Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 3. The Plum Maiden. Plum Blossom Butterfly Dance.
Rewinding time a little, at the entrance of the Deltarch territory.
Elise looked around while showing her pass to the gatekeeper.
“…It’s strange.”
“Yes? What is it? Miss?”
“Luna. The territory is too….”
Elise’s brows narrow.
“It’s noisy?”
“…Yes? Come to think of it?”
“It looks strangely too busy.”
While Elise was muttering like that, the gatekeeper who was returning the pass just in time spoke.
“You seem to not know. About the Deltarch territory of the North.”
When the eyes of the two women turned to the gatekeeper, he cleared his throat for a moment and spoke.
“Ahem. The Deltarch territory has raids from barbarians at least once a month. As a result, there are many times when it is noisy like this.”
The gatekeeper spoke while looking at the massive wall visible not far away.
“The wall and Grand Duke Deltarch take on the role of a solid shield blocking the invasion of barbarians, but…. It is true that every day is anxious. Well, anyway.”
The gatekeeper looked at Elise and Luna and spoke.
“I hope you take care of your bodies in the Deltarch territory. Since there are many rough men. There are many times when ladies find themselves in trouble in various ways. Then, that is all. Next person! Hand over the pass first!”
Ruminating on the gatekeeper’s kind explanation, Elise and Luna finally entered the Deltarch territory.
“M… Miss. How about we get lodging first…?”
“Wait a moment. Luna.”
Despite Luna’s pitiful words, Elise looked into the distance and was silent for a moment.
“M… Miss?”
“Smell of blood.”
“Yes?”
“There is a thick scent of blood….”
Elise rubbed the handle of the sword at her waist.
To be exact, she spoke while rubbing the handle of a one-handed sword she had picked up appropriately from the Blaze Ducal House’s armory.
“Luna. Would you wait at a nearby inn for now? Like the gatekeeper said. Don’t reveal your face if possible. Since Luna is quite cute.”
“Yes? Where are you planning to go, Miss…?”
At that question, Elise looked at Luna and smiled faintly.
“It’s just that I have a hunch there is a place that needs me. Besides, if I want to stay in the Northern Grand Duchy, I have to persuade His Highness the Grand Duke….”
Clack.
Elise spoke with her right hand on the sword handle so she could draw the sword at any time.
“It seems. Now is the right time to make a contribution.”
“…Miss? Miss! What contribution when your body isn’t even well!”
“Briefly. It’s possible if it’s very brief. Luna. Rest for a while at a nearby inn. I’ll come to pick you up soon.”
“Miss!”
Leaving Luna’s pitiful voice behind, Elise ran urgently toward the place where the scent of blood was felt.
It seemed the scent of blood rising beyond that wall was calling her.
***
A place not far from the territory of the Northern Grand Duke, Gayrad Deltarch.
The Wall of the North, built by a past Emperor of Latensio mobilizing countless prisoners and captives of enemy nations, is visible.
The Wall of Blood and Steel.
Beyond the Iron-Blooded Wall blocking the barbarians living in the frozen land of the North.
While countless warriors of the North and barbarians were showcasing a field of competition and continuing a terrible battle.
“…Is it here?”
Someone with quite light attire.
A woman with deep red hair, wearing a robe and bandages wrapped around her chest, appeared.
She, Elise, appeared suddenly in front of the wall.
Right in front of the wall, the rear area of the battlefield was too busy even though it wasn’t the battlefield.
“Come quickly! We need support!”
“Damn it! A person is gasping for breath right now! Where is the medic!”
Those shouting commands ceaselessly.
Those bringing injured among the soldiers of the battlefield and treating them.
It was not an exaggeration to say the space behind the wall was another battlefield.
Elise gauged the situation for a moment.
The goal is beyond that wall.
If it were her previous life, she would have crossed the wall showcasing the pinnacle of lightness techniques, whether it be Void Treading Step or Floating on Grass Step, but Elise’s current body had not been initiated into martial arts for long.
At best, it was only second-rate martial arts she sought to improve while coming to the North.
Even if this body’s martial arts achievement grows explosively in exchange for a short lifespan….
It seems crossing this massive wall with only two feet is not an easy task.
‘What to do.’
Elise pondered.
And she began to calmly examine the surroundings.
If it’s in this busy situation….
‘Ah.’
It came to mind.
She did not hesitate and headed to the place where the injured lay not far away.
Covering her head with the robe so her appearance wouldn’t be revealed was a bonus.
