5. Fallen Princess Bellatrix
It was just as Ian was about to head for the carriage, as Cheong-ah had instructed.
BOOM! A thunderous crash echoed as something slammed into the ground.
Bellatrix turned to her subordinates waiting behind her for attack orders.
"Hey, you lot just sit back and watch. I'm gonna take first crack at that Yuldo bitch."
Her men stared at her in bewildered confusion. One who looked like her advisor stammered back, "P-Princess? But that's... not exactly..."
In that instant, the red fleck in Bellatrix's eye blazed like a roaring flame. The advisor flinched hard.
"I'm going first. She's by herself anyway. What, you wanna make me some coward who gangs up on one person?"
"...No, ma'am. We'll follow orders."
With a feral growl from Bellatrix, he finally bowed his head and backed off.
"There we go. Now then..."
Her words unfinished, Bellatrix shot forward at blinding speed. Gripping her massive greatsword one-handed, dragging it along the ground—she looked like a madwoman charging in.
As she closed in on the carriage, she bellowed a savage beast's roar and swung her blade down from overhead with crushing force.
"Come onnnn...!!!"
It was a strike that could cleave the carriage clean in half. Ju Cheong-ah couldn't just stand there—she kicked off the driver's seat and leaped straight at Bellatrix.
"Ch-Cheong-ah...!"
"It's fine, darling. I can block it."
Saintess Sword, First Form—Butterfly Wing.
Her cane—no, her scabbard—flashed as her sword whipped out like lightning.
Compared to that monstrous greatsword, Cheong-ah's blade looked like a long millet stalk. One wrong move, and it could shatter against the giant sword, leaving her critically wounded.
Her drawn sword arced like a beam of light, clashing hard against Bellatrix's descending blade.
CLANGGG...!!
The greatsword and sword collided, unleashing an ear-splitting metallic screech that tore through the air. A massive shockwave ripped space apart with a deafening boom. Red and blue auras exploded in midair.
The two women met in the sky, and Bellatrix's lip curled slyly upward. A gasp of admiration burst from her with a laugh. Madness flickered in the red fleck at the center of her wide-open eye.
"Whoa! Not bad... at all!"
WHAM!
With her praise, her leg whipped out, slamming into Cheong-ah's gut.
"Ngh...?!"
Caught off-guard by the sudden kick, Cheong-ah doubled over and got flung to the ground.
THUD!
She barely stayed on her feet. Clutching her struck belly with one hand, a thin trickle of blood dripped from the corner of her resolute mouth.
"Cheong-ah, you okay?!"
"...Huff."
Cheong-ah had no breath to spare for Ian's words. He watched her silent form and bowed his head sadly.
There was nothing he could do.
...I'm useless.
'Damn it...'
Unaware of Ian's turmoil, Cheong-ah coldly assessed her condition. A mere kick had bruised her organs—not fatal, but enough to irritate with blood refluxing.
Ptoo! She spat out the blood pooling in her mouth.
Bellatrix sneered at her. "What, didn't see that coming?"
Cheong-ah gripped her wobbling knee amid the mockery, grinding her teeth with superhuman will until she straightened her stance.
"Damn... it."
A low mutter. Bellatrix grinned and kicked off the ground again.
"Fight ain't over yet, right?"
"Shut... your damn mouth!"
Spitting curses, Cheong-ah gathered her energy and parried the incoming greatsword, twisting her wrist.
SCRREEECH!
The downward slash veered diagonally, crashing into the dirt beside Cheong-ah.
"Huh?"
BOOM!
Dirt exploded from the greatsword's impact. Bellatrix showed a split-second opening, and Cheong-ah thrust for her throat without mercy.
"Die."
The slender blade's tip pierced dead-center for Bellatrix's neck.
Just as it would impale her—
"Aw, too bad. I ain't dying that easy."
Bellatrix dropped her greatsword's hilt, drew the karambit from her left waist, and smashed it into the center of Cheong-ah's blade.
CLANG!
"Ngh...!"
Cheong-ah's sword flew upward. Realizing her stance was breaking, she kicked backward to retreat.
At the same instant, the karambit stabbed through where her head had been.
Bellatrix clicked her tongue in disappointment. "Tch... Dodged it, huh? Pretty quick, you."
"...Hmph."
Cheong-ah glared daggers. Bellatrix swiftly sheathed her karambit and yanked her greatsword from the ground.
"Whew... Damn, girl, you can actually fight. For real. Been ages since anyone kept up with me like this. You're only the third person this Fallen Princess has ever praised."
