Chapter 7: DUEL


    Thats her?


    The knight looked at me with interest, not realizing that it was odd that I was walking up myself without the man.


    I was wondering how you would look when he mentioned a rabbit, but you look more human.


    The knight scanned me up and down, whistling.


    You look more like a human with bunny ears, heh?


    The knightughed almost until his mouth was going to rip open, and then looked over to Victor, who was getting help from the vigers to stand.


    If shes a guest, you should let her enjoy the party. Why did you make her stay at home, hiding the pretty girl all by yourself? Dirty little Victor, you wanted her all to yourself, right?


    Victor did not say anything, but the knight was asking a rhetorical question to satisfy his own needs in the first ce. The knight sat back down and poured himself a drink once again.


    Rabbitdy! Come over and have a drink with me! Have a seat here.


    One thought crossed my mind when I saw that ugly looking figure:


    Up close, he has a really ugly face.


    Up close, you have a really ugly face.


    I didnt mean to say that out loud, but it was such a true fact and slipped my mind. I had no intention to apologize, however.


    .they say that rabbits can survive because they are quick to take a hint, but this bunny seems to be pretty slow.


    The knight put his ss down and then stood back up, afterughing senselessly.


    Why do you think all the people struggle to face me, even though there are so many of them?


    The knight pounded his chest a couple of times.


    Thats because the man you are facing right now, is the infamous Sir John Palestine.


    Of course, I had no idea what he was saying.


    John who?


    The knight flinched his eyebrows when I asked.


    You are a jokester, bunnydy.


    I had no idea who he was, but to call oneself sir, he must have some pride from the days when he was a knight. He wouldnt act so boastly otherwise.


    Are you a knight, by any chance?


    When I asked him, pretending to be clueless, he made a satisfied grin for the first time.


    Thats right! I was a knight. I still have knighthood in my heart, am as strong, brave as I was and protect these pitiful people.


    You call this protection?


    I thought that he was absurd, but the knight was proud.


    Of course! Still, since I need money to protect this vige, I am getting my fair share.


    All he knew was how to make a rotten fruit sound delicious. To call himself a man serving knighthood. The knights listening from the graces would rise from their deathbed and beat him if they would.


    So, bunnydy, do you get whats going on, now?


    No, I dont think so.


    HEY!


    The knight finally screamed at me, and I had to cover my ears.


    You scared me!


    When I shouted at the knight, he justughed.


    Well, there will be plenty of time for us to get to know each other.


    Then he let out his hand.


    Just follow me. If not, I will have no choice but to use force.


    To be honest, it would have been easy to just stab him in the face to kill a knight without helmet. He was acting as if he had no idea that I had the means to attack him.


    If he was a regr bandit or a thief, I would have just ended him like that.


    Still, since he dered his identity as a knight, so I thought I should keep my manners.


    Because I am a swordsman, not a bandit. I didnt want to be known as the swordsman who surprised a knight to death.


    What are you doing?


    When I took out leather gloves from my chest, the knight made a puzzles face, but


    p!


    The face he made after I threw the gloves at his face was much more entertaining.


    I, swordsman Aris Wafer, ask knight John Palestine, to a duel.


    The surroundings got quiet. The case was the same on the day I first threw my gloves at the citys lead swordsman who was looking down at me, calling me a country boy. After I won the battle, people called me full of pride, but there were others who supported me for winning fairly.


    <em>You</em> want to ask <em>me </em>for a match?


    The knight looked at the leather gloves on the floor with a gruesome expression.


    Thats correct.


    When I replied holding out my rapier, the knight spoke as if he was in disbelief.


    Theres a limit that I can take just because you have a pretty face.


    The knight looked at me with a death stare, as if he was really angry.


    I wish you well.


    When I spoke these lines of battle with a serious face, the knightughed.


    Well, its been a while since I had a match. Especially at such a shabby location like this, with a girl.


    The knight held his sword, flung it across a few times in the air, and then pointed it forward.


    Wekk, it doesnt matter. You will find out how brash your acts were once I show you my skills. The cost might be a scar on your pretty face, but dont me me.


    Saying this, the knight approached me and flung his sword. I could tell that his knighthood was believable from the amount of force he used to strike.


    Still, his action had three mistakes.


    First, he did not wear his helmet. Had he worn a helmet, I would have found a gap between his armor to stab him. Now there was no need since his face and neck was widely exposed.


    Second, he let his guard down because I was a female. He was too rxed.


    Andstly, he was just too slow.


    Whoosh!


    When I stepped back, the knights longsword shed through the open air, and


    Hiat!


    Looking at this I quickly stepped forward to stab the knight in the neck.


    Poosh!


    My rapier instantly pierced through the knights neck and then instantly came back out.


    Khhhk!


