Chapter 85.2: Neutral Nations Conference (6)
The Overlord had never seen Asher use her racial trait, so this was the first time she knew about it. And there’s really no need to tell her, so I never did.
People around her groaned at her remarks.
“White Moon tribe? If it’s White Moon tribe…”
“Yes, at the Santea Imperial Family…”
It was 10 years ago, but at the time, there was no one who didn’t know about the incident that made the empire buzz.
No matter how low-ranking a prince was, it was a great case in which they directly executed an imperial family member to save the name of that same imperial family.
I looked around and then looked at the two again.
“The woman who attacked me just now is a survivor of the White Moon tribe, as the Overlord said.”
The General’s voice instantly calmed the commotion, reverberating throughout the banquet hall.
“And the reason she attacked me is because of the grudge she holds against the royal family of Santea. So I understand that.”
Then, looking at Asher again, he spoke in a polite voice.
“As one of the Five Stars of Santea, I express my sincere regret for the past mistake of the imperial family.”
“…”
“However, it was a cataclysmic event carried out by the fifth prince and the people under him. It was not the will of the imperial family. They had already been judged and executed under strict justice. I understand your hatred towards the imperial family, but I’m not the enemy who destroyed your tribe.”
Asher’s body trembled.
His heinous words completely dumbfounded me.
The General, this bastard, was the main culprit in directly annihilating Asher’s tribe following the emperor’s order.
That same guy was saying he had nothing to do with it.
The imperial family completely covered up that terrible massacre by pushing all the blame to the fifth prince and his aides.
The only ones who knew the truth were the emperor, the General, and Asher, the only survivor. Of course, except for me who played the game.
The emperor, who had come and stood nearby, watched the situation with calm eyes.
It was an expressionless face. He seemed startled at first, but then just looked at the General.
The General, who glanced at the emperor, exchanged glances with him before opening his mouth again.
“Survivor of the White Moon tribe, if you still want to burn such fleeting hatred, I’ll gladly accept it.”
“…”
“It means that you can formally challenge me to a duel. If your sword touches me, then I will give you my head.”
At those words, it was only then that I understood the purpose of the other.
Duel.
He provoked Asher with this thought from the beginning.
What then was the purpose? Did he want to take Asher’s life by doing this?
Whatever it was, it was just an obvious provocation that didn’t have to be reciprocated, and there’s no way that Asher wouldn’t have noticed that.
But she seemed to have already lost half of her reason.
“Asher, stop it.”
Asher turned to me.
I was telling her with my gaze to not fall for this obvious provocation, and that she could have her revenge later.
“I’m sorry, Sir Ron.”
“…”
“This time… just this once, I beg you, please don’t stop me.”
It was a dangerously trembling voice, colored with many emotions.
She turned her gaze to the General, spewing out her murderous intentions again.
“I will challenge you to a duel, General Cayden. I will slit your throat as you said.”
The crowd stirred once more, and the General looked at me.
“Will you allow it, Seventh Lord? It’s a matter of life and death, risking each other’s lives. Please swear that you wouldn’t interfere in the duel until a clear victory or defeat was decided.”
“…”
The crowd’s eyes turned to me.
The Overlord next to me looked back and forth between Asher and me with an interesting gaze, as always.
I sighed inwardly.
A duel between Asher, who was level 82, and the General, who was level 91.
The result was already determined.
The nine level difference between the 80 and 90 levels was a vast gap that could not be crossed no matter what.
It was impossible for Asher to win against the General, one of the five stars.
And from the way he spoke, it’s obvious that he wanted Asher’s life.
However, Asher didn’t seem to be in a state where she could do anything about it.
This was the first time I had ever seen her release such a vicious killing intent.
The magical energy I felt inside her body was boiling unsteadily, and her hand holding the sword was twitching, as if ready to be swung toward the General’s neck at any moment.
…Should I stop this?
If I tried to stop it, I had to force Asher.
There was no reason to allow a duel in which the outcome was obvious, anyway. But…
“…”
Seeing Asher’s expression once again, I decided not to.
No matter what the outcome, if I stopped this duel I felt like she would go astray.
In the end, I had to nod my head.
“Do it.”
Thus, the duel between the two was concluded.
***
The duel took place in the gymnasium located outside the banquet hall.
As spectators, only me, the Overlord, the emperor, and the kings of other neutral countries were seated.
Asher and the General stood facing each other in the middle of the gymnasium.
The General was holding a spear much longer than his height in one hand as a weapon.
The General immediately spoke to Asher.
“I will yield the first move.”
