Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Little Prince
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A sharp slash bisected the blood-red earth and sky. *Fwee, ping, ping.* Whip-like sounds rang out second by second, smashing and shattering everything in the area. But the one Rubid truly wanted to cut down, Lena Rubel, stood unharmed at the center. Lena dodged the vicious incoming slashes by a hair's breadth, closing the distance, while Rubid relentlessly unleashed slashes at her as she darted this way and that.
"Die, you rat!"
"What terrible manners."
Lena clicked her tongue and leaped forward. Rubid didn't miss the opening and fired off a swift slash. But Lena twisted her body to evade it as if it were nothing. Then she landed right in front of him and scraped her dagger along his rapier. A metallic screech rang out as the slash was blocked. The two began a test of strength, their faces inevitably drawing close. As their bodies pressed together, Rubid recalled dancing with her at the eve festival. Remembering that day's humiliation, he growled.
"You've been irritating me from the start..."
"That's exactly what I want to say."
Rubid snapped irritably at Lena's retort and knocked her dagger aside. He thrust his rapier fiercely, but Lena dodged it again as if to show off. As she pressed down on his rapier once more, Lena said,
"While we're on the topic, do you know how much that dress cost?"
"It was too good for the likes of you."
"...You really need to fix that mouth of yours first."
"Nonsense...!"
Rubid flew into a rage and kicked at Lena's side. But instead of a crisp impact, there was a dull *thud*. Lena had blocked it with her arm. His face twisted as the surprise attack failed, and Lena looked at him with open mockery.
"You think that'll work?"
She muttered that, then suddenly spun around. Mimicking him, she drove her knee into his side.
"Guh!"
As Rubid exhaled sharply, Lena spun again and kicked the back of his heel. He toppled over, and Lena stomped down on his chest as he lay on his back.
"Kuh-huk!"
With his head throbbing and now his chest crushed, Rubid coughed dryly and glared up at Lena. Looking down at him, she said,
"Now try it."
"What?"
"Big Sis said try it."
Rubid was momentarily speechless at Lena's overbearing command. It was absurd. In front of others, he pretended to be refined, sensible, doing all sorts of acts, but now he suddenly switched faces and acted like a brute. It felt alien. Rubid blinked in surprise before twisting his face late.
"You crazy...!"
Still lying down, Rubid swung his arm. A slash erupted from the tip of his rapier, severing a few strands of Lena's hair as it flew past. It wasn't a miss—Lena had dodged again. With her head tilted, she kicked his wrist. The rapier flew from his hand and stabbed into the ground. Having disarmed him completely, Lena asked with a crooked gaze,
"You're not that bright, are you?"
Instead of answering, Rubid thrashed to shake her off. She could have pinned him harder, but Lena indifferently lifted her foot. As he rolled to get up, she muttered toward him,
"You should get it by now."
"Don't get cocky, you rat who just runs away..."
"Yep, not bright at all. How spoiled must people have been around you?"
Rubid's eyes bulged at the repeated insults. But that childish threat only made Lena laugh. This prince probably made that face whenever he was even slightly annoyed. His surroundings would cower and watch their step. Considering his noble blood, impressive background, and inherited Authority, it was only natural. To that arrogant prince, even tantrums were a right. Lena clicked her tongue and muttered,
"Honestly curious. Where'd you get that rotten temper from?"
"What're you gonna do if you find out, you nobody?"
"Beat you till you snap out of it."
Rubid gritted his teeth and snatched up his rapier. Then he charged at her again like a madman.
*Is he really that dumb?*
Lena seriously wondered as she watched him rush in. She thought a pampered young master would surrender after a few hits. But whether his pride had kicked in or not, Rubid was surprisingly tenacious. Lena slipped past the rapier aimed at her shoulder and spun a kick into his jaw. His lip split, a wound marring his pretty face, but he just wiped it roughly with the back of his hand and didn't retreat.
