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A gleaming radiance appeared as Melia’s greatsword swung down and struck the flailing Gil. A high-pitched noise rang as Gil’s katana clashed with the greatsword.

Gil twisted and finally jerked himself up, his face twisted in agony from the pain of being struck.

However, he had no time to relax.

In the blink of an eye, Melia’s sword flashed before him once more. Her swing was barbaric. It couldn’t be further from what would be considered a textbook image.

A storm.

The thought crossed Gil’s mind.

Gil laughed at the absurdity of Melia’s barbaric style, which had little to do with her appearance, as their swords clashed.

“Are you that girl’s mother?”

Gil asked, and a fierceness could be seen welling up in Melia’s eyes.

“You’re dead meat, you b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲.”
“I see. The apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree…”

Sparks flashed as the katana and the greatsword clashed once more.

… Formidable.

That was the word that both of them came to. Their sense of danger for one another increased as a result of that realization.

The two, who had reached the level of masters, had observed each other’s body language and strength over the course of several exchanges.

“You scum. Do you really think a lowly kidnapper such as you could match up to me? To Melia ul Gold Aldelight? Know your place!”
“Aldelight…? You’re the duchess? It seems like there really are some hot-blooded nobles here and there. No wonder your daughter swung a knife at me.”
“Choose. Should I split your neck now, or will you be judged by the law?”
“I’ll have to pass on both. I don’t have the luxury of dying right now.”
“That’s so. Then die!”

Melia said and swung her greatsword towards Gil.

She swung her blade ferociously, striking two or three times in a mere second.

The alley became the home of a sword battle that could only be achieved by those of the level of masters.

Although neither of them was yet at the level of a hero, there were only a few people on the continent who could compete with Melia and Gil’s abilities.

As though acting out a scene from a movie, their weapons collided and brushed one another.

However, the tension, fatigue, and mental strain that accompanied even a split second in a fight to the death severely sapped one’s energy.

The bout between them did not last long, and the end came sooner than expected.

Suddenly, Gil was the first to succumb.

Gil’s heart was racing, his arms were shaking, and beads of sweat were seeping through.

The damage he’d suffered from battling Seletina and later being kicked by Melia had taken a huge toll on him.

Melia mercilessly swung her sword at the exhausted Gil.

“It seems you’re at your limit. It’s only a matter of time before you loosen your grip and I take your head.”
“Haaa… haaa… Hey…”
“What is it?”
“Do you love your son?”
“What are you…”

Melia’s greatsword was abruptly shoved back.

Gil let go of his katana, put some space between them, and seized Yennis by the neck.

“You b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲!”

Melia roared.

Her roar was not one of fear, but rather pure, unfiltered rage.

“Lay down your sword.”

Gil said, putting a knife to the white, delicate neck of the unconscious Yennis.

“Let go of Yennis, you scum!”
“Lay down your sword!”

A silence ensued…

Melia scowled at Gil whilst putting her sword down and gritting her teeth.

Gil did not flinch at the murderous gaze aimed at him.

Phew…

Gil sighed.

Picking a battle with a duke’s family was unquestionably undesirable, but he was lucky to be alive.

Gil understood that without taking a hostage, he stood no chance against Seletina or Melia.

What now?

Gil thought. Suddenly an evil idea sprang up in his mind. He would first kill the unarmed Melia and then…

Suddenly, a hand that was larger than his own squeezed Gil’s hand that was holding Yennis.

“What?!”

Gil looked around with a terrified expression on his face after feeling a hand land on his shoulder.

“What do you think you’re doing to my beloved wife and children?”

Balged asked, his mustache curled upward in a wicked grin, a vein running through the full width of his brow.