“O~~~hoho! I’m Honourable a.s.sociate Baron Katharina von Waigel who is called the best of the West. I challenge you magicians of the Browig household to a duel with magic!” (Katharina)

Early morning of the next day after we accepted Klaus’ plan, just right at the halfway point between the two armies facing each other, Katharina made an oath while laughing loudly.
It was the start of the strategy to cause damage to the Margrave Browig household’s wallet according to Klaus’ suggestion.
Though I call it like that, it’s not such a complicated strategy either.
The one-on-one battles between fellow young knights will soon run out of personnel to be used for those. So this time we just changed it to magic.

“Katharina looks happy.”

“It’s a chance to gain fame after all.”

She succeeded in the revival of the Waigel household, but she is likely looking at the future prospects.
By doing one-on-one fights with magic, she tried to obtain military exploits and income by herself.
A dispute of this scale is rare. Gaining military exploits in this kind of place is connected to the honour of a n.o.ble.
Even if it’s a woman, there’s no difference in that matter.
No, in fact there is, but since she herself is a magician, who are exceptions as they are few in numbers, it will count as military exploit if she defeats a magician as opponent.
This was a loophole that used the fact that the number of magicians is few.
However, it’s also wrong to forget the irrational aspect that in the case the female magician isn’t a n.o.ble, she won’t be able to become a n.o.ble and can only receive honour and money.
There are big restrictions for woman to move up in society in this country after all.

“The ransom for magicians is high, right?”

“It seems so.”

The amount of ransom changes according to the social standing of the caught party.
And there is another criterion. For a magician, and even more so for a high-ranking one, the amount of ransom rises sharply.
Klaus plan, simply put, was that we wanted Katharina to capture a magician of Browig’s camp.

“Isn’t it possible that the other side won’t come out?” (Ina)

Ina’s concern was reasonable, but the wicked part of this plan was that we actually wouldn’t even mind that happening.

“The good aspect of a dispute like this is that it will be a great disgrace if no one appears once being challenged to a duel by the other side.” (Klaus)

Although being n.o.bles, they didn’t reply to the challenge of their opponents.
For what reason are they preparing troops regularly then? It seems that they will be ridiculed by their surroundings.

“But, you know. As there are no absolutes in such situations, isn’t it possible that a magician, who is stronger than Katharina, appears?”

“I can’t fully deny that, but for the time being it will be alright, I think.” (Klaus)

Burkhart-san said so before, but currently the East is lacking excellent magicians.
“Therefore there shouldn’t be a magician who could threaten Katharina”, Klaus explained.

“That’s right. The good part is that the employed magicians of the Margrave Browig household are at intermediate level. If they had employed an outstanding magician from outside, information about that should have reached master. If she doesn’t make quite a blunder, Katharina-jou-chan won’t loose.” (Burkhart)

Burkhart-san seems to have the same opinion as Klaus.
For an intermediate levelled magician to win against one of advanced level they have to skilfully hit the weak points or bet on a surprise attack for example, but that’s difficult if it isn’t a veteran who acc.u.mulated plenty of battle experience.
Moreover, those kind of strategies mostly don’t pa.s.s at one-on-one fights with a 『Ni~ce bam!』 like this time.
The way of casting lots of simple and powerful spells is overwhelmingly predominant.

“I shall take you up on that duel! I’m the head magician of the Margrave Browig household. Bianko Rocker, the 『Squall』.” (Bianko)

A single magician from Browig’s camp introduces himself due to Katharina’s challenge.
His age is around 40 years, I guess?
The robed middle-aged man you can find anywhere squares off against Katharina while preparing his wand.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Earl-sama?”

“That person, with such a terrible…”

Saying it like this might be rude, but compared to Burkhart-san, who is likewise an employed head magician, he felt remarkably inferior in ability.

“That place is compensating with numbers after all.”

