Otome Game no Heroine de Saikyou Survival (LN)

Book 5: Chapter 8

Twisted Event Third Part

Er-sama-, look at that-, the mountain is visible even though its so far away-

This time a field trip to observe the exercises of a knight order was being held for the new students of the sorcery academy. The crown prince Ervan received the task to supervise the new students and rode a carriage to head to the destination. A girl was also riding together in his carriage and she turned around toward him with a wide smile.

Y-yeah

The girl was putting her knees on the cushioned seat while peering outside the window and rambling like a little child. Her behavior caused Ervans expression to twitch slightly while he replied to her.

Field trip to a national facility was held every year for the new students, but excluding the low ranked nobles, middle ranked nobles and high ranked nobles had the qualification to participate in this event was so they, the students who would become feudal lord or the wife of one in the future could learn what was important for the sake of managing the country and how the tax got used in order to do that.

In Claydale Kingdom, there were more than 6000 noble houses if the knight peerage was included. Among them there were 589 middle ranked noble houses, And then if the 35 high ranked noble houses also got included, there would be more than sixty students from middle ranked noble houses and above in just one grade year.

Just the effort to transport that many noble children was already a large scale undertaking. Because of that the crown prince who was a second year student had to come along as supervisor, but looking at the end result it turned out only around sixty percent of the new students participated in this field trip.

It would be a different matter if it was the usual field trip to an important facility within the capital, but this was a field trip to observe the exercises of a knight order that was carried out far away from the capital. The female students who had no interest in managing a territory tended to pass from participating in such event. In fact the number of female students who participated in the field trip this time was only five.

The students would move and do activity together to some degree when traveling with carriage for three days like this time.

Most of the times the high class noble would travel together with children from noble houses that were their dependent. But in case the number of female students was few like this time, there was an unspoken understanding that the young lady from high ranked noble house who could only bring one attendant with her would bring the young ladies from middle ranked noble houses in her carriage without regard of which region they came from.

But, the young ladies from high ranked noble houses and above who participated in the field trip this time were only the princess Elena and Carla from a house of count. Not a single person wanted to travel together with Carla, so two of the remaining three young ladies from middle ranked noble houses were riding in the princesss carriage.

And then this girl who was the last female student refused to ride in a carriage that only had female students in it because of her past experience in the orphanage where she got bullied by her fellow female orphans. But even if she rode in a carriage of fellow dependents, she would be the only girl there while she also wouldnt be allowed to bring any maid with her. There was no way they could do that. So in the end that girl asked to be allowed to ride together in the same carriage of the heir of Melrose House that was her houses caregiver, which was this carriage.

*Geshi-*

The heir of Dandall House, Rockwell who was riding in the same carriage as a close aide of the crown prince wordlessly kicked the foot of Mihail, the heir of Melrose House who was also his friend who was sitting beside him.

(What are you doing, Rockwell-)

(That girls house is a dependent to your house right? Shut her up already)

(You too are accompanying his highness the crown prince as his personal bodyguard right? Peel her off from Er already)

(I dont wanna. That girl is troublesome. Besides Im a bodyguard in case there is danger approaching)

(Even I find that girl troublesome. She wont listen no matter what I say to her)

Misha-sama-, Well-sama-, lets talk together with us too-!

Tsu!

The two who were busy pushing responsibility to each other in small voice also had their expression twitched when that girlAlicia Mercis called them with pet name even though they hadnt given her permission, just like Ervan. At the corner of their eyes, they saw Ervan sighing in relieve. It seemed that he had stealthily pushed that girl to them.

Aa~Lady Alicia?

What is it, Misha-sama-! You dont need to be so formal like that with me, please just call me [Licia]. We are relative after all-

Where did you hear that from?

Mihails eyes narrowed when he heard what Alicia said. Even if noble house like Dandall could possibly learn the information that she was a princess who was directly related to Melrose House thanks to their information gathering capability, it was a matter that middle ranked noble house had no way of learning.

Even Mercis House that adopted her and the apprentice knight of black ops who was assigned as her bodyguard shouldnt be so foolish to leak that information to her.

Then, who was it that told the girl about that? Mihail lowered his voice as a member of a high ranked noble house that was in charge of the black ops, but Alicia showed no sign of being bothered by that and tilted her head slightly while putting her fingertip on her lips with a natural gesture.

Her figure was like a single painting as seen by someone that got cut out from the frame and placed in the real world. Coupled with her lovely appearance, even they who didnt have any interest at her unconsciously held their breath.

Alicia Mercis. She was a girl who possessed a mysterious atmosphere.

She was the only daughter of a lady from Melrose House who eloped with an apprentice knight and gave birth to her at a small city, then she lost both her parents because of an unfortunate accident, and then she spent her childhood in an orphanage that had horrible environment. Mihails grandfather, the current margrave of Melrose found her through his search and put her under his protection.

Her education as a noble was insufficient, so she was placed in a viscount house as adopted daughter instead of with a high ranked noble house, but in reality it was in order to ascertain whether she was really had the blood of Melrose House or not.

She didnt have the pinkish blond hair that was the proof of being a direct descendant of Melrose House.

She didnt look similar with the painting of the eloped lady that was still remaining with Melrose House.

Just those factors were enough for Mihail to doubt this Alicia. But behind that doubt was the feeling of idolization that Mihail harbored when he saw the dignified figure of that lady in the painting when he was still just a child.

That lady who was Mihails aunt excelled in martial art and horsemanship as a daughter of the family that was in charge of the black ops. When Mihail heard about that, he went as far as proactively learning those things too because of the adoration and ideal that he harbored for that woman and her only daughter.

But, what Mihail felt when he actually laid his eyes on the girl who was said to be his aunts daughter, what he felt was discomfort.

He couldnt feel any dignity or strength of a Melrose from her. That girl had fluffy atmosphere as though she was born only for the sake of being loved. She was different from the image of Alicia that Mihail had formed in his mind.

Even Mihail knew that image was him simply him projecting his selfish ideal on someone else. But even so, each time he thought of that image, what came to mind was the adventurer girl he encountered at the capital who was now appointed to be the princesss bodyguard.

Her blond hair had pinkish tinge as though she was loved by the rose of the moon(Melrose). Her strength and her dignified beauty were exactly like the picture of Alicia that Mihail formed in his mind.

But, the Alicia before his eyes was an existence that was the exact opposite of that.

Her speech and action were strange because she hadnt received sufficient education as noble lady, but from her gesture and behavior, there was perfected adorableness as though she had spent many years copying the most commonly seen perfect model like how all noble ladies learned etiquette and manner from their instructor.

If there was a child who learned something like that not unconsciously but intentionally, that child must have something that surpassed mere desire, something that was close to an obsession.

The girls reddish dark blond hair rustled softly. Her appearance was still childish because of her low magic power, while the other threes appearances had grown to make them looked like seventeen years old. Perhaps that was why she looked even more adorable when surrounded by them. Even Mihail who was feeling suspicious toward the girl had his gaze stolen by her for a moment.

Nn~

Alicia tilted her head with that perfectly adorable gesture. Her eyes met Mihails and she put on a heartfelt smile that contained no ulterior motive.

Licia doesnt get it-

Ha?

Mihail was taken aback for a moment. Alicia leaned forward to bring her face closer to him.

Because, any noble must be connected to each other by blood somewhere right? Misha-sama is my houses caregiver, so I thought it wouldnt be strange even if theres familial connection there.

Thatsnot exactly wrong.

Certainly Mercis house that had been managing a personal territory of Melrose House was a branch house of Melrose House. There was blood connection between them.

But, this Alicia was adopted. Where did she learn that she had noble blood in her vein? If it was just that much then it wouldnt be strange to hear it from gossip or something, but a discomfort was continuing to prickle Mihail somewhere in his heart.

Dont you think so too Well-sakyah

*Gatan-* The carriage shook. Alicia who was looking for Rockwell to agree with her let out a small scream and fell on his chest.

