The Corrupt Guildmaster, Moving to Rescue a Hostage
After finishing our meeting, Fiel and I headed straight for the industrial district in the city of Delta.
We continued down the street where the blacksmiths kept their workshops. Then we slipped into a back alley, toward an abandoned warehouse no longer in use. After checking several buildings, I spotted one with a silhouette visible through a window.
I knew immediately. This was the place where the woman was imprisoned in the original story.
We circled around to the back entrance, confirming there were no guards posted.
“Is your skill active?”
“No problem. It’s already in effect.”
A faint glow shone along Fiel’s neck. Proof that her skill, “Eisen Maiden,” was active. Once confirmed, I kicked the door open in one strong motion.
The men inside let out stupid sounds of surprise.
“Huh?”
“What the hell?”
“Did that Lizette brat already come back?”
In the center of the warehouse, three men sat in wooden chairs. Behind them, a woman was lying down.
“Fiel!! Can I trust you to handle them!?”
“This is an extension of the escort request!! Zilkein-dono, no need for you to interfere!!”
Fiel launched forward, springing off the floor and slashing sideways with her sword. Her blow struck the armor of the bald man head-on, sending him crashing into the wall. The other men scrambled to ready their weapons.
“W-what the hell are you!?”
“Do you know what kind of place this is!?”
“I don’t even need to use Eisen Maiden!!”
Fiel deflected the small man’s sword, then drove her hilt into his gut. He collapsed with a groan. The remaining man swung his sword down from behind, but Fiel avoided it with nothing more than a half-step lean.
Fiel glared at him sharply. The ax-holding man faltered under her killing intent.
“Y-you’re not an ordinary warrior, are you…?”
“I am Fiel Valencia, former Commander of the Fress Kingdom’s Knights Order! Remember it!!!”
She struck the man's neck with the sheath of her sword. With a dull thud, he flew back and lost consciousness.
… As expected of a former knight. She ended it in an instant.
I untied the ropes holding the captured girl. Zilkein performing the rescue that Aron originally did… never thought I’d see that.
“Are you alright?”
“Ugh… thank you…”
The girl coughed while sitting on the floor. I handed her my canteen, and she fearfully drank from it.
“One question. Your name?”
“Yuuri… Yuuri Sarandia.”
“Sarandia… meaning you’re the lord’s daughter?”
Yuuri nodded. Just as I thought. Raltos had taken the daughter of Lord Baltharus Sarandia hostage to control him.
“Zilkein-sama... seems your prediction was correct.”
“Yeah.”
Fiel let out a sigh of relief, but immediately her expression tightened as she looked around.
“However… for a hostage of this importance, isn’t the manpower rather lacking?”
“To avoid detection. Normally, no one would be able to reach this place this quickly.”
“Ha! As expected of Zilkein-dono—”
I stopped Fiel with a hand.
A murderous aura poured from behind me—intentionally directed so I would notice it.
Only one person I know can do that.
“... Seems someone has caught on to our movements.”
“We came here straight from the mansion! Who could possibly—”
Fiel turned around.
At the warehouse entrance stood a girl with short red hair, dressed in black, holding two large knives. Leaning against the wall, she let out a dry laugh.
“Ahh. So you already found her.”
“Black Lightning Lizette... that was fast.”
Lizette smirked. At first glance she looked like a battle maniac, but in truth she was a girl who longed for an ordinary life… knowing that from the original story made her bravado seem pitiful.
She continued acting tough despite what I knew.
“You guys came straight here like you already knew the place… How? Nobody was supposed to know about this hideout.”
“Sorry, but I see through everything Raltos comes up with.”
No point explaining original story knowledge. Better to appear superior.
Black Lightning, Lizette.
Originally a rival who would battle Aron repeatedly after this incident. Her ability: extreme acceleration rivaling a fully powered Aron. And her one-hit kill skill, “Southern Slash.”
… A strong enemy, but Fiel has the advantage. Lizette will use Southern Slash if her physical attacks fail, and that’s her opening.
(Fiel, assume Eisen Maiden will be broken if she uses her big move.)
(My Eisen Maiden...? She is that skilled?)
(Yeah. Survive the first strike no matter what and learn her movement. When she uses it again, I’ll tell you how to exploit its weakness.)
(... Understood. I entrust my life to you, Zilkein-dono.)
I patted Fiel’s shoulder. She would handle it.
Now…
I looked at Lizette. Time to lay groundwork to recruit her.
“Hey, Black Lightning.”
“What? Begging for your life?”
“How about a match?”
Lizette stared in disbelief. To her, it must have sounded insane.
But if the thing she secretly desired most were offered…
“What kind of match?”
“If Fiel wins... you become an adventurer belonging to my guild.”
“Hah? That makes no sense. I was raised in an assassination group. I’m not interested in some soft guild.”
Liar.
In the original story, she confessed: she never wanted to hurt anyone. She always wanted to run away. But fear ruled her. She believed no one would accept her.
Everyone who took her in only used her.
The Owl’s Talon, Raltos… and finally the cult that killed her.
She was always controlled, never free.
I would exploit that. Like with Bash.
Give her the words she craves.
If I could pull her in now, my guild would gain another powerhouse—after Aron and Fiel.
Yes, I would be using her too, but I just had to keep her fooled.
The match would set that up.
She was surprisingly honorable. If we made a deal, she would hold to it.
Zilkein’s guild would grow stronger.
“Zilkein-dono, what are you thinking?”
Fiel looked uneasy. I needed her trust as well.
“I can’t stand seeing someone with talent waste away. When this incident ends, what will happen to her? She’s too young to throw her life away.”
“Z-Zilkein-dono… you thought that far...”
Fiel’s eyes welled up.
Better push a little more.
“A Guildmaster’s job is to discover talent.”
“...!?”
Tears streamed down Fiel’s cheeks.
Damn. Said too many noble-sounding things.
“Hey, focus on the fight.”
Fiel wiped her tears and faced Lizette with a resolute expression.
“S-sorry... but I understand your heart. Watch me, Zilkein-dono. I will save that girl!!”
Good. Emotional, but motivated.
“What are you getting all worked up for? If you think you can handle me—”
“What you truly want... you’ll find it if you come with us, Lizette.”
Lizette’s smile vanished.
As expected, the original line was powerful.
This was the line Aron used to reconcile with her.
After that, she was killed by her cult companions…
But under Raltos’ control now, that fate could be avoided.
Lizette stared at me, assessing.
“Back at Raltos’ mansion, you noticed me watching. Why?”
“You were leaking killing intent everywhere. Hard not to notice.”
“Zilkein-dono, you could sense that...!? I didn’t notice anything...”
Fiel panicked.
Of course, that was a lie. I only knew thanks to the original.
Lizette narrowed her eyes.
“Heh. Fine. If I lose, I’ll do whatever you say.”
She accepted.
Good. Now Fiel just needed to win.
“But if she loses...”
Lizette kicked off the ground.
Black lightning arced around her.
“You’re going to die screaming!!!”
“She’s fast...! But I—won’t lose!!”
Assassin Lizette, the Black Lightning.
Former Knight Commander Fiel.
Their battle began──
What do you think about this chapter?
