Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Elves Jump In
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At that moment, in the waiting room of the Raglain Knight Order headquarters.
"About this mission. I heard all the knights assigned to the support team are elf knights?"
"Yeah, that's what I heard."
Female knights Brita and Elysia were chatting by themselves.
"You think it'll be okay? The atmosphere's been even more heated than usual lately."
"Well... it's not the assault team, just support, so it should be fine."
It wasn't a role that required any retreat.
Nor did it demand any standout acting skills.
Brita nodded slightly, sharing the same thought.
"Oh, that reminds me since you mentioned elves. How about we have a tea party after a long time?"
"Just us female knights?"
"We'll invite Lady Asha too! It's bound to be fun."
"Not because you want a rematch at chess?"
"Ugh..."
Brita winced, her weak spot hit.
She worked her lips, averting her gaze as she spoke.
"Th-that's part of it, sure? But not the whole reason~"
Her trailing excuse and drawn-out tone.
Elysia let out a soft chuckle at the adorable reaction.
"Well, sounds like a good idea. I'll let Asha know."
"Great! I'll hand out the invitations to the other female knights."
An agreement was reached in an instant.
Brita grinned ear to ear in eager anticipation, while Elysia calmly sipped her tea.
'Did some separate orders come down or something?'
Asha glanced up at the hill before fixing her gaze forward again.
She could see the vassal knight covered head to toe in dirt. He'd been relentlessly pummeled and rolled across the ground without respite.
She'd heard beforehand that as long as he avoided fatal wounds, it was fine, so every time he showed an opening, she'd thrust her sword. Red stains were spreading here and there over his muddied outer garments.
She'd cornered the vassal knight exactly as her role demanded.
'I still need to beat him down a bit more...'
She planned to push him relentlessly right up to his limit.
So he'd feel the true desperation of possibly dying. She hoped today's experience would sink into his bones and flesh, becoming the foundation for his future.
Only then did she intend to join Sir Marco...
'But the elf knights barged in too early.'
The situation had turned bizarre. The script was going off the rails.
Fortunately, the retainers on the right were steadily being pressed.
However, Kyle Crobel still had plenty of leeway. Sir Marco's side was the one falling apart.
Even so, it wasn't a total rout, so recovery was still possible.
Yes, it had been possible.
'Tch... what now?'
When the real target who needed a harsh lesson was still lounging about so casually.
"Oh, elf knights! We thank you for your support!"
Vitality even returned to the vassal knight's face.
The elf knights grinned and drew their swords.
Then they shouted boldly.
"You bandits, for daring to disturb the Raglain Count Family's territory!"
"Pay the price in blood here and now!"
"The Knight Order's blades shall judge you!"
Lines perfectly suited to the script. Truly honorable elves.
Ooooh! Morale began to revive among the beleaguered retainers. The elf knights exuded an overwhelming presence. Their entrance was spectacular.
"Hm, so they sent elves for reinforcements."
Kyle Crobel muttered leisurely.
Proof that the situational play hadn't been exposed and was proceeding steadily.
The soldiers and mercenaries subtly pulled back, glancing at Asha and Sir Marco.
Their faces were masked, but their bewildered eyes betrayed their thoughts entirely.
'What do we do? Pull out?'
Asha squeezed her eyes shut.
'I have no idea...'
The moment that thought crossed her mind.
"Your opponent is me!"
Sir Kiran, the nearest elf knight, thrust his sword at Asha.
So immersed in the act was he that the sword aura cloaking his blade carried real killing intent.
Asha reacted instinctively, swinging her sword.
Clang!
She perfectly read the angle and parried his blade. She slipped into Sir Kiran's collapsing guard and—whoosh! Thud!—from point-blank range, hooked him with a one-handed wrestling throw, slamming him into the dirt.
He hit the ground with a choked gasp.
Normally, she'd follow up with a finishing blow, but this wasn't real combat.
