Chapter 74

I passed the second round of the Net Novel Award! I'm so happy!

Eric and I run down the streets of the capital. We run.

Right behind us, Shelka, with flames floating in the air, is chasing us.

“Hey, Eric. Is there any side street we can use to lose her?”

Since we haven’t managed to shake off the dangerous person behind us, I urge Eric to hurry.

I feel like we’ve run a considerable distance.

“Don’t be ridiculous. We were in the main street, right? There’s no way there would be such a complicated side street near the main roads.”

“Then, maybe a bit further. Seriously, I want you to live up to my expectations.”

I couldn’t help but sigh at Eric’s uselessness.

Then Eric grunted and lowered his voice with a hint of anger.

“It’s all because you told Miss Lanna something unnecessary.”

“Guh, I didn’t expect her to use that technique in front of us.”

And, Shelka’s underwear was also unexpected. Despite her calm appearance, she had a cute design.

“Wh-What the hell! Some crazy magic just flew towards me!”

I instantly cast a shield behind me. The malicious flames aimed at me were blocked by the shield, which emitted black smoke.

That level of flame can’t break through my shield.

Still, it feels like she’s not holding back her attacks now that she knows I can defend with magic.

“How skilled are you! You keep using Shield with Spell Cancel! Who are you!?”

“I’m just the second son of a rural noble!”

And I want to shout at you for using so much magic.

With a body-strengthening spell, he can run and cast spells continuously. Truly, he is from a noble family renowned for magic, and his control is impeccable.

He has the confidence to cast spells in the middle of the city.

“Here!”

“Oh, okay!”

Eric takes my hand and turns right at the corner.

“Hey! That way is no good!”

A fireball, accompanied by Shelka’s anxious voice, hits the wall at the corner, scattering white powder.

I wonder what’s wrong with that way. Maybe it’s too troublesome to enter side streets?

The street we entered is a bit dark and narrow, as the sun doesn’t shine directly on it.

Thanks to the side street, there are fewer people compared to the main street.

I follow Eric, who pulls my hand, down the street.

We turn left, then right.

Eric, with his practiced steps, moves deeper without hesitation.

I thought we might lose her here, but Shelka is still chasing us at a constant distance behind us.

She has a more intense expression than before. It’s scary.

Still, she seems to be chasing us with ease.

Clearly, we can’t shake her off in this kind of street.

However, the more we go down this street, the more women I notice.

Is it just my imagination? Why are there so many women in this poorly lit side street?

I’ve seen many women in fancy clothes, and they have a mysterious good smell.

The answer became clear to me soon enough.

“Look, those two boys are holding hands!”

“Could they be... boys together!? Is that true!?”

“Those two... they make a good picture. I wonder who’s the top and who’s the bottom.”

“Hmm? That boy... he looks like someone?”

“Eh, eh!? No, but, that’s impossible!”

These words are enough to convey the situation.

Yes, this is a place where women with certain interests gather. There are probably books of that kind sold here.

Indeed, behind the curtain of a building, there are many books stacked up. I caught a glimpse of something skin-colored.

Seeing the woman who said those words and the books, it’s clear that this is a store of that kind.

In other words, this is a familiar territory for Shelka, who is of the same kind.

She must know this place inside and out. We need to get out of here as soon as possible.

For various reasons.

“Hey, Eric! This place is bad! Let’s get out of this street quickly!”

“Why? We can go a bit further. It’s a straight path to our target side street.”

“No, for Shelka, this is her territory—”

“Alfred! If you say any more unnecessary things, I won’t forgive you!”

“...The situation gets worse. And let go of my hand.”

“...Okay.”

Eric, sensing Shelka’s unusual state, nodded and started running to get out of here.

◆

“Did we lose her?”

I catch my breath and check behind us.

There’s no sign of Shelka.

After that, Eric and I managed to lose Shelka and get out of that area.

Shelka, who was chasing us, was suddenly surrounded by women and stopped.

They gathered around her with serious expressions. Something must have happened.

