CHAPTER 77 – KATE ZEPHYRUS ORIGIN

KATE ZEPHYRUS

In the frigid expanse of the Elysian snow, my parents endured a life of servitude as dragonoid slaves in the grand metropolis of Elysia. My mother's days were tethered to the Elysian Oracle, attending to its whims, while my father, a sellsword known in the halls of the late Elysian King, carved his path through the tumultuous times.

Seeking refuge from the War of the Four Empires, they migrated to Alterra, my mother carrying the scars of a gunshot wound, a malevolent souvenir from the conflict that festered within her, rendering her bedridden.

Our small family, including me as a helpless infant, sought solace with my grandmother in the rustic haven of Tasty Town. There, amidst the quaint simplicity, my grandmother assumed the role of caretaker, tending to my ailing mother and me. To sustain us, my father, once a loyal sellsword, now turned to any job that could fill our table with sustenance.

A versatile mercenary, my father engaged in dubious alliances with modern-day pirates and bandits, pilfering goods or carrying out sinister deeds on behalf of clients. Money flowed freely from such activities, but it proved powerless against the inexorable march of my mother's suffering.

In the rural outskirts, where the whispers of the city were drowned by the winds, my mother succumbed to her affliction when I was but three years old. Her departure left an indelible void, and, as a child, her face eludes my recollections.

With her passing, my father descended into the abyss of despair. His return home became a macabre spectacle, often marked by the stains of blood—either his own or that of his victims. He sought solace in intoxication, unleashing chaos upon our humble abode.

Yet, amidst the darkness, a flicker of tenderness remained for me, his daughter. In moments of clarity, he imparted his skills, teaching me the art of swordplay and combat magic, a paradoxical blend of love and the violence that defined his existence.

In addition to swordsmanship, my father schooled me in the clandestine arts — the subtleties of pickpocketing, the art of intimidation, and the swift execution of hit-and-run robberies. To him, I was the heir to his perilous legacy, destined to continue his illicit endeavors. From a young age, I engaged in risky, unlawful activities to earn quick money, navigating the shadowy world of crime throughout my middle school years.

"Kate, you have to be strong. Stronger than anyone. Stronger than me. Both physically and mentally. Time will come, and you will be the provider for this family. You will have to take care of your grandmother once I’m gone," my father declared with a somber certainty. Little did I know, his words were a prophecy that would unfold sooner than expected.

At the age of fifteen, the Imperial Police arrested my father for the murder of a duke. His justification was that he had witnessed the noble violating a dragonoid woman on the street. In a misguided pursuit of justice, my father brandished a bat, delivering a fatal blow to the duke's head. What he saw as protection led to his incarceration, his commitment to the cause leaving him behind bars for the rest of his days.

Discovering the truth ignited a fiery rage within me. Even within the confines of Tasty Town's Magic High School, I became a delinquent, a turbulent force seeking justice on my terms. I confronted every bully, embodying my father's ideals with unwavering conviction, determined to uphold what he believed in, even if it meant embracing the darker aspects of his legacy.

In the hallways of Magical High School, I emerged as a force against injustice, responding to the cries of the oppressed with swift, physical retribution.

Witnessing a student cruelly dunking another into a toilet triggered a visceral response — breaking the ribs of the perpetrator became my method of intervention, sending them limping to the school clinic. Similarly, when gangs targeted women, I confronted them head-on, beating them to a pulp without hesitation.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

My actions earned me the moniker "Kate the Destroyer" among the student body. With a physique resembling someone who frequents the gym daily and my crimson hair pulled back in a ponytail, I became a symbol of vigilante justice, a living embodiment of strength and resistance.

One day, I encountered Gaeun, a shy, bullied dragonoid girl, being tormented by three classmates in the streets. Enduring their cruelty silently, Gaeun never fought back, even as the bullies went so far as to spit on her hair and stick bubble gum on her skirt.

I couldn't stand idly by; I unleashed my fists upon the tormentors, regardless of their gender. In my eyes, justice and true gender equality were inseparable, and my fists became the equalizers marked with an "E for everyone."