Oops

Even so as expected from the heir of Dandall that was a noted martial family. He easily caught the petite girls body by simply reaching out his hand. He then warned her with a gentle tone.

A lady must not move around inside the carriage. Its also not good for a lady and a gentleman to call each other using pet name when they arent even close with each other, so can I ask you to please stop calling me like that?

In respond to that chiding word, Alicia wrapped the hand that was holding her shoulder with her own small hand while smiling at him right from the front.

Fufu, you will become a scary mister noble if you keep saying something like that you know? We are still students. Theres no law that say we cannot have fun just because we are noble.

I see

Rockwells gentle smile didnt fall. Even though inside his mind was in chaos as though he was encountering a monster for the first time, he softly pushed away the shoulder of the girl who was snuggling on him and helped her stood.

But the words from that girl produced a ripple in someone else that those two who those words were directed at.

So its also fine to have fun

Ervan who was watching the three muttered with a small voice.

The first queen who was a former viscount daughter was living freely experienced the harshness of the queenly education, because of that she raised her child on her own instead of entrusting him to the royal familys education system. As the result Ervan couldnt have the mentality of a royalty despite being raised to be the next king and longed for freedom.

Even so he kept putting in effort in his own way, but his little sister who should be attached to him was starting to radiate the majesty as a royalty, while the high ranked noble young ladies who became his fiances consisted of an older young lady who was detached from real world, a stifling young lady who seemed to be constantly at her wits end, and a young lady who was dangerous in both appearance and behavior. For him who only had the resolve at the level of the average middle ranked noble, they were girls who he couldnt comprehend.

Clara who was designated to be the first queen had become weaker mentally since she was bestowed with the Gift. Even Ervan now thought that she was lovely the way she was clinging dependently on him, but as a man Ervan hadnt grown up to be that mature that he was able to support a woman who brought such heavy burden with her.

If Ervan was born as a heir of a middle ranked noble house instead as a crown prince, then surely he would become a feudal lord who was loved by his subject.

If Ervan who had experienced how it felt for other person to rely on him had ten more years to grow up, then he might become able to face Elena and Clara sincerely.

The love of the first queen who wished for him to be able to live freely could only make Ervan to grow up as a normal youth. The gap of mental age with his surrounding that was slowly widening as time passed was tormenting his mind. That exhausted heart of Ervan was jolted by the words of the girl who was raised as a commoner. Those words seeped into his heart like a sweet poison.

You, its dangerous to stand like that. Sit down over here. ErrLicia?

Yes-, Er-sama.

Ervan called the middle ranked noble girl with a pet name. The girl who got called Licia also noticed that and smiled widely while rushing to his side.

Seeing the crown princes action, the two who were accompanying him as [friend] and also [aide] and also [observer] exchanged glance with each other. Then they opened their mouth to chide that action, but before they could the carriage got shook hard and stopped moving.

What happened!

Rockwell who had the role of bodyguard stood up with his sword in hand. Then an angry yell came from outside the carriage.

Get out of the carriage quietly! If not were going to set it on fire!

***

Get out quietly! If not were going to set it

In that moment, the carriages door was blown up and powerful flame burst out from inside the carriage. The man in leather armor who was speaking and his surrounding were instantly burned to their bones without even any time to scream.

Burning flame. The smell of scorching bone.

An extravagant black carriage that had gone ahead from the crown princes carriage and in a distance about a half hour of travel was also similarly under attack. A girl(Death) clad in a mantle shaped uniform and light yellowish green dress appeared from inside.

Her jet black hair fluttered from the flame that was spreading through the forest. She swept up her messy hair with one hand while her sickly pale face with dark circles around her eyes was illuminated by the flame. That young lady picked up a carbonized bone and crushed it with her fingers while smiling like a flower toward the dumbfounded and flustered attackers.

Did they burn well?

The attackers were flustered by the flame that suddenly burned their comrades into charcoal instantly.

The flame of the burning carriage was dyeing the surrounding with the color orange. The men in leather armor were surrounding it. They were members of the branch assassin guild at the southern frontier. Their mission was to kidnap the fiance of the crown prince who was passing through this route.

As long as she was captured alive, even if she lost one or two limbs she could possibly be of aid in negotiating with her father Count Lesterthe chief royal sorcerer who was said to have a stance that was leaning to neutral the most among the royal family faction. But the priority for her capture was low. They were told that it was fine even if they killed her in the worst case.

This plan to kidnap Princess Elena and assassinate Crown Prince Ervan was concocted by the nobles of the noble faction and a part of the second knight order.

Originally it should be the central branchs assassins who received the request about assassinating royalty.

But it became known that the central west district branch that was known as a warlike branch had lost several skilled assassins in these several years. The central branch that had the largest scale information network even through the whole assassin guild hesitated to accept this request considering the possibility that Ash Crowned Princess and Thorn Witch might be present.

The infamy of these two girls was so high at the north and central of the kingdom that the assassin guild and the thief guild that had deep connection to politic hesitated to accept the request from the nobles.

Of course that infamy had also reached the southern frontier branch, but one of their top brasses with martial disposition volunteered to accept the request due to the intermediation of a certain person.

Their true objective wasnt something like the assassination of a royalty.

That top brass moved into action because he was in a romantic relationship with that person in the past, and that person wanted to clear up a personal resentment through this request.

They received the location of Count Lesters daughter as a part of that job.

The top brass of the southern frontier branch was also aware that the girl was feared at the central as the [Thorn Witch].

But they didnt put any effort to gather information about how strong a mere noble daughter could be. They thought that the reason why the girl was regarded as danger was related to her political influence as noble.

The daughter of Lester House, Carla Lesterthe Thorn Witch .

Those who were in the know feared the girl in all aspects, whether politically, or internally, or strength-wise. That girl with her sickly pale complexion crushed the carbonized bone in her fingers with a delighted smile like a craftsman who looked fondly at a well made coal that was his work.

K-kill herr!!

One of the assassins raised his voice a bit shrilly.

Even if this girl was actually powerful, it shouldnt matter seeing that she was a sorcerer and girl. Even her appearance was sickly. Sorcerer in general was estranged with close quarter combat. They would lose most of their means to counterattack once their opponent entered the blades distance.

Such common sense caused them to make the wrong judgment.

Diee!

They already gave up on kidnapping Carla after realizing that the info about her strength wasnt exaggerated. Furthermore their instinct was telling them that they would be turned into lifeless corpses if they didnt face her with the intent to kill.

The blade that was made from magic steel let out a dull glint. The assassin got close to Carla.

But, Carla wasnt just a mere young lady.

What-!?

Carla softly jumped and dodged the assassins killing blade with a speed that was unthinkable coming from a person in dress.

Carla was born in Lester House that was a lineage of sorcerer and obtained all elements because of her fathers experiment. She obtained immense power while losing her future at the same time.

What was left for her was only strength and the fearful gaze of other people that reflected herself. That was why Carla continued to be fixated with strength.

In order to destroy her father and this country that ignored his outrageous act, Carla had pursued strength by continuously going into dungeon solo until now. She had trained her body strengthening and martial art in order to face multiple opponents on her own.

Air Curtain Rock Skin

She casted two magic simultaneously to deflect the arrows that were fired at her. Then she pointed one hand at the flustered assassin.

Ice Lance

She fired ice sorcery that was the advanced magic of water element. The assassin noticed that and tried to dodge but the big ice pillar flew at high speed and pierced his stomach.

But, in contrast to the high level difficulty of spell construction and her cruel appearance, the lethality of ice element sorcery wasnt that high. The ice froze the wound and blood, so the victim wouldnt die instantly. In some cases the opponent could even counterattack.

Even so high ranked sorcery still used ice element sorcery because the intense chill the ice radiated could be expected to slow the movement of the surrounding.

