The door opened as Satella walked through with the flower pin attached to her dress.
Kiyotaka: (Satella, huh... I see. It seems like she managed to help that little girl even without my assistance.)
Kiyotaka then refocused his thoughts.
Kiyotaka: (If it had been Elsa, there was a chance for things to go more smoothly, but I can work with this. I'll go with that plan.)
Satella: [I'm glad you're here. You won't get away this time.]
Felt backed away.
Felt: [You never quit, do you? I'm telling you, just give up already!]
Satella: [Sorry, but this is something I cannot give up on. If you do as I say, I won't...]
Kiyotaka: [Felt. This doesn't have to turn out this way, alright? Seeing to the fact that she's well dressed, she must be someone with a lot of reach. If you don't hand it back over, you might get arrested by the guards later. Old Man Rom might also be arrested as an accomplice.]
Satella: [Eh?]
Felt: [Weren't you the one who wanted this insignia so much that you were willing to give up 25 Holy Coins?]
Kiyotaka: [It looked important, so I was thinking of returning it to her in exchange for a favour.]
Satella: [A favour... Wait, who are you, sir?]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: (Again with the sir...)
Felt glared at Satella.
Felt: [Just leave already!]
Kiyotaka: [How about this, Felt? You give her back the insignia, and I'll give you the metia. Then this lady can pay me back the 25 Holy Coins when she can. This way you don't come out empty-handed and you don't get arrested.]
Satella: [I can't pay you back right away, but I think I could manage it after a few days.]
Kiyotaka nodded.
Felt: [I already told you that I can't do that! There's someone else trying to buy it after all.]
Satella: [Eh? There is?]
Kiyotaka: [And what do you think will happen when that buyer arrives here? Where the original owner is standing before you? This place will be the last place you want to be.]
Felt sweated.
Felt: [What is that supposed to mean?]
Kiyotaka: [The only person I saw around here well enough dressed to own 20 Holy Coins had a dangerous air to her. If she finds this girl here or if she finds out that you failed to steal the insignia and arrive without being followed, then blood might be spilled.]
Satella: [Blood might be spilled?]
Kiyotaka: [If you hand it over to her, this girl might help you by contacting the guards to protect you and Old Man Rom.]
Felt: [Huh?]
Satella: [Um... I can do that. But please give me the Insignia back first.]
Kiyotaka's eyes darted as he dived at Satella, knocking her to the ground as a blade slashed above them.
Satella: [Eh!!!]
Kiyotaka kicked out his leg, landing a hit as the attacker winced, before jumping back.
Kiyotaka: (She definitely felt it. It probably gave her a bruise, but not enough to make that arm less functional.)
Kiyotaka: [Get up now or we're going to die.]
Satella got up.
Satella: [Thank you.]
Kiyotaka: [The more people able to fight, the better.]
Satella: [Do you know her?]
Kiyotaka: [She's the one I was mentioning before.]
Kiyotaka sighed as sweat dropped from his forehead.
Kiyotaka: (Damn it all. This situation is the worst. If only she could have left us alone for a few more minutes. That way the situation could have been resolved with us long gone.)
Satella then outstreched her hand.
Satella: [Puck.]
Puck appeared as he looked around.
Puck: [Oh, so you're the one that's giving my daughter trouble, huh? I'll have to punish you.]
???: [A spirit... That is a spirit, yes? How wonderful. I've never cut open a spirit's stomach before.]
Felt: [Hey, what do you mean by that?]
???: [We can hardly negotiate if the item's original owner is here. So I've changed my plans. I will slaughter everyone here. You failed to see your job through to the end. You talk a good game, but you do terrible work. You really are just another slum dweller.]
Kiyotaka: [So you're some kind of serial killer. Even children are not off your list?]
The murderer giggled a little.
???: [Oh? But the entrails of children are quite fascinating as well.]
Kiyotaka: [So, who exactly are you?]
???: [You are facing the『Bowel Hunter』, Elsa Granhiert.]
Kiyotaka: [Elsa Granhiert. I'll keep that in mind so I can properly title your tombstone.]
Elsa: [Oh? I love it. You managed to save the girl from my first attack and then land a kick on me, and now you talk to me like this... I just love men like you.]