Elise, who reached the injured shortly after, checked a soldier who was already too late and had become a corpse among them.
“Please go to paradise in the next life. Since I was involved in a Taoist sect, it will be effective in its own way. And excuse me, but I will borrow your armor a little.”
Elise, who quietly prayed for the soul of the deceased, quickly stripped off the soldier’s armor.
Fortunately, there was no suspicion because nearby soldiers were also stripping the equipment of the deceased.
She thought perhaps they were collecting it for reuse.
Meanwhile, Elise looked around and went to a corner.
“…Done.”
She soon nodded as she put on the armor.
Since she even wore the helmet, looking from afar, she really looked like a soldier of the North.
The moment Elise was relieved.
“Support is needed! We need support in Iron Wall Sector 8!”
At the shout heard just in time, Elise did not hesitate and mixed into the group of those going to support.
Blending in, it was a success.
***
Due to these circumstances, Elise appeared in front of the Northern Wall before she knew it.
She stood confidently holding a sword in front of a barbarian who was trying to kill Deltarch’s youngest daughter.
“Elise Blaze, is it.”
Meanwhile, Nagagor sneered while tightly gripping his numb left hand.
Nagagor, who clenched and unclenched his fist a few times, looked at Elise and opened his mouth.
“You know a technique to break even a rock with a handful of strength.”
Words that seem to respect the opponent at a glance.
But Nagagor’s expression was the opposite.
“It’s like looking at the elders who have now stepped back. I respect the achievements and fame they built up, but is there a reason I should respect even an Imperial like you.”
Nagagor looked at Elise and ridiculed her.
“Heh! Seeing as it is, your body is already not normal. To hold the power of the stars but the body does not support it.”
Nagagor gripped the one remaining axe tightly as if to break it.
“I will end that pathetic life. This is the best courtesy I show to you who knows many things.”
The moment a ferocious energy from Nagagor’s body, the power barbarians call the power of stars and people of the continent call mana, fluctuated.
“A pathetic life, you say.”
The mouth of Elise, who was standing nobly in that spot, opened.
“Try being trampled by that pathetic life.”
“Preposterous!”
Bang—!
Nagagor’s body stretches like a ray of light and heads towards Elise.
At the same time the blade of the axe held in his right hand shines.
Elise’s two eyes were clearly looking at Nagagor’s axe.
‘Sword Immortal, I will borrow from you for a moment.’
Knowing the power to govern a thousand pounds already.
If one has already mastered it, wouldn’t one be able to govern a thousand pounds with just four ounces of force?
‘Four Ounces Deflect a Thousand Pounds.’
The moment Elise’s eyes became sharp for an instant and she thrust her sword towards Nagagor’s axe.
Slither—.
Nagagor’s axe, which tried to cut Elise’s head in two as is, rode Elise’s sword and its trajectory was twisted in an instant.
No, the trajectory wasn’t just twisted.
It was as if Nagagor’s axe was dragged by Elise’s sword, forcing the trajectory to be dragged along.
At that time when surprise was contained in Nagagor’s face for an instant.
‘Plum Blossom Clear Heart Palm.’
Elise’s left hand flew towards Nagagor’s chest which was revealed brightly before he knew it.
Palm Art.
It was the Plum Blossom Clear Heart Palm, one of Mount Hua Sect’s palm arts.
Kwaaang—!
“Kgh! What on earth is this technique!”
Blood flows from the mouth of Nagagor, who tried to split Elise’s head immediately.
This is because Elise’s palm art contained the essence of internal energy heavy hand techniques and shook the inside of his body.
Elise did not hesitate at the opening revealed from Nagagor for an instant.
‘I have no choice but to overdo it.’
Seeing as it is, this barbarian.
He is not ordinary compared to the barbarians scattered around.
Then, Elise also has no choice but to overdo it and step up.
The moment she made up her mind.
Everyone who was in this place felt an unknown scent.
The scent of a flower that would absolutely not bloom in the severe cold of the North.
The scent exuded by a single flower, the plum blossom, that would not exist in this world.
The moment everyone here smelled the thick scent.
Elise’s sword began to move.
‘Mount Hua’s Sword.’
In her previous life, she contemplated Mount Hua’s sword repeatedly.
In this life, Elise could not think of much.
Right now, her goal is to live.
In a situation where a giant blade was thrust at her neck, she did not ruminate on what Mount Hua’s sword was.
Or what a plum blossom was.
