Side: Prim
“Amazing, Yamato.”
I take pride in being a Winged Tribe, and I haven’t encountered anyone in the High Class with my level of magic power. I later heard that my magic power was so immense, even among the Winged Tribe, that they worried I might be consumed by it.
Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but my evolution to High Class only happened at level 49. The average evolution is around level 45, so I was quite late. However, I might not have evolved without your advice, Yamato.
That’s why I’m grateful to you, Yamato.
So now, I’m mustering all my strength to face you.
To an observer, I might seem to have the advantage with my spear. In fact, at this range, a spear is stronger than a sword. If I’m closed in on, a sword would be more advantageous, but I have no intention of letting that happen. There are issues with weapons, but I intend to decide this match before that even becomes a factor.
However, I can find no openings in Yamato. If I move carelessly, he’ll close the distance immediately, and my defeat will be sealed. I’ve never had such a close match before.
Furthermore, our magic power is currently even, but I’m already at my limit. In contrast, Yamato still seems to have room to spare. How can someone who isn’t even a Winged Tribe possess more magic power than me, a Winged Tribe with top-tier magic? Guests are truly unreasonable beings.
No, Yamato is an Engraver, and I heard that very few people in his world have Engravings on both hands. In a way, he might be similar to us Winged Tribe.
But we can’t just keep staring each other down. To lose by Mana Depletion without doing anything would be unacceptable to my pride.
More importantly, the outcome of this match doesn’t matter to me. What matters is fighting you with all my might.
So, here I come, Yamato. I’ll stake everything on this.
Side: Yamato
How long has it been since we faced each other, weapons at the ready? It feels like hours, yet also like mere seconds.
I thought my magic power would be superior due to my higher level, but perhaps I underestimated the magic of the Winged Tribe. Our magic power is evenly matched in the middle, and even the arbiter, Rex, along with Rosemary and Gram, who offered to start the match, look strained.
However, all I can see is Prim. If I let my guard down for even a moment, I’ll be pierced by that spear.
In kendo, there’s something called “three steps to victory,” but in this match without magic or Engraving Magic, our power is undeniably equal. This means my chances of winning against Prim, who wields a spear, are quite low.
Moreover, if this continues, one of us will eventually run out of magic power. No, I can see Prim is sweating profusely, so she’ll likely be the first to deplete her magic power. In that case, I would win by remaining standing, but I won’t accept such a resolution. If I can’t win through a fair and direct exchange, I won’t be able to proudly claim victory over Prim.
Besides, even if I seem to have room to spare, it’s probably just barely. My magic power is likely only slightly more than Prim’s. It’s said that Engravers with Engravings on both hands have more magic power, or rather, more imprint points, which is probably why I’m surpassing Prim’s magic.
So, if I’m going to make a move, it has to be now.
Here I come, Prim. I will win this match…!
Side: Rex
I’ve never felt such immense magic power before. Even my father, who is said to be one of Amister’s strongest Orders, and the Grand Order’s Master don’t possess this much magic. It’s easy to say “over level 50,” but these two are not ordinary individuals at that level. They might even rival Ancient Classes.
The time felt incredibly long, but it seems to be drawing to a close. Primrose’s condition is deteriorating. Her breathing is heavy, and she’s sweating profusely… I knew Primrose, being of the Winged Tribe, would have a lot of magic power, but I never expected Yamato to have more.
Yamato appears to have some leeway, but his eyes are solely focused on Primrose, staring intently as if he won’t miss even the slightest opening, without blinking. The match will likely conclude soon.
Primrose moved first. Spreading her wings wide and using her enhanced physical abilities with “Physicalizing,” she lunged at Yamato with the intent to pierce him with her spear. Her speed was so incredible that even with my eyes, I could barely keep track of her.
However, Yamato deflected Primrose’s charge with the wooden sword in his hand. While he couldn’t completely stop her momentum, it was proof that Yamato could see Primrose’s movements. But Primrose seemed to have anticipated this and, without any surprise, swung her spear in a wide arc. Normally, this would end the match, but Yamato had also read this and blocked it with his sword.
However, the impact was tremendous, shattering both the wooden sword and the wooden spear, scattering fragments everywhere. Primrose let go of her spear, and Yamato, holding his broken sword, closed the distance, intending to settle it through hand-to-hand combat. But just before contact, Yamato threw his broken sword at Primrose, causing her to lose her balance. Seizing this opening, Yamato, with the broken sword tip he’d somehow acquired, pressed it against Primrose’s throat.
“I yield.”
