A few days later…
Yawn…
Amidst the hustle and bustle of students moving along the hallway, Rudell let out a big yawn.
“Are you okay? You look really tired.”
“Yeah… I haven’t been sleeping well lately…”
As Leje asked him with a worried expression, he nodded in response. The truth was, he had been busy dealing with the church’s henchmen late into the night, rummaging through the royal city here and there, but there was no reason to mention that.
“If you’re okay, how about I get you some rosemary tea leaves? It’ll help you sleep better at night.”
“Please do.”
With a smack of his lips, Rudell wet his appetite, and as Leje arrived at a certain door, she carefully opened it.
At the same time, before their eyes appeared the sight of numerous people bustling about.
“Welcome, Duchess Lagrind!”
“Thanks for your hard work today as well.”
Other students greeted her, and Leje nodded energetically.
This place filled with students was none other than the Student Council of Philsberg Academy.
Just a few days prior, Leje had joined the Student Council’s Discipline Corps under Kaylee’s recommendation, and she had immediately started her duties.
“Alright! Let’s start today with lots of energy!”
“Ooh…!!”
After school.
For Rudell, it was not a time for rest either.
*
The duties of the Discipline Corps were not particularly special.
“Hey! Unauthorized duels are against the rules!”
“If you want to duel, please submit a formal application…”
They patrolled designated areas, watching for anyone engaging in unauthorized duels…
“Hey you! What are you doing there!?”
“Yikes! It’s the Discipline Corps!! Run away!!”
Catching those who were breaking the rules.
In essence, if we were to measure the work they did, it wasn’t much different from the academy’s security guards.
If they were to point out a difference, it would be that the Discipline Corps was a higher department and, due to that nature, they dealt more with nobles compared to the guards, but overall, their work was almost the same.
As their patrol, which had lasted several hours, was nearing its end…
Yawn…
Looking at the sunset, Rudell opened his mouth wide.
“Get to bed early tonight. You look exhausted.”
“I guess I should…”
Nodding at Leje’s words, Rudell wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of his eyes.
He had already dealt with dozens of church-related organizations. With that much work done, it was clear that the church couldn’t act recklessly.
“In just thirty more minutes, today’s work will be over, so just hold on a little longer.”
“Got it…”
Maybe I should reduce the patrol intervals moving forward.
As he was pondering that while nodding at Leje’s words, it happened.
“…!!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Is something happening?”
With an uproar coming from not too far away, Rudell and Leje exchanged puzzled looks.
And as they turned their heads, they saw a crowd gathering nearby.
Amidst the murmurs, the two made their way through the people gathering, and what caught their eyes was…
“Get down this instant! How dare you not dismount in front of me, the esteemed heir of Weinstein County!?”
A boy, shouting desperately in a suit of armor that looked oversized like it was for knights, was the spectacle before them.
He had a greedy-looking, plump build, red hair, and freckles on both cheeks. The ostentatious trinkets covering him gave a glimpse into his character.
“Is that guy…?”
“Do you know him?”
Rudell trailed off, and Leje tilted her head in curiosity.
“That’s probably someone from the Bismarck family.”
The Marquis Bismarck.
Though not as noble as the houses of Lagrind or Kaylee, they had a rich tradition. Of course, their reputation wasn’t all that great, regardless.
“Now that you mention it, I think you’re right. But what’s causing such a commotion?”
“I think I have a rough idea…”
According to noble customs, lower nobles were supposed to dismount when encountering a higher noble.
Though it wasn’t necessary to obey these customs within the academy that advocated equality among all students, there were those who insisted on following them, dragging principles into the equation—like the Bismarck heir standing right before them.
“What are we going to do?”
“Of course, we should help. We can’t just leave that kid there!”
As Rudell posed the question, Leje answered and started moving.
Rudell followed her and approached the two who were currently caught in a tussle…
“Hold on for just a moment.”
“What’s up with you?”
At Rudell’s words, the Bismarck heir glared at him, eyes bulging.
“I’m from the Discipline Corps. Is there a problem?”
