Reinhard had arrived, and he then inspected Elsa.
Kiyotaka: (You really have a knack for slightly late timing, Reinhard. Though, since you're only a few minutes late, no one will complain, me least of all.)
Reinhard: [Black hair, black clothes, a blade unique to the northern provinces. There is no mistaking those characteristics. You are the 『Bowel Hunter』.]
Elsa: [Reinhard. Yes, a knight among knights, born to the Master Swordsman line, correct?]
Kiyotaka heard this and thought about it.
Kiyotaka: (Could it be a title that's passed down among family? Then it's most likely passed down to the strongest of each generation because, based on my instincts, I can't imagine meeting someone stronger than Reinhard.)
Elsa: [How remarkable to have all my opponents be so much fun!]
Reinhard: [There are many things I'd like to ask you. I strongly suggest you surrender.]
Elsa: [You expect a starving predator to resist such choice, juicy prey?]
Reinhard: [Kiyotaka and you two. Try to back off a bit for safety, okay?]
They nodded, backing off slightly to give Reinhard room.
Reinhard: [I would rather not use violence on a woman.]
He said this as Elsa charged towards him. As she got close, Reinhard proceeded to kick her and send her flying as she rolled on the ground before ending up on her hands and feet.
Elsa: [You're just as the rumours say... no, you're even better.]
Reinhard: [I'm not sure if I'll meet your expectations.]
Kiyotaka then looked at the situation.
Kiyotaka: (Why isn't he unsheathing his sword? Does he think she's unworthy of his blade? No. He's far too modest to have that mindset.)
Elsa: [Aren't you going to draw that sword from your hip? I'd love to experience its legendary sharpness.]
Reinhard: [This sword can only be drawn when it is needed. The fact that it hasn't left its sheath means this is not one of those times.]
Elsa: [I do believe I've been underestimated.]
Reinhard: [It's an unsettling judgment for me, as well.]
Kiyotaka looked intently at the blade in his hand.
Kiyotaka: (Is this blade even good enough for him? Well, whether it is or not, he needs a sword.)
Kiyotaka: [Reinhard! Take this one instead!]
Kiyotaka threw his sword to Reinhard, who caught it with ease.
Reinhard: [Yes. This will do nicely. Thank you, Kiyotaka.]
Kiyotaka's breath was heavy and ragged as he looked at Reinhard.
Kiyotaka: (In this moment, I'm leaving everything up to you.)
The blade began to glow as Kiyotaka's eyes widened.
Kiyotaka: (What is this power? I can feel it from here!)
Reinhard swung the sword, breaking Elsa's blade from its hilt. He caught the broken-off blade in his hand and threw it as it stabbed into the wood of a support beam.
Reinhard: [If you've lost your weapon, I strongly suggest you surrender.]
Elsa proceeded to take out another and rushed at Reinhard, who dodged the attack and then an aura surrounded Reinhard as he stood ready.
Elsa: [What are you going to show me?]
Reinhard: [The swordplay of the Astrea family.]
Elsa held her blade in front of herself.
Elsa: [The『Bowel Hunter』Elsa Granhiert.]
Reinhard held his blade in front of himself.
Reinhard: [Reinhard『Van』Astrea of the『Master Swordsman's』line.]
The blade glowed more as some kind of energy seemed to converge on the blade.
Kiyotaka: (Is he gathering magic onto his blade?)
Then he swung the blade as the area in front of him was vaporised, as Kiyotaka held out his hands in front of his face to shield himself from the debris being blown his way.
Kiyotaka: [It's... over...]
Kiyotaka turned to Satella and whispered something in her ear. Reinhard looked at the sword, which crumbled in his hand.
Reinhard: [I'm sorry I asked too much of you.
The sword completely crumbled away.
Reinhard: [Rest well now.]
Kiyotaka: (The power in his hands... even greater than expected. I truly hope he is the strongest in the world. Otherwise, my life could be in more danger than I can imagine.)
Kiyotaka: [Reinhard. Thank you for helping us. I'll be sure to return this debt... at some point when I'm strong enough to.]
Kiyotaka extended his hand to him as Reinhard looked a bit surprised, but accepted his handshake.
Reinhard: [You don't need to return the favour, Kiyotaka.]
Suddenly, Elsa burst out of some rubble when Satella blocked the attack.
Elsa: [What?]
Kiyotaka: [I thought you might still be here, so I told her to keep her guard up. Though I had no idea where you might pop out from.]
Elsa looked annoyed as Reinhard stood in front of Satella.
