People often wonder why villains holding hostages rarely manage to actually kill them.
Usually, there are two reasons. One is that the hero moves too fast, giving the villain no time to act. As for the second reason…
"Bastard!!"
Syura shoved Leone forward and bolted without hesitation. Killing the woman in his arms might have satisfied his anger, but using her as a shield was far more practical. After all, even a single hair on his head was worth infinitely more than some random slave girl.
Seeing Syura flee, Shuten breathed a sigh of relief. Protecting someone else while fighting was far harder than a one-on-one duel. Though he wasn't lacking in confidence against Esdeath, Syura's departure meant he could finally fight freely.
Without another thought, Shuten lunged straight toward the tip of Esdeath's sword. It seemed suicidal—but just as the blade approached his throat, he twisted his neck at an impossible angle, narrowly dodging the strike.
A vicious grin spread across Shuten's face.
"Let me grant you a swift death!"
His right hand darted past the sword, aiming straight for Esdeath's throat. If this strike connected, it would pierce her windpipe instantly. But that assumed he could land the hit—
BOOM!
A thunderous crash echoed as Esdeath's foot slammed into Shuten's gut, sending him flying. As she retracted her leg, she touched her neck, feeling a fresh streak of blood. The narrow gash was shallow, but unmistakably there.
Seeing her blood-stained fingers, Esdeath's lips curled into a wicked smile.
"Not bad. Not bad at all! That man isn't back yet, so you'll warm me up nicely!"
On the other side, Shuten managed to absorb most of the kick's impact with a practiced roll, leaving him more frustrated than injured. He'd softened the blow on purpose—baiting Esdeath into overextending—but she hadn't taken the bait. He knew her vicious style well: if Esdeath saw a true opening, she'd never hold back.
...
Damn woman! I'll kill you for this!
Running in blind panic, Syura's only thought was how to escape this damned alley. He'd truly felt death brush past him moments ago, all because of that woman!
Fear warped his mind, twisting his rage into raw venom. All he wanted now was to get home and beg his father to capture that woman—to make her his plaything, a toy he could break again and again.
BOOM!
But karma had other plans. Just moments after knocking Leone aside, Syura slammed violently into someone blocking his path.
"You bastard! Get out of my way or I'll kill you!"
Normally, Syura's arrogance knew no bounds, but panic had made him reckless. He didn't even notice that despite charging full speed, he'd bounced off this man as if hitting a steel pillar.
"Oh? You'll kill me?"
Clad in Imperial Guard armor, Lancer sneered down mockingly at the white-haired man sprawled on the ground before him.
After returning to the palace, Lancer's group had been granted a short leave. The grueling events of the past month left everyone exhausted, and rest was desperately needed. Naturally, most headed straight to Entertainment Street. Lancer, however, had neither the mood nor taste for such places, and chose to return home instead.
But as he approached his villa, sounds of battle reached his ears. Concerned, he quickened his pace—just in time for this idiot to barrel straight into him. Lancer could've easily dodged, but the man's frantic glances backward piqued his interest.
Could this guy be connected to that fight?
Deciding to intercept him, Lancer had expected resistance—but blatant threats like this were something else entirely.
Syura cursed his rotten luck.
He'd started today expecting a delightful conquest, but at the moment of triumph, he'd run into an insane woman and now collided with an immovable wall of muscle. Dragged back helplessly by the collar like a beaten dog, Syura burned with resentment, silently swearing vengeance on these two bastards the moment he escaped.
Lancer neither knew nor cared what the man he dragged behind him was thinking. The further he went, the darker his expression grew—because the fight was alarmingly close to his own home. He wasn't worried about property damage—the villa belonged to the Empire, after all—but Leone's safety was another matter.
When he reached his backyard, the scene awaiting him was a shattered garden wall, a muscular man covered in blood, and Esdeath wearing her familiar bloodthirsty grin.
"Heh~ The main event's arrived. You're finished now."
Esdeath's taunt was habit by now. She instantly recognized Lancer approaching the battlefield and couldn't resist mocking her opponent. Shuten, however, frowned at what he thought was a cheap trick to distract him—until a wave of murderous intent surged from behind, setting his hair on end.
BOOM!
Crossing his arms just in time to block the blow, Shuten felt his bones nearly shatter. But that wasn't what shocked him—it was seeing Syura dangling from the newcomer's grip!
Though Shuten still had plenty of fight left in him, Syura's safety forced him to abandon his aggressive style. He instantly switched to a cautious, defensive stance.
Lancer didn't fully understand the situation yet, but one thing was clear: the martial artist facing Esdeath definitely knew the man in his grip. To test his theory, Lancer lifted Syura higher into view—and saw the other man's pupils constrict sharply.
Interesting. This bastard isn't some nobody.
"Who are you people?"
"I'm the bodyguard of Lord Honest's son. Sir, you'd best release young master Syura at once…"
Though resorting to threats made Shuten inwardly cringe, he hadn't forgotten his duty. He doubted it would actually work, but it was his best move at the moment. Yet—
"Honest?"
Hearing that name, Lancer's eyes instantly sharpened.
---
T/N: OHOHOHO WRONG WORDS
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