**

-Your majesty, are you not going to put a stop to this?

-The condition of his highness the First Imperial Princes physique is too unstable. I beg of you to stop this duel, your majesty!

Archbishop Raphael and his granddaughter, Alice, said those words.

The personal physicians of the First Imperial Prince were trying to change his mind, but the Holy Emperor, Kelt Olfolse, didnt want to stop this duel.

The truth was that he felt fifty-fifty about it.

He was worried about his first grandson,so the half of his heart wanted to stop the duel. But there was his desire to find out the truth about his seventh grandson, too.

If the boy really pulled off such miracles back in the Ronia fiefdom, and if he really managed to hunt down a Progenitor Vampire, then hed be someone who possessed the status of a Saint. He would be someone with the talent to become the inheritor of the Holy Emperors throne.

Im sorry, archbishop.

It didnt matter even if he came across as selfish. From Kelt Olfolses perspective, he needed a successor capable of protecting the denizens of the empire, someone who could defend them against the vampires.

The First Imperial Prince wouldnt last a year at this rate. And Kelt was too advanced in age, so no one could tell just when hed depart from this world as well.

He wanted to confirm the truth about Allen through this duel, then give himself another chance to think about the succession issue.

This coward, Allen Olfolse, admits his defeat. I congratulate you, my noble older brother, for your victory. Well, everyone. A round of applause, please!

However, the Seventh Imperial Prince simply surrendered. No, he even went beyond that and began clapping his hands too.

Everyone, applause!

On top of that, he was coaxing the aristocrats present to applaud as well. Everyone inside the training hall now had dumbfounded looks on their faces.

Well, grandpa, you clap your hands too!

Even the Holy Emperor, Kelt Olfolse, was feeling the same as the others. The Imperial Prince mustve taken after a certain someone because he seemed to have fed all semblance of princely dignity to a stray mutt or some such.

This was no sacred duel between the two imperial princes. No, this had devolved into a mere playtime for kids instead.

Kelt Olfolse had been looking forward to this duel, so naturally, anger rushed up to his head. But just before he could roar out at the top of his lungs, he heard the sound of someone clapping away.

He turned his head to look and spotted a girl with silver hair following after the Seventh Imperial Princes example to clap her hands. Just then, someone else started applauding too.

The culprits this time were Count Jenald and the citizens representative, Gril. Both men were standing among the aristocrats.

The Holy Emperor stared at them and frowned deeply, but then, more clapping noises came from elsewhere, this time from a much closer location.

Alice, who was dazedly standing next to him, flinched in surprise, and urgently began clapping away. But was that all? Even the archbishop was hurriedly applauding as well.

Only then did Kelt Olfolse realise what their intentions were.

The silver-haired girl and Count Jenald, as well as the citizens representative, were all trying to help the Seventh Imperial Prince. Meanwhile, Raphael and Alice were also attempting to end this so-called duel and rush to the First Imperial Princes aid.

Now that even the archbishop began clapping, the other aristocrats in the venue had no choice but to start doing the same too, their faces filled with obvious signs of awkwardness.

All the people completely filling up the training hall were now applauding. Gradually though, dissatisfied expressions began floating up on their faces.

Kelt Olfolse was about to roar out after his rage boiled over, but the atmosphere had changed far too much for that now.

I cant step in anymore.

The emperor then shifted his gaze over to the Seventh Imperial Prince.

Why did that boy do something like this?

Was he trying to avoid this duel at any cost?

If not, was he worried about his older brother, the First Imperial Prince Luan, and decided to cancel this duel even at the cost of his own humiliation?

Unfortunately, your thoughts were too nave, Allen.

Kelt Olfolse helplessly massaged his temples. From his perspective, and undoubtedly from the First Imperial Princes too, what the boy did was clearly tomfoolery, a naked provocation, and perhaps even a thinly veiled insult.

The proof was with the First Imperial Prince raising his wooden sword even higher now.

Looks like I might really have to step in now.

Kelt Olfolse tutted softly.

