Chapter 70: N@ked Dogeja Received IV

Arrows fly, shattering like glass, bouncing off a wind barrier in the air.

Tilia’s face pales at the impossible long-range attack.  

“Wait, how do you dodge this!?”

She grumbles but tracks the arrows’ paths, dodging, creating flame decoys, and deflecting with her sword. The last arrow grazes her thigh, drawing a line of bl00d.  

“Ugh!”

“Sis!” Diana panics as bl00d splatters.

“Is Isti holding back?”  

I think the wound’s too shallow.

“Yes,” Noah nods.  

“Miss Isti’s a Diamond-rank hunter, famed for downing Rogawell’s giant bird, a national calamity. If she aimed true, Tilia’s leg would be gone.”

I agree. The force that pierced an orc boss during a beast surge is absent.  

“Probably adjusting to not kill, per Decal’s words.”

Tilia gauges Isti’s skill, realizing she didn’t aim to kill. The power gap is clear.  

“I knew it! Isti’s one of seven Diamond ranks in the kingdom!” Karen nods excitedly.

“Don’t talk like it’s over,” Tilia snaps, her sword blazing fiercer, undaunted despite the odds.

The skill gap is obvious. She’s bleeding, yet still wants to fight? Her grit stands out.  

“Here I go!”

Isti sighs. “Another wound’s coming.”

Tilia charges. Isti looses two arrows. Tilia leaps over them mid-sprint, an impossible move unless she predicted the shot.  

She smirks. “Arrows only go forward, right?”

Her flaming sword swings. Isti steps forward, blocking with her bow.  

“What!?” Tilia gasps.

Everyone’s stunned. Tilia lowers her stance, pushing harder, but Isti’s bow doesn’t budge.  

“Your spirit bond is impressive, but your combat skills lack,” Isti says.

“Who’re you to lecture me?!” Tilia roars, abandoning caution. Isti’s bow slides back slightly, but it’s no crisis.  

Isti steps back, unbalancing Tilia. As Tilia stumbles, Isti prepares to strike.  

But Tilia’s not done. “Watch your back, elf!”

Flames erupt from the ground. Isti steps lightly on Tilia’s thigh, vaulting over the fire.  

“Ah…!”

In midair, Isti spins, aims, and shoots Tilia’s shoulder, landing gracefully behind her like a feather. Bella would’ve loved the elegance.  

“Ugh…!” Tilia collapses, kneeling.

That’s dangerous. Unlike the thigh graze, this arrow’s lodged deep, though Isti clearly held back. A true shot would’ve hit an artery, killing her.  

Isti’s precision is unreal, but Tilia’s grit—pulling the arrow out and standing—is just as wild.

“More!” Tilia shouts.  

Isti sheathes her bow, indicating that the duel was done. 

Tilia grits her teeth.  

“Quitting while I’m still standing? Is that how elves duel?”

“I could’ve killed you at the start. I don’t do what Darling doesn’t want. I went easy,” Isti says.

Tilia’s speechless. 

Isti’s honesty is undeniable.  

“I want the Vanguard family’s sincere apology. That’s why I fought. Nobody hurts Decal—not nobles, not even elves.”

“Fine…” Tilia sheathes her sword, accepting defeat.  

“I lost. I’ve got a long way to go. Thought you were just a strong elf, but that bow skill… I’ve heard of the elf who saved the kingdom.”

“Sis!” Diana rushes to support Tilia as she sways.  

“Just dizzy. I’m fine,” Tilia says.

“Healer, now!” Vanguard retainers swarm.  

As Tilia gets treated, Isti walks over.  

“Isti!” Karen hugs her, beaming. “So glad you won! No wounds on Big Bro or you!”

Exactly. Isti did my task flawlessly.  

“Good job, Isti.”

My favorite elf.  

“Did it for Darling,” she says, hugging me. 

I pat her head.  

“My awesome girlfriend.”  

“Love you, Darling.” Isti’s cold facade melts into a cute, happy smile. Warm fuzzies hit me.

Diana, looking guilty, and Tilia, oddly refreshed, approach.  

“Decal, I lost,” Tilia says.

“Yeah.”

“I misjudged. Your ally is the Noble Huntress, and the enforcer’s ‘The Iron Wall Examiner’ Lady Veil Noah, right?”

“Not worthy of such titles,” Noah says humbly.

I got slapped for name-dropping nobles, yet Noah’s called ‘Lady’ by one. 

This world’s weird.  

Maybe introducing them first could’ve avoided this duel? No, the Vanguards would’ve fought anyway—family honor’s at stake.

“Decal, who are you? These two person don’t move for honor or money. Many families tried to hire them, all failed. Yet they serve you. It’s shocking. I wouldn’t blink if you were a fallen kingdom’s king.”  

