However, just as the four of them were about to leave, a deep male voice suddenly rang through the surrounding corridor.
"Raiden Shogun!"
And it was clearly directed at her.
"?" ×N
The shout drew everyone's attention, including theirs. They turned to see that it was the knight from Anastasia's camp earlier—Julius.
"...?"
The Shogun halted and slowly turned sideways, casting him a cold glance. She had no idea what this man wanted now.
Tap, tap~
Seeing her stop, Julius curled his lips slightly and walked toward them with crisp, measured steps—more precisely, toward the purple-haired woman standing opposite him.
"Please step back, Knight... Julius."
Emilia immediately sensed the aggression in his movement. She stepped forward of her own accord, placing herself in front of the Shogun and warning him coldly. It was obvious whom she was protecting.
"..."
Looking at the slender back of the girl before her, the Shogun felt a complicated emotion. Somehow, she was the one being protected instead. It was a little helplessly amusing—there was no need for it at all. Still, she decided to hear what he had to say first.
"Lady Emilia, forgive me. I wish to speak with Miss Raiden behind you."
Julius frowned slightly at Emilia's protective gesture and spoke in that manner.
"...I'm very sorry, we—"
"It's fine. Let him speak."
The Shogun gently interrupted Emilia.
"Shogun...?"
Emilia turned back in confusion. The Shogun gave a small shake of her head.
"Haa... I understand."
Emilia did not argue further. Obediently, she stepped slightly aside, leaving space between them.
"Speak. What do you want?"
The Shogun folded her arms, her eyes filled with boredom. Even her tone was casual, as though she did not take him seriously at all.
"!"
Julius bristled at her attitude, clenching his fists as he spoke.
"Raiden Shogun, I wish to duel you."
"!" ×N
The declaration stunned everyone present. Whispers and murmurs immediately spread.
"Waaah~"
Felix covered his mouth slightly and let out a soft exclamation.
"...May I refuse?"
The Shogun sighed inwardly.
"On what grounds?"
He continued glaring at her.
"A waste of time."
She answered bluntly.
"!!"
He instantly lost his composure.
The crowd began discussing it again. The surrounding knights watched from the side. Naturally, due to their positions, they supported Julius. The Shogun's earlier words had left them displeased as well.
"No. Today, I will duel you no matter what."
He could not accept having been defeated twice before. This time, he intended to be serious.
"Aren't you afraid I'll slap you a couple more times?"
The Shogun let out a light, mocking laugh.
"We'll see! I challenge you to a knight's sword duel. Of course, you may use your own weapon."
He declared.
Throughout this, Emilia watched the Shogun's profile, waiting for her answer. Clearly, she did not want her to accept.
"Heh... Very well. This vessel accepts your invitation. Lead the way."
The Shogun casually gestured with her gaze toward the direction ahead and stepped aside, leaving the path open for the opposing knight. She could already guess what he was thinking—he wanted to wash away his previous humiliation. Unfortunately... not only would he fail, he would likely add a new one.
[Haa... I shouldn't have slapped him back then. Now it's become such a bother.]
Ei sighed.
'It doesn't matter. At worst, just beat him again.'
He had brought those slaps upon himself. Who told him to deliberately interrupt her before? Serves him right.
And so she followed. Naturally, many knights trailed behind them, while Emilia and the others came as well.
The location was the Knights' open-air arena. It was circular in structure, with ring-shaped spectator seating surrounding it. However, unlike ordinary arenas, there was only a single tier of seating, covered rather than fully exposed. The surrounding architecture bore elegant white and gold patterns. The ground beneath their feet was plain earth rather than stone bricks.
She lifted her gaze toward the distant blue sky. Occasionally, birds flew past. It was strangely pleasant.
Emilia and the other two stood at the edge of the field to watch. The knights climbed into the spectator area to enjoy the spectacle. For a moment, the only sound in the arena was the flowing wind.
Ssshk~
Julius drew the sword at his waist and held it vertically before his chest in a knight's salute.
"Draw your weapon."
He addressed her.
"No need. Bring one of yours over."
The Shogun shook her head casually, gesturing with her eyes toward the weapon rack in the distance where straight swords were placed. Against someone like him, she had no need for Engulfing Lightning.
"...Hmph."
He cast her a disdainful look before personally retrieving another sword and tossing it toward her.
Clack!
The Shogun caught the blade and instinctively weighed it in her hand.
It was astonishingly light—so light it felt like plastic. Completely lacking any weight in the hand, almost like a toy sword. She even had the faint impression that if she infused it with even the slightest trace of sword energy, it would shatter on the spot.
