Calm Before the Storm (1)
I still couldn't figure out why she felt the need to show off her body like that. Was she trying to prove her skills were still sharp? Weight definitely affected performance. A heavier body couldn't move as quickly. Unia probably wanted to show off that she still weighed the same as she did in her active days. But even so, stripping down in front of a man she'd just met? She really was a bold woman. I gave her a mental thumbs-up for the show.
She let out a small snort of laughter and began putting on her armor piece by piece. Before long, she had donned both her helmet and full plate. The ordinary housewife look vanished completely, replaced by a formidable female warrior standing imposingly before us.
"It suits you well," I said. She grinned in response.
Pasvachio's eyes widened as he spoke up. "Whoa~ It fits you perfectly from back then. That's impressive."
So all this time, she'd been holding back what she wanted to do for her husband's sake.
Was that her way of saying she could beat me? I stroked my chin at her provocation, a quiet smile forming on my lips.
"Oho..." Unia smiled, clearly intrigued.
And so we moved to the backyard, each gripping our weapons and facing off. She held a partisan, I held a dagger. Pasvachio leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watching leisurely.
As expected from a mercenary who once dominated the battlefield. Her blood was already boiling before the fight even began, her tone turning fierce. I responded with a relaxed smile.
"Will do."
We both fell silent and began the duel. Unia closed the ten-pace distance in a single burst, her spear hurtling toward me like a gale. Her attack was so fast and sharp that the long spear felt even longer. I leaned my upper body back to dodge. The spear tip passed right in front of my lips, but instead of focusing on that, I watched her movements closely.
Unfortunately for you, Unia. You've been out of practice for too long, and I have the golden ball. Not to mention mana.
To put it simply, I toyed with her throughout the match, practically toying with her as if she were prey. The difference in skill between me—an active fighter who had been killing people until recently—and Unia, returning after more than ten years, was vast.
But then—
While I was letting my guard down, she let out a battle cry. Suddenly, a whirlwind erupted from the tip of her spear, surging into a tornado that struck me directly. It was an unexpected technique. Wasn't something like this only possible with mana? I'd checked multiple times right before the duel, and Unia had no mana. For her to use a technique like this meant...
Finally, Unia shook her head as if admitting defeat, dropped her spear to the ground, and plopped down with a thud. Even though she'd maintained her figure, it seemed she hadn't kept up her stamina. After just a few minutes of fighting, she was breathing heavily. She yanked off her helmet.
The decisive strike she'd attempted moments ago had failed. Having anticipated that she would use it, I had dodged the tornado beautifully right before it hit.
"Good work, both of you!" Pasvachio clapped with a wide grin.
I asked her as she wiped the sweat streaming down her forehead with the back of her hand. "How did you use that technique just now? I thought you had no mana."
So it was like the ability of my Dapo Dagger, something inherent to the weapon itself.
She grumbled, then looked up at me. "So what now? Am I rejected?"
What should I do? Considering she'd been out of practice for a long time, her performance wasn't bad at all. Her fundamentals were solid, far better than an ordinary person. Without the golden ball, it would have been a tough fight. And if we'd fought in her prime, even with the golden ball, I might have been the one to lose.
I smiled and extended my hand to her. "Let's go together."
Unia grabbed my hand and stood up energetically. She flashed a bright smile.
With that, I had gained another subordinate. It felt good.
A short while ago, right after Hyunwoo had left Nobern with Pasvachio.
When Adelia learned of this, she chased the servants out of her office, crossed her arms, and wore an expression of clear displeasure.
To soothe the clearly upset Adelia, Sinclair quickly sent her junior adjutant, Bellita, to investigate. Only then did they learn through Kelly that Hyunwoo had contracted a building and left.
"A letter?"
Adelia quickly tore open the letter.
For all future work-related contact, please go through my secretary, Kelly.
Adelia grumbled, clearly dissatisfied with the letter's content. "I need to call that guy right away. I have mountains of work to do. When exactly does he plan on meeting? There's no point in waiting around. I'm going to call him right now."
Adelia left the office with Sinclair to meet Kelly. As they exited the headquarters building, they happened to run into Orlando, the lord's son.
Orlando approached with his signature healthy, charming smile that could melt any woman's heart, but Adelia's response was icy.
When Adelia stopped and turned around, Orlando placed a hand on his chest, bowed, and spoke with utmost politeness.
"Huh?"
Rejected outright, Orlando stood there with a dazed expression. As he watched Adelia and Sinclair walk away without a backward glance, a hollow smile spread across his face.
Orlando ran a hand smoothly through his hair, refusing to be discouraged. He hadn't given up hope.
His determination burned brighter. He would succeed next time, no matter what.
Meanwhile, Adelia and Sinclair were riding side by side, leaving the guard post. Outside the post, they spotted a unit marching toward them.
"Kiyaaah!"
"Over here, over here!"
Four cavalrymen each held a rope tied to the limbs of what appeared to be a male prisoner. They dragged him along in a spread-eagle position as they galloped toward the guard post. The guards rushed out to stop them, but the riders paid no heed. Once inside the barracks grounds, they halted their horses, pulled the ropes taut from all four directions to stretch the man's limbs, and looked back in unison.
A man in armor burst out from among the marching soldiers like an arrow, drawing his sword and leaping into the air. He came down in a perfect arc, swinging his blade with full force at the man lying spread-eagle below.
A horrifying scream echoed as the man's body was split cleanly in a straight line from head to crotch.
The cavalrymen burst into laughter and applauded. Orleans, commander of the Guillotine Unit, stood calmly watching the bisected corpse with a satisfied smile.
Adelia rode up to him urgently. The moment she dismounted, she shouted in an agitated voice.
Orleans flicked the blood off his blade into the air and sheathed his sword. Then he looked at Adelia with a casual expression, as if they had met just yesterday.
Adelia narrowed her eyes in confusion. Orleans smirked.
Orleans the Guillotine Judge. Though he held the same knight rank as Adelia, he possessed the title of viscount. Not only in title, but also in age and experience, he far surpassed her. Unable to treat him disrespectfully, Adelia found herself in a position where she had no choice but to accommodate the Guillotine Unit that had been deployed to Nobern.