Chapter 223 The Duel!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The day of the duel had arrived at last.
The emperor himself, along with a restless crowd of onlookers, had gathered. Escape was impossible now—Ayumu was trapped.
Yoluminette and the royal knights, flushed with excitement, cheered him on.
”To risk one’s life for a lady’s honor—that is the noble’s true duty! Fight well, my lord!”
Ayumu gritted his teeth. Easy for them to say—it’s not their lives on the line!
Still, with no way out, he prepared. From the coast he had taken a pouch of sand, and from his stores he readied a short-barreled revolver—his last resort.
The weapon was far from ordinary. Improved from early black-powder designs, it used a swing-out cylinder that pressed forward into the barrel for a tighter seal, firing small, fast .22 cartridges. The rounds were loaded alternately: hardened bullets for piercing armor, and hollow-points that would blossom open against softer flesh. It was complicated and expensive, but reliable enough for this one fight.
Hidden beneath his clothes, the revolver rested as his secret trump card.
When the duel grounds opened, it was like a festival. Bets were flying. Ayumu could only rage inwardly. I’m wagering my life, and they’re treating this like sport?!
Lord Doll entered with a drawn steel blade, his intent to kill obvious. Ayumu, by contrast, had only been offered a wooden practice sword.
”Damn it… I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll live, no matter how dirty the means!”
Lord Doll stood tall, sneering.
”Hah! I know you, coward. Try all the tricks you want. I’ll crush you head-on, honor intact!”
He radiated such pride that, for a moment, it was unclear which of them was the true protagonist.
The referee’s arm fell. The duel began.
Ayumu lunged as though to strike, but it was a ruse. In the same motion, he flung sand into Doll’s eyes.
The noble roared, blinded, and in that instant Ayumu battered his sword away with the wooden blade, raining blows until Doll staggered, bruised and helpless.
The referee rushed to intervene, but Doll was already a battered mess.
”You cur! You filthy cheat!!” Doll’s knights cried, drawing their steel.
But Ayumu’s revolver barked—boom, boom!—spitting smoke. The armored knights dropped like puppets with cut strings.
The crowd gasped. Even the referee stammered, “Wh-what in the world are you doing, Honorary Count?!”
Lord Doll, eyes wide at the strange weapon, faltered. This… this is dangerous.
”I—I understand! Enough! Lower your arms. Before the emperor’s eyes, I concede defeat…”
His own men cried out in shock, but the decision was final.
On Ayumu’s side, his supporters erupted.
”He did it! The Count has won!!”
Yoluminette rushed over, smiling wryly.
”It was hardly honorable, but… it was satisfying to see you humble him, my lord!”
Ronafermia, positively glowing, declared,
”Of course he won! Anything else would have been unacceptable!”
And so, by the most underhanded means, Ayumu emerged victorious in the duel.
Notes:
• Yoluminette – Elandric warrior from Keldan, tall and sharp-eyed; first in Ch.146; master swordswoman using Ten-Man Slash; no family known; fought and slew bandits before Ayumu arrived, then joined his forces; stoic yet prideful, often escalates fights over petty things like cream puffs. takes “senpai” pride very seriously
• Doll – Margrave-Marquis of Yugan’s Eastern District, lord of Elzurk, ex-master of Yoluminette. Pro-War Faction, commands strong northeast border force. Known for grudges, blunders, and lechery—spread rumors after princesses spurned him, ranted over taxes, demanded duels. Humiliated when Ayumu beat him with sand tricks and revolver. Reminder: arrogant warlord, dangerous but absurd.
• Ronafermia – Second Princess, Norfemina’s younger sister. Harassed by Doll’s poems, then slandered with rumors of stable boys. Publicly shamed him, hurled her glove, and forced a duel—pushing Ayumu to fight as her champion. After his win, she claimed it as proof of her virtue. Reminder: fiery, reckless, twists scandal into pride.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply