121 Great Trading Alliance (1/2)
Swish, Swish, Swish, Swish, Swish!!
A Rainy evening. The moon was hidden behind clouds and the sound of rain was audible from the outside.
Two elves are sitting on a sofa in a room at the Mitsugoshi Company.
”Alphsama, the circulation of the banknotes of the Great Trading Alliance is this way. It has been increasing since the beginning of its publication, affecting the Kingdom's economy as well.”
The elf with indigo hair and deep blue eyes – Gamma – shows a graph drawn on paper while talking.
”That's dangerous...”
The elf with platinum blonde hair, Alpha, muttered with a grim face. Her beautiful hair shines by the light of the fireplace.
”I expect that in less than half a year, sustaining it will become impossible.”
”So it seems...a troublesome opponent. They're the enemies of the Mitsugoshi Company, not of Shadow Garden.”
”Yes. Because the connection between the Mitsugoshi Company and Shadow Garden cannot become public knowledge.”
”I cannot permit anything flashy. I don't want just simply to crush it; however, Delta will not understand, right?...”
”That dog should only be let loose against bandits.”
”Think a bit more on how to move about this.”
”Seems impossible. Only he can attach a collar and hold it tight.”
Alpha sighed and rearranged her legs.
”It will take six months at the latest until the Great Trading Alliance collapses. Naturally, they should've also understood the danger. The trap simply being set...”
”Yes. Including the subsequent response――”
At that time, the door of the room was knocked.
”Enter.”
”Excuse me.”
A girl with dark brown hair, Nyu, came in.
”I'm sorry for interrupting your conversation. There is an intruder.”
”Ara...The trap is sprung.”
”I believe a proper greeting is in order. Please leave it to me.”
Gamma stood up from the sofa with a confident face.
”Well, that's fine, but... you?”
”Yes. I'll show you what I can do. Nyu, let's go.”
”Ha.”
Alpha felt uneasy as she saw off the two, who bowed and left.
”Since Nyu is also with her, it should be okay, right?...”
She said, trying to convince herself.
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
A man in black runs through a dark corridor. The small footsteps are drowned out by the sound of the rain outside.
The keen and agile man is the chief of the 『Four Leaves(Yotsuba)』, a master magic swordsman called 『First Leaf(Ichiyou)』.
He invaded the Mitsugoshi Company with 『Second Leaf(Futaba)』and 『Third Leaf(Mitsuba)』. His job as the 『First Leaf』 is the recovery of confidential doc.u.ments alone. The 『Second Leaf』, along with several subordinates, is to take on the role of saboteurs, while the 『Third Leaf』 is to loot and kidnap key personnel.
『First Leaf』, who advanced to the depths of the Company, noticed the shadow of a person walking ahead and stopped his feet.
Walking through the dark corridor is a beautiful elf with indigo hair. The President of the Mitsugoshi Company.
'The person in charge of kidnapping is the『Third Leaf』, but– oh well.'
『First Leaf』 chose to stun and collect her.
His movement was fast.
In the darkness, approaching behind the target without making a sound, he struck her neck with a chop with his hand.
”Ouch!”
”Eh?”
*Glares* She looks back.
『First Leaf』 hurriedly took his distance. She should've lost consciousness after being taken by complete surprise.
”How embarra.s.sing. It's pretty easy to take me by surprise.”
She puts on a fearless smile while rubbing her neck. Although while saying that it hurts, she seems perfectly fine.
”Since you have come all this way, we'll receive you with the greatest welcome. I am Gamma; the one who will reap your life!!”
Gamma announced while making a jet-black sword appear.
And then strengthened her body, and closed the distance between her and 『First Leaf』 within a single breath.
'Fast!!'
Her movements were simple and straightforward, but fast.
However, 『First Leaf』 has seen through it with just that much movement.
'This woman–is just a fast amateur!!'
Gamma's movements are noisily wasteful.
”Swish!!”
With every breath, Gamma would swing her sword.
Her movements are wasteful and put in an excessive amount of force.
'But she's needlessly fast, and above all – this ridiculous amount of magical power!?'
No matter how fast, you can match the counter if the motion is big enough. However, Gamma's sword holds enough magical power to blow away several magic swordsmen altogether.
'If you touch it, you die.'
'Besides, it is actually hard to read her movements. Even if the motions of her swings are large, her pattern is random, just like an amateur's.'
『First Leaf』 has already avoided Gamma's sword to an impressive extent.
”Trying to avoid my sword? It is an elegant movement, the 『Lichten Lower-style』 western swordsmanship, is it?”
”What!?”
'She saw through it!?'
An astounding observing eye, to have seen through him with only a glance.
'But this calm amateur, it was probably an accident, right?'
”It is easy to respond if the school is known. Let's go.”
”!!”
『First Leaf』 raised his caution.
”Swish!!”
While making that sound, Gamma cuts in deep.
Stepping forward with tremendous speed.
But it's easy to see because it's sloppy.
And from there, a blow that hid tremendous power was sent out.
”!?”
If one were to describe the blow in a few words, it would be that there was no change!?
Although she saw through his style, her style has not changed at all!
『First Leaf』 had aimed to cut off Gamma's neck with a reflexive movement that is ingrained in his body.
However.
”Ouch!”