Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Conclusion

Facing each other in the dueling arena, me and Jorg.

In about five minutes, Father will appear and announce the start of the Selection Ceremony.

The spectators are in an unusually high state of excitement, with everyone predicting the outcome of the battle.

Most of them have unwavering faith in Jorg’s victory.

“Brother, I hate you so much.”

Jorg stares at me with eyes full of hatred.

His words are drowned out by the noise of the spectators, reaching only me.

“Well, it’s mutual. I’ve disliked you for a long time.”

I’ve been subjected to his unpleasantness countless times. There’s no way I could like him.

“You know, I’ve always, always envied you. You could do everything since we were kids. While it took me three years to learn how to read and write, you did it in just two months. It took me two years to learn calculations that you could do in two days. It took me half a year to learn spear techniques that you mastered in a month. It’s always been like that. Everything you could do in the blink of an eye, I couldn’t do at all. Everyone always said, ‘If it’s Sir Kurt…'”

He reminisces again. Back then, he still had some charm.

Maybe the reason I haven’t killed him yet is because of those memories.

“You were loved by everyone. Dad, Mom, Eris, Anna, Robert, they all only had eyes for you. I couldn’t win against you in anything. …until I discovered my talent with the spear.”

When we were little, I could beat Jorg with a spear.

Perhaps it was his awakening to spear talent that turned the tables.

“When I beat you with a spear, the world turned upside down. It felt good. Everyone loved me. They looked at me, not you. But you know, they still talk behind my back. They say I have nothing but skill with a spear, that the Arnoldt family has no future with me, that if only you had the talent with a spear… No matter how hard I try, it won’t change!”

Jorg’s hatred turns into murderous intent.

So that’s why this guy gave up and wandered off from making any effort.

“Even today, it’s the same! The border count and his daughter, they’re all crazy about you! Even now, if I step out of the Arnoldt family, everyone still wants you, not me! How can I get them to look at me instead of you!?”

Jorg shouts like a spoiled child.

He’s just pitiful now.

“How should I know? Why do I have to answer questions from someone I dislike?”

“You’re so cold, brother. And it’s a lie that you hate me, right? The only time you ever showed genuine emotion towards me was when you attacked that brat in the stable. You’re not interested in me, brother. To you, I’m just a bug. If I bother you, you’ll swat me away. In this Arnoldt Viscounty, you pay the least attention to me!!”

Quite a strange point he makes.

I’ve decided to leave my brother alone as long as he doesn’t cause harm.

“What, did you want me to pay attention to you?”

“Maybe. I’ve always been chasing after you, brother. But that’s over now. I’m going to become you. If I take everything important to you, your village, your precious woman, I’ll become you!”

As Jorg spouts such nonsense, his eyes are serious.

Indeed, he’s not joking but seriously speaking of such a delusional story.

“Jorg, you’re you. Even if you take everything from me, you won’t become me.”

Jorg’s face twitches. I continue.

“Besides, I won’t let you take anything. I won’t lose to you anymore. I won’t lose.”

Naginata… I prepare Silver Flash.

With Silver Flash prepared, I feel Tina’s warmth. In other words, I’m invincible right now.

“Don’t pretend to be tough, a spear is! At least this! I won’t lose to you, brother! I won’t lose if there’s no cheating like magic!”

Jorg also readied his spear.

“What’s with that weird spear of yours, brother? Is that the source of your confidence? If so, it’s useless. You won’t win with such gimmicks!”

“You’ll see when we fight.”

No more words are necessary. Only actions will speak in the battle.

As Jorg and I glare at each other, our father appears.

And he speaks loudly.

“From here on, we begin the Selection Ceremony.”

He declares powerfully.

The crowd that was making noise until a moment ago falls silent.

“The first head of the Arnoldt family earned his title solely through the power of the spear, achieving military feats and earning his title. He defeated monsters and soldiers from enemy nations with magic, all with just a spear. Even after gaining his title, he continued to protect the people and defeat enemies. Therefore, the head of the Arnoldt family is to be the one with the most superior martial skills.”

