Chapter 81: A little…training and a little more~

“Hehe, although I really want you two to leave…it seems you were a bit insolent to me just now, weren’t you?”

Ileya spoke as she revealed a rather bright and gentle smile.

If an unaware person saw this moment, they would definitely think, “This Pearl of the Eastern County is absolutely no less than any princess.”

But only an unaware person.

“After all, the rumors about me outside are that I’m vindictive to the extreme~ If I let you off just like that, my persona would collapse~”

“Ugh…aahh!!”

Huff…

At the instant her words fell, the black-armored giant Insmouth took a slow step forward, a hoarse, low roar emanating from beneath his giant axe-shaped helmet…

Bena and Reliel instinctively stepped back.

The black-armored giant Insmouth before them didn’t have the sharpness that Amisa’s blade possessed, slicing through flesh like a knife, but instead exuded a decayed and ferocious aura.

This seemingly irrational brute appeared to be even more dangerous than the assassin maid.

“…”

For the first time, Bena felt her own mouth was somewhat troublesome…

From Aminos, although she was truly fearless, being fearless was one thing…stupidity was another.

It was her first time meeting Ileya, but the title of the “Bloodblossom Demon” was thunderously famous.

Not to mention anything else, just the status of “Eldest Daughter of the Marquis” alone was not something their mercenary group could afford to offend.

Especially within this Crystal Capital, offending such a person would be an extremely unwise choice.

“Well…it was indeed my fault just now, but I had no other meaning… it was purely—”

Bena’s words were cut off midway as Ileya raised her hand to interrupt.

“I don’t want your apologies. Your dignity means nothing to me~”

Her chin lifted slightly, her red eyes fixed on the two in front of her.

Though she had a loli’s figure and her hands were on her hips as she puffed out her chest—an appearance that should be cute…

Yet for some reason, whether it was the taller Bena or the slightly shorter Reliel, both could feel an overwhelming sense of oppression and condescension emanating from this “cute” girl.

“Eh! How about this~ I saw you two throwing hands earlier and it made me a bit eager to try as well… Why don’t we spar? If you can beat me…I’ll let you go~”

The young lady spoke, her crimson eyes slowly shifting toward the mute girl frowning behind Bena.

The challenge was unmistakably provocative.

Ha…huh?

Has this young lady gone stupid from staying too long in the castle?

A noble lady challenging professional mercenaries?

This was truly the first time Bena had heard of such a thing.

“Uh…then I guess I’ll—”

Before Bena could finish, her voice was interrupted once again.

Eh?

Bena froze again and looked toward the figure of Reliel as she passed by.

When did the mute become so proactive!?

“Hey! Wait, be careful not to hit too hard…”

As the other stepped forward, Bena grabbed the mute girl’s sleeve.

Reliel turned her head and gave a look that seemed to say, “You have the nerve to tell me that?”

With a bit of helplessness, Bena could only let go and watch Reliel stand before Ileya.

At this moment, the somewhat rough mercenary girl suddenly noticed…

These two standing together somehow looked…oddly harmonious?

Uh…their facial features, for some reason, looked somewhat alike?

“Miss…please be careful.”

Behind Ileya, Amisa softly warned.

“Just now, I only used sixty percent of my strength to test the opponent, but the blow to my arm caused no effect. The other party is no ordinary person.”

“Heh~ just trash.”

Ileya chuckled lightly and stepped forward slowly.

At this moment, the scene from the illusion seemed to truly unfold.

Only…the location was no longer the Marquis’s Castle, and the Transcendent wasn’t Reliel.

Huff…swish!!

Without any preamble, the silent blonde girl drew her Fine Sword from her waist, her figure transforming into a silver streak!

The sword shadow, like a meteor chasing the moon, carved a semicircular arc in the air… triking down straight toward Ileya’s head!

“Eh!?”

Bena cried out in panic, telling her to hold back…why was she attacking with full force?!

Does she really want to offend the Marquis’s mansion to death?

She herself wasn’t afraid, but what about the others in the group…

Kya!

Yet the imagined scene of the young lady panicking and blood splattering did not appear…

Because the next second, Ileya raised her right hand…

Crack, crack, crack.

Her right hand, at some point, was no longer slender but transformed into something like the claw of a beast, huge enough to easily grip an adult’s head…

Her black nails were long and sharp, seemingly able to tear through iron armor with ease…

At this moment…

The mute girl’s Fine Sword was directly gripped in this “claw.”

The blade could not break through the bones of the palm…

Blood flowed, staining Ileya’s black sleeve dark red, but there was no hint of pain on the young lady’s face.

Instead…she was still smiling faintly.

“?!”

Reliel clearly did not expect this.

She tried to draw her sword back and retreat, but despite her full strength, she couldn’t pull the Fine Sword free from Ileya’s grasp!

Abandoning her weapon meant certain defeat.

The only choice now was…

A cold light flashed in Reliel’s eyes.

Her mercenary career since childhood had honed her exceptional combat instincts, letting her without hesitation choose to step aside—and deliver a kick!

Huff!

The strike was fast, precise, and ruthless!

Aimed directly at Ileya’s fair jaw!

Crack!

But…she missed.

Because just as her foot was about to hit Ileya, the latter’s neck bent at a strange angle…

A normal person would have snapped their neck at such a posture…

What kind of monster was this young lady?!

No…not a monster, but…

Huff…before everyone’s astonishment could settle, a pitch-black, head-shaped shadow appeared on Ileya’s fair neck!

At the same time, an inaudible Soul Scream erupted!

A Transcendent!?

The Soul Scream, affecting the soul, made all the onlookers clutch their heads in pain…

“!!”

Reliel, who was closest, was stunned for a moment, her entire body stiffening.

At this moment, Ileya directly surged forward.

Crack!

The dark shadow dissipated, the neck returned to normal…

Simultaneously, her other hand gripped Reliel’s fair neck!

Thud!

With a sound, she forced her down to the ground…

Plop.

The silver Fine Sword slipped from the silent girl’s hand onto the floor.

In just ten seconds…the battle was decided.

I lost?

Reliel’s head still throbbed from the Soul Scream, but she finally began to recover…

Her swordsmanship had been taught by her father since childhood, honed through countless life-and-death battles…

Fast, precise, ruthless—their motto.

Her strength ranked among the top five in the Hunter Blade Mercenary Group.

But today…she was easily defeated, without even a chance to fully display her sword skills…defeated by someone whose combat skills were quite raw.

For a moment, Reliel felt confused.

Is this the Transcendent?

The strange power ordinary people can never surpass no matter how hard they try…

“Do you feel it?”

Before Reliel’s thoughts settled, she felt something icy and cold brush across her face…

As her eyes cleared, she realized the young lady was somehow gently touching her face.

“The difference between us…”

“…”

Reliel said nothing, just pursed her lips and slowly closed her eyes.

Since she had lost, no matter what the other wanted to do—kill or flay—she could only submit.

Simply outmatched…

But…the next second, the hand that had just been stroking her cheek slowly moved down!

Softly tracing her slender neck and fair collarbone, until it pressed on a place that must not be mentioned~

“?!”

Before the mute girl could react…

The young lady began fulfilling her duty as an elder sister~

“Hmm…? Hmm! Looks like big sister is still the biggest~ Eh ya ya…Have you not been eating well all these years?”