The movements of the assassins were clearly becoming duller. The temperature of the area was also decreasing. They couldnt catch up to Carla even though they had the same level of body strengthening.

But there was no way Carla used ice sorcery just for her own safety.

*Crackle!*

Those who were knowledgeable about sorcery twitched in fear seeing the light that sparked out from Carlas hand.

Dig Volt

Lightning filled the forest that was tormented by flame and ice with a flash.

The advanced combined sorcery of wind and water, Dig Volt burned the assassin that was stabbed with Ice Lance from within. The electricity then flowed through the frozen ground and paralyzed the other assassins with numbness.

And then Carla immediately produced flame from both her hands. Seeing that made one assassin who was in despair to come to a realization. Carla had no intention of running away from the start. She had no intention of letting even a single one of them left alive.

Her smiling face that hadnt changed at all from the start told the man that Carlas only wish was to kill them. Then the flame that was unleashed at the next moment burned his body while words of resentment leaked out from his mouth.

Cursed devil

Why didnt the attackers retreat at the moment their comrades were killed at the beginning?

From the startthey didnt run away and attack the girl not because of their pride or even stubbornness as assassin, but because of the fear as a weakling encountering an overwhelming predator.

Human dies. No matter who they are.

Carla killed someone not because so she could survive. Carla killed because not even his life was important to her.

Death was always nearby ever since she was a child. Carla who obtained all elements didnt think that she would be able to live a long life. Even her investigation from reading many books told her that there was no great person(human) who had all elements who managed to live until 30.

Carla killed humanCarla was trying to destroy this country simply to vent. She would drag this country to hell together with her who had lost her future and would die in the not far future.

For Carla who had lived like that since she was little until now, something like the worth of life didnt even reach one bronze coin, including her own life.

She didnt care anymore when she would die. But, until that time came she would bring as many humans as possible to accompany her to that world.

But, she wondered since when it started. Her objective that only consisted of killing others changed slightly.

It was since that daywhen she met her.

The girl whose hair was dirtied with gray ash, who continued to fight against fate with the thick smell of death wafting around her just like Carla.

If she was going to die, she wished it would be by her hand.

That was why Carla didnt wish to be killed by anyone else than her.

She would become strong in order to get killed. If it was for the sake of that, she would even accept a Gift that a few years ago she would laugh off as worthless and. And even then she still sought for even more power.

Carla had a dream. The two would fight to the death on a glamorous stage where many people gathered as audiences and flame was enveloping the whole place. There she would kill her and get killed by her.

Since that time, her wish to destroy this country and kill her father gruesomely on the worst stage was reduced into nothing more than extra content in order to make the girl get serious.

That was why right now, she was even considering seriously to ruin this country.

Everything was for the sake of making the girl became serious so they could seriously kill(love) each other.

Fufucough

Perhaps because she obtained a Gift, just laughing caused her tiny stamina to decrease even more. Her hand that covered her mouth when she coughed had blood on it.

But everything including this was just what she wished for. She would decide on her own how to use her own life.

These assailants who tried to take her life too, if they were targeting Carla because she was a fiance of the prince even though Carla herself didnt really think much about it, then surely the royalties were also getting attacked. That was Carlas guess.

In that case she would definitely appear. She would surely appear in order to kill everything that got in the way of her destiny

Carla looked back at the path where the crown prince and the princess should pass through after this. She seemed to sense something and inhaled slowly. Then she began walking toward that direction with footsteps that were skipping in joy.

Aadeath(Aria) is going to come

***

Whos behind this!?

Rockwell and Mihail stepped forward in order to protect the crown prince Ervan and Alicia who was hanging on his arm.

The attackers who stopped the carriage that was boarded by the crown princes group ordered them to get out and lined up in front of it. The royal guards that the crown prince brought and the black ops knight that Mihail brought were already killed.

Other than the royal guards, there was also a platoon of knights from the second knight order that was holding the exercise this time. But Rockwell who was the son of the supreme knight commander realized that this platoon was working together with the attackers and glared at the platoon leader while shaking.

Rockwell-sama, I dont have any grudge toward you and the supreme commander but, everything is for the sake of a just cause.

What kind of just cause can there be from something like this-! This country will fall into chaos once more if his highness disappear.

That too is a necessary pain. We cant stop anymore.

You can say that only because it wont be you who feel the pain but the people

In the first place their standing was too different from each other so there was no point to have this kind of argument. The end result that they were seeing was different from each other so they would never change their opinion.

Mihail was thinking like that and left it to Rockwell to converse with the platoon leader while groping for a way to save at least Ervan from this predicament.

Ervan was standing in front of the girl called Licia to protect her, but from Mihails perspective, he wished the crown prince had the tenacity to survive even if he had to use the girl as shield.

That Licia too looked like she was scared in a glance, but there was no sign of fear in her face. He even suspected whether she really understood the situation or not.

Allow me to give this offer for the last time, we wont take the life of Rockwell-sama and the son of Melrose if the two of you side with us. We will need to restrict your freedom to some degree though. So what is your answer?

Both Mihail and I will never agree to that kind of offer-!

Ervan turned pale and held his breath when he heard the platoon leaders words, but Rockwell immediately refused the offer without even a pause. The platoon leader seemed to have expected that answer and raised one hand. The assassins who were wearing leather armor stepped forward.

How unfortunate. Then I shall at least kill the two of you painlessly.

The assassins drew out blades that were painted black at the same time with those words from the platoon leader. It was then

*Rustle-*

The animals inside the forest started making noises at the same time. Then something broke through the green curtain of the forests vegetation. A pink haired girl riding on a huge black beast appeared and lightly jumped over the head of everyone there who was looking up with astonishment while the girl muttered in a low voice.

Nero, go wild.

***

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

The black beasts roar reverberated through the highway. Then Nero immediately assaulted the knights that were scattered at the surrounding.

What is this monster!?

Calm down-, raise your shield!

The knights immediately responded with their weapons and shields raised. But although it might helped if they were wearing full plate armor, their current light equipment couldnt stop Neros attack and they were blown off their feet.

Because of its big body, Nero aimed at the knights at the outer circumference instead at the center where there was little space. From its back I confirmed crown prince Ervans safety and jumped down smoothly stabbing two assassins with the dagger and knife in my hands.

Wha-, gah!?

A man raised his voice seeing his comrade being killed, but I crushed his nose bridge with my elbow, Without pause I wrapped my arm around his neck and snapped it. The crown princes aide, Mihail raised his voice seeing the two of us suddenly appearing and starting to kill the enemies.

Y-you are!

Get back a little.

I said that to him while flapping my skirt and pulled out knives from the slit to throw at the approaching assassins. One person got his throat pierced by a knife while two others dodged. As expected from assassins that were targeting the crown prince, there was nobody here who was lower than rank 3.

I dashed in that moment and pulled out the scythe type pendulum and tore the throat of a nearby man who was approaching me as we passed each other. Another man closed the distance and thrust his knife. I dodged by bending backward while somersaulting and kicking up the mans jaw with the tip of my shoes. At the same time I threw the slashing type pendulum to tear his now defenseless neck, finishing him off.

Hiuh

Splashing blood. Lives that were vanishing like plucked flowers. The girl who was clinging on the crown prince let out a stifled scream seeing my figure killing the enemies dispassionately. One of the assassins noticed that and started dashing to take them hostage.

I wont let you-!

Rockwell-!

The other aide of the crown prince interposed himself between them. Mihail yelled the name of that youth.

The youth had a body built like a knight and he seemed to be well trained, but the person himself must have noticed that it would be impossible for him to stop a rank 3 assassin barehanded.

Get out of my way-!

Even so Rockwell wouldnt move out of the way. The assassin brandished up a one-handed sword.

In that moment, I pitched forward while grabbing the ground with my nails and kicked on the ground to leap forward. I jumped on the assassins back from behind and used my momentum to throw him on the ground before breaking his neck with my knee.

