The escort team arrived in the afternoon, and since they were only escorting one merchant, the team was small, consisting of a single carriage pulled by two horses, a driver, and three soldiers. There were no bandits who would attack a prisoner's escort carriage, so the person in charge did not see the need to allocate unnecessary personnel. Normally, this would have been sufficient, but when it came to escorting a noble, the number of people was indeed a bit small. Moreover, capturing a noble meant that various explanations would be necessary to those higher up.
In the end, the Earl explained the situation to the senior officer of the escort team and offered to accompany them to the capital. The soldiers looked relieved.
Whether to take Meavis to the capital via the same route or leave her to her sons to head straight to the territory, the Earl was considering which would be better to separate Meavis from her fellow girls. As he pondered, time passed, and before he knew it, the time for the mock battle with Meavis was approaching.
The Earl called out to his son and subordinates and headed to the arena on the outskirts of town.
"…What is this…"
When the Earl arrived at the arena, he saw a huge crowd that seemed to include almost everyone in town, along with stalls and vendors shouting to sell their goods.
"Ah, my lord, Earl, I will guide you to the waiting area!"
"What… what is this all about…"
Earl Austin asked Pauline, who had flown over to the group.
"Ah, the people in this town are starved for entertainment, and this was a good opportunity to let everyone know that the owner of the merchant guild has changed, so I arranged it this way… Is there a problem?"
Indeed, that was true and not a lie. However, there were other reasons as well.
First, the proud Earl was not the type to break a promise. This was almost certain from the many stories he had heard over more than half a year. However, his sons were unpredictable when it came to Meavis. Therefore, to ensure that the promise was not broken, he prepared a large number of witnesses.
Another reason was that he had negotiated with the merchant guild to collect 20% of the pure profit from the stalls and vendors. Money was needed to rebuild the store.
The Earl was convinced by Pauline's first explanation. To rebuild a store with a tarnished name, it was necessary to let everyone know that the owner had changed. This was an undeniable fact.
"Where is Meavis?"
"Ah, even though it's a mock battle, it's not good for the opponents to meet before the fight, so she is waiting on the other side."
"Hmm, quite mature…"
The Earl had a slightly amused, or rather, a heartwarming look on his face.
"They say she is already prepared. Once you are ready, my lord, the match between you and Meavis' master will begin."
"Understood."
With that, the Earl began to prepare his equipment.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting! From now on, a match will take place between a female hunter who helped eliminate the corrupt merchants in this town and her father, who is trying to forcibly bring her back to prepare for a political marriage, with her freedom at stake!"
"「「「「Ohhhhhh!」」」」"
"Wait a minute!"
The gathered crowd erupted in cheers. Some protest was heard, but Pauline, who was in the middle of an important job, ignored it and continued the announcements, careful not to mention any names.
"The female hunter's victory conditions are that her master must defeat her father, and she must defeat her brother!
Incidentally, the father is a famous swordsman known for his martial prowess, and the brother is said to be the best fighter in the earl's territory. What an unfair and one-sided condition, isn't it!"
"Hey!!"
Someone seemed to be complaining, but Pauline, who was in the middle of an important job, ignored it. She continued the announcements, careful not to mention any names.
"The first match is between the female hunter's father and the female hunter's master! First, please come forward, father!"
The introduction was so poor that there was no choice but to come out. It would be unbearable to be declared a forfeit. Earl Austin stepped into the center of the arena with a displeased look.
"And the opponent, the female hunter's master, please come forward!"
Guided by those words, a figure emerged from the opposite side of the Earl.
The moment she appeared, the crowd's murmur subsided, and silence spread across the arena.
It was a small, silver-haired woman who looked like a child.
As the female hunter's master, it was not strange for her to be a female swordsman.
Some people remain small even as adults, and if she were an elf or a dwarf, it would not be strange for her appearance to differ greatly from her age. So, there was nothing particularly strange about her. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
If only she hadn't been wearing a suspicious mask that hid the area around her eyes.
And then, the woman declared in a loud voice.
"My name is Evening Dress Mask!"
"「「「「What the heck is that!」」」」
The crowd screamed.
Originally, the woman was wearing ordinary hunter's gear and was not wearing an evening dress.
Perhaps, it wasn't even that kind of issue.
"Strange…
Are you Meavis' master?"
"Yes, what will you do about it, you fool who can't even recognize your own child's talent…"
"What do you know…
That child did indeed have above-average sword talent. However, that is merely 'above average.' Do you know that half of the swordsmen have below-average talent, and the other half have above-average talent? Above average is just that, nothing special. I have no intention of making that child walk a difficult and dangerous path! I want her to walk a happy path as a noble daughter and a noble wife…"
The Evening Dress Mask, who had been repeatedly called 'average,' had a displeased look on her face, even though she was wearing a mask.
"Fool…"
"What did you say!"
The Earl, whose feelings for his daughter were mocked, raised his voice.
However, Evening Dress Mask continued to speak.
"Do you know that your favorite pickled cabbage, which you always try to make Meavis eat, is actually something she dislikes?"
"What? How do you know…"
The Earl was taken aback by the unexpected comment.
"Do you know! That the pickled cabbage you love is actually something Meavis dislikes!"
"What! No, that's a lie!"
"It's not a lie. And just as you think that is Meavis' happiness, it is actually not happiness for her at all. Fool…"
"Shut up! It's a lie, that can't be…"
"Then why does Meavis want to be with me rather than you?"
"Ugh…, shut up! If so, I will show Meavis the fact that you are weak and make her see the truth! Here I come!"
With that, Earl Austin drew his sword.
The mysterious Evening Dress Mask also drew her sword and prepared to meet the attack.
The Earl quickly stepped forward and swung his sword down at the head of the short Evening Dress Mask, a technique known as a "bamboo split." He thought that a weak woman would not be able to block such an unfavorable position. The "bamboo split" is also a flashy and one-sided technique. However, instead of dodging or deflecting, Evening Dress Mask firmly blocked the mock sword.
"Grgh…"
The Earl, who thought he could overpower the small woman, was surprised by the strength that did not budge despite the disadvantageous position. He continued to apply force.
5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds…
The Earl's face turned red, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but the sword did not move.
And after a while.
"Ha!"
With a loud cry, Evening Dress Mask's sword was deflected, and the Earl hastily retreated.
"Ugh…, are you a dwarf? Or a half-elf…"
The Earl, surprised by the strength that did not match the physique, concluded that the opponent was not a pure human. However,
"What? I'm just an ordinary, average human girl?"
( ( ( ( It's a lie! ) ) ) )
The latter part, "human girl," might be true.
However, the former part is a lie. Definitely a lie!
If she was not aware that she was lying, that woman needed to redo her language studies.
Everyone thought so.
"Then, let's get serious…"
In this match, magic is not allowed. It must be won with sword skills alone.