Chapter 1024 – #245_Trial Semester (3)
#1018
1.
“If that’s truly a question, please ask it again.”
I pause for a beat here, adding a bit more intimidation.
“As a piece of advice, it would be wise to think carefully before asking questions during class.”
Today’s delinquent student.
Aria’s behavior wasn’t exactly unexpected.
There are many among the Gehenna witches who dislike Siwoo.
The charisma project can’t erase all the negative evaluations caused by the scandals.
Besides, it’s not like witches always act politely, is it?
“Then, after careful consideration, I’ll ask again. Are lovers with philandering partners happy?”
“……”
Aria, who seemed to shrink back slightly but then grinned with an annoying smirk, was also not unexpected.
This is Gehenna.
A society where reputation, honor, and trust are as important as ability.
Shin Siwoo is a baron, but his achievements are still lacking.
Moreover, the aftermath of the scandals clings to him like goldfish poop, drawing attention to his every move.
Also, this first class of the trial semester is a crucial turning point for the future operation of the Hesed Society.
Thus, there are many restrictions on his actions.
If he were to smash the head of a cheeky delinquent student as his temper dictates, that would be a problem in itself.
“No answer? You were so good at intimidating.”
Aria knows this, which is why she’s being provocative towards Siwoo, who recently subjugated a 22nd-tier public enemy.
She’s confident that her head won’t be smashed in this situation with so many eyes watching.
“Or…”
Aria swallows hard, her eyes darting around, before spitting out the rest of her words.
“Did the question hit too close to home?”
It’s a kind of survival tactic he’s learned from dealing with many witches.
With the continuous provocations, Siwoo sensed it and concluded.
‘Ah, she’s been set up by someone.’
At that, the heat that had been rising in his head cooled down.
“Hmm, I can see your level. You might be fooled by the flashy exterior.”
Aria’s malice is clear, but she doesn’t usually seem bold enough to say such things so bluntly.
Even though Siwoo himself doesn’t have much power yet, his backing can’t be ignored.
At least, not to the extent that Aria Sparrow can ignore it.
“Even so, there’s a certain decorum that a witch must maintain.”
Yet, she’s provoking Siwoo’s anger more than necessary, sneering at him.
Whether his face turns red, he loses his temper and yells, kicks her out of the lecture, or even resorts to violence.
She’s demanding a reaction.
“……”
When he spread his senses, he detected the presence of a witch who was particularly watching him and secretly using magic.
He can’t be sure since he hasn’t taken off his eyepatch, but Aria is probably a decoy.
The witch is likely trying to record Siwoo’s reaction to Aria’s bait with magic or an artifact.
If Siwoo acts according to her intentions, what will happen?
If he gets angry?
A Casanova and a philanderer are just a slight nuance apart.
Being pointed out for having a messy love life and getting angry would make him look very bad.
Losing his temper, yelling, resorting to violence, and kicking her out of the lecture would be even more foolish.
Conversely, if he stays still?
As she said, if he just stands there with his thumb in his mouth after threatening her, he’d be a complete pushover.
It would be worse than getting angry.
It’s childish and crude, but it’s a checkmate in its own way.
Usually, the one who sets the board has the advantage.
So, he has to do something that isn’t on their board.
“I don’t care if you laugh at me. It’s nothing to me.”
He makes eye contact and doesn’t look away.
He loads the reasonable anger boiling within him into his low voice.
Aria’s expression is that of someone watching a fish that has taken the bait.
She might think that if she scratches a little more, she can get the video she wants.
“But I cannot tolerate the insult to a lover who believes in me and shows me trust and affection.”
Count Yesod and my little mother-in-law have all said the same thing.
‘The important thing is the nuance.’
With this one sentence, Siwoo becomes a lover who is indignant not simply because he was insulted, but for the sake of his beloved.
And in reality, Siwoo was more pissed off by that part.
That bastard should know what to touch and what not to touch, or he’ll die.
The atmosphere in the lecture hall changed in an instant, like a chandelier shattering sharply during a banquet.
The change in the flow is felt even without words.
The witches who were observing Siwoo’s reaction with interest are now reacting as if to say, ‘Hmm, that was a bit too much.’
This much is easy.
It’s not like he’s been honing his acting skills for just a day or two.
“…Well, it wasn’t really like that?”
Aria seems flustered, as if she sensed it too.
Could she not have anticipated this level of flexible response?
Well, how easy must he have looked for her to try such a shallow trick?
And then, he threw another variable that she hadn’t anticipated.
“I don’t have the patience to overlook such an insult.”
He took out a white glove from his pocket and dropped it on her table.
At the same time, Aria’s mouth dropped open.
“W-what? A glove?”
“Isn’t that…?”
