Side: Amy (5)

Huh? What the hell was that?

Why did that gloomy loner just volunteer himself as a proxy? And you, Villainess—what were you thinking, accepting him?

That wasn’t how the scenario was supposed to go!

Besides, did he even understand what happened to people who challenged two members of the royal family to a duel?

Ah, geez! I knew it. This guy was aiming for the villainess all along! If he was going to rain on my parade like this, I should have just made him my servant from the start.

It was so infuriating!

Oh, wait. Whatever. It didn't matter.

After all, I had the five strongest guys in our year on my side. I’d heard he’d spent some time as an adventurer, but a total loner like him would be dead in seconds.

Then there was the matter of the duel itself. I’d set everything up exactly like the game, but that villainess was acting completely out of character. I wondered if it was okay, but I decided it didn't matter. Karl-sama and the others were on my side. Once they won, she was being shipped off to the Empire anyway.

There was no way Karl-sama and the others could lose.

Or so I’d thought, right until this gloomy guy started claiming he’d win a one-on-five? Was he for real? It was almost funny. I’d known he was smart since he was the top student, but maybe he’d just lost his mind trying to show off for his precious villainess.

And even though Marcus was being "kind" enough to give him an out, the guy clearly didn't value his life. I mean, seriously, what was his deal? Spitting that kind of verbal abuse at the nobility—did he have a death wish?

Everyone was already livid. The rules said you couldn't kill, but since he was just a commoner, who would actually complain if he died?

Actually, if he died at Karl-sama’s hand while trying to protect his beloved villainess, maybe he’d actually be happy about it?

Ugh, gross.

Even the villainess looked dazed. Had she really fallen for a drab, gloomy commoner just because Karl-sama dumped her?

Wow. How pathetic. Going from the future Queen to the wife of a future commoner?

I stifled a laugh. It was just too sad.

And the best part? That guy was about to die. When I thought about getting a front-row seat to the villainess’s face while the man who protected her was pathetically slaughtered...

Yeah. I could live with that. In fact, it was better than the original plan. I started to get excited just imagining the expression she'd make.

Plus, we’d successfully secured a witness. He was the same guy who acted as the witness in the game. If you were about to lose in the game version, he’d let you drink a potion under the pretext of a water break. Of course, the villainess’s side would only be given plain water.

With even the referee on our side, they didn't have a prayer.

Poor things. What a shame.

“Karl-sama, Claude-sama, Marcus, Oscar... Leo... a duel? I just... I can’t...”

“Do not worry,” Karl-sama said, his voice firm as he tried to reassure me. “We will bring you the victory you deserve.”

“But... can’t we just... talk this out? I’m sure we could all just... get along...”

“Now, now, Amy. Are you really trying to protect that woman after everything she’s done to you?”

“Truly,” Marcus added, “the woman we have chosen is as pure as a Saint.”

“There is no need for such kindness,” Oscar noted. “A woman who treats others with such malice deserves to be crushed.”

“Exactly. As the future Commander of the Knight Order, I cannot overlook such a wicked woman.”

Claude, Oscar, Marcus, and Leo—everyone was delivering their lines exactly like the game. That’s right, I thought. The scenario is still on track.

“Everyone... okay. Um... please, stay safe.”

I sent the five of them off with the exact lines from the game. Yes, this was how it was supposed to be. All I had to do was watch from the sidelines. I didn’t know why the villainess’s two little followers were still hanging around her, but surely that wouldn't matter against the sheer force of the scenario.

That’s right. It doesn't matter!

I struck a prayer pose to cheer them on, just like the game CG.

Then, that shitty, gloomy guy looked right at me. He smirked—a disgusting, mocking little grin.

What?! What was that?!

I hate him. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!

“We shall now begin the duel between Anastasia Kleiner von Ramslett and Amy von Braises!”

Oh. Right. I shouldn't let myself get worked up. It didn't matter what a guy who was about to die did.

“Begin!”

The duel started. I wondered who would strike first. Would it be a killing shot from Oscar, who held the Divine Protection of the Bow King? Or magic from Marcus, the holder of the Divine Protection of the Sage? Or would Leo, the hardest worker with the Divine Protection of the [Knight], lead the charge?

Claude-sama had the Divine Protection of the Fist King, and since he was a bit of a hothead, he looked pretty pissed at that loner. He’d probably just beat him to a pulp—wait, what?

What just happened?

Smoke suddenly erupted, and the guy vanished. I heard a series of strange noises, and then... why were Claude-sama and Leo on the ground? And were they... foaming at the mouth?

Wait, why were the other three crouching down, too?

What the hell? What are you guys doing?! Kill him already!

Wait... water balloons? Why was he holding water balloons?!

“Gyaaaaaah! My eyes! My eyes!”

Hold on! Aiming for the eyes was cheating! How could he do something so dirty in a sacred duel?!

Then the cowardly little loner closed the distance to Oscar and pressed a dagger against his throat.

No! He couldn't! Not my Oscar!

“Leonard, Claude, Oscar—incapacitated.”

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. No matter how much I was supposed to be the future Saint, my current protection was only [Healing]. I wouldn't get the Divine Protection of the Saint of Benevolence until I was a second-year, got blessed by the Light Spirit, and obtained the Holy Staff of Guidance. If they got seriously hurt now, I couldn't fix it.

Just as I was starting to feel relieved, the guy reached into his jacket. He was holding something else. What was he planning?

More smoke erupted, followed by those weird noises. Then Karl-sama and Marcus dropped to their knees, unable to move.

What was going on?! Wait! Stop it!

“Reflect on your incompetence!”

The guy kicked Marcus square in the face, sending him sprawling. Then, he leveled his sword at him.

“Witness!”

“M-Marcus... incapacitated.”

H-H-How? What was happening?

How was someone that strong just hanging around?

You’re not a game character, are you?!

Stop it!

Stop! Stop!

You aren't even part of this game! You aren't even a mob character!

Don't you dare break my world!

Postscript: The duel event in the game is a scripted victory. Since Anastasia hesitates to attack the Crown Prince, you can win easily under normal circumstances. However, if you intentionally stall for time or happen to fall asleep during the fight, you’ll trigger this specific scene where the NPCs cheat using potions.