The Ambush in the Forest

King of Envy? What are you envious of? Considering her purpose for being here, the answer was self-evident. To think this auction house could even attract the princess of a nation… they’ve really made a name for themselves.

The main crowd began to head home the moment they stepped outside, only to find the exit swamped by a throng of onlookers.

“How did it go? Who bought that item in the end?”

“Excuse me, friend, could you spare a moment? Would you mind sharing some inside information?”

But one person’s curiosity is another’s nuisance. Some found the clamor unbearable and simply flew away, while others, more persistent, gave chase, creating quite a lively scene. Before long, official security personnel from the auction house intervened, dispersing the curious crowd.

A magnificent four-wheeled carriage departed from the city gates, flanked by a small squad of magical girl guards and attended by several retainers.

“My apologies for the trouble, Deputy Commander.”

“I’m simply doing the job I was paid for. It is my duty.”

Inside the carriage, the wealthy matron sat opposite a woman with short, golden hair. The carriage moved at a considerable pace, powered by a magical core. At full tilt, its speed could nearly match that of a flying magical girl.

They soon reached a fork in the road. One path was the wide, flat main road, while the other was a narrow shortcut that cut through the forest.

“The main road is smooth and open. The shortcut is overgrown with thickets and could conceal an ambush. I advise we take the main road.”

“With a master such as yourself protecting me, what ambush could we possibly fear? Let’s take the shortcut. The sooner we return, the less chance for complications.”

“Very well.”

The carriage proceeded along the dirt path, occasionally jolting as its wheels rolled over small stones. Frustrated, they channeled more magical energy into it, causing the carriage to levitate just above the ground.

At one point, the deputy commander, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open, grabbed the wealthy matron, and leaped from the carriage. An instant later, black thorns erupted from the ground, impaling the carriage and sending splinters of wood flying in all directions.

“Who’s there? How dare you ambush us!”

A petite figure dropped down from a tree. The ambusher was a young girl with white hair, red eyes, and pointed, horizontal ears. Her white hair was tied in twintails that fluttered in the breeze. She wore a black Gothic Lolita dress, with black stockings on her legs and red high heels encasing her delicate feet.

“Apologies, but this is a one-way street now. Be a dear and hand that thing over! You wouldn’t want to get hurt, now would you~?” Miro ambled slowly toward the wealthy matron, a smile on her face as she spoke the threatening words.

“The rest of you, go! I’ll cover our retreat!” The deputy commander with the short, golden hair looked as if she were facing a formidable foe, her brow furrowed as she drew a tachi.

Those with a high affinity for the metal element tend to favor metal weapons, and conversely, those who frequently wield such weapons rarely have a low affinity for it. Whether she was brave or not, the only thing to do was strike.

The deputy commander swung her blade at Miro from a distance, sending a wave of metal element particles flying forward from the edge. Miro made no move to dodge. With her palm facing upward, black flames flickered to life in her hand. A flick of her small wrist conjured a barrier of black fire before her, which completely melted the incoming metal element particles.

Realizing their opponent was far from weak, the other guards immediately scattered and fled.

“Hmph! Trying to run?”

Miro stomped her foot hard on the ground, unleashing an invisible ripple of psychic energy that expanded rapidly outward. How could these second-rate magical girls possibly withstand an S-rank Conviction? Most of them collapsed, falling instantly asleep, while the few who remained conscious were only more determined to flee the battlefield.

And so, only two top-tier combatants were left standing.

Gazing at her comrades sleeping on the ground all around her, the deputy commander grew even more tense.

“To think you’re still standing… It seems our strengths are about the same, wouldn’t you say?”