Chapter 403: Raphael vs Elna


    Elna flew to the border and immediately moved on to investigate the area.


    Since Al judged that something has happened here, she thought that there must be something that stands out enough for her to spot.


    However, as far as she could see from the sky, there was nothing out of the ordinary.


    Still.


    I can smell blood and fire.


    Elnanded in a seemingly normal forest.


    It was the ce where the escort unit was based.


    There, she could see a trace of a big explosion and countless corpses.


    It seems that they could barely put up any resistance huh.


    Looking at the corpses, she found that they were all killed using the same method.


    This is not a sh between soldiers. They were wiped out by a well-crafted ambush.


    However, there are only a few people who can single-handedly wipe out a unit of 100 elite soldiers.


    And seeing the manner in which these soldiers were killed, Elna can think of one person.


    You are watching, right? Come on out, Raphael.


    so scary. I never thought that you would notice.


    Raphael who hid his presence in the wood suddenly came out.


    He was observing this ce in case someone was dispatched to check on the escort unit.


    He intended to leave the capture of the Princess to the Dominion army but he still has to set the stage for them.


    However, instead of a normal patrol unit, he was greeted with a ridiculous opponent.


    As expected of the Dull Prince. He can send out his strongest card without even a second thought huh.


    I havent heard anyone call him like thattely.it seems that I have one more reason to kill you now.


    Saying so, Elna unsheathed her sword.


    Then.


    I thought that one of us Imperial Knight Captains would get the chance to kill you.but Im d that I can do it with my own hand.


    Looking down on me quite a bit arent you. Most of the Imperial Knights Captains are not worth being my opponent you know. At least they would have to send out one of the Captains from the top three corps. It seems that my head really doesnt have that much worth to them huh.


    Dont overestimate yourself. 10th Corp Captain.


    Have you never heard the word a clever hawk hides its ws? Shouldnt you be quite familiar with that given that you are the childhood friend of that Dull Prince?


    Raphael also unsheathed his sword and got ready to fight.


    They continued to re at each other for a while.


    Their murder intent collided and the ce felt suffocating.


    Both of them dont have any intention to back down.


    With each of them fully intending to kill each other here, they can not afford to move carelessly.


    If one of them moves, the other will immediately unleash a deadly blow.


    The tension here is like a strained thread.


    Even a small action can trigger it to snap.


    In that situation, a butterfly flew in front of them.


    It was a single moment where their line of sight was obstructed.


    A single moment.


    Both of them stepped forward.


    HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!


    AAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!


    Elna headed straight and swung down her sword from the top while Raphael met with an upward swing from below.


    Their speed is about the same.


    That fact made Raphael frown.


    After all, he took pride in the fact that he was faster than her.


    And another undeniable fact.


    HAAA!!


    UGH!!


    When ites to power, Elna is superior.


    Thats why to Raphael, if he has superior speed, they can fight as equals.


    Their swords violently collided and it was Raphael who was pushed back.


    Following the momentum of her swing, Elna blows Raphael away.


    Raphael was blown away but he managed to keep his stance.


    Just like that, Raphael immediately tried to retreat toward the Empire.


    If he kept getting pushed back like this and retreated further to the Dominion side, the n will copse.


    As usual, you are still quick to run away huh!


    Well, your thinking is still as shallow as always.


    Raphael who was always on the offensive is not on the defensive.


    This is to keep Elna chasing him.


    However, at the same time, Raphael was also shaken by Elna.


    Isnt it you whos thinking is shallow? Betraying the Empire was foolish of you.


    From what I saw, the Empire is already quite unstable though? Dont you think that it would be bad if the Dull Prince got assassinated here?


    He lured her out.


    Raphael made his words sound like he nned this from the beginning.


    In truth, Als assassination is not a part of the n.


    It was totally unexpected that Elna woulde out here herself. The thing they counted on was that Elna would never leave Als side.


    However, Elna is not with Al right now.


    This is the best chance to assassinate him.


    Even so.


    Try it. My subordinates wont allow him to get assassinated so easily.


    You are quite trusting in your subordinates huh?


    Yeah. There are not that many assassins who can slip through the protection of Imperial Knights. If there is someone like that then it would at least be a captain-ss opponent.


    Saying so, Elna kicked Raphael in the stomach and blew him away.


    The kick itself doesnt cause that much damage. Elna was simply using it to relieve her irritation.


    You sure have a bad habit of kicking others huh!


    You have anything else to say?


    Saying so, Elna slowly closes the distance.


    Elna did not let her guard down.


    She already judged that Raphaels words were only meant to upset her.


    In their first exchange, she noticed that Raphael was surprised at her arrival.


    So she is sure that he did not lure her out here on purpose.


    That being the case, what she must do now is to thoroughly crush him.


    After all, she cant afford to let anyone who has the capability of assassinating Al moving around unchecked.


