Master’s Smile

C115 – Duel Settlement

Ooh! Looks like Ritter won the duel.

Standing in the arena were Theldorff, who had wounds all over his body, and Ritter, who seemed to be composed.

“M-Mir…? You, why are you here…?”

Theldorff was looking up at me and this girl with a dumbfounded look, despite the fact that Ritter was right in front of him, about to take his life.

Heee, this child is Mir, huh?

“Dad!!”

Once again, Mir-chan’s voice echoed.

She was probably worried about her father, who looked exhausted.

It was as if she wanted to rush to him at once.

And I also felt the same way.

Ritter did not seem to be badly injured, but she had a cut on her cheek.

A girl’s face is a very special thing…. Especially if it’s my daughter!

Not to mention, Ritter seemed to have manifested a part of her demon as well.

As expected of her opponent, Theldorff, the leader of kingdom knights.

It seems that she couldn’t win without using her last resort.

Kuh…! Demons are a detestable legacy to Ritter, and yet, she used it! Her mental exhaustion must be immeasurable right now.

Aah! I’m at my limit! I can’t wait to give that girl a hug!

With that thought in mind, I picked up Mir-chan and rushed in an instant.

And we finally landed in the arena.

“Dad!!”

Mir-chan immediately got off from me and started running towards Theldorff.

When I was about to walk to Ritter just like her….

“Master.”

Before I knew it, Ritter had already appeared in front of me and was hugging me.

She hugged me tightly and pressed her head on me.

T-That’s fast….

Her transformed left arm had returned to its original beautiful arm.

She must have been concerned about me.

Indeed, my spine would probably break in half if she hugged me with her herculean strength.

Still, to think you could manage to control your demonic power and use it to fight! That’s my girl!

“…Nn.”

I patted her head and praised her for a job well done.

Ritter accepted it with her cheeks tinted in embarrassment.

She really has grown up! Knowing her past, I can only imagine how difficult it must be for her to use the demon she possesses.

Let’s pamper Ritter fully today!

“Youuu!! It was forbidden for outsiders to come here!! The nerve of you to barge in!!”

I was not satisfied with just patting Ritter’s head, so I also tickled her neck. Just as she began to let out a purring, cat-like sound, an angry yell resounded.

I looked over to see what was going on and saw Prince Lintz glaring at me with an ogre-like expression.

Well, even if you say that.

It’s weird that Ritter is fighting, and yet, I can’t see it directly.

“You also called Wissen in the first place, esteemed brother. You have no right to question Master.”

“Kuh…! Neena, how dare you talk back to me…!!!”

Princess Neena, who defended me, glared sharply at the prince.

Upon closer inspection, I saw a skinny man with glasses and a white coat standing next to him, grinning.

Aah, if I recall, he was the alchemist Ritter had told me of.

…Prince Lintz was the one who said that outsiders are not allowed to enter, but he was the first to break the rule? Isn’t that a no-no?

“Nevertheless, Brother, I shall assume that…. Ritter wins this duel, is it not?”

“Wha-…!?”

At her words, Prince Lintz peeled his eyes wide.

…Yeah, as far as I can see, it looks like Ritter had won.

It would be different if Theldorff was still showing a will to fight…, but he was now hugging Mir-chan with a face that looked more of a father rather than a knight.

I guess he won’t fight any longer….

“THELDORFF!!”

“…Prince, I have lost this battle. There is not a single element of victory in fighting Ritter any more.”

“W-What a bearish thing to say…!!!

Even Theldorff’s resolute words seemed to be offensive to Prince Lintz.

Well, this duel will determine who will become the next ruler.

Prince Lintz probably decided this duel because he thought he would definitely win, but if he ended up losing, he would not be able to become the king.

Therefore, accepting defeat was not an option.

He was dripping with sweat and looking impatient, but when he saw Mir-chan hugging Theldorff, he grinned.

“Theldorff~… Do you know your position? Your daughter, do you think she can live from now on without my assistance?”

“……!!!”

Theldorff gritted his teeth at Prince Lintz’s words.

Assistance? Does it mean that Theldorff family is in such poverty?

No, no, no, the leader of the kingdom knights would never be in need of money, right?

“Hmph! Of course, the likes of you wouldn’t know. Theldorff’s daughter is under a nasty curse. A new kind of curse, they say, and no one has been able to cure it…. My orders are to have Wissen slow its progression.”

Prince Lintz laughed.

Seeing that Theldorff did not argue with him must be true.

Does that mean, Theldorff was with Prince Lintz’s faction because of this so-called assistance?

Hmmm, I see, then I guess you don’t have to be on his side anymore.

“…What do you mean?”

Theldorff looked at me and asked.

Well, that’s because I’ve already lifted the curse that was nested inside Mir-chan.

“……Huh?”

Prince Lintz and Theldorff looked at me dumbfounded.

Thank goodness~ I’m glad I didn’t do anything unnecessary.

