A Hospital in Another World? C.305

Garrett Nordmark’s heart pounded fiercely, and his back was drenched in cold sweat.

The sword strike had been aimed directly at his vital points! It was not a warning, nor was it a light touch; it was an attempt on his life! His mage armor was already shattered, and if it weren’t for the Endless Ink Pen promptly deploying a force field barrier, he would have been dead by now!

Since crossing over, this was the closest he had come to death!

"Do you want to kill me?" He gritted his teeth, staring at his opponent, striving to keep his voice from trembling. To his left, Aurora Worton, and to his right, Andrew Lynn, both friends came over to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Two shield spells rose at the same time, joining together on either side of the force field barrier, like a pair of unfolded wings.

Across the force field barrier, Knight Hopman glared at Garrett viciously. This time, his intent to kill was real—

Unlike before, the first duel was just for the sake of beating him up over a quarrel; the second fight was more about pressuring Lady Seraina to accept his courtship; this time, he genuinely wanted to kill this outspoken mage!

How dare he insult the family’s lineage! Insult the bloodline that allowed them to maximize the "Spider Sword Technique"! Long arms and fingers, exceptionally slender, these were gifts bestowed by the heavens, proof of their noble lineage! And yet, this mage had the audacity to spout nonsense, claiming it was a disease, that they couldn’t withstand vigorous activity, or they would die suddenly!

Impossible?!

Such malicious attacks on the family, if possible, must be met with death!

But of course, he couldn’t admit that out loud. He took a couple of heavy breaths, his wrist sank slightly, and the tip of his sword pointed at Garrett’s forehead:

"I challenge you to a duel! You’ve insulted our family’s bloodline, and this hatred can only be washed away with blood!"

Garrett rubbed his forehead, sighing. Why does this medical dispute keep coming up... A disease is a disease, a hereditary illness is a hereditary illness. Even if you beat me up or even kill me, it won’t change the fact that you’re sick!

And besides...

"You want to duel me? I’m a mage!"

"So what if you’re a mage? Rest assured, I’ll duel you following the rules of mages!"

Knight Hopman sneered through clenched teeth. His gaze fell on Garrett: a third-level mage, a fourth-ring arcanist. His research level might be high, but his personal combat ability was there for all to see!

He was certain to win this duel!

...The rules of mages? What are those? Garrett felt puzzled, subconsciously turning towards Aurora, seeking clarification with his gaze. To his right, Seraina had already drawn her sword and rushed over, coldly smiling:

"A duel with a mage?! If you duel him, you’ll have to face all his followers, magical pets, and summoned creatures at the same time. Are you sure?"

"I’m sure!" Knight Hopman’s gaze was firm. In the surrounding area, he recognized almost every mage born into nobility and mage families; without the support of a family’s power, who could afford followers?

Even relying on a high research level and the teacher’s favoritism, that would at most amount to a few pieces of magical equipment! The equipment that triggered the protective barrier had already been forced out once before!

As for the magical pets a third-level mage could have...

Given the mage’s financial resources and personal level, that was basically a joke.

Knight Hopman was full of confidence, but what Garrett heard was Seraina’s meaningful hint. He immediately felt relieved, nodded in gratitude to the female knight, looked at Knight Hopman, and sighed helplessly:

"Are we really going to have a duel?"

"Of course!"

"Can we not duel? ...You’ve already fought twice just now, fighting again, I’m afraid your heart won’t take it, and you might actually die suddenly..."

"Silence!" Knight Hopman shouted angrily. He had thought, if Garrett truly refused to duel and there was a high-ranking mage present to intervene, he would propose a compensation that would be painful for Garrett. Now, there was no need:

"If you’re truly afraid of dying and refuse to duel, then accept the punishment according to the nobility’s rules! You’ve insulted our family, insulted our noble bloodline, you must walk barefoot from here to our family’s castle and receive a whipping at the castle gate!"

Oh?

Taking things too far, are we?

Garrett was angered too. Out of good intentions, he tried to stop you, afraid you’d die suddenly, and you still think you’re in the right even when causing such a medical dispute! He stepped forward with a cold face:

"I accept the duel!—When? And where?!"

As the anger between both parties intensified, especially since the duel involved a mage, finally, several individuals of high status stepped forward from the crowd of onlookers. The old priest who came with Knight Hopman, who was his great-uncle; Master Tolga, who came to the ball with his daughter; Count Inverness... After a brief discussion among themselves, a guard blew the horn, loudly announcing the judgment:

1. Knight Hopman claims that Mage Nordmark has insulted his family. Based on noble privilege, Knight Hopman has the right to request a duel;

2. Mage Nordmark agrees to the duel. The manner of the duel will follow the rules established by the council for mages, allowing Nordmark to bring followers, magical pets, and summoned creatures. The knight’s side may not ride mounts, and the mage’s side is not allowed to fly;

3. The duel will take place here and now, on the square in front of the castle gate, with both parties starting 100 steps apart. Only upon the witness’s signal to start may they attack or cast spells;

4. Count Inverness, Master Tolga, and Priest Faelmor will serve as witnesses, with the other nobles present as bystanders;

5. The duel will stop once a party is downed and admits defeat; further malicious actions are not allowed...

After laying out the rules, the guard blew the horn again. As the horn sounded, four loud-voiced guards lined up and shouted in unison:

"Please enter, duelists from both sides! Please enter, duelists from both sides!"

