Chapter 71

(Francis' Pov)

Francis felt an impact strike him. He did not understand what happened as his body was blown away.

His field of view was changing at high speeds to the point where he couldn't really tell what was reflected in it. His body, that had lost its freedom,was rolling while bouncing on the ground over and over again,until it stopped at last, as Francis felt another big impact on his back.

Fromthe tip of his hazy consciousness, Francisnoticedthatone sectionof the fences that were surrounding the horse riding place had been destroyed. Perhaps his body, after suffering some sort of attack, was finally stopped by breaking the fence.

But that meant he had rolled for tens of meters, at least.

Taking on an attack that powerful could not have been safe. Bit by bit, Francis' left flank started hurting. And soon, that pain became so great that he could not even groan, let alone move his body.

Indeed, it would have beenno surprise to Francis if he were judged to be unable to keep fighting anymore. As Francis found himself in that state,someone walked up to him.

With hisright cheek stuck to theground, Francis slightly moved his neckonly, so as to confirm that person's identity.

And that person was none other than Harold.

With his crimson and yet freezing cold eyes, he looked down on Francis. Infact, for Harold, this extremelyboringresult had probably been a killjoy.

Perhaps out of irritation from this, Harold slungmerciless words at the alreadybeaten up Francis.

["So, in the end, you were just a fool. The fact that a small fry like you got my hopes up ever so lightly is a disgrace that will follow me through life. How are you gonnamake up for this?"]

What an unreasonable thing to say!Thought Francis.

However, the damages that Francis had received were so serious that he couldn't even utter thatcomplaint in return. Still, he endured the painas he caughthis breath, with all his might, at a rough and irregular rhythm.

Harold grabbed Francis by his shoulders andpulled his body up.

["Oh well. You'll entertain me enough by struggling as best as you can, like the small fish that you are."]

Having said that, Harold pushed something into Francis' mouth.

That objectfelt inorganic. And subsequently, some liquid started flowingout of it.

Francis, who was unable to resist,gulped that liquid down his throat.Immediately after he drankthat up, the intense pain that was torturing himdisappeared, and his strength came back to his body.

After confirming that, Harold took his hand away from Francis.

["That thing just now, was it Ether...?"]

Ether, itwas a recovery item.

Francis had tasted that flavor and sensation many times in the past. All the damages he had suffered from had recovered, but Francis was perplexed as he did not understand why Harold would do such a thing. As for Harold, he turned back, went to pick something up and threw it towards Francis.

Stuck at Francis' feet was his own weapon, his rapier.

["Take it. The duel is not over yet."]

[".....I see how it is."]

Apparently, Harold wanted to continue the contest despite the obvious result.

As he recalled the attack he had just received, Francis wondered whether he should reach out to the rapier or not. Just the thought of falling victim to that attack once again made Francis feel frightened.

However, Francis's pride did not allow him to withdraw and call it a day. So he stirred himself up as he picked the rapier and pointed it towards Harold while taking a stance.

Harold Stokes.

Based on hearsay, his personality was, generally speaking, notoriouslybad. He was said to behave atrociously, as hekilled people, stole from them, and trampled their dignity underfoot. That man, who didn't think of people as people, could be said to be an inhuman devil.

Having heard that Harold was such a person, Francis went to warn his friend, Itsuki.You should take your distance from him,he said, if you're being threatened by him, then I can help you with that.

However, Itsuki's reaction was the opposite of what Francis expected.Unlike what the rumors claim, he's not a bad man, in reality, he's the complete opposite of that.Itsuki seemed to think that Harold had taken on that bad reputation on purpose.

And Francis' complaint was not able to convince Itsuki.

And so, Itsuki told Francis that he should check out Harold with his own eyes.

That's how the surprise attack on Harold came to be. And the results were terrible.

Neither surprised, nor afraid, nor angry, Harold had, perfectly calmly, grasped the situation and made Francis submit to him using nothing but mere words. This was more than enough to understand that there was more to Harold than just being a strong man.

At the same time, Francisfigured he'd be held responsiblefor his rudeactions.

However,what Harold proposed was a duel. Harold already had the advantage so he had nothing to gain by carrying his point across through that contest. And that was why that action helped Francis slightly understand Itsuki's appreciation of Harold.Because to Francis, it didn't seem like something a self-centered man would do.