*Unnecessarily persistent.*
Lena pondered how to make this guy submit. Beat him till he passed out to humble him? No, that wouldn't stick. She needed to crush him more fundamentally. Otherwise, he'd hold a half-hearted grudge and keep getting in her way. As Lena mulled it over, Rubid's slash flew at her. It was a tricky attack exploiting an opening, but Lena brushed it off effortlessly. To Lena, who could perceive time as frozen, attacks at this level were futile. Unaware of that, Rubid vented his genuine frustration.
"Damn it, you dodge like a rat...!"
"Want me to stop dodging?"
"What?"
Rubid scowled wildly at Lena's casual reply. She responded leisurely.
"You keep calling me a rat. If dodging bothers you that much, I'll give you an opening."
Lena spread her arms wide toward Rubid, inviting a slash. She'd heard slashes were the North's pride. Indeed, Rubid had flaunted his power with them whenever at a disadvantage. His rat talk stemmed from believing one hit would end it. So Lena resolved to shatter that belief.
"You're giving me an opening?"
Rubid muttered in confusion. At this range, a slash would surely kill. He truly despised Lena Rubel, but he had no intent to murder her. As he hesitated, Lena grinned and asked back,
"What, scared I'll block it?"
"Block it?"
Rubid scoffed incredulously. Then, as if he'd never hesitated, his face hardened coldly again.
"Fine. Die."
Dead or alive, who cares. Provoked, Rubid raised his rapier without further thought. He gathered his power more solidly than ever and glared at the intruder who had upended his world, Lena Rubel. A real thorn in his side. At first, it was curiosity. Some woman claiming to be Rubel's daughter—he just wanted to see her face. So he invited her to the ball, but she presumptuously strutted around, flaunting herself. That was the start of the problem. Lena Rubel didn't bow meekly; she stirred up everyone around her and ultimately seized the vanguard spot, earning merit and the Emperor's favor. Unthinkable. An insolent outsider like her was fit only for Rig-nan Aiterner's place. There was no room for Lena Rubel in this narrow pinnacle of the Empire. That seat belonged to him alone. The great prince who deserved to stand foremost and highest. Ruby Plenush Grasha, who had no reason to exist otherwise. Cornered, Rubid unleashed a ferocious slash. The slash poured forth, but Lena kept her promise and didn't dodge. She merely held her dagger forward—a puny blade barely a handspan long. Seeing it, Rubid's face twisted. He thought she'd die or be gravely injured.
*More timid than I thought.*
Charging without resolve to kill.
*Or just irresponsible?*
Then peeking afterward like a kid who grabbed a knife on impulse. In a way, maybe the most dangerous type. Lena smiled wryly at the facets of Rubid emerging. Then she stared straight at the incoming slash. The moment it arrived, Lena's time slowed infinitely. In the sensation of the world halted, she sharpened her awareness and examined it.
*This is Rubid's slash.*
The slash, normally too fast to see clearly, stood frozen, revealing its form. Crescent-shaped, it was transparent like crystal and thin as paper. Yet it seemed so solid it would slice at a touch. Quite an impressive shape, but Lena didn't admire it—she smirked.
*Not bad, but nothing compared to the original.*
The true slashes Lena had endured were far denser and sharper. She'd grown stronger taking them head-on. A novice's imitation was laughable. Finishing her observation, Lena carefully moved her arm. Her dagger touched the flat side of the slash, the peak of its gentle curve. Then time flowed again. Lena's dagger was ordinary. Normally, it would snap the instant it met the slash. But precisely meshed at the center, the dagger instead cracked the incoming slash as it slid. The halted time resumed, and the already fractured slash shattered like glass the moment it moved. *Pang.* With a light whoosh, the slash dispersed. Indescribable shock surfaced in Rubid's blue-tinged eyes.
"Surprised face."
Amid the shattering fragments, Lena said with a smiling face.
"But this isn't that hard."