Since there hasn’t appeared any excellent magicians in the East for a while now, the Margrave Browig household has failed at hiring a magician possessing an advanced level of mana.
Accordingly it’s no more than a.s.signing the person, who can skilfully lead the others, or the one most senior among the many intermediate magicians as temporary head.

“Meaning he wasn’t appointed as head magician due to having overwhelming ability like Burkhart-sama?” (Elise)

“That’s how it is.” (Burkhart)

Elise asks while handing tea to Burkhart-san and he answers while taking a sip of the tea.
The confrontation of both armies, which was controlled by one-on-one fights, is basically a battle with plenty of free time.
Therefore, besides us, all of our allied n.o.bles are drinking tea, eating the sweets on the tables and are watching the situation while sitting in the chairs at their own encampments.
Currently the time is exactly 10 o’clock in the morning. It had the feeling of what would be called a morning snack on earth.

“Can that magician of Browig’s camp win against Katharina?” (Erwin)

“No, he can’t.”

“If that’s the case, why has he come out?” (Erwin)

From Erw’s viewpoint, he apparently can’t understand well why the head magician accepted the duel if he can’t win.
However, I believe it’s only natural for him to make an appearance if seen from the viewpoint of a n.o.ble.
Putting aside the outcome of the duel, something like not answering to the request for a duel by the opponent will be more disgraceful than losing to Browig’s camp.

“Come at me, it’s a regular duel!” (Bianko)

After both of them introduced themselves, the duel between Katharina and 『Squall』 begins.
『Squall』 takes the initiative, produces two tornadoes with magic from both his arms and releases them at Katharina.
The part of creating two tornado spells at the same time from both hands can be expected of a skilled magician, I thought.

“However… With Katharina as opponent, that level of wind magic is…”

Katharina immediately deploys a tornado around her and negates the tornadoes released at her by 『Squall』.

“There’s still much more to come!”

Next 『Squall』 continues to release tornadoes with both arms, but all of them are repelled by the tornado Katharina has deployed around her.

“I guess you saw it. In such duels only the power of the spell and the amount of mana decides the outcome.”

“Only, you say?”

“Right. Other factors don’t play a role!”

In the end 『Squall』, who used up his mana by continuing to release a series of tornadoes, gives up. This duel has finished.
He surrendered and gave his wand to Katharina.

“Likewise, I’m Roy Zalnier, the 『Flame Whip』, employed by the Browig household. I challenge you to a regular duel!” (Roy)

Next Katharina begins to fight with a 30-years old magician who can be considered to be of intermediate level and calls himself 『Flame Whip』.
He used flame whips in both hands, as expected, and started to attack Katharina by swinging them alternately.
The flame whips swoop down on Katharina with various timings.
Once Katharina defends against a hit from the front, an attack from right behind her comes at the same time.
Next, if she defends against attacks from her blind spot, the flame whip approaches at the same spot once again right away.
『Flame Whip』 has properly researched and trained this spell and has made it his own.

“But, well…”

“Eeh! Isn’t he amazing?”

“『Flame Whip』 won’t have chance if he fights in these conditions.”

As a matter of fact, those skilful attacks, which used continuous. .h.i.ts and feints with the flame whips, were completely warded off by the water wall Katharina has cast.
No matter from where he attacks, he can’t break through the water wall. They were just fruitlessly raising water vapour with an evaporation sound of 『sizzling』.

“The magic of the fire attribute used by 『Flame Whip』 is his strongest attribute as it was mastered through long training. On the other hand Katharina-jou-chan belongs to the category of being bad at the water attribute.” (Burkhart)

Nevertheless Katharina’s water attribute is superior in regards to its power.
This is the wall between intermediate and advanced level that can’t be exceeded at all.

“He isn’t that different in strength to 『Squall』 from before. It’s evidence that the Margrave Browig household keeps employing several intermediate levelled magicians.”

After a few minutes 『Flame Whip』 ended up getting surrounded by a water wall deployed by Katharina as counter-attack and surrendered after throwing his wand away.

