Chapter 70

Emergency Assembly (4)

"Do you all really think this can just be swept under the rug?!"

Nae-ho looked around and shouted.

However, the rulers' reactions were indifferent.

"Isn't this already a decided matter? And it's not just being swept under the rug; it was agreed that a different form of retribution would be paid."

"......I can't accept that! A ruler was killed by another ruler! This is the gravest of crimes, one that can only be atoned for by death!"

"Oh, there he goes overreacting again."

Gwangrang clicked his tongue.

The chief of staff interjected.

"According to the constitution, when rulers engage in combat or a ruler kills another ruler, the punishment level is determined through assembly under the authority of the Grand Ruler. Therefore, it's not necessarily a matter that requires execution, 2nd Ruler."

Nae-ho turned her gaze sharply to the chief of staff, then looked at the Grand Ruler.

Despite her eyes filled with protest, the Grand Ruler only smiled silently.

Nae-ho bit her lip and said,

"Someone who has just taken their seat among the rulers is already causing such chaos. If we let this slide easily, it will only lead to more problems..."

"Thank you, 2nd Ruler, for your passionate concern for Caldric's future."

"......"

"Still, it wasn't my decision alone; it was decided by majority vote. What can be done must be acknowledged."

The Grand Ruler's gentle, yet commanding voice carried an unresistable pressure.

"Yes, 2nd Ruler. I don't like it either, but what can we do? It's not like a child is throwing a tantrum; we must follow the decision."

The mocking tone of the Empress of Black Sea made Gwangrang burst into laughter.

"Child, you called her that at the previous ruler's meeting too, didn't you?"

I knew why these two called and teased Nae-ho like that.

Because she was the most recent ruler to take her seat, excluding me, and the youngest in terms of age.

It's understandable that it might sound ridiculous for her to say such things when she herself has only been a ruler for a few years.

Still, her family is one of the most ancient in Caldric...

"Y-You...!"

Nae-ho glared at them with a burst of anger, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress her rage.

When she opened her eyes again, she looked at me with a cold, stern gaze and said,

"Please allow it this time, Grand Ruler."

"Hmm?"

"I want a formal duel with the 7th Ruler. I want to see for myself if he truly has the skills to make such bold claims."

I sighed inwardly.

'......Again?'

She did the same thing at the last meeting, and now she's doing it again.

Why can't she just let it go? Why is she so fixated on me?

Is she still holding a grudge over the last argument we had?

"Hmm, a duel, you say......"

The Grand Ruler nodded and looked between me and Nae-ho.

"Well, if you can't accept it, I won't stop you......"

Then she grinned and asked me,

"What do you think, 7th Ruler? After hearing that, I'm a bit curious to see your skills myself."

"......"

Shit.

I cursed inwardly, realizing I was in a bind.

Last time, I managed to talk my way out of it, but this time, the Grand Ruler seemed determined not to let me off.

Given that I had just narrowly escaped execution, I was in a position with little leverage.

"Me too! I want to fight the 7th Ruler too!"

As the Grand Ruler gave her permission, Gwangrang also shouted excitedly. Please, just shut up.

I quickly thought of a solution before the situation got out of hand.

A duel, of course, meant subduing the opponent, not killing them. Since I couldn't use instant kill, I had no way to win.

Against the Tyrant, I was lucky enough to use gascalid's blood magic because he was a vampire, but this time, that wasn't an option.

All I could do was defend with a stasis shield and dodge with spatial leap......

'......Ah.'

Right, that could work.

"Let's do it this way."

I looked at Nae-ho and said,

"As I said, I'm not very good at subduing. After killing the 6th Ruler, killing another would only make things difficult for me."

"Ha! You can't possibly be trying to avoid the duel with such a flimsy excuse......"

"I'll only defend."

"......What do you mean?"

"I mean I'll stand still and only defend against your attacks."

Nae-ho, taken aback by the unexpected proposal, soon radiated a murderous aura.

"7th Ruler, don't insult me. Your arrogance is now contemptible. You're saying you'll just stand there and defend against my attacks?"

"Yes."

I answered calmly.

"2nd Ruler Nae-ho, the Thunder Elemental Mage. You're rumored to be the most destructive among the rulers."

"......"

"Three attacks. If I block all three completely, I win. If not, you win. With these conditions, will you accept the duel?"

Turning to the Grand Ruler, she looked extremely interested.

In contrast, Nae-ho seemed to be trembling with rage, unable to control herself.

【Lv. 95】

I couldn't blame her for her reaction.

