Chapter 122
A few hours later.
“So this ‘Right of Possession’—it’s an old word no one really uses anymore, right?” Ariella asked.
“Correct.” Devel nodded.
After the sudden end of the banquet, Devel had come to explain how the duel would proceed. Ariella used the chance to ask everything she wanted to know.
“I’ve never even seen it invoked myself. It’s practically forgotten now. The conditions are very strict.”
In the South, disputes were often solved with blood. Ludwig was used to that culture.
When he had drawn his sword earlier, he wasn’t asking for a duel—he had truly meant to kill Belzerion.
But the North had read it differently.
“In most northern demon territories, duels to the death are forbidden.”
“Why?” Ariella asked.
“Because once, every quarrel ended with blood. Too many demons died. It was wasteful, a loss to society itself.”
Ariella nodded. It wasn’t so different from the human world.
“So the system changed. If you wanted a duel, you no longer took the loser’s life. You took something else instead.”
“That’s this ‘Right of Possession’?”
“Yes. But even then, there are strict procedures.”
Devel folded his fingers one by one, counting.
“First, the duel must be declared inside a Demon King’s castle. Second, the lord of that land must bear witness. If those conditions aren’t met, the duel is illegal—and punishable.”
But because of those restrictions, duels had all but vanished.
“Even the most reckless demon wouldn’t dare provoke a fight in front of Lord Schwarz. It’s unseemly, and they’d risk his wrath.”
“So Ludwig basically revived a dead custom,” Ariella muttered.
Ludwig just shrugged. “How was I supposed to know?”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t know either,” Ariella admitted.
Not even her well-read travel notes had mentioned this relic of a bygone era.
And thanks to Ludwig, it was alive again.
Ariella asked the question that weighed most on her.
“This ‘Right of Possession’… it doesn’t mean everything of the loser belongs to the winner, right? Their freedom, for example?”
“That’s what you’re worried about? You think I’ll lose?” Ludwig scoffed.
“Just in case!” Ariella snapped.
She hadn’t crossed half the world to avoid Delac’s slavery only for Ludwig to end up a northern demon’s property.
Thankfully, Devel shook his head.
“No. That would be slavery, plain and simple. Such barbarism has never been enshrined in tradition.”
“Then what can be claimed?”
“Whatever the winner names in advance. Each side writes it down, and Lord Schwarz approves it based on value and fairness.”
“Value?”
“Broadly interpreted. Tangible or intangible. But never a life. The law was made to stop needless killing.”
“So what if I do cut his damn head off in the middle of the duel?” Ludwig frowned, finally catching on.
“Absolutely not! If a visiting king killed one of our high nobles, the fallout would be catastrophic.”
“Trade negotiations would collapse,” Ariella added.
“Without question,” Devel confirmed.
Ludwig grumbled. “Then what’s the point? A duel where you can’t even kill your enemy?”
“Maybe it’s better that way,” Ariella said. “As long as you win.”
“I’ll win. No doubt about it.”
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
Ariella gave permission, and a servant entered, carrying a paper. Devel took it first, scanned it, and his brow furrowed.
“…Belzerion has already submitted his demand.”
Ludwig snorted. “What does that snake want?”
Devel hesitated. Too long. Ariella pressed him.
Finally, he sighed. “Your… sea chart.”
“…What?”
Ariella snatched the paper, her jaw clenching as she read.
“He wants the map. The route we carved across the sea from South to North.”
At that, Pie, who had been sprawled like a balloon on the bed, shot upright.
“What?!”
The little creature flapped furiously into the air, wings beating like a storm. The room filled with a gust, blankets and papers flying.
“I nearly lost my eyes to finish that! No way we’re giving it up!”
“Pie, calm down,” Ariella said, steadying him.
Then she looked at the paper again, grim but resolved.
“It doesn’t matter. All we have to do is win. His greed is his problem.”
Her eyes narrowed at Devel.
“You said it yourself—both sides must wager something of equal value.”
Devel wiped sweat from his brow. “Exactly. And Lord Schwarz will be scrupulously fair. He won’t take Belzerion’s side.”
“Good,” Ariella said, her mind racing. “Tell me, Devel. How much is this map worth—the secret of a sea no ship has crossed in centuries?”
Devel’s voice grew solemn. “Its value cannot even be measured.”
“That’s what I thought.”
She smiled faintly.
“Perfect.”
Ludwig frowned. “Perfect? How’s that perfect?”
“Because if his stake is this big…” Ariella’s smile sharpened.
“…then we can raise ours just as high.”
Later, in Schwarz’s chamber—
“Lord, you planned this, didn’t you?”
“Hmm?” Schwarz tilted his head.
“Don’t play coy. I could tell,” said Echelon, his loyal aide.
“The timing was too sharp. Too quick. You declared the duel binding before Ludwig even understood what it meant.”
Echelon scratched his horn, frowning.
“He had no idea this custom existed. Neither did most of the demons here, until you spoke. It’s ancient history.”
“But still law,” Schwarz replied calmly. “No Demon King has ever abolished it.”
“You could’ve delayed it. Cited some reason, forced Ludwig to leave before the duel was set.”
“Perhaps.”
Schwarz was as relaxed as ever, but Echelon’s instincts screamed.
He had served Schwarz long enough to recognize that subtle glint in his master’s eyes.
“This is strange.”
“What is?”
“In pure logic, Belzerion winning is best. His vineyards bring huge revenue in taxes. If he loses, that wealth flows to Ludwig instead.”
Schwarz said nothing.
And that silence confirmed Echelon’s suspicion.
“…You want Belzerion to lose.”
A slow smile curved Schwarz’s lips.
“Yes. He’s grown too large. It’s time someone cut him down.”