Elsa lifted her cloak, showing her arm that was uninjured.
Kiyotaka: (What in the world? I know I did some damage to that arm. Not severe, but at least enough to bruise. Healing? Regeneration? There's no way to tell. Well... this conversation has bought him enough time. All that's left is to hope that it kills her.)
Suddenly, icicles started to form in the air above Elsa from Puck using magic as he fired them at Elsa, freezing her.
Kiyotaka: [One more round. As soon as it shatters!]
Satella prepared an icicle as the ice from Puck's attack shattered, and she released the attack. Elsa slashed the icicle, shattering it.
Elsa: [One must always be prepared.]
The cloak Elsa held evaporated.
Kiyotaka: (Her reaction time is good. That cloak... is it specially designed to protect the user from ice magic or just magic? If it is specially designed to protect the user from ice magic, then is it just a coincidence, or was all of this planned out?)
Elsa rushed at Satella, who formed a shield, protecting herself.
Satella: [Don't underestimate a Spirit Art's User.]
Puck fired at Elsa from above, as Elsa began evading his attacks by backfliping.
Puck: [You're well accustomed to battle, for a girl.]
Elsa: [My, it's been so long since I've been regarded simply as a girl.]
She began slashing the icicles and dodging.
Puck: [Well, from my perspective, all opponents are basically babies.]
She jumped onto one of the wooden support beams.
Puck: [Still, you're so strong, I almost pity you.]
She started climbing on the walls to evade.
Elsa: [I'm deeply touched to be praised by a spirit.]
She jumped off the wall and onto the ground as she began backflipping to avoid more attacks, and then slashing the icicles before they could hit her.
Kiyotaka: (Elsa's physical ability is even greater than I thought. It's good that Satella and Puck are here since they stand the best chance of killing her. Still, it's almost time for Puck to go to sleep.)
Elsa got her foot frozen.
Kiyotaka: (Almost...)
She tried to free herself, but found her foot was stuck.
Puck: [I wasn't just throwing those around at random.]
Elsa: [Does this mean I've been had?]
Kiyotaka turned to Rom and Felt.
Kiyotaka: [Throw me a weapon to use!]
Rom passed a blade to Kiyotaka as he held it in his hands.
Kiyotaka: (The balance is a bit off, but it will have to do.)
Kiyotaka waited for a second as Satella and Puck prepared an attack.
Puck: [Goodnight!]
Puck said this as they fired the spell as a pillar of ice raced towards Elsa, who ripped her own toes off, dodging.
Elsa: [My, how lovely! I thought I was going to die.]
Just as she said this Kiyotaka vaulted over the ice pillar and swung his sword at Elsa's neck, cutting her, but Elsa dodged before her head could be lopped off.
Kiyotaka: (Well, that failed.)
Elsa: [Oh, I love it. You're exactly my type.]
Kiyotaka: [Sorry, but the feeling is not mutual. I'm not quite over my first love yet.]
Elsa: [Oh, how tragic. Want me to warm you up with your blood and entrails?]
Kiyotaka: [No thank you.]
Puck started to fade a little.
Satella: [Puck, can you keep going?]
Puck yawned.
Puck: [Sorry... I'm really sleepy. I underestimated her a bit. My mana's gone, so I have to disappear.]
Satella: [I'll take care of things here, so you can rest. Thank you.]
Puck: [If anything happens to you, I'll act according to my contract. If it comes to it, call me, even if you have to squeeze me out of my od.]
Kiyotaka heard this, considering it for a second.
Kiyotaka: (Act according to his contract? What is that supposed to mean? They have actions prepared in the case of her being injured? No. It sounds more like if she dies. Is it specific to them or something that is normal between contractors and their spirits?)
Puck then completely disappeared, returning to the gem in Satella's dress.
Elsa: [You're going away?]
Elsa broke off a piece of ice and somehow heated it to her foot, tapping her foot to make sure it was attached properly.
Elsa: [Well, that's terribly unfortunate.]
Satella then summoned a shield and an icicle, protecting herself with the shield as Elsa raced around her, attacking and looking for an opening. Kiyotaka considered his options.