I’ve heard this legend countless times.

For the Arnoldt family, achieving military feats without relying on magic is a point of pride.

That’s why there’s a tendency to disdain magic. They find aesthetic beauty in not relying on such things.

Like the first head did. I urge you to follow in his footsteps.

From my perspective, it all seems rather ridiculous. It’s better to use all available power.

“In this arena, the outcome will be determined solely by one’s trained body and weapon! Losing consciousness, surrendering, or sustaining life-threatening injuries judged by me will result in defeat.”

That’s the rule.

My Silver Flash isn’t wrapped with fabric to reduce lethality this time.

“Now, Kurt, Jorg, are you ready?”

“I am ready.”

I said.

“I’m ready too, Father.”

Jorg replied.

Father nodded and raised his hand.

“Then, let the Selection Ceremony begin!”

And with that, Father’s hand came down.

◇

The duel of the Selection Ceremony began.

I had decided what to do first.

Jorg’s stance seemed somewhat lax.

There was an arrogance in thinking that he could catch up to my movements even after seeing them.

Jorg seemed to believe that by winning without exerting himself, he could inflict greater humiliation upon me. That’s why he hadn’t bothered with proper stances or forms in our previous matches.

Both Jorg and I had received training from Father. Jorg should be capable of at least the basic forms.

If I could exploit that opening, I could end the match in an instant.

I lunged with all my might.

The martial skills I had honed over ten years accelerated with the power of Sword Skill Level III.

Just a simple, straight thrust. The essence of my spear technique. That’s why I had perfected it into the most powerful strike.

With this strike, I could unleash my full power without being constrained by the force of Sword Skill Level III.

Silver Flash surged with a speed surpassing the sound of cutting wind.

“Jorg, show me your true strength. This is my capability.”

My Silver Flash’s blade shallowly cut Jorg’s cheek.

Blood trickled down.

Jorg didn’t even react. If my strike had landed, it would have ended with a single blow.

I leaped backward and readied my spear.

“W-What? No way! Brother just vanished, and, huh, how… so fast!”

Jorg was clearly flustered.

In his understanding, my movements were merely human, limited by the lack of spear talent, and should not have surpassed the realm of mediocrity.

Yet, he was now bewildered by witnessing a strike reaching the divine realm.

“Let me tell you one more time. Show me your true strength. This is my capability. I intentionally missed just now. I won’t miss next time.”

I declared, pointing Silver Flash at him.

Jorg recoiled.

There was a reason I had intentionally missed.

It was to prevent Jorg from making excuses later.

If I were to defeat him with that single blow, he might later claim that I had hidden my true strength until the main event and caught him off guard with unfair tactics.

I wouldn’t allow such things.

He needed to acknowledge that he lost fair and square, that he couldn’t win even when I fought with all my might.

“What… Brother, this speed… It’s unfair! You must have used magic. Otherwise, it’s impossible! Right!? Father!”

Jorg accused me of foul play, addressing Father.

“No, Kurt didn’t use magic.”

Father shook his head, denying it.

Father, being able to use a small amount of magic himself, could discern whether I had used magic or not.

With Father’s confirmation, Jorg’s face turned pale.

“Jorg, you can surrender. How do you plan to fight when you’re inferior in skill and yet lose to speed and strength?”

“This is just luck. It has to be luck. Besides, I haven’t shown my true strength yet. You’ll regret not being able to defeat me with that single strike just now.”

Jorg said, veins bulging as he tightened his grip on the spear.

For the first time, he assumed what seemed like a proper stance.

But it was clumsy.

Certainly, he might not have been serious until now, but his negligence had dulled his spear.

“Come at me with all you’ve got, and I’ll overcome that.”

I responded.

This time, both Jorg and I dashed forward simultaneously.

I deliberately countered Jorg’s thrust with my own.

Our spears clashed, and he was deflected.

