Ch.42Actions Speak Louder Than Words – 1

“What did you just say?”

Serena looked ready to have it out with Charlotte right then and there.

In stark contrast to Serena’s fury, Charlotte appeared completely relaxed, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t prepared to fight.

It was obvious she was ready to counter the moment Serena lunged at her.

From Serena’s perspective, there were plenty of reasons to be angry with Charlotte.

First, she had issued a disguised order to summon her from the other city, which was infuriating enough. Then she followed her here to interrupt her time with me, and now she was openly declaring her intention to take me away. It was impossible not to be furious.

I heard the sound of World Eater being partially drawn—sring. I quickly assessed the situation. While Serena seemed on the verge of attacking Charlotte, there was still hope.

If she had truly decided to fight, I wouldn’t have even seen her draw her sword.

And seeing her draw it would be the least of my concerns. Before I could even notice, an entire district of the city would have been obliterated by the aftermath of their battle.

Both of them were more than capable of such destruction, and their personalities didn’t shy away from causing it.

They were women who wouldn’t care if this place was destroyed or if people died.

Fortunately, the partial draw meant Serena was still hesitating. Because I was beside her. And that was enough.

I placed my right hand on the back of Serena’s hand and gently pushed World Eater, which was about one-third out of its sheath, back in. Serena complied with my intention.

I stepped forward a few paces, blocking Serena with my right hand while making eye contact with Charlotte.

“Both of you, stop. What do you think you’re doing in the middle of the city?”

“What am I doing? I was merely trying to have a conversation. Did you truly think I would lack such basic consideration? Your lack of faith in your king is a grave offense.”

“We’ve already destroyed one city, you know. I’d rather not experience demolishing two cities in two consecutive days. And don’t lie—anyone could see you two were about to fight.”

“Strictly speaking, the woman beside you was the one creating a hostile atmosphere. Wasn’t she the one who drew her weapon first and became angry?”

“That’s why I stopped her. Why did you suddenly come here? I was planning to visit you today or tomorrow anyway.”

“It’s as you see.”

“What?”

“You reported the appearance of a humanoid monster, did you not? That would completely overturn the foundation of knowledge humans have built up in their struggle against monsters. That’s why I issued an order summoning you to the royal palace as soon as possible for additional information, but the woman beside you refused that order, so I personally came to fetch you. What’s wrong with that?”

Charlotte’s argument was logically sound.

The emergence of humanoid monsters was significant enough, but the revelation that monsters could perfectly mimic humans was truly an emergency situation by any high official’s standards.

Now people would have to look at other humans with suspicion, wondering if they might be monsters.

“For someone making that argument, you seemed pretty focused on having a cozy time alone with me.”

Right, her logic was sound, but her words were just a pretext.

Charlotte probably couldn’t care less about whether humanoid monsters appeared or not.

Humanoid monsters were dangerous primarily because they caused distrust between humans, but otherwise, they weren’t much different from ordinary monsters.

They might be troublesome if they had special abilities like plague-spreading or self-destruction, but that was about it.

Even Scarface, all things considered, was just a somewhat stronger monster. Claims that its mere appearance could annihilate an entire city were nothing but nonsense.

As someone who’s been used as a punching bag by all sorts of monsters, I can personally guarantee that’s the truth.

So her claim about seeking additional information was just an excuse.

She probably received word through a crystal ball that the Royal First Knight Commander had refused her request, checked where we were, confirmed we were in the neighboring city, and immediately came looking for us.

I could guess what Charlotte was thinking. She couldn’t stand the sight of Serena sticking close to me, just the two of us.

‘I wonder if she knows we were holding hands too.’

Cold sweat ran down my back at the thought.

If she knew that, things definitely wouldn’t end peacefully. Not that I would be destroyed by Charlotte, but rather that this city wouldn’t survive.

Her blood pressure was already rising just from the fact that Serena and I were walking around the city like we were on a date—if she found out we were holding hands? The destruction of this place would be guaranteed.

It wouldn’t matter if she never found out, and to me it wasn’t a big deal, but there was a chance she already knew, and to Charlotte, it definitely wasn’t something trivial.

To me, Serena was still like a three or four-year-old child, so I had no reservations about holding her hand, but Charlotte wouldn’t see it that way.

“Yes, I certainly said that.”

Charlotte pointed at me with the index finger of her right hand. Suddenly, my body floated into the air. Since I could still flail my arms and legs, she must have lifted me by the waist with telekinesis.

“Your guess is probably correct. The talk about preparing for humanoid monsters is merely an excuse, and in truth, I came to take you back into my arms.”