Andthen, when he actually fought him, the difference in ability between him and Harold became obvious to Francis. He didn't expect to be that overpowered by martial arts alone, without the use of any weapons or magic.

Though it was only vaguely, Francis experienced Harold's strength for himself, and he turned out to be stronger than anyone that Francis had fought up to now.

No matter how unpleasantthat factwas for Francis, he was made to understand it with his own body. Francis' attacks all missed their target, and every time, he was promptlydealtwith by being striked, kicked,and flung away.Moreover, whenever that happened, Francis, who was bent down on the ground, was made to drink Ether by Harold, and was forced to fight.

["Stand up."]

The drink recovered his stamina and healed his wounds, but it did nothing to fix the mental pressure that Francis kept receiving. He had been made to fall down to the ground more than ten times now. And in the end, despite the ether that he was made to drink, Francis was on one knee, unable to get up. Yet Harold mercilessly told him to stand.

Haroldwas angry. However, that didn't mean he was just attacking Francis on a whim. There were no signs of anger in Harold's mood at the Berlioz mansion, it was only after the start of the duel that Harold'sstate had changed. And then, adding onto that, came his earlier remarks that showed his disappointment.

All thatbrought Francis to one answer.

Harold was likely angry that Francis had tried to approach Erica while only having thismuchpower.

Based on Harold's behavior,it seemed like heallowed Erica to have a relation withpeople other than himself, despite being her fiance. However, that didn't seem to be because he didn't care about her.

Perhapshe was looking for someone, other than himself, who he could entrust Erica to. So the reason hehad pressed Francis to make his relationship with Erica progresswas to check whether Francis was worthy of being Erica's knight.

As for why Haroldtried to do that, Francis did not know. However,as he pondered on it, Francis was still able to understand some things.

Itsuki had said that Harold was not a bad man, and that he had taken on the many bad rumors about him on purpose. If, for argument's sake, that were true, then Harold had likely thought that it was impossible for himself to stand before Ericabecause she'd be at risk by his side, or something along those lines.

Therefore, he was likely looking for a man suitable for Erica, who could protect her. And yet a man, whose abilities were at a level that wasn'teven worth discussing, had went to court her.

Perhaps that was the cause of Harold's anger.

Even so,Francis wanted to say.

You've got to be kidding me.

His anger was boiling up more and more inhis stomach.

Haroldwas strong. Moreover, even in the kingdom, he'd be counted as being a top-level individual.

Then, there were also his brains. Francis could not compare with that man's ingenuity, with which he could carry out anything he wanted, and that discernment, that allowed him, in but an instant, to take intoconsideration variousfactorsand elementsand to make a concise judgement based on them. He was 18 years old, and he had overwhelming force, great wisdom, and he even had the enough guts to not even be agitated while having swords pointed at him.

The worldwould surely brand a great man with such brilliance as a genius.

So, for such a man to bring infamy to himself on his own initiative was the epitome of stupidity. Especially if he didn't want to expose his fiancee to the risks that came from that infamy.

Why did he have to be so roundabout aboutthis? Itsuki wondered.

As strong as he was, Harold should have been more than capable of protecting Erica from most things. He was so worried about Erica's fate, and cared about her so much that he got this angry at Francis, sowhy couldn't he choose another measure than to go far away from Erica?

["You've got to be kidding me..."]

Francis muttered so while slowly standing up.

He spontaneously concentrated his power in his left hand, which was holding his rapier.

["What did you say?"]

["I said, you have got to be kidding me. You're strong enough that I can't even reach your feet. So why don't you try to protect Erica in a more straightforward way?! With your strength, youcan do that, right?! And that would be the best for her too, wouldn't it?!"]

Francis shouted his heart out. He was angry at Harold, but he was alsoashamed of himself for not being able to defeat him.

["......"]

["Harold, you're a man who can do what I can't. Butyou don't even try to take on that role and you try to entrust other men with it. So if Erica wereto become unhappy becauseof that,I'll blame you!"]

If he cared about Erica, he had to protect her with his own hands. Surely, not doing that was akin to running away.

Running away in fear of the time when he would not beable to protect Erica by himself.Franciswas getting worked up, how could he let such a coward defeat him, that was――.

["You're sure running your mouth a lot for someone who doesn't know anything."]

Harold's ice cold voice cut Francis' thoughts right off. And the intimidating air fired off by Harold suppressed the fervor in Francis' feelings in but a moment.

