Even a child knows to be angry when their parents are insulted.
This is not unrelated to affection, but it also stems from an instinct to protect those one relies on.
When a disciple insults their teacher, or a vassal insults their lord, it is not uncommon for even commoners to feel a pang of hurt when an outsider badmouths their lord.
This is partly due to the era demanding unconditional obedience from those of lower status.
Unconditional obedience accompanies mental servility. In a world where such a mindset is taken for granted, it is only natural that subordinates are particularly sensitive to insults directed at their superiors.
No matter how bad a superior may be, they are bound to receive insults, but this was still something uttered among those belonging to the same group.
No outsider would expect to hear anything good in such a situation.
Thus, Elsi’s anger was justified.
At least, that is what she thought. No one knew better than her that the one who recognized her fragile self and risked their life to protect her was the one being insulted.
She had long admired that strength. However, with Delphine continuously pricking at her, Elsi had no choice but to explode.
Her mind turned cold. Years of real combat experience caused her heart to slow the moment it registered hostility.
Delphine’s eyes were still wide in disbelief. It was rare for her to be so flustered. The very act of pouring water on her would be seen as an unfathomable insult.
No matter how one looked at it, she couldn’t have imagined throwing such insult at the heir of the Yuridina Clan.
The same could be said for others.
Feeling the strange atmosphere, a few children went off to call the adults, and as a result, two men arrived at the place where Elsi and Delphine were.
Reto and Guildford were frozen in place as they took in the shocking scene before them.
However, there was nothing they could do about the spilled water. It was indeed a situation where the phrase “literally” came to mind.
A blue electric current sparkled in Elsi’s hand. Sensing the murderous intent, Delphine instinctively fumbled at her waist.
But at that moment, as she drew her sword like a bolt of lightning, a thin whip of electricity struck and wrapped around Delphine’s upper body.
It was merely a First Circle spell. It was impossible to cast a spell of a higher level than that in such a short amount of time. Even a high-level mage who had reached the Fifth Circle would find it impossible.
Delphine scoffed and tried to contain the electric shock with her magical power.
If that whip of energy hadn’t suddenly scattered and released electricity in all directions.
Time began to slow for Delphine. The dispersed currents lost cohesion and scattered rapidly, shining in blue light.
And that faint light brushed dangerously close to her upper body.
The spot that had been hit by the downpour.
The blue discharge bombarded Delphine’s upper body like a torrential rain.
The crackling flames rose like remnants of a fire. Though Delphine gritted her teeth, the electric charge that had flowed with the water quickly spread throughout her body.
Her muscles contracted. This was an involuntary biological response. Delphine’s balance crumbled on its own.
That was when Elsi rushed in.
In her hand was another cup of water. And with all her might, she swung it down at the crown of Delphine’s head in a clean strike.
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the air.
No matter how much magic enhanced her body, she was still a mage. It would be difficult for her to deliver a physically effective blow to a swordsman of Delphine’s caliber.
But delivering a decisive strike while losing her balance was still possible. Delphine, who had already been wavering, fell as if sliding down.
With a thud, a sharp impact swept past Delphine’s ear.
Water was splattering down. It was only enough to fill two cups, not a lot, but enough to wet the ground.
Elsi slammed her raised hand down to the ground.
The glob of blue energy she had dropped exploded on impact. The crackling sounds filled the air, releasing a burning, acrid odor.
“Ugh, ugh, ugh…!”
Delphine gritted her teeth. It was a combat style she had seen somewhere before.
Using everything available and improvising to take down the enemy, that feeling.
She resembled I-an. Elsi originally belonged to the traditional faction that employed classical tactics alongside Delphine.
They say people who like each other tend to resemble one another, and in this case, it was true. Even while being shocked by electricity and her muscles excessively contracting, Delphine stubbornly held onto her sword.
Instead, she infused it with aura.
A fierce wind surrounded them. The dazzling golden aura radiated with a terrifying heat.
The stone floor heated up almost instantly. Moisture evaporated quickly, and Delphine gradually regained freedom of movement.
Just as Elsi charged in to finish with the spear of electricity in hand.