Especially after she called my name, the腐女 (fujoshi, women who enjoy yaoi)’s eyes changed, but they were calling out Fried, so it must be different.

However, I have a bad feeling.

Still, there’s no point in worrying about what I don’t understand.

The priority now is to get away from that area as quickly as possible.

“Anyway, let’s get out of here quickly.”

I agreed with Eric’s words and stepped onto the main street from the side street.

“I found you, Alfred!”

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice reaches my ears.

Turning my head to the right, I see Bram with a wooden sword in his hand.

“Gah!”

Right now, Bram is someone I don’t want to meet as much as Shelka.

After all, I overslept and left the duel unattended. A guy with a short fuse might demand a duel right here.

“Huh? It’s Bram?”

Eric’s voice, mixed with irritation, comes from beside me. We can’t afford to be distracted here; we don’t know when Shelka might catch up.

Indeed, I feel the same way.

“You scoundrel! Alfred! You skipped our duel and are wandering around here for fun!”

“You! You skipped it!? You said it was resolved peacefully!”

Eric, hearing Bram’s words, glares at me with wide eyes.

“No, I mean, it was resolved as a forfeit in Bram’s favor.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I can’t accept that! Let’s fight right here and now!”

Bram moves in front of me, as if to prevent me from escaping, and points his wooden sword at me, just as I expected.

“...You, of all people.”

Eric, as if to say he doesn’t want to be involved, steps back with a sigh.

Ah, well. In this situation, I’ll just have to defeat him quickly and make him give up.

It’s troublesome to be constantly bothered while I’m in the capital.

However, I don’t have the luxury of a prolonged fight.

We don’t have time. If we dawdle, Shelka will catch up. If we fight, it has to be quick and decisive.

“Alright, I’ll accept.”

When I answer firmly, Bram shows a slightly surprised expression.

He probably thought I would put up more of a fuss.

“Alright. Then, with this wooden sword—”

He tries to hand me another wooden sword from his waist, but I stop him with my hand.

“No, I won’t use a wooden sword. I’ll fight with magic. If you’re okay with that, I’ll accept right now.”

“...Fine. A duel isn’t just about swords. But, I’ll limit the power to a level that will only cause unconsciousness.”

Bram smirks and points his wooden sword straight at me.

The people around us look at Bram, who suddenly readied his sword, with curious eyes.

Eric informs the people that a light duel among nobles is about to start, and they step back.

In the capital, where many students from the magic academy, nobles, and adventurers live, this kind of scuffle might not be unusual.

“Be prepared.”

Bram lowers his stance, pointing the tip of his wooden sword at me.

Seeing his solid stance, I raise my evaluation of Bram.

Even though he was instantly defeated by my sister Elinora, he might still be a capable opponent.

Still, I don’t think I’ll lose easily, given my experience fighting non-human opponents and the use of magic.

Of course, I can’t use spatial magic in such a public place.

I adjust my stance, slightly lowering my hips, to be ready to move at any moment.

Eric and I glare at each other, and the tension rises.

The casual chatter of the people around us doesn’t reach our ears.

“Then, let’s go!”

Bram moves first, raising his sword and aiming to strike down at my head.

Instead of casting a spell, I throw myself to the side.

If I roll, I’ll be an easy target for the wooden sword before I can get up.

Bram, surprised by my sudden reckless move, tries to adjust his swing, but—

“Lost your mind—what!?”

Bram is blown back dramatically, as if hit by a cannonball.

Just as I planned.

“Huh?”

The crowd’s confusion. No one can speak, surprised by the unexpected outcome.

The silence is broken by a woman’s voice.

“Ugh! I thought I could hit you, but why did you dodge? Do you have eyes in the back of your head!?”

There stands Shelka, with disheveled hair and slightly rumpled clothes.

She must have managed to break through the crowd of腐女 (fujoshi) who surrounded her.

Noticing the unusual atmosphere, Shelka looks around, confused.

“Huh? Why is it so quiet here? Oh, did I blow that guy away...?”

She looks at me, still in a daze.