That day, as usual, Dusker, who was handling the papers in his office, turned a disconcerting look at what the butler had told him when he entered the room.

"Really?"
"Yes, Mr. Keep and Mr. Muet are here."
"...that bastard aristocrat." at the risk of another trouble How many times has this been?"
"And Mr. Ray, too."
"Huh? Ray? Why is Ray coming? ... What's wrong with you, that bastard? Don't bother me at all." I'll ask you just in case, is there any injury to the keeper?"
"Nothing in particular. It's health itself."
"I don't know if you're happy or not. If only one of my hands and feet had been amputated, I would have become quiet."

　Dusker exhales impatiently.
　It hasn't been long since the keep came to Gilm.
　But in that short space of time, the keep had made a number of noises.
　Security guards, knights, and even duskers can be bothered each time.
　If this is just a nobleman with no backing, there is no need to worry so much.
　However, they were sent to check by the nobles of the royal faction.
　If I did something badly, I was sure I would get hit there.
　And the most deadly of all is Ray's involvement in it.
　He is friendly to Dusker, partly because he is an exceptionally unconventional aristocrat and partly because he favors Ray.
　But basically Ray's personality is harsh.
　Ray has no hesitation in exercising his power against aristocrats in the Spring War.
　What happens when Ray meets a typical villainous aristocrat?
　In that sense, it's a stroke of luck that Keep hasn't been hurt at all.

"Well, what would you think of sending me such a foolish thing as a check-and-balance? If you were about the Duke of Quent, you might send me a little more appropriate." That's probably a rebound from the royal faction."

　The king's faction is, in a word, the largest faction in the kingdom of Milliana.
　That is why they are separated into several more factions, the royal faction.
　Dusker had expected to have someone like Keep to send him because of his interests, but as long as the situation doesn't work out, it's now only an escape from reality.

"I can't believe I'll look at Baron Cisne," Well, good. Now that you've come this far, you can't help but see me. Especially in his case, he looks down on me."

　Normally, a count and a count are ranked higher than a count.
　Moreover, Keep is only the next head of the Earl of Eriel, and Dusker is the current head of the Earl of Larx.
　If you think about that, there is no way that the keep could be strong against Dusker, but he didn't care about it at all, and he treated himself better than Dusker.

(In other words, the King's faction... or the one who sent that idiot to me wants me to touch him.) He will make a nuisance of me-make a nuisance of me.)

　I can't sit here forever, breathing in my heart.
　He stood up and was led by his secretary to the drawing room.
　I came to the drawing-room, and I saw him there, and he breathed a little sigh of relief.
　It's the worst combination of Ray and Keep. for even though the butler had told me that he had not been particularly injured, I was not relieved until I saw it.
　Around here, Dusker has a good understanding of Ray.
　Turning again into the drawing-room, I saw three fat men and knights beside the keep, and one Ray and one maid beside the muet.
　The butler who had prepared the room might have taken care of it, but each sofa in the drawing room was set up in a separate place.
　Seeing Dusker enter the room, Keep rises to his feet with a haughty smile.

"Oh, Larkes, Count of Frontiers," Have you come at last? I'm not impressed that you're going to keep me waiting, but now it' But please listen to me."
"Wait a minute, Mr. Keep," Calm down a little. I'd like you to prepare some tea for me.

　As soon as he sees himself, he lets go of the keep trying to make a request, and Dusker orders the butler to bring him a cup of tea.
　Then, seeing the butler leave the room, Dusker opens his mouth to those present.

"Well, I would normally like to listen over a cup of tea, but apparently I can't afford it. Let's hear it again."
"Well, to put it simply, I and the poor baron were to fight for the maid. I wish to ask the Count of Larkes for legal proceedings against the duel."
"...what?"

　At Keep's words, Dusker turns to Muet.
　Dusker's known Muet was a weak-tempered man, but now he was resolute.
　The maid looked a little uneasy on the side of that muet, but she was holding back...

(Ray, or so)

　Finally, Dusker's gaze turns to Ray standing behind him, as if he were Muet's bodyguard.
　I could understand why the knights behind the keep were occasionally turning a black eye on Ray, given his character.

"It's a legal process," I hope that this poor baron will not be able to make ugly excuses if he loses."
"... I see,"

　He nodded, but to be honest with Dusker, he was "insane, this man."
　The presence of Ray beside Muet means that Ray is definitely a sign of support for Muet.
　If you're going to fight Ray against you, you're not as good a Rank B adventurer as Ray.
　Rank A adventurer... will need to bring in as many people as Elk, who is nicknamed the Thunder God's axe.
　But if such a person is asked to side with a typical aristocrat in the bad sense of keeping, Dusker has to tilt his head.

(Is it a plan to win? No way, I'm not sure if you're in Gilmoo and you don't know Ray's presence.)

　Dusker wonders when he sees the confident keeper.
　However, it is difficult to identify Ray as an adventurer nicknamed crimson on first meeting without Death Size or Sett.
　And when the keepers saw Ray, Sett's figure was not near him, and when Ray was about to come to the lord's house, they came after telling him to wait in Muet's house, so the keepers and others were not really aware of what Ray was like.
　And there's no need for a death size for a knight following the keep, and there's no chance for the scythe.

