Chapter 68

68. The Third Place (10)

Crack!

Luna's body literally flew up.

Luna, who had fallen to the ground, quickly got up and assessed the situation.

Dyke stood still.

It seemed he had no intention of attempting another attack.

Thud!

Spittle mixed with blood stained the ground.

If Dyke had struck with the edge of his sword, Luna's body would have been split in two.

“Hey, I just have one question. How did you know I would come out on that side?”

“I guessed.”

“Guessed?”

“Yes.”

Left and right.

The probability was 50%.

The winner of that probability was Dyke, and the loser was Luna.

‘Bad luck, bad luck.’

Forget it, it’s better to think about the next move rather than dwell on this.

As Luna charged in, the fight began again.

Dodge, attack, roll, get hit, and get hit again.

And again.

Smack!

She got hit.

“Gasp!”

Luna trembled, her sword planted in the ground.

Even though she had blocked it with her sword, the pain was intense.

“Damn...”

Unlike Luna, Dyke was unscathed.

His breathing was slightly rough, but there was no wound on his body.

Clang!

Luna's sword was blocked by Dyke.

A deadlock where their swords were locked together.

Luna whispered.

“Hey, be honest.”

“?”

“How old are you? Over twenty? You’ve been kneeling for five years, right?”

“...Fifteen, correct.”

Creak, creak.

“Grit!”

In fact, this position was disadvantageous for Luna.

In terms of weapons, strength, and size, there was a significant difference.

But it was all according to Luna's plan.

As she adjusted her stance, she whispered again.

“You're a real monster. So, what does your master want?”

“...What do you mean?”

“You two were talking earlier. Didn't you receive some orders? Like to cripple or behead someone.”

“...”

“From the way you keep hitting with the flat side, it doesn’t seem like you’re supposed to kill. Maybe you’re supposed to bring back a leg or an arm?”

Clang!

Dyke forcefully pushed Luna's sword away.

Though the swords didn't touch, they were close enough to hear each other clearly.

Dyke spoke.

“...One of your arms.”

“Ha, I see? Just as I thought.”

Luna planted her sword in the ground.

This monster can't be beaten. She realized it was like hitting a rock with an egg.

But declaring defeat wouldn't satisfy Teron.

So.

Squeak, squeak.

Luna, who had taken off her top, tore her sleeve and tightly wrapped it around her left forearm.

“Fine, take it. I'll give you this arm.”

Pause.

“Only if you add the condition that you won't touch Zero.”

Dyke and Luna's swords were locked together.

Luna realized that Zero couldn't beat this kid either. He was a real monster.

So she gave up everything.

Her pride, her anger, and one of her arms.

‘Compared to Zero's life, it's a cheap deal.’

Just then, Teron was nearby.

Meaning he could hear the conversation clearly.

Teron's eyebrows twitched violently.

“...Not touch him?”

“Yeah, consider it an honor. Taking one of my arms will be the greatest achievement of your life.”

Rustle, rustle.

“Hahaha!!”

Suddenly, Teron burst into laughter.

A laugh that seemed to choke him.

But none of the children laughed.

His always composed demeanor was in stark contrast to this.

‘Scary.’

The only thing the children could do was remain silent.

“Hahahaha... For all your arrogance, you have some spirit.”

The laughter continued. Then, suddenly,

Teron's laughter abruptly stopped. He straightened his face.

“Arrogant girl. Do you even know who is looking out for whom?”

“...”

“You should have begged for your life on your knees, but what?”

Cutting off an arm as the greatest achievement?

This is why I hate clueless people.

“Dyke.”

“Yes.”

“Kill her.”

“...If I kill a student, the cleanup will be...”

“I'll take care of it.”

“But...”

“It's an order.”

Dyke's eyes changed.

He slowly began to move, his sword raised.

Eurydia knew. Dyke.

Was really going to kill Luna.

“Teron! Are you really crazy?”

“As the proxy for the duel, I declare that those who interfere with the sacred duel must bear the consequences.”

“Bullshit! You don't have that authority! Everyone, pull them down!”

The Teron faction and the Eurydia faction began to mix.

Eurydia desperately shouted.

“Miss Luna! Come down! Come this way!”

Luna didn't want to die.

The duel was over. She was about to leave the arena when

Dyke swung his sword.

Eurydia immediately cast a spell.

“Shield!”

Crack!

The shield shattered into pieces.

With just one attack.

“Stop the casting!”

The Teron faction charged.

Due to their force, the Eurydia faction was pushed back.

‘Damn! If I could use offensive magic!’

Using offensive magic would result in casualties.

Protecting Luna by hurting others?

That's absurd.

“No! Miss Luna!”

Thud!

Luna's body flew into the air.

Because Dyke had swung his sword.

“Gasp...”

Even though she blocked it with her sword, the impact was immense.

Blood flowed from her forearm.

‘That bastard... He swung with the edge of the sword?’

Until now, Dyke had used the flat side of the sword to strike.

But to change so drastically on a single command.

Luna knew. Dyke was really.

Going to kill her.

“Hey, isn't this going too far?”

“...”

“Killing someone because of an order?”

“...”

Now he didn't even speak.

It was different. Completely different from before.

‘He seems like a different being.’

