The Grand Duelist

"Alice, I never thought that you had such an ingenious side in you." 

When the two of them finally disappeared from the eyes of everyone. They stopped in an unassuming alleyway as Joseph placed Alice back on the ground and praised her honestly. 

"It seems like you are really underestimating me. I grew up with an excellent blacksmith as my father, how could I not be creative enough to think of a plan like that?" Alice stared at Joseph in disdain.

Joseph didn't mind her attitude. He knew that Alice would always be like this whenever she was irritated. Furthermore, they were on a race against time and had no time to waste doing unnecessary things so, Joseph wasn't mad at her for being like this.

Instead, he handed over a handkerchief and said.

"Wipe yourself down with this." 

Alice compiled.

She took the handkerchief and wiped the blood running down her knees.

"What did you think about my plan?" Suddenly, she asked.

Her voice was nonchalant and not any emotions could be felt from it.

"That plan of yours? Hahaha, it really was too good. I mean, I can still even remember the looks on their faces when they saw me carrying you whilst you were bleeding. Damn, that was too easy. But say, I didn't really expect that the people in this place would be that kind..."

Alice was happy since Joseph praised her for the plan that she made. But she was intrigued by what she heard at the end of his sentence so she asked, "Kind? Do you really think that the people in here, right now, in the middle of a crisis like this are kind?"

Joseph shook his head, "Nope... That is not even my point, Alice. What I am saying is that even though they are in the middle of a crisis and they are now doing everything that they can do to survive. Say, stealing from other people and murder. I can still see that they still feel empathy towards those that are on the same boat as them..."

"In my opinion, such complex emotions really make me feel that they are truly human." 

A smile escaped his lips.

Alice didn't understand what he was talking about, but since he looked like he was happy.

She didn't disagree on what he had said as she nodded her head and replied, "Is that so? Then, good for you. As for me, even though they displayed empathy to us earlier, I don't think that I'll be able to see them as kind."

Joseph shook his head in disapproval, "Dear, Alice. There's a well-known adage called, never judge a book by its cover... Who knows? Even if they look shabby, you can't just say that just because they look like that means that they would steal and kill?"

"I mean, sometimes..."

"Those that are well-dressed commit the most crimes."

Alice nodded her head, "That's a sound argument. But statistically, people that live in the slums often commit crimes."

"Statistically? Don't use a word like that when arguing about something like this, Alice..."

"The only reason why the people of the slums are disadvantaged whenever that word is used is that the well-dressed and rich people who often commit crimes are not really brought into justice so there won't be any crimes to record that would make them prevalent in such statistics."

Alice lightly smiled, a look of enlightenment could be seen on her face as she said, "Fair enough..."

Joseph stared at her and said, "I hope you won't be mad that I disapproved of what you said that those in the slums commit more crimes than those who are well-dressed and rich. I just can't stand people who judge others based on what they look."

Alice shook her head and replied, "It's fine... I'm not even mad. I'm impressed. I'm surprised that someone like you understands the people living in places like this more than me."

Joseph bitterly smiled, "Well, perhaps. It should be because there was a time that I was like them before." 

Alice stared at him in surprise, "Really? You lived in the slums before?"

Joseph shook his head, "Nope, not exactly. But anyway, it's a long story. Let's just continue this talk later in the carriage after we left this place." 

Alice agreed, "Right... But before we leave, we must take a bath."

Joseph didn't have any objections. 

Half an hour later, the two exited an establishment refreshed and looking good.

The two of them came out of the building at the same time and Joseph couldn't help but stare at Alice and ask her in doubt when he saw how beautiful she became.

"Who are you?"

Alice knitted her eyebrows, "Rude..."

"It's me, Alice..."

Joseph staggered, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. But after connecting the dots, everything suddenly made sense. The Alice that he rescued from the hands of the Kingdom of Nether looked like she hadn't taken a shower for several months consecutively.

Her clothes back then looked like a washed-out cum rag, and her blonde hair looked darkened and muddy. Of course, she was still beautiful, since mud could never hide the brilliance of a diamond.

However, right now. Joseph realized that he had underestimated Alice's beauty.

