Chapter 28

I'd heard her, those words I'd never thought to hear from anyone. 'She will save me till the end,' she insisted, despite the fact that it was my fault.

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Euphemia's Perspective.

Sekki and Oz appear to be acquainted. Despite the fact that they know each other, it does not seem like they have a good relationship. Both of them are holding a glare that, if it could instantaneously kill, would have killed them by now.

The vice-chieftain does not want Sekki to take me, and he, like Sekki, does not want to let go of me. Why are these kids acting as if they own me?

"What'dya say? Let's settle this right away with a one-on-one deathmatch! I'm sure you won't mind, hahaha. Do you?"

Sekki gave me a sidelong glance. I couldn't figure out if he was going to accept the Vice Chieftain's invitation.

There's no need for this infantile fight, so I'll put a stop to it right away.

"Hey, we should be better—" Sekki, on the other hand, quickly replied to Oz, "Come at me."

My eyes widened as I was taken aback by his decision. With that response, Oz didn't hesitate to strike Sekki, who was simply avoiding every attack he made. The chieftain's fists were glowing brightly from the Artes he was extracting. He continues to harass Sekki, and while they are at it, the other Cadre members begin roaring for the vice-chieftain.

"Vice! Show him the power of the Silversehl!"

These people, instead of stopping them. They are stupidly cheering the fight.

Oz was taking advantage of the situation, attempting to pierce Sekki with every bolt of lightning he was smacking down. Sekki would only avoid his strike very cautiously. I'm baffled though, Oz is attempting to knock him down with Artes, but Sekki does nothing but evade. Why doesn't he engage in combat with his Artes?

I haven't seen him use his Artes before, like, he simply used a sword while we were in the examination previously, nothing more and nothing less. He can't be lacking Artes now, is he not? That is not possible. Chasseur will not accept anyone who does not have magia in their body.

Why is it, Sekki doesn't use his Artes?

When Oz eventually knocked Sekki off his feet, the crowd erupted. The injured Sekki spit a small amount of blood on his mouth.

"Woahoo! Vice is as powerful as it has always been!"

"He wouldn't become the Vice of Silversehl if he didn't know how to take down an enemy!"

I could see the ground-shattering lightning strike on Sekki's body. He's already injured, but he's still fighting in this absurd fight!

"Hahaha! Without a doubt! I'm not going to let someone in here merely cause a commotion and..." (He glanced at Euphemia who wasn't paying attention to him, rather at Sekki.)

Why is he fighting? I don't understand him, but if he's determined to keep battling, maybe it's best to root for him.

"Sekki! You want me to go back with you, right? Stand up and show him who is the boss!"

Slowly, the man on his knees became restless and stood up on his own. Sekki was sweating profusely, not because he was tired, but because he was gravely injured, and still he had the audacity to form a sneer that would easily taunt anyone who lacks patience.

"...V-vice, he rose up once more."

"Are you sure you want to go on like this, Sekkia? You don't have a death wish, do you?"

"Give me a shot."

"Bastard!"

Oz surged forward, his palm becoming encrusted in Kaminari. Tightened and ready to deliver a punch.

Sekki's posture has shifted; his feet are now staggering across the ground, somewhat broader than his hips. His feet were slightly inclined to the side, and his knees were pointing in the same way. His arms were cautiously positioned, with the right elbow and forearm near to the torso. As if he's attempting to stiffen himself, shielding his body from the impact that will come at any moment. He doesn't appear to intend to evade, instead of waiting for the proper opportunity to counterattack Oz.

"S-sekki!" I shouted, worried. My emotion is stirring inside that I couldn't stop. I'm just worried about him dying.

When Oz was going to strike Sekki…

"Hm…Too slow."

Sekki simply elevated his hands, and Oz collapsed into his hand by being choked out as Sekki turned to crush him into the ground with incredible inhuman strength.

Oz's Artes were sealed off as he struggled to extricate himself from Sekki's grasp. The guy who had only got injured from the Vice made a little gap in his mouth, which curved into a devilish grin.

"You think you can hit me with your slow attack?"

"You…You're not…"

"W-what is happening? Aren't Vice Fukase winning?"

"T-the table turned that easily?"

"W-we should help him!"

"B-but can't you sense the tension around that kid? J-just who in the world he is?!"

I was puzzled, Sekki just did what? But I... he was injured, so how could he halt that fast attack so easily?!

Shit. This is not the time to be perplexed; I need to stop them before something worse happens. "You two stop—" I said as I walked toward them, but I was quickly stopped by a female who joined in.

