"Master Naofumi, are you hungry? This food is delicious."
Holding a cup of grape juice, Raphtalia approached Naofumi Iwatani with a happy smile.
"Eat as much as you want. It's not like we have to pay for it." Naofumi Iwatani glanced at Raphtalia, then looked away and spoke flatly.
"Master Naofumi, come eat with me..."
"I'll pass."
At Naofumi Iwatani's cold refusal, Raphtalia's high spirits immediately sank, and the smile vanished from her face. She stood there for a long while before silently walking away.
Naofumi Iwatani paid her no mind and continued pondering his problems alone.
I don't know how bad the damage was last time, but there's already a mountain of problems to deal with.
If the Waves strike somewhere the Knight Order can't reach right away...
For the ordinary people living there, it would be an absolute catastrophe!
Naofumi Iwatani looked thoughtful as he read the information in the interface's help section.
[Friendly reminder: When summoned by the Hourglass, registered personnel can be teleported together if preparations have been made beforehand.]
As he navigated his information panel, a notification appeared on the interface. Its message made Naofumi Iwatani's expression darken.
Personnel teleportation.
If I registered those guys from the Knight Order in my party beforehand, couldn't they come along to wherever it happened?
If only I'd noticed sooner...
Those bastard heroes didn't use this feature either... Did they not know, or did they think it wasn't worth mentioning?
"Come on, have some." Raphtalia approached again with a plate of cake, a smile once more blooming on her face. She speared a small piece with her fork and held it to Naofumi Iwatani's lips.
Naofumi Iwatani tried to refuse. "No, I'm busy..."
Raphtalia said, "It'll save us money on food, and it really is delicious."
At her words, Naofumi Iwatani instinctively opened his mouth and ate the cake. He chewed, but still couldn't taste a thing.
Raphtalia smiled as she asked, "Isn't it?"
"Hey, Naofumi."
Before Naofumi Iwatani could answer, a furious Motoyasu Kitamura pushed through the crowd and approached him. He pulled off his glove and threw it at Naofumi Iwatani's feet.
"What?" Naofumi Iwatani stared at Motoyasu Kitamura with dead eyes, baffled by his behavior. That bitch Myne stood beside him, arms folded across her chest, looking ready to enjoy the show.
"Duel me."
Motoyasu Kitamura stared at Naofumi Iwatani and spoke coldly.
His actions drew the attention of the surrounding nobles, as well as Ren Amaki and Itsuki Kawasumi, who had been enjoying the food.
"I heard about it. Raphtalia, the girl traveling with you, is a slave."
"So what?"
"You bastard..."
Naofumi Iwatani looked coldly at the furious Motoyasu Kitamura and asked, "Raphtalia is my slave. What of it?"
Motoyasu Kitamura declared indignantly, "Listen up! Human beings aren't other people's property! Especially for us, coming from another world, that kind of behavior is absolutely unacceptable!"
"What's the point of saying that now? This country hasn't abolished slavery, has it?"
"We're heroes. Heroes can't use slaves."
"That's your opinion. I don't agree."
Motoyasu Kitamura raised his spear and pointed it straight at Naofumi Iwatani. "Let's settle this with a duel. If I win, you'll free Raphtalia immediately."
"And what will you do if I win?"
"Then you can carry on doing whatever you want, just like before."
Tch. So he's putting nothing on the line and taking everything. This goes beyond anything I've ever considered shameless.
"This is utterly ridiculous. I have nothing to say to you." Naofumi Iwatani scoffed and turned to leave. Raphtalia, looking bewildered, set down her plate and ran after him.
"Making a slave his companion."
"He's really sunk to rock bottom."
A short distance away, Ren Amaki and Itsuki Kawasumi spoke as they watched Naofumi Iwatani walk away.
The surrounding nobles whispered among themselves as well, apparently discussing what Naofumi Iwatani had just done.
Just as Naofumi Iwatani was about to go downstairs and leave, the knights guarding the staircase stopped him.
Making his entrance, the king stood on the upper floor and declared sternly, "I have heard everything. A hero ordering a slave around-is the Shield Hero truly a criminal after all?"
Meanwhile, Myne, hidden in the crowd, smiled at the success of her scheme.
The king made his unilateral decision. "I approve this duel."
"There's no need for that. I'm with Master Naofumi of my own free will..." Raphtalia tried to explain anxiously, but before she could finish, a knight appeared behind her and covered her mouth, preventing her from speaking.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing Raphtalia seized by a knight, Naofumi Iwatani glared in fury and tried to rush forward, but two knights blocked him at the staircase.
"The poor girl must be under a curse that makes her defend her master. Much as it pains me, restrain her for now."
At the order, the knight forcibly dragged Raphtalia away.
A look of pity appeared on the king's face. "Don't worry. Once Sir Motoyasu wins, we'll lift your curse immediately. A Court Mage can remove something like that in an instant."
"Hey, that's enough..."
His expression dark, Naofumi Iwatani tried to force his way past the knights and take Raphtalia back.
The knight captain in charge drew the sword at his waist and commanded the knights around him in a low voice, "Draw your swords!"
Every knight guarding the castle immediately drew his sword and stared at Naofumi Iwatani with open hostility. A murderous tension filled the air, making some of the noblewomen cry out in alarm.
The king looked down at Naofumi Iwatani from above and said flatly, "In this country, my word is absolute! If you resist, I can simply confiscate your slave."
"You're not trying to run away, are you, coward?" Motoyasu Kitamura stared at Naofumi Iwatani and demanded in a low voice.
That bastard!!!
Naofumi Iwatani's face twisted with rage, and he clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked. He glared viciously at Motoyasu Kitamura, who involuntarily recoiled from the force of his fury.
"...Fine, I get it. If I win, you'll give Raphtalia back to me, right?"
"Sure, as long as you win."
"Snrk..."
Every noble present looked at Naofumi Iwatani with contempt, snickering and murmuring to one another.
"The Shield Hero dueling... the Spear Hero?"
"What are you talking about?"
"There's no way he can win."
"..."
Every last one of these people... Their ugly faces are enough to make me sick!
Naofumi Iwatani silently clenched his fists and lowered his head. His nails dug deep into his palms as the hatred and fury in his heart grew darker.
This rotten kingdom would be better off destroyed!
Before you continue