She is one of the strongest elemental mages among the elves in the entire continent.

I had just declared that I would stand still and block her attacks.

Given her strong sense of pride, she must feel deeply insulted.

"......Fine."

Nae-ho finally said in a menacing tone.

"Along with your conditions, I'll add one more. If the 7th Ruler loses, you must kneel before me and apologize for your arrogant behavior."

"Agreed."

......Alright.

I nodded, inwardly celebrating.

"Tsk, that's not a duel. It's boring......"

Gwangrang, who had been full of energy, seemed to lose interest and thankfully backed off.

The Grand Ruler summarized the situation.

"Alright, so the 7th Ruler and the 2nd Ruler will have a duel under the conditions just discussed. Let's move to an appropriate location."

***

We moved from the meeting hall to a massive training ground located on one side of the Grand Ruler's castle. It looked to be several hundred meters in diameter.

Nae-ho and I stood facing each other in the center of the training ground, maintaining a suitable distance, while the other rulers gathered around to watch.

Crack.

Blue sparks began to dance around Nae-ho's body.

She was clearly eager to start the duel without delay.

"7th Ruler, it's not too late to change the conditions."

Her voice was tinged with a hint of mockery. I crossed my arms without responding.

She looked at me with disdain and let out a hollow laugh, then intensified her aura even more.

Zzzt.

A massive, blue-lighted eagle-like shape appeared above her head.

I knew what it was. Kogos, one of the many thunder elementals she had contracted.

'A mid-level one, I think.'

She didn't seem to be planning to use her full power from the start.

As the lightning around her grew stronger, I calmly activated my stasis shield.

Crack!

The eagle elemental, after a single flap of its wings, charged at me, enveloped in powerful lightning.

The lightning exploded, and my vision was momentarily filled with a bright blue light.

However, the lightning was completely blocked by the shield, causing no damage and dissipating harmlessly.

I dismissed the shield and looked at Nae-ho.

She lowered her hands and narrowed her brows.

"This is just the beginning."

Rumble!

With a fierce thunderclap, the next shape that appeared was...... a Pegasus?

A horse with a pair of wings on its back and a large horn on its head.

'Was its name Requithcron?'

The elementals the 2nd Ruler controlled were as numerous as her level, so some names were a bit hazy.

Still, I knew this one was almost at the top tier among her elementals.

The lightning around her grew even stronger with the Pegasus's appearance.

The lightning was so intense that Nae-ho's form was barely visible.

Only her confident smile was clear.

Zzzt!

A sphere of lightning began to form at the tip of the horn on the Pegasus's forehead.

I took a deep breath and activated the stasis shield again.

The sphere of lightning exploded, releasing an overwhelming surge of lightning.

My vision was filled with an even brighter light than before, but it was still not enough to cause any damage.

I dismissed the shield and looked around at the devastated surroundings.

Even without using her full power, this was the extent of her strength.

I moved my gaze back to Nae-ho, inwardly impressed.

She seemed a bit taken aback this time.

Given that she couldn't even singe my clothes, it was understandable.

"Only one more left."

At my words, she clenched her teeth.

"......At least you have some skill, even if it's just enough to talk."

Her hair began to rise slowly.

A powerful aura, far stronger than before, swept through like a storm.

Rumble!

The lightning was so intense that everything around us was covered in a blue glow, making it seem like we were trapped in a barrier.

I felt a tingling sensation all over my body as I stared at the giant humanoid elemental that appeared in the air.

'So, she's bringing it out.'

Lakshia, her strongest thunder elemental.

The lightning in the giant's hands began to gather, forming a massive spear.

The giant held the spear in reverse, ready to strike me down.

This was the ultimate skill of Nae-ho, just like in the game.

'Wait, this......'

Even as I activated the stasis shield, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

'Can't be that I can't block it, right?'

I had never thought I would lose this bet.

After all, in the game, the stasis shield was an invincible defense.

......But seeing it in action, it was no joke.

Especially since Nae-ho's ultimate skill in the game was a near-instant kill, dealing fixed damage, it was even more nerve-wracking.

A slight doubt crept into my mind: Could the stasis shield actually be broken?

"Let's see if you can block this without dodging!"

Nae-ho shouted and extended her hand.

In the end, I instinctively dismissed the shield and used blood magic.

A drop of blood flew towards Lakshia, who was about to strike with the spear, and instantly burned away upon contact.

Boom.

Lakshia, along with the blood drop, vanished in an instant, and the surrounding lightning dissipated.

"......Huh?"

Nae-ho, who was about to launch her attack, let out a bewildered voice.