His neck made a sound like a wooden branch wrapped in wet rag getting broken. The crown prince and his friends reflexively averted their gaze. Meanwhile I picked the one-handed sword the assassin was using and tossed it to the still dumbfounded Rockwell.

You are her highnesss

I accepted a reinforcement request from her highness the princess for his highness the crown prince. Dont lose focus when there are enemies. Pick up a weapon if you still have the will to fight. You have something that you have to protect right?

Yeyeah, thats right!

Rockwell took the sword and nodded strongly. Nero was taking on the second knight orders platoon, so it would be fine to leave them to it.

.

When I drew out my black knife in order to deal with the assassins, I felt an intense killing intent in that moment and I jumped aside to dodge while throwing my knife to that direction.

*Gin!*

My knife that was thrown to the killing intents owner was deflected.

That man immediately threw something like a hatchet at me, but I sensed that I wouldnt be able to deflect the hatchet that was approaching while making a roaring sound. I jumped to the side to dodge that attack, but that man approached me in the meantime.

*GOOOH!*

He unleashed a kick that caused a loud wind pressure. When I blocked it with my heel and kicked on it to take a distance, the man brandished his hatchet toward me who was midair.

Vorpal Blade

Multiple slashes were fired toward me in that moment.

Tsu!

I kicked on empty air to change my posture while twisting my body to dodge the blade waves. Then I fell on the ground and dropped on my knee. My gaze crossed with that mans gaze.

Hooto think theres someone who can dodge this Battle Skill.

I couldnt dodge them all. Blood trickled from my right cheek that got grazed and my side that got slightly cut. My hand was pressing on the wound on my side. Who was this person who used level 5 battle Skill just like that man who was my nemesis?

Who?

Is there any assassin who will answer when asked for his identity? Is what I want to say but, Ill tell you. Im one of the leaders of the southern frontier branch, Gilgan-sama. Your appearance, your strength, I know who you are. You are Ash Crowned huh?

.

Gilgan Race : Human Assumed Rank 5

Magic Power : 184/200Stamina : 402/410

Overall Combat Strength : 1344 (During Special Body Strengthening : 1712)

.

The man with the rough appearance of someone at his forty laughed like a beast that was baring its fangs.

A leader of the southern frontier assassin guild branch huh. It seemed they were very serious in their attempt to kill the crown prince that they sent someone at this level.

What was their true intention? Was it for putting Elena on the throne to govern this country along their wish just like that Joey said? If they were going to go as far as drugging Elena so they would listen to them, why couldnt they do the same with the crown prince.

I didnt have enough information. I continued the conversation. I wasnt good at it but, perhaps I would be able to draw out some info from him.

Why do you think Im that?

Gilgan looked exasperated when I asked him that.

Hah, Ill go crazy if there are that many little girl in this world with combat strength like yours-. Me being someone from the assassin guild is already enough reason to realize your identity right? There are tons of guys who hold grudge at you.

Before this I also got targeted near the capital by the remnants of the northern frontier branch, but it seemed that wasnt the end of it. Gilgan grinned when he saw me reaching that conclusion.

My past girlfriend asked me a favor to take care of you, but theres also someone else. This guy told me about your appearance, your favorite tactic, the countermeasure for that, and even how the effective way to draw you out to the open is by aiming at the princess.

What?

Information goes everywhere in the underworld. The average guys will flinch from targeting the princess youre protecting, but its also natural that there are those who want to try to fight someone that strong that can do something like that right? When I got this information, that person told me to tell you about this if I run into you by some chance. Isnt it an amusing story?

Targeting Elena was a shortcut to fight me.

I knew of someone else who also said something like that before. I also heard how this person was recently involved with the commotion in the capital.

Grave huh.

I was convinced with this. That man was finally starting to take action.

I stood up while my hand kept pressing on my side. Gilgan kept his focus fixed on me while glancing at Nero.

So thats a Coeurlits even more a monster than what I heard. But we are both rank 5. Ill manage easily if I have several men with me. This great me will eliminate all of you together.

Gilgan held a hatchet in each hand and smiled like a beast.

Gilgans fighting style was to hold one-handed sword in each hand. That reminded me of Grave.

The current me still wouldnt be able to use Iron Rose for some time because of using mana recovery potion during the travel to this location.

Gilgan seemed worried of Neros interruption, but I had no intention of handing my enemy to Nero.

Even if I couldnt use Iron Rose, even if the enemy was a veteran rank 5, I wouldnt take even a single step back now that I had stood on the same stage with them.

I sheathed the black dagger and knife and took out the scythe and weight type pendulums from the Storage to my hands. I gave them a twirl.

Gilgan was rank 5 and I was rank 4. The difference between us wasnt only in combat strength, there should also be greater gap in our actual strength and experience. But, in order to fight Grave who had the same fighting style, I had to defeat this guy by myself alone.

What are you doing?

Gilgan frowned seeing me putting away my knife and dagger and readying two pendulums instead.

You want me to fight seriously right? Is it your style to ask every single trivia in battlefield?

Anyone could reach rank 3 if they spent time putting in effort. But to reach higher than that, something that no ordinary person had was required.

Human could obtain immense power by discarding something important to them as a human, whether it was because of madness, obsession, or an oath to themselves. That was exactly why between monster and human of the same rank, I was warier toward the human.

Hah, you got that right. In that case

The moment Gilgan was talking, *Bam!* I kicked on the ground with body strengthening at full tilt right from the start. My foot left a crack on the ground and I passed one of the assassins who were moving to surround us. The scythe type pendulum tore his throat in my wake.

a?

That man let out a puzzled voice while blood spurted out a moment later. I used that blood spray as cover for the weight type pendulum that I threw. It swung down on the head of another man nearby.

*Gokyu!* There was a sound like a pumpkin getting smashed with hammer. Before that man collapsed on the ground, I used his face as stepping stool to jump. I rotated midair while pulling out knives on my thigh from behind the fluttering skirt. They entered the eyeballs of two assassins who were staring at me dumbfounded, scattering their life.

Ash Crowneddd!!

There Gilgan who was planning to have a duel with me finally turned infuriated and threw one of his hatchets toward me.

Unfortunately, Im not so chivalrous nor so audacious that I could fight a duel while being surrounded by enemies. Even if the opponent wanted to have a duel, who knows what his subordinates who were surrounding us would actually do.

Then what to do? The answer was simple. I just needed to kill the nuisances first.

The hatchet made a growling sound while rotating through the air. I bent diagonally while kicking up with the heel of my leather boot. *Gann!* The collision made a hard sound and the hatchet was deflected to the wrong direction.

The boots that I was wearing right now werent the adventuring boots that I received from master. That boots appearance wouldnt match the academy uniform, so it would cause others to be on guard against me. That was why I usually was wearing the academys approved loafer, while right now I was wearing boots that had magic iron plate inserted on the heel and the tip.

T-this damn brat!

One assassin finally returned to his senses from being a mere duel spectator to being a participant standing on the stage. He pulled out a dagger from his waist and brandished it.

But that was a bad choice. Even though it looked like I was in an unbalanced posture after kicking up the hatchet, this was a battlefield that had enemies. Even if there was distance between us, I shouldnt let down my guard for even a moment.

Gogah!?

The weight type pendulum was swiveling and impacted the side of that mans head just as he was about to dash forward. Blood burst out from the ear at the opposite side of the mans head.

There would be no more moment of rest for all of you lowlifes. Multiple pendulum swiveled at my surrounding, forming barrier of death that served for both intercepting and attacking.

Stop her-!

Gilgan yelled at his subordinates and chased after me. This was a gamble where in the worst case he might take the crown prince hostage, but my first impression of him proved correct. Gilgan prioritized to fight me, the [Ash Crowned Princess] who had destroyed some assassin guilds.

Guh!

Gilgan tried to close the distance with me, but the third pendulumslashing type pendulum passed right before his eyes in high speed. He reflexively put a brake on his dash.

