Even if Luke himself was blameless, she could see traces of her rival in him, and each time she did, it sparked her annoyance. It was entirely unreasonable from Luke’s perspective, of course. And being targeted with an animosity she did not have any reason to expect, Lefiya’s annoyance was amplified.
Though, I guess Luke is far more handsome, at least? Maybe it would be unfair to compare him to that rabbit. But their naiveté is the same. That rabbit is far more reckless and good-natured, and there are aspects I wouldn’t say I don’t sympathize with. But anyway, his foolhardy heroic ambition certainly overlaps with that white-haired boy’s. And it’s…annoying.
Either way, it would be difficult to resolve this with words after escalating so much.
It’s not impossible, but it’s a hassle. That was what she thought, unfortunately.
The time spent on him alone like this was not worth it. At the very least, it would not help Nano and the others, who were nervously looking back and forth.
More precisely, if she had been able to make herself understood through words, it might have been worthwhile, but it was not something that should have been done here. Discussion and debates were for a classroom, not the Dungeon.
Restraining the urge to sigh, Lefiya made up her mind.
This was the Dungeon, so they would have to settle it like adventurers.
“Very well. Luke, let’s fight.”
“!”
“A one-on-one match. If you win, I will allow you to progress into the lower floors.”
If he wanted to hold his claim, he would have to prove his strength.
She could not turn a blind eye to determination that wasn’t backed up by strength, but if he demonstrated a strength that matched his resolve, she wouldn’t stop him. Without saying as much, that was what she was offering him.
All of them, Luke included, looked stunned.
“A duel in the Dungeon? Are you mocking me?!”
The thought of a duel in the Dungeon where monsters infinitely spawned sounded absurd from their perspective. The instructors in the School District would never teach them something so ill-conceived.
But an outlaw’s feast did not care about time and place. For most, the Adventurers’ Baptism happened here, in the Dungeon.
Though it would be a bit much to call this “prep” for the test to come.
Aware that she was picking up more of the traits of an adventurer than a student, she continued:
“I’ve decided it is too dangerous to continue exploring with you holding all that pent-up frustration.”
“…!”
“If you’re going to break down somewhere I can’t see you, then just self-destruct here and now in front of me. At least I can do some damage control that way.”
Without realizing it, she was speaking like a certain high elf.
Facing her furious student, Lefiya delivered the clincher.
“If I win, you will stop trying to fight me on this topic going forward… You can obey someone who has proven their strength, can’t you, Luke?”
Faced with his own words, he clenched his fists.
“Don’t regret this…”
“I won’t. Let’s wrap this up this quickly. As you said, this is the Dungeon.”
While Luke trembled with rage and determination to fight, Lefiya spoke to the others.
“You three, keep watch, please. Take care of any monsters that come near.”
“L-Lefiya…!”
“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt him… Sorry for getting you involved in something strange like this.”
Nano looked unsure what to do as Lefiya apologetically gave her instructions.
She looked like she wanted to say something, but Milly quietly took her arm, and Cole said, “We should do what she said.”
Grateful that they trusted her even though they had just met her, Lefiya faced Luke in the center of the room.
“The first person to land a blow on the other wins. That should be sufficient.”
“Yes…I won’t hold back just because you’re a mage.”
“I’m Level Four. My status is higher than yours. On paper, you are the one at a disadvantage, you know?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Luke smiled almost derisively as he pulled the sword from the sheath at his hip.
“Even if your level is higher, there’s no way I’ll lose to a mage at this range.”
He had no doubt he would win.
Holding his weapon in both hands, he lowered his hips, erasing any opening.
Lefiya nodded to herself, accepting his determination, and then drew her sword and wand.
“Let’s begin… If you can’t defeat me, then you are far from becoming a hero.”
That was the signal.
“Haaaaaaaaaah!”
Luke blurred as he advanced.
The first attack came from over his right shoulder.
Unable to perfectly match the speed of the slash, Lefiya chose to evade.
She stepped back, letting the silver sword slash through the space she had been standing in not a second earlier. Luke followed up immediately.
“Hiiiiyah!”
He launched a string of attacks without pause.
It was fast and sharp. The sound of the air splitting right beside her evoked a chill. His swordsmanship was built on a foundation of extreme training, and his attacks were keen enough to easily deal a mortal blow even to a second-tier adventurer like Lefiya.
Despite what he said, Luke Fowl was not foolish enough to underestimate a superior adventurer. He attacked without holding back.
He was threatening Lefiya not with a practice sword but with a weapon meant for killing.
“Gh!”
Lefiya responded by mixing in parries with her dodges.
She knocked aside Luke’s slash with her friend’s Tear Pain.
There was a sharp sound, and sparks flew as his sword’s course was deflected, but he just sneered.
“Is that all you’ve got?!”
The sword dance accelerated.
Lefiya couldn’t match his skill with the sword, and he was using it to corner her.
Lefiya’s sword arm undoubtedly looked shoddy to him.
She knew it herself, now that she had begun seriously studying how to use a sword in her training with Bete. Even if she called herself a magic swordswoman, she was still green. Meanwhile, Luke was a dedicated frontline swordsman. Given how much he had polished his swordplay since enrolling, he was far superior to her in hand-to-hand combat. Luke had accepted this match because he was sure he could defeat a mage at close range, even if she had a superior status.
However…
“H-he isn’t hitting her…!”
“Even though he’s been attacking the whole time!”
Cole and Milly murmured in disbelief, forgetting to watch for monsters.