"IF YOU TWO DO NOT STOP CREATING SCENES, I WILL BE FORCED TO DUMP BOTH OF YOU IN THE OTHERWORLD."

"Ugh..."

An intense, weighty aura suddenly burst forth. Not only was it bad for us, but it was even worse for Sekki and Oz, who were both pinned down to the ground.

Another powerful person appeared. She walked heavily, eyes were flaming fiercely at Sekki and Oz.

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The three of us were led back into the room which I had been before. Being interrogated by the woman who apparently prevents these two fools from fighting. But I was hauled along with them because it was my fault they began fighting. I generally avoid fighting because I don't have Artes right now, but these two are certainly causing me problems.

"Idiots! You two are fighting over a girl?" said the woman who has very lit ash hair.

"B-but Auntie, this guy here tried to take one of our Cadre members! I couldn't just ignore that!"

"...Sigh. What do you think Flander will think about this Fukase? You're already old enough and you still haven't stopped your troublesome fights?!"

As I've thought, this guy is connected to Sekki somehow.

"B-but…"

"And you, too!" The woman now directed her rage at Sekki, saying, "You are not even a member of this Cadre, how dare you cause a commotion and even harm our comrades for your petty reasons?!"

"..." Sekki didn't respond or even try to clarify his point of view. All he had to do was avoid her gaze.

"If you want this girl to be with you, you should probably know what options you have because she is currently a member of this household. Anyone who isn't related to this household has no right to be here."

I see, so there's no way for ordinary people to join this Cadre if he isn't allowed, huh?

"I will join the Cadre."

"Sa…say that again, you what?"

The woman seemed to be startled by what Sekki returned.

"You're kidding, right? you've refused to join the Cadre multiple times and now, you are saying you'll join now?"

"You heard what you've heard."

"Wait, is Sekki joining the Cadre weird?"

"Weird as fuck! He always rejects our invitation, even when we told him we'll raise his pay he doesn't seem to be interested and now…" said Oz who was also conflicted.

The woman was staring at Sekki, observing him somehow.

"You must sign the contract and change into the household's uniform," was resolved fast, but what about me?

"How about me?"

"You must wait; there are just a few female members in this Cadre, so you must wait for the tailoress."

They don't have enough uniforms for the female members, do they? Then there's nothing I can do.

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The contract process for Sekki was indeed lightning fast. I had been waiting for him in the household corridor since he had changed his attire. He should be resting, but I suppose I can't stop him either way.

When Sekki arrived, he directly called my name, "Euphemia..." My eyes widened since I wasn't expecting Sekki, who was dressed in a Silversehl's uniform, to be more attractive.

Sekki does not appear to be your ordinary Sekki. He looks so good in his outfit that I can't tell who he is. Despite the fact that he is still short. (Check the comment box please.)

"...?... Why are you staring like you want to eat me?"

I punched him right through his face. This guy is, as always, dumb.

That aside, I still had to ask how he is. From the injury, he received from the Faerie, and the strike from Oz, he can't be fine. "Sekki… Are you sure you're alright? Jeez, why did you come here? The reason is not reasonable enough to throw yourself into a fight."

"..." Sekki avoided making eye contact with me, "I'm concerned. This place is dangerous for you." I wasn't sure how I'd react to that small serious reason he got, but it left me speechless until the woman who processed Sekki's membership arrived.

"Sekki," the woman said as she approached us, handing Sekki a broach, "your contract here is now official. I will murder you if you lose that precious broach of your Cadre," she replied flatly.

"You will be assigned to your two other partners later…"

"No. My partner is already here. I won't join another party without her." I was taken aback by how Sekki had changed. All I could do was stare, perplexed as to what in the world that domain had done to him to the point where he would extend its insanity up to this level.

The woman's gaze went to mine. It was as if she was peering into my soul. It gave me a shiver down my spine.

"Tch. I don't get any impressions from her, no magia or anything. What on earth is that Captain thinking?" she murmured loudly, just where I could hear her, "Anyway, if that's what makes your ass work. I'll assign her to you."

"W-wait! Shouldn't you have first asked for my permission?" I wanted to at least have a discussion about it, not to mention, who is Sekki here? Why is she so casually listening to him, as if he is one of the superiors in this house?!

"Nope, that's the end of the argument," she said, insisting that there was nothing else to discuss. "Ah yeah, my name is Alestia Fukase. The acting Field commander of this Cadre." finally introduced herself.

"What is your name, girl?"

"Euphemia... Altair Sei Euphemia," I breathed in as I gave out a little sigh of relief.

"Hmmm, Altair kid… huh? I see the angle now."