Kapitel 21: Duel of Flames and Fools
"Hey, I challenge you to a duel!"
I turned, only to see none other than Plink. "Well, if it isn't Plink. I take it your suspension's over?"
"It's your fault I got suspended in the first place! If you'd shown your strength earlier, I wouldn't have had to run. You must've cheated back then. I don't know how, but I bet it was with some kind of magic tool. That won't work this time."
What nonsense was he spouting? There was no point in correcting him, though.
"If you don't get caught, it's not cheating," I said, smirking. "Look at it this way: the greatest generals in history all used 'cheating' strategies to win wars. Victory is what matters."
"Whatever. We settle this with a duel," Plink said, determined.
"Fine, but I'm not betting Karina on this."
"Then how about 100 gold coins?"
Is this guy broke? I wondered. Maybe he'd been wasting all his money at that infamous bathhouse. I didn't care enough to ask, though.
"That works. We'll draft the contract at the Merchant Guild."
I had never been to the Merchant Guild before, so this would be new.
"And what kind of agreement are we drawing up today?" asked the guild clerk.
"We need a contract. I heard that once it's certified by your guild, even nobles can't cancel it," I replied.
Phantom had told me as much. It was best to draft contracts through the Merchant Guild when dealing with shady types.
"Indeed. No noble would dare cross the Merchant Guild," the clerk assured us.
"Then let's get it done."
We created the duel contract, and I even paid for the fees—small change compared to the 100 gold coins I'd soon win.
The next day, it was time for the duel.
"Contestant 529, step forward!" the announcer called out.
It was Plink's turn.
"Fireball!"
Plink's fireball, much to my amusement, took the shape of a pig. Couldn't he have made it look cooler? The audience couldn't help but laugh. His fireball barely singed the target.
"One point."
"Ten points."
"Two points."
"Ten points."
"Ten points."
He bribed the judges! I thought, immediately spotting the dirty trick. But clearly, he hadn't bribed all of them—two judges didn't fall for it. Typical Plink, cutting corners.
My turn was coming up—number 564. I waited for my chance.
"Contestant 564, step forward."
"Understood."
I stepped forward, raising one hand.
Converter, activate.
Mana surged, transforming into fire magic frequencies. Before me, a wolf of flames began to form. Its color shifted from yellow to white, then finally to a deep, intense blue. The fiery wolf sprinted forward, striking the target. In an instant, the target was reduced to ash, and the iron pillar behind it melted into liquid.
"Casting without an incantation—impressive. Ten points."
"Ten points… damn it."
"First time I've ever seen flames that color. Ten points."
"Well, what else can I do? Ten points."
"There's no denying it. Ten points."
A perfect score.
"I won't accept this!" Plink yelled, enraged.
"That's enough," I said calmly. "Get over it."
"This is cheating! Search him for magic tools!" Plink demanded.
"Let the royal guards conduct the inspection," Karina interjected smoothly. "They are well-versed in such matters."
Nice save, Karina. No chance Plink could have bribed the guards.
"Fine! Do it!" Plink spat.
Uzall, one of Karina's royal guards, approached, but I wasn't in the mood for his attitude.
"Not him. I want someone else," I said firmly.
"Tch," Uzall clicked his tongue, stepping back. Another guard took his place, conducting a thorough body search. He even used magic to detect any foreign objects hidden within my body.
"No magical tools detected," the guard declared. "I swear upon the honor of the royal guards."
"Damn it! You must have cheated! There's no other explanation!" Plink fumed.
"You're persistent. How about we interrogate those judges who gave you ten points?" I suggested, crossing my arms.
That shut him up real quick.
"You owe me 100 gold coins," I continued. "The Merchant Guild will handle the transaction. They've agreed to buy it back from me for 90 coins."
The Merchant Guild contacted me later with an update. Plink couldn't pay the full amount, so he ended up selling some of his property—a building—for 56 gold coins. The Guild offered me the building for 78 coins, with a 22-coin fee.
I wasn't thrilled about the hefty fee, but I complained, and they agreed to repair the damaged wallpaper for free. The building had been used as a shop, so I decided to gift it to Karina. She could use it to open a potion store.
The Magic Festival ended with me in first place, as expected, and Karina came in second. A one-two finish—couldn't have gone better.
Soon after, Karina's potion shop opened. She hired staff to manage the storefront, but all the potions sold were made by her. Naturally, I made sure to support her business.
Not that I'd need most of the potions. Karina had already gifted me ten elixirs, which would cover any serious injuries in battle. I'd still need the regular potions for minor injuries, though. Using an elixir for a scraped knee would be a ridiculous waste.
As for Plink, his father was furious when he found out Plink had sold property without permission. Once again, Plink was suspended. The guy seemed to always find himself in trouble.
According to Phantom's latest intel, Plink had been sneaking off to the bathhouse even while under suspension, indulging in what he called the "special course."
I didn't care enough to ask what the "special course" entailed—some things are better left unknown.
Apparently, his mother was still funding his escapades, but Phantom speculated that even she would eventually grow tired of it. Plink was digging his own grave, but that wasn't my problem.
No one seemed to be offering him any advice, and honestly, that was a bit sad. Still, I wasn't about to step in and save him.
Or maybe… maybe giving him some advice would be entertaining.
"Hey, Plink. I heard you've been blowing your money on wild nights. You should tone it down a little—it's embarrassing that we share the same bloodline."
"What gives you the right to tell me what to do? I can do whatever I want. Besides, your fiancée Karina's too much of a prude to let you have any fun."
"Is that so? Karina and I share our secrets, you know. We 'connected' just yesterday."
Through our exchange diary, of course.
"Damn her! What a loose woman. I'll make her mine and teach her a lesson."
"And what gives you the right to say that?"
"Shut up. Stay out of my business from now on."
"Or what? Should I tell your dear old father what you've been up to?"
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
"If you do, it'll be war. I'll drown you in a sea of blood."
"Scary stuff," I said, smirking. "But whatever. Do as you like."
I chuckled to myself. He'd gotten so worked up that he wouldn't stop his foolish behavior. Whether he rose or fell, it didn't matter to me. I'd given him advice—sort of—so I could walk away with a clean conscience.
Let him dig his own grave.
Geschenke
-- Geschenk
erhalten Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein