I don't know what got into me, but whatever it was, it made me decide to hate this guy to death.
...
"I-it's f-fi... fine" He himself seems to be the most incredulous about his own answer, it's written all over his face.
"Didn't you hear me?" Someone holds my hand. Without taking my eyes off the elf, I turn my head slightly...
It's Nicole, surprisingly, she doesn't seem upset with me, but she's clearly asking me to shut up. Sorry, cousin, but I'm going to ignore you this time.
"..."
I manage to control my emotions, just a little, but when I try to apologize to him, that... disgust and contempt returns. I can't apologize to him.
Let's be evasive then, not that I care what this guy thinks of me, but I want him as far away as possible. Of course, if he's looking for a fight... I wouldn't mind giving him a punch, or two, or a hundred... or ripping his heart out- eh, stop it.
"You... are not welcome in this conversation. Get the fu- cof, do you need me to guide you to hell- cof, guide you out of here?”
"I heard someone was asking for me." He says, regaining his supposedly friendly tone. He hides it very well, but he smells like... Huh, what is that smell? It's kind of... Satisfying to smell it... Even more so when it comes from the... Oh, 'fear... Fury.'
Oh. He. Is that what it smells like? Funny, it's not as... solid as some of the other smells, but it's there.
It was a pressure relief, his nice guy act was short-lived, everyone could see that his attempt to still seem nice was a facade. But damn, I still can't stand him, I want to rip his throat out to make him stop talking... it's hard to keep control. What's going on?
"You're no longer needed. I'm allowing you to go"
I will learn to control these urges later, I will also apologize if I say something wrong, for now I just need this guy to leave.
"And who are you to command me?" I see his right eyelid throbbing.
"Someone who can kill you"
"Hahaha!!!" Drop the flat act and laugh exaggeratedly. You can fool yourself as much as you want, but you're getting more and more scared. Aren't you used to people talking back to you?
"Kill me? You? Funniest thing I've heard in a long time"
"And one of the last you'll hear in your life if you don't get the hell out of here now"
He stops laughing and looks up at Nicole...
"... Ah? Nicole, I didn't see you there... by the tail, I assume you two are family..."
And that's where I stop paying attention to him. How dare you look at Nicole!? I see darkness in my peripheral vision, it doesn't matter. Does he... want to hurt Nicole?
It felt a little... off, to me, maybe because of some special equipment he's wearing, but the darkness inside this elf obediently puts itself within my reach. Even though I don't have to do anything, it starts to go crazy on its own, I can feel it. Then it starts to show physically, how a little comes out of his nose with every breath.
He notices and jumps back as if he's about to be run over by a carriage.
"Just go, now." I say sharply.
His breathing accelerates. He starts breathing through his mouth, which causes more darkness to come out from inside him.
"... As you say. My colleague here can give you the details of the job, that's all." He says simply, pulls out a strange-looking wooden staff from somewhere and disappears... what, he teleported with that staff? That's great, I want it.
Sherianna Owen POV (minutes earlier).
"Assuming they don't manage to find her there, then we've hit a wall, unfortunately. But I'm hopeful that..."
"Sigh..." No use listening any longer, they don't know where she is, not even a clue. Not that I could blame them. Ciren wasn't as badly affected as my country by the eruption, but it still caused a lot of chaos. It doesn't take the blame away from them that they were negligent and others took full advantage of the situation... Just like us.
"Are you listening to me?"
"Of course I am."
"Then I suggest that..."
I stop paying attention to him again... A curious skill I have, I can perfectly pretend I'm having a conversation with someone, but I'm completely in automatic mode, as soon as he said they found nothing, my mind went to some distant world... Unless I'm in danger, of course, then my instincts and training take over.
Who the hell was this guy? Whatever, it's not like this is my country, so I don't have to keep up an image.
"I was a warrior once too, my instincts won't fail me..."
“I'll look for information a little more, any clue is better than keep staring at a wall”
“But of course, for sure, to the royal family...”
Oh? I'm walking away already, good. I hope I've said my goodbyes, not that I care now.
Why are there always such talkative people among the nobles? I'm sure they have a lot of time on their hands. Well, my father used to say that no respected nobleman would spend more time away from his lands than was absolutely necessary. He's a strange man most of the time, but he might be right about that.
That must be doubly true when it comes to an emergency situation like the one this country just went through, and unfortunately, it's still in effect in Carian... I have to get back as soon as possible, but I can't leave Lys here... Damn it.
Then... everything went dark.
...
"FALL"
Uwa!? Can I counter it? No. Is it dangerous? Yes. Will it hurt me? No. Is it an attack? No. Is it hostile? No.
My mind is racing at full speed to deal with this strange situation, but relaxes as I perceive no malice or ill intent. Well, no malice toward me. There is someone extremely angry in this city.
How could I not have noticed it before? It feels so clear... No matter how much experience you have, you'll make rookie mistakes when you get careless, right? I'm evidently more tired than I realize myself.