Delphine managed to rise, pushing her magic power to accelerate her body. Then she grabbed Elsi’s arm as she was about to thrust down the spear of electricity, pulling her down to the ground.
A shockwave reverberated. Though she was small in stature, the force she exerted was immense. Delphine flipped Elsi, who faced the sky, and delivered a punch.
With the sound of skin hitting skin, Elsi’s head turned sharply. The impact felt on the punch was not bad. Elsi’s hooded hat had long since been rolling on the ground.
Getting unexpectedly punched in the jaw, Elsi felt her brain shake. It was a misstep to abandon her shield in an awkward imitation of I-an.
Only then did Delphine growl lowly with a glint of hostility.
“Let’s see how many more hits you can take, Rainelle.”
Despite that threat, Elsi merely chuckled. Her rebellious, blue-sapphire eyes gazed up at Delphine.
“…Get ready to apologize while crying, you d*mn b*tch.”
Without hesitation, Delphine slammed her fist into Elsi’s small face.
She planned to adjust her strength so as not to cause a fracture, but to keep punching until Elsi’s face was a complete mess. Given the insult Delphine had received, this level of reprisal shouldn’t be a problem for the Rainelle Clan.
However, in the next moment.
With a crunching sound, Delphine’s leg muscles tightened against her bones. It meant she had been electrocuted. But how?
Delphine’s eyes mindlessly turned to the side. There were the fallen cups wobbling, spilling their contents from the table due to the shockwave.
The electric spear, rolling on the ground, just brushed past Delphine’s bl**d-red gaze. That spear was aimed at the water that had dripped off the table.
It was right after Delphine wouldn’t stop cursing inside her head.
Once again, the sharp sound of electrical discharge rang out. The sound of the currents igniting each other was rhythmically simple yet intense.
Delphine had no choice but to scream as she fell sideways. Climbing back on top of her was Elsi.
In Elsi’s hand, a new blue charge was already gathering.
“What? I-an’s killer? You started acting like a j*rk first…! And I haven’t killed anyone yet! Probably! So hurry up and apologize, you b*tch!”
Just as Elsi, grinding her teeth, was about to hit Delphine with the gathered charge.
Something poked the gathering energy.
And in an instant, the magic dissipated, resulting in a phenomenon that occurred when encountering a denser magical force. But was there anyone here skilled enough to do that?
Surprised, Elsi’s eyes darted to the side. There stood an elderly man with white hair, shaking his head.
The sheathed sword hanging from his waist was now empty. A soft white glow flowed down from the blade in the old man’s hand.
It was aura. Now that she thought about it, he had once been a well-known mercenary.
As Elsi idly delved into her memories of the past, Guildford spoke calmly.
“Enough, both of you.”
“But this d*mn girl dares to insult Lord I-an…!”
“Do you think this scene would please Lord I-an?”
At that, Elsi, who had been agitated, suddenly stiffened. Intense hesitation began to well up in her eyes.
The pause was not long. Finally, Elsi let out a sigh and stood up unsteadily.
She had allowed a hit from a swordsman like Delphine. There was no way Elsi wouldn’t have been hit at all.
After assessing the situation for a moment, Elsi cautiously opened her mouth. Now that the excitement had subsided, the title “Lord I-an” had become simply “I-an.”
“Let’s keep this a secret from I-an….”
“…It’s not over yet.”
The exhausted voice emerged from the fallen woman’s mouth. Guildford and Elsi’s gazes shot toward her. Delphine, gritting her teeth, propped herself halfway up from the ground.
A fierce desire to win burned in her bl**d-red eyes.
“If we start something, we have to finish it, right?”
With a sigh, Elsi slapped her forehead in frustration. Then, unable to hold back, she shouted.
“I was trying to be lenient, you b*tch…!”
“…Let’s put an end to this.”
The next voice to interrupt was Reto. Elsi and Delphine’s irritated eyes shot daggers at Reto.
However, Reto simply raised his hands, exhibiting a calm smile, indicating he meant to oppose nothing.
“What’s more important than the children being scared is that I-an has now been attacked by those mysterious monsters. We need to keep our strength ready, just in case. And can you handle that?”
As the puzzled looks flooded Elsi and Delphine’s expressions, Reto added in a soothing tone.
