Duel

I was looking down on Arthur with an awe,

'How can a protagonist be this thick skinned? '

Not only me, but the audience were also all thinking the same,

With a sigh, I jumped down on the platform,

A student threw a sword in my direction, as you can't use your own weapon during duel,

Arthur glared at me from the other side of the platform,

Arthur declared: "Today, I will show you the power of self-learning "

I said: "I am also self-learned, it's not like I had some guy puppeteering my every move"

Arthur fell silent, with frustration and anger, he gritted his teeth,

"Commence "announced the referee, and we charged toward each other with agility.

Our swords clashed at remarkable speed,

Initially, Arthur wore a confident smile, but with each strike, the smile was diminishing.

Meanwhile, a playful grin appeared across my face as I thought,

'I am stronger and faster than him, and there is also no penalty for the system's task '

'I can also improve the proficiency on my own '

As I deliberately slowed the pace of my attacks, a smirk appeared on Arthur's face.

we both retreated, creating some distance between us at same time.

Arthur taunted, "Is that the best you can do?"

I still had the playful smile on my face,

"Indeed, you are strong, but not enough to defeat me "

Once more, we charged at each other,

But this time, Arthur has imbued his sword with a thin layer on mana,

I also imbued my sword with mana but made it a look a little bit weaker,

As we were fighting, the audience were having different thoughts,

"Look, they both are evenly matched "

"How is this possible "

"To think that the heir of Everheart family was this weak "

But some keen-eyed people could tell who is stronger,

They could clearly see that I am toying with Arthur,

My mana covering the sword may look weak, but is stronger than Arthur's mana,

They also felt me lowering my speed and strength, just enough to remain slightly below Arthur,

"So young master is merely toying with that brat "

"It's no surprise, especially after the disrespect shown to the Everheart family, "

"Look at that boy's face, he genuinely believes he's winning"

"Hahaha... truly, how foolish can one be? "

On the platform, Arthur's smile persisted, seemingly unfazed.

"So this is all the heir of Everheart family can do "

In this moment, A kick landed on his chest,

He couldn't even see where the kick came from, and he was sent flying back,

He barely managed to balance himself on the edge of the platform,

Most of the audience were elementary level so they couldn't see the kick either,

They just saw Arthur flying back and barely balancing himself,

However, the second year students and some nobels saw everything,

"The master of the Everheart family is indeed a genius "

I said innocently: "Why did you jump back? "

Arthur now was confused, he was wondering if he really did jump back or if something hit him,

'It could be my reflex ' He ignored the chest pain caused by the kick.

"It was just my reflex, don't be surprised "

"Haha... " The audience that witness the kick couldn't control their laughter,

Arthur now had a proud expression as he thought they were praising him,

He leaped towards me again, I blocked his sword and kicked him again,

He was sent flying back and barely managed to balance himself again,

I again said innocently: "Your reflexes are good, but why are you jumping back "

 Arthur gripped his chest as he groaned in pain,

"How did you do that? "

I said: "I think you were so focused on sword, that you didn't notice my kick. "

Arthur gritted his teeth and rushed again,

But this time, I purposely slowed the pace of my kick, allowing Arthur to dodge it and strike with his sword,

I made it look like I barely dodged his sword and jumped back,

"How did you do that? " I asked as I made a confused expression,

Arthur proudly said: "It's inevitable because I am stronger than you "

I said in a pleasuring manner,

"Please don't hit me hard, I set up a date for you "

Arthur's ego was pleased by my words,

"Don't worry, we can be friends after this "

"Really " I exclaimed with a childlike enthusiasm, "Thank you "

The audience burst into laughing again,

Even the low level students now understood what's going on,

Some understood themselves, some heard the high leveled students.

I said: "I am going to attack you now "

Arthur said with a smile: "Give it all you got "

I leaped towards Arthur with a speed his eyes couldn't keep up with, stopping in front of him,

Arthur's eyes widened as his smile changed to shock,

But before he could speak, my hand had already slapped him,

Before he could grasp what just happened, another slap hits his other cheek,

Slap after slap. I was constantly slapping him,

I pushed him back as I noticed his red swollen cheeks.

"Why didn't you dodge " I said innocently, " Were you giving me face? "

The audience laughter resounded again, and Arthur has also realized that he was being toyed,

His eyes turned red with rage as he looked around the audience, their laughter felt like salt on his wound,

His swollen face was bewildered as he gulped his dry throat,

"What happened? " I asked with a playful smile.

"Ahhhh... " Arthur shouted as he griped his sword with both of his hands in front of him,

"How dare you play with me " his rage igniting violent bursts of mana from his sword as he charged towards me.,

Despite his ferocity, he remained slightly slower than me, allowing me to swiftly dodge his attack.

With a playful smile, I also kick to his butt, further provoking him.

But his anger erupted causing the mana surrounding sword to flare up,

His sword was now looked like a long sword made up of violent mana,

He leaped at me with his sword poised to strike me from above,

I also coated my sword with mana, but unlike Arthur's violent mana, mine was serene and pure.

As his sword descended, I effortlessly sliced through both the violent mana and his sword, cleaving them in half with precision.

Arthur's eyes and mouth were wide open with shock as he saw his sword was cut in half,

But before he could do anything, I swiftly delivered an uppercut, propelling him into the air,

Just as he hovered above me, I acted quickly, I positioned my hand beneath his chest to prevent his fall to the ground.

Arthur was first confused as to why did I catch him but was soon horrified as he heard the spell,

"Fireball " I chanted, summoning a blazing fireball that erupted upon Arthur's chest.

The flames engulfed him, scorching his flesh and launching him several meters into the air,

With a heavy thud, Arthur crashed face-first onto the stone platform, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Trembling with pain, he mustered all his strength to lift his head, only to find me standing in front of him.

I have raised my hand up, but it caused an instinctual fear on Arthur,

As he was prepared for an upcoming attack,

I declared, "I forfeit "

This caused a turmoil of emotion on Arthur, as he spurted another mouthful of blood before losing consciousness,

"Arthur wins this duel as the opponent forfeited " The referee announced,

Amidst the confusion, Emma was the first to speak up.

"Why did you do that? "

"You did the same to me," I responded, "You also made me date a maid when you won a bet "

In this past, 

Emma won a bet with one of her maids, so she made Archie go on a date with that maid,

Archie also conceded as Emma asked him with pleading eyes,

I said: "You should be happy, I didn't arrange for you to go on a date with my servant, but you lover "

Emma clenched her fist with anger,

"I am sorry for what I did, but can you let go of the past "

"Hahaha " I chuckled and said "I don't forget, "

"Prepare yourself. I'll take revenge for everything you've done to me."

Emma's eyes widened with fear as she recalled the bad things she had done to Archie,

"Please don't... "

I said: "Also, if you don't act lovingly to him one your date, I will make sure you marry one of my servants "

Emma was now in disbelief and fear,

The person that used to love her, hated her now,

Her support is also gone, now even if she wants, she can't deny the marriage with Archie's servant.

'Why did I treated him so badly... ' This is the only thought that came to her mind.

*Ding*

[Task completed]

[Rewarded- +20 proficiency in sword and magic ]

[Host- Archie Everheart]

[Age - 15]

[Hp - 1000]

[Mp - 1000]

[Talent rank- S]

[Swordsmanship - Intermediate (96%)]

[Magic - Intermediate (89%)]