I sheathed my knife and dagger so I could use four pendulums which was the most I could do right now. With my current skill level, it was necessary for me to keep both of my hands completely empty.

Die, Ash Crowned-!

The subordinate assassins who were ordered to [stop] me raised their weapons and blocked my way. In that moment, the scythe type pendulum that was whirling as a barrier of death gouged the forehead of the man at the forefront.

That man screamed. But two other men used him as a shield and closed the distance. That seemed like a cruel act but that was the right move. The man called Gilgan apparently ran a tight leadership over his subordinates despite his appearance.

It was hard to hit me with throwing weapons while I kept moving around. That was why their decision to challenge me in close range combat while I was focused on using remotely controlled weapons with no melee weapon in hands wasnt wrong.

*Gakinn!*

What-!?

A spear swept at my landing spot, but I blocked it with the sheath that was tied on my calf and kicked back. It was a weapon that could block even an attack from rank 5 monster and wouldnt snap even if it used to give such opponent a finishing blow. Even though it was kept inside its sheath, it could block any attack other than special killing move with no problem.

I attacked with both hands and blocked attack with my legs. My fighting style was putting away my weapons in order to fight multiple opponents instead.

Enough playing around-! Fight meee!!

Even so the attack managed to hold me on one place for a little bit. Gilgan deflected the scythe type pendulum that was swiveling in high speed using his hatchet while closing the distance to me until close quarter.

I kicked the face of the spear user with a heel of the leg that I used to block the spear. That heel had metal plate inserted in it. The kick crushed the mans face. At the same time I sensed one other person attacking from behind. I made the weight type pendulum to turn and wrapped around his neck to strangle him.

I sealed the attack from behind. But, Gilgan was approaching from the front.

I strongly pulled the string that I directed to my back to strangle that man to death. At the same time I also used the recoil from pulling the string to take even more distance from Gilgan.

Fight me properly, Ash Crowned-!!

Im amazed you can say that after surrounding one girl with this many men.

I dodged Gilgans pursuing attack while murdering the encirclement one after another. Then an assassin that I was approaching turned his back on me and ran away.

Dont get scared even if you feel fear. Dont run away even if youre retreating. Fear will kill your heart you know?

The swiveling weight type pendulum grazed the head of the man who was seized by fear. It reaped his consciousness for just an instant. I leaped at him during that instant and kneed the back of his head. Without pause I wrapped my legs around the mans head and I rotated. His neck was snapped at the same time with my landing.

That is her highnesss bodyguard?

Thats right.

Even though Rockwell was taking a fight stance with a weapon that was taken away from an enemy, he was unable to join the fight. Far from that, he couldnt even take a step from where he was standing.

Rockwell had a margrave who was this countrys supreme knight commander as his father, and most likely he would succeed his fathers position in around ten or twenty years from now. Because of that he had been given the training within the best environment in this country to become the greatest knight.

Although the old Dandall Dukedom was absorbed by Claydale Kingdom due to the difference in national power, it was originally a military country. The bloodline of Dandall House that was the royal family of that country in the past was pushing up Rockwell to stand above everyone in his generations in the matter of strength.

His talent was the real deal as could be seen from how he had reached rank 3 while still enrolling in the academy. He had the confidence that he wouldnt lose even against a royal guard if he had a sword in hand.

He would become the greatest knight in this country. And for this youth, the greatest knight also meant [the strongest knight]. But as he grew up, he noticed that what was sought from the person who would become this countrys supreme knight commander wasnt individual might, but political power and leadership ability.

He wished to become strong. But as he matured his adult self soothed his childish self that just strength wouldnt be enough.

But, the battle of the pink haired girl who was killing the enemies before his eyes as though she was dancing was in a different dimension. It completely destroyed Rockwells sense of value.

If he could be honest, he felt fear at the girl who was killing humans without showing any emotion. His legs were shaking and couldnt move, and his hand also couldnt let go of the sword handle in its grasp.

But at the same time, Rockwell couldnt avert his gaze from the girl. The wish of wanting to become strong that he had sealed deep inside him until now was making his hand to clench on the sword handle with unusual strength.

Mihail who replied to the muttering of such Rockwell just now was different from his friend. While his friend was watching with a yearning somewhere within his eyes, he was staring at the blood soaked girl with a pained gaze.

.

Why

The crown prince Ervan who was being protected by those two was standing several steps behind them. He was staring at the girl just like the two, even so his complexion was pale.

It was the adventurer girl who he encountered several years ago when he sneaked out to the capital. When he met her for the first time, he naively idolized her for being an adventurer at such young age. He also harbored a feeling that surpassed mere interest when the girl who was living like that showed him her cuteness. But

Why, is she able to kill that easily?

Ervans mother, the first queen who was formerly a viscount daughter had been telling her son the stories when she still had freedom as mere viscount daughter even while enduring the tyranny of the high ranked nobles. It made him wished that he also wanted to live like that.

Because of that he wished to sneak out to the city. The girl who he encountered there was also like a symbol of freedom for Ervan who was tormented by his responsibility and heavy pressure.

But, that girl who became the bodyguard maid of his little sister the princess was becoming an existence that was far removed from that. Was this what it meant to serve the royal family? Was this blood soaked path the world that the royalty had to walk on? Ervan was staring at the girl with a feeling that was similar to despair.

A small warm hand softly wrapped around Ervans trembling hand.

Licia?

Its alright Er-sama. This world isnt filled with only scary things like that. There are a lot of beautiful things in this world. If you dont want to look at the scary things, please look at me right now. I will smile forever for you.

Licia said that and smiled sweetly. Ervan whose mind was driven to the corner finally put on a twitching smile as though he had found an escape path. He softly grasped the girls hand backthat act drove a wedge called guilt into the bond between Ervan and Clara.

.

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Around that time, the mythical beast Coeurl, aka Nero were playing with several human knights.

It knew that even among humans there were particularly strong individual like Aria or the one that tricked it. Even so human was weakling for Nero. It was thinking that there was almost none of them who could defeat it by themselves.

For Nero, Aria was other who it got interested with for the first time. At first it was at her side in order to hunt their shared enemy together, but Arias eyes were constantly looking at the sky despite living in solitude just like Nero. Nero felt the moon that illuminated the endlessly dark night inside such Aria. It made Nero wanted to watch her life.

If she stayed like as she was, then there would also be times like this when it lent her a hand based on its whim. Human was weakling. But, Nero had also learned that they would be a threat to it if they grouped up.

Nero was playing with the knights as practice for that kind of fight. Then it suddenly leaped away and growled warily at the forest behind the knights.

The next moment

GOAAAAAAAAA!

A bear monster appeared from the forest behind the knights. The knights hurriedly turned their shields toward it.

Whats this thing-!?

Blue Shelled Bear-! Why is it in this kind of place!?

Blue Shelled Bear was a monster that preyed on crab and took in their chitin to become a hardened part of its skin due to magic particles. It was a rank 3, but the hardness of its skin mde the adventurer guild to raise its difficulty level to rank 4. It was a powerful specimen.

Even so it wasnt any threat for a mythical beast like Nero.

Then what was Nero being wary to?

That Blue Shelled Bear too didnt come here to attack the knights. There were several parts of its body that had burn mark or gash.

The Blue Shelled Bear was running away from something. There was an existence that could corner the Blue Shelled Bear that had subjugation difficulty level of rank 4.

*GOOOOOOOOOOO!*

In that moment, several huge fire pillars burst out from inside the forest and pierced the bears back. The scattered sparks made two knights became enveloped with flame.

My. Theres a kitty that look like it will give a lot of pelt from its body.

While the Blue Helled Bear and the knights were being burned and screaming while rolling around on the ground, a black haired girl appeared as though she was oozing out from the forests darkness. She didnt even glance at the burning victims and narrowed her eyes in delight toward the black mythical beast that was on its guard against her.

