Ch.36Unjust Duel (1)

Suspicious gazes pour into the training ground like piercing beams of light. Most of those accusatory looks were directed at me as I stood there with a miserable expression.

‘So the old man’s consistent silence was foreshadowing for this moment.’

If he had been holding back just to make a fool of me now… Old man, you win. Congratulations, damn it.

When I first met Bartlant, the old man shed tears, but now it feels like I’m about to cry tears of blood.

I desperately fought back tears while slowly retracing how things had come to this point.

Yes, that’s right. The crack had clearly begun this morning when I accompanied Irefi Justitia to the imperial palace.

◇

In the carriage racing toward the imperial palace, I asked her:

“Are you nervous?”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“Irefi?”

Her mouth closed at my simple, direct answer. I must have unintentionally hit a nerve, as both her cheeks flushed like the evening glow.

“Nepy has really grown,” Miren remarked.

“Grown…?”

Miren praised me in an admiring tone. What was so admirable about it?

If she meant my ability to see through Irefi’s psychology, she might be right. I’ve lived with her for over half a year now, so it’s about time we developed some mutual understanding.

“But why did you bring Miren along? This isn’t exactly an appropriate occasion to show her.”

“Of course, I didn’t bring her with the intention of having her attend. I just brought her because Miren wanted to see the imperial palace on her own.”

“Because if Elder Sister gets fired, I won’t have many opportunities to visit.”

“Miren, what do you mean by ‘fired’? To your sister…”

As I gently scolded her, Irefi joined in.

“I’ve been getting her all sorts of novels lately, and now she’s like this. I’m seriously considering banning her from reading for a while.”

“I don’t want to restrict her, but it can’t be helped. Especially those street novels—they might not be good for her emotional development.”

“What are you saying? Nepy! Elder Sister! Books aren’t guilty of anything!”

“The books may be innocent, but your mouth has committed a crime.”

“Oh, quite resolute, aren’t you? For now, I agree with Irefi.”

“Thank you, Nepy.”

Irefi was firmly establishing her authority as an older sister. I had thought she would be soft when it came to Miren’s whims, but this was unexpected.

“Ugh… ugh… ugh…”

At that moment, Miren’s golden eyes shimmered, refracting light. With her head lowered and both hands covering her face, she looked like she was about to burst into tears.

Miren pleaded with a voice choked with sorrow.

“I… I just… so much has changed while I was asleep… and I was just curious about it. For someone like me who can hardly go outside, books… novels are my only window to communication. Ugh… sob…”

“Miren? Your sister was just…”

Before Irefi could reach out to her sister’s head, I approached Miren and knelt on one knee.

“Let’s stop crying, shall we? What would you like to see first? Should I bring you forbidden books from the imperial secret archives? Would you like to read the former emperor’s diaries or memoirs?”

“Nepy, I want to read the romance novels sold at the central plaza bookstore.”

“Yes, yes, let’s buy everything from one end to the other again.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Of course! Absolutely. If Irefi tries to stop you from reading them, you can come to me anytime.”

As I desperately tried to console Miren, Irefi made it clear she was thoroughly disgusted.

“I’m starting to think that the worst influence on Miren’s emotional education might be Nepy. Sigh…”

Irefi lamented with resignation. I deliberately ignored her and wiped Miren’s dry eyes.

…Dry? Weren’t Miren’s eyes about to overflow with tears just now?

No, no, she didn’t actually cry, so I suppose they could be dry.

We buried our suspicions deep in our hearts and finally set foot in the imperial palace.

After dropping Miren off at the imperial garden, we headed to the meeting room for the hearing. Despite walking toward what would essentially be her own execution, Irefi showed no particular emotion.

“Even though they call it a hearing, it doesn’t really register. Should I just think of it as a place where I’ll get cursed at and then leave?”

“That’s an extreme way of putting it, but not incorrect. If this were a hearing about mere suspicions, it would be different, but my mistake has clear evidence.”

“…”

“Nepy? Your expression suddenly darkened.”

I found it difficult to look directly at her as she gazed at me with concern. Ever since I became involved with Irefi, her reputation had been in a constant downward spiral.

If I had made better choices and been as strong as Zikharun Misrakh, she would still be admired in social circles.

Starting with our cohabitation, then the incident at Duke Feita’s manor, and what happened on the day I wasn’t at the institute—all of these were scandals linked to me or stains caused by my misjudgments.

