Chapter 89 - A Challenge to a Duel (3)

Noble etiquette made no provision for issuing consecutive challenges, but Yuto was no noble now. He had no reason to concern himself with noble etiquette or Aaron’s injuries.

Aaron stared at the handkerchief, trembling. Naturally, none of his earlier bluster remained. Rather than the honor and attention of his constellation he would lose by refusing, his mind was consumed by the pain of the one-sided beating Yuto had just given him. His broken ribs, pulverized nose, and shattered knee hurt unbearably.

No, what he felt was fear that transcended even pain. Through his blood-red vision, Yuto’s gaze stood out with terrible clarity. The aura created by Yuto’s Charm stat reached past the noble pride that pain had broken down, touching the human being called Aaron.

"A-a duel..."

Aaron stammered. Desperately, he tried to wring out an answer that would let him escape this situation.

"We... just finished dueling. I-I lost. And now... you want another duel?"

"I believe I told you. That duel was for my honor. The challenge I’ve issued now is for Levian Marigold’s honor."

"Th-then I should duel Levian instead..."

"I am Levian’s champion."

Yuto spoke without hesitation. Duels at the academy did not stake the participants’ lives, but one wrong move could still lead to death. Besides, not every academy student was skilled in combat, so there was nothing particularly objectionable about appointing a champion.

The duelists might be the same, but the cause was different. So was the honor at stake. As such, Yuto’s second challenge was not invalid.

"I... I’m injured," Aaron stammered.

"At least... let me get my wounds treated first..."

"Then we’ll duel again once your wounds have been treated."

Yuto answered immediately. The injuries were severe, but this was Maria Academy. Skilled healers and all sorts of potions were readily available.

"At noon, one week from today. We’ll duel again in this same place. That should settle the issue, shouldn’t it?"

The onlookers murmured at his words.

"If his wounds are healed, there’s no problem, is there?"

"Right here, a week from today?"

A third-year troublemaker had suffered a completely one-sided defeat at the hands of a first-year from the slums. It was a rare spectacle at Maria Academy. A duel scheduled a week in advance would draw an even larger audience than today’s.

Aaron’s face went deathly pale. Was this how a prisoner felt upon being told he would be executed in a week? Nor was Aaron in any position to find a champion. There was no suitable student among the third-years he could ask for help, and once word of today’s duel spread, no one would volunteer to risk humiliation and injury by crossing blades with Yuto.

"Ugh..."

Aaron’s head spun. In a week... he would have to endure the same agony he had just experienced. Perhaps it would be even worse this time.

‘Sh-should I surrender the moment the duel starts?’

That would be even more humiliating than refusing the duel. To declare defeat as soon as it began, before there was even a clear winner or loser... Aaron squeezed his eyes shut.

"I... I refuse."

Pain was not the only problem. Right now, Aaron was simply afraid of Yuto. He did not want to face those eyes again in a week.

Refusing a duel might be more humiliating than losing. But to Aaron, refusing was still better than declaring defeat the moment the duel began.

"Why do you refuse?"

Yuto asked coldly, as though he had expected that answer. Aaron hesitated before opening his mouth.

"Because... you’re stronger than me..."

He stammered the words. That single admission felt as though it were tearing his pride to shreds, but his fear was greater still.

"Accepting a fight you know you can’t win... isn’t c-courage. It’s stupidity."

Aaron made excuses to himself. He knew how devastating it was to refuse a duel before so many witnesses. But the duel they had just fought remained all too vivid in his mind. The sound of his ribs breaking. The agony when his knee shattered. Those moments when his entire body screamed with every blow of the broom.

Yuto’s eyes. Even as he brought the broom down, those eyes had never wavered. There had been no anger, no excitement, no cruel pleasure. Only coldness. They were no different now. His fear of those eyes was unbearable.

Refusing the duel meant voluntarily withdrawing his challenge to Levian Marigold’s honor. In other words, Aaron would be admitting that every insult he had hurled at Levian was a lie.

The conspiracy theory about Cayenne’s poison, the insults directed at Levian—all of it.

"I retract... every slander against Levian Marigold. E-everything I said to her was a lie..."

Those words tarnished not only Aaron’s personal honor, but House Obald’s as well.

"I also... retract everything I said to mock you. I..."

"Your posture is wrong."

Yuto spoke curtly. Aaron was sitting on the ground. Pointing the broom at his shattered knee, Yuto said,

"Get on your knees, bow your head, and apologize."

"Ugh..."

Having not only lost a duel but refused another, Aaron could not refuse. He gritted his teeth and knelt. More bone protruded from his shattered knee, and blood poured out. As he bent forward, he let out a moan that sounded like a sob.

"S... sorry. I’m sorry. I... I was wrong..."

"What did you do wrong?"

"I... insulted you... for being poor... And I slandered Levian Marigold... by suggesting she had ordered the p-poisoning of the head of her house... and her older brother’s death..."

"If I ever hear that kind of bullshit again..."

TAP.

Yuto’s broom touched Aaron’s head.

"What happened today will happen again. No matter who says it."

Those words were not meant for Aaron alone. They were meant for the spectators watching the duel, and every student who would later hear the rumors.

