Queen's Blade Unlimited Story: Chapter 1-3(b)

For the poll about story and sexyness, "good deal of echi with okay enough story" won with 22v-45%, followed by "balanced mix of both" with 15v-31%. After that, there was "little ecchi here and there" with 6v-12%, and finally "strong story with no ecchi" and "lot of ecchi" with 3v-6% and 2v-4%.
Compared with the last time we asked, more than 3 years ago, the first 3 spots matched the current ones, with 30v-43%, 13v-18% and 11v-15%. The last 2 spots were reversed by a slight margin, with 8v-11% preferring "lot of ecchi" to 7v-10% preferring the "strong story".
Considering how many years have passed, I probably should have updated the series that served as an example of each option... but eh, chalk it up to me being lazy I guess :)

Next poll, we went ahead and asked about the new shota! (assuming enough people are following the story, since the OVA seems to be going the extra mile to hide him for whatever reason :p)

And continuing the story, Elina deciding what to do with Airi brings also the end of chapter 1-3, which is the end of volume 1 as well, basically the entirety of what the next OVA will cover~

Enjoy!

Next: before moving on with volume 2, let's bring back the XXX(?) to Queen's Blade?




Chapter 1: Elina’s Journey (Part 3)

The Victor’s Choice

“And the winner is: Elina!”
The angel boomed.
“Now, state your wish!”

[Right, I did say I’d think of something after I won. Guess it’s now or never.]
Elina’s mind raced. After that earlier stunt, she doubted Nanael would be all that keen to put this off a second time.

“I absolutely forbid you from absorbing anyone’s essence but my own.”
The Vance girl briefly straightened herself up, then announced her command, her chest puffed up with pride. Based on the earlier conclusions she’d reached in the bath regarding the wraith, the choice seemed sound enough; if the maid was too much trouble to have running around freely, then why not just keep her close-by instead? With Airi unable to draw essence at her leisure, manipulating her would be a snap.

The resulting drain wouldn’t even be much of an issue. Whatever essence Elina lost to Airi could just as easily be replenished with a single blow on Michel’s whistle after all.

“Well? Got a problem with that?”

Airi seemed flabbergasted by the wish. But then, it wasn’t as if the red head had much choice in the matter.

The winner’s order was an absolute and rejecting it meant having to battle the angel who’d officiated the match, in this case, Nanael. Say Airi were to somehow manage the improbable and win, then that would of course make Elina’s wish void, but were she to lose…? Then at best, the maid would find herself stripped of her beautiful fighter status. At worst? Possibly exorcised and sent packing back to her world on the spot.

Challenging an angel was always risky business, even under the best of conditions, but with how exhausted she’d likely be after their battle? There was no chance in hell she’d win.

“I… accept.”

Biting her lip, the wraith accepted Elina’s terms.

***

Naturally, having her essence consumption restricted was far from ideal, but, to Airi, the thought of losing her status as a beautiful fighter was far, far worse. She’d require it if she ever hoped to carry out her mistress’ orders after all.

[Elina has already made it quite clear she’ll be watching over the boy, so I can only assume she’ll be joining him on his mission. As such, agreeing to these conditions will not only mean staying true to the instructions my mistress gave me, but it will also mean avoiding needless risk to my beautiful fighter qualification as well. That aside, it’s not as if I won’t be allowed to absorb SOME essence, not to mention the wish becomes invalid the moment Elina dies.]

Thinking it through, this wasn’t so bad for Airi at all, perhaps a slight bit different from her original plan, yes, but...

“I… accept.”
“Good.”

The Vance girl grinned and put her weapon away.
“Welp, that’s about it for me! You’re not half-bad, rookie. I’ll have my eye on you!”
Having made sure that Airi agreed to the winner’s terms, the angel flew off.
“C’mere. You may have some essence.”
The wraith purred despite herself seeing the other girl sticking her hand out at her. The glow radiating off those fingers... the shine of Elina’s essence overflowing with life.
“Take some before I change my mind.”
Egged on by Elina, Airi knelt down for a taste.The evil spirit’s eyes swirled with energy and in a flash, her tattered maid uniform was made whole once again.
“Well then, Mistress, what are your orders?”
Airi politely bowed her head.
“Lift your chin.”
The red head did as instructed and without losing a beat, Elina put a collar around her neck. The chain dangling from it made a metallic ‘clink’ as it unfurled and reached to around Airi’s chest.
“A-And this would be…?”
“The mark of your subservience. Basically put, you’re my slave now.”
The maid’s fingertips briefly traced at the collar’s surface.
“Trying to take it off by force will only make it get tighter and the chain heavier, so I wouldn’t recommend that.”
“I… understood…”
Doing her best not to make the look of dejection on her face apparent, Airi pulled her hand away from it.
[If it acts the way she says it does, then I can only imagine she’s the only one with the means of releasing me from it too.]
With this on, freeing herself by killing Elina would no longer be an option.
“Now, allow me to give you your orders, but first, let me fill you in about our destination.”
The blonde took one long deep breath, held it for a moment, then spoke again.
“We’re heading for Maramaks.”
“Maramaks?”
“That’s right, we’ll be travelling with the goal of finding it and you’re coming with us.”
“But of course.”
“Though, before that… let’s go take another bath, I’m sweaty.”

***

The next morning.
Three travellers stood before the Sheldan main gates.
“Now then, try not to drop these.”
“W-Whaaaaat?!”
Airi faltered. Before her lay luggage, a staggering amount of it, far too much for one person to hope to carry in fact.
“Necessities for Michel and I on this journey. It’s only natural we have the attendant carry it.”
“U-uwaaah… Extra clothes, food… being human certainly is inconvenient, isn’t it.”
Being a wraith, the maid had no use for such things.
“Ah, I’ve an idea.”
“Alright, let’s hear it.”
“Why don’t you become a wraith, Lady Elina? You wouldn’t need any of this if that were case.”
“That’s a no, obviously. Keep your jokes down to that maid uniform of yours.”
Elina lightly bopped Airi on the head.
“Ouchie!”
*Giggle*, seeing that brought a laugh to Michel.

What might the future hold in store?
Will Elina ever find Leina?
Who truly is Michel?
What could Airi’s true purpose be?
Each traveller bound by their own motives, the trio’s travels for Maramaks begin now.

Chapter 1 END