The Alice that stood before him right now looked far beautiful than she was earlier. Her blonde hair that looked dark and muddy before the shower now looked dazzling and beautiful than ever before.

In fact, her hair looked like it wasn't even blonde anymore. Every strand of her hair looked like it was made out of gold and her brown eyes that looked turbid before now shone in an energetic light. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Alice was a whole new woman than before.

This was why Joseph doubted if what he was seeing was Alice or a perfectly made doppelganger.

"Why are you staring at me like you are staring at a ghost?" Alice asked.

Joseph stretched his hand out and pinched her cheeks.

"Hieek! What are you doing! Take your hands off me!" Alice fumbled in shock when she realized that Joseph held her cheeks. She protested and struggled, but then Joseph suddenly stretched her cheeks out as she cried out in pain.

"Ouch! That hurts, hey! Are you listening? Take your hands off me! It's really me, Alice!" Alice realized that Joseph must be in doubt whether she was the real Alice or if she was an imposter made by the Demon of Deceit and Temptation, Gelial. 

Joseph finally stopped on pinching her cheeks as he moved both of her hands near his nose and sniffed...

"This smell... You really are Alice." A smile of relief appeared on his face, but he immediately ducked his head when he saw a palm coming his way.

It was Alice's palm that was about to slap his face.

But thanks to his quick thinking. He managed to dodge the slap by a hair's breadth.

"Why did you dodge?!" 

"Why wouldn't I dodge?" Joseph raised an eyebrow, but then Alice pinched his cheeks hard.

"Just what are you doing?"

Alice slyly smiled, "I'm just trying to make sure that you're indeed Joseph and not Gelial!"

She cried out and then pinched Joseph's cheeks hard.

Joseph's pupils constricted when a pain comparable to his balls getting stuck in his zippers assaulted both of his cheeks. He had completely forgotten about the fact that Alice's level was several dozens higher than him, so it was clear that Alice possessed a strength that was far stronger than him.

In short, Alice's pinching was such a painful experience for him that he flailed around like he was a pig being butchered.

The employees within the establishment behind them walked out.

One of them that looked like the manager of the establishment frowned and scolded.

"Both of you! Do that public display of affection somewhere else! You are affecting the flow of my business!"

Alice awakened from their trance and Joseph sighed in relief. But afterwards, he stared at the manager in pity. It was because he knew how unreasonable Alice could be whenever she was angry.

"Public display of affection...?" Alice whispered.

Her voice was so small that it was comparable to a mosquito's droning.

"Yes, may I ask the two of you to get a room instead of doing all of these in front of our building?" 

"Get a room..." Alice visibly trembled as she whispered once again.

Oh, boy... Why would you do that, Ma'am... I know that you may be bitter against couples, but to say something like that against Alice just sounds like you are trying to sign your own death warrant. 

Shit, I'll prepare to bolt out of here.

Joseph subconsciously bent his knees and prepared to run if everything escalated quickly as he expected.

But contrary to his expectations...

"I-I'm sorry... I... No, we... We will go away now."

... Instead of acting out in anger...

Alice sincerely apologized and dragged Joseph away from the place.

After a few minutes of walking.

Joseph stared at Alice in doubt before placing the back of his right hand on her forehead.

"What are you doing again?" Alice said in annoyance.

"I'm just checking if you have a fever or something," Joseph replied.

"A fever? What a joke, a Sword Adept can never have any illnesses." Alice retorted.

"A Sword Adept? What is that?"

Alice stared at him and said, "I'll explain to you later in the carriage. Meanwhile, explain to me why you are checking if I have a fever. Do you think that there's something abnormal to me?" Alice asked him in doubt.

Even though Joseph was weaker than her right now.

She still believed in his words not only because she trusted him.

But because he was the Grand Duelist of the current generation.

She reckoned that his diagnosis would be far more accurate than the diagnosis of doctors due to the fact that she was using the Divine Art of the Grand Duelist.

After all, no one in this world could possibly know more about the Grand Duelist's Graceful Swordsmanship than the Grand Duelist himself.

Knowing that she had attempted to breakthrough from the Realm of Sword Adepts into the ranks of Sword Connoisseurs.

