Chapter 203: Chapter 203: 15-year-old Inglis and the Evil Hyrule Menace (8)

From what Inglis heard from Pullum’s Brother, the man named Hallim, it seemed that what Tiffany, the Hyrule Menace, did wasn’t just looting the residents, but also giving the power of Highlanders to those she chose to be her pawns. And not only that, it seemed that she even seduced them, ensnaring their hearts to do her bidding. This behavior was so different from the other Hyrule Menaces, namely Eris, Ripple, and Cystia.

Those three didn’t have the authority to turn anyone into a Highlander. Although they were indeed sent by the Highland, Eris and Ripple in particular had made it their life mission to protect the Midland and everyone that lived in it, and they took their mission earnestly.

The concept of accumulating pawns under them using seduction was beyond them. If it wasn’t, with the beauty and the strength that both Eris and Ripple had, the Charalia Kingdom would have become a huge mess. At any rate, this Hyrule Menace called Tiffany seems to be different.

She possessed a different kind of strength and had a different standing, perhaps then, Inglis might expect a different kind of battle too. That, she looked forward to. But for now, she had to enjoy the battle right in front of her.

Ian’s persuasion was ineffective and a fight seemed to be inevitable.

「Leave the rest to me. No, if anything, not having this development after delving into an enemy’s territory is pretty boring. Fufufu…」

As a prelude to a battle with a Hyrule Menace, this should serve as a good warm-up.

「No, well……you didn’t have to be so cheerful… I mean, in case you forgot about it, Sir Hallim is Pullum’s older brother and the son of a cabinet minister……So please, I beg you, leave his life intact!」

「Of course I will. Fighting strong people is only good if you can do it time and time again. Just defeating him for one time would be too much of a wasted potential. As long as he’s alive, he can come back to ask for a rematch.」

「No, umm…I appreciate that your intention is in line with mine, but I think there’s something wrong with your reasoning? W-, will it be alright?」

Rafinha gave the worried-looking Ian a strong nod.

「It’s alright, Ian. This is what’s normal for Glis.」

「Eeh?! Are Charalian Knights okay with her like that?!」

「Of course it’s not okay, but Glis is Glis, and you can’t do anything about it. You know, fighting fire with fire kind of thing?」

「I- I see?」

「How rude. Don’t worry, in terms of the end result, I won’t do anything bad to him. I’m just going to have a little bit of fun in the middle, okay?」

「I hope you do. For the time being, don’t you destroy the town like you did the Grand Theatre, you hear me? There are people hiding in the buildings.」

「Yeah, I know that.」

Nodding, Inglis stepped further forward. Behind her, Rafinha, Leone, and Liselotte spread out and took their position. Seeing this, Hallim let out a cold snicker as though taking them as fools.

「Fufu…You Runeless sure can joke.」

「I’m afraid it’s not a joke. We can’t have you ransack this town and take our supplies, so we will resist.」

「Ahahahaha! I won’t show mercy now that you’ve challenged me, you know? Are you really sure about this?」

「Thank you very much, then. I would be happy if you show no mercy whatsoever.」n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

「Good gracious. Even though you are as pretty as Lady Tiffany! You really have gone out of your mind, haven’t you? However, we do have a use for people like you! I will give you to the other Highlanders as their plaything. And while they’re playing, I’ll be spending my time with Lady Tiffany.」

「You may treat me however you like. Once you defeat me, that is.」

「Ha ha ha ha!! I would have a harder time holding back so I wouldn’t kill a Runeless like you! I’ll also throw in the other Knights as a playthi——nnggghh?!!」

Hallim’s high-pitched laughter was cut short mid-sentence. In the blink of an eye, Inglis had walked up to him on his Flygear and grabbed him by the neck. He seemed to be completely incapable of reacting to Inglis’ Ether Armor activated high-speed movement.

「Kgh?! WH-, WHA?!」

「You may say whatever you like to me, I won’t mind, but would you please not say anything funny towards Rani? It may interfere with her healthy physical and mental growth, you see.」

In fact, Rafinha just now spat the word 「Scum!!」 with a disgusted look on her face. Leone and Liselotte also did the same. Pullum, who was listening in her hiding place, must have hated to hear it too. It would be best to keep Hallim’s mouth shut.

「Ga……hak……! This strength, this colossal amount of mana?! Wh-, who the hell are……?!」

Even when he was groaning in pain, Hallim squeezed out those words. Just like what she did in front of Eris some years back, Inglis converted the Ether she had on her into mana.

It was a visualization of power to those who had the sensitivity to sense «Mana». Hallim, who was now a Highlander, sensed it as Inglis intended and seemed to have been taken aback. Now he would be on his guard and come at her with all his might. It was always better to let your opponent exert his everything before you take the win. That is the best way to grow as a person.

「I am but a simple Squire, you know? On a battlefield, I count as nothing more than a foot soldier, so you don’t need to give me any reserve or mercy. Please keep your guard up around me and attack me with all your might, okay?」

Inglis gave him a firm reminder then released her hand from Hallim’s neck before she jumped down from his Flygear. She spun around in the air and landed with a light thud.

「Now please, let us start.」

She braced herself then beckoned with a smile. The inattention and ridicule on Hallim’s face disappeared, as he was now staring daggers at her. A real battle, an actual battlefield, after so long, oh how she had been waiting for this. This fateful encounter, Inglis should make the most fun out of it.