Chapter 21 : The Tears of A Beloved Girl
（Master? Why is your face turning pale? ……… WHAT THE! ? AN ORDER FOR MY EXECUTION! ! ? ?）
Noticing at Aria's pale face Tama also looked at the content of the parchment
and finally understood the situation.
And the weight of his deed.
He attacked that man for the sake of protecting Aria.
That man's true identity is the eldest son of a baron house.
Kussman is no exception to the usual habits of the other nobles.
They’re typically extremely prideful men.
Apparently, Tama interrupted him when he tried to make Aria his possession.
He snapped after Tama injured him in public and made him completely lose face. It seems he’s making a decree for the execution of Tama by using the power of his baron house.
「No………… NO……….. NOOOOOOOO! ! 」
Her adorable Tama.
Her beloved Tama who saved her life from danger.
There’s no way she can allow that.
But, a commoner cannot refuse the order of a noble.
She can’t make her choice.
Aria can only crouch in place, hugging Tama as if to protect him with tears flowing from her eyes.
Her figure as if she was telling everyone 「If you kill this child, then kill me along with him」.
「C-Can we do something about it………」
「That’s impossible, didn’t you hear that Kussman is the eldest son of a baron house? We truly can’t do anything」
Seeing Aria's pitiful situation.
Such exchanges are happening amongst the surrounding adventurer.
Looking closely, the mightiest receptionist, Arnold is also closing h(er)is eyes with a bitter expression.
No matter how powerful (s)he is, (s)he is powerless before the authority of a noble.
（…………. What should I do in this situation? I can save my own life if I make use of the gap. But, that’s impossible, I’ll be separated from master if I do that. I made an oath to exhaust my life to protect my master as her knight. What should I do…….）
The danger of his life――
His knight oath――
Tama is also stuck between a rock and a hard place.
His thoughts ran around in circles as he endlessly searched for another way.
「Ah……. Aren’t you a pitiful one, miss Aria. Does this elemental cat hold such importance to you? 」
Unexpectedly, the one breaking such a deadlock is the origin of this situation, Kassman.
「HE IS! THIS CHILD IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME…………. JUST LIKE MY OWN CHILD. PLEASE FORGIVE HIM, KASSMAN-SAMA…..! ! 」
Aria is begging Kassman while large teardrops pour from her eyes.
But, Tama notices it.
Though Kassman's voice seems like a gentleman, his eyes are like muddy water……
「What should I do then, miss Aria. How about having a “duel” against me? 」
「A………. Duel? Why did you……..」
「Wha~t, it’s just that your feeling toward your pet has touched my heart. Thus, I took pity on your situation. But as someone of baron house, cancelling an order that I already revealed is a bit of an embarrassment. Thus, we will decide with a duel. this order will be cancelled as long as you win………. How does that sound to you? 」
Kassman is saying so with exaggerated gestures.
In short, he gave Aria a chance.
But, her expression is still gloomy.
That’s natural.
At any rate, Aria is a mere D-rank adventurer.
She must fight against Kassman, a C-rank adventurer.
The difference between their abilities and equipment is clear as day.
Aria's chance of victory is next to nothing.
「Don’t make such face, miss Aria. I never said anything about our duel being 1 on 1 right? 」
「……UHN！ ? 」
「I heard that you started to fight alongside that elemental cat right?. In that case, I’ll allow you to fight together with that elemental cat! 」
Kassman declares so with a loud voice to Aria who makes a face as if seeing a miracle.
（If I’m with Tama………!）
A hope began to bud in Aria's heart.
But, that trembling hope is also just for a moment.
And she instantly became gloomy again as she asked Kassman.
「What is your plan………..? 」
Yes………..
Kassman is acting as if he’s giving a chance to her despite being the one who brought in that execution order.
Aria suspected that he might have another motive due to the sudden development.
「Kukuku…….. You really are a wise girl, miss Aria. Yes, I do have a goal in mind. It’s the condition I put for this duel. First, in case you win, the execution is cancelled. This point didn’t change. And there’s a condition in the case that I won. In case I won……….. Miss Aria, “You’ll become my wife”. That’s the condition of this duel」
Aria is taken aback.
Yes, that was Kassman's other goal.
No…….. Rather than saying other goal, that was his true intention from the very beginning.
Kassman used it.
This situation that happened due to the wound inflicted by Tama, Aria's pet.
Because previously he had even used roundabout ways, such as inviting Aria to his adventurer party to take her for himself, such an opportunity could obviously not be passed up
「Well, your choice then, miss Aria? Will you accept this duel? Or……….」
「I-I’ll accept it! I accept the duel! Otherwise Tama will be……..! ! 」
hearing Kassman threa—- Asking that question to Aria with a disgusting smile on his face.
Aria accepted the condition of the duel while still weeping.
Otherwise, Tama will be executed.
Aria was left with no choice but to accept the duel.
（HOW DARE YOU! ! ! !）
Tama's body is filled with a rage like none that he had ever felt before.
This fury was aimed toward Kassman who made his lovely master, Aria cry but most of all, towards himself for causing this kind of situation.
Tama made an oath.
Kassman, who made his master cry.
Will pay the ultimate price――
Credit to : Solitarious King and DRAGO for their reinforcement