NOVEL NEXT chapter 19
19 – Festival(5)
Upon hearing Elaine’s words, Ray immediately planted his foot firmly.
Soon, he was swinging the sword in his hand, slicing the approaching thug.
“aaargh!”
“Kill him!”
They surely didn’t expect this kind of counterattack and kept charging toward them.
Without hesitating, Ray kept swinging his sword.
-Ahh!
The sensation of flesh in his hand.
This was the first time he had cut into a human after only hunting monsters, and it gave him an uncomfortable feeling. But now was not the time to dwell on it, he needed to dispatch of at least one person quickly.
That much was certain.
“Huff. Huff.”
The more she moved, the more her body seemed to weaken.
‘If I had known this would happen, I would have asked the Professor yesterday.’
With this thought, Ray continued his swordplay.
And then,
“It’s an opening!”
An axe came flying towards her from behind.
Ray ducked his head, narrowly avoiding it.
Just as he was about to counterattack,
– Whoosh!
“Ugh!”
The surprise attacker behind him suddenly collapsed on his own.
Upon closer inspection, there were magical arrows embedded in both of his legs.
Evidently, Elaine had come to his aid.
“Attack all at once!”
“No matter how strong he is, he doesn’t stand a chance against us all!”
In an instant, they all attacked him at once.
Ray released a shallow breath.
And then, he thought about the swordplay unfolding in his mind.
He swung the sword succinctly.
Then,
-Whoom.
A blue magic aura burst from her sword and swept over them.
The hooligans let out a shallow gasp as they watched the approaching blue magic.
“Ahhh…”
Just like that, their vision turned black.
Ray verified that the thugs were all down and let out a plume of steam from her throat.
“Huuh.”
The snow-white breath spewing out of her mouth.
Even though she hadn’t used a lot of magical energy, she got the sensation of her body starting to freeze.
‘But somehow I managed to hold up.’
She sighed with relief in her thoughts,
Then, she turned her head to Elaine.
“Elaine, are you okay?”
“Yep. I’m okay. But are you alright? You seem a bit worn out.”
Elaine seemed more relaxed than herself.
Ray glanced over the thugs lying behind her.
Sure enough, most of them were down, each one’s foot riddled with holes.
Despite her typical innocently clear expression, the archery skills of Elaine were clearly unfaltering.
“I just need a little rest and I’ll be okay.”
“Then you should sit and rest quickly…”
-Chills!
Suddenly, two sets of goosebumps rose on their spines.
At the same time.
“Hooh. Do you feel alive?”
A fierce-looking man appeared, clad in claws on both hands.
At his advent, the two women carried tense expressions.
And, as if synchronized, they shared the same thought.
‘This man is strong.’
The pressure he exuded was completely on a different level compared to the thugs from earlier.
Why on earth did this man appear?
In this moment of being perplexed.
“Clearly, our boys weren’t killed for no reason.”
The man in front of them stroked his chin with a convinced expression.
Ray quickly put her thoughts together.
‘Running is not an option.’
“If she was Elaine, she might have some chance, but in her current worn-out state, it is nearly impossible for her to escape from the man before her.
Moreover, if she were to lag behind, Elaine would certainly refuse to run.
Therefore, fleeing isn’t a viable choice.
‘Fighting…’
A fight isn’t a decent option either.
They don’t know how strong the man facing her right now is, and they don’t have any assurance that the girls amongst themselves could win.
Even now, his relaxed demeanor reveals no vulnerability.
‘Then there’s only one solution left.’
Wait for Kael to come to them.
Given Kael’s nature, he’d unquestionably be searching for the two of them.
At the very least, he’s never left his student without any care.
‘With the professor’s ability, it won’t take long to find us.’
So at this moment, the best strategy is to buy some time.
After sorting her thoughts, Rei then threw a question.
“Who are you?”
“Huh? Who am I? Didn’t you attack us knowing that?”
“I’m sorry, but your group attacked us first; we merely retaliated.”
“Ugh, these idiots.”
He spat out a shallow breath, glaring at his fallen comrades.
His reaction gave her the idea that perhaps they could resolve this without a fight.
However, could this just be wishful thinking on her part?
“If you’re going to attack strangers, you should at least introduce yourself.”
The man licked his lips as he spoke.
These scumbags always behaved the same.
