Chapter 288 Bet and Stake
The Academy's most popular tradition, the duel.
A duel will occur if both parties agree and set equal stakes. The student executive board served as both guarantor and supervisor, ensuring that official duels unfolded only under their watchful eyes. The original content can be pinpointed to n0v3lbin•
Typically, the stakes of these duels rested on student points, making Praeterea's challenge on the first day unusual. The initial week saw the points frozen and rankings undetermined
Everyone was looking at Felicia, waiting for her decision. And Felicia's decision was,
"I refuse."
Some were surprised, while others remained unfazed. Among those taken aback, speculation arose that the discourse and disagreement might have been rooted in pride—an issue nobles typically embraced with enthusiasm. If a refusal followed, it was often attributed to fear or a perceived lack of confidence in victory, regardless of the actual reasons.
"Hah! Of course, you won't accept; you must be afraid," Hallie persisted, aiming to provoke.
On the other side, those less surprised discerned Felicia's rationale for declining the duel, which was.
"Why should I accept your challenge? What's in it for me?" Felicia questioned, highlighting the absence of a clear system for equal exchange or a defined stake in this particular duel.
"M-money. I can compensate you through this duel!" Hallie declared.
"Are you kidding me?" Felicia retorted with a hint of mockery. "You yourself claimed I entered solely with money. Now you're offering me more? Am I not already the affluent one?"
With no patience for further nonsense from Hallie, Felicia turned to Daphne and asserted, "There will be no duel here. You can go back."
'I know I am just a baronet, but I am your senior here. These noble is sure is annoying,' Daphne thought.
Daphne secured her ponytail and expressed disappointment, "Oh no no no... Too bad, my instinct led me to believe the duel would actually commence."
Meanwhile, Hallie struggled to accept the humiliation. Being not only dismissed by Felicia but also viewed as an overeager individual seeking recognition by the entire class was a blow to her pride. Despite embodying that very persona, she was reluctant to have everyone perceive her in such a light.
In short order, she devised a plan to provoke Felicia, and she found it.
"Firstly, you can't risk all the points you have, so students are forbidden from going all in. The limit for awarding points in a duel is 80% points at most in a single bout. While there are exceptions for certain duel types, at least for now, going all in is prohibited. Furthermore, there's no guarantee that both participants will receive enought points when the point identification is completed. Such uncertainty is not allowed in a duel. That's why there are no duels before the point identification is complete."
Having explained this, Daphne released a long sigh and shook her head in disappointment. "No further response, huh... Geez, I anticipated it, but it seems like you guys don't even need an official duel to continue. Just have your own duel."
"Wait!" Felicia called out as she noticed Daphne starting to turn around.
"The stake is, I want Hallie not to bother us forever!"
Daphne sighed once more, "Didn't you hear? The stakes should be something more tangible. There's no way the student executive should keep an eye on Hallie just to ensure she doesn't talk to you."
"It's a real deal, but we just need a gimmick," " Felicia stated. "We're going to wager money to make this duel official. My demand remains the same—I want her to never speak to me again at the academy. With this many witnesses and the duel made official, breaking her vow would be deeply embarrassing for her," Felicia explained.
"Oh, I see... Understandable," Daphne acknowledged.
Hallie grinned deviously, "Alright, I agree too. I'll give you the money, and on top of that, I want your knight to be mine!"
"What?! Isn't that unfair?!" Sharik protested.
'I don't care about that weak knight,' Hallie thought. 'If I can separate him from Felicia, she'll be even more upset!'
"Alright, I agree," Felicia declared.
"Oi! Are you serious?! Giving Allen away?!" Geirhild shouted. Although Geirhild hadn't initially cared about their business, Felicia's statement about Allen being handed over made her reconsider since Allen was her friend.
"Of course, Allen won't lose anyway," Felicia reassured.
"How can you be so sure?!" Geirhild questioned.
Felicia smiled, her eyes radiant, "Because I believe in him." Felicia's confidence surprised Geirhild, and with those words, even Geirhild found herself believing in Felicia.
"Yeah, I'm not sure Allen can lose either. I feel sorry for the other party over there," Sharik commented. Unlike Geirhild, Sharik was more excited, and his voice carried across the crowd.
"Pity? For me?" Clarke retorted. Stepping forward, he discarded his outerwear and tossed it on the ground. "I'm a prodigious kid who's been in the dungeon since I was 10 years old." He brandished his sword, and continue "Not just the first floor, I've followed the expedition team to the second floor! And I'm currently a recognized gold-level dungeon explorer. There's no way I can lose to a commoner without an education, who came from out of nowhere in another world like him!"
"No, you will lose," Sharik said casually. "You know, we Samoyeds have always had a good sense to follow stronger people who are compatible with us. We choose our leaders and masters."
Sharik pointed at Clarke and stated loudly, "My instincts tell me you are weak, and so everyone here. At least, weaker than Allen."