Chapter 2: Elina Assault
The Free City of Sheldan.
Taking its name from the fact that it was located at a strategic point of traffic halfway between the Vance Earldom in the west and the free city union in the north, it was known throughout the whole Continent as the city with an arena dedicated to Queen’s Blade.
At the city center, in one section of the exclusive residential area crowded with aristocrats’ houses, an emblem flag decorated with a white tiger was waving. It was a flag mark showing that someone from the Vance family was staying.
In one corner of the mansion bearing that flag, a maid with blue hair sighed. Her name was Irma. An excellent cleaning lady, which was only the façade of the one renowned in the underworld as the Assassin of Fang.
Using her position, she had infiltrated the Earl mansion to carry out her mission of assassinating him, and everything was going swimmingly, but…
“I couldn’t have possibly predicted I’d be appointed as personal attendant working under the guards.”
Irma muttered dejectedly, after making sure no one was around to hear.
Elina, her current mistress, had been invited as an influential person in Sheldan and had gone to watch the preliminary at the arena. Which meant, she could probably relax for a while.
Irma closed her eyes, and recalled her situation so far.
In order to bring back Leina, the next heiress, the Earl Vance had dispatched his youngest daughter, the Captain of the Royal Guard Elina.
For guards and knights to operate beyond the border, they had to make arrangements with the local rulers beforehand. After all, cross-border activity without prior notice was normally recognized as military action, so they would risk creating regional conflicts that would lead the Queen to intervene.
Therefore, the Earl Vance side, those at the top of the forces opposing the Queen, couldn’t very well give her an opening. So as to pretend that Elina’s actions were merely a pleasure trip, it had been decided the minimal amount of attendants would go with her. That way, the Queen wouldn’t be able to judge this as military action. In case she actually did judge it so, they’d be able to use it against her.
“They have thought this through,” Irma thought.
Maids working in the Earl castle numbered among the several thousand if one included the lower classes. Assuming Leina’s capture mission became a long-term one, they wouldn’t take away a veteran maid working there for a long period of time. So, what they were looking for as criteria for the personal attendant to accompany Elina was someone whose age was close to hers and who had been working there for not too long; Irma fulfilled both conditions to the letter.
At that point, the first mission the Assassin of Fang had been given was a failure. However, she hadn’t been found out, so she was still able to resume it when she had the chance. Especially, since she had received no orders to cancel the mission from the requester.
Since the circumstances called for her to act away from the Earl territory, she had decided to fulfill another mission.
The only fear of the current Queen was the Master Swordswoman Maria, whom the warrior boasting of an undefeated legend, Echidna, had acknowledged as a friend. Regrettably, she had fallen ill without being able to participate in Queen’s Blade, but it was said that before she left this world, her two daughters had inherited the Master Swordswoman’s technique. Obtaining that special move was her second mission.
She believed she would be able to see Elina fighting if she stuck by her side as a maid, but such opportunities didn’t come as easily as she had originally thought. No idiot would attack a carriage displaying Vance’s coat of arms, and even if it came to a situation that could turn into a battle, Elina's way with words would sap her opponents of their fighting spirit, so in many cases she won without even fighting.
If she didn’t manage to witness or find out about that special move by the time Elina’s mission ended and they returned to the Earldom, she should concentrate on her first duty.
The eyes of the assassins of Fang were present all over the Continent; if she used them, there would be no trouble getting information about Leina’s current location. However, she wouldn’t be able to relay that information to Elina so easily: though certainly lacking in some ways, she still was the Captain of the Royal Guard, in charge of the espionage activities in the Earldom. She’d be sure to check the source of the information, and discover her secret identity not long after. And she’d be at a disadvantage if she fought her before finding out about her special moves.
“This means, I have to make Milady Elina fight a preliminary somehow.”
Irma produced a crystal ball from her bosom. In it, the image of a goddess with two swords crossing by her chest was flickering. Only the crystal balls assigned to the participants worthy of fighting in Queen’s Blade were able to materialize the goddess of swords, symbol of Queen’s Blade.
Elina never knew that Irma had her own crystal ball. Her true identity was written down in it, so she couldn’t afford to let her see. Hence why Elina has lent her own crystal ball to Irma to monitor and check for Leinas matches while she’s preoccupied.
Whispering in the magical language of the crystal ball, Irma began collecting information.
“Anyone connected to Leina, staying at Sheldan and being a Queen’s Blade participant…”
She used the crystal ball to search for people and advance her goal. Normally, only the persons concerned could see their battle records during the preliminary period. Irma had been gifted the ability to do that by her employer.
The crystal ball showed the person Irma wished for. Her body is completely covered in a scarlet hakama and pure white upper garments. It was the figure of the Warrior Priestess hailing from the island nation of Hinomoto, towards the east. The very one who had lost to Echidna, turned out to hold a clue to Leina.
“This is a surprising revelation.”
Whispering the magic language again, she put away the ball in her bosom. Now she only needed to spark Elina’s motivation. Rhetoric wasn’t her forte, but she couldn't come up with a better solution.
***
“Sigh~, so, so boring.”
