Chapter 99

Noon.

The high-floating sun illuminates the open space.

"Lady Serena, is your champion not here yet?"

Kukulo Del Conti smiled in a slippery manner with his thin lips.

He was the current head of the Del Conti family and the one who had proposed to Serena and been rejected.

Aside from his character, he was a shrewd man who, like his father, boasted a natural business sense.

"Our side has been ready for a long time, but I'm wondering when the Verchello champion will arrive."

"......"

Serena turned her head away, not even wanting to respond.

But Kukulo did not budge, wearing a bitter smile.

"I am worried. If someone too incompetent comes, it will tarnish the name of Verchello. What will happen, no, will anyone even come......"

"Head of Family Kukulo. Your provocation is excessive."

A stubborn-looking old man snapped at Kukulo.

"I would like you to show some dignity."

"If Bishop Hille says so, then I shall."

The old man, called Hille, frowned deeply at the continued sarcastic tone.

His white priest's robe and the ladder emblem embroidered with gold thread on it indicated that he was the Merion parish priest of the Original Ladder Church.

Having had a long-standing relationship with Verchello, he had volunteered to be the arbiter of this duel.

"Still, it's boring to just pass the time like this. I'll introduce my representative."

Kukulo wore a shameless smile.

"Actually, it's only right for me, the one who was insulted, to step forward myself, but... my knees aren't very good after turning forty."

Bishop Hille glared at Kukulo at the obvious lie that wouldn't even be believed.

'What an excuse.'

Bishop Hille did not have a very good impression of Kukulo and the Del Conti family.

Perhaps nine out of ten people in Merion felt similarly.

Parvenus who didn't know fear and caused mischief.

This was how the people of Merion viewed the Del Conti and it was a pretty accurate assessment.

'But what can I do? It's not an exaggeration to say that half of Merion's wealth now belongs to Del Conti.'

The Del Conti were a new family.

They had risen to power when a man who had originally been Verchello's exclusive accountant seized and acquired key businesses during a crisis of the Verchello, so their history was not even half a century old.

Conteano, Kukulo's father, the first head of the Del Conti and Verchello's accountant, was a very shameless man.

The shock the people of Merion felt when he brazenly put up a cuckoo emblem as the family symbol was beyond words.

However, as shameless as he was, his skills were also remarkable; any business he touched quickly grew in size.

On top of that, he had the audacity to adopt the Imperial-style industry, which was shunned in the West, and the luck to ride the huge wave of the Bururade Grand Canal, quickly making him the wealthiest person in Merion.

'In terms of wealth, they are already more than the Verchello in their prime.'

Of course, there were more important values than the amount of wealth in the world, but a parvenu wouldn't listen to such words.

Kukulo's thin lips, which resembled his father's, moved.

"Come here, Pneuve."

He was a very large man.

Serena, who was quite tall for a woman, looked very petite next to him.

To exaggerate a little, he was so tall that it seemed like he had one more joint in his legs than others.

Despite that, he didn't have a lanky impression but a sturdy one.

"Say hello to Bishop Hille."

"It's my first time meeting you."

His tone was polite, not fitting for his size.

He greeted Bishop Hille very respectfully and also paid his respects to Serena.

Kukulo was annoyed that Pneuve even greeted Serena, but he didn't seem to care much.

"I am Pneuve Freira, who is in the care of the Del Conti family. I will be serving as a representative for the head of family Kukulo with my insufficient skills."

"Oh, insufficient."

Kukulo quickly interrupted.

"If an Erta's Magi-Knight says that, what does that make other swordsmen? Excessive humility is arrogance."

"...It's a place I left a long time ago, head of family."

Serena's face turned pale.

The name Erta's Magi-Knight holds many meanings.

They were talents who were selected and re-selected even in the powerful country of Erta.

Their swordsmanship had to be top-notch, and they had to be able to wield at least Two-Star magic to be worthy of being called a Magi-Knight.

If Pneuve Freira was indeed from the Erta's Magi-Knights, the important issue was not the victory or defeat of the duel, but the life of the representative.

No matter who the champion Shion was sending, their head might fall off in an instant.

'Head of the family Kukulo is very determined. To bring one of his three retainers.'

Bishop Hille also grumbled.

The Del Conti family had three retainers who they had taken in with their overflowing wealth.

Each one was said to be a master difficult to find in Merion.

'He's saying that he will crush Verchello for good.'

The old man let out a deep sigh.

Serena de Verchello's pale face bothered him.

Even if he wanted to help, there was no way.

He was a priest, and he had a duty to maintain fairness even in the face of meanness.

"Head of Family Serena, it is already noon."

"...Please wait a little longer."

"I will do that, but I cannot wait long."

Kukulo grinned. It seemed he would easily grasp victory just by sitting there.

Not being able to find a single representative for the duel was as good as an unsalvageable verdict on Verchello.

Has the time finally come for Del Conti to be called the master of Merion?

Kukulo chuckled.

Despite falling so far, Verchello was still Verchello.

It had been over a hundred years since Merion became a proper autonomous city and not Verchello's territory.

But still, why did people like Verchello so much?

From Del Conti's perspective, it couldn't help but be annoying.

"......"

Bishop Hille glanced at the sky.