Protecting Levian from slander was not Yuto’s only reason for challenging Aaron. He would have to remain at the academy for at least another year. He would have to associate with young students who thought themselves the finest, most gifted people in the world.

Contempt and discrimination were inevitable. To those who had lived their entire lives as nobles, Yuto was an insignificant creature who could never sit at the same table as them. But he had no intention of enduring insults spoken aloud.

"If you intend to insult me or Levian, you had better be prepared for the consequences."

Today, Yuto had made it perfectly clear what sort of person he was. He did not shy away from duels. And when he fought one, he utterly destroyed his opponent and crushed their spirit.

Yuto strode over to Aaron and held out his hand. Aaron flinched under his gaze, then returned the two handkerchiefs with trembling hands. Accepting the blood-soaked cloths, Yuto whispered,

"Be grateful this is Maria Academy. Anywhere else, you wouldn’t have gotten away with just broken bones."

"Ugh..."

"From now on, stay out of my sight and Levian’s. Seeing that face of yours will make me want another duel."

Aaron shuddered at those words. Having recovered the handkerchiefs, Yuto turned to Aaron’s companions. The young man and woman stood there pale-faced, then recoiled in horror the moment his gaze fell on them.

"S-sorry. I was wrong."

"I’m... sorry too. E-everything I said today was a lie..."

Both quickly bowed their heads and apologized before Yuto could even challenge them. Weaker than Aaron, they had no desire to duel Yuto. He nodded and returned to Levian.

"Sorry I got your handkerchief dirty. I’ll buy you a new one."

"The handkerchief isn’t the point...!"

Levian heaved a sigh. Rather than anger, her voice carried the confusion of someone who did not know what to do with her emotions.

"Without even asking my permission, you used my handkerchief... staked my name and honor..."

"You were holding back in the café."

"I wasn’t holding back. I was planning to get them back later!"

"You still can. That apology was for today’s insults, not all the ones that came before. You’re a merchant. Make sure you collect plenty of interest."

Faced with Yuto’s faint chuckle, Levian moved her lips, at a loss for words.

"Ugh..."

In the end, Levian ducked her head, her face bright red. Was she angry, grateful, or embarrassed? Probably all three.

"Let’s get some coffee. Your favorite café has been cleaned out now."

Speaking casually, Yuto went inside. Levian stood with her head lowered for a moment, then let out a resigned sigh and followed him.

"Yuto."

Sitting down in the newly cleared café, Levian spoke.

"Thank you."

Her voice was quiet. Instead of answering, Yuto smiled and opened the menu the server had brought.

"So. What’s good here?"

"I recommend the beans from the continent of Vermira. That idiot said earlier that the coffee wasn’t very good—but, ahem, that’s because that idiot has a dull palate."

"I’m worried mine might be dull too."

"You have a surprisingly refined palate, Yuto. I’m sure you’ll appreciate the flavor of Vermira’s beans."

Having sampled all manner of fine cuisine as king of Belkain in his previous life, he could hardly have anything else. Chuckling softly, Yuto ordered Levian’s recommendation. Beside him, Flokiro swished his tail, pondering which dessert to choose.

"Classes start tomorrow. Is there anything you’d like to know?"

Monday’s first class was Constellation Studies, followed later in the afternoon by Yuto’s chosen Swordsmanship class. He answered in an indifferent tone.

"I’m a little nervous about studying constellations when I can’t contract with them and don’t even like them."

The nerves were a lie. Yuto had already attended classes at Maria Academy in his previous life.

"There’s no need to be so nervous. It’s the first class, and the professor will understand your circumstances."

Levian cleared her throat and explained.

"Constellation Studies is exactly what it sounds like: the study of constellations. Broadly speaking, their history, their names, and the kinds of blessings they bestow... In the more advanced material, you’ll learn how to make effective use of their blessings."

"That puts me at a disadvantage."

"Don’t worry. Manifesting a constellation’s blessing depends more on the constellation’s will than on your own efforts... so grades in Constellation Studies are determined by theory."

Being unable to wield a constellation’s power did not substantially lower one’s grade in Constellation Studies. However, demonstrating a constellation’s unmistakable favor through a blessing earned extra credit.

In his previous life, Yuto had enjoyed the favor of Belkain’s constellation, the Shattered Star. Even if that favor had ultimately served to plunge him into despair through its later betrayal, giving the Shattered Star sweet pleasure. While he was at the academy, its favor had always earned him the highest grade, an S.

That would not be possible this time. Without extra credit, the highest grade Yuto could earn in Constellation Studies was an A.

‘I’ll have to make up for the points I lose in Constellation Studies with higher scores in my other subjects.’

To enter Maria’s Labyrinth, he had to rank among the top five students in his year. While he was considering that, their coffee and cakes arrived.

["Is it good?"]

As he lifted his coffee cup and inhaled its aroma, Elun’s voice sounded in his mind. She sounded somewhat weary.

["Here I am, handing out clothes in this constricting outfit, while you idle away your time. Are you enjoying yourself?"]

Knowing Elun would scold him no matter what he said, Yuto decided not to answer at all.