Cat Fight
Liberia Elf Kingdom. And the Valua Kingdom. Delegations from both nations had gathered in the village of Urhel, the designated negotiation site. A heavy tension hung in the air. The knights swallowed dryly, hands resting on their sword hilts. Just a short while ago, they had been bitter enemies locked in war. On top of that, the elves had even raided near the border. Yet despite facing off against these lithe beauties, the kingdom knights' eyes burned only with fury.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Manuel Navas, serving as a political officer in the Liberia Elf Kingdom."
"Jacques Turgo, economic advisor to the Valua royal family and minister of finance."
The leaders of the two delegations met. Manuel extended his hand first. Turgo's face registered clear surprise. Elves were a race that treated humans as slaves. Naturally, they tended to avoid handshakes, which symbolized equality. But Manuel's bold offer caught Turgo off guard.
'Odd fellow—a male elf. I've seen plenty of elf women, but a male elf heading the delegation? Must hold a high position in the elf kingdom.'
They exchanged handshakes laced with a subtle battle of wits. Their cordial facade did little to dispel the dire state of relations between the nations. The negotiation site could erupt into swordplay at any moment. They hadn't come to this hunter's village to chat amiably with the elves—it was all to retrieve Yushin Gilliard.
"Yet I don't see Yushin Gilliard anywhere."
Turgo remarked. Allen's lips twitched at his words. Damn elves might not hand Yushin over. Glaring at the elves present, she thought.
"We haven't received the ransom yet. And the negotiations haven't even started."
"We've prepared the ransom."
Turgo raised a hand. At his signal, the knights dumped out the sacks they'd hauled all the way to Urhel.
Clink, clatter.
The sound of gold coins. The sacks were undoubtedly stuffed full. Ether—the common currency used across the Valua Kingdom and neighboring realms. True to their word, the delegation had brought the ransom for one of the Kingdom's Seven Swords.
"So release the prisoner at once. We're not here to have a friendly chat."
"You're in quite a hurry."
"You know full well this village is enemy territory to us."
"Yes, I understand. But the Elf Kingdom cannot comply with your demands. We didn't come all this way for the ransom."
"...What game are you playing?"
Refusing the ransom meant they had no intention of releasing the prisoner. Turgo's face twisted. They'd never planned to let Yushin Gilliard go. The negotiations themselves were a ruse. What they truly wanted was this diplomatic stage.
"Lord Manuel, behind you!"
Ardena shouted. Like a fierce gust, she drew her sword and swatted away the fist aimed at Manuel.
Craaaang!!!
Was that the sound of deflecting a fist? The assailant targeting Manuel was Allen. The blue-haired swordswoman charged with a manic grin, her punch packed with enough force to pulverize his face. Had Ardena not intervened, a gruesome bloodshed would have ensued.
Both sides' knights drew their swords at the sudden outburst.
'No killing intent. She knew I'd block it. If she'd meant to kill, she'd have swung a sword.'
Ardena glared at Allen. Allen glared back, giggling.
"Don't act rashly!"
Turgo bellowed. At his cry, Roverdik Anje—the fifth of the Kingdom's Seven Swords—extended a hand to restrain the agitated kingdom knights.
"Calling us here must mean you have some ulterior motive. Am I right?"
Turgo's tone sharpened. He'd seen through the elves' scheme. He wasn't accustomed to polite speech with the likes of them anyway, so he laced his words with aggression toward Manuel.
"The repatriation was refused by Yushin Gilliard himself."
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly as I said. Yushin Gilliard personally refused return to the Valua Kingdom."
"What nonsense."
Impossible. Turgo glared at Manuel and ordered Allen to stand down. She was an unpredictable wildcard—an internal threat. More dangerous than the elves themselves was Allen Rocksfield.
"It's true. Yushin Gilliard is content with life in the Elf Kingdom. That's why he refuses repatriation."
"I don't buy that for a second, elf."
Yushin Gilliard was one of the Kingdom's Seven Swords. A guardian blade sworn to lay down his life for the kingdom. This had to be an elf trick. Manuel's claim that Yushin refused return was unacceptable. The elves had crossed borders repeatedly, abducting citizens, looting wealth, and torching homes. Turgo wasn't naive enough to swallow the words of those barbarians from the Liberia Peninsula whole.
"Your kind's word means nothing. Release Yushin Gilliard now. He's one of the Kingdom's Seven Swords—a vital asset to Valua."
"If he's so vital, shouldn't you have protected him to the end? You isolated him in reckless combat. Prince Alpons forced that local skirmish, sacrificing good soldiers needlessly."
"Trying to mislead me with absurd lies."
"Such a stubborn one."
Manuel paused, took a deep breath, then continued.