Reinhard: [That's enough, Elsa.]
Elsa threw her blade, as it completely missed, bending around Reinhard.
Kiyotaka: (What the? He didn't even have to try to dodge. That is no stroke of luck. Is that also an ability this man possesses? Just how strong is he?)
Elsa: [Soon enough, I'll disembowel everyone here.]
She backflipped onto a place to stand.
Elsa: [Take good care of your bowels until then.]
She jumped off the walls and away, into the night.
Kiyotaka: (Begone with you, crazy entrail-loving woman.)
Kiyotaka sighed as he turned to Satella.
Kiyotaka: [Are you alright? I had no idea things would get this complicated or dangerous.]
Satella: [I'm fine. I'm sorry you got involved in all of this.]
Kiyotaka outstretched his hand.
Kiyotaka: [My name is Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. Can you tell me your name?]
She looked at Kiyotaka and smiled.
Satella: [Emilia... Just Emilia. Thank you, Kiyotaka, for saving me.]
Kiyotaka smiled without noticing.
Kiyotaka: [It's very nice to meet you, Emilia.]
Emilia: [But... why did you save me? I don't understand. You could have run away. Why would you even want a favour from me?]
Kiyotaka: [Is there a reason I shouldn't?]
Emilia: [Are you not disturbed by my appearance at all?]
Kiyotaka: [Why would I? If you're worried about your looks, I can assure you that you are quite beautiful.]
Emilia blushed for a second.
Emilia: [But I'm a half-elf.]
Kiyotaka: [Is that a bad thing?]
Emilia: [How do you not understand?]
Kiyotaka: [Are all Half-Elves somehow inherently evil in the world or something? You didn't seem like that.]
Emilia: [...]
She was speechless as she smiled, tilting her head slightly. Then Reinhard walked over towards them.
Reinhard: [Honestly, I'm quite impressed that you were able to hold your own against the『Bowel Hunter』. Were you a swordsman back in your country?]
Kiyotaka: [No. I wasn't.]
Reinhard: [That's quite strange. You were quite capable. You were just a little...]
Kiyotaka: [Weak?]
Reinhard: [No I...]
Kiyotaka: [It's fine. I understand that I have areas to improve. I did take swordsmanship training when I was younger, but it didn't become something that I relied on. As for my physical abilities... I haven't been training that much, so I suppose I was just out of my league.]
Reinhard: [I see. I'm glad I was able to make it here in time then.]
Kiyotaka: [You arrived faster than I'd expected. I'd say you responded to my hopes, but it's probably that Felt helped you get here, right?]
Reinhard's sweat dropped as he sighed.
Reinhard: [Yes, that would be accurate.]
Reinhard turned his head to Felt, who was looking intently at the scene.
Reinhard: [She was running around the streets in desperation, and she asked for my help.]
Emilia: [That's...]
Kiyotaka: [Hold on. If not for her, there's a chance we might have died.]
Kiyotaka: (If I had died again, I likely wouldn't have involved myself any further. Or maybe that's not true... but if so, then why?)
Kiyotaka shook his head.
Kiyotaka: (It's best not to get my head wrapped around that yet.)
Emilia: [Reinhard. What will become of that girl and that old man?]
Reinhard: [In an official capacity, I cannot overlook what they have done here. However, as luck would have it, I happen to be off duty.]
Emilia gigled a little.
Emilia: [Well, aren't you a bad knight?]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: (It looks like things are ending on a good note.)
Felt walked up to Kiyotaka with her head down.
Felt: [Um... thanks for everything. If it wasn't for you... I would be dead and Old Man Rom... he...]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: (It's good that she's alright. Hm? When did I become so kind? Well, whatever. It's a step in the right direction for my goal.)
Rom nodded in agreement with Felt.
Rom: [Felt's right. I don't think I coulda handled that woman without ya. If ya hadn't told us that Knight was comin, we'd have tired ourselves out.]
Emilia nodded.
Emilia: [I agree with both of them.]
Kiyotaka: [It's fine, Felt. Rom. But maybe return the insignia to Emilia? If you still want the Metia, I can give it to you.]
Felt: [What? No! You saved my life back there. Both of you. You don't have to give me that Metia to me. I've got to repay the fact that you saved my life and Old Man Rom's. I'll return what I stole from you without a fuss. But if it's really this important to you, try to hide it better or it'll get stolen by someone else.]
Emilia smiled a little.
Emilia: [You're right, but it doesn't feel right to hear that from you.]
