Chapter 76

It's New Year's Eve, the last day of the year.

Thank you very much for your support this year.

Now, this is the last update of the year.

Please enjoy it.

This story is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are fictional and have no connection to any real entities.

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071 - I don't understand what you're saying...

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The ceremony ended without a hitch... or so I thought, but I never expected them to be this stupid.

"Hand over that magic sword to me."

This was Akaba's statement right after we were granted the magic swords.

I seriously doubted Akaba's sanity at this point. His brain must be completely rotten.

The audience chamber fell silent.

What do we do with this atmosphere? I have no idea.

"Lord Akaba, what are you saying?"

"A hero like me can handle the magic sword better than a weakling like him, Elmerda."

Calling her by her first name? Are they that close? No, that's not it. The princess's eyes look at him like he's trash. So, Akaba is calling her by her first name on his own? ...He's really that stupid.

"This is a reward. If Lord Akaba does something worthy of a reward, the royal family will bestow a magic sword from our collection."

"Weak weapons can't defeat monsters. Just give me the magic sword from the start."

I agree that I don't want to fight with weak weapons, but that doesn't mean I should hand over the magic sword I received to Akaba. It's impossible. Besides, a hero with the skill 'Holy Sword Summon'—what are you talking about? I'm hiding the fact that I'm a hero, but you guys are public, so you should use it freely. Even with time limits, it's a powerful skill for boss battles, and you can use magic too, being heroes.

"You're the weak one, Lord Akaba."

"What!? You—"

Well said, Princess! I don't dislike people who are honest.

"Baron Futsickel, this is yours. You can ignore Lord Akaba's words."

She says it clearly. Akaba is glaring, but the princess is completely ignoring him. (laughs)

"Hey, you!"

Me?

"Let's have a duel for that magic sword!"

"......"

This is what they mean by being speechless. I never expected this kind of trouble.

"Lord Akaba, don't say such foolish things."

"Magic swords are suitable for heroes like me."

"Lord Akaba!"

"Wait a moment, Akaba. You're being unfair. I'm a hero too, and I have the right."

"Uchida, you—"

What kind of right is that!?

I couldn't help but point it out from the bottom of my heart.

"If that's the case, I'll assert my right too."

Not just Uchida, but Doi also stepped forward. Both of them were scum who used to beat me up.

But why are we talking about them getting the magic sword I received? Is there something wrong with my head? No, I'm not crazy. They are.

"Hand it over quickly."

There's no medicine for fools, and I believe it's true.

The princess is holding her head. What do we do now?

Uchida and Doi, who used to be Akaba's lackeys, are being quite bold. Is it because they're in a different world where Akaba's father has no influence? Are they acting up because they've become independent from the Akaba group? They're all too much.

"Hey, you. Give me the magic sword quickly."

"No way."

Why should I give it to them?

"Then let's have a duel!"

"Troublesome."

I replied, but can I openly beat them up...? It might be fun.

I didn't plan to take revenge on them, but if they push it this far, I might as well make them suffer.

With the skill 'Punch Control' that I obtained at Level 25 as a Reincarnated Hero, I can beat them up without killing them. I can punch them as much as I want without killing them. It might be fun.

"Are you running away!?"

They're getting really fired up. I might as well show them hell.

Since I can clear my grudges without killing them, I might as well accept the duel. I might kill their spirits, though.

Wait a moment. Why am I so fixated on not killing them?

At first, I didn't want to kill anyone. I wasn't killed, so I didn't think it was worth killing. But since coming to this world, I've killed many thieves.

Am I being influenced by this world...? The environment changes people. It's a plausible idea. In this world, death is close. The sweet thoughts of Japan don't apply here. It's a world where taking and being taken, killing and being killed, are common.

"Hey, give me the magic sword quickly!"

As I was thinking, Akaba shouted, pulling me out of my thoughts. He's impatient.

"What's the benefit for me if I accept this duel?"

I tried to show that I didn't want to.

"It's our magic sword!"

...I don't understand what you're saying.

"Your Highness, may I and Baron Futsickel handle this?"

What do you plan to do, Duke?

"What do you mean?"

"Allowing such outrageous behavior would be a disgrace to the kingdom. I want to make them understand that."

I agree that it shouldn't be allowed, but what do you plan to do?