She stretched long her left arm, covered with dull, shiny metal armor, as if to grasp the sun. The fingertips were equipped with deadly iron claws, which really contributed to the aggressive impression she gave off along with the costume using the white tiger as a motif.
Since it was the preliminary period, the warriors who had decided to participate in Queen’s Blade had to be ready to fight, wherever it may be. Elina was no exception to that rule. Even if it was an invitation by the influential people at the city, it was the proper course to wear war attire rather than a gorgeous dress; no one would think that irreverent.
“What a salty battle. This wouldn't even do for a festival's sideshow."
No one being around to listen meant she could hold nothing back. Her gaze rested on the seats full of common customers, a long shot from her special seat overlooking the arena.
As for the local influential people who had invited her, as soon as Elina expressed her intention of watching it alone, they bent backwards for her. Thanks to that, she could behave selfishly, with no need for formal greetings and meaningless chatter. Besides, Irma wasn’t there either, so she didn’t need to keep up appearances.
She had Irma checking if her Big Sis was fighting somewhere else, using her crystal ball issued by the Queen’s Blade. During the preliminary season, the broadcast played a huge number of matches. While it was impossible for a normal person to see it all, if she was lucky she’d be able to obtain a clue.
“Big Sis, are you really here?”
Anxious, she stuffed her mouth with a sausage. When she rested her body on the special seat’s chair, her eyes followed the audience’s line of sight, all the way to the preliminary’s arena. She could see there the Warrior Priestess, the very same who had once shed tears of humiliation despite being in front of a whole audience, now hell-bent on wielding her sword.
“It’s not pretty.”
As if possessed by something, the priestess continued unleashing attacks successively. In that state, there was no beauty to her form, nor sharpness to her skills.
“Ya~awn.”
Elina felt sleepy watching the monotonous fight, and with a big yawn, reached for the sausage placed on the table.
***
“Winner, the Warrior Priestess Tomoe!”
Hearing the declaration from the umpire image, she slowly put her sword away. Despite winning, she felt no joy. Her enthusiasm to fight hadn’t cooled down, either.
[Simply put, I’ve become afraid to lose. That’s why I was swinging the sword furiously.]
Tomoe was ashamed of her current way to fight, more suited to the savages she had always dismissed, but couldn’t get out of her rut.
“I’m leaving.”
She spoke to the umpire, and left the arena.
***
“I wish to talk to you, Milady.”
Irma waited until dinner was finished to talk to Elina.
“Oh my? It’s rare for you to want to talk. Is it important?”
“Yes, it is very important.”
“Did you find my Sister in the crystal ball?”
“No, unfortunately, I couldn’t. But, it’s still important.”
“Go on.”
She pressed Irma to speak, with a tone showcasing her dignity as the Captain of the Royal Guard.
“I obtained a clue about Lady Leina’s whereabouts.”
“The whereabouts of Big Sis?”
When she heard the maid’s words, Elina couldn’t help forgetting about the dignity she was minding, and called her sister “Big Sis.” Though she hurried to cover her mouth, the words were already out.
“I know how much you adore Lady Leina, Lady Elina. And, you don’t need to keep up the appearances when I’m around. I’m your personal attendant, my attitude won’t change no matter what.”
“Thanks, Irma.”
A big weight off her mind, Elina relaxed her shoulders.
“Still, fulfill our master-slave relationship without fail.”
“Certainly.”
“So, what about that clue?”
The tone of Elina’s question was now as if she was speaking to a friend of the same age. It didn't carry the dignity of a cool-headed captain anymore.
“Someone who fought Lady Leina is staying at Sheldan.”
“Risty?”
“No, it seems the Bandit of the Wilderness returned to her own territory after her preliminary with Tomoe.”
“Well then, Echidna?”
“I can’t grasp her whereabouts. I’m sure she’s staying in this town, but…”
“In that case… who?”
As if wanting to say: "some girl I don’t know couldn’t possibly have fought Leina," Elina waited for the maid’s reply.
“There was a record of the Warrior Priestess Tomoe fighting Lady Leina. She might know about her current whereabouts.”
“I see…”
Elina crossed her arms with a thoughtful expression. The fact that she hadn’t shot it down immediately meant she was considering Irma’s suggestion.
“I hear the Warrior Priestesses from Hinomoto have high pride. I don’t think she’ll just answer if I ask her normally…”
Irma wasted no time going to the chase.
“Why not challenge her to a preliminary?”
Elina’s eyebrows twitched.
“To be honest, I’m reluctant.”
[Did I fail? I might have been too hasty there.]
“But, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to fight on my own sometimes. If I’m to capture my Sister, I have to test my weapon.”
Irma heaved a sigh of relief, hearing the unexpected follow-up.
“Now that it’s settled, let’s strike while the iron is hot.”
The Vance girl stood up with a clatter.
“Milady?”
“Let’s go slam that challenge at Tomoe. Prepare the carriage!”
“It’s already night time. It can wait until tomorrow.”
Elina shook her finger, *tut-tut-tut*:
“I don’t think you know me yet, Irma.”
She said flatly, staring into the maid’s face.
“I do hate to be kept waiting.”
***
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