Ch64 - [The so-called friendly duel] Nalun said: "I have confidence in you."

Tn Note: “The so-called friendly duel” in the chapter title also means “to exchange pointers” like a ‘friendly’ match where you learned from your opponent

Andrew said: “Your highness, it’s dangerous outside. The military vehicles have already arrived. Let’s head inside first for some cover.”

Nalun was unconvinced, his gaze pursuing a certain athletic and vigorous figure– Sirius was currently closing in on the Metal Devouring Bug with an extremely rapid speed.

One after another, Dynamite Bugs noticed the irregularity and dove downwards. However, they could only splash some insignificant sparks on him– This person seemed like he could foresee one second ahead always, and accurately avoided the bugs’ targeted locations.

Xi En noticed him. Its tail started to pound the ground irregularly, spraying upwards a pile of dust. A special secretion gathered in its mouth. Normally, this was used to dissolve metals and make it easier to digest foods. Facing enemies, it also possessed a lethal force.

Within a few steps, Sirius already charged next to the Metal Devouring Bug’s feet.

A huge tail swung over, Sirius turned to the side and evaded while seizing the opportunity to grab it in return and pull it forcibly downwards.

The enormous bug staggered slightly, but didn’t fall down. It quickly regained its footing and started to wave its many legs furiously, attacking Sirius.

Nalun took a step forward. Andrew hastily grabbed him.

“Everything will be fine.”

Nalun furrowed his brows.

Andrew said: “The Metal Devouring Bug that was attacking people at the Onsen Clubhouse was also subdued by the Admiral alone.”

Nalun: “…….” That seemed to be the case?

But that time it was Xi Jin……

Although they were the same species, their battle strength can’t be compared.

An adult Metal Devouring Bug that weighed at least half a ton, could definitely cause heavy internal injuries when it was deliberately trying to squish people.

Sirius didn’t actually get kicked by the bug. Nor did he get squished by the bug’s body.

He flashed on top of the bug’s back, raised his fist, and slammed down. The Metal Devouring Bug let out a cry and hastily attempted to throw this person off.

“Bam!”

A crack gradually appeared on the black colored shell. With a loud rumble, it fell off, revealing the soft pink flesh within.

The bug’s body shook. Its movements stiffened and halted for a moment.

A few seconds later, it let out a sharp screech and flew forwards, charging randomly.

Nalun’s expression changed subtly.

He saw, at some point, a sharp, dagger-like weapon appearing in Sirius’s hand. During this moment of turbulence, Sirius accurately stabbed the dagger into a joint– the sturdy blade entered the flesh. A dark brown colored blood dripped downwards.

Nalun: “……”

He once heard countless stories of Sirius’s heroic deeds on the battlefield. He had also once personally experienced the skills of this military battle god. However, he has never recognized Sirius’s terrifying and ferocious battle strength so clearly until this point?

–The popularity and fame that Sirius had received didn’t just originate from his looks or luck.

Nalun even felt that…… Sirius, who had engaged in a friendly duel with him, was truly very gentle back then.

Andrew noticed Nalun’s complicated expression and started to put in good words for his superior.

“A slow and heavy bug like this is no match for the Admiral.”

Nalun didn’t say anything.

Andrew said: “Your highness, I once heard about your friendly duel with the Admiral. Did you feel that although the Admiral was slightly better than others, he wasn’t as powerful as people say?”

Nalun didn’t fall for this and immediately said: “No.”

“……” Andrew continued to say: “The battlefield and the Imperial Capital are two different places. To people like us, a friendly duel is a game that isn’t even fit to be considered amusement. The Admiral might even need to expend energy to ensure he doesn’t injure others.”

Nalun: “……”

Andrew continued to say seriously: “Normally, to have a friendly duel with him is just asking for punishment and humiliation. However, it’s not the same for Your Highness.”

Nalun: “What’s not the same?”

Andrew: “The Sheriff brothers had challenged the Admiral previously as well. The result in the end……” He pointed at the battle progress ahead of them: “was probably like that.”

Nalun: “……” That’s really… a bit tragic.

Andrew: “See, the Admiral wasn’t actually willing to injure you.”

Although the truth of the matter was because the Honored Prince had a special identity, and plus, Sirius and the Emperor were close friends of many years and it felt awkward to act so cruelly to his good friend’s cousin, Andrew already used the best of his inexperienced conversational ability to win a favorable impression for his superior.

