Chapter 214 - 214. The Black-Clad Group and Revente's Confrontation
The setting sun cast a crimson glow over the stone-paved road, as if foreshadowing the outcome of the battle to come. A bead of sweat trickled down my back. Aira joined Cecily in the rear guard, gripping her mace as she stood beside me. That made six against six, but the enemy wouldn't let their guard down now. The three frontline enemies, who had been trying to close the distance, took a step back, watching our movements cautiously.
"Why are you here?"
I whispered to Aira, holding my blade in a warning stance toward the enemy.
“The Wandering People arrived today, so it’s curry for dinner,” she replied.
Someone must have told them.
"I see. Sorry to cut the pre-meal workout short, but we should escape—look for an opening."
"Escape?"
Aira glanced behind us. Following her gaze, I saw Patricia peering at us from the shadows of a building. There wasn't just one figure—Shizuka, and even Lini with her rabbit ears, were there. The escape option was gone. I scanned the surroundings, noticing other figures watching us from afar. I had sworn not to fight in the city during this morning’s Four Families Meeting, but one of the people I made that oath with stood before me, assuming a stance with his sword.
"Hey, we don't want to fight in the city. How about somewhere else?"
"Where?"
"How about Ichijouji Downhill Pine?"
"That doesn't exist in this world!"
The black-clad pair split, and a lightly armored man approached from the front. At the same time, Marianne's white blade flashed. It passed close to the lightly armored man’s throat as promised, but he fell backward, evading the attack.
"Reading your swordsmanship, parrying is child's play!"
The man yelled.
"That was just a warning," Marianne snapped, shifting her stance to upper guard and re-gripping her blade with both hands. She was preparing her signature technique. The man raised his sword from lower guard before she could finish. Marianne met the strike with her blade, and the sound of swords clashing echoed. From there, a fierce exchange of blows began.
Marianne fought the lightly armored man at the front, while Aira and I covered the black-clad pair trying to flank us.
"Aira, handle the right one!"
I ordered.
She nodded slightly, understanding.
"Those black-clad figures are definitely transfer students. Don't underestimate them even if you sense an opening."
"Understood."
"Use your Special Skill!"
"Mash, stop telling me what to do!"
She cut me off, her voice sharp. Maybe I was just overthinking things out of nerves. I took a deep breath and steadied myself as the black-clad figures approached. Then, a soft light enveloped us. Maira had cast a protective blessing from behind. Maira was standing behind us, mace at the ready, protecting Cecily and Marmy. The two of them were preparing spells.
"Fire Magic, Fireball!"
At Cecily's shout, a fireball soared overhead toward the enemy’s backline. In the meantime, the black-clad girl swiftly closed the distance, using the stone walls of the buildings to vault over me. A sword, raised high, came crashing down. I shifted to avoid her strike and met the attack. The heavy strike was fueled by her full strength. She landed gracefully and swung low to attack my legs. I dodged, creating distance.
A throwing blade came flying at me from the other black-clad figure. Their shadows blurred as they circled us, probing for openings. Their movements were as swift as the wind, unpredictable. It was as if intangible phantoms surrounded us, making it impossible to anticipate their next attack.
"I'll protect you," Aira muttered quietly. She took a long breath, her lungs expanding against my back. I focused my own breathing, preparing to strike.
"She's yours."
The discussion was interrupted by Shizuka, who suddenly stepped forward, pointing at the two black-clad figures.
"A-A-Ah! U-Um…"
"What is it? Do you know them?"
I was surprised that Shizuka and I had a common acquaintance.
"Acquaintances, no, but… idol group four-way*!"
"Wrong! Only one syllable matches! We're Glim Eye!"
They nodded sheepishly. I remembered the idol duo from my old world. They had sung the theme song to an anime, and I had watched many of their videos online. They were a popular idol duo who were making a name for themselves.
"That's right. Soji liked Rinko especially and always made me cosplay as Rinko before we had sex."
Shizuka crossed her arms, reminiscing with a smug expression. Rinko was the slender one.
"Hey, can you stop saying weird things!"
"Which woman is your partner then? Are you teacher and student?"
Airi cut in, ignoring Rinko's protest.
"Nah, that embarrassing woman is a total stranger. My partner is someone else."
"Who are you calling an embarrassing woman! I was thinking of letting you cosplay as either Rinko or Airi, depending on your preference, you know, for our next 'session'!"
Shizuka shouted. I compared their faces again. Now that I saw them up close, they were even more beautiful than I thought. Maybe because I was so jaded in my old world, or maybe because I preferred to keep to myself, but I never really took up any interest in respects.
"Stop looking at me with such perverted eyes!"
Rinko shoved my face away.
"Mash, this is all very interesting, but isn't there something more important happening right now?"
Maira scowled, approaching us.
"These have raised their blades against Mash, Racshell-sama’s messenger, and my family and House Starunion."
Marianne sheathed her sword. The man tried to pick up his dropped sword, but she stepped on it, preventing him from doing so. She had no intention of forgiving them. I recalled that I had crossed swords with them as well.
"That's right. What was your goal when you attacked us?"
"...We summoned Racshell at Crystal Garden, right? To put it simply, we wanted to know your capabilities."
Airi replied.
"So? What if you did?"
"We were summoned by a goddess named Luche."
Her words widened my eyes. One of the five goddesses among the Fifty Gods. Racshell, Lishar, Luche, Renren, and Ronron. They had been summoned by one of them. Those who were summoned by the five goddesses were meant to cooperate. And other transfer students were ordered to "kill" those summoned by the five goddesses in order to fulfill their own wishes.
"Did you attack us knowing we were your allies?"
"Well, rumors in the city say you summoned a goddess, but you lost to an elven man!"
She shrugged, unconcerned.
Could I trust Airi's words? But there was one way to confirm if they were truly summoned by the five goddesses.
"Why don't you tell us about when you were summoned?"
"Love... we wanted to experience romance..."
Rinko gazed at the setting sun, her eyes distant. The sun, which had been high in the sky before the battle, was now hiding behind the buildings.
"You didn’t have lovers? You that I was your number 1 fan?"
"Fan?"
I thought for a moment after she asked me. I certainly enjoyed their songs and promotional videos, but when asked directly, I didn't know how to respond.
"...Nah, not really."
"Then it's fine," Rinko huffed with a hint of victory.
I compared them after they looked at each other and nodded in unison. In the end, all I could confirm was that they were transfer students summoned by a goddess and had challenged us to test our strength. It seemed I needed to learn more about them.
"Was there any way to tell if you guys were summoned by your goddess? Other than just taking your words for it?"
Rinko tilted her head. "Hm? Why would we lie? We certainly don't have anything to gain from being on your side. But... That girl hadn't told us anything, since we were fighting. Ah! If I'm right, Shizuka said she mentioned something earlier like Luche told her about other heroes, so we should look for them."
That information probably referred to us. Or perhaps something would change if they joined us?
"Your meal might not be guaranteed, but will you come with us?"
"What will we eat?"
"Probably curry."
The two looked at each other and nodded in sync.
In the end, all I knew was that they were transfer students summoned by a goddess and had challenged us to test our strength. It seemed I needed to learn more about them.
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