Jorg stumbled awkwardly, while I maintained a firm grip on Silver Flash, keeping my balance forward, ready for the next move.

Stepping in forcefully, I entered within the range of his spear. I could have thrust with the momentum, but that might have been lethal.

Typically, when someone breaches the spear’s range, the defender counters with a sweep or a kick, but Jorg’s abilities weren’t high enough to react promptly.

Jorg just panicked, exposing his vulnerabilities.

I reversed Silver Flash and struck Jorg’s abdomen with the pommel.

A dull impact, hitting him squarely in the solar plexus.

“Ugh!”

Jorg dropped to his knees, vomiting. It had hit him hard. This was painful.

I backed off without delivering another blow.

Jorg lacked resilience. He’d probably give up now.

“Ha, Kurt, it’s not over yet.”

Jorg declared, using his spear as a crutch to rise, glaring at me with a pale face.

“Still going? The difference in our abilities is clear.”

I remarked.

“Shut up!”

Despite staggering, Jorg lunged at me with his spear.

I deftly dodged and, in passing, struck the back of his neck with the blunt side of my naginata.

Since it was single-edged, the backside was just a blunt object.

Jorg fell forward.

Surely, this would be the end.

But…

“Kurt, where do you think you’re going?”

Despite being struck hard in the neck, causing dizziness, Jorg stood up.

I was inwardly astonished.

To see him show such resilience.

“Just standing up is an accomplishment in itself. Give it up.”

I urged.

“I won’t lose! I won’t lose!”

Jorg shouted, repeatedly thrusting his feeble spear. But such attacks couldn’t reach me.

Nevertheless, Jorg continued to swing his spear.

“All I have… is my spear. If I lose even with my spear, I… I…”

Jorg clenched his back teeth so forcefully that one broke.

Despite the pain, he kept swinging his spear.

Jorg was more determined than ever before.

It was at this moment that I realized I had underestimated Jorg. I had assumed he would give up if I just inflicted enough pain on him.

“Jorg, I’m sorry. I underestimated you.”

I admitted.

I deflected Jorg’s thrust with Silver Flash from below, putting him in an awkward position.

Then, raising Silver Flash overhead… This was a form unknown to spearmen.

“You won’t be stopped by half-hearted strikes… That’s why I’ll give it my all.”

I declared.

And I brought it down. Silver Flash lived up to its name, slashing Jorg diagonally with a silver flash. Blood sprayed.

“Kurt… I…”

Jorg collapsed with vacant eyes, as the rain of blood poured down.

“The winner is Kurt!”

Father announced, and the doctor hurried to Jorg’s side.

The wound didn’t seem too deep; with proper treatment, his life would likely be saved.

Looking at the audience, most were celebrating my victory, while those who had supported Jorg looked pale.

I turned away.

“Kurt, please come to my office first. I’ll follow as soon as I check on Jorg’s condition.”

Father instructed.

“Yes, Father.”

I bowed and left the stage.

As I descended from the stage, Tina was waiting for me.

“Kurt-sama!”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she rushed into my arms.

I embraced Tina, feeling her arms around my back, giving me strength.

“Kurt-sama! I’m so glad you won! I’m so glad!”

She exclaimed with tears streaming down her face.

Tina repeated, her voice choked with tears.

“I’m so glad.”

She had been quite worried.

Surely, deep down, this girl must have been anxious. I had spent most of this past week either cutting cabbages or delving into earth magic.

Even though I had assured her that I could defeat Jorg, who had been losing continuously, just by having her by my side, she must have been anxious watching from the sidelines.

“Yeah, I won. Thanks to Tina. I won because Tina was there. Now, we can continue to spend time together in that village.”

I reassured her.

“Yes, yes!”

Tina nodded vigorously.

I let Tina cry and pat her back until she stopped, comforting her as much as she needed.

Baron Fernande and Farne arrived. Baron Fernande smiled wryly and gestured with his eyes and hands to indicate they would wait, while Farne puffed his cheeks as he looked at me and Tina.