93.
Lyunne looked down at Hector, thinking. Perhaps she could use this situation. Hector was someone who would do anything to have Lyunne. She turned to Yu Jin with a troubled expression. She could feel Yu Jin’s disgust when their eyes met, but she paid no attention to it.
“I’m sorry, Lord Hector. I already have someone I love.”
At those words, Hector’s eyes gleamed. The overflowing emotion made it feel as if sparks were flying from his eyes. Hector gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice.
“May I know who that is?”
It was ridiculous that he asked again while already knowing, but Lyunne didn’t show such emotions.
“It’s Lord Yu Jin.”
“Why, why him?”
“I found him impressive for overcoming difficult situations and rising up.”
“Overcoming, you say overcoming?”
Hector, who was about to raise his voice and spit out words, covered his mouth with his own hand. He wanted to say harsh words, but he knew what would happen to his reputation if he did. But that was as far as he could hold back.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
After asking Lyunne for permission, Hector stood up and approached Yu Jin. There was a considerable difference between Hector, who was naturally big and had been systematically trained from a young age, and Yu Jin, who hadn’t. Yu Jin would never be able to defeat Hector by force. Knowing this, Hector still shouted at Yu Jin.
“I challenge you to a duel!”
Yu Jin blinked and then opened his mouth.
“With me?”
“Yes, you.”
Yu Jin tilted his head at Hector’s words.
“But I’d lose if we fight.”
“I know that. So I won’t ask you to fight directly. You can use a proxy knight. Fight me. Don’t think about running away. You know what will happen if you refuse even this? Your weak and miserable life will be back in the gutter.”
Hector growled as he spoke.
What an excessively rude person. Even considering the situation where the person he loves has given their heart to someone else. How spoiled must he have been raised to speak like that at his age? With him speaking to that extent, it seemed the duel couldn’t be avoided.
Yu Jin looked at Lyunne, who was wearing a troubled expression because of Hector. She had seemed likable when reading about her in novels, but meeting her in person was not like that at all. As long as he had Jinhyeon by his side, he couldn’t have a good relationship with her.
“Alright. Let’s duel then.”
Should he put Jinhyeon forward? No. Revealing Jinhyeon’s skills in this situation wouldn’t be a wise move. Fortunately, Keith had also come here today. And Yu Jin knew that he also possessed great skills. So Yu Jin was about to turn his head to ask Keith if he could fight. But before that, Jinhyeon stepped forward.
“I’ll fight.”
“Jinhyeon.”
As Yu Jin tried to stop him, Jinhyeon gritted his teeth.
“Let me fight.”
Keith also intervened.
“I can fight too.”
Keith looked just as angry as Jinhyeon. Although he didn’t show it outwardly, Yu Jin, who had lived with him for a long time, could tell.
“I’m fine with either of you.”
Meanwhile, Hector increased the intensity of his provocation.
‘This madman.’
What is he saying? As Yu Jin put his hand to his forehead, Keith whispered in his ear.
“I can win. His swordsmanship level is no match for mine.”
“I can win too. He doesn’t seem that great from what I see.”
Although they were pretending to whisper, the voices of the two were louder than expected. Naturally, Hector’s expression twisted horribly upon hearing those words.
“What did you just mutter?”
His tightly clenched fist trembled as if it would be swung at any moment. In the meantime, Keith and Jinhyeon were arguing.
“I said I’d go out.”
“I’m more suitable than you.”
The two men looked at each other with cold gazes, then sighed and quickly extended their hands. Keith showed a fist, Jinhyeon showed paper. Jinhyeon looked at Yu Jin with a triumphant expression. It was fortunate that they didn’t decide by grabbing each other’s collars and fighting.
“Are you really going to fight?”
Jinhyeon nodded at Yu Jin’s murmur.
“Oh, a duel is it?”
The Duke, who had been watching this scene, clapped his hands as if greatly amused.
“Prepare for the duel immediately.”
The center of the hall was cleared, and the Duke’s knights stood guard around the edges. Then, they returned the weapons that Jinhyeon and Hector had left behind before entering the hall.
“I am Phantom, a knight of the Duke’s family. By the order of the great Duke, I will be the judge of this duel. Tell me when you’re ready to fight.”