    It seems that you have no intention of letting me go huh.


    Naturally.


    Raphael felt that she is different from the time he faced her in the Imperial Capital.


    Back then Elna was distracted by various things.


    Thats why she couldnt keep up with Raphael who was focusing solely on escaping.


    Raphaelughs at that.


    Im d.you finally recognize me as an equal.


    Dont get ahead of yourself. You are nothing to me. I am only focusing on what I have to do now.


    I see


    Saying so, Raphael slowly lowered his sword.


    At first nce, he seems to be full of openings with both his hands lowered.


    There was no killing intent or fighting spirit from him.


    It was a posture that looked like he had abandoned everything, something that was close to nothingness.


    However, Elna noticed that it is a fighting stance.


    Exposing your weak points and waiting for a counter? Isnt that posture a little too extreme?


    It is probably a stance designed to parry an attack and create an opening.


    However, that stance has no defensive value. It was quite extreme to abandon all your defense in order to devote your entire focus to perform a counter.


    In a battle between Imperial Knight Captains, being attacked while you are defenseless can lead to fatal injuries.


    Doing this with Elna as his opponent requires considerable courage from Raphael.


    However.


    If you want me to attack you then I will grant your wish.


    Elna smiles and holds up her sword.


    She then thrust full-speed toward Raphael.


    However, instead of trying to deflect the thrust, Raphael tries to create an opening to strike Elna.


    I got you!!


    Raphael also thrust his whole body toward Elna.


    It was the fastest thrust with the assistance of wind magic.


    No one can avoid that.


    Elna exposed her [weakness] after sheunched her attack.


    Rushing past her, Elna looks like she is full of openings to Raphael.


    Using this perfect counter, Raphael thrust out his arm.


    However, his thrust was deflected just before it hit.


    Then.


    What..?


    A dry sound echoed and Raphaels sword broke.


    Countering your opponent by exploiting their weakness.


    Elna did the same.


    She lured him in for an attack and counter it.


    It was a dangerous technique but it was nothing for Elna.


    Such a technique does not exist in the Brave house. She simply saw through Raphaels stance and understood what he wanted to do.


    That was enough for Elna to pull it off.


    That was an interesting technique..but it was easy to deal with.


    Impossible, thinking so, Raphae tries to move his leg.


    However, before he could do that, Elha grabbed Raphaels neck.


    GaHAA..!


    Is it that shocking for you to be defeated by your own move? Well, that does improve my mood. I thought that I couldnt feel refreshed just by hitting you alone you see.


    Elna mmed Raphael on the ground with a horrifying cold re.


    Unable to do anything, Raphaels face distorted in pain.


    Just like that, Elna squeezed Raphaels neck.


    She wanted to kill him here but capturing him would yield a better result.


    And her reason won over.


    Go to sleep. You might lose an arm or two when you wake up though.


    Ugh


    Even while knowing that this situation is bad for him, Raphael couldnt do anything to resist.


    His consciousness began to fade.


    He cant afford to get caught here.


    Thinking that he has to do something, Raphael reached out to the sky


    Then, a person dressed in a ck robe appeared behind Elna.


    ! ! ? ?


    Although she was strangling Raphael, Elna was surprised that someone took her back so easily.


    She swings her sword at the robed individual but it was parried and Elna was kicked away.


    UGh!? Who are you!!??


    Immediately standing back up, Elna is ready to attack.


    However, she couldnt step forward.


    Her intuition told her that if she took even a single step forward she would be entering this shady ck-robed persons range.


    Cough.cough..you saved me


    I was requested to.


    Well, fine..lets kill her together.


    Saying so, Raphael holds up his broken sword.


    He judged that he can still fight if he uses wind magic topensate.


    However.


    A swordsman whose sword is broken is already lost. Give up and withdraw.


    I still have a trump card.


    If you have a n then I will not stop you but I will take no part in it.


    Raphael clicked his tongue at the ck-robed person.


    Seeing that, the ck-robed person threw a ck ball at the ground.


    Well then, Elna von Amsberg. Lets meet again.


    Stop right there!!


    When Elna realized the power of that ck ball.


    She was already toote.


    It was an ancient magic tool.


    A [transfer magic tool] that can be excavated from ruins on rare asions.


    It can reproduce the ancient transfer magic. The two were swallowed by the ck hole and disappeared.


    Once that ck hole disappears, she can not chase them anymore. Elna has to swing her sword down in frustration.


    Who was that..?


    When was it since someone has taken her back so perfectly?


    There is no doubt about it.


    That person was stronger than Raphael.


    Elna bitterly puts her sword away.


    I have to go back and report this.


    If the enemy has someone with that much power helping them then any n is possible for them.


    This is not the time to be bitter about it.


    While scolding herself, Elna immediately headed back to Al.


    TLN: Why do I smell a silver haired half vampire.


    -Mr.Graverobber