Chapter 73: Duel

After we agreed to have a duel, we went to the church knight's training ground which was located behind the church.

The knights seemed to have finished their training, as I didn't notice that many dots were staying in the training ground.

In fact, they had returned to their patrol duty. When we got close to the church, the 3-men knight team noticed me first and ran toward me excitedly.

"Sir Paladin!" They stopped in front of us and saluted.

"At ease." I raised my hand and asked them to lower their hand. "Are you guys on patrol now?"

"Yes!" One of them, the man with the biggest body who stood in the middle, replied with an energetic voice. "Male squads have a duty to patrol around the church from 12 in the afternoon to 3, after which the female knight squads will take over our duty until 6 in 3 hours rotation until tomorrow morning."

I see. That was something efficient to do. So the fewer dots in the training grounds all belonged to female knights? That was perfect. I didn't want any of these men to see or hear Rania's aroused voice when I hit her hard.

"Very well. Keep up the good work, guys. I will head to the training ground with my companion first."

They glanced at Rania and nodded. It seemed like they weren't surprised that I was acquainted with the former female Knight Commander of the Virtue Kingdom and only replied in uniform.

"Yes! Have a nice day, Sir Paladin!"

I nodded and walked past them. When we walked past the side of the church and were able to see the training ground ahead of us, Rania suddenly spoke.

"This is my first time visiting this place." Her voice was filled with admiration, looking around the whole training ground. "There are only female knights in the training ground?"

"You heard the men from earlier," I replied to Rania, looking at her. "The male knights have patrol duty, and the female knights are still resting. They used that time to polish themselves in this training ground."

Obviously, that was the answer I had for myself, and maybe not the real fact. But Rania looked satisfied as she nodded her head, so all good.

However, it didn't look like they were training. Almost all female knights stayed under the giant tree's shade, surrounding Sophia and the other girls that promised to join my knight squad. With my hearing, I was able to see what they were talking about.

"That means you girls can have a chance to conceive the Paladin's kid! How envious!"

One of the women said, and the others squealed in delight. Lea blushed deep red, but Natasha and Isabelle didn't really react that much. Sophia... well, she grinned ear-to-ear and faced that girl who just spoke.

"I will happily do that if he asks me. I respect him and don't mind having a strong child."

Hmm, good to know. But unfortunately, I had no intention of having a kid for now. The other girls squealed in delight hearing that answer, and something like, "How envious!", "I also want to sleep with the Paladin!" followed suits.

"... Arthur." Rania looked at me with a red face, calling me softly. She didn't seem to be bothered. Rather, excitement and expectation were written on her face.

Did she hear them too?

"My bad, I forgot to tell you about this. People from the church are crazy about a Paladin. They love and respect me so much that they make such a joke." I replied with a wry smile as I scratched my cheek.

"N-No, I don't really mind. I am als-" She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, realizing what she was about to say.

"Do you also love me like them? Thanks, Rania." I smiled at her. I didn't think she would be this honest, or was she just nervous from what I did earlier, pushing her to the edge?

"Anyway, let's approach them and explain about our duel."

"Y-Yeah." She nodded stiffly and followed right behind me.

We approached the female knights who apparently interrogated Sophia and the others about their transfer to my knight squad. The news spread so fast that it was almost as if they deliberately spread it themselves.

No, maybe they did spread their news. I could see the triumphant and proud looks from all of them, including Natasha and Isabelle.

When I approached them with Rania, Sophia stopped talking to the other girls, and her nose moved slightly, then her eyes stopped on us.

"Sir Paladin!" She got into the salute position faster than anyone, and the others followed suit almost immediately.

I would appreciate it if they stopped doing that, though.

"Hello, I am back," I said to them as I stopped, standing in front of the crowd. "Let me introduce you girls to someone. This is Rania Reynala, and we are about to have an official duel in the training ground. Rather, I want to ask whether we can use it for a duel, so I approached you. Hahaha."

Rania nodded beside me, putting up a serious look.

"We hope to have witnesses to our duel too." She continued as she looked around the crowd of female knights. "Maybe I am just a stranger, but I am hoping for your cooperation." And she bowed her head slightly at them.

The female church knights, especially Sophia, seemed to be surprised at Rania's appearance.

The redhead looked at me with a shocked expression, but her lips curled up in an excited smile as she nodded, gesturing to me that she appreciated me for telling the truth about adding Rania to our knight squad.

"So, can we count on you guys?" I asked once again and got the answer from Sophia.

"Please use the training ground as you see fit, Sir Paladin. I will also help with the duel, becoming the referee." She stepped forward, then turned to Rania. "I hope you don't mind."

"Yes, please do," Rania replied with a nod.

"Great!" I clapped my hand, "Then let's head to the center, Rania. You are ready, no?"

"Of course. Who do you think I am, Arthur? I am the former Knight Commander. I am always ready."

Her confidence was great, and I nodded. We went to the center of the training ground with the paved stone ground. The diameter of the training ground was 30 x 30 meters, big enough to have a superhuman duel between two people.

I stood in one corner, holding an iron sword in my hand. Rania stood across from me, holding a shiny silver blade with a white handle on the corner. It was the sword she always carried on her waist.

"Are you sure you want to use that sword, Arthur? I know you have something better." Rania asked with narrowed eyes, looking a bit displeased and hurt by my choice of a sword. Her hands tightened around the grip, pointing the tip of her sword at me.

"This is enough, Rania," I replied, pointing the tip of my sword downward to the ground. "I am afraid it would be unfair if I use a better sword."

Even the normal sword from Horizon Online was as good as a good-quality sword in this place. To be honest, my iron sword's quality was only a level below what Rania currently used. So it was fair.

"Don't blame me if I win the duel by destroying your sword." She continued, giving a clue that she was ready.

"You don't need to worry. Everything is fair in a duel." I replied, giving my consent to start the duel to Sophia, the referee, who stood outside the arena between us.

Receiving both confirmations, the red lioness raised her hand and declared, "Start!"

I immediately used <Flash> to move behind Rania. She looked shocked and baffled, unable to react on time.

"Here!" I raised my voice as my hand moved at a fast speed.

When Rania turned around, it was already too late. My hand had already reached her round butt beneath her skirt.

- Smack!

"Kya!" A shrill yelp escaped Rania's mouth as her face turned red, and her lips curled upward in ecstasy. She immediately recovered, however, and swung her sword at me. "Hah!"

But I had moved away to my previous position with another <Flash>. The soft sensation remained in my hand as I grinned, looking at my older sister, whose face had turned red like a tomato.

The crowd was baffled. Some of them, Sophia and Natasha, tried to hold their laughter at what had just happened.

"Arthur!!" She growled at me, realizing what I had just done. "What did you do?!"

"That's one." I squeezed my left hand as I looked at Rania. "Prepare yourself. I won't allow you to lie to yourself anymore, Rania. This will be painful and feel good at the same time."

"Kuh!" Rania let out a defeated sound. "S-So you know?!" She asked, embarrassed.

"Oh, I do know. I am your little brother, after all." I replied with a smirk. "And I will let you admit it in front of them whether you want it or not."

"Try me!" Blue aura burst out of Rania's body as she used <Body Reinforcement>. It covered her like a blue flame, burning wildly like her fighting spirit. "I won't be defeated that easily. And I won't admit it until the day I die, this weakness of mine!"

"No, Rania." I shook my head at her. "You will admit it today. I will spank you until you admit it yourself." And I put my iron sword back into my inventory, raising both hands in a spanking motion.