Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 73: A Noble's Mettle vs. A Former Slave's Perseverance

"Now then, if you can best me in one on one combat, General Jothy, I'll let you go free. But, if I win,..." With a deviously wicked grin, Hekate finishes her offer. "Then you have to do whatever I say."

The officers are visibly cornered, especially when a figure leaps out of the hole they came from, landing on the ground. He is lightly wounded, but mostly unharmed; a dragon in human form, Choul. General Jothraligus kos Ekstragar the Third is the general in charge of the invasion. He's not the one who made the call on his own, of course, but he is someone important trying to gain something, and now trying to flee in the face of the Fievegal's forces making absolute mockeries of the invasion, in spite of how large it is.

Of course, Ryuogriar knows something they don't at the moment. She whispers, "Hekate...?"

Hekate looks at her, smiling. "It's fine. Trust me."

Ryuogriar is hesitant. Daniel, for one, would never forgive her if something happens to Hekate, and Ryuogriar did nothing. In spite of that, Hekate is insisting, even though Ryuogriar doesn't know what the youthful empress has planned.

Ryuogriar decides to wait and see for the moment. Hekate's magic is currently sealed by assassins that appear to have come from the Demon Covenant to try to interfere during the invasion. In a great blessing, she met Daniel while trying to conquer the Citadel under the former dragon lord's order, and she was fighting primarily with a broken buckler and a worn down sword, having managed to kill several goblins before Daniel appeared. Now, she's in a far-healthier physical condition, practices with Daniel when he's doing his own physical training, and has been on several missions with him. She likely can hold her own in a fight, but without her magic, she's a fraction of the size and weight of the general she intends to duel.

General Jothraligus retorts after the initial shock wears off, "I am an officer and a gentleman of the Grand Zenkon Empire. The Fievegal is not recognized as a sovereign state, so you have no authority here."

Hekate begins laughing. "He called himself a gentleman! Pfft-Hahahahaha!" As she wipes a tear away, she adds dryly, "A coward and a weakling, maybe." Hekate puffs up, saying more sternly, "The Fievegal does not recognize the 'Grand' Zenkon Empire as a sovereign state. See how easy that is? Now then, let's find out who's stronger. Don't you want to accept my duel? This is your big chance to strike me down."

Jothraligus hesitates. He and his men, who are now loosely surrounded by Choul, Ryuogriar, and Hekate, are on guard. They obviously don't realize that Choul can't harm them, as they are just as afraid of him as the other two.

"Why should I trust the word of a demon?" asks Jothraligus caustically after discussing quietly with the officers with him.

One of them says haughtily, "It is widely known that demons are violent, treacherous beings! You can't trust the word of savages."

Hekate sighs. "I can't believe you're the same species as Daniel."

"You little cur!" snarls one of the other officers. Hekate draws her shortsword, saying dryly without any interest in the insults, "Listen, you're not leaving here unless you win the duel. So, you can face me, or you can lose immediately. Your choice 'gentlemanly Jothy'."

The general grits his teeth, and he grunts, "Xendell, I nominate-..."

"Ah ah ah!" calls out Hekate, interrupting him as one of the guards starts forward. "I'm facing you myself, general. You are the one who fights. No exceptions. Or, are you not as loyal to your men as I am to mine?" She already essentially knows the answer, since he was abandoning the crumbling attempt at an invasion before they had even been completely defeated.

One of the lesser officers tries to come to the general's aid. "You have no right! A real officer's place is in command to keep the soldiers in line. We do not lower ourselves to combat. Certainly not with lowly demons."