Chapter 35 (2/2)

Her eyes were blazing.

“If I left it like this, wouldn’t I lose face?”

It was a self-serving excuse. Contrasting that, Ria held up two fingers.

“First, they meddled with me first. Second, knights don’t cut women.”

That was logical. However, logic didn’t seem to work in this town.

No one tried to stop it. Rather, they just cheered it on. Carlos and Gig shared a glance at each other, but neither wanted to fight a young girl.

“What is important here in this town is face and strength. Leave out the whining, are we gonna fight?”

Ria looked around as she turned in a circle. Her eyes spoke it all. They were sparkling brilliantly.

She genuinely enjoyed this obligation.

On the other hand, Carlos and Gig could do nothing but nod.

“Alright. I’ll be your opponent.”

A little girl being her opponent was unexpected.

“You? If an Ojou-chan is going to be my opponent, my name as the [Crimson Swordmage] s.h.i.+zuna will trash through the dirt.”

“I don’t care.”

Towards the other person who introduced herself with two names, Ria stepped up briskly. s.h.i.+zuna seemed unnerved by her casual movements.

Next thing she realized, she was within punching range.

Ria let out a fist. s.h.i.+zuna brushed away the hand blocking her sight as it came closer.

Letting her hand be forced away, Ria rotated.

“Uah!”

Bringing her movement to the extreme, s.h.i.+zuna immediately dropped herself down to dodge.

Ria looked down at s.h.i.+zuna, who was now standing from her knees. Seeing the smile spread across her face, blood rushed to s.h.i.+zuna’s head.

“Bring it on. Don’t hold back.”

Seeing how easily she went down like that, she hadn’t regained any of her face. Moreover, her opponent ridiculed her.

That was s.h.i.+zuna’s misunderstanding.

Even among her comrades, only Carlos and Ria knew about it. About Ria’s bad habit.

Bringing down vigorous young people who misunderstand their own strength. People like that were abundant among Casalia Kingdom’s knights and soldiers.

In times like that, Ria gave a very good smile.

“It’s getting interesting.”

While Ria laughed more and more, they went outside of the guild. Lulu put a hand to her head and looked up at the sky.

A spectacle was beginning on the road in front of the guild.

s.h.i.+zuna drew her sword and stepped up. Tinged with a red light, it was a mithril magic sword.

“Nee-chan, that’s a good sword.”

Serge didn’t give any details. Defeating the level one hundred twenty-five Ogre King, and moreover getting stronger afterwards, he thought any other information would have been useless.

Besides, according to Identify, the sword’s ability should have no effect against Ria.

An audience was encircling the street, irresponsibly jeering the two on. However, no one gave Ria, who had just came to the town that day, a high appraisal.

As for s.h.i.+zuna, who held two names, she had often been made light of due to her youth and appearance.

Beating down each person who did that, or crossing swords with them, her name had been improved in this town.

But all of her opponents till now only looked like they possessed skill. The same age as her at best, her height was made fun of by a girl just like her, something like that shouldn’t have happened.

“Draw your blade.”

I’m fine without it, Ria seemed to say with her manner, but she’d thought it poor manners to fight her bare-handed.

She drew her katana. The well-maintained blade shone beautifully under the sunlight.

Curved swords were unusual, but her standing pose was a bit cool. s.h.i.+zuna’s face grew a bit cold.

“By the way, wielding weapons in a place filled with people like this, won’t we be arrested by the patrol?”

Though it was a bit late to ask, it was important.

“So long you don’t involve bystanders, even death is fine if both agree!”

A voice called out from the audience. Ria nodded with a smile.

There was no problem, then. She’d be able to entertain herself a lot.

“Come at me. I’ll play with you.”

s.h.i.+zuna’s face became dyed with indignation.

“Dieee!”

She suddenly rushed forward to strike with all her force.

Ria’s Nagasone Kotetsu parried the blow.

The two’s positions had changed.

“Come to thing of it, I haven’t introduced myself huh.”

Ria smiled. However, it wasn’t in mockery of her opponent.

“I am Ria. As for my other name…”

Still, it was a smile that enjoyed fighting.

“After defeating you, I’ll take a bit to think about it.”

<script>