Groowl

The girl suddenly appeared from inside the forest and turned a Blue Shelled Bear and several knights of the second knight order into balls of flame. Nero sensed that she was the most dangerous thing in this place. It made its whip-like whiskers to sparkle while growling warily.

From what Nero saw, this girls strength might be about the same with the [pink haired girl] it decided to watch over it guessed? But, just like how that girl was hiding strength inside herself, Nero felt that this sickly looking girl was also hiding abnormal strength inside.

Ufufu

That girlCarla flicked up her long black hair seeing Nero being on guard against her. She narrowed her eyes in amusement on her sickly face.

Carla had seen through that the beast before her was a Coeurl based on the vast knowledge that Carla had been accumulating since she was little. It was a dangerous mythical beast that was rank 5 and it had higher combat strength than her who was rank 4.

But, combat strength was simply an approximation. This monster had sufficient ability to test her sorcery that she had continued to train until now solely for the sake of killing others. The thought made a smile to form on Carlas lips.

The Blue Shelled Bear was a monster that she found on her way here. It seemed to have this area as its territory and she attacked it. Its subjugation difficulty was high, a rank 4, but it was simply a foolish prey that couldnt even gauge Carlas true strength.

It was unclear why it was staying in this area but, that was why the appearance of Coeurl that had the intellect to be wary toward her roused her curiosity. She was delighted.

Come to me, kitty.

.

Carla Lester Race : Human Rank 4

Magic Power : 425/530Stamina : 34/52

Strength : 7 (8)Endurance : 3 (4)Agility : 12 (14)Dexterity : 9

Martial Art Level 3

Light Magic Level 3Darkness Magic Level 3Earth Magic Level 3Water Magic Level 4

Fire Magic Level 4Wind Magic Level 4Non-Elemental Magic Level 4Daily Life Magic

Magic Power Control Level 4Pressure Level 4Search Level 2

Abnormal Status Resistance Level 2Poison Resistance Level 1

Simple Appraisal

Overall Combat Strength : 1030 (Sorcery Attack Power : 1545)

Gift : Soul Thorn

.

Nero Race : Coeurl Mythical Beast Rank 5

Magic Power : 224/280Stamina : 465/510

Strength : 20 (30)Endurance : 20 (30)Agility : 18 (27)Dexterity : 7

Claw Attack Level 4Martial Art Level 5Defense Level 4

Non-Elemental Magic Level 4Magic Power Control Level 5

Pressure Level 5Stealth Level 4Night Vision Level 4Search Level 5

Abnormal Status Resistance Level 4Slash and Thrust Resistance Level 5Poison Resistance Level 4

Simple Appraisal

Overall Combat Strength : 2136 (Sorcery Attack Power : 2704)

.

T-this woman-!?

Its Count Lesters daughter-! Be careful, shes

The surviving knights of the second knight order realized the true identity of the intruder and raised their sword, while Carla who saw that lightly waved her hand at the nuisances.

Hurricane

A level 4 wind sorcery was unleashed. The knights who got dragged into that whirlwind got carved apart by countless small blades and then they were blown away.

GUAOOOOOO!!

Nero who had been watching the situation swiftly leaped in that moment. It bared its fang toward Carla.

A monster like Nero didnt use Appraisal skill but, in the first place Appraisal was a skill that turned what the user saw with their eyes, listened with their ears, and they felt with their five senses about the targets ability into number. Who knew about the low ranked monsters but, the high ranked monsters were able to sense their opponents parameter to some degree without relying on skill.

With that, the mythical beast Nero was astonished by the amount of mana that it sensed from Carla, but her stamina value wasnt any different than the average children of human race. Just a small graze from Neros claws would easily deal lethal wound on heror that should be the case.

GAH!

Fuh!

A gust of wind wrapped around Carlas body in that moment and it made her floated in the air. She dodged Neros claws like a fluttering leaf.

Body strengthening didnt only enhance attack power but also defensive capability like the persons endurance. That was because mana itself was covering the persons flesh. With that it was possible to obtain resistance not only toward direct attack, but also attack sorcery.

Also high ranked sorcerer used body strengthening not only to dodge direct attack. They used an application of body strengthening to envelop their flesh with strong mana to raise their resistance to everything.

But there was limit to the mana of human. Even elf of fairy race that had long life span couldnt rival the mana of low ranked spirit. Even if they could use magic power control, controlling mana while avoiding attack in battle was a feat that required abnormal courage.

By obtaining a Gift, Carlas body that was used to vast amount of mana could maintain mana in the amount that surpassed the limit even in normal time. For Carla who regarded everything as enemy and had continued to fight by herself until now, she now became able to cover her whole body with vast amount of mana and even used it for moving by controlling it calmly even in the middle of battle.

But even with that, it would be next to impossible for a rank 4 sorcerer to dodge the attack of a rank 5 monster. But Carla used her exquisite magic power control to control wind which enabled her to dodge even Neros attack.

It was something that came from the strength of her heart and knowledge that didnt show in the number of her combat strength.

Fire Javelin

Carla stayed floating in the air and unleashed sorcery to Nero who passed below her.

For Coeurl that had resistance against slashing and thrusting attack, it was attack sorcery that it had to be careful against. But it also had countermeasure against such thing as long as there was distance.

GAAAAAAA!

Neros whiskers scattered out sparks like electricity to obstruct the sorcery. The fired Fire Javelin was erased. The impact made Carla frowned.

*Gagaga* Nero planted its fangs into the ground, carving a scar behind it. Its body passed through like that before it turned around. At the same time Carla who managed to open some distance moved in the sky while firing another sorcery.

Ice Lance

Ice element sorcery would hinder the enemys movement with its low temperature. Even so Nero dodged all the ice lances with only its physical ability and senses, but ahead of where it dodged, there was the Blue Shell Bear that had been turned into a mass of flame and currently going into a rampage.

GAAAAAAAAAAAA!

But Nero tore into the throat of the flame wrapped Blue Shell Bear with its fangs without even a single moment of hesitation. It then swung its head to break the neck of the Blue Shell Bear that was as big as itself before using its body as shield against the ice lances.

Nero then charged after using the bear as shield. Seeing such powerful enemy made Carla put on a gruesome smile that looked insane.

Soul Thorn

.

Carla Lester Race : Human Rank 4

Magic Power : /530Stamina : 26/52

Overall Combat Strength : 1030 (Sorcery Attack Power : 2957)

Gift : Soul Thorn Exchange/Life Time

***

Ash Crowned-!

I was dodging Gilgans fierce attack while killing his men. Gilgan yelled in anger seeing that.

His attack that was approaching me was gradually becoming sloppier from anger and anxiety. Even though Gilgan was aware that I was a dangerous enemy who could destroy a guild, it must still rankled him greatly that a rank 4 which was inferior to him could lead him around by the nose like this.

From my observation until now, Gilgan had the ability to lead his subordinates and the decisiveness to accept a request that the central branch of the assassin guild was avoiding. But seen from a different perspective, I felt rashness and arrogance from him that was unthinkable coming from a leader of the assassin guild who was entrusted with the lives of his subordinates.

That kind of human had low endurance with holding himself back. Their anxiety and irritation lowered the precision of their technique.

I dodged his swing that went too wide with an acrobatic movement to provoke him, but then my foot got slightly entangled in the hem of my torn skirt.

This is the end for youuuu!!

Gilgan saw that momentary opening and threw both his hatchets.

A knight or the average swordsman would never think about throwing their weapon even if doing that would land a finishing blow. That could become a fatal opening, but in this situation it became the perfect attack.

What-!>

I let myself fell to dodge that attack.

You had shown your technique too much. Just like how Gilgan threw his own weapons without any hesitation, I also gave it my all to dodge only this attack without considering how to dodge the next attack.

At this rate the assassins around me would target me. But, just like how I had noticed how rough Gilgans technique had become, his subordinates who were aware of his short temper feared getting caught in his attack and hesitated to move. Gilgan whose field of vision had narrowed from anger didnt notice that.