Kiyotaka: (Find an opening to attack. If I can find one, then I'll be able to hurt her or cover Satella's retreat or recovery.)
Eventually, Elsa found a spot, slashing as Satella blocked it with her shield, but Elsa managed to kick Satella into the shelf as she fell, and the shelf collapsed on top of her.
Elsa: [Now I'll...]
Kiyotaka impaled her with his blade and then took it out of her as his eyes widened. This was because he noticed that the wound was healing.
Kiyotaka: (You can't be serious.)
Elsa: [Ugh!]
Blood dripped from her lips as Kiyotaka jumped back.
Elsa: [That was good, but you need to gut me properly.]
Rom: [Here I come!]
Rom rushed in with his club.
Elsa: [Ah, but isn't it a bit boorish to cut in on a dance?]
They exchanged some blows.
Rom: [If you wanna dance, I'll show ye the best dancin' you've ever seen.]
Rom dodged an attack and charged in, swinging his club at her with full force.
Rom: [Here we go! Round an' round!]
He shattered the wood and ice, but he didn't manage to hit Elsa. Elsa stood on his club.
Rom: [Eh? What in the?]
Elsa: [You're so strong, I was able to do this!]
She slashed at Rom as Felt threw a blade. The blade caused Elsa's blade to go off course, and Kiyotaka then blocked the blade, knocking it further off course as it barely knicked Rom.
Kiyotaka: (Just in time!)
Felt: [Old man Rom!]
Rom fell to the floor, a bit of blood spurting from his neck as Kiyotaka kicked Elsa, causing her to crash into the wall. She stood straight and looked at Felt darkly.
Elsa: [You bad girl...]
Felt began to sweat as Rom touched the back of his neck, feeling his wound.
Elsa: [You have neither the resolve nor the strength to fight. You should have at least stayed in the corner and made yourself small.]
Kiyotaka stepped forward in front of Felt, who was shivering in fear.
Kiyotaka: [Get out of here, Felt. Run.]
Satella got back up, firing icicles at Elsa, who slashed them down before going on the offensive.
Felt: [You expect me to tuck my tail between my legs and run?]
Kiyotaka: [Yes. Now get out of here. With me, Rom and that girl here, we can buy you enough time to get out of here, so go!]
Rom rushed in swinging his club as Elsa jumped away, dodging the attack.
Rom: [Listen to the kid Felt. Get outta here!]
Felt stifled her tears before rushing out of the building.
Kiyotaka: [Do not aim to kill. Don't expend more energy than necessary. I called a Knight. He's strong and he's already on the way, so hold your ground and focus on keeping each other alive!]
They seemed relieved to hear this as they focused on buying as much time as possible. Rom swung his club into her and knocking her through a nearby wall.
Kiyotaka: [Keep your guard up.]
He said this as he blocked an attack from Elsa, but only barely.
Elsa: [It's been so long since I met a man capable of keeping up with me to this extent. How entertaining.]
Kiyotaka blocked another slash and jumped back, slashing at Elsa, who retreated, dodging Rom, who slammed his club in the spot she was standing.
Kiyotaka: (I'm pretty sure we can keep this up a bit longer, but I'd rather not. I'd much rather be done with this already.)
Everyone else kept attacking as Kiyotaka bided his time. When she lost sight of him and was busy fighting the others, he came up behind her swinging his blade, intending to bisect her. The Sword did cut her, but her skin was too resistant, so he only managed to cut her a bit as she kicked him, making him crash into a wall as he grunted in pain.
Kiyotaka: (Please tell me you're almost here.『Master Swordsman』.)
???: [That's enough!]
Something crashed through the ceiling.
Kiyotaka: (He's made it.)
A man in a knight's uniform walked through the dust caused by the debris. It was Reinhard.
Reinhard: [It looks like I made it in time. You all did well while you were waiting for me to arrive. I'll handle it from here. Now...]
Elsa: [You're...]
Reinhard: [Shall we put an end to this?]
Kiyotaka sighed in relief.
Kiyotaka: [You made it.]
Reinhard: [Sorry for the wait, Kiyotaka.]
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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