I Became a Veteran Heroine in a Harem Story

“Wh-what should we do? Should we accept the duel? If we accept the duel, what conditions should we set to win!?”

“Damn it, just shut up for a bit!”

During a short break, in a separate place they had taken, Raines couldn’t hold back and burst out in anger at Franz who was anxious and unable to find stability.

Franz immediately closed his mouth and watched cautiously. Raines’ fiery eyes looked as if he might draw the sword at his waist and swing it at any moment.

“A duel is absolutely out of the question. Since they’ve already won the first duel with ridiculous conditions, if we set too harsh conditions, we’ll be ridiculed for it, and if we set mediocre conditions, we’ll lose. One foolish act is enough.”

“Th-then…”

“If there’s no way to win fairly, think about breaking the game first. In the first place, duels don’t necessarily have to take place in a dueling arena. Yes, this will work.”

Soon regaining his composure, Raines muttered to himself before grinning. Franz could only sweat profusely at this maniacal appearance, unable to understand what kind of plan Raines had come up with.

But Raines already had confidence in his own plan.

“Call those guys again. I’ll propose a new form of duel.”

Raines gathered the first-years again. And he proposed to everyone the ‘doable’ duel he had conceived.

“A duel with the entire year participating!? How is that even possible?”

“When you think about it, this is a very important matter that directly affects everyone. Deciding it with just a few people in a duel seems a bit…”

Raines, who smirked at Deina’s surprised, wide-eyed reaction, twirled the chalk in his hand and began writing something on the blackboard that other students had brought in.

‘He’s using his brain.’

Kiina, who was watching this, sighed softly.

From her perspective, resolving this with individual force would have been the easiest path, but Raines had cleverly avoided that.

“As you know, the Academy has courses that all years must complete. Practical training, field tactical training, end-of-term exams, the Grand Integration Festival, and so on.”

What he was writing on the blackboard were training subjects that were common to all years regardless of grade level. These, which were scored by instructors and external personnel, clearly allowed for indirect competition even between years of different levels.

“Until the next semester begins, the year that achieves good results in these will have their way with this agenda. However, specially during this semester when this duel takes place, we will eliminate all the irregularities as you requested. It’s an extremely generous concession.”

Having regained his composure, Raines gently put down the chalk he was holding and smiled as he looked at them.

At this unexpected proposal, everyone except Kiina had somewhat stiffened faces.

“I assume you want something in return for your generosity.”

“Ha! How could I cruelly want something from my cute juniors? If everyone’s achievements rise together through this duel, that alone is a great treasure for this country and Academy.”

Raines let out a loud snort at Kiina’s calm words and grinned with inscrutable eyes. It was impossible for even the third-year students to predict what he would say.

“But if we don’t set a precedent, future students might abuse this solemn and noble duel as they please. We need to set a safeguard to prevent that. If you lose, I’d like to conclude with just these two people leaving this Academy.”

“…!”

For those who were drafted here by obligation, being told to leave this place meant committing the crime of refusing their duty and becoming criminals.

Moreover, Raines’ finger alternately pointed at Kiina and Deina.

Kiina calmly looked at that finger, but Deina’s face turned pale and she faltered.

While it was the same for Kiina, a member of a great family, especially for royalty, being told to become a criminal was essentially like being sentenced to death, as it meant leaving the royal palace and becoming a commoner.

“If you trust me, I will push forward.”

“Wh-what?”

“You and I are the representatives taking responsibility. If you agree, this duel will be implemented immediately.”

Kiina, who had requested a moment, took Deina into an empty room and immediately thrust her face close to hers.

Deina’s tongue got tied as Kiina, half a span taller than her, looked down at her.

‘T-too close!’

Above all, the distance was too close. Kiina, who had approached Deina (who had her back against the wall) and bent her waist, was so close that their chests were about to touch. Since it was the first time they had looked at each other this closely, Deina, unable to look into Kiina’s eyes, felt her gaze spinning.

“If I were the only one taking responsibility, I would have accepted without any hesitation. But since you, a royal, are involved, I will withdraw from the duel if you don’t agree.”

“If I get expelled from the Academy, I’m finished. I’d have disgraced the royal family’s name, so I’ll be publicly expelled and p-punished.”

Deina’s eyes shook violently. The name of the royal family is heavy. As much as its benefits, it operates more strictly and thoroughly.

With watching eyes, it’s rather impossible to be lenient.

‘Will I die?’

Deina, recalling the image of a criminal being executed on the scaffold that she had seen in her childhood, breathed heavily. That criminal was also a member of the royal family, but the royal family, which had to unite the people in the midst of chaotic international politics, was merciless.

Once this fear arose, it devoured her body in an instant, indicating how heavy the burden was that she had been trying not to show.

“Calm down and look at me. Even if the royal family expels you, they won’t kill you.”

As she showed symptoms of hyperventilation, Kiina clicked her tongue and grabbed her hand firmly to awaken her. Startled by the warmth she felt and the words hammering into her ears, Deina barely regained her senses.

“All I can say to you now is to trust me. If you don’t trust me, I’ll cancel the duel.”

“I…”

“You’ve grown. If you were the person I first saw that day, you wouldn’t have even spoken in front of Raines today. You achieved it all by yourself. By realizing and training.”

Kiina smiled faintly, released her hand, and stepped back. Then, as if leaving the choice to her, she closed her mouth without saying anything.

“Are you really confident?”

“Things have just become a bit troublesome. Raines has racked his brain, but it’s meaningless. Rather, if such justification has been given, there’s nothing more to hesitate about. Don’t get too fixated on the duel, try to see the bigger picture.”

Kiina nodded at Deina’s dazed question.

At the same time, Deina was flustered by Kiina’s significant words.

“We spend 4 years in this Academy and become Magic Knights, then serve mandatorily in the Kingdom’s army for 2 years. Even while at the Academy, we periodically get drafted for missions in the name of training. During that process… do you know how many people die or get injured?”

“That’s!”

“I think that training hard, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, is necessary to prevent the people around us, our peers, from dying or getting injured.”

Deina, with wide eyes, understood Kiina’s words and trembled.

Right now, they might not feel it and might just complain about how difficult physical training is, but once they are thrown into the battlefield in the name of practical training, the atmosphere among students will change dramatically.

Unlike the instructors who give leeway no matter how roughly they train the students, the enemies they meet in actual combat try their best to kill them.

Already, not a few of the third and second-year students have left due to death and injury. When deployed to the field, that number increases.

“It’s not for the achievements of the Year Council, nor for my own advancement. That’s the meaning of this duel. The more we immerse ourselves in the duel, the higher our chances of survival.”

“Yes. You’re right. So I’ll do it. It’s worth it.”

The concept of a greater cause once again shook Deina.

For her, a character who always strives day and night to fulfill the duties of the royal family, it was something she should gladly do if it could save even one more citizen of the kingdom.

“You’ve decided, I see?”

“We accept the duel under the conditions you’ve proposed. The duel, which involves the entire student body and takes up a whole semester, begins now.”

“Try your best. No one loses by trying hard.”

Kiina, coming out of the room, agreed to the duel along with Deina. Raines, who had no particular interest in what they were discussing inside, smiled with satisfaction when they accepted the duel.

‘If you get expelled from your family, I’ll employ you as a maid in my villa. Let’s see you truly understand how much harder it is to handle people than spears.’

‘Even without considering me, with the protagonist and heroines positioned, this is a historically strong class, so do you really think we can’t do it? It’s sad being the villain.’

At the same time, Raines and Kiina’s gazes met.

Clearly, both thought they could handle it, but neither showed off with it.