Chapter 6: The Outcome of the Duel

In this world, the taste of human blood is like iron shavings.

That was my only thought before I calmed down after being pinned to the ground by Reim in the final phase of my duel with Yulia.

Ah, I really went overboard, didn’t I? Although my body is that of a child after coming to this place, inside, I’m still over twenty! Why do I feel like my mind has turned into that of a child, too? I found myself inexplicably angry at the blond **girl** in front of me. If this kept up, I’d probably enter a frenzy and go wild out of pain and killing intent!

And what’s worse, if I lost control during the frenzy, I would definitely end up killing Yulia right there. It was a close call—such a close call.

Thinking back, I’m so glad Reim jumped in and held me down.

As for Yulia, right before she cast her spell, her maid, Eleanor, rushed over with a change of expression, snatching away her wooden sword and pinning her down.

“I’ll be the one who wins!” Yulia exclaimed defiantly while being pressed down by Eleanor.

You’re quite persistent for a little girl, aren’t you? With such a cute face, why are you so combative?

“Yup, I lost. My Great Bear Gem was already cracked, and I couldn’t use magic anymore. So, you win, Yulia. Aah, I lost.”

I didn’t want to argue with her and pretended to sincerely concede.

“Hmph, at least you know. But you’re pretty strong too. Since you admitted defeat so graciously, let’s make up.” Yulia’s attitude softened after hearing my confession.

“No, Yulia, you are the one who lost,” replied Eleanor sternly, who had Yulia pinned.

“How many times do I have to say it? You’re prohibited from using black magic to interfere with the Phantom Forest. The price for summoning a phantom beast with black magic is not just magic power—it’s blood and flesh! Just now, you were going to summon an even higher-level existence without permission, weren’t you? Seriously, young lady, please cherish yourself a bit more.” Eleanor scolded Yulia angrily.

“But if I could become stronger, then mom wouldn’t have died…” Yulia said, suddenly tearing up.

Now that I had calmed down, Reim let me go. Seeing Yulia cry, he rushed over to pull Eleanor away, who was still pinning Yulia down, saying, “Alright, alright, let’s not fight. Eleanor, come on, you’re being too harsh on this little girl.”

“Hmph, and you have the nerve to come lecture me! That silver-haired kid just used black magic—Word Spirit—to dispel the unicorn, didn’t they? You’re the one who let the worst magic knowledge slip to a child! Did you think about the consequences of letting such a little girl use black magic freely?” Eleanor, breaking free from Reim’s grasp, became even angrier.

“Hey, hey, I was just teaching Alice the Common People Tribe language! Since she knows the Great Demon Tribe language, I explained that both are interpretations of Ancient Word Spirit Magic to help her grasp the Common People language faster.”

“In the end, it’s the result that matters. You still let her learn black magic! Do you want her to meet the same fate as her mother?”

“You know nothing, so stop pretending to be all-knowing! You’re the one who taught such a small girl how to summon phantom beasts with black magic!”

Ah, Reim, you came to mediate, yet somehow you ended up arguing with Eleanor!

I helplessly walked over and tried to comfort the sobbing Yulia sitting on the ground, just like I used to do with kids, gently patting her head and softly saying, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, the pain will soon fly away.”

Ugh, really, what kind of comforting method is this? Am I in a light novel now?

Thinking how I’m even younger than Yulia but still acting like an adult made me blush, so I quickly pulled my hand back.

“Don’t stop.” Yulia said softly while wiping her tears.

Huh? Are you talking to me?

After hearing Yulia’s words, I looked at her in surprise and continued to stroke her soft golden hair at her request.

“Yulia, good girl, don’t cry, the pain will soon fly away!”

“Yulia, good girl, don’t cry, the pain will soon fly away!”

“Yulia, good girl, don’t cry, the pain will soon fly away!”

Under my gentle patting, Yulia slowly calmed down.

Meanwhile, Eleanor and Reim seemed to still be arguing, but they finally stopped after being reprimanded by Master DeVein, and everyone returned together to Master DeVein’s weapon shop. Seriously, these two act even more childish than me and Yulia!

“Hey, is your maid always like this?” I quietly asked Yulia.

“Nope, when we’re at the fortress, Eleanor always has a stern face and no expression. I guess it’s just because it’s Reim?”

“Oh, I see, I see.” Watching the two continue their chatter, I couldn’t help but laugh.