Ch.170170. Cat Fight (2)

The dagger and knuckle dusters collided.

Fierce sparks flew across the rooftop under the pale moonlight.

Once again, their exchange of offense and defense ended in a draw. Both had long forgotten how many times they had matched each other’s skills.

Both fighters were likely thinking the same thing: their opponent was not someone to be taken lightly.

“…”

Serath frowned as she wiped away the wound near her face. Blood smeared on her hand—she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d seen her own blood.

‘…She can actually match my attacks.’

Of course, her specialty was covert assassination rather than direct combat, but she hadn’t earned the title of Grand Assassin by mere chance. Only the continent’s most formidable fighters could exchange blows with her like this. And as far as she knew, this Riru Garda wasn’t supposed to be at that level.

But something about her opponent’s movements seemed strange.

‘…It’s almost like she knows what’s coming.’

It was as if she could see a few seconds into the future, anticipating Serath’s attack patterns before they happened.

While Serath had the advantage in physical ability and combat technique, her opponent’s bizarre movements kept the situation evenly matched.

-!

Their weapons clashed violently again. Close enough to feel each other’s breath, Serath sighed and spoke.

“One thing is clear.”

“Ah, what a coincidence. I was thinking the same.”

Riru and Serath jumped away from each other, glaring.

“You’re from the Holy Empire, aren’t you?”

“And you’re from the Tribal Union.”

One wielded divine power-based miracles and blessings. The other used legal arts-based boxing techniques.

At the very least, the origins of their techniques were clearly different from the mana-based body strengthening arts used in the Empire.

“…”

Riru’s gaze briefly shifted toward the bottom of the building.

Darwood was probably down there, having tried to stop them before they came up here.

Of course, both fighters, already heated up, had let his words go in one ear and out the other.

“…What business do religious fanatics have with him anyway?”

Serath’s expression twisted slightly.

‘…With him?’

Her tone suggested she had some claim on Darwood.

For some reason, Serath found that statement deeply irritating.

“Who knows? I don’t think you barbarians with nothing but your science and technology need to concern yourselves.”

Their eyes filled with even stronger hostility.

After exchanging blows, both had confirmed that this level of skill could only be achieved through high-level training passed down through secret traditions from a young age.

Such training was typically shared only among the highest echelons of each nation, leading to one conclusion:

Both were closely connected to the leadership of the Holy Empire and the Tribal Union.

And the fact that they both showed interest in the same man suggested many things.

“…Even if I didn’t want to be concerned,” Riru spat out.

“The Holy Empire is a garbage country ruled by the most perverted human in the world, isn’t it?”

“…”

Upon hearing those words, all expression vanished from Serath’s face.

“…What do you know about our nation, barbarian?”

“The Empire isn’t exactly a pleasant place either, but it’s still better than yours, right?”

“…”

“Even someone like me who doesn’t care much about politics knows your country is full of dirty rumors. I wish you’d stay away from Darwood and just get the hell—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Riru violently jerked her body backward.

Before any talk of seeing the future, it was pure survival instinct of someone facing imminent death.

She stared at the wound across her chest with a dumbfounded expression.

For the first time, she couldn’t keep up with the speed. She hadn’t even seen it coming.

It was pure luck that she’d avoided a fatal wound.

“…”

Her opponent’s aura had completely changed.

Riru squinted slightly as she observed Serath, who now held her twin daggers in reverse grip.

The light had disappeared from her eyes. And purple energy was billowing from her entire body.

And then.

“…”

Riru let out a small laugh when she noticed the animal ears that had appeared on top of Serath’s head.

Now she understood why her opponent had become so enraged at her earlier comment.

“A Biped?”

A beast that walks on two legs. In other words, a Furry.

The most famous type among the Ain race—hybrids between humans and other species.

“You’ve got guts, entering the Empire as an Ain.”

The Empire actively promoted discrimination against the Ain race, and in the case of Furries, it wouldn’t be strange if they were ordered to be captured or killed on sight.

There’s a reason why the Ain races despise the Empire.

Especially for someone from the Holy Empire, which claims to promote equality without discrimination against all races, Riru’s earlier comment would have been infuriating for multiple reasons.

“…Normally, I’d have to kill anyone who sees this.”

Serath responded in a monotone voice.

“But I won’t kill you.”

Both the Pope and Grand Archbishop Luminol had recently instructed her to pay special attention to Darwood’s safety. There was no need to complicate matters by harming someone close to him.

“…But you still need to pay a price.”

