Chapter 49

The king listlessly yawned, while leaning against the desk .

Really, what was the strained atmosphere from just now… . .

「Now then, …I was thinking if I should explain, but come to think of it, we haven’t had our match yet, did we?」

「Eh, do you want to do it here? No, besides, there should be an explanation from the flow of the conversation just now . 」

The king once again straightened his back and the atmosphere turned tense .

It didn’t fool anyone .

However, just the speed of his change was pointlessly fast .

「I will give you an explanation . But, after we cleanly settle Amelia’s matter . …there are also things that I’m curious about . If you win, I will entrust Amelia to you . However, if I win, I will have you separate from Amelia . 」

Amelia started trembling, when her father said that with a cold voice .

I narrowed my eyes .

「Then, the opponent?」

「Naturally, it’s Kirika . Amelia may have already said it, but Kirika is a gold ranker of the Adventurer Guild . She is one of the few adventurers of the highest rank in this world . 」

She should be a good match?

I meaningfully smiled, at the king who was smiling .

Bring it on .

「The match will be in five minutes . We will be waiting at the plaza from last time . If you get cold feet and are not able to come, have her act as a messenger since you’re going to separate from Amelia . 」

As expected, doesn’t this king resemble a villian .

That was what I thought when I saw the leaving figure of the king who gallantly left together with Kirika after he said what was needed to be said .

He declared it to be in five minutes so as to not allow me to prepare .

And, they left first in order to make their own preparations .

He chose the plaza from before was because it was a place that they were familiar with it .

The matter of the match too, it was something that he said immediately after I had lowered my vigilance, so I knew that he had been aiming for the timing to say that .

He, certainly had the skills to be king .

However, I may have misread the opponent’s ability .

「It’ll be fine, if it’s Akira, you’ll win . 」

「Aah, naa, Amelia . 」

Incidentally, I was able to say what I wanted to say to Amelia who had cheered up .

「What is it?」

「You know, I may like Amelia quite a bit . No, I like you . 」

「……??」

Was Amelia confused, she quietly tilted her head in confusion .

Her face and ears, all the way down to her neck had turned completely red, so it seems that she somewhat understood .

How convenient .

「Does, Amelia like me?」

「Hau… . Akira, what happened, suddenly?」

When I stared into her eyes, Amelia pressed her hand down near her heart and seemed to be in agony .

Was she ok .

「Nothing, I needed to say it now, since we’ll probably be busy from now on . 」

Even if I said that, it was a situation where I myself didn’t know what I was saying .

It’s just that, I had a feeling that if I didn’t say it now, I wouldn’t have another chance to do so, perhaps I’m imagining it .

Patiently waiting, Amelia finally lifted her head up .

「M, me too…I, I like you!」

「I see . Thank you, I’m happy . 」

I said that . I wasn’t particularly shy

Since I knew that Amelia liked me .

I wasn’t even the heroine of some otome game, and I wasn’t the thick-skinned protagonist either .

There, there, when I patted her head, Amelia’s face turned even more red .

What a cute fellow .

While I was fired up, I put my weapon that was in my hand down onto the long table .

「My hidden weapons are the several pieces of rope that I found in the dungeon, ‘Yatonokami’, and small magic stones for throwing, huh . In addition, including my shadow magic and stealth, which one should I use to win . …maa, what will be will be . 」

Leaving the previous situation aside once again, I looked into the eyes of Amelia whose face was still red .

「Amelia, it’s fine to end it quickly, right?」

Even if I didn’t specify who, she understood .

「Un, thank you . 」

「For what?」

「For fighting them for me . 」

She said that, and gently smiled .

Because she always had a serious look on her face, the extremely rare smile that occasionally came out was dazzling .

Even though a line like「Don’t fight them because of me!!」would come up at a time like this .

The words were quite similar, but the nuance was completely different .

Amelia was much cuter than the heroines that were common in the other world, and she had a great personality as well .

