[Vol. 7] Chapter 245: Reinforcements from the Sky
Even though Carinvega had already made it very clear that she couldn’t do it, the priestess still showed no intention of helping her. In fact, she secretly used her spiritual power to hold Carinvega in place, preventing her from moving or running back for help.
“Don’t worry. Even if you can’t see it or feel it, your power is already working. Just do your best, Princess. Let me see the true strength of the [Empire’s Two-Colored Lotus].”
“What is this power exactly?! Has anyone ever told you that you talk like a walking riddle?!”
Violet didn’t respond. She simply stepped back two more steps, standing far enough away that no one would mistake her as Carinvega’s ally, watching quietly without a word.
Seeing that this person really didn’t plan on helping, the princess could only give up hope. With a tearful look on her face, she turned to face the guardian knight who had already recovered and was walking toward her again. Trying to imitate one of those cheesy scenes from Anime, she attempted to awaken her former comrade with the power of heartfelt emotion.
“Um… Gladys… I know you’re super strong! This kind of weird trick, if you just push through, it’ll be fine... Hey, didn’t you say you’d be loyal to me for life?! Subordinates aren’t allowed to hit their superiors! Ugh, this isn’t working at all, Miss Violet!!!”
Despite Carinvega’s serious and heartfelt pep talk, it clearly didn’t reach the real Gladys inside. The knight just kept walking forward in silence. Her eyes were empty and unfocused, and she slowly reached out, as if trying to grab the princess and carry her away.
“Eep!”
Just as Gladys’s hand was about to touch Carinvega, and the poor princess had shut her eyes, hugged her head, and braced for the worst, a sudden change happened. Violet, who had been completely passive this whole time and hadn't interfered at all, suddenly narrowed her eyes ever so slightly.
“BOOM!!!”
Out of nowhere, a figure holding a blunt sword burst straight through the hotel’s outer wall. With debris flying everywhere, they slammed their weapon straight into Gladys!
“BANG!!! THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD!!!”
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The force of the strike was so strong that even the legendary mercenary girl couldn’t resist it. In an instant, she turned into a blur, flying backward like a cannonball. She crashed through several walls and disappeared deep into the building.
“……”
The person who had attacked glanced at the princess, who had been blown over by the shockwave from the clash of two powerful fighters and hadn’t yet recovered. After confirming that she was safe, the figure said nothing and silently chased after Gladys in the direction she’d flown, quickly vanishing from sight.
“Princess Carinvega! Are you alright?!”
A few seconds later, several more figures rushed in through the broken wall, surrounding the still-dazed princess to protect her.
“Huh? Oh, I… I’m fine. You all are…?”
With the help of a girl whose voice was as clear and pleasant as a songbird, Carinvega got back to her feet, still a bit dizzy and confused. Then suddenly, something clicked in her mind.
“You’re… Miss Yir from the Swift Wind sect?”
Hearing the princess recognize her at a glance, the girl called Yir, who wore a long, fitted teal outfit, had a slender sword at her waist, and flowing pink-blue hair, quickly bowed her head in surprise and joy. Her voice was filled with excitement she could barely hold back.
“Yes, Your Highness! It’s a great honor! I can’t believe someone as important as you still remembers someone like me! It’s already been more than two years since we last met.”
“Ah? Haha… Miss Yir, I’m definitely not ‘someone like that.’ Ahem, anyway, more importantly, how did you all…”
As Carinvega asked, the sword-wielding young woman paused for a moment, a little confused.
“Didn’t you, Your Highness, recently send a letter to our sect under the pretense of a casual greeting, secretly telling us about the situation here and asking for help? My father took it very seriously. That’s why he sent me, Senior Sister Kiri, and Senior Brother Elva, along with a few others, to come help you as fast as possible. Luckily, we made it in time.”
“Eh…”
A brief blank look crossed the princess’s face. But with her experience, she quickly recovered and forced a laugh, nodding repeatedly as if everything had gone just as she planned.
"Oh... N-No wonder you're the daughter of the Sword Saint, you understood what I meant so easily. In any case, you really saved me just now. That was way too close..."
"Hehe, Your Highness, you’re being too polite! Didn’t you help our sect through a big crisis just over a year ago? We of the Swift Wind sect always repay kindness. This little thing is nothing at all!"
As she said this, the cheerful girl named Yir couldn't help but glance around the area. Then, with a playful grin, she nudged the serious-looking young man beside her, who had a sharp and commanding aura.
"But wow, Princess Carinvega, you're just as amazing as ever! Everything here has gone exactly how you expected. We even arrived at the perfect moment, like you knew it all in advance! Before we came, Brother Elva still doubted whether you were really that good. Well? Brother? See, I wasn’t exaggerating about the princess’s skills, right~?"
The young man gave a small, helpless nod.
"As expected of the [Empire’s Two-Colored Lotus], Her Highness's wisdom truly stands out in this world. I’m deeply impressed."
“Y-You flatter me… really, you flatter me…”
The princess, who actually had no idea what was going on and was still feeling awkward, quickly turned her head, just in time to see the priestess who had been enjoying the whole scene slowly walking over. Hoping to shift the topic, Carinvega coughed lightly and put on a calm and composed expression.
“Right, let me introduce her. This is Miss Violet, the newly appointed honorary professor of Sainz Academy, one of the few top-level holy magic spellcasters, and a legendary-ranked adventurer known as the [Priest]. I’m sure you’ve all heard of her, at least a little, right?”
“So you’re the Miss Violet our father mentioned? What an honor to meet you!”
“…Oh. Hello, everyone.”
Led by Yir and Elva, the group of seven or eight young swordsmen and swordswomen all turned toward the black-haired girl, respectfully bowing in the junior’s greeting. Violet gave a slight nod in return, but her expression looked a bit distracted, as if she was deep in thought.
Not noticing this, Carinvega naturally continued the introductions.
“This is Miss Yir Bernard, daughter of the Swift Wind Sword Saint Bevis Bernard. She’s also one of his most outstanding students. You’ve probably heard of the six disciples under the Sword Saint, right? Each was personally trained by him, one-on-one, and all of them have reached legendary rank. Miss Yir is the youngest of those six disciples. She’s only 17 years old, by the way.”