The Main Character is the Villain

"Ah, Grand Duke Rubicon. I was waiting for you. We were just talking about Grand Duke Rubicon's son."

I said. Grand Duke Rubicon stroked his beard and stared at me, then frowned. The fact that I had spoken to him warmly, as if meeting an old friend, seemed to greatly displease him. He clicked his tongue, showing his overt hatred. A cold statement flowed from his distorted mouth. Compared to his appearance, what he said was quite rational.

"High Priest Lusius. I hold no grudge against you. I also respect the fact that you married a mermaid. However, calling that mermaid a fish prostitute cannot be an insult, and I cannot accept the fact that my son died for such a petty reason. It's because a mermaid is not a human."

"Why is a mermaid not a human? What is Grand Duke Rubicon's definition of a human? Elves and dwarves both fall into the category of human, so why can a mermaid not be human?"

As I asked that, I opened Grand Duke Rubicon's status window. I had to grasp my opponent's strength before we fought. According to the game knowledge I had, Grand Duke Rubicon was a warrior character who boasted far superior performance compared to other job class characters at the same level. If that lore also applied here, I would have to fight a bit more carefully.

Name: Rubicon Alishar

Level: 38

Class: Northern Grand Duke

Stats

Agility: 80

Intelligence: 98

Luck: 100

Traits

Warrior of Reversals

In unfavorable situations, stats are further increased.

Can rise up to twice the original stats.

Dreadful Presence

Inflicts double damage against demi-humans.

Assault Trooper

Inflicts double damage against hard objects.

I clicked my tongue seeing that Grand Duke Rubicon was fucking stronger than I thought. It seemed his level had risen to that state from hunting monsters so hard in the Northern Region. Of course, it wasn't to the point where I couldn't win. My head could have been smashed by the effect of [Warrior of Reversals], but as long as I had the Holy Sword, that was impossible.

Grand Duke Rubicon frowned at my question. He said.

"I do not wish to have such a discussion with you. Does debating the definition of what a human is here make a mermaid human? No. Nothing will change no matter what is said. A mermaid is not a human, and the definition will not be redefined here."

"Rubicon Condrix made remarks like 'fish prostitute' and 'half-fish' in front of my wife. This is also tantamount to insulting me, so what do you think about that? If I had killed him, would you not have demanded a trial for Rubicon Condrix's death?"

Grand Duke Rubicon's expression contorted.

"Why is that an insult to you? What title could be more fitting than prostitute for a mermaid with a criminal record of murder who went around raping others? If my son had called that mermaid a murderer or a rapist, would he not have died? Are you trying to say that because she was pardoned for her crimes, the public should not say a single word about her sins? The victims, and even those enraged by this incident, all kept their mouths shut out of respect for you. But your wretched fish prostitute couldn't endure that one remark and killed a man. Why isn't a mermaid human? Because they are beings who know no shame! Even after committing such a grave crime! To think of posing as a human and living happily! That filthy whore of yours is nothing more than a shameless monster!"

Grand Duke Rubicon screamed, the veins on his neck bulging. His pale face turning red was quite a sight. As expected, it was the kind of speech from a human who had lived for many years in the Northern Region, accumulating hatred for different races. The people attending the trial nodded their heads, showing some agreement with Grand Duke Rubicon's statement. The judge also gave a slight nod to Grand Duke Rubicon's statement. But I couldn't be pushed back either. If I was at a loss for words, even for a moment, it would be over.

"Her sins were clearly pardoned, and I received permission to marry from the Archdeity Church and the Royal Palace."

"You can get permission to marry a goat. A few people in the Northern Region have married their female goats that way. High Priest Lusius! Do you wish to claim that those goats are all human too?"

"Are you saying that even if one's sins are pardoned, they are a criminal for their entire lifetime? That is different from the Archdeity Church's perspective. Sins can be forgiven. One lives the rest of their lifetime in atonement. Eve was a person who had her sins pardoned and was trying to live a new life. It was Rubicon Condrix who insulted such a person with the term 'prostitute'.

That was not simply an insult to my wife. Rubicon Condrix said my wife had no qualification to be a representative, and called her a half-fish and a fish prostitute. This was an act of mocking my decision to appoint my wife as the territory representative and an act that ignored my authority, and my wife acted justifiably as the territory representative. Even if I had been there, the situation would have been the same. Rubicon Condrix wouldn't have been stabbed to death; his head would have been smashed to pieces."

"That story is only valid if a mermaid is a human. Let's stop talking about my son's death there."

"There is no problem even if she is not human. If a guard dog bit a thief to death, would you, Grand Duke Rubicon, scream that a dog killed a person?"

"Are you saying my son is a thief?"

"Do you know what definition the Lord of Amur gave for a human?"

"Answer my question! High Priest Lusius!"