“Yeah, that’s it…!”
Judging by the immediate commotion around them, it’s clear.
“In the name of my lover’s honor, I, Shin Siwoo, challenge Aria Sparrow to a sacred duel.”
This is a challenge to a duel.
It was also a way to establish discipline to prevent any more flies from gathering in the future.
2.
The most dignified way to recover one’s honor when it has been tarnished by another’s insult.
A duel.
Dueling is a right and obligation clearly guaranteed by civil law.
It’s just that it hasn’t been properly utilized for so long that most people have forgotten its existence.
Siwoo wouldn’t have known either if he hadn’t studied Gehenna’s history recently.
Nowadays, it’s become customary to resolve disputes through politics and social interactions.
Aria followed him to the practical magic training hall in the north building of the Hesed Society, not quite the rooftop.
Several witches who were taking the class also followed Siwoo, their steps light as if they were on a picnic.
One of the requirements for a duel is the presence of witnesses, so there’s no need to be labeled as someone who’s just excited to watch a fight.
“To get so worked up over something like this and try to settle it with force. You’re no gentleman.”
Unexpectedly, she stood confidently before Siwoo without any excuses.
She might have a slight fear, but she doesn’t seem to have any intention of backing down.
Anyway, Gehenna isn’t Hexennacht, so duels aren’t about life or death.
The magic that can be used is limited to the 15th tier.
It takes place at a level where fatal injuries can be avoided with each other’s self-defense, and the side that activates self-defense even once is considered defeated.
Furthermore, if one inflicts excessive injuries on the opponent, they cannot avoid criticism even if they win.
“Protecting one’s honor is the duty of a gentleman.”
“Before trying to shut down a truthful criticism with force, wouldn’t it be more honorable to have fewer girlfriends?”
“……”
A witch who speaks very logically.
I won’t deny that I was almost persuaded.
Aria, who continues to sneer, seems confident that she has already half-won.
She was taken aback by the sudden talk of a duel, but isn’t this a self-inflicted wound for Shin Siwoo?
The reason the duel culture disappeared isn’t because someone pushed it through with the law.
It’s because the public opinion that it’s barbaric to decide everything with the superiority of power spread.
No matter how much he talks about his girlfriend’s honor, the fact remains that Shin Siwoo has brought Aria to a stage that is advantageous to him.
For Aria, it’s a win-win situation even if she loses, and a jackpot if she wins.
For Siwoo, it’s a losing game if he loses, and a bitter deal with nothing to gain even if he wins.
As expected, a young witch with insufficient capabilities is just running wild.
The two people stood facing each other in the middle of a circle about 50 meters in diameter.
The witches outside the circle became witnesses to the duel.
Stigma, a student who was suddenly assigned the role of a witness, explained the rules of the duel.
The witness seemed unsure as well, as the time he spent pondering was quite long.
“Each duelist must limit the output of their magic to the 15th tier. Uh, and, um… the side that steps out of the circle or activates self-defense first is considered defeated.
Each side will exchange three attacks and defenses, and the right to attack first goes to Ms. Sparrow, who received the challenge.”
As you can see, the rules are not very complicated and simple.
While the witness was explaining the rules, Aria was still calculating.
Even if there’s a slight difference in skill between the two, the magic exerted at the 15th tier is about the same.
If she defends to a certain level and ends it in a draw, Shin Siwoo will be the only one who becomes a laughingstock.
“It seems like this would be an unfair duel.”
Then, Siwoo suddenly opened his mouth.
“I will only use magic up to the 14th tier.”
That statement meant he was giving a handicap.
Even though it’s a duel that she entered with the intention of a draw, Aria is still a great witch in her own right.
In such a situation, giving a penalty of one tier is practically the same as declaring that he won’t use one hand in a boxing match.
Aria’s brow furrowed at the statement that showed he was completely looking down on her.
“What? Do you think I’m…”
Aria, who even forgot the minimum courtesy she was trying to maintain, blurted out a half-sentence.
“Oh, you look very easy.”
Siwoo, who was already drawing up his magic and responding with golden magic reflections dripping down, was the one who said that.
She had to make him pay the price for his arrogance.
15 vs 15 would be one thing, but 14 vs 15 gives her a good chance of winning.
Moreover, isn’t he not using his infamous artifact, ‘Red Branch’?
As Aria was building up her fighting spirit, she suddenly felt a pressure that made her gasp for breath.
His gaze, his atmosphere, and the natural ease with which he looked down at Aria without a single flaw.
The absolute confidence that he could only show if he didn’t even consider the possibility of his own defeat blocked Aria like a mountain.
“T-then, the duel begins!”
With Stigma’s shout, who was watching the situation, as the starting signal.
The duel between the two began.