When his words were cut off, that’s when…
“Well, my name is Hein…?!”
Elaine fired a magic arrow mid-sentence.
At this unexpected surprise attack, Hein’s eyes widened in surprise.
Immediately, he raised his club to block the magic arrow.
“Huff.”
Even at first glance, he looked tough, but no one imagined he would attack so suddenly.
Then, at that moment.
– Hum.
He felt a cool sensation on his neck.
He quickly turned his head.
He raised his claws.
The next moment.
– Clash!
The sound of metal striking rang in his ears.
Ray’s sword was blocked by the sharp claw.
Upon realizing his surprise attack had failed, Ray obviously clicked his tongue.
“Tsk.”
He thought he had hidden his life energy as well as Karl had advised, but his execution was still clumsy.
In the time it took for Ray to inwardly lament, the henchman swung his claw.
With this, Ray was forced back a considerable distance.
“Are you guys students?”
“What? You knew we were students?”
“Looking at that school uniform, how could I not know you’re students.”
“But is it okay to aim at us like this?”
Is he out of his mind to mess with us at Lionel Academy of all places?
When she subtly threatened in a non-threatening way, unexpectedly, he smirked and spoke confidently.
“I don’t mind since I have a backup. As long as you don’t kill me.”
With that, he swung the claws in his both hands making an X.
– Clash!
“Damn!”
Despite blocking, the force was so strong he felt as if his palm was about to tear.
It was clear that if this went on, he would be overpowered.
Having quickly assessed the situation, she smoothly let go of her claw.
“Huh?!”
With that, he lost his balance and his eyes widened in surprise.
And thus, a fleeting gap was opened by the servant.
Rei took advantage of that gap.
She unleashed the most powerful attack she was currently capable of.
-The Sword Art of Moonlight, Style One.
Her sword traced an arc as if painting a crescent moon.
The servant was shocked at the sight of her swordsmanship on display.
A blade technique vastly different and distinctive from his own.
Whoever developed it, it was clear that blood, sweat, and tears must have gone into its creation.
Such was the exceptional nature of her swordplay.
Despite being an enemy, it was still admirable.
However.
‘The one using it is a novice.’
As a result, it wasn’t an insurmountable attack.
He quickly swung the claws affixed to his hands.
-Crash!
In an instant, her strike was shattered into pieces.
And thus, residual magic lingered in the air.
Looking upon this, the servant spoke in a somewhat regretful voice.
“What a shame. You haven’t fully understood the sword technique, and your physical ability is considerably insufficient to handle it.”
She couldn’t refute his remark.
Just as he had said, her body was not in peak form right now.
However, she was not alone in facing him.
“Anyone would think I’m facing you alone.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, a magical arrow flew straight in his direction.
Surprised, the servant quickly turned his head to the side.
– Psh!
In the next moment, the magical arrow grazed past his cheek.
The servant grimaced in pain at the sharp sting on his cheek.
“Your grace period is over.”
With those words, he pours his magic into Yang Cuo’s cloak.
And then, his cloak becomes even sharper.
-Ki-gi-gi-gi-gik!!
In the next instant, Ray’s eyes widen as he blocks his cloak.
He had the same thought.
‘What power is this?!’
Suddenly, his power has become stronger!
In a situation he never expected, she quickly releases his cloak.
And then, she swings her sword towards him, using the force of rotation.
-Kkaaang.
Her sword strike is easily blocked by his servant.
At the same time.
-Peok!
“Argh!”
He kicks her in the abdomen.
Ray is completely thrown back by the impact.
‘My body won’t move properly.’
If it were normal, she would have dodged his attack, but because of the strain, her body has frozen.
“Ray! Are you okay?!”
Startled, Elaine hurriedly runs to Ray.
And at that moment.
“To take your eyes off me and face me one on one, you must have incredibly underestimated me.”
The servant swings his cloak at Elaine.
The sharp blade aims for Elaine’s eyes.
Just as Elaine tightly closes her eyes.
“Huh?”
For some reason, she feels no pain.
Curious, she slowly opens her eyes.
“Eh?”
Casually holding the servant’s cloak is Cai Er, coming into view.
Kael asked in his usual impassive voice.
“So what exactly happened here?”
“That man tried to kill us! Professor!”
The elf princess accused without a hint of hesitation.