Episode 42.10 (1/2)
A messenger from Wazrof dropped by on the 18th, Lecan, Eda and Julius moved over to the townlord's mansion.
”Hey, Norma. Seems the duel's gonna be on the 20th huh.”
”Ah, so you've heard already. Yeteria Wazbon-dono will arrive here tomorrow.”
”Who's that.”
”He's the Undersecetrary of PM Office. The same person who visited Vouka ahead of Herb Saint-sama back then. I never met him before, but I believe you have.”
”Ah. Yeah him. Why'd that guy come here?”
”The prime minister-dono dispatched him. As a witness in the duels.”
”What? That guy's gonna be the judge?”
”No, he won't. Marquis of Tsubolt himself will oversee the duels, and his aide, Haydent Notz-sama will act as the umpire. Lord Wazbon is here to report results of the duels to the prime minister. He can't possibly speak in the marquis's place.”
Members of Rainzats, Indole, and Fotos all have arrived as well, but as they've all agreed to not meet each other beforehand, none of them came bothering Lecan's group.
Notz members never visited either. Neither did Yeteria.
There were several spy-like individuals prowling around, but they did not do anything out of line.
And then it's finally the duel day.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka.com >
It's a big arena with as many seating for the audience, yet there's not a lot of people watching now.
Around twenty people from Gido and Smarc Households, about ten from Rainzats and Wazrof, three officials dispatched by PM Office as well as their two escort knights, and then three people from Notz including the townlord as the overseer, and his aide as the umpire.
Heles is sitting at the audience seat currently. Her duel will be held after Lecan's.
”We will now hold a duel between proxy of the heir to Smarc Marquisate, lord Pentaros Fotos, knight Lord Viska Kouen, and the proxy as well as the fiance of the heiress to Goncourt Household, lady Norma Goncourt, adventurer Lecan. Were lord Kouen to win this duel, adventurer Lecan will annul their engagement, and lord Pentaros Fotos shall be betrothed to lady Norma. Were adventurer Lecan to win, lord Pentaros Fotos is to never propose to lady Norma ever again.”
Pentaros and Norma made their vows before the town's temple head.
”The winner will be decided when one of the two is either dead or incapacitated, or when there is a clear winner of which I shall be the judge. My judgment shall be impartial.”
Viska Kouen raised his hand.
”Lord Kouen. Do you have any objection?”
”Naw. No objection 'bout you. That ain't it, oy, Lecan.”
”What.”
”We're bettin' our lives in this duel and all. 'Course there better be some rewards, don't ya think.”
”I'm fighting for Norma. Not for rewards.”
”Oh, come on now. I mean yeah, I'd lay down my life for young master too. But ya know, ya just gotta have that in a duel, yeah? Winner takes the treasure. That's how ya make a fight leaves no regret.”
”Get to the point.”
”The winner gets to pick one thing the loser has on him and claims it as his, how's that sound to ya.”