Chapter 162

With Mea and Euris supporting him on both shoulders, he somehow made his way to the square where the duel was to take place .

The square was in a terrible state .

Abel has escaped!

What do you mean? That creepy crop is all over the territory! The seeds youve thrown away are getting out of control, sprouting vines in the garbage dump of their own accord! What do you want me to do now? Hey, take responsibility!

Bring that sorcerer to me and explain . What do you mean he got a cold? Is he making fun of us!

Amidst a flurry of abuse at me and Lark, Lark is bowing his head as if hes shrugging his shoulders .

Abel, lets turn back after all . Its definitely going to get worse .

Im fine, no, really, Im fine, Im fine .

You think people who are really okay will say that three times? Can you see the road ahead? I feel like youve been losing focus for a while now

My whole body is tormented with pain, but on the contrary, I think Im feeling less and less pain .

The heat has burned through my body, or perhaps Ive become numb .

I think Im okay now .

Its okay, its okay Ueeeh, ugh!

Ah! I knew it, no! Absolutely not! Just go home with Mea? Okay?

Its okay its okay, its just that Im starting to feel a little numb

Theres not a single element of okay in it from earlier! You have to understand! Meas really worried and concerned about you Sorry Abel, but were turning back now! Its obviously getting worse!

Mea said in a tearful voice, trying to force her body back .

I fought against it and fell to my knees in place, breaking my stance .

A-, Abel!? Im sorry!

I dragged myself all the way up here now please, please .

But, but, but

While we were struggling, people around us started to notice us .

Hey, Abels here!

How dare you come here after all this time!

What do you think youre doing, man! Whats going on with the Ortem gourd! Explain it to me! What are you going to do with this place!

Huh, he looks like a real pain, doesnt it?

Its getting painful looking at .

Hey, arent we done for the day?

Perhaps seeing my condition, the curses of the residents were becoming quieter and quieter .

Instead, an indescribably awkward silence was beginning to spread .

Soon, Icarus came up to my side with the sorcerers in Icarus entourage in tow .

The sorcerers in Icarus entourage laughed out loud when they saw me .

Its a hell of a laugh, to even perform such a deliberate act just because youre scared of Icarus-sama . Are you trying to tell us to postpone it because its so hard? Its like a kids excuses .

What do you think, Icarus-sama? Disappointing to think that we were being dragged down by such a small person, isnt it? How dare you declare yourself superior to Icarus-sama . My lord too, Im sure youve misjudged the people youre pairing up with . It appears to me that he has a very bad eye . Or is it more, is it worse up there?

After he finishes, a loud laugh rises from around Icarus .

My vision isnt very good right now, so I can only see the two of them vaguely .

My hearing is not good, and even when I hear the words, my brain cant process them properly .

You need to say it a little slower for me to understand it .

Youre just making me miserable even if I take this thing down .

I heard Icarus voice .

Rather than looking down on us, he seemed to be deeply dismayed .

N, no I can do the duel, I will .

I have a promise to Euris .

Even if it means putting my body on the line, I will do something about it .

If I can make up the appearance of a duel, I should be able to fulfill my promise to Euris .

I can restrain them from smashing Larks face, and I can also show the residents that I wasnt faking illness, although its a bit awkward .

The position will get worse, and Icarus will probably bring up the matter of this duel, but we have no choice but to somehow cling to the ground and steadily hunt Icarus down again .

Go home . If we fight now, not only will it mean nothing, but it will make me look bad .

It was usually rejected by the enemy .

N, no, but

Even Icarus says this!? Lets go back now!

Someone interrupts from the side .

No, Icarus-dono the problem of the Ortem Gourd must be resolved, and we must fold up the cause for concern before the earliest possible time . If you think of the residents, I hope you will settle the matter here . Weve been delayed by a day just because of our adherence to the dueling rules . It may leave a bad taste in your mouth, but its necessary . You understand, dont you?

This voice is probably Ringus .

I hear hes gotten along with Icarus quite well .

I want to glare at him, but unfortunately, my eyes are unfocused .

B-, but Abel-sama is in no condition to fight

Marias, who was following us, interrupted him .

Ringus was somewhat silent, but he immediately laughed out loud .

He says he can fight, so whats the problem? Icarus-dono, quickly get prepared .

Icarus said nothing and walked into the center of the crowd .

Abel-dono I asked you to do this, but, well, you cant do it after all?

Euris whispers to me .

The circle is too small, please tell the residents to move away a bit more . About three times the diameter .

With the current size of the area, if a misfire were to occur, the people of the territory could be harmed .

