I was worried because it's an arena with a large audience. Because I thought the old game console couldn't handle it.
'No lag at all?'
But it seems it was needless worry.
It's a game made by an unfriendly pervert, but I have to acknowledge the optimization.
"Lean! Lean! Lean!"
"Lean! Lean! Lean!"
The grass-covered circular arena was filled with voices cheering for Lean Benator.
Meaning that many stupid humans bet money on my defeat.
"Benator goes~♪ Benator comes~♬"
"Yah! Our Lean~♬ Yah! Everyone's Lean~♪"
I could also see beautiful automatons attracting attention with flashy dances and songs in the stands.
'Wow! If you have a lot of automatons, you can do that too.'
It was definitely a cheerleading squad deployed by the Benator family to support their heir.
"...Should I make one too, a cheerleading squad."
A new goal was added.
I bet money on my victory.
Elise nagged that a great noble loses face by joining commoners' gambling, but my territory wasn't in a position to worry about face.
I have to earn my sister's study abroad expenses too.
I received a shocking report from Teresa, who's monitoring her.
'To think my sister was living in a rooftop room!'
Rooftop rooms can be easily infiltrated if men step on the roof and climb through windows.
In reality you'd risk your life, but with fantasy mixed in, it's entirely possible.
'I need to move her to the girls' dormitory on campus right away.'
A sanctuary where school rules block men's entry. Even if it costs a lot of money, there's no room for compromise on this.
Time to make money.
"..."
"..."
The spectators who saw my level went quiet. I really liked their expressions as they sensed they were screwed.
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"Level 20...?"
Lean Benator's face was already terrified.
"You look a lot like the brother I killed. Natural since you're siblings?"
"You hit level 20 in just two days...?"
"Something like that."
From level 1 to level 20 took less than a day. I spent the rest of the time lying down suffering from anemia.
'Same level.'
I was disappointed in Count Benator who responded to my provocation with such confidence.
This can't happen unless he treats the protagonist the same as the father who was defeated by bandits.
"Come at me. You came to take Shurin Marcus, right?"
"Th-that's right but..."
"Don't tell me? You're not thinking of giving up after coming all this way? Everyone's watching. If you forfeit, you and your family will become a laughingstock."
Lean Benator said while avoiding my gaze.
"...You're mistaken if you think that, Baron Marcus. Your opponent isn't me."
"Hm?"
What kind of development is this?
The character about to become experience points said something strange.
"I'm not barbaric enough to swing a sword at family."
"We're not family yet."
"We're already family. The order just changed a bit."
"Interesting logic. I like it because it's villainous. So who's my opponent?"
"My master."
A new figure walked out from the passage Lean Benator came from.
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"Ooh..."
His level was higher than mine. I already liked him. Because he'll give lots of experience points if I win.
Lean Benator's master looked like the most popular male student at a university. An all-rounder character who's good at studying, good at sports, good at singing, and good with professors.
He clasped his hands and greeted me with precision.
"It's an honor to meet Baron Ronan Marcus. I'm Teron, a knight of the Fortis royal family."
"Good. Let's start quickly."
"...Baron. I'm your opponent."
"I know. So?"
"Do you really accept this proxy battle?"
"Of course."
"You have no intention of forfeiting?"
"Why would I?"
I drew an ordinary gladius from its scabbard.
Because it'd be dangerous if there's a human who recognizes the spirit sword Endymion at the arena. It'd be like advertising that I conquered the temple.
So I made a gladius of the same length and weight. To get used to this weapon.
"Don't regret this."
Teron hardened his expression and drew a saber from the scabbard at his waist.
"Of course. You two can come at me together."
"That won't happen!"
"You'll regret it?"
I announced the start of the event with light provocation.
***
The Fortis Kingdom is a powerful nation possessing a nexus.
Its position as a breakwater and gatekeeper blocking elf invasions is also very solid.
Teron is a knight within the top ten of the Fortis Kingdom, a Master 2nd rank. Though still young, his exploits and achievements are widely known throughout the kingdom.
'I can't believe things turned out this way!'
Teron felt complicated swinging a sword at a young lord.
Baron Ronan Marcus.
He could tell at first sight. He's a warrior the Fortis Kingdom absolutely needs. But he felt sorry that he had to personally cut off that bud.
"Baron. Who did you learn that swordsmanship from?"
"At an academy."
"An amazing academy."
"Well... let's go with that."
It's not that Lean Benator, who became a disciple for 20 coins, is pathetic. He's not an outstanding warrior, but he has decent character and talent as a future count.
It is what it is.
"Why did you accept this duel?"
"You guys asked for it?"
"That's true but..."
He'd naturally expected pushback. So he prepared a scenario for that too. It became useless though.
He couldn't understand Baron Marcus's judgment and attitude.
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"Not bad."
He didn't lose his composure even as his shield decreased. Better than Lean Benator who was defeated before even fighting. He also had skills befitting that composure.
"Your swordsmanship is excellent, Baron. But a gladius with a short blade is the wrong choice for a young body with short limbs."
"The distance is sufficient."
His stubbornness and guts answering while frantically defending are ridiculous.
'Incredible.'
This boy was holding up well against a Master 2nd rank three levels higher. His talent definitely wasn't ordinary. That made it more regrettable.
'Not enough information.'
If he'd known he was this kind of man, he wouldn't have accepted the 20 coins.
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"How did you...?"
"I told you. It's sufficient. I'm just not used to this distance yet."