As the knight with a stylishly grown beard said this, Hector quickly opened his mouth.
“I’m ready.”
“I’m ready too.”
“Good. Then let the sacred duel begin. You may inflict wounds, but you must not take a life. The one who first calls for surrender or loses consciousness in any situation loses. Just remember that. Now, begin.”
The duel began with the sound of Phantom tapping his sword.
Hector rushed at Jinhyeon like a wounded boar as soon as the signal was given. He seemed to have charged in trusting his own strength, but Jinhyeon calmly parried him.
“Ugh.”
An odd sound escaped Hector’s mouth as he was unexpectedly parried. However, being a swordsman who had trained for a long time, he quickly regained his balance. Moreover, he noticed that Jinhyeon was not just a simple Colosseum slave. He had heard that Jinhyeon was called a promising talent of the Colosseum, but seeing how he wielded his sword, he seemed much stronger than the rumors suggested. It was to the point where one might wonder why they hadn’t noticed this earlier.
‘But still, he’s of slave origin.’
There was no way that he, born of noble blood and never neglecting his efforts until now, would lose to a mere slave. Hector calmly pointed his sword at Jinhyeon. But Jinhyeon, seemingly not intending to fight quietly, wiggled his fingers at him.
“Come at me.”
Arrogant bastard. Hector approached Jinhyeon again and swung his sword. Unlike the first sword that only relied on strength, this was different. Recalling his family’s swordsmanship, he was now stronger than before.
Clang!
But Jinhyeon simply blocked leisurely no matter which direction the sword came from. What should have been a desperate duel even seemed boring. Even those who had initially predicted that Hector would cut down the impudent fellow changed their expressions. Hector was swinging his sword while even sweating, but the guy on the other side was fine.
“Was his reputation false?”
Someone muttered, but another person denied it.
“No, that’s not it. He has trained with the sword more diligently than anyone. The Marquis Mellock has always boasted about his son’s diligence and strength.”
“But looking at how the situation is unfolding, it seems difficult for him to win.”
“That’s right. The opponent is just a commoner of Colosseum slave origin. Even if he was said to be promising.”
“Are you joking? It’s between a promising talent from the Colosseum and someone who has been trained as a knight since childhood. Who would have the advantage?”
“Obviously the latter. So the current situation is strange indeed. If no tricks have been employed, that is.”
It meant that Jinhyeon had built up such skills in that short time.
‘Is that possible?’
If someone asked that, they could answer.
“It is possible.”
Occasionally, such guys would emerge in each era. They gain strong power without special learning, and there’s no limit to it. Born weak, they grow to the point of being able to cut a dragon’s neck later. Ordinary people called such individuals geniuses, or monsters.
“Isn’t that judgment too hasty?”
“It might be. But there’s one thing for certain.”
At least Jinhyeon was stronger than Hector.
“Fight! Fight properly, I say!”
Hector shouted at Jinhyeon, who kept only dodging.
“Why aren’t you attacking!”
At Hector’s words, Jinhyeon raised the corners of his mouth in a sneer.
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
Jinhyeon stood close to Hector and whispered so that only he could hear.
“You’re too weak. But well, if that’s what you want.”
After that, Jinhyeon started to counterattack, and Hector was pushed back miserably. With each clash of swords, the incoming force made his arms tremble and his steps falter. He tried desperately to block, but it didn’t take long for his weapon to be knocked away.
Phantom clicked his tongue at the sight of him.
“Will you surrender?”
At the judge’s suggestion, Hector gritted his teeth and lowered his head. It would have been right to surrender here, but he just couldn’t do it. In a duel, the winner was right. Now Jinhyeon was acting on behalf of Yu Jin, so if he declared surrender, Hector would have to bow his head and apologize to Yu Jin. And he might have to give up on Lyunne.
‘I can’t do that.’
Hector grasped the sword handle again with trembling hands.
“Not yet, it’s not over yet.”
He didn’t care what others might say. He stood up again to face Jinhyeon.
“Yeah, I thought so.”
Jinhyeon looked at Hector and smiled, narrowing his eyes. What do you mean it’s not over? You’re just asking for more punishment.