"What's wrong with you? It's a legal procedure, Ho-U-T-Ki-Na-T-T-Z-Ki!"

　Although he was frustrated by the keepers, who urged him word by word, he managed to resist the urge to yell.

"And does Muet agree to the duel?"
"Yes. Honestly, I'm not confident in fighting myself, but he's going to fight for me.
"…I see. If Mr. Keep agrees to the duel?"
"Of course you're saying that, right? Can you do the procedure faster?"
"Then, what do you want from each other?"When Dusker says impatiently, he thinks he's been waiting.

"If I win, I'll get a maid there. If I lose, I will hand over half of the estate of the Earl of Eriel. Is that so?"
"Yes,"
"...what?"

　Muet nods to the words of the keep.
　It was Dusker who uttered a stupid voice at the words, though he had no problem so far.
　Wasn't it a misheard? With a ray of hope in my heart, I open my mouth.

"It sounded as if you had said that if Mr. Keep were to be defeated, you would hand over half the property of the Earl of Eriel, but did I hear it wrong?"
"No, that's right," That's right. Bring out the humble baronet into the duel, don't you think you need that much food? And I don't have to win and pay anyway. There's no problem at all."

　It wasn't Muet that I couldn't stand the words that came out of the mouth of the keep, but the assier behind me.

"Isn't it a little rude of you to be a descendant of the Earl's family?" In the end, however, he should not be the head of the family. Would you mind refraining from making derision of my husband, who is a baronet.
"...what? He says to me, the next head of the Earl of Erielle's family, a great maid. However, it is because she is such a woman that she is disciplined when she takes possession of course. Thank you to me for being generous."

　Keep was looking at Assier as if he had just expressed his vulgar gaze, but he must have been satisfied with Assier's expression of displeasure. turn one's eyes back to the dusker

"And the Count of Larkes," How long shall I remain like this? Will you make the papers as soon as possible?"
"It is true that, as long as Mr. Keep is registered as the next head of the Earl of Eriel's family, he is free to use his property to some extent. But isn't it bad to bet half your fortune on a duel without asking the head of the family?"
"What are you talking about?" As I said before, I can't afford to lose to such a poor aristocrat. Don't worry, that bet is only to keep him from running away."

　Although he has no doubt that he will win, Furtos, who stands next to him, opens his mouth.

"Mr. Keep, I think you need to get your husband's approval for half of your fortune... and he's only a maid after all." Not very much, but it's worth betting on half of your fortune."
"What, Furtos? Do you think I'll lose to such a man?"
"No, of course I don't think so. But..."
"d*mn it! If I say I'll do it, I'll do it! Now, Larkus! Give me your papers!"
"... last confirmation, is it really to stake half the fortune of the Earl of Eriel?"

　At Dusker's words, Keep nods instantly.
　After confirming it, Dusker runs his pen to the papers.
　Under normal circumstances, Dusker might have told the keeper who Ray was.
　Of course, as it is done with courtesy rather than duty, Dusker can't be blamed for not speaking.
　Watching Ray himself, the keeper was still confident he would win.
　Also, in my personal feelings, I had no real intention of stopping this game.
　Now that we have gone through the formalities of the duel, the Earl of Eriel's family will undoubtedly lose face.
　Furthermore, if you transfer half of your property, you can't make excuses even if you lose, as long as you keep it as a proper document.

"Well, each seal of blood," That completes the legal proceedings for this duel."

　Write down each bet on the document, Muet and Keep cut their thumbs off with the knife they were given, and stamp their blood on the document.
　And as soon as they stamp their blood, the papers emit a faint green light.

(In this way, I stamped my seal of blood on the papers and formed a solid form. Now that this happens, we can't throw out a duel. If you do so, you will have to give your bet unconditionally to the other party as a failure.)

　While staring solemnly at the people present, Dusker's inner circle of applause.
　It was because I was able to legitimately expel the keep, which had been causing me trouble many times, from the guillem.
　If the keep wins the duel, it's all but impossible, given Ray's presence.
　In other words, when the duel is over, the keep must return to his territory to prepare half of the estate of the Earl of Eriel.
　For simpler things -- gold coins and jewels, for example -- you could do something by writing to your father, Count Eriel.
　However, half of his fortune will force him to return home after a duel.

(Well, if he's gone, the next one will be sent right away...)

　Open your mouth, feeling the excitement of a few seconds ago fading.

"Now the conditions are set. There will also be a period of time for each agent to be prepared. As for the date and time of the duel -- well, will it be held at the Knights' training-ground in five days?"

　At Dusker's words, Keep nods with a confident smile of triumph.
　Muet also nods with a serious expression on his face.
　Seeing them nod in this way, Dasker declares.

"Then, five days from today... we will have a duel at the Knights' Training Ground in this house at one o'clock in the afternoon." Each has only one surrogate. The game is decided by whether the opponent surrenders or becomes impossible to fight...lose one's life. Each winner has the right to own what the opponent has bet on. Any objection?"

　I made sure that no one objected to Dusker's words...

"Well, now the terms of the duel are set. that each of you may act without regret."

　I told him so.