“Did you see my ability?” (Katharina)

Katharina returns together with the two magicians of the Browig household who became prisoners while having a proud expression.
Next other magicians began their duels in the place where she fought.
There were still several employed magicians who belonged to either the Browig household or the Breithilde household.
Usually it’s prohibited as it’s pointless to use magic for something like duels, but in such time of war it’s allowed as an exception.
Because they are able to obtain honour and rewards if they win, there were many magicians challenging to duels as it’s only allowed in such place.

“You didn’t have any troubles.” (Luise)

“Luise-san, it might be enjoyable for people who are looking forward to troubles, but for me that intolerable…” (Katharina)

“How to call it? It wasn’t dangerous at all.” (Luise)

“It’s that kind of duel after all.” (Katharina)

Luise begins to talk with Katharina, who came back, while pa.s.sing her some tea.

“In combat there’s also the matter of losing if you are suddenly hit in a weak point, even as advanced level, but…”

Since one fights after a signal facing the opponent from the front in this kind of formal duels, it’s natural for the ones with strong magic power winning most of the times.
Rather you could even say that Katharina’s victories were inevitable.

“Taking by surprise is a good move.” (Ina)

“In actual combat that’s how it is, however these are one-on-one fights where you wager your honour.”

If you did something like a surprise attack in such one-on-one fight, it would result in you being treated as coward or similar.
“Since that’s the case, I would rather not suffer that”, Katharina explained to Ina.

“Hey, won’t Burkhart-san and Wend go for it?”

“I will pa.s.s.” (Burkhart)

Burkhart-san is the head of the employed magicians of the Margrave Breithilde household.
Seeing that the current Browig household doesn’t have a magician who could win against him, it’s necessary for him to yield the privilege to hold duels to those below.

“In the first place, what’s the point of me winning in this now?” (Burkhart)

If it’s achievements and honour, Burkhart-san has already obtained plenty of those.
As there’s no reason to especially fight against magicians who are of intermediate level and below, he will only get hated if he considered stealing the chances of the people below him.

“It’s the same for Wend as well, huh…?”

My achievements are plenty already. We have caught n.o.bles, main retainers and soldiers of more than 40 household in this time’s battle.
It’s to the extent that I have been told 『It’s fine for you to rest now』 by Breithilde.

“What about dous.h.i.+?” (Erwin)

“There’s no way he will come here, right?” (Wendelin)

It will become troublesome if the Royal Head Magician appears at a dispute between n.o.bles of the East and South.
Despite that, I can fully understand Erw’s question.
If it’s that person, I couldn’t deny the possibility of him coming to partic.i.p.ate in the duels since it seems to be fun.

“Besides, the Browig household’s side will cry.”

Given that he should naturally join our side as we are his acquaintances if dous.h.i.+ comes, the balance of war potential will s.h.i.+ft into hopelessness and it will likely become terrible in that case.

“Umm, Wendelin-san, what’s my reward?” (Katharina)

“There isn’t any.” (Wendelin)

“Why!?” (Katharina)

“Wai-! You are a n.o.ble as well, right!?” (Wendelin)

Katharina’s current position is that of the female family head of the Waigel household which are relatives of the Earl Baumeister household. She partic.i.p.ated in the battle in accordance to Margrave Breithilde’s request.
Although she can’t send troops, she serves by raising achievements and helping out as excellent magician.

“The n.o.bles, soldiers and magician caught by you will turn into profit due to the ransom, Katharina. It would be weird if you got a reward from me.” (Wendelin)

“Now that you mention it, that’s true…” (Katharina)

Even though she became the family head of a n.o.ble household, albeit temporarily, Katharina had somehow a weak awareness of that.

“Aren’t there many on the side of ransoms that lack an outline in some parts? As for the negotiations, it will be fine if we leave it to Heinz’ son who is acting as governor.” (Wendelin)

“That’s true! I will contact him right away!” (Katharina)

Knowing that increasing the money will make it possible to put it in the development of the a.s.sociate Baron Waigel household’s territory, Katharina began to drink her tea in a good mood.