Lena looked at Rubid as she said it. He should get the picture now. Strangely, though, Rubid showed no reaction. He just stood frozen in his slash stance, staring at her. After a long moment, what slowly rose on his dazed face wasn't anger or despair, but thick bewilderment. It made Lena flustered too. She'd expected him to throw his usual tantrum, but Rubid's face paled white, frozen solid. As his complexion turned waxen, Lena cautiously called his name.
"...Rubid?"
But Rubid didn't respond. He just stared at her with a sky-fallen expression. Lena grew more flustered. The guy who'd thrashed wildly moments ago now wore a wounded look, making her feel pointlessly guilty. *What's wrong with him? Acting up because he hates calling me Big Sis?* Lena debated provoking him like that. Then it happened. The Wraiths, pushed back by Rubid's slash, surged in again. The Ash Movers soon filled the sky, colliding with each other and raining down fire as before. Lena snapped to and dodged. Reflexively glancing at Rubid, she panicked anew.
"Rubid...!"
Truly shocked, he stood oblivious as fire raged around him. Missing his chance to react, Rubid was instantly engulfed in flames. Lena hissed and drew her whip. Not really allies, nor particularly likable, but reflexively she lashed at the blaze. Strangely, the whip bounced off violently. Like striking iron plate, leaving Lena baffled.
*What?*
Fire repelling the whip? Half-doubting, Lena whipped again. Same result. Looking closer, what enveloped Rubid wasn't mere fire—it was more like a barrier. Fireballs from the sky morphed smoothly like glass into a perfect sphere enclosing him. Seeing it, Lena clicked her tongue briefly.
*Suspicious from earlier.*
The Wraiths kept pouring fire—what was the ploy? Hiems Grasha had prepared some bizarre trap.
*Created another space?*
Before, the King with Many Hearts had made a separate space to trap her and Lin. Maybe the same here. As Lena watched, human-like shadows formed thickly on the reddish sphere's surface. They began writhing eerily, and from within echoed Rubid's scream.
"U, aaaaah!"
More terror than pain. Lena whipped the opaque sphere again. But the whip's segments bounced off clamorously once more.
*Too tough.*
Breaking it needs more power. Like that snake, Naza Aiterner. But Lena's strengths were speed and precision; she couldn't muster Naza Aiterner-as-Wraith-level force. Her wrist already throbbed from a couple strikes on the hard barrier.
*No choice?*
As Lena resigned, Rubid screamed again.
"U, aaah! Ack!"
Gritting through the pain, Lena raised her whip. She sighed to herself.
*If he's got any shame, he'll pay me back later.*
No, that guy has none. Unwilling but committed, Lena whipped with full force. *Kwaang, kwang! Kwang!* Iron-striking sounds rang repeatedly. After dozens of blows, cracks finally spidered the sturdy sphere. One more strike, and the wall split, shattering to pieces. Panting, Lena searched the sparkling vanishing fragments for Rubid. He lay collapsed a short distance away.
*Alive?*
Then Rubid staggered up.
"Uh..."
Propping only his upper body, he clutched his forehead dizzily. Seeing it, Lena muttered awkwardly,
"...Now you really have to call me Big Sis."
"What bullshit..."
Thinking it a taunt, Rubid snapped—then stopped. His voice was off. Never deep to begin with, it was even thinner now. No, boyishly thin. Hesitant in shock, Rubid noticed more anomalies. His perfectly fitted uniform coat hung baggy. His eye level was oddly low, breathing labored. Casually raising his arm, the sleeve flopped over his hand entirely.
"What is this...?"
"You've become a kid."
"What?"
"About ten years old."
Lena explained calmly. But Rubid couldn't accept it and hastily rolled up his sleeve. The revealed hands were tiny. Not just small—soft and squishy.
"Th-this is...!"
Horrified, Rubid frantically groped his face and body. Everywhere was small and soft. No elongated, firm, or slender parts. At the vivid sensation, Rubid trembled his lips and looked at Lena. She smiled prettily, as if regretful. His childish wail echoed next.