I don't get why you HAVE TO POINT OUT IT'S A REPOST BY ME, THE AUTHOR WHEN IT'S SO OBVIOUS!
Ugh.
You guys never WOULD'VE SEEN Alice if I didn't post it here, so why are you complaining that I did?
It's making me grumpy, sorry.
Sigh...
Whatever, let's just.. yeah. Whatever.
Now I know what you're thinking, yeah, yeah. I get it.
Miu is a very angry writer.
Yes, yes she is.
Part 1
"Mama...! Mama, wake up alweady..."(Aya)
Hearing Aya's flustered voice, I woke up from an unpleasant dream.
I opened my eyes.
"Aya...? What's going on...?"
I ask, still slightly sleepy.
Urgh...
I felt a little groggy but also refreshed at the same time.
I had postponed my meeting with Nide's teammates for a week, so I feel a little guilty as well.
...Just a little. Hmm? What's this?
I look at Aya in wonder.
Aya only pointed towards the window with a worried look on her face.
Let's see...
Looking outside,
The birds were singing and the weather was just perfect for a walk, but--
"Bandit invasion!!"
I heard a loud shout from outside. The words rang in my head.
What?! Bandits?
My eyes opened wide as I peeked out the window once more.
Several guards in armor were trying to fight off a group of men wearing pieces of armor that didn't match.
The guards were well-trained, but the number of the bandits was simply too overwhelming, causing the guards to die off one by one.
I have to escape. Hoh. Nide... where's Nide?
After the event where he spotted me... almost naked a week ago, I had completely ignored him for the entire time.
Today, however, I feel much calmer. It'd be good if he was safe.
It's probably because my monthly period is over.
Hmm... Alright. If the city's being invaded, they'll take the women and children and all of the goods.
Everything else, they will burn down.
I have to find Nide.
"Lady Alice, are you still here? Lady Alice!"(Nide)
Well, well, well. Speak of the Kidnapper and he shall appear.
"I'm here, Nide."(Alice)
I opened the door, clad in a pink dress that Nide had gifted to me a week ago.
"Lady Alice!"(Nide)
Before me was Kidnapper in knight's armor without the leather parts. He had the usual bow and quiver with a new, steel sword hanging at the scabbard on his hip.
He was in that funny knight's salute posture with his arm wrapped around his belly. With the addition of the sword, it looked quite gallant instead.
It seems he had been called to arms but went to me instead. ...Hmph.
Not like I was looking for you or anything, idiot~
By the way, Aya was wearing a dress matching mine. Speaking of which, I haven't thanked him yet... but this is no time for that.
Taking Aya's hand, I tell her that everything's going to be alright as Nide led us out of the building.
The shouts and clashing of metal was even louder on the outside, even the ordinary men fought the bandits back as militia.
The streets were already empty. No doubt, right at this moment, nobody cares about another person's life.
It is run or die.
"Lady Alice, this way!"(Nide)
Nide was considerate of me and Aya as he ran a bit slower to make sure we could catch up.
The city was in a panic. Even I was a little anxious as the number of hooligans was simply enormous.
Soon enough, we reached a place with buildings a bit too close together. It's also dirty and smelly...
I voice out, "Nide... is this a bandit raid? It seems more like an invasion to me..."
I trail off near the end as I saw a woman on the ground, a bit far from us.
It's none of my business. Our plate is already full.
Before her were two men, ready to take home their spoils.
As Aya, Nide and I had been in the cover of chaos, neither the woman nor the bandits noticed us. Or maybe it was because we were too far?
Why isn't she escaping?
I get anxious as I watch the woman from afar. She soundlessly waited for them, without even screaming.
Could she have fainted already?
Or had she given in to despair?
With that in mind, I couldn't keep running with the intent to escape.
I'm sorry, Alice... I'll be a bit rough, but I promise to finish quick.
Either way, I--
Part 2 - Nide's Point of View
"Lady Alice!"(Nide)
"Mama!"(Aya)
Lady Alice, Aya and I were running when suddenly, Lady Alice ran faster before passing me.
As she overtook me, she drew the sword that was attached to my hip and took one arrow from my quiver before dashing off towards the right.
What? Why? We need to escape--
As I turn my eyes in the direction Lady Alice went, I finally saw it.
A girl had been knocked down, two men approached her slowly, clearly with vile intent.