"Our position remains unchanged. As I've explained, Yushin Gilliard refused repatriation of his own volition, and out of respect for his will, the Elf Kingdom denies the kingdom's request."
"Negotiations are broken, then."
Turgo said with a bitter smile. No sooner had the words left his mouth than the swordswoman who'd been silently watching stepped forward.
"Good. Makes this easier. I'll slaughter you vermin and take Yushin back."
Allen moved. Silent during the leaders' exchange, she now bared her teeth like a rabid beast.
"Stand down, mad dog."
Ardena interposed herself. Hand on her hilt, she blocked Allen's path to Manuel, anticipating the mad dog's lunge. The monster always brought rivers of blood. And Ardena was prepared to slay it. Yushin's warnings lingered in her mind, but she had no choice if it meant protecting the elf delegation.
"Yeah, step up. I was planning to rip your limbs off right here while getting Yushin back anyway."
"You're no different from a demon. Eliminating threats to the Elf Kingdom is a warrior captain's duty. In the name of Ardena, warrior captain of the Helenwood Knights, I will judge you."
"I'll tear off your limbs and toss 'em to the soldiers as fucktoys."
The Sea Devil, Leviathan. An alliance between Valua Kingdom and Liberia Elf Kingdom? Allen couldn't care less. Even if it failed and both nations fell to the Demon King Army as a result.
"Warrior Captain Ardena."
"Stand back, my lord. That human woman is a monster. Words won't reach her."
Manuel said to Turgo.
"Mad dog Allen Rocksfield. What were you thinking, bringing such a dangerous woman here?"
Turgo replied.
"You elves broke the agreement first. Scheming bastards—I never trusted you anyway."
"Is that so? I didn't trust you either. We're even, then."
"No trust means no betrayal to feel. That's what you're saying about this situation. Elf, no more talks. We'll take Yushin Gilliard by force."
The negotiations collapsed. As they were bound to. The elves had no intention of releasing Yushin, and Valua had endured the humiliation of a futile trek to Urhel.
"Draw swords!"
Turgo shouted. At the same moment, Allen unsheathed her blade—not at Manuel, but at Ardena. Her true target from the start wasn't the delegation leader. Ardena Valencia. Before even arriving in Urhel, Allen had planned to kill the elf warrior captain she blamed for everything.
"Knights, draw swords!"
Roverdik bellowed. Valua knights drew and aimed at the elves.
"Rangers, nock arrows!"
"Hunt the humans—now!"
From the shadows of the forest, the twin elves cried out. The Elf Kingdom's twin warrior captains, flanked by rangers armed with bows, had fully encircled the site.
"Target that monster first!"
Dozens of rangers loosed in unison. Sharp arrows whistled forth, their tips glowing with bluish mana—like blades infused with Mana Blade.
"Think your toys can kill me?"
The volley struck Allen dead-on, yet she stood unscathed. The arrows bounced off. Even mana-infused, they failed to pierce her skin.
"W-what kind of monster...?"
"Never seen one like that! Bounced off her skin?!"
The twin sisters shouted. They'd seen it—Allen's reaction before the arrows even flew. She'd known. The stealthy elf rangers hidden in the shadows.
What kind of instinct pierced veteran rangers' camouflage?
"...Are you even human?"
Ardena asked. Allen, sword lowered, replied.
"Yushin's close, isn't he? I can feel it. Not far from here. He's waiting for me. So die. I'll kill you, then go get him."
Shedding mana-infused arrows—Mana Shooting—with bare skin. Allen Rocksfield was far from human. And purely on instinct, she'd pinpointed Yushin was nearby in Urhel. She couldn't gauge the exact spot, but the proximity filled her with ecstasy. She'd butcher every elf here, then reunite with him, her killing intent blazing.
"What did you do to Yushin? What, you damn elf bitch? Beat him? Abused him? Lost pathetically, so you vented your humiliation and rage on him!"
"Nothing of the sort."
Ardena's armor gleamed with a subtle emerald hue. The White Lily Scale activated. Her physical abilities surged dramatically, and verdant mana from the armor flowed into her lowered sword.
She hadn't used it against Yushin on the battlefield. She wanted victory through her relic's power then? No. But now was different. This wasn't a clash of knightly honor—it was facing a vicious, brutal monster.
"I'm in the worst mood right now."
"Coincidence. Same here. So expect no mercy from me."
"Heh, we're on the same page there."
Allen kicked off the ground. Ardena blasted mana behind her, closing the gap in a flash.
"I'll take Yushin back."
"He's my slave."
Swords clashed, sending a shockwave ripping through Urhel. Houses crumbled, roofs flew. Amid the chaos of humans and elves, the two powerhouses' strike pierced the night sky.