Chapter 54: Nobody Said I Can’t Use Potions

A week passed quickly, and the day of Chloe’s duel with Larvia arrived.

During that week, Chloe dove into studying magic and threw herself into combat training.

Though her combat experience was vast, it was mostly pure swordsmanship. Having learned new magic, she needed extensive sparring to blend spellcasting with her sword techniques.

After countless bouts, she could now seamlessly combine magic and swordplay.

Additionally, Chloe found time to learn sewing from Sheffield, fixing Silia’s broken button.

Though Silia was a skirt-lifting menace, and the button popped because of her antics, Chloe was still annoyed. But the thought of that two-gold-coin fine calmed her down.

In her busy routine, the week flew by.

Now, Chloe sat at the north end of the training field, clutching her long black sword, carefully wiping the blade with a handkerchief.

As a Sword Saint, she cherished her sword. Even more so since it was her old partner.

Even if Flux had taken on a vampire’s form, it was still her trusty companion.

“Miss Chloe, ready to take the stage?”

As she sheathed the sword, a guard nearby spoke.

“Mm.”

Chloe nodded, slinging Flux onto her back, securing a bulging satchel, and climbing the steps to the field.

The training field was crowded. Many maids and guards with no urgent duties came to watch.

After all, Larvia hadn’t fought publicly in ages.

The referee was Reginald.

As a seasoned professor from the magic academy, he’d overseen countless duels. His stern demeanor ensured no one questioned his rulings.

After briefly stating the rules, Reginald shakily raised his arm.

“Three, two—”

“Wait! I’m not ready!”

Reginald was about to start the duel when Chloe interrupted.

He turned to see her rummaging through her satchel.

Perhaps overpacked, she struggled to pull something out.

Thud!

With a tug, she yanked out a glass bottle.

But the effort, combined with the oversized sword on her back, made her lose balance. She fell with a thud.

A clatter rang out as her satchel hit the ground, spilling colorful potion bottles.

‘Ugh… so embarrassing…’

Chloe’s face flushed as she knelt, hurriedly stuffing the bottles back in.

“Chloe, what are you doing?”

Reginald’s voice carried a hint of displeasure.

“I don’t recall the rules banning potions, right?”

Reginald nodded.

“Correct.”

“See? That’s fine then.”

Chloe stood, dusting herself off, glancing nervously at the crowd before uncorking a bottle.

“Her Majesty’s incredibly strong. I think I need enough potions to stand a chance. It’s a sign of respect, isn’t it?”

Reginald said nothing, tacitly approving.

Chloe chugged the potions in one go.

Healing Potion 🧪

Mana Potion 🧪

Magic Attack Potion 🧪

Strength Potion 🧪

Swiftness Potion 🧪

Iron Wall Potion 🧪

Stealth Potion 🧪

Endurance Potion 🧪

Reaction Potion 🧪

After downing nine potions, Chloe felt power surging through her!

The only downside…

Drinking so much at once made her tummy ache.

Rubbing her stomach, she recorked the bottles, packed them away, and handed the satchel to a guard below.

She didn’t dare litter.

Littering meant fines.

A big reason for this duel was to reclaim her docked month’s pay—she couldn’t afford penalties.

Those potions weren’t cheap either.

“Professor Reginald, I’m ready—”

Reginald nodded.

“Three… two… one!”

Blood Mist!

The moment he spoke, the field erupted in crimson mist.

“Hmph.”

Larvia’s lips curled, raising her hand.

Snap.

With a snap of her fingers, the dense mist turned into countless red ice shards, clattering to the ground.

“Achoo!”

A frosty chill hit, and Chloe sneezed.

‘Ugh, embarrassing…’

By now, she’d closed in on Larvia. At some point, she’d drawn the sword from her back.

Charge!

Chloe sniffed, focusing her mind. Crimson blood mana flowed into the black sword.

Instantly, it glowed scarlet.

Knowing the vast gap between her and Larvia, she held nothing back, pouring blood mana into Flux.

Thanks to the mana potion, she didn’t worry about running dry.

“Hah!”

The black sword traced a crimson arc, slashing at Larvia.

But Larvia calmly stepped back and sidestepped, effortlessly dodging.

She gazed at Chloe, a hint of approval in her eyes.

“Not bad. Pretty quick.”

Larvia smirked, locking eyes. “Isn’t a vampire’s body much stronger than a human’s?”

“Don’t say that!”

“Relax, they can’t hear at this volume.”

“Tch. Stop talking—focus on the fight!”

‘So annoying!’

‘Chatting during a duel!’

‘If I lose because of this, I’m gonna give her a piece of my mind!’

Chloe raised her sword, resuming her attack stance.

She couldn’t argue with Larvia’s words.

In strength and agility, a vampire’s body far surpassed a human’s.

Gripping the hilt tightly, she poured even more blood mana into Flux.

As it surged, the sword’s red glow intensified, the crimson mana core pulsing excitedly, as if alive.

Chloe charged again, unleashing a storm of attacks on Larvia.