The angle of the draw was wide, preventing anything launched from the bowstring from striking the hand. However, immense grip strength and forearm power were necessary, along with a keen sense of timing.
Azadin, using that classical shooting technique, handled the bow like a catapult and launched a stone, which shot through the air, tearing toward Midiam.
"Ugh!?"
Unlike an arrow with predictable accuracy, the stone's trajectory was unpredictable.
As Midiam flinched and hunched down in panic, the stone hit the ground, rebounded, and shattered into several fragments aimed at her.
— 'Beauty of Nature! Moon Halo!'
Midiam deployed a protective shield of soft moonlight, blocking the fragments and stepping back. Though they were merely stone shards and dust, the sharply fractured pieces flew with such force that they sent chills down her spine.
'What?!'
Midiam realized that Azadin had disappeared from her sight. He had maneuvered around the barren, desert-like mountain path made of sandstone and vanished from view.
Another stone came flying.
-Swaeek!
The stone curved through the air, bending unpredictably, causing Midiam to panic.
'Beauty of Nature, Yellow Crane? I thought he couldn't use magic?'
What should have been the exclusive skill of the Herald Clan, manipulating projectiles through magic, was being displayed by Azadin.
But Azadin wasn't using magic. He was merely applying incredible mastery, spinning the projectiles and creating an effect similar to magic.
"What is this?!"
Panicked, Midiam began dodging. Stones with bizarre trajectories were flying from all directions, and she couldn't even see her opponent.
"Midiam! To your left!"
Ishmael, unable to hold back, shouted a warning.
[Insolent!]
The Emperor's voice roared in outrage. During a duel, Ishmael had made the mistake of giving advice.
"Don't interfere, Ishmael! If you taint this duel, you'll be punished too!"
Midiam reached for the sword at her waist, but by then, Azadin was already charging toward her. His fingers darted toward Midiam's eyes as if to gouge them out!
Instinctively, Midiam slashed with her sword, but what she struck was only Azadin's afterimage. Incredibly, Azadin twisted his body mid-air and evaded her attack as if he had anticipated it.
In reality, Azadin's eye-gouging move had been faster, and if he had wanted to, he could have easily taken her eyes. But he had deliberately shown her the attack, waited for her to counter, and then seized her wrist in response.
And then...
"It's over."
"What?"
Azadin's fist crashed into Midiam's torso.
"Ah!"
Her hand was caught, leaving her nowhere to escape. Azadin had pulled her in and driven his fist into her with full force.
-Kwaang!
A deafening sound exploded.
"Kyah!"
Midiam screamed and tightly shut her eyes.
"Lady Midiam!"
Even Ishmael, who had been watching, couldn't hold back any longer and rushed in.
Duels among the Herald Clan were sacred. But even so, for a lowly descendant of a traitor to strike down the noble daughter of the most powerful founding family?
'I won't forgive you, you lowborn scum!'
Grinding his teeth, Ishmael charged toward Azadin to rescue Midiam.
***
Midiam had shut her eyes tightly. That deafening noise—it wasn't the kind of sound that came from merely hitting a person.
'Oh, I'm dead. A sound like that… my body must have been blown to bits, so much that I can't even feel the pain.'
But as she kept her eyes shut, nothing happened.
"Huh?"
When she opened her eyes, surprised, she saw Azadin already dusting off his hands and turning away. He extended his hand toward the approaching Ishmael.
"Stop, Ishmael. Unless you're planning to challenge me too. But that seems foolish, doesn't it?"
"W-wait! I'm fine. It's not over yet!"
Midiam insisted, taking a step forward. But at that moment, an unexpected event occurred.
-Kururung.
The sandstone pillar behind her cracked and collapsed.
"Huh?"
Although Midiam had been the one hit, the impact had passed through her and shattered the pillar behind her instead.
What kind of technique was this?
Midiam searched her memory for any Herald Clan magic that could explain it.
'It's similar to Beauty of Nature's Water-Moon Wave. But they said he can't use magic?'
One thing was certain: had the full force of that attack been concentrated on Midiam, she wouldn't have survived.
[The duel is over.]
The Emperor's voice declared the outcome.
[Midiam of the Aether family, having challenged the Herald Azadin and been defeated, your fate now rests in his hands. Unless he grants you freedom, you shall not be a free person. And Ishmael, for your interference, you too shall become a slave to the Herald.]
The Emperor's voice delivered the final verdict.
"Ugh!"
Midiam collapsed to the ground.
Slave?
The children of the Aether family, one of the original Five Great Houses of Aragasa, known as the Herald Clan—were they truly to become slaves to the child of a traitor?
A moment of recklessness had ruined her life. However, Azadin's displayed skill was undeniably remarkable. She had been too complacent, relying on rumors and ignoring the aura Azadin exuded right in front of her, dismissing the warning her instincts had provided.