**

(TL: back to 1st person POV.)

Well, grandpa, you clap your hands too!

I spoke while looking at the Holy Emperor Kelt Olfolse.

He seemed completely dumbfounded by my actions, and was unable to say a single thing.

Hiyaaa, even I think this was one hell of a crazy situation. There shouldnt be a mangnani even more extraordinary than myself in this entire world!

No, hang on second, since I was doing the right thing for my older brother, this wasnt me strictly being a mangnani was it? I mean, what I just did would give him some face here, right? Yup, no doubt about that.

Well, then. Now that the match is over, let us get back to the more enjoyable banq

I reflexively ducked.

A wooden sword brushed past above my head with nary a hairs breadth.

Dear mommy! Older brother?!

I hurriedly shielded my head and flinched greatly while looking up at Luan. The muscles around his brows and lips were trembling ominously. His previously rage-filled expression became even more distorted afterwards. You bastard! You finally even dare to insult me?!

What horsesh*t are you Eh-hmm, what could you possibly mean by that, older brother? Im merely looking out for you, so I

I got flustered and had a minor slip of the tongue just then, but that only seemed to cause Luans reasoning to fly further out the window instead. Did you just call me horsesh*t, you bastard?!

H-hang on, thats not what I said.

You goddamn punk of a b*tch!

Brother, why dont we uphold our princely dignity and

Luans eyes shifted. He then took a swing with his wooden sword again.

This was getting really dangerous. I currently didnt even have my wooden sword with me.

I rolled on the ground in an attempt to dodge the sword.

Luan then bent his body. While relying on a bizarre movement, he thrust his wooden sword accurately towards my face.

The intent behind the attack was so sharp that getting struck by it would surely result in my nose breaking, or with me losing a few teeth.

Damn it, dude, what kinda dog sh*t is this?!

I quickly summoned the shovel out of my item window.

The wooden sword collided with the shovel at the very next moment.

Luans eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and everyone else inside the training hall froze up right where they stood.

A shovel?

Their reactions werent that surprising, since a mangnani imperial prince was suddenly wielding a shovel of all things. They probably were freaking out. However, the gasps of shock quite different in nature from emotions of fluster leaked out from them instead.

The aristocrats were forming utterly stunned expressions.

Where did that shovel?

Was that subspace magic?!

The gazes of the aristocrats instantly shifted over to the court magicians. The latter group hurriedly shook their heads, having the same somewhat flustered expressions as them.

B-but there wasnt any flow of Mana just now! What his highness used wasnt magic. However, we also believe that what happened was not reliant on a magic tool either. In such cases, we believe it was [Divine Aura].

Luan narrowed his eyes before taking another swing with his wooden sword.

The shovel and the sword collided once more.

His attacks were seriously sharp. For a patient with his whole body rotting away, his blows were all smoothly executed.

His flawless execution of the imperial swordsmanship technique was pressuring me nonstop.

Hell, since he was already at this level with the current state of his body, how much worse would it have been if he was in a perfect condition?

I raised my shovel and hurriedly blocked another strike from the wooden sword.

The light gleaming in Luans eyes had changed by now.

During the beginning of the duel, that very light was filled with hatred. However, when I summoned the shovel, he looked puzzled. And now, those eyes contained deep shock instead.

He asked me. Did you really kill the Progenitor Vampire?

I told you thats not it. I had everyones help with me.

Luans gaze shifted for a moment just then. He looked at the Holy Emperor before reverting his glare back at me.

His eyes sharpened even further.

Upon noticing this, a chill ran down my spine.

Somethings coming!

Oh, the God of abundance, Tomer

H-hey, man. I thought we werent allowed to use our divinity?!

Besides all that, if you use divinity in your current state

The thing I was worried about happened for real.

The demonic energy hiding in Luans heart started displaying a negative reaction when he forcibly gathered divinity.

The skin tightly wrapped underneath the bandages puffed up before finally rupturing. Blood spluttered down and formed small puddles.

Your majesty! You must stop this!