"So?"
"Eh, just sayin'."
Bellatrix shrugged and reset her stance.
"Not curious who the first two were?"
"Nope."
"Aw, shame. They'd give you a good match too."
Cheong-ah gripped her sword two-handed, raising it overhead with the tip tilted forward. Her weary, pale face reflected faintly on the gleaming blade.
"If they're still alive, that is...!"
As she spoke, Bellatrix slung her sword over her shoulder and crouched low. Her soles ground into the earth, thigh muscles bulging. Her mana flared brighter red.
CRACK!
Her body tensed like a spring. In a flash, she coiled and exploded forward at cannonball speed.
ROOOAR...!!
Tearing space like a massive shell.
Her target, naturally: Cheong-ah.
A massive alarm blared in Cheong-ah's mind. Dodge. Can't deflect. But if I dodge now...
She sensed Ian behind her. Dodge, and Bellatrix would target the carriage instead.
...Gotta dodge.
Dodging could let her turn the fight, maybe even win. Or she could just turn tail—life mattered more than shaky vision, and she had unfinished business.
But...
"Hah... seriously..."
Damn this affection. I don't even love him that much.
Cheong-ah let out a wry internal sigh with a faint smile.
"Saintess Sword, Fourth Form."
Muttburi.
Her feet planted firm like a mountain peak. She thrust her sword forward—unyielding strength meeting Bellatrix's charge.
SCRREEECHHH...!!!
Blades ground in a metallic wail. Then—BANG! Air burst, shaking the world.
"Kyaaah...!"
A faint groan escaped Cheong-ah from the greatsword's brutal force. A faint smile crept across Bellatrix's lips as they collided.
Got her.
With that thought, Cheong-ah crumpled like a limp paper doll, sword and all, tumbling away.
Thud... thump... rollll...
She rolled far, covered in dirt. One arm dangled limp—probably broken.
"Hahk..."
Cheong-ah writhed in agony. Ian watched her pitiful state and lamented.
Why... me, why.
Why so powerless, so useless?
'Goddamn it...'
He vaguely knew how to use his ability, but not precisely what it did or how. All he could do was hide behind Cheong-ah and pray she won.
"Fuck..."
Maybe bite his tongue and end it...
Self-loathing wrapped him tight. Bellatrix glanced his way, contempt in her eyes.
"Oh ho, what's this? You... uh, what were you? That adventurer tagging along with the Yuldo girl? Yeah, my guys reported you two as a couple, right?"
Ian gave no reply.
"Eh, whatever. What kinda man hides behind a woman? Got nothing to say even with your girl getting wrecked? Tch tch..."
Tsking, Bellatrix slung her sword over her shoulder with a clunk. Her face hardened coldly as she glared.
"Pathetic parasite. This Fallen Princess hates scum like you most."
She raised her greatsword. Better off gone from the world.
As she swung for Ian's head—
CLANG!
A hefty shield blocked the greatsword, shoving it back hard. Aria, clad in heavy plate, had appeared to shield Ian.
"You okay, Ian?!"
"Ah... Y-Yeah. F-Fine."
She snarled savagely at Bellatrix despite her unsteady stance.
"Fallen bitch! You goddamn whore!"
"Oh! If it isn't my pal Aria?!"
"Who the hell's your pal?!"
"Aw, don't be like that, Aria. We're childhood friends, right? Where's Sierra? You two are always glued together."
"Shut it! As if an assassin like you gets to call me friend, you bitch I'll chew up!"
"Tch... Sorry about that. But what can ya do? Offer was too fat to refuse."
"You filthy cunt."
Aria ground out curses at Bellatrix's cheek.
"Anyway, greetings over. Sorry, Aria—I'll put that gold to good use retaking my Mountain Kingdom."
"Think I'll go down easy?!"
The greatsword swung. Aria's shield barely held.
Meanwhile, Ian felt a hand grab his collar from behind.
"...?"
Sierra. She pressed a finger to her lips, gesturing him back urgently.
"Get out of here. Useless people just get in the way."
Her gut-punch words twisted Ian's face in pain. I'm... just...
"Hurry."
"...Okay."
Ian slouched limply, creeping toward Cheong-ah to carry her away first.
"Cheong-ah."
No answer—or rather, she couldn't. Just pained groans.
Ian hugged her carefully to avoid hurting her more.
"Sorry..."
Self-recrimination hit again. Why can't I do anything?
"...Please."
Please, for real...
Goddess who dragged me here, you bitch.
This shitty power you gave me.
Please... let me...