Could it be... Lady Alice spotted that before me? Maybe... she has better makings than I to be an archer.
What sharp eyes... it just looks like visages from here...
I thought while realizing how shameful I had been.
Some Hawkeye I am...
As I was thinking that, Lady Alice had ran in a speed even faster than me when I wore light armor.
...What the hell? Eltra... That's rather unfair, isn't it?
I held Aya back and told her to hide while I go help Lady Alice, only to be glared at,
"Noo~ I have to help mama! Stuupid Naii-te~"
...I had been scolded by a child.
Oh whatever.
I carried Aya on my back as I rushed to where Lady Alice had ran off to.
The heavy armor wasn't fit for me, really.
I had taken longer than usual and was even panting when I had arrived by Lady Alice's side.
By that time, Lady Alice had already started the inquisition.
One of the men was already on the ground, the single arrow Lady Alice took was stuck deep in his eye.
With a single look, I could tell that he had been killed cleanly and mercilessly.
Lady Alice had a blank expression, a cold one that sent shivers down my spine.
The girl was behind her, still on the ground with a tearful expression.
She must have been a slave, judging from her ragged clothes.
This part of the city were the slums, so slave dealers were plentiful around here.
The houses were built almost too close to each other, making it rather narrow.
The people were poor, but not unhappy.
They could be considered lively--
As I thought that, I slowly came to a realization.
There is no one else here.
Everyone escaped.
A man was on the ground, perfectly executed.
Lady Alice murdered someone.
But of course, that is only perfectly natural. It happens all the time.
I slowly turn my head to peek at Aya's expression.
I can't let this lead to trauma...
But to my surprise--
"..."(Aya)
Aya had only stared at the remaining bandit menacingly.
She didn't pay any attention to the fallen one, as if saying,
Don't care, not a threat.
"--run now and live, boy. Then come back to fight another day."(Alice)
She had spoken without any malice, as if it was just business, nothing personal.
"...!"(bandit)
But of course, a colleague of his had been killed right before his eyes, causing him to become agitated.
The air was tense, but not for Lady Alice. She had been the source of such a terrifying air.
"I don't want to raise my killcount any more today, so please just run."(Alice)
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As she spoke with terms I didn't recognize, I could only watch in a daze.
With that, the bandit had put down his blade.
"Oii. What's this? Being held long by a little girl-- Wha?! Gerian! G-Gerian's dead!"(???)
Just as he planned to surrender, backup had arrived.
They raised loud voices as at least six more of them arrived.
The bandit, who had already surrendered frowned, as if finding that his resolve had been stepped on by the coming backup.
As soon as they realized that I had a bow, their anger was then directed at me--
Oh crap.
The men came forward all at once.
This Gerian must have been their friend.
"Nide. Protect the girl."(Alice)
Lady Alice commanded without even turning to look at me.
...Just who is this girl? I couldn't help but wonder.
I want to help, clearly she can't take them all--
Just as I was thinking that, Lady Alice rushed forward, meeting the sword of the fastest runner among the bandits.
Shhrkk
With a shrill sound of clashing metal, lady Alice had parried the first bandit's blade easily.
As soon as his sword got sent back, his vision swirled as he lost both legs.
The second he looked up, his throat had met the tip of Lady Alice's sword.
The space for fighting was very narrow, so I couldn't fight by her side.
Luckily, I use a bow.
It was also because of this that the bandits had no choice but to fight her one on one.
Though that wasn't the problem.
"Mama's a spidew!"(Aya)
Exactly as Aya said, the reason why I could aim at all was because lady Alice had run up the walls of the buildings and alternated between them like an insect before jumping down again, cutting the bandits down.
Despite that fact, I couldn't shoot any of them down.
The reason? Well, because they're already asleep.
The massacre took no less than five seconds, to be truthful.
With that, I have made a conclusion.
Lady Alice is a freak of nature.
The last three bandits were on guard.
The one that had surrendered had quietly disappeared, while the girl had gotten up on her knees, watching lady Alice take her would-be kidnappers down.
Two of them rushed at once, both with shortswords in hand. One of them thrust his sword right at her face, but she only tilted her head slightly, causing it to cut only her cheek's beautiful skin. Right after, she performed an excellent roundhouse kick, thoroughly snapping both of their necks, the second one not even having a turn.
The final bandit was a giant of a man wielding an axe with a wooden handle. I couldn't help but think that he looked familiar.