He wanted to wait, but he couldn't anymore.

As a bishop of the Original Ladder Church and the arbiter of the duel, he was not supposed to take sides out of private feelings.

No matter how much Serena's face was painted with despair and evoked pity, and no matter how vile Kukulo's smile became and provoked his anger.

"It can't be helped. If the champion does not appear like this, Verchello will be defeated......"

Thump, a sound was heard.

"......"

It was a small footstep, but it was so strangely clear that everyone heard it.

The man, with a hood pulled low to hide his face, continued to approach with a thump, thump.

His height and build were average.

He seemed like someone you would immediately forget if you met them on the street.

"Sorry I'm late."

It was a young voice.

Serena gasped.

Could this voice possibly be... The man did not hesitate and revealed his face.

His blonde hair gleamed under the sunlight.

"The Verchello family's champion has now arrived."

***

"...For a champion, he seems very young."

"Was there an age limit?"

"...There was not."

Bishop Hille looked at Serena.

He seemed to be asking if the frail, girl-like boy was really Verchello's champion.

Serena, flustered, nodded.

"...Alright. I will accept it."

"Thank you."

Shion smiled brightly and approached Serena.

The girl with strawberry-colored eyes whispered to Shion's ear.

"...Why did you come by yourself!?"

"I never said I would send someone else."

"...No, but still!"

"I understand your feelings, but please trust me, Lady."

Serena bit her lip as she looked at the boy who smiled faintly.

The situation could no longer be reversed. All she could do was trust Shion.

"Tsk."

Kukulo made a blatant clicking sound with his tongue.

He was in a bad mood because the victory he was about to easily claim was snatched away right in front of him.

He moved his tongue, wanting to find fault.

"Is the Verchello champion not going to introduce himself?"

The air of disrespect was impossible to miss.

"Is he too embarrassed to say who he is and where he's from? From what I see, I think you might have just brought a servant."

"He is someone sent by a family that is on intimate terms with Verchello."

"Oh, my. Are there still philanthropists who maintain such a relationship with Verchello? This is the first I've heard."

"...Of course. There was no reason for us to tell the head of family Del Conti every single thing."

"Hmph. It sounds plausible for something you just made up."

"......"

Kukulo only spouted out irritating words.

The most irritating part was that he only pointed out the painful realities that were hard to admit.

Serena was so upset that she was furious, but she couldn't swear, so she shut her mouth.

Shion nonchalantly stepped in between the two.

"Lady Serena, isn't it enough for me to introduce myself?"

Shion took a step forward, striking a somewhat arrogant pose.

He had a noble-looking face, at least.

Was he a son of a prestigious family after all? Kukulo muttered quietly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Viscount Lampo."

What. Everyone except Shion was surprised and stared with wide eyes.

Even Bishop Hille, who had maintained a stubborn expression, could not hide his confusion.

Kukulo Del Conti asked blankly.

"...Viscount? You?"

"Yes. That's what I said."

Bishop Hille looked at Shion.

"...If you have a title, the story becomes complicated. This arbiter must ask where you received that title."

"Of course. I'll answer you as much as you like."

He was a boy who looked no older than fifteen.

But a viscount?

If it were true, it would be a preposterous thing.

All eyes were fixed on Shion's lips.

"I bestowed it upon myself."

"...Ah, yes."

Bishop Hille did not ask any more questions and turned his gaze away.

Kukulo also soon muttered.

"...Is this guy crazy?"

He looked at Serena without hesitation.

"I don't even feel like laughing, Lady Serena. I'm rather saddened. How did Verchello fall to such a state?"

"......"

"Why didn't you just hire a mercenary? This is so heartbreaking..."

Serena de Verchello simply closed her eyes tightly.

It was because she agreed with Kukulo's words. For a moment, she was resentful of Shion but soon shook it off.

'Even if I had brought a proper person, it would have been the same against an Erta's Magi-Knight......'

Shion and Pneuve stood side by side.

The already massive Pneuve looked twice as big as Shion.

Furthermore, Shion was not even holding a proper weapon.

Despite Pneuve Freira having a large scabbard strapped to him.

'...Shion, please don't get hurt.'

She guessed that Shion had also made an effort, but things got tangled up.

The duel time was approaching, he had made a bold promise, there was no way, so he must have thought he had to go himself.

There was no other way to explain it.

"Pneuve! Finish it quickly and come back!"

Kukulo shouted.

"I'm sorry for bringing you to this little game, so I'll take you to a good tavern tonight!"

A vulgar man.

Bishop Hille shook his head as if he was fed up with Kukulo's attitude of shouting whatever came to his mind first.

The old man suddenly missed the old Verchello.

"...No matter what, a duel is a duel."

The bishop's face was once again stubborn.

"I, the arbiter, Hille Hereo Horatio, Bishop of Merion of the Original Ladder Church, have become the judge of this duel in accordance with the Western Alliance's laws of universal and fair agreement. Do you agree with this?"

"I agree." Pneuve said.

"I agree." Shion also said.

"Then, as representatives of another's honor, do the two champions swear to engage in a duel that is fair and just without any hesitation?"

"I swear." Pneuve's words.

"I swear." Shion's words.

"Good. This arbiter declares the duel."

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