episode_0017

“He’s really saying something funny.”

He has charisma, doesn’t he?

It was genuinely a funny remark.

I was just an ordinary office worker.

If I had charisma, I would have done something more remarkable as just an ordinary office worker.

It wasn’t a story that belittled office workers, but unless it was exaggerated to a higher level, the combination of office worker and charisma was simply not fitting.

“Still, for now, it’s probably best to just let it go, right?”

There’s no point in arguing here.

I just smiled helplessly and took her hand, walking out of the alley.

“Tia, what are you planning to do in this alley? Let’s go and enjoy the festival some more.”

In response to my words, Christia followed me with a happy smile.

We were able to truly enjoy the festival.

As the greatest woman on earth and the great ruler Christia, and me, playing a role that was indeed fun but also carried its own meaning of restraint, we were able to unfold a different story.

Fundamentally, because we were playing the roles of siblings, we couldn’t do anything extraordinary, but still, having a friendly conversation and going on a date with each other made us truly happy.

“There was a reason why I decided to take a week off.”

To me, it felt like just a week-long date, but to Christia, it would have felt like at least a 15-year-long date.

Being able to temporarily abandon her overwhelming position as a ruler and have a normal conversation and enjoy a date with me, I really worked hard for a week.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t tired, but I knew the time she had waited for me, so I tried my best to accommodate her, and that’s how I could spend the week happily.

“Now, the duel will begin.”

And thus, the highlight of the week-long festival, the duel, began.

There was a duel arena in the Arminian Kingdom for reasons unknown, and it wasn’t an underground arena; it was quite grandly built, with a large number of seats.

Among them, Christia was positioned in the most prestigious seat, where the duel could be clearly seen, and every seat in the arena was packed to capacity.

The place was packed with people, not only in the usual spots but also on the stairs and railings where people could sit.

“First, Hye Free, the pride of the Kingdom of Kristia, will enter the arena.”

As Hye Free stepped into the arena, a chilling silence followed.

It might have seemed disrespectful, but seeing no jeers, it was clear that the civic consciousness of the Arminian Kingdom was remarkably high.

I could never achieve that.

Perhaps they refrained from cursing while showering me with jeers?

“Next, the Guardian Sword of the Arminian Kingdom, the Absolute Sword, our hope, Aten, will make an entrance!”

“Wow!!”

“Aten! Aten!”

“Please save our king…”

The cheers that filled the arena when Aten appeared were incomparable to Hye Free’s entrance.

The sound was so loud that even someone as frail as I found it physically painful.

“There’s so much hope here.”

Well, ordinary citizens don’t know how strong Hye Free is.

“Hye Free! Don’t be discouraged!”

There were very few people cheering for Hye Free.

For one, those close to Aten knew well about her formidable power, so they didn’t feel the need to cheer for him.

The only ones cheering for Hye Free were a few servants brought from the Kristia mansion.

“Even they are quite passionate.”

Seeing Sophia, who was passionately cheering for Hye Free at the front, I felt relieved that she hadn’t been hurt too badly because of me.

****

“This is nerve-wracking.”

Amidst all the cheers directed at Aten, Hye Free caught Sophia’s voice and smirked.

“Aten is nothing compared to me.”

How should I put it?

“Cute?”

She was taller than him and had quite impressive muscles, but…

“Cute.”

That was it.

How many moves could he withstand against me?

If he could last about 10 moves, that would be commendable.

“I dared to refuse our sister’s request due to my taste…”

Victory must be achieved overwhelmingly and humiliatingly.

“What method should I use?”

Hye Free raised his sword.

“I will concede ten moves.”

The atmosphere here was completely different from that of the arena.

It was quite rigid and serious.

“Are you ready?”

This place was a dueling ground.

It wasn’t a place created for sacred duels, but rather for spectators to witness a direct confrontation between those with exceptional skills and prowess.

Therefore, various spells were set up for the spectators, and amplifying the voices of the duelists was one of them.

At Haifri’s offer to concede ten points, the citizens began to murmur excitedly.

“Do not concern yourself with your pride. Right now, isn’t it more important for you to rescue His Majesty from my grasp than to bolster your confidence?”

There was no flaw in her words.

‘Yes, let’s consider this an opportunity.’

If he were to receive ten points, he would likely be able to win.

Athen did not fully understand the extent of the Cristia Kingdom’s power.

If he were to receive ten points, he believed he could even compete against Astia, not just Haifri.

Cristia was out of the question.

She was overwhelmingly the strongest in the world.

“Yes, I graciously accept.”

As Athen drew his sword and shield, he spoke.

Human hands were always two, and unless it was for the purpose of romance or ease of carrying a weapon, a combination of sword and shield wielded with both hands was much preferred.

Sakka desired unnecessary formalities, and as Cristia enjoyed overwhelming opponents with just a one-handed sword, non-Cristian warriors tended to utilize both hands in combat.

“Come at me.”

As Haifri drew mana, the temperature of the arena dropped sharply.

‘Wow… this is serious.’

In truth, Sakka was wearing a warm suit, so she wasn’t sensitive to the surrounding temperature, but she could still feel the drastic change in the arena’s temperature just from the aura emitted by Haifri.

“Haaah!”

Athen’s sword strike flew towards Haifri, but his blade did not reach her.

Haifri used overwhelming mana to accelerate her body, evading his attack.

“You really think you can hold out until I draw my sword?”

The temperature dropped once again.

As she accelerated her body, the mana she used caused the surrounding temperature to drop even further.

“Using a grip technique.”

“A grip, you say.”

Hypri said as she once again avoided Aten’s sword.

“It’s just a passive skill.”

One of the reasons why Christia’s mana manipulation was deceptive. Simply by prolonging the battle, it cooled the surrounding air.

For those using Christia’s mana manipulation, the lower temperature actually created an environment that allowed them to better exert their power. However, in most cases, the cold became a poison, making it impossible for knights of similar levels to compete with Christia’s knights.

“Hweeik!”

Aten’s sword never reached Hypri.

However, Aten did not feel frustrated.

“Everything comes with a price.”

Swinging the sword and perfectly avoiding it. If asked which consumes more mana, all knights would choose the latter.

If the opponent swung the sword, it was better to block or deflect it than to avoid it. At least from the standpoint of mana exchange.

However, the opponent kept evading.

As the mana difference widened, there would be a chance in a prolonged battle.

Thinking that way, she swung her sword for the tenth time.

“Nice try, well done.”

Hypri’s momentum changed.

Her mana, spread around, began to lower the temperature once again.

“Well, this is rather cute, isn’t it?”

Hypri threw away her sword and slowly approached Aten.

She could win even without a sword.

Aten couldn’t easily contain his anger at her humiliating showmanship.

“Don’t break too easily. It’s not fun.”

In the end, Aten managed to hold on for about 10 minutes.

Barely managing to resist only with the mana she emitted, without allowing a single blow from Haifri, Aten exhausted all her mana and ended up completely frozen due to the tremendous chill, unable to draw out a proper attack from Haifri.

Though trapped entirely in the ice, Aten was not dead.

As someone who quite enjoyed tormenting powerful opponents, Chrisita had developed sufficient methods to freeze without taking their lives.