However, right now at this moment, it is time to look back briefly.
‘Mount Hua’s sword is.’
The artery of life fluctuating in this world called the heavens.
The stride of life revealing itself softly in this place called the Central Plains.
Mount Hua’s sword is none other than.
‘A Lifetime.’
At that moment, everyone here witnessed.
A strand of warm life blooming slowly from the cold iron sword.
A fragment of germination slowly raising its head from between the spiderwebs of dry land and emitting the energy of birth.
The blade of dynamic life rushed towards Nagagor.
Bang—!
A strange light is contained in Nagagor’s two eyes at the intense slash that struck the empty air in an instant.
He barely dodged it but…. This is?
“…Are you using magic? How can a scent come from a sword…!”
“It must be a smell you, who only stayed in the North, could absolutely never smell.”
Before he knew it, a red strange light is contained in her eyes.
“This is the scent of a flower only I know now.”
“A flower, you say…?”
“Feel that scent and accept the sword intact. Barbarian.”
Along with that, Elise muttered quietly inside.
‘Just once. Once is possible.’
Her brows narrow.
‘Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword.’
Elise’s two eyes become sharp.
‘Second Form, Plum Maiden (Meirang). Plum Blossom Butterfly Dance.’
Like a girl running and playing among plum blossom trees chasing a butterfly.
Lightly yet flexibly.
Her blade heads towards Nagagor as if spreading wings in all directions and covering this space fully with plum blossoms.
“This damn it!”
Nagagor was flustered.
My goodness.
As if blooming a flower and scent using the power of stars wasn’t enough.
This time she rushes with the sword performing countless variations?
“The technique you possess has reached the peak!”
Nagagor did not hesitate.
Cut. Cut everything.
Cut everything and deflect!
Kang!
Starting with one deflection.
Kang! Kang! Kang!
Blocking several slashes.
————————————!!!
Moving the axe blade ceaselessly, he deflects all the approaching swords.
Agile movement not befitting his bulk.
But Nagagor had to do this.
If he doesn’t, he dies!
“Kuaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
He shouts a strange scream and blocks the approaching slashes but.
Slice—!
He couldn’t stop wounds from appearing.
How could he block slashes that cleverly twist the sword path and aim for the body even when cut.
The moment countless wounds appeared on Nagagor’s body before he knew it.
“Dare you!!!”
At the same time the energy barbarians call the power of stars, mana, surges from his body.
The moment ink-colored energy ripples from Nagagor’s body.
“Following the ancestors and the power of stars, I will execute you!”
The moment Elise was about to deal with Nagagor who was rushing in while shedding red blood continuously.
Puhup—!
Elise could not endure anymore and vomited a lot of dead blood.
‘Damn it. Overload on the body.’
Damn it.
Until now, she was forcibly pulling up power with various techniques and expedients, but.
It seems she reached the limit now.
Since she pulled out the internal energy of a martial artist who barely reached the second rate like catching lice, it’s natural…!
‘Still, I must fight!’
Even so, the fighting spirit contained in Elise’s two eyes did not fade.
Somehow. Somehow I must deal with that guy…!
Clack—!
The moment she ignored the blood leaking from her mouth and raised her blade.
“The Wolf of the North has cooooome!!!”
“Be relieved! The wolf has come!”
At the same time a tremendous shout came out from among the Northern soldiers.
“Be relieved. Because I have come.”
Someone’s back view appeared suddenly in front of Elise’s eyes.
“The Wolf of the North protects their family.”
A person she doesn’t know.
Judging by the voice, it seemed like a woman, but the moment Elise frowned.
“Ah.”
Goddamn it.
The limit came to the body.
At that time when Elise’s consciousness was about to be cut off for an instant.
Crunch!
Elise bit her tongue.
Then the consciousness that almost flew into that bottomless pit rises softly.
Elise grabbed that consciousness without hesitation.
Shortly after, the moment she came to her senses and carefully raised her head.
“…Quite impressive.”
Elise muttered with blood and a smile on her mouth.
The sight she saw was the appearance of the woman who called herself the Wolf of the North, who had approached before she knew it, pressuring Nagagor from all sides.
“Damn it!”
Meanwhile, Nagagor sneered at Elise who held onto her consciousness even while dealing with the woman.
“You. I remembered. Elise Blaze.”
As Nagagor’s teeth are revealed, his tongue licks his teeth.
“Next time, I kill you.”
At those words, Elise responded.
“Try it. If you can.”
She also sneered.
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