    In shock, the knight opened his bloodshot eyes wide and then grabbed onto his neck.


    Sheek..sss..


    The knight trembled while walking over towards the vigers, but only hissing sounds of air came out, and


    Thud!


    He fell forwards.


    That was not even a challenge.


    I could not understand that the vigers struggled for this little guy.


    Hes dead!


    She really killed him?


    She killed him so easily!


    The vigers started to get excited, of course, and


    Hes finally dead!


    Hooray!


    And some even shouted from joy.


    Thank you!


    Thanks to you, we have gained peace again!


    The women especially thanked me.


    Why were we so afraid of him? The mayor could beat him easily.


    Why were they not fighting back?


    Its not him that we are afraid of.


    Victor, who was getting treated, let out a sigh.


    Its the guy behind all this.


    A guy?


    Who would be leading all of this?


    He is the subordinate of ve King Pi.


    I knew who Pi was.


    Pi was the guy that the original


    He was the viin in the sequel that the novel''s original protagonist, Jarrod, should have gone to catch. As the writer foretold the sequel, Pi was involved in all the ve traders and criminal gangs in this novel, and that he had a brutal personality, and that only his executives knew who he was.


    Pi?


    However, the Pi episode did note out, probably because the novel was not that popr. In addition, since Jarrod, who was supposed to catch Pi, was misaligned from the beginning and disappeared, I would be the one to catch Pi. Thats how the side story should be. And if I catch Pi, I will be able to reach the conclusion of this novel, and whatever the oue, I will find out where to go.


    Yes. Dont tell me you dont know who Pi is?


    Victor made a face out of surprise.


    Of course I know him well.


    I boasted that I knew him well instead of knowing of him, and Victor nodded as if he expected this answer.


    Yes, you would know him especially well as a dual specimen.


    Then Victor pointed at me.


    So you should return to your home town.


    Huh? Why is that?


    When I asked, Victor made a puzzled face in return.


    Well for us, we have many ces we could move to. But its not the same for us. Even when all of us keep our mouths shut, he will know that its you. He just has a way to get all the information. So you should go back home, at least you will be safe there.


    But since I had already made up my mind to catch Pi, I had no ns to go back. Victor was worried. So, my solution was to make him not worry


    Then thats good.


    I acted as if I already knew, nodding. Victor and others made a surprised face at my response.


    What do you mean good?


    Victor, you remember how you asked me earlier why I came to this town?


    Then Victor dropped his jaw, as if he knew what I was going to say.


    That means that you are..?


    Yes.


    I dug through the body of the dead knight. I wasnt looking for something in particr, but just wanted to grab something random. There was a handkerchief with blood stains.


    I am tracking Pis subordinates. Finding such symbols of subordination of Pi as these.


    It was a lie, to be honest. The handkerchief was a random object, but the gullible vigers already believed this.


    And finally, I will kill Pi. That is the purpose and reason of my journey. Dont tell anyone, okay?


    When I emphasized thest part as if I was telling them a big secret, the vigers finally had light on their faces again.


    I see!


    I knew that you came here for a reason!


    I knew that she wasnt just a regr passerby!


    The vigers started to get excited.


    As expected. Just venturing wasnt your true purpose.


    Victor seemed to believe this as well. To be honest, I was really just venturing out, but I nodded in agreement.


    Good then! Let''s resume the party! This time for Aris, who is on a great mission!


    Hooray!


    And the festival resumed.


    Thank you, Aris. Due to your work, our vige has gained peace once again.


    Victor bowed his head and thanked me while looking out to the festival.


    We still have Johns subordinates, right?


    From my concern, Victor made a stern face.


    As long as hes dead, his subordinates will go their own ways. Well, it doesnt really matter if they return. You motivated me. If they still cant take a hint, my ax will be there to teach them their final lesson.


    Victor really meant this. If the subordinates of John Palestine were toe again, their skulls would be cracked by that ax.


    Then you go ahead and enjoy this festival. I have told Diana to prepare your food, she should be here soon.


    Like that Victor disappeared into the crowd, and a momentter I could see Diana heading over with a te of food. It was finally my turn to eat.


    Dear Aris, here you go.


    But on the te that Diana brought over, there was.a sd.


    Why are there only greens? Wheres the meat?


    When I asked, Diana was even more confused.


    Dont rabbits just eat vegetables?


    That would be the case, but I did not want to eat them.


    Not something like this.


    I handed the te back to Diana, and then headed over to the barbeque boar that people were enjoying.


    You want some, too?


    The hunter, who was distributing the meat, made a surprised face.


    Why, I shouldnt?


    You can, but do bunnies eat meat?


    Just give it to me!


    I finally got my own food after fighting for it,


    Yummy! Barbeque is always the best!


    And was finally able to eat something today.