Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

June 23: Typo corrections made.

This is Satou. There’s a term called “brainless musclehead,” but I find them more likable than those who constantly scheme and plot.

…Though they can be a bit overwhelming at times.

◇

“Your answer?”

Zeph Jureberg, the leader of the Shiga Eight Swords and the one who challenged Liza to spar, slammed the high-quality spear’s butt end into the ground and asked again.

“Master, may I accept the challenge?”

Liza looked at Mr. Jureberg with the kind of excitement one shows when presented with a rare treat.

It was as if the moment she looked away, she’d be attacked.

For now, both of them need to do something about the murderous intent hidden behind those gleeful gazes.

Everyone around had forgotten to even breathe.

“Liza, I’m sure you understand this already.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t be reckless against an elderly opponent. I’ll make sure to hold back.”

I wanted to tell her not to fight, but after a line like that, there was no way the other side would back down.

Instead of Mr. Jureberg himself, the surrounding crowd erupted with shouts—more like screams.

From Liza’s perspective, she probably did that to provoke her formidable opponent as her Elf masters taught her, to prevent them from showing their true strength. But I wish she’d save the provocations for somewhere else.

Mr. Jureberg spun his spear and took a lower stance.

I thought biting down so hard you might break a tooth was a bad idea.

“Oh ho, to have such respect for this old body, you truly are a heroic woman filled with the spirit of honoring the elderly.”

“That’s all thanks to Master’s virtue.”

That doesn’t exactly sound like a compliment in this context.

It seemed Liza took Mr. Jureberg’s words at face value.

“I’m sorry, but let’s move to another place.”

I cut between them since starting here would cause problems.

Mr. Jureberg shot me a glare like he wanted to kill, but compared to the Demon King and others, it was still mild.

“We can’t have injuries among the nobles or damage to the state’s new warship here.”

At my words, Mr. Jureberg planted his spear and reluctantly agreed with a grimace.

I wanted to stop the duel entirely, but I figured Liza could handle herself if she showed her true strength now.

I’d managed to build connections to handle most unreasonable demands from the nobles—except a few cases.

I was a bit worried about whether Liza and the others would end up treated like weapons against the demon race or the Demon King, but that was a problem I could handle by operating as Nameless.

Besides, the only country likely to start a war with the Shiga Kingdom was the Empire of the Weasels far to the east. With Nameless’ laser drawing a line before their troops, they’d probably retreat. If they didn’t, well, I could help build earth magic walls like a long fortress to block their advance.

While I was lost in these hypothetical concerns, a middle-aged man carrying a white spear—a retainer under Mr. Jureberg’s orders—ran to the garrison next to the airport to prepare for the duel.

He was the Paladin known as the “White Spear Knight,” who had challenged Liza and been soundly defeated around the time of the Mithril Badge parade.

I learned from the spectators that he was apparently one of the candidates vying for the vacant positions in the Shiga Eight Swords.

As Mr. Jureberg disappeared outside the airport, cheers erupted from the crowd.

Greeting acquaintances and other Mithril Explorers gave us words of encouragement as we headed toward the duel venue.

With events like the attempted assassination of the Duke, I thought this wasn’t the time for a duel as a game…

But judging from the festival-like atmosphere, those people must be a minority.

◇

“Now, we begin.”

“Understood.”

—What era do you two come from?

No one answered my inner thought as the duel started.

Vivid red streaks crisscrossed the arena in broad daylight.

Perhaps because Mr. Jureberg said “no holding back,” both of them fought using demon blades from the start.