After all……

That hug completely confirmed the bold assumption he had recently– That the ten-thousand year bachelor superior of his… might have gained positive feelings towards this ill-tempered Honored Prince.

These positive feelings seemed to have developed practically without any signs at all.

Just like a hurricane.

However, none of this was the issue.

What really bewildered him was still the Admiral’s criteria for a spouse.

— It really didn’t make any sense at all.

Nalun asked: “Oh, it looks like I’ll have to thank Sirius for saving me some dignity then?”

Andrew: “……” Huh?

Nalun’s expression was ice cold.

“So what you mean is probably that… In Sirius’s eyes, I can’t even be considered a rival.”

Andrew instantly had a very bad feeling.

“No, it’s not like that……”

Nalun said coolly: “If that’s the case, then after this matter finishes, perhaps I should request another friendly duel with him.”

With a frozen face, Andrew looked extremely helpless.

“This……”

Nalun sneered.

Of course he wouldn’t really do that.

However, the honored Prince, who viewed his pride like his life, would never cower outwardly. Even if they really were to have a friendly duel, based on his current relationship with Sirius, how could he land in the same state as the Sheriff brothers.

Perhaps…… Sirius would be even more ‘gentle’ than last time. He might not even get an injured wrist.

Nalun coldly swept Andrew a glance, expression very deep and profound…….

— Feeling rather self-confident about this internally.

As the two people conversed, Sirius already gained an overwhelming advantage.

This seemingly strong and robust Metal Devouring Bug ultimately could not escape the same fate as Xi Jin. It lost very wretchedly. At the last moment, Xi En released a desperate cry, moved forward in a frenzy, and nimbly……. started rolling around.

Sirius bent his legs and jumped off of the bug’s back.

An Insectoid’s cry had absolute control over low-intelligence insects. After Xi En let out the cry, all of the Dynamite bugs gathered towards the same direction.

Nalun’s pupils constricted.

The next second, a net soared through the sky and captured the black swarm of bugs into a ball, leaving them hanging midair.

The Dynamite bugs exploded promptly. For a second, the sky lit up with bursts of flames, still eye-catching and striking even in the bright daylight, like a splendid large-scare fireworks event.

Xi En’s bug face looked dumbfounded.

Behind it, the Asha Admiral moved closer with a faint smile–

Patting the trouble-making bug, who was at the end of its ropes, Sirius looked rather relaxed and carefree.

Nalun was very curious about the material of the net: “What’s that made of?”

Andrew explained: “A Sticky Bug’s body fluids.”

Nalun: “……. What bug?”

Andrew said: “A species on the Insect Planet. Looks a bit like white fuzzy caterpillars. Its body fluids can congeal into a peculiar material that does not fear fire and is extremely durable. It’s most effective against Dynamite Bugs.”

Body fluids?

Nalun: “Is it saliva?”

Andrew’s expression fell: “No.”

Nalun took half a step back and stared at the net before him with furrowed brows, like it was some horrifyingly dirty object.

This incident, which started with the Mist Bug, had the Metal Devouring Bug as the main force, and the Dynamite Bugs as important firepower to the unrest, finally reached its end.

The irregular bugs that Lan Jia brought over didn’t escape too far before they were captured by the soldiers guarding the entrance and exits of Xier street. Without a leader to command them, they were like a bucket of loose sand.

The soldiers that released the net still didn’t dare to relax, terrified that there were still bugs that didn’t explode yet. A portion of the soldiers started to clean up the site. Another group was in charge of surrounding the Metal Devouring Bug.

Seeing everything settling down, Nalun sauntered over to Sirius. He discovered that other than getting a bit of insect blood and dust on him, Sirius was completely unharmed. Nalun couldn’t help but make a comparison internally. If it were him, how confident would he be in controlling the situation just now.

As soon as Sirius finished fighting, he saw a certain Honored Prince who moved next to him. The other’s expression looked like he was still calculating something.

Sirius said: “My hand hurt.”

Nalun immediately stopped his contemplation and looked towards Sirius in confusion.

Sirius said: “The shell of the insect was too hard, my hand’s red.”

He held out his perfectly fine right hand and placed it in the Honored Prince’s palm.

With narrowed eyes, the Honored Prince examined it for a while without any result: “Where?”

Sirius said randomly: “Here.”

Nalun held his hand up and examined it carefully once again.

“There’s nothing there.”