Standing at 2.5 feet tall, he stared right at lady Alice's... chest.
So far, lady Alice had no real injuries.
At least that's what I thought until I saw her limping forward.
Her ankle was broken, but she continued without any complaints.
The giant swung his axe horizontally and with might, leaving no room for lady Alice to dodge--
Or so he thought as lady Alice let herself fall backwards, using her sword as a third leg to help keep her balance, she bounced back while the giant was having trouble readjusting his stance because of his heavy weapon.
As lady Alice got up, she smashed the wooden part of the weapon nearest to the axe head, rendering the giant's weapon useless.
"GrrrrRRaaaaaahh!"(Giant)
Lady Alice must have let her guard down at that moment, thinking the giant was now harmless without a weapon--
she realized just how wrong she was as the giant's fist had sent her flying.
Crack!
"Mama! Nooo!"(Aya)
I held Aya back as she screamed.
The spine-chilling sound of bones breaking could be heard as lady Alice's body struck a building's wall while a cloud of dust covered our vision.
Ah...Eltra. What was I doing?!
Watching lady Alice's graceful-- no, continuous massacre had left me standing in a daze.
She's alive. She's got to be.
I eyed the giant, waiting for the dust to settle as I readied my bow.
"Nide. Don't move. This one is mine."(Alice)
Hearing the monotonous voice, I saw lady Alice's terrifying visage as she walked out of the cloud before it settled.
Her right arm hung limp and there were tears streaming down her cheeks, her knees were visibly shaking as well.
Her face had been covered by the blood trickling down from her forehead.
Her hair had been painted red with streaks of silver and her head was slightly tilted, like a broken doll.
But I knew I could not interfere.
Aya also knew this as she wordlessly watched with bated breath.
Hey... your mama's about to die, you know?
Even though I thought that, there was no way I could attack.
It was because of her eyes.
Her eyes were glowing, leaving streaks of light as she limped forward slowly like a puppet.
The pinkish light was rather terrifying, giving the feeling of a ruthless predator.
They were cold and calculating, but not heartless.
It was almost as if lady Alice's body and soul were not in agreement-- as if having different thoughts.
Snap
Crack
Using her available left hand, she forcefully straightened her head.
"...!"(Giant)
It must've hurt a lot, as even the giant was surprised at her durability.
But lady Alice didn't even wince.
Immediately, she launched herself towards a wall and used it as a stepping stone, she bent her knees to the limit before springing towards the giant. As she jumped, I couldn't help but hear the sound of her legs breaking, but she only continued as if it was nothing.
The giant thought to catch her with his well-built arms, but to his surprise--
Slash
His entire arm, up to his shoulder suddenly flew away.
"I'll let you off with this."(Alice)
Lady Alice, who was on the ground said thus.
The giant was dumbfounded.
He had lost the entirety of his arm, but his enemy was incapacitated.
"Girl--Groahuhhh!"(Giant)
Just as he was about to speak, he got on his knees as blood suddenly splattered from his legs.
On both of his muscular thighs, there were long and horizontal wounds, likely from a single stroke.
"...Enough!"(Giant)
Despite that fact, the giant would not give in. He stood back up again, intending to finish off lady Alice.
Seeing that, lady Alice only sighed with a sleepy face.
"I hate having to use this, but... The city should be empty by now, so it's probably fine."(Alice)
Right at that moment, lady Alice, who was still laying on the ground pointed her arm towards the giant.
And--
"Good bye."
A purple flame engulfed the giant, reaching all the way up to the sky.
His screams of agony not even heard, as the crackling of fire drowned it out.
----
"Are you afraid of me?"
She asked.
I smiled, with Aya next to me and the ragged girl on my back.
"No."
There was no need to say anything else.
"I see."
She whispered, as she closed her eyes before--
"Uweeeeehn~"
crying like a child.
"Naide~ Naiide~ It hurts! It hurts!"
Her lips quivered and her shoulders trembled as she curled into a ball, hugging her knees with her moveable arm.
My eyes were drawn to her long eyelashes as she whimpered.
It was only then that I realized how terrifying this girl is.
Too dangerous to be with.
Too adorable to leave alone.
With that, I carried lady Alice as I led Aya and the ragged girl somewhere safe.
No doubt, the other bandits saw that fire.
I have to lead them out of here.
Thinking about lady Alice's almost critical injuries, I ran with only one place in mind.