Standing next to a guy like me who was not attractive, Amelia shined much more brightly .

「Don’t mention it . 」

Amelia, who was shining brightly, shot me a look, telling me to do my best, and we headed towards the plaza .

「Should I praise you for coming without running away?」

「No, it’s fine, since I’ll win and Amelia will praise me . 」

There was a rectangular stage where each side was about fifty meters that wasn’t there before in the plaza, and there was a huge crowd of elves gathered .

The stage was definitely created by an earth magician .

It was completely a show . .

Maa, it’s probably because it wasn’t very often that the king would do something like organize a duel .

I urged Amelia to stand next to the king, and I ascended the stage by myself .

「Did you finally realize that you fell in love with oneesama?」

「No, it seems that I probably already realized it . I confessed just now, and I have no regrets . 」

「…my goodness, oneesama is truly loved . Even though it would be great if otousama too would not be so stubborn and just shower oneesama with love . 」

Kirika said that and gave a high-pitched laugh, and drew out her thin sword that was hanging on her back .

It was about as thin as a rapier, but it barely looked like a sword .

I too drew out “Yatonokami” .

I turned the sword over .

Kirika narrowed her eyes when she saw that .

「You’re not fighting to kill? How naive . I’m fighting with the intention of killing though?」

「That’s fine . It’s because I don’t have something like the intention to kill, not in the least . If you died, Amelia will be sad . 」

「Could you not reveal personal matters in a formal duel?」

「That was my bad . However, regardless of what you say, I will not turn my blade on you . 」

I stood at the ready, while using the back of the blade .

Kirika made light of it, thinking that it was just for show, and held her sword up to her chest .

It was a stance to quickly send a thrust to the chest, but it did not necessarily have to be a thrust to the chest either .

The two of us focused on nothing but the other person .

「Now then, the duel between Kirika Rose Quartz and Akira Oda for my daughter, Amelia, will now commence in the name of the king . The duel will continue, until either of the two are not able to continue or fall off the stage, or until they surrender . This time, the use of magic will not be allowed . Only one’s skills and techniques will be permitted . In the case that it is judged that magic was used, at that time, they will be disqualified . 」

Thereupon, the king swept his gaze at those all around .

I see, so the referees were the elves all around us .

Perhaps it’s because they were still under Kirika’s charm, everyone was looking at Kirika with a look of ecstasy on their faces .

This was completely an away game .

However, it’s fine like this .

「Akira, do your best!」

Although her face was bright red, she yelled this loud enough that it wouldn’t lose to the surrounding noise, it was enough with just this voice .

I gave a nod in her direction, and closed my eyes .

「Now, begin!!!」

I opened my eyes as soon as the king’s words fell, and kicked off the ground .

「!?」

「…fuu, that’s all, huh . 」

I let out the breath that I didn’t realize I had held in, and caught Kirika who had fallen down with one hand .

As if time had stopped, the king and the elves around us froze, only Amelia’s face glowed and was clapping .

「Ok, the verdict?」

「…th, the victor, Akira Oda . 」

When I prompted him, the king’s face stayed frozen, moving only his mouth .

What a skillful fellow .

Hearing that verdict, the clamoring of the elves returned .

「Oi, Kirika-sama was defeated . 」

「Impossible . It’s obviously foul play . 」

「Right! Our Kirika-sama is our invincible general . There’s no way she would’ve lost . 」

「Oh my king, isn’t that too much?」

Their dissatisfaction turned into words, took shape, and the noise returned to the plaza once again .

It seems that they did not even see what I did .

Were there a few people who was able to see it kinetically .

I ignored all those voices and approached the king .

「I will be taking Amelia with me . And you’ll be giving me an explanation as well . 」

「A, aah . 」

I put Kirika down in front the the king who was still confused .

As she had no chest, she was somewhat lighter than Amelia .

「Akira, did you just think about something rude?」

「No, I didn’t . 」

「I see, that’s good then . 」