Knight Hopman stepped into the arena first. Garrett stood still, then shouted loudly: frёewebnoѵēl.com

"Bernard!"

"Coming!"

The barbarian charged over, shaking the ground with his movements. Holding a roasted lamb leg in one hand, he bit off the last piece of meat, tossed it aside, and with his other greasy hand, he gripped his repaired giant bone club. The club was raised high over his right shoulder, making him, along with the club, twice as tall as Knight Hopman...

The knight’s gaze went straight for a moment. Then, he saw Aurora stepping into the arena with a cold face, following behind Garrett.

The badge on her chest shone brightly, with five copper stars twinkling silently.

A fifth-level mage.

Knight Hopman began to feel a headache coming on. That barbarian, judging by his steps, breathing, muscles, and the weight of his weapon, likely had a warrior rank comparable to his own; plus, a fifth-level mage, that’s not as simple as one plus one equals two.

However, to concede? To request the duel be stopped? Impossible! That little mage pointed out their family’s bloodline, saying generation after generation would die suddenly—such words, once spoken, are a matter of life and death! Either kill him or beat him until he shuts up!

Damn, how did a little mage get both a warrior and a mage as followers, and both of higher rank than him! Who’s behind this little guy? Who exactly is it!

He turned his hopeful gaze towards his great-uncle. And Priest Faelmor, his great-uncle, met his expectations, asking with a stern face, "Are those two really his followers? Not friends pretending to be?"

"You must be joking," Master Tolga chuckled, taking over the conversation. "Who, especially a mage, would pretend to be someone else’s follower? The barbarian was given by the little guy’s teacher, and that blond mage, was arranged by his mentor Archmage Carlisle. Go ask around at Thunder Tower, there are definitely not a few who know about this..."

The old priest fell silent. Knight Hopman’s gaze dimmed for a moment, then suddenly raised his head, shouting loudly:

"This is you forcing me!"

He sheathed his sword and took out another longsword from his belt pouch. As soon as this new sword was revealed, a murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Seraina’s eyes widened, and she immediately shouted:

"Garrett! Be careful! That’s their family’s famed sword ’Crimson Dawn,’ capable of storing a full-powered strike from a superior knight!"

A superior knight refers to a knight of level 10 or above. Remembering the battle against the Radiant Lord’s clergy and facing a level 9 knight, Garrett shuddered and immediately began rummaging through his spatial bag. He checked each item with Aurora:

"Did you bring the Purple Scale Stone?—You did? What about the nitrocellulose? You did? How many packs? Only three? That’s not enough, here, take this whole bag..."

Knight Hopman gripped the longsword and advanced step by step. This "Crimson Dawn" not only sealed sword qi but also significantly enhanced his strength and speed. With it, coupled with the family’s "Spider Sword Technique," he could match an 8th-level knight and even surprise and wound a 9th-level knight!

"Are both duelists ready?" The old priest, seeing Garrett endlessly rummaging, hurriedly shouted. Before Garrett could respond, something fluffy suddenly coiled around his right shoulder and tickled his left ear:

"Meow—"

The crowd stirred again. In Garrett’s surprised gaze, Mage Andrew Lynn, in his black robe and with his eternally unchanging face, slowly stepped into the dueling arena.

"You! You too?!"

Knight Hopman’s voice nearly cracked. Mage Andrew Lynn glanced at him indifferently and opened his spatial bag:

"I now reside permanently in his Mage Tower."

With a flick of his fingertips, a stream of golden light flew out from the bag, tail to head. Then, everyone saw toe bones connecting to shin bones, shin bones to thigh bones, thigh bones to the pelvis...

One by one, the bones assembled themselves, and finally, the golden skeleton bent over to pick up its own head, pressing it onto the top of the spinal column, even shaking it a bit to test its stability.

In its eye sockets, two flickering lights shimmered as if laughing.

Knight Hopman: "..."

Lady Knight Seraina: "..."

Count and Countess Inverness: "..."

Only Garrett breathed a sigh of relief. He knew the capabilities of Mage Andrew Lynn, battle-hardened, far more capable of fighting than the two of them. With him present, their side would definitely not be bullied due to lack of combat experience!

After all, Mage Andrew Lynn had previously defeated knights of the Radiant Lord, even surpassing two levels to kill!

He clapped his hands:

"Shall we continue the duel? One-on-one, or a brawl?"

Hmm... One-on-one means you alone against all of us, and a brawl, well, that’s all of us against you alone...