The boy with a cheeky smile swung his gladius and pushed in from the right.
Teron dodged by pulling his left foot back. But he couldn't shake the feeling he dodged thanks to his level. If their levels were the same, he would've definitely cut his shoulder.
"...My apologies. I seem to have underestimated you, Baron."
"Do it properly. Don't regret it later."
"That's my intention."
The feeling of not wanting to kill a warrior who'd benefit the Fortis Kingdom's future must have dulled his blade.
Teron reminded himself of his duty.
'I'm a knight.'
Knight.
A lord's sword and shield.
King Jenol Fortis wants Baron Ronan Marcus's death. So he kills him. He thinks nothing more, nothing less.
Teron's bearing changed as he steeled his resolve.
"Oh?"
"Prepare yourself."
The two ran around the entire circular arena exchanging rapid offense and defense.
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'...What is this?'
Teron thought with furrowed brows.
He's clearly in an advantageous situation. But why does it feel like being a butterfly caught in a web?
[23]■■□□□□(32%)
He got cut again. He couldn't dismiss it as luck or coincidence anymore.
"No way?"
Teron realized.
'A Master 2nd rank like me got my movements completely read?!'
Automatons are faster and stronger than humans. But if you face automatons hundreds, thousands of times, at some point you start seeing their movements.
Teron became the Master 2nd rank that the Fortis Kingdom is proud of through this method.
"Caught on?"
The baron, who smiled wickedly with both corners of his mouth raised, recklessly pushed in.
"Nonsense...!"
It's not impossible. If you know your opponent in advance, there's time to analyze.
But the two met for the first time today. There was naturally no time to analyze.
'That's impossible!'
The saber missed like a lie.
In contrast, the baron's gladius lightly cut across his empty chest.
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Teron felt a chill down his spine.
If his dodge reaction had been slightly slower, his shield would've been pierced.
His crisis wasn't over yet.
"Gah!"
This is bad. The distance is too close. A distance overwhelmingly advantageous for the baron with relatively short limbs and a gladius.
'So this is what sufficient distance meant!'
He really got his movements read. He can't win this.
The baron was pretending to be disadvantaged while gradually shaving away his shield. Until he could press in and kill him in one go.
This wasn't the time to worry about a knight's honor and duty.
He'll die.
"Too late."
"I surren—"
[23]□□□□□□(32%)
The gladius's tip pierced Master Teron's neck.
***
This game's combat system is similar to sports.
Striking vital points of the human body shaves more shield.
What about reality?
'Every part of the human body is a vital point.'
If cut or stabbed, you can't continue combat due to excessive bleeding.
The same goes for blocking with bare hands. If bones break, it's hard to say you blocked.
That's why real combat swordsmanship doesn't obsess over vital points.
What about games?
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[23]□□□□□□
Even if you take hits until your shield is precarious, there's no hindrance to combat ability.
This is also exactly like sports.
"Nothing more?"
"Hiiik?!"
Terrified Lean Benator couldn't move a single step from where he stood.
Didn't he expect the situation where his master loses? He showed no signs of showing something new.
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"If there's nothing more, I can start, right? Don't worry about the shield. I won't blame you if you lose."
"Forfeit! I forfeit!"
He shouted desperately. Seems he doesn't want to turn into experience points.
"What was that about already being family?"
"We're not!"
"Then get lost quickly."
"Yes!"
Lean Benator, who turned right around, disappeared from the circular arena like he was fleeing.
It's shocking that such a pathetic guy was after the protagonist's sister.
"..."
"..."
The arena spectators also went quiet from the shock of losing money.
"Hmm."
The reaction is too nonexistent. An atmosphere where they'd hoped for the tragic development of me losing my sister!
Very displeasing.
'I definitely need a cheerleading squad.'
A cheerleading squad that jumps up and shouts in joy when I win.
Let me order one from Elise as soon as I return to my territory.
"How should I make it?"
Imagining a cheerleading squad reflecting my tastes, I leisurely left toward the waiting room where Pione was waiting.
***
A completely unexpected person was waiting for me in the waiting room.
[1]■■■■■■
"You're..."
"Congratulations on Baron Ronan Marcus's victory. I'm Lucia, a knight of the Aspis family. I committed an inexcusable grave crime. I'm prepared to receive any punishment."
Lucia, who knelt as soon as she saw me, said without breathing.
'What's this?'
Like a loser's revival match for gamers who ruined a companion event?
If so, I won't decline. Let me show the image of a merciful lord and raise favorability.
"Looks like you've already received punishment."
[1]■■■■■■
I said subtly while looking at her status window.
"...Yes."
"If Knight Lucia wants, I can return your boyfriend too?"
"Not necessary."
"You don't have to decline."
"Thank you for your consideration, Baron. But it's really not necessary. I never want to see him again."
"Oh dear..."
I feel like I contributed to this world's declining birth rate.
"Baron. If it's not rude, may I ask one question?"
"I permit it."
"Thank you. To anyone's eyes, it was a very unfavorable duel. Are you not afraid of death, Baron?"
"Not at all."
It's a game anyway.
"I've realized why I was defeated. Thank you sincerely."
"Thanks and all..."
I just won because I'm this game's protagonist. There's no profound reason.
Then Pione's voice tickled my ear.
[18]■■■■■
"Baron. An invitation has arrived from the Aspis family. How should I respond?"
"Tell them I'm coming now."
"Understood."
"Well then, Knight Lucia. Let's meet again when there's time later."
New companions and events are always welcome.