Chapter 335: For Crazy Women, Since Old Times (2)

My mind was still a bit jumbled, but I managed to get a rough grasp of what had happened in my absence thanks to Eunbyul’s explanation later.

Apparently, Do Yehee, the person who was competing with Sihee for succession, had found out about my existence-someone Sihee had recently become close with-through some background checks.

She had tried to arrange a meeting with me by finding some leverage over Sihee, but that plan fell through when Sihee canceled our appointment.

Then, Sihee, not wanting to be bothered by Do Yehee anymore, challenged her to a duel, only to be overwhelmingly defeated.

And that was the summary of what had just happened: with the duel’s outcome decided, I suddenly appeared, blew Do Yehee away, and ruined the whole thing.

“Now do you understand? What you did was disrupt the sacred duel between Sihee and me.”

“What duel are you even talking about? I thought private fights between Hunters were strictly forbidden by every guild.”

“In principle, yes, but among the Foundation’s Hunters, it’s a custom passed down from ancient times. It’s used as a traditional method to prove oneself and uphold one’s beliefs through Hunter abilities when opinions clash.”

“Hmm…”

Before I met Sihee, I always pictured Hunters from the Foundation as pampered noble ladies, but the more I learned about the Foundation guild these days, the more my perception shifted towards something akin to a den of monsters.

Yet, in a way, I felt like I was starting to understand why Sihee had been trying so hard to raise her Hunter rank to avoid falling behind in the succession race.

Judging by the case I witnessed today, it seemed like the ‘duels’ Eunbyul just explained were occasionally used among the Hunters within the Foundation to settle disputes.

It would naturally be more advantageous to raise one’s Hunter rank to gain an edge in those duels.

Sihee’s peculiar obsession with men stronger than her probably had a lot to do with this background, too.

“So, is it true that I interfered with your duel, Sihee-ssi?”

“…….”

“……Hmm.”

Her inability to answer easily suggested that I had indeed meddled where I shouldn’t have. But I couldn’t just stand by and watch Sihee get bullied by that woman, so not interfering was never an option for me from the start. More importantly, I still couldn’t comprehend the act of dueling itself.

Therefore, since things had escalated this far, I decided to maintain my initial brazen attitude until the very end.

“Now do you understand? What you did was an insult not only to me but also to Sihee. Therefore, you must take responsibility for interfering in my duel with Sihee…”

“Sacred duel or whatever, I can’t accept this act of settling disputes with brute force. Besides, you’re still the one who hurt my precious Sihee-ssi, and you were even tormenting Eunbyul-ssi.”

“S-Sungchul-ssi?”

“W-What nonsense are you spouting! Have you no honor?! You interfered between me and Sihee, ruining a perfectly decided duel! As the price for the rightful duel, Sihee was finally going to call me ‘Unnie’…”

“Yes, I’m just some lowly Guild Hunter with no honor or anything, so I don’t agree with your talk about duel outcomes or anything. More importantly, because of you, the schedule I had to meet with Sihee-ssi today was canceled, so I’m in a pretty bad mood.”

“H-Haha…”

Do Yehee let out a hollow, incredulous laugh in my direction. Just as I thought it might end here and started to shift my gaze to Sihee and Eunbyul, she fixed her eyes back on me and spoke in a sharp voice.

“I can’t accept it.”

“Huh?”

“I understand well that you’re an ignorant fool who doesn’t even know the honor of a duel. Explaining the sanctity of duels to someone who doesn’t know the value of honor would be pointless anyway.”

“…….”

“But Sihee, the young lady of the Dokyung Group and the principal party to the duel, is different. Unlike you, she’s a child who knows honor and tradition.”

“……Ngh.”

Sihee averted her gaze and lowered her head as if struck by Do Yehee’s words. It seemed this custom of dueling held a truly significant meaning for them.

“The outcome of the duel is undeniably my victory. Therefore, until Sihee gives me what she promised as the price for the duel, I can’t let anyone leave.”

With that, Do Yehee blocked our path with enormous mud golems. It seemed we couldn’t avoid a physical confrontation unless we settled whatever this ‘price of the duel’ she was talking about was. Curious about what could possibly make her so desperate to stop us, I turned my head towards Sihee and Eunbyul and whispered,

“What exactly is this ‘price of the duel’ she’s talking about?”

“…My Dokyung Group heir succession rights.”

“……What?”