Thinking back, she found herself unbearably ashamed and foolish.
"How could I suffer such humiliation?!"
She drew a dagger and tried to stab her own throat.
"Lady Midiam!"
Ishmael, panicking, tried to stop her, but before he could—
-Ting!
With a metallic sound, the dagger was flicked out of her hand. Azadin had launched a stone, knocking the dagger from her grip.
"I figured you'd try something like that."
Azadin had anticipated that the defeated Midiam would attempt suicide.
"Little miss, I'm sorry, but your life belongs to me now. You can't go around damaging my property as you please."
"..."
"Did you challenge the duel with only this level of resolve?"
Midiam pressed her trembling hand with her other hand, trying to calm herself.
'What kind of stone…'
The stone had flown as if launched by a crossbow, and it was accurate. Azadin approached her.
"Since you've lost the duel, you no longer have the right to die. Your death will only come either when your fate is fulfilled or when I decide it's time. And now, you are no longer a servant but a slave—you must obey not only work-related orders but also my personal commands."
"Ugh."
Midiam shuddered. As he said, her very existence now belonged to Azadin, and she no longer had the right to die as she pleased.
She groaned as the terrifying consequence of losing the duel fully sank in. She had been so sure of her victory, never imagining that she would be so easily defeated by someone infamous among the Herald Clan as weak.
'What do I do now? Should I kill him to regain my freedom? But the Emperor's voice will always be watching.'
As Midiam worried about her bleak future—
***
'What a ridiculous girl.'
Azadin chuckled as he watched Midiam's expression change, reflecting her various thoughts.
"Well, I suppose this should be a sufficient lesson. That's enough. I'll set you free, Midiam of the Aether family. And you too, Ishmael—you're both free."
"What?"
"Huh?"
Even Ishmael, who had been watching, was shocked. Among the Herald Clan, challenging the Herald required strength to back it up.
If challengers were allowed to confront the Herald freely, the hierarchy of the organization would collapse. Those who failed to prove themselves were destined to become slaves.
Yet, Azadin was releasing Midiam, who had been so brazen in her challenge?
"And not only that, let's pretend today's duel never happened. I imagine it would be troublesome for you if there were any record of this incident."
"W-why?"
Midiam couldn't understand why Azadin was doing this.
"I mean, you just acquired a beautiful and talented girl like me as a slave, and you're letting me go on the same day?"
"Beautiful and talented?"
Azadin scoffed.
"Beauty aside, if you had even half the talent of Arael, you wouldn't be in this situation."
"Ugh."
Midiam blushed with embarrassment.
"Well, I still have my beauty, right? I mean, you just... you did that to me earlier…"
"That was to intimidate you. How was it? My threat scared you, didn't it, you little girl?"
"..."
"I'm fine with it, but there are plenty of men who like young girls, and some places still have customs of early marriages. So, when you consider duels, think them through carefully. Or better yet, never duel again. If you have someone to kill, assassinate them. Don't challenge them directly."
"Still, why are you letting me go?"
"Because it's annoying."
"What?"
"Looking after kids is annoying, and I don't want to."
'What is with this man?'
Midiam found herself taken aback by Azadin's attitude. It was refreshing.
"We're not kids!"
"You're definitely kids. Even after multiple warnings, you ignored them and insisted on challenging the duel. And this guy—"
Azadin pointed at the droopy-eyed boy, Ishmael.
"He jumped into the duel and ended up sharing your fate as a slave. Both of you are just brats."
"Grr."
She couldn't deny the truth. But didn't that mean that even Azadin, the most disregarded among the Herald Clan, didn't see any need for them?
The thought was so humiliating that Midiam found herself desperately trying to highlight her worth.
"Still, are you really saying you wouldn't keep a talented servant like me by your side?"
"Did you just call yourself talented?"
"It's an objective fact!"
"Both subjectively and objectively, you're just a kid."
"I won't deny that I'm brimming with youthful energy, but if you wait a little longer, I could be very useful to you! I'm an Aether, after all. If you kept me as your slave, the entire clan would see you differently."
Azadin was dumbfounded by her words.
"So, you're suggesting I should keep you as a slave? Are you asking to become a slave?"
"T-that's not it! But I can't understand your actions, so I'm saying I'd rather suffer a loss I understand than benefit from something I don't!"
"That's a foolish thought. What if I take back my offer to set you free?"
Azadin, confused by her stubbornness, tilted his head.
"So, if I explain why I'm freeing you, you'll be satisfied?"
"Yes!"
"That's exactly why you're so clueless. Being from the Aether family has made you this naïve."
Azadin chuckled at her boldness.
"Figure it out for yourself."
With that, he began walking away.
"..."
"W-what do we do now?" Midiam asked Ishmael, flustered.
"What do you mean? We leave."
"B-but…"
Panicked, Midiam chased after Azadin.