However, at the very least.

Putting this arrogant woman who acted like she had some claim on that man in her place—that much should be acceptable.

That attitude had been bothering her from the start.

Beyond her mission, it was a personal feeling.

At the same time.

[…Riru.]

Riru heard the blue being attached to her back speak with a cautious voice.

[I can usually help you with most things, but if the opponent is of the ‘same rank’ as me, it might be difficult.]

‘…What?’

[I mean they’re similar to us.]

Riru silently looked at Serath.

She had been emitting strange colored energy from her body, so that must be it.

“…Well, well.”

A fierce smile appeared on her face.

“So you have one of those attached to you too?”

Blue energy began billowing from Riru’s body as well.

Following that, power infused her body.

It was a technique she had used a few times in the Crucible of Struggle.

Pulverization. Everything her body touches gets completely shattered.

Since the other side had brought out something similar, there was no reason for her to hold back.

Once again, the two rushed toward each other.

But their momentum was clearly different from before.

If earlier it felt like two humans fighting, now it was like two natural disasters colliding, with shockwaves spreading in all directions.

The air screamed, the ground shook, and the entire building they stood on trembled.

“…What’s happening? What’s going on?!”

“The dormitory building…!”

Chaos erupted everywhere. Even students sleeping soundly in the dormitory below woke up, adding to the commotion.

But the two fighters were too absorbed in their battle to care. Whatever happened around them, they were focused only on taking down the opponent before them.

-!

-!!!

And just as their weapons were about to meet and explode—

-…

-…!

Someone intervened between them.

Smoothly.

But firmly.

A single sword stroke separated the two of them simultaneously.

Riru and Serath, both knocked back by the strike, wore identical dumbfounded expressions.

‘…There was nothing there?’

No “ability” could be felt in that movement.

Without emitting any energy, they had intervened with just their bare body, as if it were the most natural thing.

As if “that alone” was sufficient.

As if they existed on a different plane than those who had just displayed such supernatural powers.

“…You two.”

And there stood.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

Expressionless but.

Radiating an unmistakably furious aura.

Elnore, who had just swung her sword, stood nobly as the moonlight reflected off her blade.

●

“Get a hold of yourselves. I don’t particularly care why you two were fighting, but at least refrain from causing trouble in front of Darwood when he’s not feeling well.”

“…”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“Yes…”

“Yes…”

Elnore glared down with intense red eyes at the figures below her.

There were Riru and Serath, both doing one-armed handstands for the past 30 minutes.

“…Why handstands though?”

At Darwood’s sudden question, Elnore tilted her head.

“Is there a problem?”

“…”

Hmm.

Isn’t the standard punishment to make someone kneel with their hands raised?

Why such a harsh posture…?

“…Isn’t this how everyone gets punished?”

“…”

“This was the average at the Tristan Dukedom…”

“…”

Darwood just nodded silently.

He felt like he’d just caught a glimpse of the source behind this noble lady’s monstrous physical abilities.

Anyway.

“…How should we compensate for this?”

Elnore turned slightly toward Darwood as he looked dejectedly at the damaged dormitory building.

“Compensate? Why would you need to pay for anything?”

“…Isn’t this all because of me?”

Darwood’s expression was filled with bitterness as he looked at the wrecked building.

“No, this time it’s difficult to say it’s your fault.”

Elnore strongly objected.

“This incident is purely due to their greed.”

“…No, but…”

As Darwood tried to say something with a gloomy expression, Elnore sighed and stood up.

She walked over and embraced him tightly.

To the wide-eyed Darwood, she whispered warmly in his ear.

“It’s alright. It’s okay. You’re not garbage. Those women were just trying to tempt you with nonsense. You did nothing wrong.”

“…Elnore…”

“Even if you had done something wrong, even if the whole world condemned you, I would still accept you. Feel free to be spoiled.”

Riru and Serath’s expressions grew strange as they watched Elnore stroking Darwood’s head.

“…”

“…”

Well.

This.

Somehow.

No.

I mean, considering the situation, they were clearly in the wrong, but.

[…Looks like we ended up cooking porridge for someone else to eat?]

“…”

[Why did you and that person fight so hard anyway?]

Riru silently agreed with the Blue Demon’s words.

“What’s with those expressions?”

“…”

“Do you have any complaints?”

“…I’m deeply sorry…”

“…Yes…”

But the opponent’s devastating power they had just witnessed was too overwhelming to talk back.

Riru and Serath simultaneously closed their mouths as Elnore glared at them.

●