第７７掘：決闘だぁ！！ (Part1)
### Chapter 77: It’s a Duel!!
**Yuki’s True Ability!!**
**It’s a Duel!!**
**Side: Yuki**
"Listen well. Once I say 'Begin!', the duel starts, understood?"
My opponent nods.
"Are you ready as well, Yuki-dono?"
I am absolutely not ready.
Currently, we are in the Adventurer Guild’s training grounds. I’ve been handed a sword and am about to be forced into a duel.
"Ugh, I’m not feeling so well..."
"You’ll be fine. My husband never loses, no matter the situation. In fact, overcoming a predicament like this is exactly what makes you my husband."
Se-Seraria, you devil!!
She’s closing off every single escape route I have.
Wait, if I lose this, can I get the marriage annulled?
"...Don't even think about it. You’ve already made me say all those things, after all."
"...Yes, ma'am."
Well, I don't actually dislike Seraria, and the political influence is helpful. If I cut ties with her now, that would be a problem in itself.
Still, how did it even come to this...?
The root of the problem was Seraria announcing that she had a husband and was already married.
The duel situation arose the morning after the adventurers who had suffered from respiratory failure recovered. Every adventurer who had returned early from the scouting mission had heard about Seraria’s marriage. Because Seraria insisted on making it public, I became the target of some very strange attention.
"Excuse me, do you have a moment?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Are you Yuki-dono, Seraria-sama’s husband?"
"Uh, yeah, I suppose I am."
As soon as I answered, the surrounding adventurers started staring at me.
Top to bottom, bottom to top...
I hate this. Whether it’s men or women, this gaze is painful!! I finally understand why animals in a zoo get so stressed out. Anyone who doesn't feel stressed by this must be an exhibitionist.
"...Pardon my rudeness, but you don't look like you've ever held a sword in your life."
"Well, of course I haven't. I’m a civil official. I mean, I can use a bit of magic, but that’s about it."
When I said that, the adventurers looked surprised, and as for my wives...
"What do you mean, 'a bit'?"
"...Well, it is true that you can use it. You’re as silver-tongued as ever, dear."
"It’s more like fraud than a skill, really."
"We can’t even get close to you, after all."
"That’s true. That time was brutal. I was taken out in a single hit, *poof*."
"...Your fundamental way of fighting is just different."
"But now that you mention it, I’ve never seen Yuki-san engage in melee combat."
"Yuki-san said it himself, didn't he? That he’s a rear-support type."
"...Can a rear-support type really pulverize us in one hit...?"
"Well, he is a healer on par with or better than us, so that’s not technically wrong."
"..."
We had held training sessions during the defense battle. Everyone except Aslin, Firia, and Labyris had combat experience, but that was within the realm of common sense. Large-scale military battles are different, so I did some training to shift their individual skills and mindset.
I had sparred against my wives back then, and I had won quite one-sidedly. After that, they trained hard and were incredibly active during the defense battle.
Though, I couldn't stop the troops from getting carried away.
"My apologies. I heard you were a civil official..."
"Yes, that’s correct."
"...Wait a moment. Seraria-sama, may I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"I’ve heard that Seraria-sama only marries someone stronger than herself?"
"That is correct."
"...Forgive me, but Yuki-dono is a civil official, and no matter how I look at it, I don't see how he could possibly defeat you..."
"He did defeat me. And he saved my life. I believe he is the best husband I could ever ask for."
Seraria answered naturally. She was likely referring to that training session. That was the only time I’d ever sparred with her.
For the record, the details of that match were: Seraria and Deryu charged head-on, while Tori, Riel, Kaya, and Ratz provided support. Milly and Eris provided suppression with their bows.
I deployed "Barrier-kun No. 14," which I had been experimenting with, and stopped everyone in their tracks.
Barrier-kun No. 14 is a multi-layered defensive structure. First, it deploys physical and magical barriers made of mana. I layered it fourteen times, with pure water in between as a shock absorber. The outer layer is charged with electricity to shock anything that touches it.
Seraria was the first to get paralyzed by No. 14 and was out. Deryu endured it, but she pushed herself too hard, broke through five layers, and then couldn't move. In the meantime, I manifested fire bombs right where Tori and the others were providing support, blowing them all away. Since I used "Targeted Protection," it didn't cause fatal damage, which made it easy.
"Manifesting fire out of nowhere is just cruel!!" they had complained, but the principle is simple.
The key is questioning why magic *must* be manifested from the hands. In this world, magic involves gathering mana in one place and using an image to determine how it’s used. In other words, anyone can use magic if they can visualize it. The amount of mana is just a matter of individual talent.
Usually, people manifest it from their hands because it’s easy to visualize. But in reality, there are spells like the "Lance" series that fire multiple arrows. That was the inspiration I got.
These "Lance" spells can be created in the air near you. That means there’s some way to make them appear at that specific location. The "Storm" series is the same. If you cast a storm spell from your hand, you’d just get yourself and your allies caught in it. But you can choose where to manifest it.
After investigating, I found that, to put it simply, it’s like a hose connected to the place where the spell manifests. Like a wired cable?
You send your mana to a specific location, store it, and trigger the magic.
So, I thought: *Why do I need to manifest it near myself?*
It’s much easier to just "gift" them a bomb.
And just like that, Tori and the others were wiped out by explosions. Eris and Milly surrendered on the spot.
Once I taught them the trick, everyone could do it easily. Even Tori and Riel, who have low mana, could do it. It doesn't require the mana needed to solidify a projectile or the continuous mana drain of a swirling vortex. You just make it go "pop" right there. The power is smaller because of their lower mana, but it works.
"So, even though he is a civil official, he is stronger than you, Seraria-sama?"
"That’s right."
The adventurer listened to Seraria’s words as if savoring them, then slowly turned to me.
"Yuki-dono, I would like to request a spar. Could you please show us the skill that allowed you to defeat Seraria-sama?"
*No, I don't want to.* Why should I have to reveal my hand? I’ve been maintaining the "useless civil official" stance!!
"I’m sorry..."
"Yes, that’s fine. My husband will be your opponent."
"Wait, what!?"
"It’s fine, isn't it? This is a perfect opportunity to prove that you are worthy of me."
"...What’s your real motive?"
"I want to see your close-quarters combat. I’ve been stoking the flames since yesterday, after all. I won't let you refuse now."
She had it all calculated!! Seraria is a terrifying girl!!
"My husband will win without using any magic!! Because that much is more than enough."
Seraria fanned the flames even further.
The adventurers were now filled with killing intent.