Alice was concerned if she had acquired internal wounds in her body after that failed breakthrough attempt.

Joseph stared at her for a moment before he said, "Interesting, I heard that Senior Krid was a Sword Connoisseur before he became a Legendary Blacksmith. Are Sword Connoisseurs really that strong?"

Alice stared at him and frowned, "Of course! Let me tell you this... Sword Connoisseurs have certain abilities that make them far stronger than Sword Adepts. Say for example..."

A light smile of relief escaped Joseph's lips as he stared at Alice who was rambling about the difference between Sword Adepts and Sword Connoisseurs. Thankfully, he managed to change the topic in the nick of time before Alice could realize that the topic had already changed.

After all, if Joseph was forced to answer as to why he checked if Alice had a fever or not.

He was sure that the two of them would argue once again.

Fortunately, he evaded that scenario so the two of them were back to normal once again.

In fact, Alice even looked like she was having fun as she told Joseph about how hard it was to master the sword.

The two continued on their talk until they had arrived at the front gates of the hamlet. With the sheer number of people escaping from Capital City, Reinhardt. The front gates of the small village had several dozens of carriages that had just arrived from Reinhardt.

The carriages were filled with tired people looking to rest and stay for the day.

But most of them were here for an interlude that would let them buy some food and water that would help them on their journey to the Kingdom of Burning Heaven, just behind the region known as the Forbidden Region.

Joseph swept his gaze around the area and he realized that most people were staring at them.

Particularly, at Alice...

Joseph made a sidelong glance at Alice which elicited a response from the latter as she asked...

"What is wrong?"

Joseph sighed and replied, "Don't you feel them staring at you the whole time? Are you not uncomfortable at all?"

Alice shook her head, "Not really. I am used to people staring at me."

"I see... That is definitely a bullet-proof argument. But if I play Devil's Advocate, I say... What do you do to those people that try to hit you up instead of just staring from a distance?" Joseph probed.

Alice revealed an ambiguous smile.

Afterwards, she made a quick glance at Joseph's crotch and her smile transformed into an evil one.

"Uh..."

Joseph asked in nervousness.

"Do you get it?" Alice said.

"Mhm..." Joseph timidly nodded.

The banter ended as fast as it happened as the two proceeded to walk towards a nearby carriage.

"Sir, are your services available for now? Can we ask you to deliver the two of us to Reinhardt?"

The man who was currently tending to his horse raised his head and smiled in appreciation at Joseph. But when he processed what Joseph had said.

He was astounded as he replied, "To Reinhardt? Are you serious?"

Joseph nodded his head.

"Yes, I am. I can pay at least one Gold Coin if you help us."

The man's expression turned serious, "Listen here, my friend. Reinhardt right now is in turmoil thanks to those selfish bastards simultaneously betraying the country for the Empire..."

"Something like that shouldn't really affect the operations of us coachmen, but due to the turmoil. The residents are now turning into bandits..."

"In other words, going to that city alone poses such a huge security risk which will make this trip not worth it. A gold coin is not really enough for m-"

"Okay, okay... I get it, you just want more money, right?"

Joseph stopped the man from talking any further.

He took out a pouch filled with gold coins from his chest pocket and handed it over to the coachman.

The coachman's eyes widened in shock when he felt how heavy the pouch was.

But his expression turned serious once again as he said, "With how much money you are sacrificing just to go there, I guess you must be in a hurry, right?"

Joseph was astonished by what he heard.

But since it was retarded to lie towards someone that would help them arrive at Reinhardt.

He didn't deny what the man had said as he replied, "Yes, that is right. We are in a hurry." 

The man lightly smiled, "In that case, then let's go." He gestured towards the carriage.

"Ladies first." Joseph gestured at Alice and the latter lightly smiled as she went inside the carriage.

Joseph followed suit and he didn't notice that just as he entered...

The coachman wore an ambiguous smile on his lips as he whispered to himself.

"It looks like it'll be a big haul this time."

He stared at the pouch filled with gold coins on his palm before placing it in his pocket and maneuvering the carriage towards the direction of Reinhardt.