Instead of pressing the attack, Asha looked toward Sir Marco.
He was still trembling, utterly overwhelmed. He had no spare moment to issue orders.
He was on the verge of meeting his end as a bandit.
'Time to pull back.'
Help him create an opening to retreat and then withdraw.
Her decision was swift, but the others weren't about to let her off easy.
"Bandit scum! The tide has turned!"
The gleeful vassal knight charged at Asha. At the same time, Sir Kiran sprang back up.
Even nearby, two other elf knights were peeking out, waiting their turn.
'...No way. It can't be?!'
Asha broke into a cold sweat even as she casually handled the vassal knight.
Something was seriously wrong with how this was unfolding.
"Urk!"
The vassal knight flopped to the ground again. As if he'd been waiting, Sir Pien rushed at Asha.
After a few exchanges, even Sir Pien was rolling across the dirt.
"My turn now!"
This time it was Sir Ter. The fight showed no signs of stopping. Asha had no breather, immediately engaging him.
By the time Sir Ter went down too.
'Are they actually idiots?!'
Asha nearly cursed, uncharacteristically, as Sir Kiran charged again.
What the hell were they doing? The mission demanded pressing the young master right now—why were they taking turns ganging up on her?!
She questioned their sanity—
"Hic... hee hee!"
"Uhaha..."
But they clearly weren't in their right minds.
They looked utterly exhilarated, like berserkers who refused to yield no matter how thoroughly beaten.
In this absurd situation, even Asha felt her thoughts cloud.
With an 'Screw it' mentality, she secretly ambushed the sneaking vassal knight, kicking his chin hard with her toe.
His eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness and collapsed limply.
That was the turning point.
Asha held nothing back anymore.
As soon as she reset her stance, Sir Pien came charging again. His momentum was sharp. Rather than dodge, Asha chose to block with her sword.
Claaaang—!
A deafening clash rang out as their blades crossed in an X.
As their sword auras flickered and intertwined, Asha unleashed her technique. She rotated the hilt while blade-to-blade, spinning under his guard.
She stepped forward almost simultaneously, positioning their sides to face the same direction.
Releasing her left hand from her sword, she shot it out like lightning, grabbing Sir Pien's arms and twisting with full force.
Then, something astonishing happened.
Clang!
With his arms locked and balance pitched forward, Sir Pien dropped his sword.
His sullen expression turned to shock. In that instant.
Thwack!
Asha's pommel smashed mercilessly into his skull. He fainted without even a dying cry.
"???!"
The elf knights were stunned by the clean technique. They didn't rush in immediately, just stared wide-eyed.
Asha didn't wait for them. She kicked off the ground and charged first.
Short cries followed as all the elf knights sprawled across the dirt.
It happened in a flash.
"Sh-she took down four knights by herself?!"
"Th-that's impossible..."
Gasps echoed from all around.
The soldiers and mercenaries who'd been eyeing a retreat. Even the retainers whose morale had soared.
At that moment, friend and foe alike shared the same shock, eyes bulging.
'Good thing I didn't bail earlier...'
'Would've been disastrous if I'd charged then!'
Especially the mercenaries who'd spoken to Asha before—they shuddered uncontrollably.
Goosebumps covered their bodies.
"Hoo..."
Asha, who had rampaged spectacularly, let out a long sigh.
'This life's stamina really is overflowing.'
In her past life, constant rushes like that would have taxed her endurance.
But now, though a bit sweaty, she wasn't truly fatigued.
She felt anew the reality of her healthy body.
Soon, her gaze swept over the fallen elf knights.
"......"
Then to Sir Marco, still locked in fierce combat.
Covered in wounds everywhere, he looked ready to drop any second.
'Well, it's come to this anyway.'
Might as well straighten out that young master's attitude.
Asha caught her breath briefly and kicked off toward him.
The result.
"......!!"
For the first time today, the young master's leisurely expression crumbled.