As of this morning, the seventh prince’s consciousness has yet to return.

It’s been a whole day since I rescued the prince from kidnapping.

According to my appraisal, there was a significant decrease in his HP and ST.

Presumably, the chemicals used during the kidnapping were of poor quality.

When I administered the healing potions and status recovery potions that were always available at Rose-san’s mansion, he calmed down and the results of the appraisal returned to normal.

However, it seems that it will take time for his physical strength to recover, and I think it will be a while before he regains consciousness.

Ideally, we should explain the situation to the royal palace and have him recuperate there.

However, there are still questions about the circumstances in which the prince was protected.

Why was the prince in a dangerous slum without any guards?

If some plot is the cause, spreading information carelessly could exacerbate the situation.

In the worst-case scenario, the prince could be exposed to the risk of assassination.

In fact, in the game that likely took place in the future of this world, the seventh prince was dead.

And in the game’s storyline, the player corrects the kingdom, which is under tyranny by the second prince.

It would be too presumptuous to assert that the second prince is the mastermind, but we should not rule out the possibility of the seventh prince’s death.

However, it is a fact that the security at Rose-san’s mansion is currently insufficient.

While Rose-san and some of the servants have combat experience, they have no experience in protecting VIPs.

I know how to protect myself from PK, but I’m not good at protecting NPCs.

Besides, the most likely opponent is a professional assassin.

Taking more than enough measures will result in a loss.

Hence, I visited the adventurer’s guild in the royal capital.

Get an organization that is on par with the national power on your side.

Power against power.

Authority against authority.

In the royal capitals of the eight countries, the leaders who oversee the adventurers’ guilds of their respective countries are stationed.

They are called “Grandmasters” and play important roles in the story and have things like high combat abilities.

However, due to their high status, events that allow contact with them usually do not occur unless you are an adventurer rank A or above.

Fortunately, it was easy to meet this place’s (Promaris Kingdom) Grandmaster.

When I crossed the threshold of the guild, I was exposed to multiple gazes.

They have various meanings.

Those who show hostility towards strangers.

Those who are interested in the visit of an unknown person.

Also, those who turn their faces away with an unamused look.

Ignoring all of them, I head to the reception.

Guild Receptionist: “What can I do for you today?”

Arata: “I came to see the Grandmaster.”

The moment I uttered those words, the atmosphere in the guild changed.

A meeting with the Grandmaster.

The words mean “duel”.

The duel system can be performed against certain NPCs.

In the case of the Grandmaster of the Kingdom, if you are rank B or higher, you could initiate a duel by speaking to the receptionist at the far left of the adventurers’ guild.

Adventurer: “Hey, that guy…”

Adventurer: “Once in a while, there’s a guy who doesn’t know his place.”

Adventurer: “Who are you betting on?”

Adventurer: “You dumbass. That ain’t something to bet on.”

The adventurers who didn’t bother to hide their snide laughter.

I love this kind of atmosphere.

Admittedly, it would be difficult for me to fight the Grandmaster with my current status.

However, only when you win a game that everyone thinks you will lose, does that victory have meaning and value.

Unknown: “—It’s noisy.”

One phrase.

Perhaps it was a voice that could have been drowned out by the ridicule spreading in the guild and not heard by anyone.

But that word radiated enough pressure and dignity to instantly silence the room.

A dragon newt man appeared from the back room.

The dragon newt are a race that possess characteristics such as dragon scales, dragon wings, and dragon tails.

There’s a classification of beastmen called Lizardmen, but their appearance is just like a bipedal lizard, and it’s easy to distinguish them from dragon newt, where humans are the base.

As a racial trait of dragon newt, their status is generally high.

On the other hand, they cannot use magic at all, so they are often used as a muscle-brain race, mainly focusing on close combat.

Perhaps their high physical strength also affects their bodies, the man in front of me has a physique that clearly indicates he is a warrior.

–Vergil Spada.

The man with scales reminiscent of blood is the Grandmaster who governs the adventurer’s guild of the kingdom.

Vergil’s sharp gaze catches me.

Vergil: “Ho… I perceive that you are quite skilled.”

Arata: “I have a bit of confidence in the sword.”

Vergil: “You’re too modest.”

Whether he was pleased with the response or not, the corners of Vergil’s mouth rose.

Peeping from there, his white, sharp fangs were filled with delight as if he had found prey.

Arata: “I ask for a duel.”

Vergil: “Rather, I would ask from my side.”