"Ah, ah, ahhh..."
Angelica stared at the massive cloud of dust rising high into the sky. Her jaw dropped so far it seemed like it might fly off from sheer shock.
The dust cleared.
There stood a middle-aged man with his fist planted in the ground. Around his fist was a huge crater at least ten meters wide.
Incredibly, the dust cloud had not come from explosive magic. It was caused by a single punch.
(If I had not tripped back then... that punch would have hit me...)
Absolute-zero cold sweat ran down Angelica's back.
Rick pulled his fist from the ground and spoke.
"To dodge that strike... As expected from a Second-Class Knight..."
"Who... who exactly are you!?"
Angelica asked desperately, as if appealing to a judge against injustice. Rick answered casually.
"Huh? Just an ordinary F-rank adventurer who switched from guild receptionist work two years ago for a fresh start."
Absolute lie!! That is not the F-rank I know!!
All thirty-seven trillion cells in Angelica's body shouted in unison.
Rick pulled his right fist back to his waist and took his stance again.
"My party seniors told me to hold back in fights against people. But against someone way above me like you, I had no room for that. I will borrow your strength and go all out!!"
At Rick's words, Angelica felt her face twist so hard it might tear apart.
"...I... I surrender."
"Here I go... Wait, what!? Eeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh!?"
"Eeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhh!?"
The unexpected outcome made me shout without thinking.
(I... won somehow...)
Angelica had controlled the flow of the battle the whole time. So why!?
Angelica pointed her sword at me and spoke while I stood confused.
"This time... I will call it my loss."
"Oh, okay then."
Her voice trembled slightly, but I figured it was just my imagination.
Angelica immediately turned on her heel and ran toward Freid.
"We are leaving, Freid!!"
"Y-Yes, big sister."
The Dilmutt siblings hurried to retreat from the scene.
I suddenly remembered something and clapped my hands while muttering to myself.
"Oh right, the condition?"
"Ah..."
Angelica froze in place.
I recalled what she had said before the duel started.
"In the Philheim Kingdom style of dueling, both sides can set one condition. My condition is 'the loser becomes the winner's servant until death!!' Second-Class Knight Angelica Dilmutt will punish this lowlife!!!"
"Ah, I did not state my condition. But at least Angelica's condition still applies."
"..."
Angelica stayed silent for a moment. Then she hoisted Freid onto her shoulder, bent her knees deeply, and shouted.
"One more time—break my limits, my legs!!! 'Instant Step: Rin'!!!!!"
"Ah, she ran..."
Angelica fled the arena at what might have been her fastest speed of the day (pretty fast, honestly), carrying Freid.
I had no intention of chasing her. I never planned to make her serve me until death anyway... Well, as a guy, if her body were a bit more impressive, I might have asked for some "special services," but...
"Hmm, but still."
I remained unsatisfied. Why did that female knight suddenly surrender?
In the fight, I had been completely toyed with by her meticulous strategy. She had such an advantage—why give up so abruptly?
Was she feeling sick? No, she looked perfectly healthy. Maybe some unknown illness?
Wait, Angelica is a female knight. Meaning...
"Oh, yeah. Got it. That time of the month. I do not fully understand as a guy, but I hear it is rough."
I nodded in understanding and clapped my hands. Come to think of it, receptionist Alisa sometimes had a slightly forced smile too.
I walked toward Lynette, who waited at the edge of the arena, nodding to myself.
"Good work, Rick-sama."
She spoke kindly as I approached. I patted her shoulder and said.
"It must be tough. Like with Angelica earlier—if it is really that bad a day, I will support you as much as I can. Do not be shy about telling me."
"What exactly are you talking about?"
Lynette replied with her usual expressionless face.