“A problem? Of course there is! This insolent kid dares to stay mounted while in front of me!”
Showing his Discipline Corps’ armband, Rudell asked, but the Bismarck heir barked back angrily.
And with that, Rudell tried to hide a grimace and continued speaking.
“However, those are merely customs for use in public settings…”
“There’s no option to pick and choose customs! Whether in public or private, you are to respect customs!”
“…”
What an annoying traditionalist.
With that thought, Rudell let out a short sigh, then looked at the huffing and puffing Bismarck heir and continued speaking.
“First, calm down… Within the academy, the rules take precedence over customs. No student has the authority to issue commands over others…”
“Shut up!!”
Just then, as Rudell was trying to settle the Bismarck heir down, he drew his sword and swung it with a loud shout.
With a swish, the blade sliced through the air…
“Yikes!?”
Feeling the blade graze his cheek, Rudell hurriedly stepped back.
“Wait! Using weapons without permission on campus is against school r—…”
Just as he was raising his voice urgently towards the now crazed Bismarck heir…
i “Hey.” i
A chilling voice cut through from behind Rudell.
An overwhelming sense of pressure filled the air as all eyes turned toward the direction of the voice.
i “Have you lost your mind?” i
And there stood Leje, glaring at the Bismarck heir with a ferocious expression.
“…!!”
At that moment, realizing the gravity of the situation, the Bismarck heir’s face went pale.
i “How dare you… how dare you lay a finger on Rudell?” i
With an energy that seemed ready to pounce at any moment, Leje growled at him.
“Lady! I’ll handle this!”
“…”
Speaking politely, Rudell stepped in front of Leje.
At his words, Leje gave him an unhappy look but then hmph turned her head away.
Seeing that, an awkward chuckle escaped Rudell’s lips…
“You see? When the Duchess gets angry, she’s really scary. So let me make a suggestion.”
“A suggestion…?”
At Rudell’s next words, the Bismarck heir wore an expression of confusion.
“Rather than just walking away and losing face, wouldn’t it be better for you to challenge me to a duel instead for that kid?”
“A d-duel?!”
“If you’d prefer, you can just leave.”
Though his tone was excessively polite, the underlying meaning translated to…
“If you’re scared, just die.”
And that was a significant provocation for nobles, who lived and breathed honor and pride.
“F-fine…!!”
And so, with that kind of provocation, it couldn’t get any better for the nobles.
“Alright! The rules are ‘First Blood!'”
“Sounds good.”
With the Bismarck heir boldly proclaiming, Rudell smiled subtly.
The First Blood rule.
It was the combat rule that stated the first one to bleed, by any means, would lose the duel.
“Duchess.”
“Okay, I’ll permit it under the authority of the Discipline Corps.”
Even Discipline Corps members were not exempt from the requirement for Student Council approval for duels.
Of course, since it had reached this point, Leje had no reason to stop him.
As the crowd stepped back, clearing space, the Bismarck heir, sword drawn, and Rudell stepped into the area.
“The rule is ‘First Blood!’ The duel duration is 10 minutes! Then, let the duel begin!”
With that, Leje shouted as she stepped to the center, and the Bismarck heir immediately charged at Rudell.
Contrary to his appearance, he moved with a certain level of technique.
But as Rudell watched him, he didn’t move an inch.
Even as he approached, Rudell remained frozen.
“It’s my victory!!”
With a confident shout, the Bismarck heir swung his sword at Rudell.
– Thud, Thud, Thud!!
The ground around Rudell began to freeze, with sharp ice spikes shooting up.
“W-what…!? Yikes!?”
He couldn’t dodge this one.
Seeing the ice blades looming ahead, the Bismarck heir let out a panicked cry and squeezed his eyes shut.
In the next moment, he felt something warm trickling down his forehead.
As he slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the ice blades stopped right in front of him.
“Yikes…!!”
Seeing that sight, he let out a defeated sound and sank to the ground.
And watching that scene, Leje shouted loudly.
“The winner! Rudellheit Weinstein!”
As she declared, cheers erupted from the crowd around them.
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