Unexpected Encounters and Hidden Strengths

Prior to the battle, both men had boasted to high heaven, each declaring they could single-handedly eliminate the target.Yet, once the actual fighting commenced, they found themselves utterly disoriented by mental magic, chasing phantoms for what felt like an eternity, appearing no less than a pair of bumbling fools.

Upon their return, a noticeable shift occurred in their demeanor, for they had at last realized that the two young women within their team were, in fact, the true masters of their craft.

The Bald Man strode over to the wailing Dogget, delivering a swift kick to secure an assist before crouching beside him to examine his severed limb.

“The blonde’s swordsmanship is truly exceptional; that single strike severed the canine’s leg from afar. The intense fire attribute instantly cauterized the wound, preventing him from bleeding to death—a perfect execution of the ‘capture alive’ mission’s core objective.”

Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey approached Iordera, scrutinizing her intently. “That white-haired, long-legged lass possesses a remarkably sturdy physique,” he remarked. “She absorbed a direct blast from a magic crystal gun, was sent soaring a considerable distance, yet she sprang right back up as if utterly unscathed.”

Turning, he bowed respectfully towards Sophia. “Blonde, truly impressive!” he declared.

The Bald Man, too, cupped his fists towards Iordera. “White-haired lass, truly resilient!” he exclaimed.

Then, in perfect unison, they proclaimed, “Our team is both formidable and unyielding!”

As she watched the two boisterously laughing oafs, Iordera could only sigh with a helpless resignation.

After all this trouble to undertake a mission, to encounter such a pair of eccentrics was truly trying. Had she and Sophia not stepped forward in turn, the mission would have assuredly ended in failure.

“By the way,” Iordera began, “this marks our second unexpected meeting, yet I still do not know your name.”

The blonde hesitated for a moment before softly replying, “My name is Sophia.”

It was a name easily learned with a casual inquiry within the academy, thus there was no reason to conceal it.

The Bald Man cupped his fists. “I am one who does not alter his name in travels, nor his surname in repose—”

“Away with you, away!” Iordera waved him off dismissively. “Go stand guard at the periphery. Ensure no suspicious individuals approach before the arrival of the authorities.”

If one proves useless in a team engagement yet still expects a share of the spoils, then they ought to busy themselves with more meaningful tasks.

Neither the Bald Man nor Skinny Monkey offered a retort; instead, they each found a small hillock and settled into a crouch, one to the left, one to the right.

Iordera retrieved her communicator, stepping aside to establish contact with the arriving authorities.

The device, doubling as a locator, had already pinpointed their position, and the officials confirmed they would arrive momentarily.

“Sophia, thank you for your assistance last time,” she said upon returning to the blonde young woman. “My name is Iordera, and as you already know, I serve as a security guard at the academy library.”

“Last time?”

Sophia offered a wry, bitter smile. She could plainly see that Iordera’s abilities were extraordinary, and her defensive prowess, even more so. To absorb a direct blast from a magic crystal gun at close range and rise to her feet within half a minute was nothing short of astonishing.

Which led her to recall their previous encounter—

“Did you act that way intentionally?” Sophia inquired, “only evading and never retaliating?”

“Indeed… I suppose so,” Iordera murmured.

After all, a single elbow strike had already resulted in a concussion; had the second-stage joint hammer descended, there was no telling how many lives might have been forfeit.

Sophia’s spirits plummeted further. “I owe you an apology,” she confessed. “It was I who caused you trouble last time.”

‘So Iordera had already discerned the truth,’ she mused inwardly. ‘Those boys had approached, feigning injury (TL Note: 碰瓷 (pèngcí): A Chinese slang term referring to feigning an accident or injury to extort compensation.), with the brazen attitude of ‘you won’t leave unless you kill me.’ Only I, foolishly, had stepped forward and delivered a sword strike, playing directly into their scheme.’

“Please, don’t speak such nonsense,” Iordera quickly interjected. “For someone who offered help out of kindness to apologize, such a notion is truly absurd.”

‘Besides,’ she added, ‘your aid was not misguided.’

Sophia’s lips curled into a bitter line. “But I brought trouble upon you.”

“Even that cannot be deemed a mistake,” Iordera said, puffing out her cheeks. “And besides, the trouble has already been resolved.”

At that moment, Iordera couldn’t help but recall Hecate’s many virtues.