And then, Primrose’s words of surrender followed. The match is over. Though Primrose fell short by a single step, her satisfied expression held no trace of regret. Yamato, on the other hand, looked utterly relieved. I haven’t asked why they decided to duel, but it’s unlikely to have been a mere sparring match. The intensity of their aura and magic power was undeniably that of a serious battle.
Regardless of the circumstances, as an Order’s Master, I cannot pry into them. Hunters have their own reasons, and I cannot meddle in personal matters. Still, it was an incredible battle. This is my first time witnessing a mock battle, or rather, a serious duel, between over-level-50 individuals, and I never imagined it would be this intense. I could barely keep up with my eyes; I wonder if the others could even follow. I could vaguely make out Rosemary, the High Ogre, and Gram, the High Human.
But the match has concluded, and everyone is applauding enthusiastically, so perhaps the result was more important than the details of the fight. For me, witnessing such a high-level battle up close was incredibly stimulating. As an Order’s Master and an M-rank Order, I must remain vigilant. In any case, well done, Yamato and Primrose.
Side: Yamato
In the duel with Prim, I managed to secure a victory. The moment I threw the sword hilt at Prim, the broken tip flew towards me, and I instinctively caught it. I never imagined it would be the deciding factor. Honestly, I intended to use a hand chop, but there was a risk of it being deflected, so I’ll consider it a fortunate outcome.
“Thank you, Yamato. For fighting me with all your might.”
“Thank you too.”
Even in defeat, Prim looks genuinely happy. Prim, who said she would only marry someone stronger than her, has now lost for the first time. And it was to me. I didn’t realize it until she proposed the duel, but it seems we had mutual feelings for each other, so perhaps this duel was a kind of ritual for her.
However, Prim didn’t enter the duel with the intention of losing from the start. I couldn’t afford to lose either, so we both fought earnestly. In the end, although it was a narrow victory, I won the duel, and I can finally relax. I didn’t intend to make a fool of myself by collapsing on the spot, but I was undeniably exhausted to the point where I felt I might fall if I let my guard down. Furthermore, my reason for challenging her wasn’t solely to win, so I should tell her what I need to say.
“Prim, will you marry me?”
“Yes.”
Prim’s beaming smile was blinding. In this world, where the female population is higher, a confession from a man signifies a proposal. However, I deliberately used the word “marry.” In my world, dating and marriage weren’t synonymous, so I felt compelled to say it. It’s only been about ten days since we met, but I’ve learned that love doesn’t depend on time.
Oh, Rex, Rosemary, and Gram spoke a few words to us after the match concluded and then left. They aren’t here now. It’s not entirely inaccurate to say Meena chased them away. “Congratulations, Prim. Yamato, she wasn’t interested in feminine things, but please take good care of her.” Her adoptive mother, Apricot, bowed respectfully. I was happy that Apricot accepted me, so I immediately bowed in return. “I may have my shortcomings, but I will surely make her happy. Please continue to look favorably upon me, Mother-in-law.” “Likewise, Son-in-law.”
Side: Prim
For me, this duel, though it was a one-time event, was never about winning or losing. But when I fight, I fight to win, and I entered this duel with that spirit.
However, I lost to Yamato. I have no intention of making excuses, nor is there any room for them, so I have no complaints. More importantly, this was a duel Yamato initiated to claim me, so I am satisfied with this outcome.
And Yamato proposed to me. I accepted without hesitation, and Mother blessed us. I’ve been told to “visit his room” multiple times even before wearing Feel, but if I had done so, I would have had some lingering regret. But now that I’ve lost to Yamato, I can accept him wholeheartedly. I never thought I would be satisfied by losing, but I feel incredibly radiant right now.
“Congratulations, Prim.”
“Congratulations.”
Meena and Flam, who witnessed the duel, also congratulated me. “Thank you, Meena and Flam. Next is your turn, right?” “Y-yes.” “I-I’ll do my best.” Both Meena and Flam are in love with Yamato. While they only started to acknowledge each other after Rebecca noticed it, it was clear to me that all of them were in love with Yamato. We decided that the three of us would work together to marry Yamato. I knew we would have a long relationship, but I never imagined it would turn out like this. The order was decided based on who had known Yamato the longest; I went first, then Meena, and finally Flam. Flam met him first, but Meena has known him longer, so Rebecca decided it that way. She’s truly terrifying. According to the plan, I was supposed to propose the duel, but Yamato proposed instead, and Rebecca had even hinted at this possibility.
