The Archangel of Death - Chapter 55

55: Rose’s duel 55: Rose’s duel I would like to welcome mo_86, Oldlearner, and Bumfuzzel96 to my novel.  I hope you enjoy it enough to keep on supporting me in the future.

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===== Chapter 55 “Did you read two read the books I gave you last night?” I asked while the four of us were walking to the elite buildings.

“Yes.” Both Laura and Alicia replied at the same time.

They stink-eyed each other for replying at the same time but chose to remain quiet.

“Good.

Then what did you learn?” I asked.

“That looks can be deceiving,” Laura replied.

Although Alicia is better when it comes to knowledge, Laura is good at looking behind the words.

Alicia on the other hand, remained quiet.

It must be difficult for her to process the thought and so swiftly act on it.

But she has almost three months to prepare herself.

“Exactly.” I replied and then further said, “Meet me at my personal gravity room after compulsory classes.

We will begin training today.” Rose’s eyes twinkled when I said that while Laura visibly shivered.

As for Alicia, she was confused at the reaction of both girls.

Well, she will know what that means today so I didn’t bother to explain.

====== Laura separated from our group and the rest of us headed to the classroom.

As soon as we entered the room, all eyes turned to us.

Usually, it is just me and Rose but today, Alicia was also with us.

I have no doubt that half the class must be writhing in jealousy.

We simply took our seats and waited for Desmond to enter.

But, how could there be no drama in a class full of main characters?

“Lady Alicia, I was wondering if you would like to join us for tea this afternoon.” A handsome extra came and asked Alicia.

Since Alicia wasn’t sitting too far from me, I could see and hear very clearly.

Alicia didn’t panic or become flustered.

Instead, she calmly replied, “I have no time to waste.” The worst she can say is no, right?

Well, there it is.

The even worse part was her gentle and benevolent demeanor.

Such cold replies suit cold-hearted beauties like Sophien, but when they are uttered by a gentle and sweetheart like Alicia, they are ten times more painful.

As expected, the boy was frozen in place but after a while, he silently went back to his seat.

Tch, tch.

He won’t be confessing to another girl anytime soon.

It would have been great if the drama ended there.

But, how can there be no drama in a class full of the main cast?

“I challenge you to a duel.” I heard a voice that would send chills down anyone’s spine but also so charming to hear that a person would want to hear it again.

Sophien Vermillion.

The Frost Queen.

Granddaughter of the leader of the president of the central government itself.

But it would have been too cliché if she was challenging me, wouldn’t it?

she wasn’t.

She was challenging Rose.

Rose, on the other hand, didn’t appear even the slightest bit interested.

Instead, she turned to me, asking with her eyes.

I, being a cooperative person, translated her eye signal loudly, “How do I get rid of this troublesome person, Your Highness?” [You just love to annoy people] [Don’t you?] ‘It’s strangely satisfactory for some reason.’ Rose was a little flustered now while Sophien’s eyes flinched a little.

“Well, I think it would be good to accept.

Besides, if it is compulsory, you can’t refuse anyway.” I replied while shrugging.

Also, it was a good opportunity.

I want to see where Rose stands in combat experience because I doubt she has any.

When she defeated those knights, although she won because she was strong, in terms of technique, Rose’s attacks were either too shallow or too deep.

And Sophien was the perfect opponent to see how she would fare when faced with an uncomfortable terrain.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Rose replied and then turned to Sophien and said, “As His Highness has stated, you would prove to be a good opportunity so I will gladly accept your challenge.” Just say I accept.

Why the need to go so roundabout?

“Very well.

What is the price we should set?” She asked, and while mentioning the price, she glanced at me.

that was strange.

She looked at me like she wanted something from me, not from Rose.

Once again, Rose turned to me and I simply asked Sophien, “What are you willing to offer?” In reply, Sophien said nothing but placed a vial on Rose’s table.

A vial of red liquid that I was very familiar with.

The strength potion.

“I would be giving up this.

But if she were to lose, you would have to grant me one request.” Sophien said after that.

[It seems she knows] I know the Flame Dragon wouldn’t expose my identity because they didn’t know it in the first place.

But there are still some possibilities such as someone with strong detection capabilities who can evade my senses.

Evading my senses is not an easy task so the one to do so would be very high ranked.

Only one person came to mind after thinking this far.

The Golden Fairy, Rachel Farron.

Sophien’s caretaker.

“Rachel, huh.” Just to be sure I said her name loud enough for Sophien to hear and as expected, there was a slight flinch that even someone with acute senses would miss.

If that is the case, then it is very easy to guess what Sophien wants.

Agreeing wouldn’t be very beneficial to me.

“It seems you are under the impression that I have something you need.

I don’t.” I replied simply.

It isn’t a beneficial trade to me.

of course, if she were to offer me a kick start to some things that I want, then gladly, I would accept her terms.

But what she is offering me, is just a potion, then I can make thousands of those.

Seeing that I had ended the conversation, Rose said, “I’m sorry.

