“I request a duel with Crown Prince Arnia.”
A shiver ran through me as his gaze pierced me, dead straight.
The symbol of justice who never, ever, ever bends — Ouga Veret.
What sort of thought process even leads to picking a fight with the Crown Prince for the sake of one mere childhood friend.
But I had no doubt that Veret-kun would do it.
Of his own initiative, he’d secured a place for the commoner-born Miss Liche.
He’d traveled to a rough rural town and saved the orphanage children. He’d even arranged aid through his territory to help them become self-sufficient.
Concerned with the deteriorating public safety, he had outstanding personnel circulating through the regions and had even built up a security force.
Every one of these is conduct unthinkable for a noble.
The reason he can take such steps is, as far as I can think it through, one thing.
A sense of justice.
The saintly heart he carries is driving him forward, refusing to forgive evil.
Lately his name has come up among the students more and more often, but at the same time you hear plenty of slander too — he’s after fame, he’s secretly extorting huge sums of money.
But the moment you think about it for even a second you can tell that’s nothing but jealousy-laced fabrication.
He’s whispered to be the [Saint], yet bears no trace of arrogance — because he has no interest in fame.
A ducal scion like him has no reason now to want the meager amount of money he could squeeze from commoners.
I bet on that sense of justice.
And I won.
“Yes. As Student Council President, I accept your application.”
I smirked, inwardly.
Just as the scenario I’d drawn up went.
Sensei will be pleased as well.
We can use the Crown Prince as a pretext to verify whether Bolbond’s idiot son’s testimony is real.
I can witness Magic Cancel with my own eyes.
In that sense, this particular trouble was extremely well-timed for goading him into action.
“B-but, there’s no way the Crown Prince would accept something like that……”
Miss Lebetsenka’s anxiety is reasonable.
But this time, without a doubt——
“No, he’ll accept. Because his opponent is the [Reject (me)].”
Just as he says.
The magic-erasing magic — Sensei is provisionally calling it Magic Cancel — isn’t widely known to the general public.
It’s a technique even we haven’t reached certainty on yet.
Crown Prince Arnia isn’t top-tier, but as a child of the royal line, he possesses combat ability at a high standard.
And given how proud he is on top of that.
He’d never run from a match against someone he considers beneath him, like Veret-kun.
Of course that isn’t the only factor.
“Then let’s hear your conditions for victory ahead of time.”
The duel system is the signature institution of this academy.
Everything decided by magical ability. A rule that can exist only because we declare that status is irrelevant.
The mechanics are simple.
The loser accepts whatever the winner demands.
The stakes can be anything. Position, money, knowledge, the body, a lover, a fiancé(e)……
Whatever — provided the opponent agrees.
“Council President Milfonti. A question — would it be all right if I ceded that right to Karen?”
“Eh!?”
Miss Lebetsenka looked startled at the suggestion, but from my view it’s within reason.
He has almost no material desires.
He’s only fighting this duel to improve Miss Lebetsenka’s situation.
Hence, he entrusted it to her.
So that Karen Lebetsenka may choose her own future for herself.
Whatever the outcome, Veret-kun will accept it with grace.
“As long as Crown Prince Arnia’s side accepts, there’s no problem. I’ll arrange it accordingly.”
“Should I be the one to inform him?”
“No. I’ll relay it to him myself. Overseeing duels is one of the Council’s duties, after all.”
“That helps. While you’re at it, I’d like you to pass along one more message.”
“And that is?”
“Tell him I’ll accept any condition the other side asks for.”
”……! Oh my, oh my…… that makes my job considerably easier.”
The expression on my face may have shifted from the patched-together smile I’d put on for the first time in a while.
That’s probably not actually true — but right now, I’m in high spirits.
He may yet reach [Hero].
He has the qualities for it.
I see. No wonder Sensei wants to extinguish him before he finishes growing.
A hero with a heart of justice…… in the world Sensei wants to bring into being, he would, without question, stand in our way as an enemy.
“But — are you certain? Accepting unconditionally, of all things.”
“Th-that’s right, Ouga! For my sake, going this far——!”
“I’m moving because I want to. It’s not for your sake, and it’s not something for you to worry about. For me to remain me, this duel is necessary.”
Told that, Miss Lebetsenka had nothing more she could say in protest.
Veret-kun is a sly man.
”…… I’m sorry…… I’m sorry……”
“Ahh, geez, crying again……. Still a crybaby, you really haven’t changed. ……You think I’m going to lose, Karen?”
Miss Lebetsenka shook her head furiously back and forth.
He folded down to one knee to meet her at eye level and gently wiped the tears away with his fingers.
“Then smile and cheer for me. That suits you a lot better.”
“Ouga……”
…… Witnessing my underclassman with such an unmistakable in-heat look on her face is, frankly, rather difficult to watch directly……
Please do that sort of thing once you’ve returned to your rooms.
And so, the next day.
The Student Council formally announced that a duel between Arnia Rondism and Ouga Veret had been arranged.
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