However, this is a secret I’m keeping from Yamato. It’s a deception from the moment we got engaged, but there’s no way I can tell him about this. After all, in Yamato’s world, monogamy is the norm, so he might have reservations about marrying three women. It’s my role, as the first to be confessed to, to help change that perception even slightly.
All of this is because Yamato decided to stay on Helios Orb. If he hadn’t, he might have chosen to return to his original world if a way existed.
“Still, I’m so tired. My magic power will recover with a little rest, but I didn’t even get this exhausted when I fought Green Fang.”
“Me too. This is the first time I’ve been this tired since coming to Helios Orb.”
Yamato, who didn’t even break a sweat after defeating Black Fenrir, seems considerably exhausted by our duel, perhaps because magic and Engraving Magic were prohibited. Was it that close?
“Yamato, my magic power was at its limit, so I had no choice but to attack at that moment. You still had room to spare, didn’t you?”
“No, I didn’t have much room to spare either. I thought Prim would collapse first if it continued, but I couldn’t accept that kind of resolution. If she hadn’t attacked, I would have gone after her.”
Yamato is also sweating a lot, so it really was a close call. Perhaps I was a little flustered because I was at my limit. It’s an excuse, though.
“Still, you lost to Prim, and you have no complaints, right?”
“None. In fact, I’m grateful you took my blow.”
Yamato dodged my initial attack, but with that movement, he didn’t need to dodge. I hadn’t expected him to deliberately rush in, neutralize the spear’s momentum, and deflect my attack without damaging his weapon. He could have easily exploited my momentary hesitation and ended the match.
“From the moment I decided to challenge Prim to a duel, I simulated how to avoid the spear’s attack countless times. Fortunately, my school had an expert in spear combat, so recalling my training with my teacher helped me prepare.”
Your teachers are truly monsters, Yamato. They say you’ve never even scored a point against them, which means you’d never be able to win against them! You seemed quite used to fighting with a spear; you really were accustomed to it.
“That’s not all. I’ve seen Prim fight many times. I mostly grasped her movements and speed. Her power was the only unknown, so I couldn’t counterattack at that moment.”
Yamato didn’t have much room to spare either. So, what decided the outcome was whether we had observed each other’s fighting styles, perhaps? I hadn’t seen Yamato use a sword much.
“That might be it. After fighting, I realized our abilities and magic power were almost equal, so I couldn’t be certain of victory. Moreover, since Prim uses a spear, it would have been difficult unless I could close the distance.”
That’s painful to hear. But I intended to end it with my first strike, so I poured all my spirit into that one attack. My second attack, a sweeping motion, had decent power due to it being a habit, but I think its power was reduced compared to the first strike.
Still, the match just ended, why are we talking like this? This suits me better, but aren’t these the conversations of newly engaged lovers? It might be fitting for us.
We can’t stay here forever, so let’s go outside and figure out what to do.
“Prim, I think I’ll confess tomorrow.”
“I’m planning to do it before departing for Prada Village, but if it’s difficult, it will be en route. I apologize for saying this right after you got engaged…”
While Yamato was receiving blessings from Mother, Raus, and Rebecca, Meena and Flam voiced their resolutions. Meena had work at the Order’s Guild, and Flam was on his way to hunt, so they couldn’t stay too long. Thus, we quickly discussed our plans. It seems Meena has decided to confess to Yamato tomorrow, and Flam after tomorrow.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m going to the temple later. Honestly, I wanted the three of us to get married at the same time.”
“Please don’t worry about it.”
“That’s right. Moreover, if you don’t get married, Prim, we can’t get married either. Even in a polygamous society, the first marriage must be witnessed by two people for the vows to be accepted. So, if I don’t get married, the two of you cannot marry Yamato. It’s fine if it’s simultaneous for the second person and beyond.
“Thank you. I believe Yamato will accept both of you. I’ll cheer you on, so do your best.”
Although there are concerns, I’ll also do my best to support you. Eventually, Yamato will likely be pushed into marrying into Amister’s nobility, so the more wives he has now, the better. I think the three provincial governors will be fine, but… Viscount Archlight’s children are still young, and I heard both of Count Sofia’s daughters are already married, so they should be fine. However, Marquis Frederica is a bit uncertain. She’s still single and looking for a marriage partner, so she might force herself in.
But it’s not just about me; considering her circumstances, she won’t bring it up today or tomorrow. Given Yamato’s achievements and level, it wouldn’t be strange if he were pushed to marry into royalty. In that case, a single mother might be more likely. I wouldn’t mind if it were Marquis Frederica, but the question is what Yamato would think.
