“Who are you?”
Ignoring Debbie for now, Harvey was momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance of the newcomer.
He was intimidated by her overwhelming aura, certainly, but more so captivated by her sublime beauty, like a flower blooming on a high peak, radiating a sense of inviolable divinity.
Indeed, for Harvey, a young man who wanted for nothing and pursued pleasure in all its forms, women, glory, and power were the true wellsprings of his ambition.
Yet, ironically, Harvey lacked any genuine sense of honor. His noble birth as the son of a Duke meant his position was already unassailable, leaving no need to strive for power.
Only women and amusement remained.
Unaware of Harvey’s rather sordid thoughts, Leya would have dismissed them even if she had known.
More likely, she would have ‘persuaded’ him, quite forcefully, to keep his gaze to himself.
She drew a slow, deep breath.
Leya, now transformed into Saber, swept her gaze around the scene. Her eyes finally landed on the brawny man who held two children captive.
“Release them,” she commanded, her voice cold as ice.
“No. Without my master’s command, even the Lord of Volantis himself would find no sway here,” the brawny bodyguard retorted, after a hesitant glance at Harvey. “I will not obey your orders, woman.”
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, a prickle of unease snaked through him.
This sensation intensified after he uttered the word “woman,” meeting Leya’s gaze and feeling a sudden, inexplicable dread.
What eyes they were!
Her pupils, devoid of any discernible emotion, seemed to radiate an overwhelming power. A mere glance from her caused everyone present to stiffen, their faces paling as they instinctively lowered their heads, unable to meet her gaze.
It was as if they faced not a human, but a powerful entity several ranks above them, inspiring a profound sense of awe and terror deep within their hearts.
“………”
Hearing the guard’s defiant reply, Leya’s brow furrowed, a hint of regret for his choice crossing her features. Without another word, she raised the Sword of Promised Victory in her hand and slowly began to advance toward the soldier.
“You… what are you doing?”
“What am I doing?” Leya found herself amused. “I already told you, I’m the one who provoked that fellow. You are now harming innocent people, children no less. I’m here to rescue them. If you won’t release them, then of course, I’ll take them myself. To ask such a trivial question, how amusing.”
“You…”
The guard’s face flushed crimson. Feeling his intelligence insulted, he glared at Leya, his anger boiling over into furious indignation.
‘I refuse to believe it. A mere woman…’
“The… the people!?”
“Gone? Vanished?”
“How is this possible? Damn it! They were right in front of me a moment ago! What kind of joke is this? That woman…”
“Come out! Show yourself! Where did you go? If you have the guts, come out!” The guard held his longsword aloft, cautiously scanning his surroundings as he bellowed.
“Is this all you can manage?”
“Wh… What!?” The guard’s pupils constricted violently. He recognized that voice—it belonged to the woman from moments ago!
“Damn you!” Having been toyed with repeatedly, the guard, already seething with rage, roared. He lifted his longsword, prepared to pivot and unleash a horizontal slash.
Yet, in the very instant he turned his head, he caught sight of the last image he would perceive before unconsciousness claimed him…
A golden longsword, growing larger and larger within his field of vision.
Bang!
“You…” Seeing this, the guard’s companion, who had been silently lurking nearby, involuntarily gasped. Just as he was about to speak, an unforeseen force struck.
Bang!
Another figure was sent flying, following the first guard. They soared a good dozen meters, only stopping when they crashed into a merchant’s shop on the other side of the street.
The second guard, accurately launched, landed atop his previously dispatched comrade like a human domino.
The first guard, in a sudden surge of consciousness, stared at Leya with disbelief, as if to say, ‘You’re truly ruthless.’
He coughed up a mouthful of blood before his eyes fluttered shut once more.