“…If it escalates, this will undoubtedly become a matter between clans.”
That was the final word.
For a time, Elsi and Delphine remained silent, clicking their tongues in unison as they lowered their weapons. There was no choice in the matter.
The power struggles among high-ranking nobles were more terrifying than one could imagine. Once conflicts were ignited, they couldn’t be halted.
For imperial nobles, pride was such. Even if it cost a fortune, one must protect their dignity.
Instead, Elsi and Delphine demanded the following from Guildford and Reto in exchange for a temporary truce.
To keep today’s events a secret from I-an.
Having settled their agreement, Elsi and Delphine gulped down the healing potions they had prepared and departed for their lodgings.
All that remained were the shattered cups and the children trembling in the corner.
After hearing Reto’s long-winded account, the only thought that escaped my lips was.
“…Didn’t we agree to keep it a secret? Is it alright for you to tell me?”
“Should I just leave it as is? A temporary truce is just leaving a ticking time bomb in place… We need to defuse it before it blows, like a technician.”
Saying so, Reto patted my shoulder as if he believed in me. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Am I the technician?”
“Yeah, it’s your group of girls, so you handle it. I’m not sure what Guildford and I can do anymore.”
That’s true. Reto and Guildford were unrelated to the group I had gathered. Since Delphine and Elsi were both part of my group, it was mine to mediate the conflicts.
It was just that I had no idea how.
As I rubbed my forehead, Reto gave me his usual piece of advice.
“Think simply, simply. Overcomplicating it with your Swordsmanship Department brain isn’t going to work.”
Was it advice or mockery? It was ambiguous upon reflection.
Still, I decided to take his advice.
My feet were headed towards Delphine’s room.
*
I knocked on the door, but no response came from within.
The orphanage had few private rooms.
There were only the director’s office and a room where volunteers stayed. Considering their status as high-ranking nobles, Delphine and Elsi managed to obtain such rooms for themselves.
Of course, the Lady Virgin Saint also had a private room. Aside from that, there were no other private rooms, causing Guildford to offer his office to me or Yulen.
I had no particular desire for a private room, so I declined, and Yulen did the same. But looking back now, it might have been nice to have one.
It was a good place to share secret conversations. Clearing my throat, I said.
“I’m coming in.”
“…What is it?”
A wary voice responded immediately. It was surely Delphine.
Confirming that, I opened the door without hesitation. Perhaps she hadn’t expected me to come in right away, as Delphine sat startled on her bed.
“W-what? You barged into a lady’s room without permission? Lord Handaxe, I think you need to relearn noble etiquette…”
“Seems a bit hypocritical coming from someone who greeted me half-n*ked.”
Delphine’s mouth snapped shut. She could argue back if she wanted to, but it seemed she realized the seriousness of my tone.
She fumbled and avoided my gaze. Her bl**d-red eyes began to tremble.
“Delphine, let’s go for a walk, just the two of us.”
“…N-no way.”
Her voice quivered in desperation, following my calm tone. Still, I continued in a steady voice.
“The air in the woods has been nice lately. Especially the night air is quite refreshing.”
“N-no way…”
“If we go just the two of us, no one will know. So we can have a secret conversation for a bit…”
“…I said no!”
Delphine suddenly shouted, her expression exceeding mere disgust. It was a face filled with fear, showing her absolute desire to not go.
At this rate, I was wasting too much time. I reluctantly clicked my tongue and drew my handaxe.
Delphine’s breathing halted. Her gaze, blank, fixed on my weapon.
Without hesitation, I raised the handaxe.
“Okay, okay! I-I will go! Just don’t… please… stop…”
It took this long, and I finally felt satisfied as I brought the raised handaxe down to the ground.
With a thud, the handaxe embedded itself into the stone floor.
Delphine whimpered, unable to mask her fear and tension. Her bl**d-red eyes were glued to the handaxe lodged into the ground.
Now that I thought about it, I would need to repair that floor.
That was something for later. I decided to leave that problem to the wealthy Delphine later. I smiled.
“Good choice.”
Delphine’s hunched body trembled. She looked like she wanted to cry.
It seemed it was finally time for me and Delphine to have a proper conversation together.
