Chapter 72 - Strategy

　Before long…

　In the middle of the courtyard, Lou and Zeimon stepped forward to face each other.

　While Zeimon was charged with fighting spirit, Lou was aloof and unconcerned.

　Lou was over 180cm tall, but Zeimon was far over two meters tall. He gazed down with his arms folded.

　As a spectator, it seemed natural to think that Zeimon, with brutish muscles all over his body, could easily crush the slender Lou.

“Nadia, what makes this a better match than the coliseum arena?”

“Yes, father. It will probably be a one-sided match.”

　Ernesto’s beloved daughter answered with a smile…

　He smiled in return: “We all know how this will turn out.”

“Hmm… I think it would be fun to bet with you. If we both bet on that house steward, we’ll never make the bet itself.”

　Nadia smiled wickedly when she heard her father’s words.

“Fufufu, Father, I’ll take that bet.”

“What? Nadia? What did you just say?”

“Father, I’m betting on that teacher. So let’s play, Father!”

　Suddenly, his daughter came to him with a serious attitude, offering a bet.

　Ernesto stuttered and asked, “Are you okay?” He peered into her face.

“Whoa, hey, Nadia. Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes, I’m quite sane.”

　His daughter was a smart girl.

　She was so different from her younger brother, Jean.

　If she were a boy… the Charlois family would be secure…

　In the Kingdom of Valentine, heirs to noble families were basically males…　

　Ernesto had felt sorry for his talents many times.

　But…

　Ernesto had a complicated expression on his face, wondering if he was wrong about that too.

“Father, if I win, I have a favor to ask you. And I want you to say yes.”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll do whatever you want. But if I win, you’ll have to do the opposite.”

　Ernesto was beginning to think that this was a good opportunity.

　Recently, a high ranking nobleman offered an arranged marriage for Nadia and his son.

　If she could join ties with that family, the Charlois family would be able to move up even further.

　Ernesto had such a plan in mind.

　Meanwhile…

　In Nadia’s mind, she was sure that she could convince her father.

　Also…

　There was another father and daughter there, talking about the game with suspicious looks on their faces.

　They were Giselle and Leonard.

“Father, however much that may have happened in the past… I would appreciate it if you would stop hitting on the Chairman in front of me, your daughter!”

“Hahahahahaha! Giselle, the tendency is, this Leonard can’t say otherwise to beautiful women.”

　Giselle frowned…

　Leonard laughed wildly, but then suddenly returned to a straight face. He softly asked his beloved daughter.

“By the way, Giselle. Will that servant be alright?”

“What do you mean alright?”

　Giselle replied without thinking, but Leonard slowly shook his head.

“In martial arts, physical disadvantage is an insurmountable handicap. Besides, I know that house steward.”

“Eh? You know that steward, Father?”

“Yeah. He’s a subordinate of the now deceased Count Frederick Dumer, a fierce warrior who was once known as ‘Zeimon the Black Steel’.

“Zeimon the Black Steel…”

“Yeah, he’s a master swordsman, and he’s got special physical skills. In the past, he has killed hundreds of enemies and defeated… countless demons.”

“Hundreds of enemies?! He’s killed more demons than you can count? Oh, I see! He’s an amazing warrior!”

　It was supposedly an incredibly brutal tale…

　But for some reason, Giselle’s eyes lit up.

　Giselle’s father, Leonard, was very tolerant of women.

　At the same time, he was a fearless knight who was regarded as the strongest in the country.

　Giselle’s eldest brother, Jérôme, had also inherited his father’s talent and was a promising member of the Royal Capital Knight Corps, who was believed to eventually become the commanding officer.

　Giselle respected her powerful father and brother, and it was no exaggeration to say that her desire to be strong was influenced by them.

　She would talk passionately about martial arts and weapons and armor with his father and brother, who were powerful knights.

　For Giselle, nothing is more fun than this.

　She also loved to watch jousts between knights in the arena of the royal capital.

