Chapter 80: The Duel Ends
The person standing before him was one of the kingdom's knights—a gentle face, purple hair, white attire… and just by standing there, his strength could be felt.
Yes, strength…
Although the aura he gave off wasn't one of absolute invincibility compared to some others, there was still an undeniable sense of superiority that left no room for exploitation.
The hope of victory was almost nonexistent. So, then, why stand here at all?
Was it simply out of frustration? That couldn't be it—he could clearly sense this man was no ordinary opponent.
There was no way he would willingly throw himself into a hopeless fight just to vent.
Was it to test his growth? That didn't seem right either.
If that were the case, there were many others he could have chosen to fight—no need to stand in the center of a training field surrounded by a crowd. Losing in such a setting would be a huge embarrassment.
Then what was the reason? The answer seemed just out of reach…
"Thank you for accepting the duel. I'll go easy on you," the knight said.
"No need. Show me your full strength. Otherwise, how will I know whether I've really grown or not?" Natsuki Subaru gripped his wooden sword tightly, steeling himself for the battle.
"I hate to sound rude, but you're no match for me. I only challenged you to protect you. If I went all out, it would defeat the purpose."
"Protect me by fighting me? If you don't like me, just say it. Using a lame excuse like that is honestly disgusting."
Julius shook his head gently.
"Natsuki Subaru, I don't dislike you. In fact, I should thank you. What you said earlier in the hall was right. As a knight, I allowed something disgraceful to happen and didn't even realize it was wrong. That was my greatest failure as the kingdom's top knight.
I'd like to speak with you more, but not everyone feels the same as I do.
You saw the people sitting around us—they're all members of the knight corps. If this were just a casual duel, so many of them wouldn't have shown up.
Honestly, they hate you. If they were the ones dealing with you, things could get ugly.
That's why I challenged you—to protect you from worse harm."
"Is that so? Then thanks for your concern. But let me be clear—I'm not afraid of taking a beating, and I don't need your protection. If any of them had challenged me, I would've refused.
Ever since what happened in the hall, I've been disappointed in all of you knights. Accepting a duel from them would only make me look down on them even more.
Also, I didn't agree to duel you because I accepted your goodwill. There's something I need to think through, and I felt I could only do it through this fight."
Subaru's gaze toward Julius grew more complicated.
"So bring out your full strength. If you truly don't hold a grudge over what I said, and you really don't dislike me—then fight me with everything you've got. Julius, that's my request. If you mean well, then grant it."
Julius frowned slightly, staring at Subaru as a faint, intangible aura began to emanate from him.
It was weak, but Julius could still feel something rising within him.
"Very well. If you insist, I'll go all out. Are you ready, Natsuki Subaru?"
"Yeah. That's exactly what I want from you, Julius."
"Then let the duel begin!"
With that, Julius gave a knight's salute, then charged with wooden sword in hand.
His speed was so fast, Subaru could barely follow his movements—but if he concentrated hard enough, he could keep up.
The wooden swords clashed, making a loud noise. Subaru felt the enormous force almost rip the sword from his hands. The strength behind that strike made his sword seem to cry out in pain.
His palms throbbed, but he couldn't back down now. He didn't want to lose.
That desperate desire welled up from deep inside, and he gritted his teeth, trying to suppress Julius's sword.
But this was a duel, not a test of brute strength. Julius slightly shifted his body, diverting Subaru's force and knocking him off balance. As Subaru stumbled forward, a fierce strike came from his blind spot.
Reflexively, Subaru raised a hand to block it, and the cost was a sharp crack in his bones and being sent flying. He rolled across the ground, sweat beading on his forehead as the intense pain engulfed his mind.
It hurt—so much that he wanted to scream and give up. But he got back up, took a deep breath, and charged at Julius again.
No matter how he attacked, he couldn't land a blow.
Enduring the pain in his right arm, he kept striking. Blow after blow, he was beaten back, his body absorbing each heavy hit. Yet Subaru showed no signs of surrender.
He had known from the start he would lose.
The moment he accepted the duel, he understood that. This fight had become such a spectacle that when it ended, he'd likely be bedridden.
The knights watching would probably applaud, while those who cared about him would scold him harshly.
So why agree to it? Why keep swinging the sword even when it missed or was blocked? Why keep standing when even that had become a luxury?
Why? Why keep wasting his strength? Wouldn't it be easier to just fall down?
It had been a long time since he came to this world.
He knew he could go back—but only that twisted god knew when he'd be allowed to return. Even if he tried to find his own way home, how long would it take?
A year? Two? Even longer? And would he really find the path back?
It was frustrating—deeply frustrating.
Why did his only power involve dying to activate? Why had he been dragged into this absurd game by that twisted god?
Sure, he had made some great friends and found a path to follow again—but that shouldn't have been here.
"So damn frustrating…"
He wanted to go home! He wanted to see his worried parents again!
To show them how he'd grown—not to keep dying over and over in this world! Not even thoughts of the people he had saved, or the customs of this fantasy world, could soothe the ache in his heart.
It wasn't fair! He didn't want to be a protagonist! He didn't want to live every day under such pressure! He just wanted to go home! To tell them "I love you" and apologize!
"What?!"
"You've had your turn—now it's mine!"
To Julius's surprise, Subaru gripped his wooden sword with one hand, his fierce gaze glistening with unshed tears—not of pain, but something deeper.
In that moment of hesitation, Subaru closed the distance.
Their foreheads collided in a headbutt. Julius staggered back a few steps, shaken.
He felt something trickling down his forehead, wiped it, and saw his palm was bright red.
Looking up in disbelief, he saw Subaru's forehead bleeding, dripping down his chin and onto the ground. Subaru's gaze had gone hollow.
"…How pointless."
"..."
Julius could only stare silently as Subaru dropped his sword and limped away from the dueling ground.
The once-bustling arena fell completely silent, and every eye followed Subaru's stumbling figure as he left.