Upon careful reflection, the witch actually possessed quite a number of admirable qualities: her gentle manner of speech, her formidable power, her unflappable composure, and her long, slender, beautiful fingers.

‘Wait,’ she thought, ‘did something peculiar just slip into that list?’

No, she couldn’t dwell on it any further; it was imperative to shift the conversation.

With that resolve, Iordera fixed her gaze upon Sophia, causing the blonde young woman to feel a slight prickle of unease.

“W-what is it?”

“Nothing at all,” Iordera replied with genuine sincerity. “I simply find you to be a remarkably fine individual—kind, upright, and possessing a truly knightly demeanor.”

“Knightly demeanor… hah,” Sophia scoffed softly.

Sophia lowered her gaze, a faint trace of self-mockery playing upon her lips.

Having an exceptionally distinguished elder brother, Sophia had grown up from childhood under his profound influence.

As a Royal Knight, a paragon at the very apex of the knightly order, her brother had not only imparted to her his exceptional swordsmanship but also instilled in her a deep understanding of a knight’s duties and virtues.

To champion justice, to protect the vulnerable, and to sweep away all inequity.

In those days, Sophia herself had vowed to one day become a perfect Royal Knight, just as her brother was.

That was, until he met a humiliating end at the very entrance of their hometown, leaving behind no explanation for his demise.

Seven of the eight family members perished, leaving Sophia utterly alone, forcing her to abandon everything she had once held dear and embark upon an unfamiliar, solitary path.

Her intervention last time had been an entirely subconscious, instinctive reaction; she knew, deep down, she ought not to have acted.

“Anyway, I… I simply believe you are a good person, nothing more.”

Seeing her spirits dampen, and unsure if she had misspoken, Iordera could only rub her small hands together awkwardly, then lapsed into a shared silence.

‘Never mind,’ she thought, ‘let’s just rest for a while. The sky has grown so dark.’

Not long thereafter, the Bald Man’s booming voice echoed from the hillside, “Girls, young ladies, the authorities have arrived!”

In his direction, a contingent of mounted government soldiers slowly but steadily approached.

Iordera stretched languidly, musing, ‘Excellent efficiency. I’ll be back before dawn.’

Yet, at that very moment, Skinny Monkey also rose, calling out, “There are people on my side as well!”

“Also?”

Iordera turned her head, her gaze sweeping towards the other direction, where she could discern only a few indistinct, shadowy figures.

The mounted soldiers were situated on one side, roughly a hundred meters distant, while the shadowy figures stood on the opposing flank, also separated by a similar stretch of a hundred meters.

‘To merely take custody of an already subdued target, there should be no need for a pincer maneuver, should there?’ she pondered.

A sudden, ominous feeling washed over Iordera, and she sprinted towards Dogget without hesitation. Yet, in that precise instant, a crimson crosshair mark materialized upon Dogget’s form.

Swish—!

The crimson crystal arrow traversed a hundred meters in the blink of an eye, impaling Dogget’s throat. The canine-headed man, already suffering a broken leg, could only manage a single gurgling sound before his mouth erupted with a torrent of bloody froth, and he breathed his last.

Iordera had only just reached his side, powerless to prevent the brutal act.

“No! Damn it all!” she managed to curse, her voice raw with frustration and anger.

Sophia, lifting her head, witnessed the crimson crystal arrow pulsating with an ominous glow.

“Quickly, take cover! There’s danger!”

She sprang to her feet and lunged, embracing Iordera, but before they could move more than a couple of steps, the crystal arrow detonated.

Boom!!

Sophia felt no immediate pain, for in the instant of the explosion, the young woman before her had strangely exerted her limbs, causing their positions to swiftly interchange.

After being flung a considerable distance by the concussive force of the blast, Sophia tumbled to the ground, only to hear Iordera, gritting her teeth beside her, declare, “I am resilient; I will bear the brunt.”

Truly, she was resilient; despite the force, she sustained no actual harm. However, her clothing now revealed both her midriff and her back.

Sophia inadvertently stole two quick glances, then swiftly averted her eyes, shrugging off her own black robe and offering it to her. “Wear this,” she suggested.

“Thank you, but what of yourself?”

“I have clothes on underneath; it’s nothing to worry about.”

‘Though,’ she added silently, ‘it is rather chilly this late at night.’