Chapter 50
"What's going on?" the onlookers all turned to look at us at once.
Flustered, I said, "Oh no no, it's nothing at all, please carry on, ohohohoho," trying to play it off.
That's ridiculous!!
I immediately looked at Clarice.
"What do you mean?! It doesn't look like that to me at all."
"Indeed, my lady. At first glance, it appears to be healthy hair. However, if you look very closely at the hairline, something seems off."
"I can't tell at all."
"Only those who have studied wigs for many years would notice. The hair covering the ears and the nape at the back of the head differ ever so slightly in texture."
I tried observing carefully.
The toad-faced man's hairstyle was greasy and stuck to his head, with waves of brown hair extending down to his ears.
That's a wig? I can't see it at all!
Even Adellass would pale at this otherworldly wig technology!
"If that's true......"
"Yes, my lady......"
"It seems the time has finally come to use 'that magic'......"
"Indeed. The 'new magic' we developed through tireless day and night effort......"
"The 'final evolution form' of 'Wind', the 'beginner's beginner'......"
"Recently, we've made it usable even without a staff......"
"As expected of you, Clarice...... I'll decide the timing."
"As you command."
"I'll take the left wig. Clarice, you take the right."
"Understood......"
While all that was happening, it seems a duel had been decided on.
Apparently, among the onlookers was a high-ranking magician from the school, and that person would act as judge. The venue was filled with excitement. The performance band that had been on stage came closer, playing intense music to hype up the duel.
As expected, someone quick to profit had already started organizing the bets.
The duel would follow the 'False God Washashiel's Duel Rules'.
There were three rules.
First, only lower to mid-tier magic allowed.
Second, cast simultaneously at the signal.
Third, lifting both feet from the ground equals loss.
It was quite an entertaining duel. This way, one's abilities could be measured without going too far and causing death. Reaction time to the signal, spell formation speed, and power would be key. If you can fire off a quick, powerful spell, you win.
"Kill the toad-face!"
"Take him down!"
Surume and Gargaine were shouting. The others were similar.
Ariana muttered, "That guy's disgusting."
"We're about to witness something interesting."
Whispering that to the three, I ran over to Elizabeth's side. Already, Amy and several of Elizabeth's friends were shielding her. They were genuinely furious at the toad-faced man.
Then Hamil and the toad-faced man faced each other. They were about ten meters apart. The crowd formed a circle around them, watching breathlessly. Clarice and I moved to positions where it'd be easier to cast spells.
"Now, we will proceed with the 'False God Washashiel's Duel Rules', wagering the right to speak of love with Miss Elizabeth. Use magic at the count signal. Understood?"
Hamil nodded gallantly, while the toad-faced man grinned creepily at Elizabeth as he nodded.
"Then... begin!"
The crowd fell silent.
"......One!"
At the judge's signal, both raised their staffs immediately.
"Wind Cutter!!"
"Fireball!!"
The invisible blade of wind and the heated fireball clashed mid-air and vanished.
"Uoooooooh!" cried the audience. Their abilities seemed evenly matched.
The battle was neck and neck.
Hamil pushed forward with youthful vigor, while the toad-faced man cunningly read his magic and canceled it out with minimal mana. At this rate, Hamil would run out of mana first.
When the judge's count reached "Seventeen!", I gave Clarice a look.
Clarice silently nodded.
I visualized an ultra-thin, sturdy "Wind" shaped like a claw machine arm. Since I was in charge of the left wig, I had to fire the "new magic" shaped like the letter "S" at his ear. If I missed even slightly, I wouldn't be able to launch the wig, so intense focus was required. Thanks to our many practice sessions, the new magic would shoot upward like a claw machine arm at super speed, hook the wig, and blast it into the sky.
The judge took a deep breath.
"Eighteeeen!!!"
On the eighteenth round of the duel, both began chanting their spells.
"Sand Wall" flew from both sides, collided at the center, and shattered with a loud crash.
The crowd screamed. Some quick thinkers used Wind to push the debris back into the ring.
——Now's our chance!!!!
——Clarice!!!!!!
"Baldie Snatcher (the technique to blow off a stuck-up noble's wig)!!!!!!!!!!!"
I flicked my right index finger upward.
Clarice did the same in sync.
The new magic, "Baldie Snatcher (the technique to blow off a stuck-up noble's wig)," activated perfectly. An invisible micro-gust of wind whipped past the toad-faced man's head.
His hair was suddenly lifted and, though it resisted the "Baldie Snatcher" for a moment, the precise force overwhelmed it. With a ripping sound like glue coming loose, the wig shot into the sky.
It all happened in an instant. As it flew through the air, everyone's eyes followed it like a tennis ball. Faces turned to follow the falling wig, watching the free-falling hair in stunned silence.
flutter...
