The duel began one hour later as scheduled, unfolding under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
As soon as course selection ended, students rushed from all directions, forming a human wall that created a massive arena. The various factions were incredibly noisy, making the atmosphere anything but harmonious.
“Erika, how did you suddenly end up in a duel? What exactly is going on?”
Emil strode toward Erika, asking about the bizarre situation with a hint of agitation. After the young girl gave a brief explanation of what had just happened, Emil’s heroic, sword-like eyebrows furrowed even deeper.
“According to the rules… I can’t fight in your place. Is it really okay for you to handle this yourself?”
Emil looked at the girl’s slender arms and legs with concern. “You’re useless in a fight.”
“…”
‘While that is true, please let me maintain a little dignity.’
On the other hand, Evelyn was sitting lazily and comfortably on a high-end lounge chair that the Big Guy had brought from somewhere. Her smile was calm and relaxed. “Emil, you don’t actually think my Erika will lose, do you?”
“Hard to say. Think about it yourself—how does she fit the word ‘fighting’ at all?” Emil shot back at Evelyn. The girl with long black hair simply shook her head.
“Emil, you still have a long way to go. Erika is a brilliant woman second only to me. She can solve this kind of problem by lifting a finger.”
“…”
The Big Guy simply fell silent. She knew that saying anything more to her cousin would be futile. When did this girl develop such blind confidence in Erika?
“Hey, Erika, do you really have a way to win?”
“I don’t fight battles I’m bound to lose. Of course, this isn’t my battle anyway.”
‘I know of fighting, but fighting and I are not well-acquainted. But that doesn’t matter, because I know someone who is.’
As a Lady Commander, shouldn’t she be sitting in the rear, orchestrating the formations?
Erika stared at the barbarian, Eph. He was holding a baseball bat studded with crooked nails, letting out a “Heh, heh, heh” of disdain as he looked at the girl.
“I will state this once more: this is a perfectly fair duel. Don’t think about making trouble afterward, understand? I’m sure the Queen and the Marquess’s Daughter behind you understand that as well.”
“Issuing a disclaimer before the fight? Hmph, despicable barbarian.”
“Heh, fine. So, where is your Great Knight? You don’t intend to face me yourself, do you?”
“Of course… not. Don’t be in such a hurry. He should be arriving just about now.”
Erika looked around with a composed air. Her Great Knight was incredibly conspicuous no matter where he was; he would definitely attract everyone’s attention immediately.
*Thump, thump.*
At that moment, the terrifying sound of the earth trembling reached everyone’s ears. The boisterous crowd suddenly fell silent. Erika, with a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, turned her head and saw a massive figure moving toward them in the distance.
“Oh, here he comes… over here!”
Erika raised both hands and hopped up and down, signaling to her Great Knight. Her crisp, sweet voice and the inadvertently revealed youthful vitality caused many to turn their heads.
But immediately afterward, as that massive figure scratching his head approached her, everyone turned their eyes back to him in utter shock.
“Gurgle, gurgle… So much to do! Overtime… too much! I almost late…”
The people didn’t understand, but they were deeply shaken.
“What the heck is that? Isn’t that an Ogre?”
“How can an Ogre appear in the Academy? Who can command them? The Demon King himself?”
The sudden appearance of the massive magical beast—the Ogre Gorigo—plunged the crowd into a brief state of panic and chaos. It was no wonder these Heroes couldn’t keep their cool; after all, Ogres were famous members of the Demon Race known for being able to conquer small cities single-handedly.
Erika automatically dubbed the scene in her mind: ‘It’s Troll time!’
To face this Ogre one-on-one, especially since his size was even above average, one would likely need to call upon a first-class Sword Master or a Great Sorcerer of at least the fifth rank.
Erika was certain that the despicable barbarian, Brother F, could not be either of those. Only a bastard who lacked strength and bullied the weak would resort to such underhanded methods.
And since Erika never denied that she was quite despicable herself, she understood and knew exactly how to deal with such people.
The despicable Erika wins again today!
Eph shouted frantically, “This—this—what the hell is this! Professor! Isn’t this a foul? Who brings a magical beast to a duel! It was clearly stated that only those within the Ark can serve as gladiators for this duel!”
Gorigo the Ogre couldn’t help but feel amused, letting out a simple-minded “Heh, heh, heh” laugh. “I, Gorigo… was hired as faculty! Faculty has much to do, but it is a stable job. Salary… paid on time every month!”
“I—I’ll…!”
With his eyes wide and bloodshot, the barbarian was staring fixedly at Erika. The confidence of the man who had been so sure of his victory just moments ago was gradually being replaced by confusion and fury.
Watching this rapid change of expression, a faint smile appeared on the Demoness’s face.
“You wretched Demoness! You filthy Demon Apostle! This is cheating! I—I will never accept this!”
Accusing her only now? Too late!
What a thoroughly unpleasant guy.
Erika didn’t have a shred of sympathy for such a person. Her pink lips parted slightly, her voice calm and measured. “Is the duel over? If you surrender obediently now, the ownership of your brooch and your courses will belong to me.”
The girl lightly covered her mouth, acting innocent. “My, not having to attend classes for a whole semester… that sounds quite nice.”