"I understand. I can't overlook this. I've been lenient with the heroes because of the guilt of summoning them, but I can't overlook this. I'll leave the handling to Duke Galdland and Baron Futsickel."

I'm surprised that there was guilt. The princess knows that the summoning was like kidnapping.

While the summoning could have been refused, I think the goddess (tentative) didn't suggest it because she wanted to send us to this world. I have a strong feeling about this, even though I haven't heard it directly.

As evidence, I was sent to a different place as a reincarnation when I refused to be summoned with them. I think it's more reasonable to believe that there were several options, not that I was special.

My classmates probably couldn't remain calm when they met the goddess (tentative). I think the goddess (tentative) made it so they couldn't think calmly.

That's why I refused to be summoned and was reincarnated. If I had said I didn't want to go, I would have been sent back to my original world.

"So, what will you do?"

"It's simple. Baron Futsickel will duel with those three. If any of them win, they will be given the magic sword Salaman. If they lose, they will have to pay an amount equivalent to the value of the magic sword Salaman."

The duke smiled. I think he's plotting something evil. The princess looks a bit taken aback, as do the other nobles.

Even if they can't beat me, why are they so taken aback? ...Ah, I see. They're going to make them voluntary slaves.

When I used Detailed Appraisal on the magic sword Salaman, I found out it was a national treasure that was carefully stored. Its value is 250 million grils, a considerable amount.

It's a sum that a hero could earn quickly if they worked seriously, but not for those guys...

Voluntary slaves have to work to pay off their debts. If they don't, they remain slaves for life. If they refuse to follow their master's orders, they can lose their rights and be sent to mines or battlefields to be used up. The duke is probably aiming for that.

"Is there anyone else who wants the magic sword? ...It seems there isn't. So, those three will duel with Baron Futsickel, correct?"

"Sure."

"Will you agree to pay an amount equivalent to the value of the magic sword if you lose? By the way, the value of the magic sword Salaman is—"

"Just get on with it."

They're so stupid... Why are they this stupid? They don't have powerful fathers in this world. Do they think they can live normally by making enemies with the princess and the duke? They would need the power to push them away, but they don't have it now.

I signed the magic contract to duel with them.

Killing them wouldn't be a crime, but I don't plan to kill them. I'd rather see them suffer with the debt of the magic sword's value.

"Let's get this over with!"

"I'll beat him up!"

"The magic sword is mine!"

The three of them drew lots to decide the order of their duels. Doi goes first, then Uchida, and finally Akaba.

The duel is to be fought with training swords with blunted edges, of course, with a two-handed sword for me.

Doi used to be a 100 kg judo player, but he didn't do well in practice. His shaved head has grown out, but it doesn't suit him.

"Hehehe. I'll take the magic sword."

His weapon is a sword, but it's a huge sword that I can barely hide. Besides, the blade isn't blunted.

"Lord Tsuji, that sword cannot be used because the blade is not blunted."

The referee is the captain of the kingdom's knight order, Balbados. He's not as bulky as Balkan but is handsome and smart. I can sense that he's not to be underestimated, just like Balkan.

When I used Detailed Appraisal, he was a Sword King at Level 43, an upper-level job like a Sword Master or Sword Sage. He's even higher in level than Balkan, as befits the captain of the kingdom's knight order.

"I don't have a sword I can use, so there's no choice."

Since it's such a huge sword, there probably isn't a practice version.

"Then it will become a fight to the death. There are other large swords, so please exchange it."

"The others don't fit my hand."

"Baron Futsickel is in the same situation. If you don't like it, it will be considered a forfeit."

"Damn."

Doi spat and went to exchange his sword. His attitude is terrible. Balbados is doing a good job of holding back. I almost spoke up like I used to. I've grown by holding back.

Doi came back with the largest training sword and swung it around to test it. The dust flew up with each swing. If I had to name it, it would be a needlessly large fan.

"Then, we will begin the duel for the magic sword Salaman. Killing your opponent is forbidden, but if you accidentally kill them, you won't be held responsible. The match is won if the opponent falls and doesn't get up within 10 seconds or if they surrender. Attacking a fallen opponent is a foul. Otherwise, anything goes. Do you have any questions?"

"Let's just get on with it."

"No questions."

Balbados nodded and raised his right hand.

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