An unfamiliar opponent. Butâ¦
Rishe exhaled briefly and struck Leo in return.
She grabbed his wrist and dragged him back. She whirled to Leoâs back where his balance collapsed, grabbed his clothes and pulled him back.
Leo clicked his tongue and immediately tried to crouch down. But she expected him to move that way.
Itâs the only way out!
âW-Whoa!â
Taking advantage of Leoâs movement, she knocked him to the ground instead. Leo immediately tried to regain his posture, but Rishe instantly swept his legs and knocked him down.
âDamnâ¦â
If he has a weapon hereâ¦!!
When his back hit the ground, Leo threw something he had hidden in his sleeve to Rishe. She knew it was a small stone after she reflexively avoided it.
Rishe flipped Leo over and reached for the hem of her dress at the same time. With the rope hidden in the strap on her thigh, she restrained Leo behind him.
âLet me go!â
She tightly knotted the rope around his wrists and finished with a special knot to prevent him from untying it. She didnât intend to hold him for a long time, so there was no need to break his bones.
âThis sucks! You, how did you know my movements?â
âI understand you perfectly. ââI know how to use my small figure to my advantage.â
Leoâs strikes were top-notch.
So, she effortlessly predicted his movements. He was lean and precise â there was no other way out, so Rishe easily determined it.
âAll the long range weapons are less powerful. Stone throwing, dagger throwing, not even a bow and arrow.â
ââ¦?â
She stood up, brushed the dirt off her dress, and continued.
âThe techniques are difficult to master, despite them having low lethalityâ¦If you want to absolutely defeat your enemy, you have to smear them with poison.
âSo what?â
âYou have the poison, right?â
Eyes as red as strawberries glared at Rishe.
âIf you had used it beforehand, you could have at least apprehended me. So why didnât you use it?â
âYouâre the one to talk. You didnât even give me a chance to hit you.â
Leo retorted resentfully, but it was a question if he paid heed to it.
At any rate, Risheâs condition was slowly deteriorating. Sweat was trickling down her bandaged neck, though she hid it behind a calm visage.
Iâm dizzy and fatigued, resembling an anemicâ¦Itâs because Iâm running all over the place that the poison is draining my energy.
She really wanted to head for the cathedral right now, but that was impossible if she couldnât get her breathing under control.
Even though she trained every morning, it took time to build up her physical strength. Rishe looked at Leo, careful not to let her breathing get out of control.
âYou didnât use a weapon smeared with poison because you were worried about me, right?â
âNo.â
âI beg to differ. Youâre too gentle a child, unfit to kill people.â
âStop it! Itâs only been a few days since weâve met, but donât speak as if youâve known me all my life. Donât talk to me like youâre a family or sister!â
Leo rolled on the ground and glared at Rishe with a piercing gaze.
âI had to stop you guys. Even if it meant Iâm dead here, or kill you.â
âLeoâ¦â
âBut why?â
His small shoulders were quivering.
Rishe gasped at the sight of it.
No wayâ¦
Rishe kneeled in front of Leo.
As she supported him up, she looked down into his eyes and asked, âLeoâ¦â
ââ¦â
âWho exactly are your enemies?â
She realized that all her conjectures were wrong.
She asked him to confirm that her guess was right.
Leo was holding something back, then looked resigned and let out an unchildlike sigh.
âMy enemy is Garkhain.â
Leo looked Rishe straight in the eye.
âAnd the Archbishops of the Krushade Order.â
ââ¦!!â