“Oh, no…” Soulgros muttered.
With a final shove from Rast’s shield, she was sent flying through the trees. She skillfully adjusted her position mid-air, landing gracefully on her feet.
“Well, I didn’t expect to be sent this far. It’s not like I needed to come all the way out here, though…” she mused, glancing around.
Fortunately, the trees weren’t densely packed, so fighting here wouldn’t be too troublesome. Soulgros wasn’t particularly fond of combat like Leiss, she would have preferred to avoid a fight altogether.
“But I suppose that’s not going to happen, is it?” She sighed, hearing the heavy clanking of metal approaching.
It was likely Rast, pursuing her with his massive shield. Though Soulgros wasn’t a naturally combative person, she believed in facing challenges head-on.
“Oh, Master,” she exclaimed, sensing a presence and turning to see Master standing there with a smile.
She had hoped he would stay in the safer area, but if he had come to check on her out of concern, she couldn’t help but feel delighted.
“If Master is watching, I have to give it my all,” she said, clenching her fists with determination.
Soulgros, though not a combat specialist, was eager to impress. Just then, Rast emerged from the trees. He seemed surprised to see Master already there, but quickly shook it off.
“You were over there just a moment ago… Well, no matter. This makes it easier to deal with you all at once.”
“I’ve noticed something, Rast-dono. You seem awfully confident. You do realize we are from the dark guild, don’t you?” Soulgros replied, her tone challenging.
“Hmph. And why should that matter?” Rast sneered, dismissing her words.
Did she really think being part of a dark guild would mean he, a champion of justice, would falter?
Such a thing is impossible. Justice will never lose to evil, he reasoned. “Now, if you behave, I’ll make your death quick and painless.”
“Well, if Master is watching, I’ll have to decline that offer,” Soulgros replied, shaking her head.
It was a deal that could never be made. Rast knew Soulgros would never accept his terms. He wasn’t genuinely offering her a chance to surrender; as a champion of justice, he had to at least make a token effort at a peaceful resolution.
“Then it can’t be helped!” Rast shouted, charging forward with his shield raised.
“Such impatience…” Soulgros sighed, preparing for battle.
Rast charged at her with his shield, and Soulgros let out a small sigh. She was equally eager to finish this quickly. She slipped several kunai between her fingers and hurled them at the oncoming warrior.
“Ha! That won’t work on me!” Rast bellowed, taking cover behind his massive shield.
“Hmm…” Soulgros muttered.
The kunai, capable of piercing soft iron, couldn’t penetrate Rast’s shield. It remained unscathed.
“Oh!” Rast exclaimed.
“Whoa…” Soulgros gasped, dodging nimbly.
Rast had closed the distance and swung his shield at her. It transformed from a defensive tool into a brutal bludgeon in an instant. Soulgros deftly evaded the attack, knowing it would be disastrous to get hit.
“Damn! You’re quick, aren’t you?”
“Ha! Even I can’t afford to take a hit from that,” Soulgros said, chuckling.
Rast, though annoyed, wore a confident smirk. He believed he had the upper hand. Soulgros, on the other hand, scratched her head and sighed.
Of course, even if he hit her with that shield, she wouldn’t die.
She’s not particularly good at taking hits. If she doesn’t avoid them well, her secret will be exposed.
“Now, it’s my turn,” she declared.
Soulgros drew her short sword and dashed toward Rast with such speed that she seemed to vanish. Her attack was quick enough to slice through an ordinary adventurer’s neck without them even realizing it. Rast, however, reacted just in time, blocking the gleaming blade with his massive shield.
“Guh?!” Rast grunted, struggling to withstand the force behind her strike.
Unlike their previous encounter, this attack carried significant power. Rast, who had intended to knock her back again, quickly realized he couldn’t. Instead, he drew a thin sword from his shield and slashed at Soulgros, aiming to make her lose balance by slightly loosening the pressure on his shield.
“Hmph!” Soulgros exclaimed, deftly parrying the sword with another kunai.
The two were now locked in a stalemate, pressing against each other with all their might, glaring into each other’s eyes from close range.
“With such strength, why do you ally yourself with an evil dark guild?!” Rast demanded.
“Hm?” Soulgros was taken aback by Rast’s sudden question. She had assumed he despised her, so his words caught her off guard.
“As long as vile entities like Heinichen the Steel Matriarch and other dark guilds run rampant, the suffering of the people will never end! Even the knights, who are supposed to protect the people, cower in fear and refuse to fight the dark guilds!” Rast’s voice was filled with anger and frustration as his face twisted with regret.
“Oh…” Soulgros responded, unable to provide anything more than a vague reply to his sudden outpouring of emotions.
“That’s why I’ve decided to fight against evil, against the dark guilds! I joined Praeshield to stand for justice!” Rast declared passionately.
“I see…”
Rast’s eyes gleamed with intensity. He was undeniably a commendable man who had honed his skills to crush evil. His ideals were ones that many would agree with. However, his words did not reach Soulgros at all. In fact, she was only half-listening.
“This is your final warning. Surrender quietly. With your strength, you can serve justice instead of being killed. Join us and fight against the vile dark guilds.”
“I refuse,” Soulgros replied instantly, her voice cutting through Rast’s words.
There was no room for negotiation.
“My allegiance lies solely with Master, the one and only in this world. Besides, this power was given to me by Master,” Soulgros declared, her eyes growing cold and murky.
Although not as fanatical as Anat, Soulgros’s devotion to Master was still intense. This unwavering loyalty had been present since the day she first met Master on that vast plain.
“I see… That’s a shame!”
“Oh no…” Soulgros muttered as Rast pushed forward with all his might, shield and sword aimed to crush her.
Realizing the danger, she gracefully leaped into the air, landing a short distance away.
“It can’t be helped… Truly, it can’t be helped…” Rast mumbled to himself, his voice filled with a strange resolve.
“There’s something off about you,” Soulgros said, tilting her head in confusion.
“It really can’t be helped!” Rast screamed, his face contorted into a ghastly smile.
Soulgros was startled by the abnormal look in his eyes, which were now a murky reflection of his fanatical belief in justice. It was reminiscent of the fervent devotion of the Church of Angels’ followers or the members of Yerkchira toward Master.
“What?” Soulgros gasped.
Ignoring her, Rast dashed toward Master, who was calmly watching the battle with a serene smile.
“You’re a tough opponent, so I’ll deal with you later! First, I’ll take care of this precious man of yours!” Rast shouted, raising his sword.
Rast’s sinister grin widened as he prepared to strike. Soulgros, who had landed far away from their initial clash, couldn’t react in time to his sudden movement.
“A man who speaks of justice resorts to such cowardly tactics…” Soulgros muttered, her voice laced with anger.
But Rast had anticipated this. As expected, Soulgros intercepted him, placing herself between Rast and Master.
“I knew you’d do that!” Rast exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with triumph.
Rast’s true target was not Master, whose abilities were still unclear, but the dangerous Soulgros. She moved to block the attack, her primary concern being Master’s safety. This hesitation cost her, and Rast’s sword severed her arm in a swift motion.
Soulgros’s arm flew through the air, a grim testament to Rast’s calculated strategy.