"Phew... it's okay, whatever it is, it has nothing to do with me"
I manage to speak and move after the guitar has worked its magic. That was a risky thing to do, the darkness might pounce on me if I get out of its grip. Fortune smiles on me today after all, as the darkness is just there, letting me pass through with no problem. Was I just collateral damage? Does this mean that this monumental amount of magic was wasted on an area effect?
And yet... the rage doesn't seem to subside at all, as if it doesn't even realize that it's expended so much power... In fact, it even managed to immobilize and silence me until the guitar did its thing.
Huh... The more I think about it, the more impressive it becomes.
I'd ask that person for a fight, but clearly we both have more important things to take care of.
... Damn it, I'm lost.
It's no use being able to move if I don't know where to go, nor can I ask anyone for directions, not that I would have managed to follow said directions, I don't know this castle and can barely see anything. I just wander through the endless corridors full of impractical glass and useless decorations.
Everyone I meet is paralyzed, showing looks of horror and panic, which, unexpectedly, calm down when I get close enough for them to see my silhouette.
Shouldn't they be afraid in a normal situation? When you can't see, you're paralyzed, you can't talk. And suddenly someone appears with more weapons than skin, is your first impulse to relax? Or am I that well-known?
Maybe it's the latter, I've been hearing the stupid title 'Sword of Carian' nonstop since I arrived... I mean, I get it, but why a sword? And all the dozens of weapons I normally use, where did they go?
What an uncreative name.
"Whatever, I give up." I look for a nice corner to sit down. I'll just wait for the darkness to lift, I don't feel the world-devouring rage anymore, so it must be just a matter of time.
In good time. The darkness disappears, sinking into the earth... Huh, was that a natural phenomenon? Normally, magic would vanish into thin air when it ran out of fuel, or it would turn back into pure magic and return to its owner if the caster was very skilled.
No, it wasn't natural, but the darkness was... I guess that solves the energy problem, but how the hell... More and more, I want to fight this person.
Now is not the time. I turn my attention back to my surroundings... I don't know how long I've been lost in thought, but there's shouting everywhere.
Huh, how unprofessional. Aren't they important people in charge of the country? They should handle something like this with a calm mind. Well, it was scary, it's true. I think anyone who isn't used to fighting would faint in front of something like that, and judging from the unhealthy bodies of many of those I've talked to since I came to this country, a warrior ruler must be a rare thing.
"If not the Sword of Carian, I am pleased to meet..."
It's started so soon already, what's wrong with this idiot? I walk away, deliberately ignoring him this time. Even if it were in my own country, someone who uses every second to make connections without caring about a situation he is or could be in is not trustworthy.
I look for the exit for a while, without much luck. So many windows, but none of them can be opened... it's for safety, of course, but please.
"OUT OF THE WAY!"
"Who dares to talk to me like that - AAAH!"
I look behind me...
"You filthy commone-"
"OUT OF THE WAY, INSECT!"
"UUGH! AAH- BLEE! AAY!"
That last scream was sharper than the previous ones.
"Hahaha! What the hell?"
A bunch of naked men appear, running frantically from a hallway I just passed, knocking down and stomping on the guy who... Is it the same guy who tried to talk to me earlier, was he following me? How annoying, you deserve it.
"You know, a good laugh is just what I needed, I appreciate it. See you around, whoever you are.” I say to the guy on the ground, he's all banged up, holding his crotch that someone stepped on.
Might as well see what that's all about, I'll continue the search after a good night's sleep, I know Lys can take care of herself enough to allow me at least that much.
Following the trail of the nudists, I walk through a gate into a garden filled with flowers... Flowers in every color of the rainbow. Pretty, not that I know anything about flowers.
I slowly approach the figures inside...
A girl and some kind of big cat are sitting on the grass, obviously being scolded by two women. Oh, I recognize the black fox.
“Good morning to you ladies”
"Duchess, greetings"
Oh? She's the second one, after the king, who doesn't call me by my nickname. Maybe it was her or Nicole who caused that earlier?
... That fluffy tail is too expressive. It distracts me. It tensed up when I arrived, but sways happily now that she's petting the cat.
"I saw a group of naked men running desperately from here, I had to see what's going on"
“We have no relation with them”
At least you should have seen them, but to deny it so quickly gives you away. “Anyway, who is this adorable being?”
“She's Seina, oh, and the lynx is Maureen”
A lynx, aren't they wild? This one didn't seem to mind my arrival very much, I guess he feels comfortable and ignores everyone, like any good cat.
I start to talk a little. Huh, that brown tail with the white tip still distracts me. That girl, Seina? She stopped caring when... What was Linx's name? I wasn't paying enough attention, sorry dude. Anyway, when the lynx started rubbing up against her, she devoted all her efforts to petting it, completely ignoring us.
That's kind of refreshing.
She doesn't even seem to mind that in her position and with the gyrations she's doing, even sitting down, she's showing off her pink panties.
I heal my tired mind with this adorable sight... And then I see her conjure a sphere of magic, completely black, in the palm of her hand... A darkness I'd just become familiar with.
"... So, it was her?"
Even though it was a question, it wasn't a question.
"Well... Yes, but you don't need to worry about her, Your Grace"
"Just call me Sherianna, please, I'm in no mood for useless formalities"
And I don't worry, the amount of magic I feel in her is impressive, but nothing earth-shattering. Nicole has a slightly higher amount.