　Eventually, Giselle moved on to Valentine’s Girls Magical Academy…

　In addition to her martial arts skills, Giselle also developed a talent for magic.

　As she grew from a young girl to an adult, her natural beauty was enhanced and she was courted by many men.

　On top of that, the fact that she was the daughter of a duke who held an important position in the Kingdom of Valentine spurred men to court her.

　However, none of those men had the potential to surpass her strong father and brother.

　Therefore, from Giselle’s point of view, all the men who courted her seemed dull.

　Giselle had her own problems now.

　She felt lost in her life of seeking only strength.

　What is true strength?

　Lou pointed out to her exactly what she was looking for.

　”I’d like to talk to Cindy, who’s been down a similar road to me.”

　She also had a growing feeling that she had to do something.

　The other day, she had lost to Lou and Fran, which had made her even more conflicted.

　So she’d been wondering how strong Lou was when he beat her…

　She came today with high expectations.

　As her father said, she could see that Lou’s opponent, Zeimon, was incredibly strong.

“Oh, Giselle. It looks like the game is about to start.”

　Giselle’s contemplation was interrupted…

　Broken by her father, Leonard.

　Also…

　In one corner of the venue, there was a group of people who were impatiently watching Lou.

　They were Josephine, Michelle, and Olga, students of the Girls Magical Academy, Class 2C.

　Moreover, they trembled when they saw Zeimon.

　Josephine pointed at Jeemon with a trembling hand.

“Mi-Michel, Olga! Oh, you guys, you guys want to be knights, right? If that creature is your enemy… Can you fight him?”

“Awwww…”

“No for me…”

“De-de-deplorable! E-Even so, i-is that what an aspiring, honorable knight would say?”

　While scolding the frightened Michelle and Olga, the real Josephine wasn’t in tune with the roots of her teeth either.

　In the midst of such spectators…

　The match between Lou and Zeimon was about to begin.

　Zeimon reminded Lou again.

“Lou, as I said earlier, I’m going for real. So come on, you can take it seriously too… You can kill me if you want.”

“…”

“My only concern is Madam… I already feel ‘safe’ knowing you’re here, even if I’m killed.”

　For some reason, Zeimon grinned happily at Lou, who was silent with a calm expression.

　It was as if he was smiling with a sense of accomplishment.

“Lou, it’s time. Let’s do it!

“Copy that!”

　Lou and Zeimon bowed to each other as they responded to the call to start the match.

　They immediately took their stance.

　At that moment.

　Zeimon abruptly stretched a stab toward Lou’s face.

　Two fingers reached straight for his eyeballs.

　Giselle gasped in surprise.

　This was because eye attacks were considered dangerous in general fights and were forbidden, along with attacks on the vital organs.

　But with Lou’s kinetic vision, it wasn’t a level fist that he couldn’t see through.

　He seemed to have dodged it without difficulty.

“Poof!”

　All of a sudden, Lou howled.

　What!

　He had ducked, but Zeimon’s attack returned to crush his eyeballs.

“Shah!”

　With a flash of spunk, Lou flicked Zeimon’s fist with his left hand and fended off the attack.

　But!

　Simultaneously, Zeimon snarled and kicked Lou in the stomach, which was left undefended.

　Lou backed up slightly and dodged the kick.　

　And just when everybody thought he got it…

　Zeimon’s kick, which was supposed to be out of reach, extended again.

“Ugh!”

　Lou quickly jumped back to avoid the kick and smiled in astonishment.

　He seemed to have discovered the ‘secret’ of Zemon’s deadly attack.

“I see, so you can change the trajectory of your fists and kicks and extend your joints?”

　Lou’s expression gradually changed as he muttered to himself.

　And this time, he exclaimed loudly.

“Interesting!”

“Whoa, man!”　

　The look on Lou’s face was completely different than usual…

　Even the battle-hardened Zeimon was in awe…

　He embodied a predator, voracious and ghastly.