Just a little longer.

But his highness will die at this rate!

I already know!

Even as Raphael desperately tried to talk some sense into the Holy Emperor, Kelt Olfolse simply kept his eyes wide open.

I know. I know it all too well.

Kelt Olfolse was clenching his teeth so hard that blood almost seeped out of his gums.

H-hey, if you know so well, do something and stop this already!

The First Imperial Prince will die for sure!

Divinity was now injected into Luans wooden sword.

The shovel defending against the weapon was buckling under the pressure. It let out a sharp Crack! and began breaking in half.

This is bad!

At this rate, forget about the First Imperial Prince, itd be me dying right here today!

[Divine Aura has activated.]

A Rune letter suddenly engraved itself on the shovel still tightly held in my hands. The tool buckling nonstop as if itd break at any given moment had now grown sturdy and tough and easily withstood the wooden sword filled with divinity.

Please, someone, anyone, stop this madness already!

At this rate, either me or the First Imperial Prince will really die!

I inwardly prayed for someone to lend a hand and rescue me. However, too bad, the stinking aristocrat bastards were too impressed by our duel and were seemingly committed to spectating it until the very end.

Is a family feud that entertaining to you?! This place called the Theocratic Empire, what an effed up kingdom its turning out to be!

It was around then, I spotted a head full of red hair among the aristocrats. It was none other than Count Fomor, hiding between his fellow nobles with the corners of his lips curled upwards.

Ah. So you were responsible for this crappy event, was that it?

Seeing how youre here to leisurely spectate on this duel, I guess you feel that much confident about yourself, dont you?

I couldnt endure this anymore.

If I kill that bastard right now, everything would be sorted out in an instant. Me being played on the palm of a damn vampire must stop right now.

Brother, Im really sorry about this. I deflected the wooden sword belonging to the First Imperial Prince, Luan Olfolse. Keep your teeth clenched tightly, okay?

I firmly stepped on the ground, spun my whole body, and swung the flat part of the shovel on Luans body.

THUD!

Along with a heavy, dull thud, his body became airborne for a brief moment. Then, he powerlessly fell into a heap on the ground.

Keo-uhrk

His nose was broken and several of his teeth came loose. While laying on the cold ground, Luan Olfolses body continued twitching.

I stood before him and summoned my trusty musket rifle, then breathed into the ammo loading chamber.

Oh, dear Gaia.

A bullet of divinity rapidly coalesced.

[Divine Aura has activated.]

[Equipment will temporarily be enhanced.]

[A bullet is being generated.]

I stared at the two men who could be seen as the referees of this duel, the Holy Emperor and the archbishop.

The latters complexion paled even more, and he began pleading desperately to the Holy Emperor, Kelt Olfolse. We must stop him, your majesty! Even if a musket lacks the power to kill, his highness is still in danger at such a close proximity!

Relax, mister archbishop. Im not aiming for his highness the First Imperial Prince anyways.

I sneaked a glance at the vampire. Count Fomor was hiding among the nobles. He flinched in surprise and hurriedly stumbled back.

Tch, youre pretty cautious, arent you? To think that hed be that wary of a musket, a so-called decorative ornament in this world.

Because of this, I couldnt gather enough divinity. Normally, I needed to spend around one minute to generate a bullet, and then another thirty seconds to offer a prayer. But it seemed that I wouldnt have enough time to go through all of that.

It had been less than ten seconds since I began gathering divinity. Because of how short the time was, I wasnt sure how strong this shot would be, but at the bare minimum, I needed to hit that vampire in the face first.

I quickly raised my musket and took aim at Count Fomor hiding within the nobles. He was fine even after divinity got injected into him and had to drink a glass full of holy wine.

Still, he shouldnt be left unscathed after his head gets blown off.

Heot?!

What is he?!

Just as the gathered aristocrats fell into panicked chaos, I pulled the trigger.

Flames erupted from the muzzle.

The divinity bullet squarely struck Count Fomors head within the spectators.

CRUNCH!!!