A fallen king… that’s the kind of cause needed to explain them both by my side.  

Feels ticklishly good.  

This wouldn’t have happened without the hero candidate selection timing.  

The w0men by my side all came together around that event—hunters on urgent missions, the judge reviewing them, comrades who fought through it.  

“I’m nothing special. Just an adventurer, now heading to hero academy as a candidate.”  

“We want to apologize for our rudeness. We lost the duel, so we’ve no excuses,” Diana says, her face dark.  

Is she blaming herself?  

“Sorry, sis. You got hurt because of me…”  

“It’s fine. Rest’ll fix this,” Tilia replies.  

She’s apologizing to the wrong person. Diana still barely acknowledges me, guilt aimed only at her sister.  

In her world, I’m nobody.  

Clap!

I clap, drawing their attention.  

“Duel’s done. Time to pay. I won’t go easy.”  

Tilia nods. “If your carriage is damaged, we’ll compensate. I’ll order our servants to help clear the kelip.”  

She lists her sincere apologies.  

“Nope. That’s not enough.”  

“…?”  

“If you’re truly sorry, show it. Kneel, bow, and beg me for forgiveness.”  

“What…?”  

Their faces twist with hostility. Their shock, like they’ve never imagined this, amuses me.  

“And do it with all your cl0thes off.”  

“You filthy b*stard!” Diana shouts, enraged. “Do you know what you’re saying?!”  

Her voice echoes, her earlier anger seeming like a joke compared to this fury.  

Vanguard servants creep closer at the commotion.  

“Mocking a sacred duel!” Diana snaps.  

“Sacred duel?” I burst out laughing.  

“You’re the one mocking it. Acting all refreshed, tossing flattery, thinking it’s over? A warrior isn’t brave just for not fearing bl00d. Losers bear lasting scars. The Vanguard family will carry lifelong shame here. That’s the price.”  

“Sis, say something! Father won’t stand for this!” Diana’s frantic, her faith in Tilia’s strength shattered.  

But she doesn’t know—her trusted sister will betray her.  

“No, Decal’s right,” Tilia says.  

“Sis?”  

“If Decal wants that apology, we str!p and bow. The world of duels is harsh and absolute.”  

“What are you saying!?” Diana’s face flushes with uncontained emotion.  

“A Vanguard lady baring her skin takes resolve like facing death. Can I do it instead?” Tilia asks.  

“Nope,” I reply.  

Diana stares blankly, as if this isn’t real.  

“I know you could do it, Tilia. But that’s no fun. It’s gotta be someone who’d rather die, who absolutely shouldn’t. That’s what makes it meaningful, Diana. You alone, str!p and bow.”  

“Ugh…!” Diana gags, head down, overwhelmed by shock.  

“You agree, right, Tilia?”  

Tilia places a hand on Diana’s shoulder. “No choice, Diana. We lost. We do what Decal says.”  

“Sis, no… please, protect me. I don’t want this. I’d rather die than bare myself to this vile man…!”  

Tilia stares coldly at her pleading sister. “We have no choice, Diana.”  

Diana hyperventilates, trapped in an unimaginable corner.  

“You pay the duel’s price. I’ll str!p you myself if I must.”  

“No…!”  

Tilia grits her teeth, reaching for Diana’s cl0thes. I watch, delighted.  

“What’s this!?”  

Vanguard retainers rush forward—armed guards.  

“What’s this? Just watching the loser’s price being paid.”  

“Nonsense! Threatening Vanguard w0men? Fearless trash!”  

“Save us!” Diana cries, tearful.  

“Protect Lady Diana and Lady Tilia! Take them down!”  

Eight guards, maybe?  

I reach into my pocket to handle this when—  

A black blur darts past Tilia and Diana, blocking the guards. 

It’s Noah.  

She swings a black mace, shattering their swords one by one, subduing them.  

“Push through! It’s just one enforcer!”  

Noah’s mace spins with her wrist, not moving an inch from her spot. She breaks their weapons, armor, and knocks them all down.  

“This…!”  

“She’s no ordinary enforcer!”  

“Stand back,” Noah says. “The Vanguards lost the duel. Decal’s claiming his rightful price. Punishing criminals is an enforcer’s job. I won’t tolerate you branding Decal a criminal.”  

“But…!”  

“Nice work, Noah!”  

She gets me. No need for hypnosis. Noah responds with her back turned, while Diana’s completely trapped.  

Tilia begins str!pping Diana’s dress. Diana covers her b00bs, sobbing.  

“Lady Illesia, aid us with light…”  

Praying in desperation?  

I want to cheer. I have no intention of stopping.