After last time with Airi, what happens with the rest of the party?
Enjoy!
Chapter 3: Beautiful Fighters, Vanquished (Part 2)
Echidna’s Strike (1)
“She’s late.”
Elina grumbled under her breath. They were now a distance away from the port, in a corner of the wharf where many piers intersected. With the shade created by some upholstered tent and the cool breeze drafting there, it worked perfectly as a resting spot.
Several dumpling skewers could be seen at the garbage bin near her feet. The moment she had felt a bit hungry, she hadn’t hesitated to send the boy to fetch her some food, now that her actual maid was nowhere to be seen.
“Should I buy a few more?”
He was somewhat happy at having come across those half-soy sauce and half-bean paste dumplings. That unique taste one couldn’t find in the Continent had earned Elina’s appreciation.
“That should do it for today.”
She decided to quit while she was ahead; the taste might have been superb, but it didn’t help her weight any.
In fact, given that her stay at Hinomoto had provided her with all sorts of exotic dishes, she felt like she had put on a few kilos.
However, she felt no need to share her body issues; she’d rather her little secrets stay that way, thank you very much.
“Do you want me to go look for her?”
He stood up, after having spent the last while sitting at the pier watching the waves go to and fro.
“It’s okay, we can wait a bit more.”
“Huh? Weren’t you saying she’s late?”
“Compared to what I’m used to seeing from her, she is.”
Along those words, she stopped looking at the horizon to check her own hand: it was shaking a lot less at the moment. She hadn’t recovered yet from that long of a voyage, but she felt pretty good about herself by now.
[This place is just a relay point however, there’s still quite a bit of travelling to do before we can return to the Continent.
The thought always makes me anxious, but I can’t let Michel realize that.
Those who are rules shalt always be confident. Fail to do so, and your servants will fail prey to worries as well, making them commit all sorts of blunders.]
“Airi is quite strong herself, so I don’t suppose she’ll run into much trouble. But I’m not convinced it’s safe for a kid like you to wander on your own, Michel. Something could happen.”
“Something could happen? Like what?”
“A bad guy could whisk you away.”
The answer hadn’t come from Elina.
Both their eyes zeroed in on the newcomer who had just spoken.
And her most prominent feature happened to be the snake wrapped around her brown skin.
“Been a while… hasn’t it.”
The brown skin belonged to the wild elf, with the eye-catching snake wrapped around her crotch--as she always liked to go around flaunting.
“Echidna…”
Reflexively, Elina guarded the boy with her own body.
She felt a cold shiver running down her neck; danger approached. Funnily enough, her concerns about safety had just been proven founded.
“Do you have any business with me? I’m still searching for Sister Leina, you see, so if you have any new lead, I’m all ears.”
Elina might have sounded casual, but she was carefully studying the other. She had to do everything she could to avoid having a fight break out.
[Echidna is seriously powerful. Claudette might be able to pull off a win, but I’m still a bit seasick; I don’t have a prayer.]
A bit harsh, but her self-analysis didn’t lie.
“Actually I do, your Father knows all about it.”
“Won’t you tell me too?”
“Maybe, depending on the price…”
The mercenary licked her lips, her gaze fixed on the boy Elina was covering.
“How much are we talking about? I could pay you a pretty penny if you do have a serious lead on Sister Leina.”
“I’m not looking for money.”
“You’re not?”
“I’m the kind who prefers to build some good ol’ trust with my clients. Speaking of, I’m here because there’s something I wanted from you.”
Echidna smiled, her eyes never leaving him.
“I was wondering if you’d hand the boy over.”
“It’s a pity, but I don’t think I can.”
The Vance girl refused to give in to the pressure, and kept talking instead:
“You *have* to consider what he wants too.”
“I don’t care about that. What matters is: I want him.”
Echidna’s hand went to her snake sword.
And, the very next moment, the elf was already in front of Elina.
“Kuh!”
She quickly brought forth her long spear and took on the attack, protecting the boy.
A sharp metal sound echoed.
“D-Did you forget about Queen’s Blade…?”
If this was a Queen’s Blade fight, under the angels’ protection, the scales could be tipped a bit in her favor.
“Too bad, I’m not making this a Queen’s Blade match!”
The mercenary smiled, taunting her, as she pushed the other’s weapon away. The long spear shook visibly with the shove.
“Be a good girl and hand him over, or I’ll just beat you down and grab him myself.”
The smile had now left Echidna’s face. Not even Elina was able to face that terrifying expression without flinching, as momentarily as it might have been.
“Lady Elina!”
The boy’s voice brought her will to fight back.
[If I’m defeated here, other people will pay the price too.]
“Don’t interfere!”
Seeing how the kid was meaning to intervene, she hurried to stop him.
[This fight isn’t a Queen’s Blade match. With no angel making sure this is safe, you could get seriously hurt if you got in the way. Worst case scenario, you’d die.]
“Just stay put!”
“But…!”
“I believe I told you once: I’ll protect you.”
As if to prove her point, she unleashed a sharp kick at Echidna. The spear was not the only weapon she possessed.
“Ooh, good reflexes right there.”
The elf avoided the attack with a casual dodge, like she had been expecting it.
[It’s frustrating to admit this, but her abilities are miles above mine. She has quick reflexes, too. However, that doesn’t mean I’m fated to lose this; I do have a trump card. Which is, Airi coming back. It was Echidna herself who refused to make this a Queen’s Blade match, so it’ll be fair game if someone comes to help me.]
The most effective tactics she could follow right now was buying time.
After avoiding the kick, her foe put some distance between them, as if waiting for a suitable chance.
From an objective point of view, if one compared a snake sword with a long spear, the spear would come out on top in most cases. Just by mere virtue of their attack range, the spear allowed one to attack without putting the user in harm’s way.
It didn’t take a particularly deep look at her previous battles to see how her mastery of her customized spear made the most of that theory. By using the steel wire and its reeling mechanism fitted into her weapon, the Vance girl had kept Airi at bay and outmaneuvered Tomoe, fighting as she stayed in the range that benefited her the most.
“I don’t care much for that arrogant attitude of yours.”
Elina glared at her opponent.
***
A match that wasn’t part of Queen’s Blade.
Hearing those words had raised quite the stir among the people watching from a safe distance.
As for what they thought the outcome would be…
Normally, when a Queen’s Blade match broke outdoors, the streets would be abuzz with bets. Not in this case however, it would be foolish for anyone to take on the bet here. There was no onlooker there who didn’t know exactly how strong Echidna was.
***
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