With a sound full of sorrow and angst, the wig landed on the toad-faced man's shoulder.
His crushed face twisted with madness, and the chandelier light reflected off his shiny bald head.
A moment of silence.
The crowd looked back and forth between the wig and the toad-faced man's bald head.
A trumpet-like instrument player, sensing the moment, gave a loud "Pampakapaaaan!" sound effect.
Everyone exploded with laughter.
A whirlwind of laughter. Pure chaos. The toad-faced man—Beske Silver—curled up clutching his head.
He shouted the classic farewell line, "You'll pay for this!" and vanished from the venue.
No, seriously, I couldn't forget even if I wanted to.
That face paired with baldness is way too brutal......
After that day, mocking your opponent by saying "Don't blow off my wig before the duel" became a short-lived trend.
○
The venue finally calmed down, and Ariana, Amy, and I showed Misa our outfits. Elizabeth was getting along well with Hamil, so we left them alone. The two of them were blushing as they talked, champagne in hand. Just watching their sweet moment was enough to make me full. Good for you, Elizabeth!
"A lot happened, but it was fun."
"Yeah..."
Ariana nodded at my words.
"By the way, did Sister Amy dance with anyone?"
"Me? I danced with Satsuki-chan."
"No no, I mean a man. A-M-A-N."
"Eh—I'm not popular anyway, and I'm not good with that stuff, so it's fine."
You're so wrong it makes my internal voice slip into fake Kansai dialect. You not being popular? What kind of joke is that?
"What about Ellie?"
"I'm ugly and fat."
"That's not true......"
"Exactly what Ariana-chan said! Ellie is so cute!"
"Yeah... yeah..."
Ariana nodded a little too eagerly. Her tail was wagging furiously.
No, something's off with these two's eyes.
"Right? Totally right!"
"Ellie is... cute."
Amy and Ariana started getting all hyped up without me. What a weird combo.
While I was chatting with Misa, Joe showed up wearing a shirt, tie, and slim trousers. Oh, nice sense of style. As expected.
"Glad I made it in time."
Joe took off his flat cap and spoke, breathing heavily through his shoulders.
"You actually made it in, huh."
"A friend gave me their invitation."
"I got in with Clarice."
"Eh, really!? I should've come with Misa then."
At Misa's words, Joe laughed and said it had been a wasted effort.
"So, what's up, Joe? Got a new work or something?"
"Nah, it's not like that."
"Then what?"
"Well......"
"Anyway, I've got stuff to prepare for tomorrow, so I'm heading out."
Misa swished her bob cut and briskly left the venue without waiting for a reply. I still had things I wanted to talk about, but well, we'll meet again for tomorrow's magazine release, so it's fine.
Joe and I watched Misa's retreating figure, then turned back to each other.
For some reason, we stared at each other in silence.
Joe, say something.
"Ellie, here."
In Joe's right hand was a single white rose, wrapped.
"Eh, this is for me?"
The unexpected gift made my voice rise involuntarily.
"I thought it would suit you, Ellie."
"What are you even saying."
Joe snapped the rose stem in half and gently slid it into the chest pocket on my one-piece dress. Looking closely, I saw all the thorns had been removed, so it was safe to touch. Joe smiled happily and said, "Nice," and it was charming.
What the hell am I saying. I'm a guy. Joe's a guy.
Okay. Be cool.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, Joe placed his flat cap to his chest and solemnly extended his right hand.
"Would you dance with me, milady?"
"............Eh?"
I panicked. I panicked hard.
Before I knew it, my cheeks were burning.
"Let's dance, Ellie."
"No. If you dance with a fat, ugly girl like me, you'll just get laughed at, Joe."
"That doesn't matter. I want to dance with you, Ellie."
"W-what are you saying......"
"Come on, Ellie. Let's go."
"But......"
Gahhh—none of that "but......" crap!
What's this pounding in my chest!?
No good, this is bad! Out of control!
Even if I stay calm, my body's reacting all on its own!
"Come on!"
Joe forcefully took my left hand and, smiling brightly, led me to the center of the hall.
His smile gleamed under the sparkling chandelier.
Is this fluttering in my chest mine, or is it Ellie's...?
Could this be........................"K.O.I"......?
What the hell, you idiot!
I shook my head to banish the exact same words that once flashed through the lecherous photographer's mind.
Holding both hands, I danced with Joe to a simple rhythm.
For now, I decided to forget everything and just enjoy the moment. This bubbling excitement rising from my chest was real. I'd be missing out if I didn't enjoy it.
Until the band finished their performance, we kept dancing, toasting, and laughing together. The wonderful music swelled at times passionately, at times gently, enveloping young men and women in a trance. "I wish this moment would last forever," murmured a woman in a nearby couple. The music and clamor never stopped until the end of the party, echoing all throughout the night.