"Begin."
Julius assumed a flawless combat stance.
"...As you wish. Come at me. I'm too lazy to move."
True to her words, she did not even bother with a stance. The sword hung loosely at her side. Her posture was relaxed—left leg straight, right leg slightly bent, the tip of her foot lightly touching the ground. Her free arm crossed over to support the one holding the sword. Her fingers even toyed idly with the hilt, rolling it back and forth.
In the distance, Emilia kept her brows tightly knitted as she watched the two. Beside her, Felix seemed to notice her concern and spoke.
"Don't worry. Julius has his limits. He won't truly hurt her, meow."
"No. I'm not worried about the Shogun."
Emilia shook her head.
"Eh? Then—"
"I'm worried about Julius. I'm afraid the Shogun might hit too hard."
Emilia answered awkwardly.
"...Eh?"
Felix's eyes widened in an almost comical expression.
Whoosh!!!
Immediately after those words, Julius stomped forward and rushed straight toward the casually standing woman opposite him.
Yet—
In less than a second.
Whoosh!
"!!!"
His body froze several meters ahead, because at some point the Shogun's sword tip was already pressed against his throat. The entire sequence felt like a dream.
"??" ×N
The surrounding knights leaned forward, faces full of utter confusion.
"Uh..."
Julius remained locked in his forward-lunging posture, staring at the blade that hovered less than a centimeter from his throat. The Shogun parted her delicate lips slightly, covering her mouth with her free hand.
"Haa~ mm~"
She let out an adorable yawn, her voice soft and languid like a siren's. Throughout it all, she did not even look at him.
"!"
Whoosh!
In the next second, Julius attempted to slide sideways to escape.
Humm~
Yet the instant he moved, the sword tip seemed glued to his throat, following with perfect precision and forcing him to halt once more.
"What are you doing? I told you to attack. I didn't tell you to dance."
The Shogun looked at him lazily, mocking him without mercy.
Julius felt his hands beginning to tremble, but he still grit his teeth, determined to break free.
While she deliberately glanced elsewhere, Julius seized the opportunity and swung his sword at her.
Whoosh!
The Shogun was gazing at the birds in the sky. She casually stepped back, narrowly yet effortlessly avoiding the blade. Then, as if predicting it, she leisurely took a few steps to the left in advance—
Whoosh!
His second strike cut through empty air as well.
She then bent down slightly, gently rubbing her slender ankle wrapped in black silk stockings. She even took her time to retie the slightly loosened ribbon around it.
Whoosh!
A gust from the blade brushed past her hair. His third strike was avoided seamlessly simply because she had bent over.
"Wha—!!!"
Julius was stunned as if in a dream. He even began doubting himself.
And just as he was immersed in that self-doubt—
The Shogun, still bent over and rotating her ankle lightly, straightened up.
Duang~!!
Her hard puppet-like head slammed straight into Julius' chin.
"Ughhh!!!"
A sharp pain exploded through him, as though his jaw had been struck by something impossibly solid. It nearly dislocated. Clutching his reddened chin, he staggered back in embarrassment. Just as he raised his sword again, he realized—she was gone.
"Where are you looking?"
"!!"
Her familiar voice sounded beside his ear. He began to turn.
Smack!!
A burning pain erupted across his cheek, freezing him once more.
The Shogun flipped the sword sideways, examining the reflection along its surface.
"This thing feels quite handy for slapping people."
She smiled playfully at him.
"You—!!!"
Unable to endure any longer, Julius bared his teeth and swung his sword again—only for it to miss yet again.
Smack!!
This time, the other side of his face was struck as well.
"Aaaaghhh!!!"
Julius roared like a madman and spun around with his blade.
Smack!
The moment he turned, his face collided perfectly with the waiting flat of the blade.
"Go to sleep."
The Shogun smiled at him.
"Eh?"
He froze.
Szzzt!!!!
"Aaaaghhhhh!!!"
A surge of electricity burst from the blade, coursing through his body. He convulsed violently, the scent of something scorched filling the air before he finally collapsed to the ground.
Clatter!
In the next instant, the sword in her hand shattered into fragments, unable to withstand the infusion of elemental power.
"????" ×N
The surrounding knights gaped, none daring to utter a word.
Even Crusch and Felix were no exception.
"Haa... see? This is exactly what I was worried about..."
Emilia smiled awkwardly, then gazed dotingly at the increasingly mischievous girl across the arena. No—more like a little girl. That was precisely the Shogun's cutest side.