"Oh? Is it really okay to speak to me like that? I am, after all, the guest your superiors strongly invited... If I don't go to the appointment today, wouldn't Miss Lutine's mission fail? generally speaking, what kind of punishment does a [Shadow Warrior] receive for a failed mission? To be honest, I'm quite curious."
Fíliya chuckled lightly as she looked at Iris.
"People like you really are the most disgusting kind, only knowing how to threaten others by using their weaknesses..."
Iris grit her teeth tightly, but judging by the expression on her face, her will was clearly wavering.
If she caused Lutine's mission to fail, leading to Lutine being punished...
Just the thought of such a possibility brought a wave of bitterness to Iris's heart. But when she remembered how this person had teased Lutine just now, she simply couldn't sit back and ignore it!
"I'm sorry... Lutine."
Iris apologized softly to Lutine.
"It's not your mistake."
Lutine gazed at her with a gentle, all-affirming look.
"Tsk, tsk... what a tragic and beautiful bond. If you keep going, I might just be moved to tears."
Fíliya looked at the two before her with a serious face.
"? Really?"
Iris froze for a moment, then a smile quickly appeared on her face.
"Fake!"
Fíliya immediately retorted, wondering to herself if it was perhaps too unkind to bully a fool like this.
"Hmm... Fine then. I'll give you a small chance. Let me see your strength. If you can satisfy me, I might just overlook your offense."
As Fíliya spoke, she casually manifested a one-handed sword in her hand using magic. By now, she had cultivated this magic to a level roughly on par with Solitär herself.
"Come on, let me see what kind of standard you [Shadow Warriors] actually possess."
Facing Fíliya's provocation, Iris hesitated slightly. She wasn't afraid of Fíliya—otherwise, she wouldn't have thrown that kick earlier. She was merely worried that if she engaged in combat... would the other mage beside Fíliya make a move on Lutine?
In terms of combat power, Lutine was clearly on a similar level to herself, but Iris had become accustomed to this mindset of protecting Lutine.
"It's fine... Miss Solitär is a good person. You are the one who needs to be careful... If it's no good, just give up."
Lutine comforted Iris softly.
Give up? I certainly won't... The higher-ups kept saying absolutely do not come into conflict with that guy... But what this bastard shouldn't have done, absolutely shouldn't have done, was lay a hand on Lutine... How could I possibly endure that!
Iris glared at Fíliya, then slowly stood up. With a swift motion, she drew her weapons from the leg bands of her waitress outfit—two short swords, slightly longer than daggers.
"Oh? Your presence is quite impressive, though I wonder how your actual skill holds up."
Fíliya casually flourished a sword flower in the air with her one-handed sword, then nodded slightly, signaling Iris to make the first move.
...Tsk, a mere mage daring to let a warrior take the initiative at this distance... You bastard, could you be any more pretentious!
Iris curled her lips in displeasure, then charged forward, rushing at Fíliya like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey.
However, Fíliya maintained an air of ease throughout. After all... in her eyes, Iris's speed was simply a bit too slow.
Ever since the Demon God of War, Rivale, sharply commented that she had a talent for learning martial arts, Fíliya herself had developed a slight interest in the way of martial techniques, so she would occasionally spar with Linie.
Furthermore, most mages of this era possessed close-quarters combat experience themselves. The pure turret-type mages like Frieren were a category already eliminated by history. The reason Frieren herself was still invincible... was purely because her stats were too high.
"What's wrong? Dual short swords facing a single-handed sword, yet you're at a disadvantage... And for a warrior to be suppressed in close combat by a mage, don't you feel a bit embarrassed?"
While exchanging blows with Iris, Fíliya still had the leeway to hurl various taunts at her.
Iris paid no attention to Fíliya's sarcasm because she simply couldn't spare any extra mental energy to think about anything else.
She currently had only one thought: What kind of monster is this woman in front of me?
Clearly just a mage, yet both her strength and speed were at the level of a top-tier warrior... Moreover, Iris vaguely felt that Fíliya was obviously going easy on her... At least several times, that guy could have left wounds on her body, but instead used those openings merely to pinch her face.
"Hmm, although your skill is lacking a bit of polish, your stamina is surprisingly good."
After a period of entanglement, Fíliya finally felt a tiny bit of fatigue.
She hadn't expected Iris's petite body to possess such exaggerated stamina. One had to realize that Iris was using a combat style of wide, sweeping attacks, yet she maintained a very exaggerated desire to attack throughout, as if she wasn't worried about stamina depletion at all.
Tsk, tsk, she really does hate me.
Fíliya chuckled lightly.
"Heh... For a warrior, this level is more than enough... On the other hand, your stamina is much worse than I imagined. As expected of a mage's body."
For the first time in this battle, Iris revealed a smile.
Perhaps she could win... In this instant, that thought was born. After all, her stamina held a significant advantage compared to Fíliya.
"Hmm... Indeed. Continuing like this would be a bit disadvantageous for me, so it's better to end the playtime here."
Fíliya nodded in agreement. Then, utilizing a flaw she had just created, she freed up a hand and gently patted Iris on the shoulder.
"Huh? What are you doing?"
Iris looked at Fíliya's action, finding it somewhat baffling.
"...Seriously?"
Fíliya, however, was so surprised she was momentarily speechless, her eyes widening as she looked at Iris's bewildered expression.
Because in that moment of contact just now, she had instantly inflicted 25 times the pain sensation upon Iris... She had thought this would instantly make the girl collapse on the ground in agony, but she hadn't expected the opponent to act as if nothing had happened.
"Heh, is this your magic? It's about the same level as a mosquito bite."
Iris remarked disdainfully, then raised her twin short swords against Fíliya once more.
But Fíliya's expression was grave, and she looked at Iris with a gaze that resembled pity.
"What? You bastard... are we fighting or not?"
Fíliya's line of sight made Iris feel only discomfort.
"You... have had a very hard life."
Fíliya spoke slowly.
She knew very well how powerful her magic was. Let alone 25 times the pain, even just 5 times could make an ordinary person kneel and beg for mercy. At ten times, even an old soldier retired from the battlefield would be reduced to tears.
But the girl in front of her endured 25 times the pain sensation without any reaction.
This could only explain one thing: the guy opposite her had grown up steeped in [Pain] since childhood.
Lutine's eyes had been fixed tightly on the battle, worrying for Iris. She had also hesitated about whether to go up and help, but... she could clearly feel that diagonally ahead of her... not Miss Solitär, but that petite girl who had been pretending to sleep on the library bench the whole time, was constantly observing her. If she made any move, that girl would lock onto her immediately.
So... her heart was also heavy right now, and she could only pray that Fíliya wouldn't hurt Iris.
And very quickly, that prayer of hers truly received a response.
She saw Fíliya holding Iris by the back collar of her neck, carrying her over, and then tossing Iris to Lutine.
"Rest assured, I just put her to sleep... It's boring, I don't want to fight anymore. Let's go, take me to see your boss."
Fíliya looked at Lutine with a calm expression.
____
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