Gyaaaaaah!?

Because I got down on the ground, the hatchets flew past me and hit Gilgans subordinate who was going to attack me. The moment Gilgans attention was stolen by that sight, I kicked toward the direction I fell toward and rolled. I used my fluttering skirt as blinder and threw the knife I pulled out from my calf.

Tsk!

*Kikin!*

Gilgan immediately returned to his senses and he barely managed to dodge the knife that was targeting his vital spot although it still grazed him.

In that moment I tore the hem that entangled my foot while rushing forward and swung down my scythe type pendulum. But Gilgan deflected it with the protector on the back of his hand while suddenly raising his voice toward me.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

Tsu!

Gilgan suddenly let out a war cry and my body stiffened for a moment.

What!? This wasnt Pressure. Most likely it was Gilgans trump card.

I assumed that it was a stun type sorcery skill that was similar to my Pain. In that moment Gilgan picked up a sword of his dead subordinate and brandished it high to the air.

Vorpal Blade

He unleashed the level 5 Battle Skill for the second time. Multiple invisible slashes approached me.

It was nearly impossible to dodge from this close. Of course Gilgan must be thinking the same. That was exactly why I too had predicted that the next time he used his Battle Skill would be in this kind of situation.

The stunning effect of the [war cry] just now didnt last as long as my Pain.

I recovered from the momentary stiffening and threw the skirt scrap that I tore just now to the front.

!?

You let me too close. The small scrap blocked Gilgans sight. It was difficult to unleash Battle Skill to an opponent he couldnt see even for rank 5.

In that moment, I crouched on the ground like a cat and dodged the Battle Skills slashes and launched a pendulum that was controlled using the string that was tied on my foot at Gilgan.

But

GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Gilgan let out his [war cry] again. His whole body made snapping sounds as though his muscles were getting torn apart and blood spurted out. With that he forced his body to move and dodged the pendulums blade that was approaching his face.

Nice move you got there.

Gilgan bared his teeth smilingly with a face that was soaked with blood. Most likely he had a [voice] type skill. Even an attack that I launched at the risk of my life during a single moment of opening didnt manage to defeat Gilgan.

As I thought, my finishing move was weak. I finished off his subordinates to create a situation where it was a one-on-one fight, and during the process I disturbed the enemys ability to focus and lowered the precision of his technique, but just that could only bring me to an equal footing with him, it wasnt enough to finish him off.

(Then what should I do)

.

*DODOOON!*

It was then, sound and shockwave that seemed to come from explosion of sorcery came from some distance away.

I sharpened my ears while keeping my eyes fixed on Gilgan. I could hear Neros roar and a slightly familiar voice.

Whats that sound-!?

Who knows.

I lightly replied at Gilgan who couldnt understand the situation. Then without pause I rushed toward the location where Nero and that fellow were fighting behind me.

Wherere you going, Ash Crowned-!

Gilgan threw a throwing knife at me who started moving. I deflected it with weight type pendulum while dodging a stray bullet that came from behind. The Fire Ball landed between Gilgan and me and exploded.

The flame that was scattered to the surrounding burned Gilgans arm. Even so he dodged most of it and rushed forward. The Shield that I immediately put up also got smashed. I received damage from the heat and shockwave, but there I put away my pendulums and took out my black dagger and knife.

This is our battlefield.

Ill show them my way of fighting.

***

Ill go back her up.

Rockwell hardened his grasp on his sword and muttered that. Everyone there including the crown prince Ervan gasped. They turned their gazes toward him in shock.

This was an assault from assassin guild that received a request from the noble faction and the insurrection of a part of the second knight order. In such dangerous situation, the adventurer girl who was dispatched by Princess Elena appeared here as reinforcement. She succeeded in diverting the attention of the attackers from the crown prince and other students.

As someone from the lineage that had produced a lot of supreme knight commander in this country, watching things unfolding until now must have made him felt conflicted. But, although Rockwells sword skill was excellent, it was only in [academy level] at the end. A careless interference from him might attract the attackers attention to them once more.

Even so as a knight and as a man, continuing to hide behind the back of a young maiden wasnt something that Rockwell could consider as right.

Then Ill come with you. Im no match compared to you with sword but, I should be able to be a bit useful with my sorcery.

Mihail

Mihail stood at the side of his friend who was going to head toward the fight. He turned a smile toward Rockwell even though it was just a bluffing one.

Mihail and Rockwells thinking were in the same direction though there was a small difference.

For Rockwell, his yearning for strength as a knight that he had been sealing inside his heart because of his standing as a high ranked noble had surfaced back after watching the pink haired girl. He wished to stand side by side and fought together with her.

But perhaps the reason he couldnt accept letting the girl fought alone wasnt solely because of his pride as a man, but also because of another feeling within him. Right now it was just a yearning but, that feeling that could grow into something else was directed toward a girl who was currently far away from here.

Mihail harbored an interest toward the adventurer girl who he encountered several years ago. This girl was like a completely different existence than the young ladies who usually swarmed around him. Inside her he saw the trace of the aunt that he idolized in his childhood, and seeing her aloof way of living, it made him wanted to save her from the darkness of solitude.

Mihail felt pity seeing her figure that continued to fight in solitude. He understood that it was just his haughtiness as someone in the blessed position as a noble. Even so seeing her made Mihail wished to become her support.

Even if the girl didnt wish for thateven he himself didnt understand whether this was a wish of supporting her like a family or it was a different feeling. But, just like Rockwell, Mihail couldnt accept to continue hiding behind her back anymore.

.

Butthe other friend was unable to understand their decision.

What are you two saying! What do you think you we can do by going into that kind of dangerous battle-!? Stop saying something stupid like that. Remember what your role actually is-!

The crown prince Ervan stopped the two from going toward the battle. Mihail and Rockwell exchanged glance for a moment.

What he was saying was rational. Their duty as high ranked noble here was to survive.

It was a battlefield where the girl who was a member of first class adventurer party Rainbow Sword was putting her life on the line. What could they whose strength was only at the level of slightly better than academy student could do by going out there? In the worst case they might only become a hindrance for the girl.

Please forgive us, your highness. We cant simply sit still watching anymore.

Suppressing insurrection is a duty of high ranked noble. Even if our lives are snuffed out here, it wont be any fault of that girl who came here to rescue us.

No way

Ervan was rendered speechless by Rockwell and Mihails determination.

Even though Ervans wording sounded like he was chiding the two, there was also fear inside him. The girl was killing other people one after another as though she had no regard about the weight of life at all. For Ervan who had grown up until now without possessing sufficient resolve as a royalty, that girl was becoming an existence that she was unable to understand the most.

Even his fiance Carla who appeared here before he noticed started fighting the big black beast. The sight of her killing humans without regards whether they were enemy or ally looked like the scene of hell on earth to him.

Ervan felt like that fear of his had been seen through by his two friends. Seeing the two stepping forward as a noble and as a man made him felt like there was a distance between him and them for the first time. He turned a gloomy gaze toward cause of that, the pink haired girl who was continuing to fight at the distance.

Please wait-!

There was one other voice that called at them to stop. That girl that still had trace of childishness in her appearance placed her hand over the hand of the dejected Ervan, while looking at Mihail and Rockwell with sad looking eyes.

There is no need for both of you to do something so dangerous! We are human. Please treasure your life more than something like a nobles duty! There are more important things than that. Its fine to leave the dangerous things to the brutish people!

The voice of the girlLicia was pleading. But Mihail shook his head quietly in respond to those words, while Rockwell lightly tapped his shoulder and both them started walking toward the battlefield.

RockwellMihail

Ervan muttered the names of his friends who were walking away with a lonely look. Licia gently pulled his head on her chest in a hug. Ervan clung on the girls slender body to take solace on her kindness.

