master cry you will…… . . )
He’s about to kill Ka.s.sman to prevent any future trouble .
But――
「Kukuku…… It’s futile」
Ka.s.sman is showing a daring smile .
For some reason, he’s not trying to dodge the incoming attack at all .
The next moment, rainbow colored mist wraps around Ka.s.sman’s body .
Though the 《Icicle Lance》 should pierce him, it vanished as soon as it made contact with that rainbow-colored mist .
「No…………… Way! ? 」
He cancelled Tama’s attack .
Aria’s raising a surprised voice in seeing that .
「“Magic Protection Ring”……… . . It’s our family heirloom, my father, a former adventurer gave this ring to me, it is a magic item that will invalidate magic skills」
Aria and Tama are shocked upon hearing that .
Ka.s.sman is bragging about the ring that is on the middle finger of his right hand .
(D^mn it………… So that’s the reason! Though I expected him to have an ace up his sleeve when he challenged master along with me, I never expected that it was this!)
On hearing Ka.s.sman’s explanation .
Tama is grinding his teeth in frustration .
Tama is still being misunderstood as an elemental cat .
Therefore, the skill he can use is limited to elemental magic .
From the very beginning, Tama isn’t a threat for Ka.s.sman .
That’s why Ka.s.sman allowed Tama to fight alongside Aria .
「Well then, miss Aria! Your elemental cat is powerless before me . How about giving up this fight? 」
「Kuh……… . . Please stand back, Tama . 《ACCELERATION》! ! 」
(As if I’m going to giving up!)-(Aria)
Aria is speeding toward Ka.s.sman with only one intention, to save Tama .
(Fast! ! But, you’re too naive, miss Aria!)
Against Aria’s fast approach utilizing《Acceleration》
Even a C-ranked adventurer like Ka.s.sman will be suprised by such speed .
But, that surprise lasted only for a moment .
Ka.s.sman set his sword .
And accurately repelled Aria’s downward slash .
「……… . . Kuh! ? 」
Aria suddenly stepped back .
Ka.s.sman’s kick is grazing her flank creating a slight red mark on her snow white skin .
「Hou, you barely dodged my kick huh . Your inherent skill《Acceleration》……… . . Is definitely as rumored . But, that’s it! ! 」
After saying such .
Ka.s.sman leaped towards Aria .
Now it’s his turn to attack .
(Not yet!)
Reacting to that, Aria’s hand is moving towards her thighs .
She then throws the throwing knife inserted in the belt coiling around her thigh .
BYUN! It cuts through the air heading toward Ka.s.sman’s face .
「I’ve already said you’re too naive, miss Aria! ! 」
Basa! !
Ka.s.sman is holding onto the cuff of his mantle and then swung it in front of his face .
The throwing knife is losing it’s power as it hit the mantle without inflicting any damage to Ka.s.sman .
And not just that .
Ka.s.sman is advancing forward simultaneously .
And then, swung his sword at her .
And then, swung his sword at her .
The incoming slash isn’t registered in her field of vision .
Aria won’t make it in time to dodge the attack .
「Nyan(Over my dead body)! ! 」
But, the moment the blade of the sword is about to touch Aria’s skin――
Tama is jumping in between Aria and the sword .
GAKIN! !
The sound of metal colliding against metal is resounding .
Ka.s.sman sword is collided against a helmet, Tama’s new gear .
(GUH………! ? So heavy!)
The impact of the collision penetrates into Tama’s body .
And then, zusha! He crashed onto the ground .
「……… . TAMA! WHY ARE YOU!?……… . . 」
(Because I’m your knight, master . I’ll use my body to protect you!)
Aria raised a sorrowful voice in seeing Tama using his body to protect her .
Tama is standing again with trembling feet due to the damage from the impact just now .
「Hou…… . . A mere animal used his body to protect miss Aria from my sword huh . Interesting! Let see how far you can stand against my attack! 」
Ka.s.sman is swinging his sword .
It isn’t a normal attack either .
Above, below, left, right, he added feints into his attack .
There’s various sword technique’s for personal match .
「Kuh………… . . Au……… . ! ? 」
Moreover, Aria is forced into defense .
Since she never fought anything aside from monster .
Ka.s.sman whose sword skill raised as a n.o.ble is the worst kind of enemy for her .
Thus, even her defense crumbled in no time .
(D^MN IT……… . ! !)
Aria is in danger .
Tama is leaping in between them again .
He’ll use his body to protect Aria from a killing blow no matter how many times .
(Noooo!) ……… . Even if it’s means ignoring her sorrowful wail .
「Kukuku…… . What’s matter beast, is that all? 」
「N-Nyaa……… . . 」
Ka.s.sman is laughing .
Finally Tama crumbles .
