HPDBC Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Chapter 66
"Cough..."
"What, it's over already? I expected as much, but that was too easy."
Luna sheathed her sword.
The duel with Godner.
It ended with Luna's victory.
It was a one-sided duel.
To the extent that the prideful Godner couldn't even think of standing up.
'Damn it! What kind of monster is she?'
It was only because Luna switched to using the back of her sword midway through the fight.
If it had been a real duel, it wouldn't have been strange if he had died.
'But in the end, I'll be the one standing, you stupid girl.'
Both in the event of winning and losing.
He had it all calculated.
Sneer-.
Godner, kneeling on one knee and bowing his head.
Luna saw it.
The faint smile on his face.
'Smiling?'
It was when Luna sensed something odd.
The entrance of the duel arena became noisy.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"Is someone there?"
"People are in the duel arena?"
A swarm of children poured in.
It was the Teron and Yuridia factions.
And they too saw it.
Luna and Godner standing in the duel arena.
"Was there a duel going on?"
"What? Did Godner lose?"
"No, wait. Just the two of them? Where's the witness?"
"What? Did they duel without a witness?"
The children started chattering noisily.
But the situation wasn't hard to grasp.
Yuridia clicked her tongue.
'Tch, I should have known when he insisted on me accompanying him...'
Late at night.
Teron's suggestion for a discussion to advance the first-year students.
They talked at a slight distance, and following Teron led them to this place, the duel arena.
'He must be showing what happens to those who oppose him.'
It was no different from a public execution.
Luna also realized the situation.
They were trying to drive her out. Out of this academy.
"Teron! I did not lose! That girl used underhanded tactics!"
"Hey! When did I ever do that?"
"She drew her sword first and swung it at me! I am the victim!"
"You're the one who beat up an innocent kid first!!"
Godner squealed.
His squealing was no different from a pig being slaughtered.
But Godner wasn't concerned about that.
Right now, his claim of being a victim was what mattered most.
'Hihi, you're done for.'
Luna, who broke the rules, would be expelled from the academy.
His honor as the victim would be restored, and he would secure his position in the Teron faction as a hero of this incident.
Just when he thought everything was going perfectly,
Teron spoke.
"It's difficult when both parties have such conflicting opinions."
"Teron...?"
"Shall we continue the duel? Until one side..."
Teron's eyes gleamed ominously.
"Admits their wrongdoing."
* * *
"Te, Teron? What do you mean by that..."
Yes. Teron wasn't aiming to simply expel Luna from the academy.
He wanted something worse.
Teron intended to 'execute' Luna.
Socially and physically.
End her completely.
"Teron, what are you talking about? Continue the duel?"
"It may sound a bit harsh, but these fools fought without a witness. Everyone knows that Godner is a friend who works with me."
It's natural he would take Godner's side.
But.
"I can't just blindly cover for him. It has to be fair. Isn't that one of Annwood Academy's principles?"
At first glance, Teron might seem like a fair person.
Despite his subordinate being involved, he's willing to handle it fairly.
But Yuridia knew.
The real meaning hidden inside.
"...So, you're saying the duel should continue until someone admits their fault?"
"Yes. Wouldn't that be more fair?"
"Fair? What's fair about that! It's a system where the stronger person takes all! What if the winner is lying?"
This was the third time he had passed out.
Continuing like this might kill Godner.
"This... what kind of duel is this."
This wasn't the kind of duel Luna knew.
Noble and immensely honorable.
That was the true nature of a duel.
But none of that existed here.
What they were doing was nothing more than collective bullying, not a duel.
And then everyone realized Teron's scheme.
‘Proxy duel.’
The plan was to have someone else stand in for Godner and fight Luna.
But for a proxy duel, there needed to be a valid reason.
The elderly, children, those suffering from illness unable to duel, or those on official duty.
In these situations, one could appoint a proxy duelist.
And there was one special clause.
‘If someone is designated as a proxy duelist, they must carry out the duel.’
It was Luna's turn to nominate someone.
This clause was created because of the nobles.
Places more sordid than anywhere else, where the slightest love affair could escalate into war.
This clause was created to stop that, to end fights in the dueling arena.
‘The nominated person does have the right to refuse, making the clause virtually ineffective.’
However,
In situations like this, it was extremely useful.
If Luna nominated Teron, then.
A ‘real duel’ would begin.
"Co, come at me..."
Godner muttered while lying down.
But Luna couldn't swing her sword anymore.
‘Luna, don't! Hold back! You mustn't say those words!’
The students in the Advanced Class knew.
Despite her harsh words, Luna was a tender-hearted girl.
Luna looked up at the sky, realizing.
Ah, I see. This is.
‘A trap to draw out Zero.’
Using her to somehow pull Zero in, whether to join Teron's faction or as a warning to those who oppose him.
Luna had no choice but to be shocked.
- Luna, don't get involved with Teron's faction.
- Protecting the bullied weak is also forbidden.
‘So, Zero anticipated even this.’
Advice given back in the ant nest.
How far he had foreseen the future was astonishing.
Only then did Luna realize what Zero had been doing.
Protecting her all this time.
But look at what she was doing now.
‘I've ruined everything.’
Caught in their trap, moving exactly as they wanted.
No matter how this duel ends, Zero will be entangled with Teron's faction.
Her thoughtless actions had endangered Zero too.
‘The proxy duel is a trap.’
A final trap tightening around both her and Zero's necks.
If she fell into it again, calling her foolish would be an understatement.
But,
If things continued, Godner would end up crippled or dead.
She had no choice but to choose.
‘There are two options before me.’
Declare defeat and take the blame, leading to expulsion.
Or declare a proxy duel and continue the fight.
Teron's strength was unknown, but Zero had warned her.
‘Teron, Daike.’
Not to fight them seriously.
Yet, Luna made her choice.
‘I'll nominate a proxy duelist.’
She didn't want to be expelled. She had goals to achieve at the academy.
‘It's enjoyable.’
Her time at the academy with Zero had been too pleasurable.
A balm for the past ten years.
She wanted to continue her academy life with Zero. So, the first option was out.
She chose the second option, the proxy duel.
Of course, she wasn't completely thoughtless.
‘I'll break their leader.’
Defeat the head of Teron's faction and secure Zero's safety.
Godner, lying there gasping for breath.
Luna passed him by and then,
Swoosh-.
She pointed her sword at Teron.
"Hey, stop pretending to be noble and come at me."
I'll bite you to death.
--TL Notes--
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