Hearing the conversation between Huohuo and Tail, Sylvia's hand, holding her chopsticks, paused for a moment.
Didn't they say there probably wouldn't be any here?...
Wait, didn't I just hear from Stelle that this whole rumor was just a marketing stunt to boost Aurum Alley's popularity?
She'd already composed herself, ready to dig in and feast, and now suddenly a Heliobus pops up?
"Big sister..."
Huohuo looked up at her.
Sylvia had no choice but to put down her half-eaten dish:
"Let's go. The Heliobus takes priority."
With that, Sylvia turned and quickly told the shop owner she'd be back for her takeout.
Then, without time for further explanation, she left the shop with Huohuo.
"Huohuo, which way are we headed? Does Tail know?"
"Mr. Tail?"
"Don't order me around! Tch! Can't you find it yourself?"
Tail grumbled and complained, using the flame at the tip of his tail to point a direction.
Even though it was a bit conspicuous out here in public, Huohuo still took Sylvia's hand and ran that way.
--+--
Meanwhile.
Inside the Heliobus's illusion—
"Huh? Where'd the ghost go? Shopkeeper... did you see that ghost just now?"
Sushang gripped her Xuanyuan Sword, looking utterly spooked as she eyed the foxian girl before her, who held a beautiful, elegant sword.
"You jest, customer. What ghost? Weren't you the one who said you wanted to learn swordsmanship and followed me here? Just now, though, you suddenly clutched your head—are you feeling unwell?"
"...Is that so?"
Sushang scratched her head stupidly, feeling like her memory of the shop was a bit fuzzy.
Maybe it was what the shopkeeper said, but maybe it wasn't.
"Oh, dear, why guess? Just watch this sword technique, and you'll know."
The foxian girl, dressed in an elegant long gown, raised her sword. She didn't look like a swordswoman.
More like a dancer.
"You use a sword in a dress like that?"
"It's precisely in a dress like this that swordsmanship shines~ Now, be careful, customer~"
With that, the foxian girl smiled sweetly, twirled her sword in a flourish, and then her skirt billowed. Sushang didn't even see her feet move.
In a blink, the girl was like a gust of wind, right before her eyes.
A sharp, dazzling sword light slashed towards her!
"So fast—?!"
Sushang was stunned. Her heavy sword couldn't parry in time; she could only dodge sideways, barely managing to raise her blade vertically.
Using the weight of the Xuanyuan Sword, she deflected the girl's sharp strike.
"I have many different sword techniques, customer! Watch closely!"
"Huh? Why does this move look familiar?"
The foxian girl's attacks, devoid of killing intent or malice, immediately drew Sushang's full focus into the duel.
All those earlier uneasy feelings were completely forgotten.
--+--
Elsewhere.
"Heehee~ This one seemed so-so, but her swordsmanship isn't bad."
The 'Sushang' lying in the empty room suddenly opened her eyes. Faint, unremarkable flames flickered around her body before rapidly subsiding.
At the same time, she let out a strange, charming giggle.
"But... seems like this girl's friend is also a master? Heehee, now I absolutely have to go see for myself~ Slicing a Emanator of Destruction in one blow? I've gotta learn that!"
As 'Sushang' spoke, she flipped her hand and grasped the unbearably heavy Xuanyuan Sword.
"Oof—so heavy?! What kind of girl is this?"
The greatsword's weight made Sushang stumble, nearly dragging her to the floor.
"No wonder her swings looked so slow. There's a reason for it... Interesting, interesting! I'm about to learn some amazing sword skills!"
Sushang, now moving strangely, dragged the Xuanyuan Sword with one hand and pushed open the door to leave.
--+--
"Come to think of it... Tail can sense the exact location of his own kind, huh."
Sylvia watched Tail, who was acting as a guide, curiously. He seemed like a radar. Sylvia couldn't do anything similar.
Not unless that Heliobus appeared nearby; only then could she sense it.
"Nonsense. It's because that bastard isn't even trying to hide and is actively coming closer—it's challenging me!"
Tail's attitude remained as grumpy as ever.
He even tried to persuade Huohuo to undo the seal on her tail.
So Tail could go out and devour that overconfident Heliobus.
"N-no, I can't undo the seal... Besides, it's just not hiding. How is that a challenge?"
"Pah! I'm gonna eat it raw anyway! Just undo the seal for me!"
"No!"
Huohuo held onto Sylvia's hand, using the meekest tone to say the most defiant words.
It made Tail so mad he couldn't stop cursing, but they kept moving forward, heading into increasingly desolate areas.
By now, they'd left all the pedestrians behind.
"It's coming! Let me at it!"
"No reckless moves!"
If it were just her alone as usual, Huohuo might have relied on Tail's power.
But with Sylvia accompanying her today, Huohuo felt that providing backup was enough.
Now Huohuo clutched a command flag and held a gourd, looking ready for action.
But just then.
The figure that turned the corner of the alley made both Huohuo and Sylvia freeze.
"Sushang?"
"Miss Sushang?! Oh no, Big Sister, Miss Sushang has been possessed by a Heliobus!"
Huohuo, having dealt with Heliobuses more often, quickly assessed the situation.
But Sylvia had never seen a possessed person before.
While games had special effects making it obvious, in reality, apart from her demeanor and expression, Sylvia couldn't really tell.
"Oh? So you're the one called Sylvia?"
'Sushang' dragged the Xuanyuan Sword as she strode purposefully toward Sylvia.
And her pace quickened.
Finally, she charged forward, sword raised, her expression twisting ferociously:
"Let me see your blade!"
"Huohuo, get back!"
Clang—!!
Crimson flames erupted from within Sylvia.
The red greatsword, wreathed in flames, left its sheath. As she shielded Huohuo behind her, she swung the greatsword with force, firmly catching the Xuanyuan Sword as it smashed down from above.
The heavy sword struck with immense power, but Sylvia held steady.
Yet the bricks beneath her feet shattered into dust, exploding outwards.
"Aahhh—Big Sister, talismans, talismans!!"
"Hmph, still throwing those lousy talismans? Just let me out!"
Behind her, Huohuo was startled. She squeezed her eyes shut and frantically tossed her self-made buff talismans towards Sylvia.
Sylvia heard Huohuo's wail and glanced sideways.
Confirming Huohuo was safe, she spun and kicked, forcing back the possessed Sushang trying to ambush her.
Good thing Sushang wielded the Xuanyuan Sword; it was incredibly heavy.
Though powerful, her swings couldn't be that fast.
In comparison.
Sylvia's greatsword looked bigger, but it was lighter than the Xuanyuan Sword, making her fighting style much quicker.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.