“I couldn’t help it. I thought I needed to wager something this significant to get that woman to accept the duel. I’m sick of my relationships being ruined because of her…”

…Even so, there are things you should and shouldn’t gamble carelessly.

Sihee had always talked about the Dokyung Group’s succession race since our second meeting, so even I was well aware of the significance her succession rights held. And I knew full well how much effort she had put in to get closer to becoming the heir. While I might not know all her efforts, I was certain that Sihee’s hard work shouldn’t be thwarted by a single duel like this.

“So that woman also wagered her succession rights like you? Is becoming the heir to a corporation decided by a single duel like this?”

“No, what I asked her to wager was simple. To withdraw all interest in my personal relationships for the rest of her life.”

“…You wagered your Dokyung Group heir succession rights for something like that?”

“I couldn’t help it! Do you know how many friends and connections that woman has stolen from my life?! And yesterday, she suddenly got a hold of Eunbyul’s weakness and started blackmailing her, and now she’s eyeing you, Sungchul-ssi! I didn’t want to lose anything else!”

In that sense, the condition she set was understandable. Of course, wagering her succession rights was still a reckless bet, but it also meant Sihee cherished me and Eunbyul dearly. Come to think of it, it was safe to say that half the reason Sihee ended up in this duel with that woman was because of me.

“Sihee, I have a question.”

“…What is it, Sungchul-ssi?”

“Can you tell me how to issue a duel challenge?”

“The method is simple. You throw a glove at the person you want to duel and state your demand if you win. Then the opponent picks up the glove, states their own demand in response, and if both parties agree, the duel is set.”

“…I see.”

“But why are you suddenly asking…”

“Got it. Then I’ll borrow this for a moment.”

“W-Wait a minute, Sungchul-ssi?! Why are you suddenly taking my glove…”

I took Sihee’s remaining glove, walked towards the woman blocking us with mud golems, and approached Do Yehee, who was still standing with her arms crossed, eyes fixed on us. Her mouth opened again.

“Are you done with your conversation? Let me tell you beforehand, I refuse any demands to change the conditions set for the duel. I have a possessive personality; once I get something, I don’t let go…”

Thump.

“I challenge you to a duel, Do Yehee-ssi.”

“…….”

Do Yehee’s expression froze as the glove I threw hit her face, and she stopped talking. Immediately after, Sihee’s flustered voice followed from behind.

“W-Wait a minute, Sungchul-ssi? What are you suddenly saying?!”

“Duel challenge. I did it just like you taught me, this is the right way, isn’t it?”

“I-It is, but…!”

Seeing Sihee stomping her foot with a serious expression made me feel a little sorry for challenging the duel without consulting her, but I had no intention of retracting the challenge I had just made. Besides, the glove had already been thrown from my hand towards that woman, Do Yehee. Though I wasn’t entirely sure, once a duel challenge was issued, I probably couldn’t back down. That woman, who seemed to have a strong sense of pride, would likely accept my challenge too.

With the white glove I threw resting on my chest, she looked bewildered. I continued the dialogue for issuing a duel challenge, just as I’d learned.

“There is one condition. If I win the duel, I will nullify the duel between Sihee-ssi and you, and I will reclaim Sihee-ssi’s heir succession rights, which you were supposed to receive.”

“…Heir succession rights? What are you talking about…”

“Since you value honor so much, surely you won’t refuse a challenge from a lowly Guild Hunter, will you? Isn’t that right?”

“……Fine.”

After hearing my words, Do Yehee frowned slightly, then wordlessly picked up the white glove resting on her chest. Immediately, she met my eyes and spat out her conditions in a sharp voice.

“First, if I win the duel, I will take what I originally gained from the duel with Sihee. It was mine from the start.”

“…Agreed.”

“…And, in addition to that, one more thing.”

Do Yehee pulled out a short, slender wand from between her breasts and pointed it at me.

“If I win, you must disappear from Sihee’s side forever.”

“……What?”

“W-Wait! I can’t accept that! Who are you to spout orders at Sungchul-ssi about disappearing from my side!”

“Since you challenged me, Do Yehee, a candidate for the Dokyung Group’s succession, you must at least set conditions worthy of that. Isn’t that right, Sungchul-ssi?”

“…….”

…These conditions are a bit harsh, more than I expected.

“If it’s too much, you can back out now, but surely you didn’t challenge me without that level of resolve?”

“No, I will.”

“Sungchul-ssi?!”

“…Hmm.”

With Do Yehee’s answer, nodding with an inscrutable expression, the duel between her and me was set. There was no turning back now.