“Dammit… that’s called being suspended! …”
Eph looked around the crowd anxiously. Among the onlookers surrounding the arena, there were many wearing gold brooches, individuals ranked within the top 100. Were they here to watch the fun? To bear witness? To arbitrate? Or perhaps all of the above…
Eph’s body shuddered violently the moment his eyes met theirs, and then he let out a long sigh.
“Fine, whatever. If I can’t even kill a monster brat, am I even fit to be called a Hero? Back in my hometown, I once faced four Trolls at the same time.” Eph calmly adjusted his mindset.
Gorigo seemed quite surprised by this. “Four Trolls? You… look like a great warrior. I acknowledge that. But I, Gorigo, have fought people stronger than you and survived. You… are weaker than me!”
“Go to hell! Bring it on, monster brat!”
*Clack.* The man gripped his nail-studded bat and charged at the massive Gorigo.
“Aaaaaah — !”
That violent charge was like a bull in heat. Erika, watching from the sidelines, knew she definitely couldn’t withstand such a charge.
*Thud.*
However, after a crisp sound like a pancake being slapped, the barbarian battering ram was flattened into the ground by Gorigo’s massive palm, much like a mosquito being swatted.
“Argh… ugh…”
The blood-pumping war cry of the charge instantly turned into low moans of pain that hurt just to hear.
‘Well, as expected.’ Erika knew this would happen. She pulled out a cup of black tea from somewhere and took a small sip.
An overwhelming difference in physique usually meant an overwhelming difference in strength—unless one was a freak like the Big Guy, whose muscle density was comparable to mythril.
“This is what happens when the brain doesn’t work well. People… need to learn.”
Although it was a bit strange hearing such words from an Ogre known for not being very bright, no one dared to raise an objection in the face of the giant who had just flattened Eph with one hand.
“Did you see that…? Would you have any confidence…?”
“Hmph, I never bully the school faculty… I usually walk around them.”
“Eph is down,” someone cried.
Only Evelyn seemed to find the situation extremely amusing. She sat up straight on her lounge chair and laughed, her lips curling into a soul-stirring smile. “Human life fades as easily as dust.”
“No… gurgle gurgle… didn’t kill him. That was the agreement. But… every bone in his body… should be broken.”
*Rustle.* When Gorigo lifted his palm, which was larger than a round table, one could see the man twitching, his joints twisted like a puppet falling apart.
“Ugh…”
He had barely managed to keep his life. After a Hell-Burial Hand-Chop from an Ogre capable of tearing apart heavy armored knights with his bare hands, he would have been sent straight to the afterlife if Gorigo hadn’t held back.
Erika held her skirt and squatted down gracefully. She took the Tea Party tile from Eph’s waist and plucked the silver-glinting brooch from his chest.
“This… this girl… she was aiming for this from the start. I… I actually fell for her provocation… I was tricked…”
She had heard that barbarians generally had strong life force, and it seemed the rumors were true.
Erika silently raised her rating of Eph’s survival capability in her heart.
“Was… was that ridiculous Word Chain Game also part of your plan? That stupid, childish game… was it a deliberate provocation to make me accept the challenge…?”
‘Hey! Is the Word Chain Game I like that childish? I was being very serious.’
“Was even this within your calculations, Erika the Demoness!”
“Yeah, why would she suddenly want to play a Word Chain Game? It’s not like this is a Flying Flower Command competition.”
“I thought that game was an insult to my intelligence, but if all of that was just to lure FFF into a final duel, then it was absolutely brilliant!”
“Yeah, my wife is amazing.”
“Yeah, my—” “Try calling her your ‘ex-wife’ one more time, and I’ll draw my sword.”
Seeing her serious competitive spirit being ruthlessly trampled upon, Erika could only keep a stiff face and suppress her tears, nodding helplessly.
“That’s right. This little game was also a trap I designed, and you took the bait exactly as expected! How could I possibly play a word game seriously? I just wanted to enrage you and lead the situation step-by-step toward a duel!”
Erika kept a cold face, wearing an expression that said ‘all according to plan.’
“My god, how many steps ahead did she predict?”
“Terrifying! Truly terrifying! This woman must never be… anything other than a wife taken home.”
“Poor FFF was played like a fiddle by Erika.”
Hearing these discussions, Eph was so angry he almost spat out a mouthful of blood. “Dammit… everyone said you were a Demoness with a mind like a devil… I didn’t believe it…”
“Everyone praises me so. And when you snatch things from others, you should be prepared for your own things to be snatched sooner or later. Also… if your brooch is taken like this, will you be expelled?”
“Ugh…”
Eph seemed unable to bear the humiliation any longer. His anger surged, and he fainted. Erika really wanted to step forward and give him a kick.
But considering he was twisted and deformed by Gorigo’s loyal palm, it was still a bloody and gruesome sight. If she displayed anything more eye-catching, Evelyn might awaken to some strange things. Thus, Erika took the tablecloth from the spectator’s afternoon tea table and draped it over him.
*Swish.*
Finally, she had obtained the courses and the Silver Brooch she wanted!
“Gorigo, gurgle gurgle, got the credits… attended the class. The more you know, the less you suffer.”
As for her subordinate Gorigo, he obtained the 12-credit course he snatched from the man and a sequence brooch to prove his strength. Could faculty members actually participate in the rankings?