My actions did not go unnoticed. Summoned by the Student Council Vice President, Hiraya Misteltein, I found myself in their room for counseling. The clash between my vigilant pursuit of justice and the school's more formal structures awaited resolution.

"Kate Zephyrus," Hiraya's voice cut through the room. "You have a record of assaulting students not only in this campus but also in others. Care to explain yourself?"

"I only punish bullies. Don't worry about it, elf," I retorted, lacking any semblance of respect.

Hiraya sighed. "We've been overlooking your vigilantism, Kate. Both Prez Gregory and I. But we're asking you to refrain. It's for your own safety."

"Don't concern yourself with my safety. I can take care of myself. Thank you very much," I replied coldly, dismissing the elf vice president as I left.

Later that afternoon, a feeling of being followed lingered in the air. Turning into a dark alley, I found myself surrounded by a gang armed with improvised weapons. Outnumbered and overpowered, I became the target of their aggression. Pipes smacked against my cheeks, baseball bats aimed to break my bones, and brass knuckles shattered my ribs in a brutal onslaught from twenty assailants. The reality of my vulnerability became painfully evident in the darkened alley.

Trapped, helpless, with a gun pointed at my head, I listened to their furious screams, vowing vengeance for a gang member I had sent to the hospital a few months prior. As the final act, they planned to suffocate me, tightening a chain around my neck.

"A-Ack!" I choked, the chain constricting my windpipe, making each breath a desperate struggle. In the midst of this dire situation, an unexpected savior emerged.

"Man, you hooligans sure love gangbanging on lone people. No wonder high school girls stay away from you," a voice resonated through the alley.

Turning our attention to the source, a silhouette against the full moon revealed an elven beauty descending gracefully. It was Hiraya Misteltein, the Vice President of Magic High School herself.

Hiraya landed with poise, addressing the gang's leader who held a revolver in his hand. The gang members circled around Hiraya and their leader.

"I want you to release that girl immediately," Hiraya stated with a smile, a firmness in her voice that brooked no argument.

"Hah! Don't you know who I am? I am Tasty Town's Django! The fastest gunslinger!" The gang leader laughed. "If you want me to release that girl, then do me a favor and get naked, right now."

"Wow, you kiss your mom with that dirty mouth?" Hiraya teased. She then revealed a pistol holstered on her leg. "I'll tell you what. Let's have a duel. If I win, you let Kate go. If you win, well... you'll never win," she winked.

"Ha! You're so arrogant! Nobody has ever defeated me in a duel. That's why I'm still alive, bitch," the gang leader retorted. "Now let's do it the wild west way!"

The tension in the alley escalated as all eyes focused on the duel between the gang leader and the student council vice president. Concern gripped me; I feared for Hiraya's safety. However, she defied my expectations.

Just as the gang leader's fingers twitched, echoing gunshots filled the air. Hiraya revealed a second pistol, hidden in her blazer. Her other hand had been poised there the entire time, and the weapon was aimed at the gang leader's forehead even before the duel had officially begun. The tables had turned, and Hiraya's strategic prowess prevailed over the gang leader's bravado.

Witnessing their leader crumble, the gang members scattered like startled rats, leaving me alone in the aftermath. Hiraya swiftly approached, releasing the chains from my neck. She then employed her healing touch magic to tend to my injuries.

"W-Wait, did you just kill a person?" I asked, a mixture of shock and curiosity in my voice.

"Nope. I used rubber bullets, enhanced with wind magic. Enough to put him to sleep or comatose, but he's still breathing," Hiraya explained with an innocent smile.

I scoffed. "I never thought that the ever so elegant and beautiful elven Vice President Hiraya Misteltein is such a badass."

"Well, you're pretty much a badass too, Kate," Hiraya returned the smile. She extended her hand to help me stand. "Say, I could use your vigilante talent in the student council."

I regarded her proposal, a mix of surprise and intrigue on my face. The unexpected alliance between a vigilante and a student council was an unusual twist, but as I took Hiraya's hand, I couldn't help but wonder what new challenges and adventures awaited us.