Even at glance, various parts of Tama’s body which isn’t covered with the protector is covered in shallow cuts . Ka.s.sman’s attack is grazing his body so many times .
(I-I won’t allow it………… . I, will, protect my master! !)
Tama is trying to stand on his feet again .
But, he failed .
He has lost too much blood .
He has lost too much blood .
「No…………… . Stop it…………… . . Tama! 」
In seeing Tama’s tattered state .
Aria finally abandons her knifes and hug him as if to protect him .
And then, she keeps saying「Sorry, I’m so sorry……… 」 to Tama .
She does so that while looking at Tama’s face .
She hated her weak self who can’t protect him…… .
「What’s matter miss Aria, are you going to surrender? If you swear to become my bride and accepting my everything, I don’t mind sparing the life of that elemental cat you know? 」
「……! Really! ? You really are going to spare Tama! ? ? 」
「Yeah . I’m a man who keeps his promise after all」
Aria’s tears stop flowing when she hears Ka.s.sman saying so .
Ka.s.sman is nodding with satisfied face .
In the first place, he isn’t interested in Tama’s life as long as he can get Aria .
Moreover, after cornering her till the last moment and then sending a helping hand to Aria, she’ll obediently become his……… Everything is according to his plan .
(Kukuku…… . Now, how should I enjoy her after I finally got miss no- I mean Aria? Though enjoying her in a normal way is good, tormenting her sounds nice too……… Kukukuku! I really can’t get enough just by thinking about it! !)
Everything began from this moment .
While Ka.s.sman’s mind is occupied with imaginations about living with Aria .
Due to extreme distortion on his face while he thinks about his life after this, the adventurers watching their duel also drawing away from seeing his expression .
(Like h.e.l.l! I’m going to leave my master to this kind of tras.h.!.+ ! Since things already came to this……!)
Something similar to madness exploded inside Tama’s head seeing Ka.s.sman laugh .
Rather than letting that kind of trash defile his master…… . .
「Kukuku… . Well then, now say your surrender . Aria……… . . 」
Ka.s.sman is approaching the kneeling Aria at brisk pace .
(NOW…………)
Right on the next step .
Tama’s raising a soft meowing――
「Nyan《Aether Howling》……! ! 」
RumBle――――EE! ! ! !
Suddenly, a gale appeared .
Ka.s.sman is thrown back .
DOSHA! [SFX] GUSHA! [SFX] BECHA! [SFX] !
Ka.s.sman who was just stepping forward lost his balance .
His body is turning around as he was thrown behind, and then slammed onto the ground .
His arms and legs are bent in a strange direction…… .
「Tama…… . . Don’t tell me………… . . You’re the one who did that? 」
He ended up using a skill other than magic in front of Aria .
It might leak his ident.i.ty as a monster .
But it’s okay .
But it’s okay .
Because at least………… . . His master won’t be disgraced by that sc.u.m .
Tama’s expression is calm .
「Oi, what was just happened? 」
「Just partly, when I heard Arichan’s elemental cat meowing, Ka.s.sman was suddenly blown back! 」
「Rather than that, Arichan! DO IT, NOW! ! 」
The adventurers become noisy .
The men who like Aria were the loudest amongst them .
Aria is taken aback .
She gently placed Tama on the ground .
She then went toward Ka.s.sman who’s wailing in pain and panic .
And then――
「HoWdAREYoUToDoTHaTTOtAMa…… . 」
She looked down on Ka.s.sman with piercing cold eyes, and then raised one of her beautiful legs overhead .
「W-Wait a minute, miss Aria! No way……………… . NOOO! PLEASE STOP HER! ! 」
Her foot raised overhead .
Ka.s.sman has guessed the meaning of her action .
His legs were sprawling wide .
It seems his legs joints are dislocated and he couldn’t close his legs .
Though he is already in a state in which he is unable to continue the fight, Arnold the judge didn’t seems to notice his situation .
「Fufufu, it’s hopeless right? I think that thing《・・・・・》 of yours is useless anyway」
Aria saying so with smile on her face .
She cruelly crushed Ka.s.sman hope .
And then .
「GoODByE」
Her heel descended downward along with that words .
And “Splash”―― It hit right one the target .
「Winner, ARIA! ! 」
The winner is declared by Arnold .
All the female adventurers and the female staff members of the guild are raising joyful scream .
On the contrary, the male adventurers were looking at Ka.s.sman who fainted while blowing bubbles from his mouth are covering their nether region with a pale face .
「Tama! Here………… . Drink the potion right now! 」
Aria returned to Tama right after sending Ka.s.sman to the deepest abyss of despair .
She received a bottle of potion from Arnold and poured the content into Tama’s mouth .
Feeling his wound recovering from inside .
Tama felt asleep as soon as he knew that he protected his master .