Andrew turned his head. He was very certain that the Honored Prince didn’t see wrong. His superior’s hand didn’t have any red marks at all. His face also didn’t have any signs of pain.

Perhaps in the future days, as the accompanying second-in-command, he could no longer be like before.

–At certain times, he should stand a bit further.

Sirius insisted that his hand was injured. Nalun could only remain patient and examine it for a third time.

“Perhaps it’s an internal injury that can’t be seen with the naked eye.” In the end, he could only make this conclusion: “If it really hurts, I’ll take you to the hospital for an examination.”

Sirius lowered his head slightly and asked softly: “Are you feeling worried for me?”

Nalun: “……” Aren’t you the one saying it hurts?

Sirius: “A durable and hard shell like this… is really not easy to deal with.”

Nalun was speechless.

Did you know that a few seconds ago, your second-in-command was just narrating your glorious achievements before me, emphasizing that this bug was basically nothing?

Unable to receive the response he wanted, the Admiral sighed in disappointment: “I’ll just assume you’re feeling worried for me.”

Nalun couldn’t refute that.

Just now, during a certain moment of danger, he really was extremely nervous, and even wanted to charge over and give Sirius a hand.

There’s nothing wrong with this. Nalun thought to himself.

Unwittingly, the relationship between himself and Sirius had changed subtly. Although he didn’t want to admit it, they had long gone past the initial conflicting, rivalry relationship.

And the Sirius in his impression had changed from a pretentious, sanctimonious guy into something more concrete and clear-cut. From the perspective of Duoni Waer, he was a despicable pervert who loved to take selfies, was keen on textual harassment, and enjoyed sending peculiar gifts.

Meanwhile, Nalun Charvey… had already reconciled with Sirius.

He could sit comfortably in the other’s front passenger seat and adjust the car’s speed according to his wishes. Occasionally, the two would also meet for a meal, the atmosphere relaxed between them, not so bad that they couldn’t even swallow.

Sirius even wore the watch that Nalun gifted on his wrist. Nalun was still wearing Sirius’s protective gear……

Even this morning, Sirius just appeared in court and testified for him, helping him clear up suspicions on him.

If words such as ‘he and Sirius were incompatible, unable to co-exist together’ were said now, even Nalun himself felt it would be rather groundless.

Although he understood the logic here, a certain emotionally awkward Honored Prince still felt unable to let go of what happened that night at the banquet.

He thought briefly and said: “The issue here isn’t being worried or not.”

Eyes flashing, Sirius looked expectant.

“I have confidence in you.” Nalun said coolly: “After all, even I’m no match for you.”

Sirius looked at him in bewilderment.

Andrew, who knew what’s going on, held his breath nervously: “……”

Here it comes. The friendly duel.

Sure enough. Nalun said: “If you couldn’t even deal with a stinking bug, then wouldn’t I feel even more ashamed, losing to you previously?”

However, his tone wasn’t as sharp as Andrew imagined.

Sirius: “…….”

He didn’t expect it to be this kind of response. However, it didn’t seem surprising either……

“I thought you’d at least express a few words of sympathy.”

Nalun smiled: “In comparison, he seemed to be more in need of sympathy?”

He pointed at the bruised and beaten up Metal Devouring Bug.

“Looks so wretched.”

An injured body, coupled with defeat, always made people feel much more emotionally sensitive and soul fragile.

Nalun’s careless words completely infuriated Xi En. It shook its legs and hid the gem under its abdomen, then lowered its body– Its enormous weight hit the floor. In this kind of almost shameless manner, it collapsed limp on the ground.

Nalun: “……”

The competent second-in-command, Andrew, fell silent for a moment before voluntarily saying: “No problem. I will go contact the city’s construction department to transfer a crane over.”

Finally finding a justified reason to leave, the second-in-command left with a very staunch back view.

However, his accomplishment didn’t actually mean anything, because Nalun very quickly turned his thoughts on his good friend, Alida, who had arrived here with him.

He estimated that the affairs outside have come to a certain end. Therefore, he walked into the building and discovered that Alida was currently attempting to scratch his back.

Nalun asked: “What’s the matter?”

“It’s really strange.” Alida said: “I seem to be allergic to this place. My back’s all itchy.”

“Perhaps you should take some time to clean yourself up.” Nalun examined him and proposed a suggestion: “How long has it been since you’ve taken a bath?”

Alida: “……”