CH 28

– Shiiiieee~

– Booom!

That was when a flare gun was shot from the woods. It wasn’t loud nor visible to the naked eye but its special design that allowed only the unique goggles of the security guards to spot it meant that everyone present was able to see it.

“Aht! That’s a signal from the other group! A nest of a demonic beast above Grade 2!”

“Ah…”

If there was nothing going on, the patrol mission could end without the guardians defeating a single demonic beast but in emergency situations like this, they were obligated to participate in the fight.

“We have the granddaughter of the Sword Emperor on our side!”

“A nest of a Grade 2 demonic beast is nothing!”

“Wait…”

“Hoh. This is perfect.”

Korin’s quiet mutter at the end was too soft to reach the ears of the dejected Alicia.

****

The Grade 2 demonic beast’s nest that the other patrol group discovered was a den of wolves with a beowulf in the lead.

‘I can easily deal with a beowulf by myself!’

That was what Alicia thought, but her inexperienced judgment resulted in a critical outcome.

– Grrrh…

A beastly howl echoed from the top of the head of the large horse. The four thick and long legs of the horse left behind heavy thuds but its stomach was rotten like a drowned animal so much so that it looked like it would tear open at any given moment. 

Sitting on the horse was a headless human carrying a spear.

The humanoid monster without a head was so thin that its flesh was almost touching its bones. The strange-looking horseman urged the horse and marched towards Alicia while slashing at the air with its long thick nails.

– Tap! Tap!

As if it had become one with the wind, the demonic beast raced across the ground with soft steps unlike before.

‘It’s coming!’

It flailed during its march that made it look more like a mollusk than a vertebrate. It couldn’t even fight against the gust created by its own march as it wobbled its way towards her.

❰First Sword Style of Arden. Domain Severance❱

The unpolished battojutsu, which was still the strongest move Alicia could pull off, was swung at the approaching demonic beast.

– Huiik!

However, the beast’s movements were far beyond her level of imagination. Like a giant squid, it suddenly blasted its body forward and dodged her attack before trying to wrap itself around her body like a snake.

“Kuhuk…!?”

It was both fast and experienced.

It was at least a Grade 1 demonic beast! She got caught off guard because it was immediately after she dealt with the beowulf, and it wasn’t her fault in her opinion, because no-one would have expected such a monster to be in the forest!

“M, Mr. Korin! Please help! Require assistance!”

Alicia asked for help as soon as she started being pushed back by a little. She was a normal girl who was very distant from the pride of a knight… in a lot of ways. 

“K, Knight Korin is currently in the middle of fighting other demonic beasts!”

But what she heard in response was not Korin’s voice but the voice of the security guards who were fighting against other demonic beasts. 

“Kiiiiiik…!”

In that desperate situation, as the monster’s nails approached her neck and Alicia closed her eyes shut…

– Kajik!

Something splattered with a thud. A hot stream of blood flowed down her cheeks.

“U, uhh?”

– Kieeeeeh…!

A resentful voice tickled her ears. Alicia reopened her eyes and saw a gleaming blade that was right next to her face.

“This sword…”

Her gaze traveled up the blade and looked at the beholder.

The swordsman with long and jet-black hair had the same cold and intellectual look on her face as always.

“As weak, lazy and cocky as ever.”

Lunia Arden.

She was the oldest daughter of the renowned Arden family, and was the most likely candidate to become the next successor.

The contemporary Sword Master who was believed to be the second coming of the Sword Emperor.

“S, sister.”

She was Lunia Arden; Alicia’s older sister.

Translator’s Note:

Ferghus from Mabinogi

Lady Kiri from Dungeon and Fighter

Hollgrehenn from Ragnarok

Those three are the infamous gear upgraders of the three famous RPG games of Korea, which are of course famous for RNG upgrade systems.