Chapter 18: The Duel
The area in front of the Adventurer’s Guild was overflowing with people who had come to catch a glimpse of the duel between me and the Hero.
The gallery spread out, forming a circle around us as we faced each other.
The members of the Hero Party were also there, cheering from behind the Hero.
“Ales! Just take that guy out!”
That’s what they were saying, but of course, I had no intention of going down without a fight.
I had shown even Ghuftok my worth.
To protect my place and grasp happiness, I have no choice but to act myself.
I intend to prove my true strength here.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to go all out…?”
I asked, just to confirm.
Hero Alester Lyos replied.
“Of course. This is a duel. A serious match until one of us is unable to fight! I’ll make sure you can never work as an adventurer again…”
“Is that so… Well, that’s good to hear.”
Honestly, the Demon’s Blade I wield is too powerful and too large.
It’s harder to hold back with a weapon like this.
Besides, my opponent is, for all his faults, the number one ranked adventurer.
No matter how much of an absurdly strong weapon I possess, I can’t let my guard down.
“Come on, come at me from anywhere you like!”
The Hero wore a confident expression, not even bothering to ready his weapon.
Well, unlike me, he probably has magic and skills.
I, on the other hand, am just a powerless adventurer.
It’s with a single swing of this Demon’s Blade that I’ve defeated Golems.
For someone like me, there’s only one option.
No fancy tricks, just smash him with the greatsword—!
—Fwoosh!
I swung the Demon’s Blade with all my might.
However, the Hero still didn’t move.
It seemed he intended to take the hit.
“Hahaha! Such amateur swordsmanship won’t work on m—Aboooogh!?”
He probably intended to defend by cloaking his body in mana…
However, my Demon’s Blade seemed to possess even greater attack power than he’d anticipated.
It effortlessly shattered his mana barrier and struck Hero Alester squarely in the stomach.
—Thud…!
“Aghua…!”
The Hero’s body was sent flying by the greatsword.
He mowed down some of the gallery and was flung several hundred meters away.
Just in case, I’d struck him with the flat of the Demon’s Blade.
So, his body wouldn’t be split in two.
Even if it’s a duel, I have no intention of showing everyone a splayed-open Hero in broad daylight.
“N-No way…!? Alester…!?”
One of his female companions chased after the Hero who had been sent flying.
He’s… probably lost consciousness by now.
Continuing the fight would be impossible.
As expected of a Hero, his equipment is sturdy too.
Well, he probably won’t die…
“Hey…! This isn’t over yet, is it?”
“Huh…?”
As I was about to leave, the other man from the Hero Party stopped me.
Geord Lark—the third-ranked, large man.
Clad in sturdy armor, he was a hulking giant with an incredibly intimidating presence.
“Our leader can still fight, you know…?”
“What…?”
Saying so, Geord pointed towards Alester.
When I looked, Alester was getting up and walking back towards me.
What a tenacious guy…
As expected of the number 1 ranker…
Having returned, Alester said to me,
“Hmph… I let my guard down earlier… Not bad… It seems your 5th rank is genuine.”
“If you understand, then that’s enough… Let’s stop this pointless conflict.”
It’s not like I particularly want to cause a bloody incident with this guy.
I just want him to retract his false accusation that my 5th rank is illegitimate.
So, as long as he understands my strength, that’s fine.
“I’ve got my pride on the line here, too! You think I, the number one ranked Hero, can just end things after being sent flying in front of a huge crowd!? This is until one of us dies!”
“Is that so… Well then… I guess it can’t be helped. Round two it is.”
This time, Alester finally seemed to get serious, drawing his sword and taking a stance.
The amount of mana around him also felt greater than before.
“Victory goes to the one who strikes first…! Dieeeee!”
“…!?”
Alester suddenly brandished his sword and charged at me.
I parried it with my Demon’s Blade.
—Clang!
As expected, Alester’s sword clashed with mine and shattered.
Well, it’s only natural, as there’s likely no weapon harder than the Demon’s Blade.
“Wh-What…!?”
“Alright, now it’s my turn…!”
Using the Demon’s Blade somewhat like a shield, I tackled him.
Even though it’s a sword, it has a considerable surface area, so it can be used this way too.
—Thwack!
“Ugh…!?”
Alester was pushed back by the impact and fell on his butt.
I didn’t miss that opening.
With this, he’ll be split in two for sure this time.
I didn’t actually intend to kill him.
Well, if I just slash the ground beside him, that’ll settle the match.
But, I also kind of want to see what kind of Rare Drop item a Hero has.
“Here I go…!”
I raised the Demon’s Blade high and was about to bring it down…!
At that moment…
“I, I giiiiiive uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup!!!!”
“Huh…?”
Alester said so in a pathetic voice.
He was the one saying it was ‘to the death,’ and now he’s saying he gives up.
However, once the Demon’s Blade starts its downward swing, it can’t be stopped.
I let its momentum carry the massive blade as I swung it down.
—Thooom…!
So as not to hit Alester, I swung the Demon’s Blade down onto the ground beside him.
Naturally, I wouldn’t go so far as to kill someone who’s already said they give up.
But well, with this… the match was decided.
However, Alester himself remained silent.
As for me, I don’t just want him to give up, I want him to retract his statement…
Just then, one of the onlookers shouted.
“H-Hey! That Alester guy…! He’s passed out…!”
Other spectators chimed in.
“Y-You’re right…! What a pathetic guy.”
“Kyaaa! And what’s more, he’s wet himself…!”
“Oi oi, seriously…? No way…”
“Picking a fight himself and then ending up like this, so lame…”
I quickly pulled the Demon’s Blade from the ground.
I wouldn’t want his piss getting on it, after all…
“Hey, I win, right…?”
Since Alester was out cold, I asked Geord.
Geord, though bewildered by Alester’s state, replied.
“Ah, yeah… You win…”
“I see… Well, I’ll have him retract his statement the next time we meet. Tell Alester that for me.”
With only those words, I left the scene.
As expected, they didn’t say anything more.
I hope this reduces some of my troubles…
Geord and the others dragged the fallen Alester away and departed quietly.
I went straight to Salina-san.
“I’m sorry, Salina-san. For dirtying the front of the Guild… And I couldn’t even get him to retract his statement…”
“P-Please don’t worry about it… For my sake… Loin-san, you were so cool!”
“Ah, thank you very much…”
“Still… to think you’d actually beat Alester-san…”
“Well, it’s just that my opponent was careless. He probably never imagined my weapon was made of Demonite Ore…”
However, the next time we meet will be troublesome.
I have no magic or skills.
If the four members of the Hero Party were to attack me seriously…
I… I have to get stronger—!
To protect my own happiness, to seize further survival—!
I secretly made this resolve.