Then she must have something special.
I think as I watch her heal the Linx's teeth with the look of a veteran... Yes, something very special.
“I'm helping you, don't be afraid”
She reassures him. Then he stands still as she gently holds his head. A few moments later, she is done and seems to want to check him, asking him to open his mouth.
“Good job hanging in there, kitten”
But the... kitten doesn't want to, wow, how unheard of. Luckily, I usually carry beef jerky with me in case I don't have time to eat for whatever reason. I take some out and hand it to the girl.
"He should like this"
"O-oh, yes, thank you"
Her tail gives a little wag and she looks at me in surprise, did she forget I was here? Best not to disturb her too much.
As expected, Kitten doesn't turn down the dried meat from the backs of the best cows in my duchy. He eagerly devours it, having noticed that it doesn't hurt.
Then he circles even more around... Seina, with a purr so loud that it could only come from a cat of that size.
"Oooh~ hehe"
... I want to hug them. I want to use them as a pillow.
Unfortunately, something dangerous is coming.
I left the conversation with the two women, not that I was paying much attention to them, and looked at the newcomer.
An elf... no, a high elf, there is only one high elf in this kingdom who could feel so dangerous.
...
Did I say before that Seina's power was nothing earth-shattering? I want to punch myself in the face for such an error in judgment, even though the total amount of magic she has is far less than Gehrman's, she doesn't need it.
As she fearlessly argues with the old man, I watch her magic grow more and more... dense, powerful, steady, alert... incredible.
When the amount of power within her exceeds the limits of her body, it appears outside of her, surrounding her, ready for action...
Her magic is only surpassed by her bloodlust... Even though I have been fighting beasts and monsters since I was 10 years old, her bloodlust still manages to make me shiver with excitement.
How can someone so adorable have such a terrifying aura? I don't feel like she was pretending to be innocent before.
I have to fight her.
After... chatting, or rather bullying Gehrman into leaving, she relaxes so fast it's almost unnatural... There's definitely something strange going on with this girl.
"..."
She blushes and her tail twitches nervously. Her ears are pressed to her head and she clearly doesn't want to be here.
She also deliberately avoids making eye contact with Nicole, who looks very surprised, huh... I've only met her a few times, but it's well known that her character is quite carefree.
When Nicole sees Seina's behavior, like that of a child waiting to be scolded by her parents for swearing, she seems to come to her senses... And she looks even more worried.
Just for a moment.
"Seina." She finally says.
“... Sorry”
"... What are you apologizing for?"
"Huh? W-well, for bullying that guy... I promise I'll go to some church temple and see if they know how to help me with these weird impulses"
"A temple?" I interject. I want to ask her for a little fight, but it seems like her situation is complicated.
"... Oh." She says, looking at me when I talk to her, definitely forgetting that I'm here again.
"Cof cof. Yeah, a temple, um, uh... I basically got a power and instincts boost recently, I can't control them well as you just see, miss... Uh..."
"My name is Sherianna"
"Sherianna, nice to meet you, sorry for not remembering your name, I was distracted"
"Don't worry, it's my fault for not introducing myself, I assumed you knew me"
"I do now," she said smiling.
Although she managed to speak normally, she is clearly very nervous and tense... Is she not good with people? Or is it just me?
Or... is it because I'm fully armed? Probably all of them.
"Pleasure, anyway, did you say a temple? Why?"
"Oh, yeah, um, I don't know much about religion, but it must be something spiritual or so I guess. They might know what to do, right?"
Mm... A sudden surge of power and instinct and involuntary bloodlust, if I had to add my personal observation. I doubt very much that any church would know how to help her... Meditation exercises? Prayer? Exorcism?
"Well, I don't know if they can really help you either, but I'm sure a little sparring will help clear your mind and strengthen your spirit. You can even turn your instincts into experience and skill"
That's probably true, but I have no idea if it will help or not, the truth is that I'm just talking nonsense in the hope that she'll agree.
Seeing her adorable appearance was restorative, but I doubt I'll get to see her pretty panties again today, it seems she doesn't want to be here any longer than necessary, she's still very tense... Even more tense after listening to me.
I watch as her ears twitch and she sniff the air a little... Oh damn, I forgot that some species can smell lies... Foxes are one of them? I don't remember. I'd better tell the truth, just in case.
"... Sparring? With you?"
"Yes, well... The truth is, I don't know if it will help you with your problem, but what I said makes sense, besides... I need to relieve some stress. A friendly sparring match doesn't hurt anyone, what do you say?”
"Mmm... It makes sense, but I don't really like to fight if I don't have to..."
“... I heard you were supposed to do some work? I could teach you a few tricks if you want"
"It's okay, she accepts." Nicole interrupts.
"What? I do!?"
"It sounded like an excuse, but what she said makes sense. It's not good to rely on your instincts alone, you should have some theoretical knowledge"
"Uh... but-"
"Especially after what you just did." Nicole says, making Seina close her mouth.
"... If that's what you want"
Looks like I'm going to have some fun after all~.