Chapter 46: Duel ①

Translated by AmaLynne

Edited by AmaLynne

Outside the guild, Sam and Erica were surrounded by spectators and glaring at the aristocratic boys.

(Oh my God. I never thought it would be a duel. When can we dive into the dungeon?)

Sam sighed inwardly as Erica and the others were enthusiastic about the duel.

He felt like he was caught up in a child’s fight.

No, actually, he did.

Sam was older than Erica, if he counted from his previous life.

A duel between a boy and a girl in their mid-teens, even though they were adults, seemed like a high school fight to him.

「As you know, it’s a formal duel, so don’t hold it against me if you die.」

「That’s my line!」

Sam’s headache is increasing as Erica growls.

Before the wizard, he was worried that she was so vulnerable to provocation.

Monsters may not be provocative, but when you’re dealing with humans like this, it’s different.

Not only provocation, but also hostage-taking and more cowardly moves.

If he were to get as angry as Erica did, there would be no end to it, and his life would be in danger.

(I don’t think she’ll listen… even if I warn her…)

There is no way he is going to say,「Don’t fight with your anger.」

Sam knows very well that sometimes anger can be a source of strength.

But it is dangerous to narrow one’s perspective by taking advantage of cheap provocations.

We must keep our minds cool even while we are angry.

However, even if he were to say that to Erica now, when her head is racing, she would not listen to him.

From Erica’s point of view, Sam is a child who has not even reached adulthood.

No matter how much he was a disciple of her esteemed sister, she would not admit to it, and he was afraid that the more caution he gave, the more counterproductive it would be, so in the end, Sam decided to keep quiet.

Meanwhile, Erica and Dolgana’s stare-off continues.

「I thought it would be a hassle to go through the dirty little dungeon, but it looks like we’re going to get some unexpectedly good-quality slaves.」

Smiling wickedly, Dolgana seems to think she has already won.

(How can this noble lad be so confident? He doesn’t look like a pretty good user…)

The way he behaves makes him look like an amateur.

There is not much magic power to be felt.

The young boys and girls who were his followers also seemed to have no magical power, although their behavior suggested that they had taken a little bit of martial arts training.

(To put it bluntly―――they are weak, aren’t they?)

Sam doubts they pretending to be weak.

If Sam’s eyes are right, Erica alone could win against the three of them.

But only if Erica can fight calmly.

「Erica, you know.」

「Would you please stop calling my name so flippantly?」

「I really like your strong spirit. I’m looking forward to bringing you to your knees.」

「Oh, what a poor taste.」

「First of all, you will learn my name, the name of your master. I am Dolgana Lansgully! I am the eldest son of Viscount Lansgully!」

「Oh, yeah.」

「Good, good, let’s see how long you can keep up that bull! If the slaves cry out later that they don’t like it, it’s too late!」

Dolgana, puffing out his chest, proudly proclaims himself a viscount.

Erica’s attitude is as if to say,「So what?」

In fact, Erica is a higher-ranking noble than Dolgana, and she has nothing special to say when someone boasts about their family.

(Erica-sama’s family has a higher title than yours, and they’re a Count.)

He wants to say, but Erica does not seem to use her family name.

She is standing here as just one Erica.

Sam, too, understands Erica’s intention and doesn’t say anything unnecessary.

(But hey, if I tell them she’s the fourth daughter of Count Walker, I have a feeling these guys are going to freak out and that will be the end of it.)

It’s not that he didn’t have a feeling that something troublesome might happen if he did so, but if the dueling commotion could be quickly cleared up and he could take on the dungeon, that would be fine.

While Sam crossed his arms and sighed, the story went on.

「I hope you won’t regret it when you die.」

「―――Haha, don’t make me laugh! Lloyd! Lizzy!」

「Ha.」

「Yes!」

Dolgana raised his voice to the boys and girls who were standing behind him.

As they both straighten their backs and reply, the viscount boy orders them to do so.

「Don’t embarrass me. You know what you have to do, don’t you?」

「Of course.」

「As you wish, Dorgana-sama.」

「You just have to know.」

The other side seems to be communicating with the squire.

Sam approaches Erica and gently calls out to her.

「Um, Erica-sama.」

「What?」

「I think we should probably have a plan or something, too, just in case.」

「I’m not going to cooperate with you.」

「Well, why?」

「I don’t approve of you. I don’t even know how good you are at it, to begin with. You’re the kind of guy I can’t have a plan with.」

(…Figured. Just saying…)

「Then what are you going to do?」

Erica sniffs at Sam’s question.

「I’m going to take them all down, and you’re going to stay out of the way.」

「…Okay.」

He was a little annoyed at the way she said things, but she was not wrong.

Just as Erica doesn’t know what Sam is capable of, Sam doesn’t know how powerful she is.

In such a situation, it was surely difficult to be asked to cooperate.

If Sam were in the same position, he would have chosen to fight alone, just like Erica.

However, Sam was not stupid enough to let that happen under the circumstances.

As long as Sam did not know Erica’s ability, there was a possibility that she would be defeated even against Dolgana and the others, who did not seem to be very strong.

If that happens, she will fall into slavery.

He could not let that happen to Ur’s family.

「Erica-sama.」

「For God’s sake!」

「I don’t mind if you don’t cooperate, but can you at least let me fight on my own?」

「You know what? You want me to hide behind some kid who’s not even an adult?」

「No, no, that’s not why I’m here.」

「I’m not that shameless! Watch me! I’m going to beat them to death!」

(Huh… I knew you wouldn’t let me fight for you. I’m sure she won’t listen to me if I say any more, so I’ll just have to wait and see. Worst case scenario―――I’ll just kill all three of them together.)

He would rather take the life of a tangible person than put the family of his late beloved mentor in danger.

At best, he can repent in the afterlife after his death for his arrogant deed.

Unaware of Sam’s mindset, the duel between Erica and Dolgana was about to begin.

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