Chương 196: Chapter 179. Prep And Start

John Ericsson's Point Of View /GONG! GONG! / The ringing of the bell could almost distract from the noise of the crowd all around this stadium-like arena I was currently in." All of this for a sparring match?"" It seems that the Guards around the round table had gotten to gossiping. That led to the congregation of Nobles from yesterday asking to be allowed to watch the match."" And the King agreed since he didn't feel it was his hill to die on?" Seems likely.

It's not much of an issue, you've fought with people watching before after all, My Love." Sarah turned and smiled at me as she spoke to me." If it's really that big of an issue, I'm sure we can ask the King and Queen to allow the sparring match to be done in privacy, Darling." Anna seemed to think the fighting should be done in private. Usually, I'd be more secretive, but I'm only going to be using my basic abilities in this sparring match, so I guess it doesn't truly matter."

It'll be fine, I just wish they would've let us know ahead of time."" Well, Lady Sarah asked to have complete privacy during your training this morning."" Prince Delcan, I don't think we would've minded a quick message about there being a crowd." Delcan, who was the one that led us to this place, tried to explain why we weren't informed. I sighed as he seemed to have his heart in the right place, but his head didn't seem to be. Maybe there was too much pressure from the Nobles?

My thoughts were interrupted by Delcan before I could ask anything about why this had happened." Well, the sparring match will begin in a few minutes, so I'll head off then, good luck, Marquess Matthew!"" Thank you for the well wishes, Prince Delcan." Delcan left swiftly and it was just my Wives and I left together." I'd imagine the Dark Elf Nobles just want to see someone lose as entertainment." Anna spoke her real thoughts now that Delcan had left. She seemed to think of it as an insult that they're here.

She's not wrong in my opinion, but I personally don't care if someone watches our sparring match or not." It should be fine, it doesn't matter who watches the sparring match, this is more about just testing myself at this point."" Oh? But what about your opponent? She doesn't seem to be taking this as lightly as you, Darling."" She didn't really explain what her problem was to us. So, I'll just look at this as a training exercise for my Magic abilities as a Paladin.

But do you guys really think I shouldn't use any of my Summons?"" Yes, you shouldn't. I haven't brought this up before, but your Summoning abilities are almost too good. Either from the Spirits you've Contracted or the out of the box thinking you have with Spirits like Paula for instance, would make things too easy for you. Let alone, we'd let outsiders know about your other abilities. By the way, you should do everything you should do to win, even with these handicaps.

Because if you lose this "training exercise", you'll owe them 2 Requests, My Love. Then after that, Anna and I will need to "punish" you.

"" Well, as long as they don't want anything too crazy, it shouldn't be an issue. I assume the Queen already thought about all of that when she decided to make that weird bet. I guess I should be able to win with just my Holy Magic skills?" We spent the next few minutes talking about what to do depending on what the Queen asks for if I lose. Then, we were thinking about a few strategies for the fight. Sarah and Anna seemed to be unconcerned with what the Queen wants.

It's almost like they don't think winning or losing this sparring match really matters. I wonder why? It's like they know something? Did they already find out what the Queen wants? Well... Even if they did and aren't telling me, it just means that it'll be fine. /GONG! GONG! /" And that seems to be the end of the discussion." Sarah and Anna left to sit in their designated places as my Wives. I began to walk to the tunnel that would bring me to the arena for the fight.

I hope nothing weird happens during this sparring match...... Charlotte Nyx's Point Of View /GONG! GONG! / That was it! The final ringing of Underdark's Bell. It's one of the defining features of Darkheim's Capital City... Or at least, that's what my Teachers have said, I usually didn't care that much... But who would've thought that I eventually would care so much about hearing that annoying bell? With it, I can start my walk to the arena. I can win this!

I walked through the dark tunnel and entered the stadium with excitement, only to see a familiar view. They're all just staring at me as I walk to the ring with complete disinterest in me. Why would they even show up if what they seek is pride in the Dark Elves, when the Dark Elf that could bring them that pride, is someone they would never praise in their lives anyways? I sighed as I stepped foot on the square ring made out of cold, multicolored slabs of marble stone.

I look up to see my Parents looking back at me as they sit in the designated area for the Royal Family. I just need to focus on them and ignore the crowd's stares. But there were 2 sets of eyes I noticed. I look to my right and I see Lady Sarah and Lady Anna sitting in the spot designated for visiting Nobles. They seemed to be looking back at me? They seem to be speaking to each other as they look at me. What could they be saying? This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road.

If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it." Hello, Princess Charlotte!"" Wah!" A voice came from beside me and it startled me. I turned to see him... Matthew... He was... So close!" Oh, sorry, did I scare you?" He's looking at me!" No! I'm fine! I would never get scared from you!" I back away from him. Ah, he's confused from my words." Oh, uhm... Sorry then?" He's apologizing to me. Ah, his eyes! He's not looking at me like he's assessing me now." So, Princess Charlotte... How do we go about this?" He's...

Calling me so formally... Is it because I challenged him to this? Does he hate me now? Oh no, how can I fix that? Is the plan that my Mom thought up useless now? Should I apologize?" Princess Charlotte?" He keeps calling to me! Why am I afraid to answer him?" Let me explain, Marquess Matthew."" Prince Delcan?"" Del?"" Hello, Marquess Matthew, Char. I'll be the Referee for this sparring match.