Teron sneered at Luna.

“Don't be lonely. I'll cut that guy next.”

Something surged up inside her.

Dying was fine.

But putting Zero in danger because of her was not.

‘Why am I so stupid?’

If Zero dies because of her, how could she ever atone?

That can't happen.

Not Zero, not Zero!

The first secret technique of the Lester family.

One Flash (一閃).

Boom!

A powerful strike with all her might.

But it didn't reach Dyke this time either.

Teron sneered.

“What kind of technique is that? A lowly, rootless thing like you is just like that.”

“Huh, rootless? What a hurtful thing to say.”

A voice from right beside him.

Teron was startled and shouted.

“Who are you!”

Teron immediately knew.

A relaxed tone, clearly respectful but annoying.

A sticky, ominous stretch.

This voice was definitely...

“Huh, Teron. Your proxy duel...”

Teron turned his head and met.

Glowing, ominous red eyes.

“I'm so bored I want to die.”

The moment the third-place student, Zero, appeared.

* * *

“Zero! Zero has appeared!”

Someone's shout.

Enough to quell the chaos.

The battlefield, which had been in a state of confusion, instantly became quiet.

‘Phew, using the Eye Opening was the right choice.’

The mess she faced upon arriving at the arena.

Luna was rolling on the ground, the kids were pulling each other's hair, and my voice wasn't getting through.

She couldn't help but panic.

‘Well, at least I got here easily because of it.’

No one paid attention to her while they were fighting each other.

So she went right next to where Teron was and used [Eye Opening].

Please pay attention to me.

“Z, Zero.”

“The third place has arrived...”

Perhaps because the tension had eased.

The children returned to their positions.

Teron gritted his teeth.

“Zero, you bastard. What do you mean? My proxy duel is boring?”

“Huh, that's right. The sight of a weakling being bullied is so boring.”

“Is that so?”

Teron let out a sneer.

“Then, are you going to take over the duel?”

“Maybe.”

“...!”

Perhaps because of the cool response.

Teron's eyes widened.

Just as he was about to step onto the arena.

“Don't come up!”

Luna shouted. Don't come up.

Because she knew that once he stepped up, there would be no turning back.

“I can do it! I can take responsibility and end this duel!”

“...”

“There's no need for you to get involved! So don't come up!”

She turned her head to look at Teron.

He smirked.

“Right, you probably don't want things to get bigger either. Let's do this. I'll end the duel by taking one of her arms.”

End the duel by taking one of Luna's arms?

What a grand gesture.

She smiled slightly and took a step forward.

Stepping onto the arena.

Ignoring Teron's offer was a bonus.

“Oh...!”

“Wow! He's up! Is he going to fight?”

“Impressive.”

The children burst into exclamations and admiration.

It must look cool. I'm about to die.

‘Not knowing what's in others' hearts.’

With Luna involved, she couldn't back down.

Because Luna was her friend? Of course, that was one reason.

But there was a more fundamental reason.

‘Caron will kill me.’

The killing machine, Caron.

If Luna got even a scratch, he would surely disintegrate her at the cellular level.

That's why she stepped up.

“Miss Luna, are you okay?”

“You idiot! What if you come up!”

“Huh, I asked if you were okay, but why are you calling me an idiot? Is Miss Luna an idiot who can't understand a simple question?”

“Haaa! You idiot! You're really an idiot...”

Luna started to cry.

Come to think of it, it had been two days since they last talked.

She took out a handkerchief from the subspace and wiped Luna's tears.

“I'm sorry. It was my mistake.”

“Sob, sob... I'm sorry too. I should have done better.”

“Yes, we both made mistakes. Let's leave the apologies here. We have something to deal with first.”

Dyke, standing near Luna.

He needed to be dealt with first.

“Sorry. I caused trouble again...”

“It's fine. I can handle it.”

“No! That guy is really dangerous! Let's just go! Let's go back!”

“It's not possible.”

“Why?”

“Because Miss Luna is hurt.”

Ohhh!

Rustle, rustle!

The children burst into cheers.

Ah, I forgot about them.

Perverts who sneak a peek at others' love affairs.

Well, I wasn't actually in a relationship with Luna.

“Did you hear that? ‘Miss Luna is hurt.’ Are you crazy, really.”

“Is it true that love needs a crisis?”

“You're really crazy.”

“From today, I'm Luna's bodyguard. I won't let anyone interfere with that couple.”

They're such a hassle.

Luna, who had stopped crying, looked at her.

“Will you be okay? That guy is strong.”

“I'll be fine. I'm strong too.”

“If you think you'll get hurt, just say you give up. You can give up one of your arms.”

“Huh, that won't happen.”

“Fine, just answer. Understand? If you think you'll get hurt, give up.”

Luna's desperate gaze.

She could tell from their time together that this girl was serious.

‘You're willing to give up one of your arms for me?’

It's not a normal way of thinking.

Well, it wasn't a bad feeling.

She gently patted Luna's head.

“If Dyke's attack even grazes me, I'll surrender.”

It sounded like she was ready to give up.

But Luna seemed to understand her meaning.

“You're going to win overwhelmingly. I get it.”

Luna wobbled to her feet.

And shouted.

“I, as the proxy duelist, designate Zero.”