Chains made of mana began wrapping around my arms and legs, following the movement of her finger. Seeing this, Serena drew her World Eater.

Charlotte’s left hand pointed at Serena, and multiple mana barriers formed around her. Dozens of layers of shields glowed blue.

Thud. My body fell to the ground. I was tightly bound by mana chains, with a sealing spell at their ends.

I could move my fingers slightly, but nothing more. Barely able to lift my head while completely immobilized, I looked up at Charlotte. She stated flatly:

“So, wait just a moment.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than one side of the mana barrier surrounding Serena burst open. Serena walked out, emanating a terrifying aura as mana scattered in all directions around her.

The mana barrier melted away, seemingly unable to maintain its form after such an impact.

“Charlotte, wait! You two aren’t planning to fight here, are you?”

“As if I would do such a thing, my dear.”

Charlotte smiled coldly.

“I am not foolish enough to destroy a place where you and I could have our date.”

Another wave of energy expanded outward from Serena and Charlotte. When the wave, which had spread almost to the size of the central plaza, rapidly contracted again, the two of them had vanished without a trace.

“…How did things end up like this?”

I uttered these pitiful words, left all alone in the central plaza, bound by mana chains. I had only planned to tour the city with Serena, maybe compliment her on a job well done.

“I’ve heard what you did. You destroyed an entire city.”

After the energy wave enveloped Serena and Charlotte, the two found themselves in some kind of void space.

The ground beneath their feet was made of some unidentifiable material, and the sky was completely black.

The perfectly flat surface, without the slightest undulation, made a metallic sound with each step.

Even Charlotte didn’t know the limits of this place. It wasn’t a space she had created, but one she had discovered.

She knew nothing about when this space came into existence, what purpose it served, or what it was made of.

The only certainty was that no matter how much they destroyed or shattered this place, it would have no effect on the real world.

That’s why she had brought Serena to this void space. Whatever they did here would have no impact outside.

After all, the city they would return to was where they would walk together with the one they both cherished. She didn’t want to destroy that beautiful scenery with her own hands.

She had considered trapping Serena here and escaping alone, but Charlotte’s towering pride wouldn’t allow it.

Why should she flee to the outside world as if afraid of that woman?

It would be far more satisfying to crush her head-on and return triumphantly.

“There’s no need to worry about people who can’t think properly. I understand perfectly what you did. When dealing with people, one must adjust to their level of intelligence.”

Charlotte’s language had become considerably rougher. She no longer used titles like Knight Commander. The term “you wench” was sufficient.

And she drove the point home with her next words:

“I simply wonder whether I should treat you as a human or as a talking beast.”

Serena stood holding World Eater in one hand, its tip pointed downward, glaring at Charlotte.

Enormous amounts of mana flowed from her body and dispersed into the air, a level that put ordinary mages to shame.

Charlotte watched with undisguised irritation. She found Serena utterly unpleasant to look at.

The two had similar pasts. Both met their destined one at age 11, and both emerged into the world three years later at age 14.

Their purpose was also the same.

The fact that they weren’t the only one in that person’s life was a truth so disturbing it made their skin crawl.

“Don’t run your mouth as you please. It was something that had to be done.”

“What was? Changing the landscape because you couldn’t control your temper? That certainly matches your intelligence. At least you seem to understand your own limitations.”

“Are you saying you would stand by if your lord was insulted?”

Charlotte’s eye twitched.

Serena, too, made no attempt to hide her irritation at Charlotte.

Today was supposed to be a perfect day. Her lord had prepared everything since morning, so she had made all the necessary arrangements as well.

She had even stormed the magic tower and practically threatened the mages to obtain a perception-hindering scroll.

But that woman had ruined everything.

“A cowardly, worthless woman like you could never understand. How to deal with trash who insult our lord, and what emotions arise in such moments. I’ll help you understand. It seems my affection for our lord runs deeper than yours. Isn’t it natural to be angry at those who insult him? If you can’t understand something so obvious, perhaps our lord means little to you?”

“You dare speak of affection to me, boasting of a relationship barely spanning a decade? I’m speechless at your audacity. I stood by his side long before you were even born. Yet you proudly present that paltry time as if it means something. Don’t you find it laughable yourself?”

“You have a roundabout way of saying you’re old.”

“Do you truly not realize that I am still young compared to the man who will be my partner?”

Serena gripped World Eater with both hands. Dozens of magic circles simultaneously appeared around Charlotte.

Mana was gushing out around both women. The blade of World Eater, saturated with mana, trembled slightly, and the magic circles began rotating in geometric patterns.

Both of them were more accustomed to action than words.