Licia

Yes, Er-sama. I will stay at your side no matter what.

.

Licia patted the head of Ervan who was clinging on her chest like a kid with an expression that was filled with affection on her face. She did that while staring at the back of the other two youths in puzzlement.

(Did I do something wrong?)

Even though she had used the heroine lines that she learned from that magic stone, the two still wouldnt stay.

Her information was already differing bit by bit with reality. The existence of the heroine that vanished from the story before anyone knew it. She was aware that differences would appear in the situations with the disappearance of the real thing, but she also felt a clear difference from the behavior of two of the capture targets. She felt that she would need to gather even more information.

And then the girl who had forgotten even her real name and called herself as [Alicia] suddenly twisted her expression. She watched the pink haired girl and long black haired girl at the far distance with severity in her eyes.

(Thos twoare nuisances.)

***

Carla who suddenly appeared from somewhere was destroying the forest in her fight against Nero.

That powerthat might be the power of the Gift I had been hearing about. Even my eyes couldnt see the upper limit of her mana. But, I felt how the light of her life was weakening in terrifying speed.

Fire of hell that burned violently with your life as the fuelwas that the power that you wished for, Carla?

Carla was flying around using her bursting out mana while throwing herself into a fight against Nero who was in the top rank even among rank 5. No, if it was just based on her instantaneous destructive power, Carlas strength could even be in the realm of rank 6.

Attack magic was a weak point for Coeurl whose resistance was for slashing and thrusting attack. But Coeurl also had the power to obstruct the sorcery itself.

The two possessed strong power and thing wouldnt end up well if they were left alone, but affinity-wise it didnt look like their battle would be settled quickly, so I guessed that neither of them would be in grave danger immediately.

The surrounding area became swallowed in flame from the stray bullets that Carla fired everywhere without any regard of the consequences. That was exactly why I chose this area as the place where I would settle thing with Gilgan.

You bastardtsu!

Gilgan who got damaged from that stray bullet pointed eyes that were filled with fury and his sword at me. As expected from a leader of an assassin guild, his stamina was only reduced slightly even though his left arm got burned. His combat strength also didnt decrease with any noticeable amount.

But that was fine. It would be pointless for me to lure him until here for a one-on-one fight if he would die just from something like that.

Lets finish this. This is where youre going to die.

Tsk

I silently took a fighting stance with my black dagger and knife. Gilgan spat on the ground and raised his sword while lowering his stance.

*DOOOOONN!!*

Carlas sorcery exploded nearby. That acted as the signal and Gilgan and I rushed forward at the same time.

*CLANGG!*

Sword and dagger clashed with sparks being scattered. The knife in my left hand weaved through that opening and rushed toward GIlgan, but he blocked it with a short sword that was held in his burned right arm.

It would be pointless for me to get into sword locking contest with my inferior physical strength. But perhaps the same also applied to Gilgan whose left arm was injured. He let out a kick while both of us were locking weapons with each other.

Hah!

Kuh!

I too immediately blocked it with my knee but my light weight made me got blown away. But I intentionally blocked the kick with my knee to open a distance and acrobatically somersaulted. I kicked a stone on the ground at the same time with my landing. It stopped Gilgan from chasing after me.

Here I finally became able to fight properly against a rank 5 like Gilgan after executing various tactics until now.

Even so it still didnt change the fact that I lacked a finishing move because of the one rank difference between Gilgan and me. How should I fill that gapI chose this place to finish this fight because of that. From here on victory and defeat would be decided by the difference in our ability to concentrate and determination.

*DOOOOOOOONN!!*

GAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

AHAHA

Flames heat and explosion sound, insane laughter and beastly roar.

Gilgans focus was distracted for a moment by the heated wind and scattered rock fragments. I rushed forward while dodging only the fragments that would wound me lethally. My knife cut Gilgans shoulder and it was followed by blood spray.

You madlad

Naturally.

There was no sane person who would turn the assassin guild into their enemy even though they were alone right?

I continued to swing my weapons even while blood trickled from my forehead that got grazed by a flying rock. Seeing that caused the color of fear to flash in Gilgans eyes for the first time.

aaAA [AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]!!

Gilgan let out that yell to inflict stun on my whole body.

Tsu!

This technique that stopped the opponent just for an instant was different from <Pressure> or [Pain]. It was difficult to resist.

I endured that instant and readied myself to parry Gilgans blade. Seeing that Gilgan raised his sword and focused to unleash his Battle Skill once more. But suddenly wind attack magic that flew from other direction flew at Gilgans back and cut him.

What-, the-!?

Gilgan spoke in shock. There

UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

*Dosu-!*

A young knight came charging and his sword tip stabbed deeply as though to gouge the cut on Gilgans back.

The two youths who served as the crown princes aidesthe two successfully dealt a wound on Gilgan who lacked focus and turned his whole attention to me alone.

It was like my prey got snatched by someone else but, it was Gilgans blunder to loosen his vigilance to his surrounding just from this much. If he couldnt do that then he should kill them from the start just like what I did.

Gilgan got wounded. But, it was still shallow.

THIS DAMN BRAAATTT!

Even with his back stabbed, Gilgan elbowed the young knight on his stomach, while his other hand raised a throwing knife to be throw toward Mihail who fired the sorcery that interrupted the fight.

Shit-

Mihail-!

Even this wasnt enough to defeat a rank 5? Just a bit more? What was needed? Speed was needed. Speed that wouldnt lose to anyone. I still couldnt use Iron Rose. But I should remember. My body should remember it. Remember that speed. My body knew that speed.

My thought switched track in that moment. The world turned gray and quiet as though the flow of time had slowed down. I focused the mana flowing through my whole body into my two legs, and in that moment, my body flew like a flash of light that left behind even sound. The dagger that I just barely swung forward tore Gilgans neck deeply.

UGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Gilgans death throes resounded. I flew passed him and tumbled once on the ground. Even so I used both my hands to adjust my posture, then I cut in between one person and one beast who were about to clash with each other and released my pressure. The two objects caused dust cloud to rise up from the rapid break they performed. I pointed my knife and dagger to the foreheads of those two in the middle of that.

You two should stop too.

Gaaaa

Ariayoure soaked with blood again.

Carla whose white skin was covered with pattern of black thorn put on a faint smile while red blood trickled out from her lips.

kuhaha

It was then, I heard the voice of Gilgan who should have been killed. I immediately pulled out a throwing knife from my thigh and readied it for throwing.

It seemed that I really overdid it with my movement just now. Blood spurted out from both my legs as though the capillary arteries there were going to burst. I kept kneeling on the ground while my legs convulsed without being able to move. But Gilgans wound was also clearly fatal. He stood still with blood leaking out like waterfall from his wound. Gilgan whose light of life was rapidly fading stared at me alone while lifting up the corner of his lips weakly.

To thinkIm the one who lose. Ash Crowned. From where you stand, does it look like it was me who didnt fight seriously?

The difference between Gilgan who was fixated with the fight and me who sought victory huh.

Its your win, Ash Crownedbut, dont let down your guard. Its not just one or two people who manipulate this attack from the shadow. You are also there, arent you, Taba

*Dosu!*

In that moment, there was a faint whooshing sound that was accompanied by a black arrow that pierced through Gilgans head.

Tsu!

I immediately aimed my throwing knife at the direction the arrow came from while turning my gaze to there. On a tree that was at quite a far distance there, there were two people in black clothes armed with bow.

Woman? I judged them like that based on their body build. Then the duo immediately turned around to escape. The moment they attempted that, Carla fired her sorcery to that direction.

Ice Lance

The ice spears shot through the air with unbelievable speed. The two women in black dodged it just barely.

But they were unable to dodge perfectly. One of them got grazed and black skin came into viewand then the other womans mask also got grazed and I could see the burned face of a woman who was looking at me with hatred in her eyes.

And then the two women vanished from view.

That skin color? And then that woman with burned face.

Tabatha?

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