Now that the control of magic is loose due to the cold, that possibility is quite possible .

Euris looked at Marias and his face .

I think were taking enough space, but well, if thats what Abel-dono says .

Euris called out to the other soldiers and called for the residents to move back more .

Abel um please dont be reckless, okay?

Dont worry, I saved a little something .

I drink a small bottle with a skull mark on it from my pocket, stand up, and then hand it to Mea .

Its the Abel Potion (modified) that I improvised to break the current situation .

All the pain and suffering in my body goes away at once .

My vision, which had been cloudy, is clearing up, even if its not perfect .

My hands and feet are numb and I cant feel anything, and a black haze seems to be occupying my head, making it a little difficult to think about things, but its somewhat better than what I did earlier .

Alright, alright! Just throw that vial away and make sure no one finds it . Absolutely no one can find it, please .

Mea nodded silently and put the vial away with a quick movement as if she had figured out something .

Euris wondered and looked at me and Meas faces in turn .

Mea-dono, the vial he was talking about earlier is

Me-, Mea didnt receive anything .

Mea quickly turned away from Euris .

With the way she looked, she would safely dispose of the vial out of sight of anyone else .

I followed Icarus, supported by Mea, to the hollow in the center of the crowd .

Amidst the flurry of anxiety, only the sorcerer, who was a member of Icarus entourage, seemed to be cursing me foul-mouthed and trying to somehow liven up the cold place .

I grabbed my wand and confronted Icarus .

Then Ill let go of your hand

Mea whispered and gently released the hand that was holding me up .

My torso wobbles, but somehow I manage to get my hands on the ground .

Mea hurriedly re-supported me .

Abel, I dont mean to be prolix, but I still think you should back off . Youve shown enough people that youre not in good physical condition, and I think its better to have partitioned at a later date .

Its true that Mea is right, its not desirable to get a black star in any form .

Although the Abel Potion (modified) has made me better to a certain extent, I cant use magic of decent power or exert sufficient control with my current physical condition .

The pain is easing, but my mind is blurred .

Because of this, I lack a great deal of concentration, which is the most important aspect of sorcery .

Even though hes rotten, the other person is an anti-personnel combat type of sorcerer .

Normally, I wouldnt know, but I dont think hes a sweet enough opponent to let me win right now .

If the confrontation with Icarus is the first thing on my mind, its better to start over at a later date when the residents are convinced that Ive shown my face .

Either way, I will probably get poked by Icarus, but thats still a better excuse .

But .

But if I back off here, the permission letter I promised Euris will be a moot point .

Meas expression froze as I said it in a hushed voice .

The reason why Euris promised me about the application form is so that I wouldnt ruin Larks face by going into the duel today .

Im sure they really dont like it either, and I dont want to give them an escape route .

As long as I put my body on the line in good faith, Lark shouldnt be able to easily go back on his vassals promise to the merit of the territory, even if its a verbal agreement .

There are advantages to taking the harder way .

Mea is, no matter what happens Mea is on Abels side .

Mea said and gripped my hand .

As I was feeling indescribable, a magic bullet of fire flew near me .

They didnt seem to have any intention of hitting me, and the distance was somewhat open .

The magic bullets gutted the ground and created a pillar of fire .

Mea gasped for breath, and the spectating residents also shushed back .

I seem to have been underestimated quite a bit . I dont know what your intentions are, but to stand in front of me with such a deliberate display of weakness . Do you think Ill take advantage of it? The name of Icarus the Serial Bullet has been grazed, to be made such a fool of by this little boy .

Icarus strikes the ground with the underside of his large staff .

The duel is about to begin .

I silently take the wand from Mea with a glance and let her retreat to the position of the spectators .

Let me give you some advice . If youre thinking theres a next time if you lose now, back off . You Icarus, I dont mean to be so corrupt as to gleefully wield a sick little boy .

Icarus glanced at the crowd, then narrowed his eyes evasively and stared at me again .

I felt like I shouldnt be saying it now, but it still came out of my mouth .

Despicably, if you lose now, youre next time you just got thrown into the warehouse you came out of .

Perhaps it was because of the side effects of the Abel Potion (modified) that my thoughts were hazy .

My muttering that could be taken as sarcasm in my exquisite volume of voice, whether I could hear it or not, seemed to get on Icarus nerves in a good way .

Icarus eyes widen and he raises his large staff .

Youll regret it!

Hey, I havent signaled yet!

Larks private army stopped him, but Icarus didnt listen .

Icarus chants an incantation while swinging his large staff .

Flames in the shape of a ball are released and fly at me .

The duel was initiated by Icarus flying .