“Eh, huh…eh?”

Theldorff, who never changes his calm and somber-looking, stern expression, was now changing his expressions in interesting ways.

Eeh…. Your character is collapsing there….

“L-Lies! There’s no way you could have done that!! That was an incurable curse created by Wissen, and yet-……!”

“Aah, you’re saying that now? Ihihihi!”

“…What did you just say, Prince Lintz?”

Wissen laughed at Prince Lintz’s words, while Theldorff was silently angry.

His anger was so strong that even I, who was not the target of his anger, was startled….

It must have been very scary for the prince who was directly confronted by him.

…Rather, what even is the point of putting a curse on the daughter of your own entourage?

“W-Wissen! What that man said is nonsense, right!?”

Prince Lintz, who was in full fright under Theldorff’s glare, hurriedly asked Wissen for confirmation.

Wissen, however, shook his head with a smirk as if something was funny to him.

“Well~ there’s no mistaking that my curse has been lifted somehow, Ihihihi!! Not only Ritter-san’s demon, there’s also a man powerful enough to break my curse. Indeed, there are so many unknowns!!!”

“T-This is not the time for your antiques!! No way, really….”

It wasn’t something that surprising.

It wasn’t even as vicious as Lagell’s curse, so it was an easy one to handle.

“It seems like it’s true that Master has lifted the curse that was placed on Mir. Then, there is no more reason for me to help you, Prince Lintz.”

“Y-YOUUUー…!!!”

“Truthfully speaking, I would like to kill you with my own hands. However, you are the first prince of Evans Kingdom, so I will overlook this. Now leave.”

Prince Lintz tried to talk back to Theldorff, but Theldorff’s sharp eyes stared back at him, rendering him speechless.

Theldorff, too, seemed to be holding back his anger at having his beloved daughter cursed.

If the prince still insisted on staying here, Theldorff might actually slay him.

Knowing this, Prince Lintz walked away, trembling in anger.

“…Don’t think you can get away with this.”

“…As expected, brother is not fit to be a ruler.”

Before leaving, he passed Princess Neena and exchanged some words.

I couldn’t hear what they said from here, but the princess didn’t lose her resolute expression.

After the prince left with Wissen in tow, Theldorff approached us while carrying Mir-chan.

He then bowed deeply to me and Ritter.

“I can’t thank you enough for saving Mir. I have turned my sword against you and Ritter, to whom I owe such great gratitude, so please punish me in any way you see fit.”

I waved my hand in a panic.

No, no, it was just a coincidence that I was able to save Mir-chan, and if the curse had been stronger, even I might not have been able to do anything.

Besides, based on Princess Neena’s evaluation, we already know that Theldorff had been following Prince Lintz’s orders reluctantly.

Hence, I have no desire to end his life.

Well, I am a little miffed that you hurt Ritter, but she doesn’t seem to have suffered any noticeable injuries, and if she forgives you, then I won’t say anything either.

What do you think, Ritter?

“…….”

Ritter seemed to be mulling it over.

Well, she got a scratch on her face.

Although it wasn’t enough to leave a mark, I wouldn’t be surprised if she thought differently.

“……I don’t mind (Can’t forgive him, trying to harm Master…. But Master doesn’t mind, so it’s fine).”

But the gentle Ritter seemed to forgive Theldorff.

What a good girl she has grown up to be…! Your father is so happy…!

“Forgive me…! I will repay this favor…!”

Theldorff also quivered.

Yeah, yeah, pay it back to Ritter in the future, okay?

I glanced to the side and saw that Princess Neena, who was in the audience, was also coming toward us.

Now then, let’s go home.

“N-Nnn….”

As I was thinking such carefree thoughts, Ritter didn’t reply clearly.

Feeling uneasy, I looked at her and saw her slumped over.

R-R-R-Ritter!? W-What’s the matter!?

I rushed over to her and gently caught her body so that she would not be affected badly in any way.

“W-What’s wrong!?”

Princess Neena also rushed over.

I was as flustered as Krankheit, but I knew immediately what the cause was.

“…It was my fault, huh?”

No, it wasn’t Theldorff’s.

Most likely, it was because of the demonic power she couldn’t grow accustomed to and her body could not keep up with it either.

I need to let Ritter rest now, but….

I glanced at Princess Neena.

The demonic power is something to be avoided in this kingdom where Angelism is the main religion.

It’s possible that… Princess Neena would not allow Ritter to enter her estate.

…Well, at that point, we can go back to the guild headquarters and let her rest there.

Of course, if that happens, I’ll also have to annul the princess’ request.

“What are you doing, Master? We’ve got to get Ritter to the estate!”

Yet, Princess Neena blew away all my suspicions at once.

…Aah, it looks like Ritter has found a good boss.

Let’s help Princess Neena as much as I can.

Thus, I resolved to do so in my heart and picked Ritter up in my arms.