I apologized hesitantly.

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

Her face showed puzzlement at my abrupt apology.

“It feels like everything is my fault. Your mistakes, as you call them. The various scandals too.”

“I was wondering why you suddenly seemed dejected, but it’s just about that?”

“What do you mean ‘just’?”

“All responsibility for the mistake lies with me. It was the result of my poor judgment and recklessness. I can state with certainty that it’s not your fault, Nepy.”

“…”

After calmly asserting this, Irefi suddenly turned her head in the opposite direction. Just as I was about to show interest in what might have caught her attention, she mumbled with slurred pronunciation.

“Besides, anything related to you isn’t a scandal anymore…”

“Hmm? Irefi?”

“…No. Nothing.”

Despite my good hearing, I couldn’t reconstruct and comprehend her mumbled words. Moreover, she seemed to be refusing further conversation as she emanated a strange atmosphere.

We walked in silence for the remaining time, and finally opened the door to the meeting room filled with officials.

The first people to catch my eye were Bartlant with his massive frame and the Emperor seated at the head. The ministers glaring with fierce eyes were just a bonus.

Irefi completely switched to work mode and took her assigned seat. As I occupied the seat next to her, the Emperor declared the opening of the session.

“I hereby open the hearing of Marquess Irefi Justitia, Commander of the Nelfrugia Knights, under the right of no confidence. Viscount Bartlant Chester, you may speak.”

With the Emperor’s dignified declaration, Bartlant began to speak.

“When I returned after suppressing the traitors on the island, I found the imperial palace empty. I was told that Commander Justitia had insisted on taking charge of the palace security alone. Commander Justitia, do you acknowledge this?”

Bartlant’s demeanor was quite different from the cheerful and polite young man I had seen before. His clear intention to separate public and private matters seemed very characteristic of him.

“I acknowledge it.”

At her readily given answer, the ministers began to murmur.

“The Commander of the Nelfrugia Knights is the final bastion responsible for the Emperor’s safety. Why did Commander Justitia abandon her post?”

“I was lured away, caught in the traitors’ scheme. That’s all there is to it.”

‘She’s choosing not to mention the spatial jump.’

She probably thought mentioning the existence of a divine object that had been lost 400 years ago wouldn’t be convincing.

Chester’s associates and the ministers, displeased with her matter-of-fact attitude that seemed disproportionate to her mistake, gradually intensified their offensive.

“Is that what you have to say as the captain of the Emperor’s guard?”

“Sending all the knights to the island doesn’t make sense either. Shouldn’t you have prioritized an objective assessment of your own abilities?”

“Not even bringing an excuse. What deplorable negligence.”

To their criticism, Irefi affirmed with a calm voice, without even flinching.

“I do not deny any of my responsibilities. I will rightfully accept the consequences.”

Her submissive attitude bordered on resignation. Without the slightest excuse, she maintained a clean stance. At this rate, she seemed prepared to take the blame even for crimes she didn’t commit.

Bartlant, seemingly displeased with this, harshly reprimanded Irefi.

“Every word from Commander Justitia lacks honor, which makes me seriously question her qualifications as a knight protecting His Imperial Majesty.”

“Viscount Chester speaks the truth.”

“Wasn’t it a mistake to place a woman of uncertain ability in such a high position to begin with?”

“Look at how a knight who should prioritize honor carries scandals around. And now she even has the audacity to sit proudly next to the subject of those scandals…”

Most people readily agreed with Bartlant’s accusations. I felt guilty hearing the occasional remarks linking me and Irefi.

‘I want to refute something, but it seems like Irefi doesn’t want me to speak up.’

She appeared to want to be dismissed from her position and leave as quickly as possible.

Seeing us keeping our mouths shut, Bartlant appealed to the Emperor.

“I do not know what connection Your Majesty has with the two marquesses that earns them your trust. However, in this case, Your Majesty’s judgment seems to have been clouded, unlike your usual wisdom.”

He dominated the atmosphere of the meeting and asserted forcefully.

“Therefore, I, Bartlant Chester, based on the right of no confidence of the four ducal families, demand the dismissal of Marquess Irefi Justitia from her position as Commander.”

“Hmm…”

The Emperor let out a contemplative sound and slowly turned his eyes in our direction. Irefi nodded slightly, and I closed my eyes.