My Parents thought it would be best, as my abilities make it possible for me to stop the fight before anything dangerous happens." Del gave Matthew and I a thumbs up after he spoke. Del's presence served to help calm me down. With Del here, I realized that Matthew doesn't hate me! I mean, he's referring to us by our Formal Titles for appearance's sake! He's even referring to Del by his title of "Prince", so he doesn't actually hate me, he's just following proper decorum! Thank the Gods!

Just from gaining that information, Del's presence has already been a benefit to me. I was finally able to take a deep calming breath and relax." Now, the rules of this sparring match are simple! We'll be using a point system, a combatant gains 1 point for landing a "debilitating strike". Another way is to launch the opponent out of the ring and touch the grounds outside of the ring, that will count as a "debilitating strike" as well. The match uses a 2 out of 3 falls ruleset.

Meaning the first to get 2 points, is the winner overall! Nice and simple. Other than that, Char will use a dulled sparring sword, and Marquess Matthew will use his Magic without a sword. Besides that, everything else is allowed in order to win." Del explained the rules as simply as possible. It seems like a fairly regular sparring match so far, the only really special thing about it is that members of the Royal Family are participating. Well, I guess foreigners participating is something special?

Now that I think about it, I guess it is? That and the crowd of people watching us. Usually for sparring matches, its only other students and their teachers. Del and I have a long history of sparring against other Dark Elves. I suppose this is my first time fighting a Human, now that I think about that as well? Great, now I'm focusing on him again!" Wait, how are we supposed to protect ourselves from a "debilitating strike", Prince Delcan? That seems like an important detail here!"" That would be with this!"

Del raised his hand and cast his Spell on Matthew and me." What is this?" Matthew's surprised face is cute. I almost got lost in staring at it if it wasn't for Del, he began to explain what he just did." 1 of my 2 Jobs is called Dark Elf Shaman. One of the abilities I have is an ability called "Shaman's Shield", it's a Barrier Type Spell that protects the user from 1 fatal blow. That's how we'll protect you, as well as tell when one of you gains a point... Well, besides if you land outside the ring."" I see.

That sounds like a useful ability."" I've found that it's great for training, but actual live combat has mixed results, since I've never had the opportunity to fight any actual Warriors yet. The "live combat" is from training exercises."" Well, let's hope you never need to find out about that. Also, is it okay to tell me about your Job Class?" Del started up a conversation with Matthew before I could even say anything to Matthew! I thought about swinging this sword at Del... But before I could, Del spoke again."

You sound like you're speaking from experience? As for my Job Class, I know you're a Paladin, I figure you should know a bit about my Class. Besides, I still have my 2nd Class you don't know about."" Yes, I am. When I fought the Hero, I thought I had everything under control... And I technically did, then I didn't. I was struggling just to keep breathing. Everything I did meant either life or death. Then Sarah rushed to my side. She wanted to fight the person who had hurt me. Long story short, we almost died.

That was a valuable learning experience for me. But I don't particularly want anyone to ever have to learn that lesson. As for your 2nd Class, is it "Referee"?"" Hahaha! I've never heard of a Job Class called referee before!"" Well, Maid and Butler exist as Jobs. I figure "Referee" isn't too far from being realistic." I smiled at his joke." It's not a bad guess, Marquess Matthew, I mean, Baker is a Job Class as well."" See, Prince Delcan!? Even Princess Charlotte can understand!"" Yeah, I guess she does. Psh...

Hahaha!" Del continued to laugh at Matthew's suggestion. I think he might be being a bit mean to him? I felt a bit of frustration forming in myself at my idiot brother." If I ever run into a "Referee" Job Class, I'm going to remember this and bring them to you!"" I'll be waiting patiently." Del wiped the tear from his eye as he began to calm down. It was at this point that we began to hear the crowd. /RAHH! BOO! GAAHHH! /" Seems they're reaching the end of their patience? Should we get this started?"

Matthew and I both nod our heads to Del's suggestion." Okay, Char, go to the black square and Marquess Matthew, go to the blue square over there. The fight starts when I yell "go!", sound good?"" Sounds fine." Matthew turned from Del to me and began to speak." Let's have a good match, Princess Charlotte. May the best fighter win."" O- Of Corkse!" Ah! I was so surprised that he talked to me, that I bit my tongue, and the last word came out weird!

I turned around before he could see the look of freight on my face and ran to my black square to calm down." Okay! Let's just get ready to fight, shall we?"" I- I guess?... Did I do something wrong?"" I have no idea." Those were the last words I heard before running away. He's thinking I'm a "weird woman", isn't he?" Okay! On your mark!" Wait, calm down! I need to focus so I can win! I need to win and form a connection with him! I have to!" Get set!" I look at Matthew intently and he does the same.

For a moment I can feel the thought of "he's finally only looking at me!" fill my mind. I ignore it so I can focus on the important task that I need to accomplish." GO!" Kick! With Del's words, I run towards Matthew with my sword drawn. I need to win this fast!