Francis was sweating all over his body and he couldn't stop himself from trembling.

He felt a pressure he had never experienced before, as if some completely unheard of monster was standing before him.

The moment Francis felt that, Haroldbecame blurry to him. But when herealized it, Harold had alreadybroken Francis' chance to dodge.

Harold had attacked right from the front, but Francis was still caught completely off guard. It was a surprise attack made through pure speed, without any tricks.

Harold waved the black sword he was grasping in his left hand. As he felt a thick air of imminent death, Francis' bodywas stiff, he couldn't even move.

It all happened in an instant, not even leaving Franciswith enough time to prepare for his own death.

However, that death did not come. Instead, Francis felt an impact on his left arm.

Unable to defend, Francisstaggered and fell on his backside.

["You're not worth killing so I'll give you an advice, bastard."]

Said Harold, with cruel eyes, to Francis who could only look up to him.

["Erica isn't some frail and fickle woman who can do nothing but be protected by others. She has the strength to fight, andan unwavering willto oppose her own fate. Don't got thinking she's just some pretty littleflower. Because really, Erica is a mighty tree."]

Not a pretty flower, but a mighty tree. That's how Erica looked like in Harold's eyes.

I see,said Francis, inagreement. Harold believedinErica. He considered her to be someone at the same level as himself, who did not need his protection.

It certainly had to be funny to watch Francis, who was much weaker than her, repeatedly talk of protecting her himself.

In the end, he was made to fully realize that he had only been able to see the outside of Erica.

Hewas charmed by her beauty, and he had arbitrarily assumed that her personality went hand to hand with that beauty. So being angry over that was notunreasonable in the slightest.

Francis' understanding of Erica and hisfeelings for her were no match for Harold's.

["..... It's my loss."]

["What? Do you not see this, you moron?"]

Harold showed the sword he was holding in his hand.

If was certainly Harold's loss since he had used his weapon, but Francis was not shameless enough to be able to claim such a thing.

After all, before this point, he had been utterly defeated.

["Don't make me say it again. The problem's with the rule that we agreed on before. I was never qualified to have a duel with you, Harold."]

["Mhm, then, this time, let's call it a draw, shall we?"]

Declared Itsuki, who had been watching in silence.

Francis had given up, and Harold had gone against the rules. Both of them hadwon, and both of them had also lost.

It would have felt betterfor Francis if this was counted as his loss, but maybefinding a point of compromisewas fine as well.

["Tsk."]

Perhaps still dissatisfied, Harold clicked his tongue and turned his backto the duo. But Francis calledthat back to a stop.

["Harold, wait. Even ifaccording to the rules, this is a draw, in the fight itself, I was completely defeated. So I'd like you to make me follow what you sayas we agreed."]

The purpose of the duel had been replaced with a marriage toErica out of nowhere, but in reality, that was the actual main purpose.

["This is getting boring already. If you want to hit on Erica, do as you like. I just wish you could become a man who matches her."]

"I'll be going back ahead of you. You just stay dead over there for a while." leaving Francis with those words, Harold left the place. But this time, Francis was not able to stophim.

He just laid on his back, face up.

["Say, Itsuki."]

["What is it?"]

["I was really stupid, wasn't I?"]

["I don't know what's that coming from, but it's unusual for you to speak ill of yourself."]

["In various ways, he showed me the difference in status between us, as a warrior, but also as aman."]

At the end, Harold had told Francis to become a man who could match Erica. In other words, Francis had toacquire a strength that could rival withHarold's.

Francis had been quite impolite and ungraceful but Harold did not give up on him, rather, even though he told him he was disappointed, he still approved of Francis ever so slightly. When he thought of that, Francis' feelings were filled with wonder and delight.

As for why Itsuki adored Harold; having now experienced Harold's tolerance for himself, Francisactually felt compelled to agree with Itsuki's assessment.

["I still have a long way to go. But today, I feel that I have seen the path which I should aim for."]

He lied down and looked up at the clear and high sky, feeling like he could open it and spread it everywhere.

To Francis, it seemed like it was showing him the way to his future.

Translator's note:Next chapter, we'll see things from Erica's perspective, so do look forward to it!

I'd like you to thank my new Patrons, Excelless and Elizabeth E, thank you very much for your support! And thank you to all the other Patrons as well, of course!