Kiyotaka patted her head as Felt presented the insignia to Emilia, as it gave off a faint red glow. As soon as it glowed, Reinhard's eyes widened, and he grabbed Felt's arm.
Rom: [Hey! Whatcha doing?]
Kiyotaka stopped him.
Emilia: [What are you doing?]
Kiyotaka: [Wait a second.]
Felt: [Hey! You're hurting me! Let go of my arm!]
Reinhard: [How can this be? What's your name?]
Felt: [Huh? It's Felt...]
Reinhard: [And your family name? How old are you?]
Felt: [I don't have anything fancy like a family name! I'm... about fifteen, I think. I don't know my birthday. Look, just let me go!]
Reinhard: [Emilia-Sama, I'm afraid I can't keep my promise to you. I'll be taking this girl with me.]
Emilia: [May I ask why? If it's...]
Rom stepped forward.
Rom: [Now hold on...]
Kiyotaka: [Don't make this worse. Let him explain himself.]
Rom sweated.
Reinhard: [Kiyotaka...]
Felt: [Eh?]
Kiyotaka: [It's important, right?]
Reinhard: [It is.]
Emilia: [But still.]
Kiyotaka: [Reinhard is a knight, and he's shown no signs of malicious intent. I think it's best to cooperate with him for now.]
Felt: [Hey, I haven't agreed to any of this.]
Rom: [Me neither!]
Kiyotaka: [Either way, you're going with him. I don't think we could stop him from taking you if we tried, so just cooperate. Things won't be messy that way.]
Felt sighed, handing the insignia to Emilia.
Felt: [Fine.]
Reinhard: [Thank you for your cooperation. No harm will come to her. I promise.]
Rom looked annoyed at this but relented.
Reinhard: [I hope you two will be alright from here on.]
Everyone's eyes shifted to the full moon.
Reinhard: [Today may be the last chance we have to gaze calmly at the moon.]
Kiyotaka sighed as Reinhard and Felt left.
Kiyotaka: (None of that sounds good.)
Emilia: [Kiyotaka. About that favour. I'm not sure if I can help you, but I'll try my very best.]
Kiyotaka: [You see, I'm lost and I have no idea how I ended up in this country. I also have no idea about this country apart from some bits of information I heard from a vendor.]
Emilia: [Eh?]
Kiyotaka: [Basically, I have no idea how I ended up here or where this place really is.]
Emilia: [That's reaaally terrible, Kiyotaka.]
Kiyotaka sighed.
Kiyotaka: (You have no clue.)
Emilia: [So what did you need?]
Kiyotaka: [I'd like a safe place to stay for a while, if possible? If not, then I...]
Emilia: [Um, yes. I can do that, but the journey to where I live is a bit long. Is that okay with you?]
Kiyotaka: [Is the route dangerous?]
Emilia: [Not particularly.]
Kiyotaka: [Then it's fine.]
Kiyotaka sighed as he turned to Rom.
Kiyotaka: [Sorry about all this.]
Rom shook his head.
Rom: [Ain't your fault. Felt got involved with the wrong person. We're the ones that should be sorry.]
Kiyotaka nodded.
Emilia: [Do you need some help?]
Rom shook his head.
Rom: [I'll be fine. Go on.]
Emilia nodded as she led Kiyotaka to a Dragon carriage.
Kiyotaka: [Is it safe to pet? Anything I should know?]
Emilia: [It's fine.]
Kiyotaka reached out, feeling the rough scales of the Ground Dragon.
Kiyotaka: (Fascinating.)
Kiyotaka found a spot, scratching it as the Ground Dragon tapped its foot on the ground before slowly lying on the ground.
Kiyotaka: (So that's the spot. Good to know.)
Then the Ground Dragon proceeded to lick him.
Kiyotaka: (Ouch. What a rough tongue.)
Kiyotaka sighed and walked over to the carriage door, and got in as he sat down.
Emilia: [I've never seen someone get along with Ground Dragons so easily.]
Kiyotaka: [It was just beginners' luck.]
Emilia: [You're reaaally modest, you know.]
Kiyotaka: [I guess I am. Um Emilia. I'm a bit tired, so I'll be sleeping if that's alright.]
Emilia nodded as Kiyotaka lay down, closing his eyes.
Kiyotaka: (Normally I'd never do this, but... Emilia doesn't mean any harm. If anything, she's trying to help. Besides, with the injuries I've sustained from fighting Elsa, I require rest. Not just for my physical wounds, but my mental ones. )
Kiyotaka fell asleep.
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End of Arc 1- To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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