But it doesn’t seem like we will be able to come to an accord.” If Sophien Vermillion is the same character from the novel, then she won’t easily give up.

She may be an apostle candidate, but she is also a researcher by heart.

She won’t give up so easily.

“Then what is it that you want?” She asked after she heard Rose’s reply.

Now, I may have mentioned before but I am proficient in almost everything.

Of course, I don’t claim to be a master in everything but there are three things that I am a master.

A soldier, a doctor, and a merchant, or in modern terms, a businessman.

The empire may be a superpower and the taxes they get are huge, but even then, my wealth from the empire is limited.

What I need is a venue for trade so that my wealth can be used for my needs.

“Well, let us put it like this, if you win, I will do something for you.

I win, you will use your influence to do something for me.” I replied.

She stared at me for a while.

I don’t know what she was thinking but there were slight hints of disgust that I managed to pick up.

It seems Adrian and Sophien have some history.

Not another one.

“Very well.” She replied and then added, “We will do it after class in private arena number four.” She then left for her seat.

Private arena.

It is as its name suggests.

A private arena where only the concerned parties would be present.

If my earlier duel was open to everyone to see, then this one would only be for Rose, Sophien, and a spectating professor.

I may also be one of the parties.

The rest of the class was exchanging glances with each other, and there were some whispers about this.

I could see Eric looking at me with narrowed eyes while another boy in the class, not of the main cast but is a noticeable side character.

A prince of a kingdom who has a die-hard crush on Sophien.

Of course, his and my status weren’t the same but this was the Bellator Academy, ranks only meant something if people allowed them to be.

Anyway, their opinion doesn’t matter.

What matters is that now I have a starting business venue.

I could have done all of this usually, but that would have taken too much time.

A business backed by the central government itself would be profitable from the beginning.

What I need is a product that is unique and cannot be found somewhere else.

===== “Sophien Vermillion, and Rose Roosevelt, have you decided on a price for this duel?” Michelle asked.

Desmond wasn’t here so Michelle had decided to take on the responsibility to oversee this duel.

“Yes.

A price has been decided between us.” Sophien replied in her usual ice-cold tone.

“Then I take it that it isn’t a compulsory duel?” Michelle asked, just to be sure.

“No, it is,” I replied from the side.

I couldn’t let Rose be disturbed during our training this week so it would be better if she was done with her compulsory duel.

“You?” Michelle asked with her eyebrow raised.

“Yes.

Me.

Miss Vermillion was perhaps worried about her hair so she challenged Rose instead but she has made the duel deal with me.” Michelle turned to look at Sophien who wasn’t willing to look her back in the eye.

“Ahem.

Very well.” Michelle awkwardly replied.

“You will begin on the count of three,” Michelle announced, and then after the count, she declared the duel to begin.

“Begin!” Almost immediately, both girls shot themselves at each other.

Rose was still using the green dagger I gave her while Sophien’s weapon of choice was a dagger as well.

The apostles have their own weapons.

Like Eric has a sword, Sophien has a dagger and she is also a speed-based combatant.

Rose and Sophien are the same in every aspect.

However, the problem arises when training and techniques become involved.

Sophien was trained since her childhood but Rose’s training was almost negligent.

If she had one advantage, then it would be that she was one entire rank higher than Sophien.

With an opponent like me, that difference wouldn’t matter much but Sophien only has training, and no real battle experience so she would have a very difficult time bridging the gap between herself and Rose.

Rose slashed her dagger amateurishly.

At a single glance, her move contained nothing but raw power.

Still, that doesn’t mean the speed behind it could be underestimated.  But the lack of technique made it easier to predict for Sophien and she easily dodged the strike while slashing her own dagger.

Her movement was exquisite, with proper technique and mana behind her slash.

From the looks of it, it seemed like just one slash, but three cuts simultaneously appeared on Rose.

It may have been straightforward, but there were a lot of feints mixed in Sophien’s movements that confused Rose even though she could follow them with her eyes.

If things go like this, Rose will lose.

[You want me to integrate a dagger art with her?] ‘No.’ I replied.

That would be cheating.

Although the party system allowed me to assimilate skills with party members, I’m not one to cheat.

If she lost, then she lost.

I will simply have to honor my part of the deal.

[What if she asks for the recipe?] ‘Then I will give it to her.’ Of course, all my plans would go awry but that doesn’t mean that I would go back on my word.

Even if she asked me to serve her and wash her feet, I would do so willingly.

[Like you would refuse to touch a girl’s feet] I would be making the mistake of a lifetime by refusing.

If I think about it like that, wouldn’t it be better if Rose lost?

[You’re hopeless] I am.

During my exchange with Allison, Rose had gained more cuts.

Some were shallow while some were enough to draw small amounts of blood.

She hasn’t been able to land a hit herself though but that wouldn’t be the case soon.

[She’s improving] Is that what my masters felt when they saw my terrifying talent?

Rose’s talent is terrifying.

She is learning with her own body.

[Your party member Rose is now level 191] A notification appeared in my view that made me cement my earlier claims.

She is a monster.

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