After confirming our intentions, the Emperor reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Viscount Chester’s demand is reasonable. Therefore, I acknowledge the vote of no confidence…”

[Your Majesty, the Viscount’s words are nothing but arrogant, and he is skilled at riding public opinion—his tongue is more that of a treacherous official than a warrior.]

“…Huh?”

“Nepy…?”

The Emperor let out an uncharacteristically dumbfounded groan. His appearance, staring at me with his mouth gaping, resembled a fish eating food.

Irefi had the same reaction. She touched her earlobe as if she had misheard, her expression filled with shock.

…And I was the same. However, this damned mouth of mine continued to spout offensive words against my will.

[Moreover, he denigrates the white gi—Irefi’s capabilities and even compares Your Majesty’s judgment to a knothole. Since when have the four ducal families looked down upon the imperial family?]

I became disoriented by the rage that forced its way through my lips.

‘Th-this is insane!’

He had clearly tried to call Irefi a “white girl.”

The implication was simple and clear.

In this world, there was only one person who had ever called Irefi a “white girl”!

The true owner of this body—the Founding Noble, Netionpis.

‘Of all things, he’s not even using his usual old man speech pattern, but perfectly imitating me!’

Is this the price for refusing Holy Memory…?

Since my battle with Zikharun, I had been able to freely control the Malice.

Moreover, as long as Netionpis’s goal wasn’t to take control of the body, I didn’t need Irefi’s help.

That’s why I deliberately refused her protective ability, Holy Memory. But to think this would be the result!

‘Old maaaaan! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!’

He did not respond to my inner scream.

The first person to regain their composure after Netionpis’s smooth and unrestrained provocation was Bartlant.

“…Marquess Alteon’s words have gone too far. When Commander Justitia herself admits her fault, what persuasive power do the Marquess’s ignorant words hold?”

Immediately after, opinions supporting Bartlant’s rebuttal followed in succession.

“The Viscount is right! What right does a scandal-ridden honorary marquess have to speak? No, he’s not even an honorary marquess anymore, but a dishonorable one.”

“Nonsense from someone whose origins are questionable.”

“What would a mere former court physician know about warriors like knights?”

…I’d like to throttle the one who just called me a dishonorable marquess.

While I was fuming on my own, this damned mouth continued to babble without rest.

[Shut those filthy mouths. If the premise that superior warriors understand matters better is true, then Irefi is undoubtedly an omnipotent knight.]

“Marquess Alteon… no, is this…?”

“That’s not Nepy.”

The gazes of the Emperor and Irefi crossed.

The Emperor probably noticed from sensing emotions, and Irefi would have detected the dissonance from her years of knowing me.

“It’s not Commander Justitia’s abilities that are in question! How can a court physician who only faces patients prove his qualifications as a warrior?”

One of Bartlant’s associates fiercely rebutted. To this, Netionpis stood up from his seat as if he had been waiting for just those words.

[If superior warriors recognize true warriors… would the Chester family agree with this?]

Bartlant nodded in response to Netionpis’s question.

“That has been our family tradition since the previous generation. I share the same opinion.”

[Then there exists a simple solution.]

By this point, I was curious to see how far this disastrous mouth would go. That’s why I gave up trying to intervene.

Had I known I would regret it, I should have stopped him even if it meant bungee jumping without a rope from the top of the imperial palace.

“A simple solution, what might that be?”

Bartlant’s suspicious question. His green eyes, containing a violent vitality, were fierce.

However, Netionpis paid no heed and curled his lips maliciously. Instead, he raised his index finger and made eye contact with each of them one by one with arrogance.

After a moment, Netionpis declared grandly:

[A duel, Bartlant Chester! I’ll demonstrate my conviction as a warrior by staking everything I have.]

‘Who are you to stake everything? You crazy old man!!! And what’s with that speech pattern? Why are you suddenly acting like you’re in a boys’ manga?!’

This is maddening. I truly feel like I’m losing my mind. He didn’t show his face when I asked about Irefi!

‘Since my consciousness hasn’t been completely ejected into the mental realm, it seems the old man isn’t planning to directly take over the surface either!’

Bartlant was an NPC with impressive credentials who had survived multiple encounters with Irefi the Destroyer. There’s no way I could handle him.

And a duel?

Me, with incomplete specs and who barely defeated Zikharun with spatial constraints, in a life-or-death struggle?

…Damn it!

A silent scream reverberated through my mental realm.

Of course, there was no one to hear it.