Grand Duke Rubicon was once again panting with rage. The Lord of Amur came over to his side to stop him, but he pushed the Lord of Amur away. Grand Duke Rubicon clearly cherished his dead son. When I compared his son to a thief, he was already screaming as if he would explode and die from high blood pressure.

"The Lord of Amur said it. A human is a being that walks on two legs, has red blood flowing through it, and is hairless."

"High Priest Lusius!"

Once again, Grand Duke Rubicon shouted. The sound was so loud it seemed to shake the trial venue, and people covered their ears and turned their heads. I said.

"Yes. Grand Duke Rubicon. Your son is a thief. A thief who tried to covet my territory's budget through a very wicked method. On top of that, your son is not a human."

"What outrageous statement is this! High Priest! I will not tolerate any more insults!"

Grand Duke Rubicon got angry. I was able to find my composure. As expected, hot-blooded humans were easy to deal with since their emotional changes were visible. On top of that, Grand Duke Rubicon's reaction was very amusing. His face distorted like a portrait of Bodhidharma and then relaxed again.

"Your son, Rubicon Condrix, can he walk on two feet?"

Grand Duke Rubicon stared at me with a dumbfounded expression.

"W-What?"

Of course, he couldn't walk. How could a guy who's gone to the underworld move his feet? If Rubicon Condrix were to get up and walk right now, I was willing to gladly admit defeat.

"By any chance, is red blood flowing in your son's body right now?"

"What the hell are you talking about!!"

A few days had passed since he died, so they must have already held the funeral. Grand Duke Rubicon placed his hand on his sword hilt and strode toward me. He said.

"Apologize at once, High Priest Lusius!"

"What am I to apologize for? According to the logic of the Lord of Amur and Grand Duke Rubicon, this is a case of a non-human murdering a non-human. And I merely called a non-human a non-human."

"My son is a human!"

"Then you can prove it. I will apologize if you show me Rubicon Condrix walking on two feet and talking right here, right now."

"How can a dead person walk!"

"Then he is not a human."

"Aaaaargh!"

Grand Duke Rubicon finally started to have a seizure, tearing at his hair. It would be great if he just died of high blood pressure right then and there, but unfortunately, he wasn't a man in such poor health. He was panting as he glared at me.

"Lord of Amur. Do you agree that Rubicon Condrix is not a human?"

"Shut up! High Priest Lusius! Draw your sword at once! I will not be played by this kind of wordplay! This was never something to be decided as right or wrong by a trial like this in the first place! Do you think I'd be afraid just because you defeated the Demon King! A duel! I will end this dispute with a duel!"

"Excellent."

I had been waiting for those words. I drew the Holy Sword I had brought with me from behind and said.

"Then, esteemed Judge. Would you agree to settle the result of this trial with a duel?"

Grand Duke Rubicon also looked at the judge. The judge nodded and cleared his throat.

"Well then, since the opinions do not align, and this is not a matter I can easily decide, we will determine the result of this trial with a duel."

The Lord of Amur, with a surprised expression, tried to stop Grand Duke Rubicon and said.

"Your Grace. That man is the one who defeated the Demon King..."

"Shut up, you bastard! Isn't this all because of your foolish act in the first place! When this is over, I will hold you responsible too, so shut up and stay put! And High Priest Lusius!"

I raised my head. Grand Duke Rubicon frowned upon seeing the Holy Sword I was holding. It was a natural reaction since he was seeing the sword for the first time. He stared at the weapon for a long time before speaking.

"High Priest. If I win this duel, you will apologize for the insults you just made to me, and hand over the personal custody of your mermaid wife and her mother to me."

"If I win, Grand Duke Rubicon, you must not intervene in matters between myself and the Amur Territory in the future, and you must not hold me responsible for Rubicon Condrix's death. Furthermore, you will have to apologize for your son insulting my wife."

"I'll do it as much as you want! Hurry up and come at me!"

Grand Duke Rubicon's eyes were wide like a mad dog hungry for a fight. I readjusted my grip on the sword and took a deep breath. I was planning to kill this bastard for good in this contest. Because this fucking bastard had to be so obstinate, my vacation plan of relaxing with a threesome after the dungeon exploration was completely ruined.

Honestly, I didn't care whether this guy apologized or not. After finishing this, I had to go beat up the Amur Territory too.

And so, Grand Duke Rubicon drew his sword. A thick, long sword blade entered my sight. As he was a tall Grand Duke, it seemed he used a long sword as well. I readjusted my grip on the Holy Sword and pondered for a moment. Wouldn't it be better to just use a mace? But fuck, if I wanted to kill him for good in a duel, this Holy Sword was the best.

The judge stood in the middle and shouted. Since it was a makeshift assembly hall anyway, once all the surrounding objects were cleared away, a fine open space was created. I readjusted my grip on the sword. I had never learned swordsmanship, but with my stat advantage, I'd probably win.

"Then. Let's have a fair and square 'contest'."

I could feel a strange power flowing into the sword.

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