Chapter 6 – Bloodlust in the Shadows

Emilia: "Guts! What is going on?!"

Guts: "Hard to explain. Hey, pipsqueak—distract this psycho."

Puck: "Yessir! Lia, let's trust Guts!"

Emilia: "I… okay."

Puck began firing small ice projectiles at Elsa, who danced through them effortlessly, her eyes still locked on Guts.

Elsa: "I don't know what you're planning… but Guts dear, I will catch you~!"

Guts: "Tch… crazy bitch."

He stepped back, moving toward Rom and Felt.

Guts: "Hey, brat. You and the old man should get out of here while I keep her busy."

Felt: "I'm not a brat! I'm fifteen! Hmph! And I won't run!"

Guts gave a small smile and gently placed a hand on her head.

Guts: "I know you're strong… but trust me on this one."

Felt (blushing): "I-I…"

She turned bright red and looked away.

Felt: "Hmph! Fine…"

Rom: "Let's go. Now!"

He grabbed Felt and started running, but Elsa spotted them.

Elsa: "Not on my watch, little thief."

She lunged toward Felt, but Guts quickly fired three crossbow bolts from his prosthetic arm. They clashed against Elsa's daggers mid-air, forcing her to turn her attention back to him.

Elsa: "Huh? You can do that too? I'm getting excited!"

Puck: "Hey, I'm still here!"

He unleashed a wave of ice, trapping Elsa in a block of frozen mist.

Emilia: "Did we… get her?"

Puck: "I think s—"

Suddenly, the ice cracked apart. Elsa burst out, eyes glowing, blade flashing. She lunged forward—

—but Guts met her with a clean counter and slashed deep into her arm with his combat knife.

Guts (low): "Tried not to do this. You're forcing me."

Puck (thinking): His speed… I couldn't even follow it.

But Elsa only laughed harder, blood dripping.

Elsa: "You weren't even going all out?! Hahahah! A human this strong… unbelievable!"

Suddenly, her severed hand began to regenerate.

Guts: "So… you're not human."

Elsa: "Oh? Not even a little shocked?"

Guts: "Seen worse."

And it was true. Apostles, possessed children, flesh-eating demons, undead armies. This woman didn't even rank high on his list of nightmares.

He had seen torture chambers filled with the corpses of women. Children turned into monsters. He had been betrayed, sold, violated, and still survived.

Emilia: "She can't be killed? How do we beat her?"

Guts: "No… look at her cheek."

Emilia: "The cut—it didn't heal?"

Guts: "Exactly. My sword isn't just a chunk of metal."

Puck: "Wait… that's…"

He saw it. The aura around Dragonslayer. The lingering essence of every apostle it had slain.

A sword soaked in the blood of monsters. A blade that could damage things beyond the physical.

Guts (thinking): She reminds me of them. Of the God Hand. The way she moves. The way she smells.

Elsa: "So your sword can kill me… Tempting~!"

She threw her daggers at Guts. He deflected them with his arm—but didn't notice Elsa's real plan.

She leapt toward his back, reaching for Dragonslayer.

Elsa: "Let's see how heavy this thing really is!"

She grabbed the handle—and froze.

Elsa: "What…? I can't lift it?!"

Guts: "Of course you can't."

He grabbed the sword's hilt with one hand and hurled Elsa across the room like she weighed nothing.

Elsa: "Impossible! How?!"

Emilia (watching): "His strength… it's terrifying…"

Puck: "That sword… It's soaked in blood and rage. Just how many things has he killed…?"

Guts slowly walked toward Elsa.

Guts: "Last chance. Leave now. Or die."

Elsa (grinning): "You're getting soft. But a target's a target!"

She bounced off a table and aimed for Guts' throat—

—but a massive spear split the air and struck the ground between them.

Reinhard: "Guess I made it in time."

Guts: "Huh? You again?"

Reinhard: "Of course. I remember you."

Guts: "You followed me?"

Reinhard: "We're friends, aren't we?"

Guts: "You're a weirdo. I met you once."

Reinhard (grinning): "Let's call it destiny."

Guts: "Delusional."

Reinhard: "Well, jokes aside, I was led here by these two."

He nodded toward Rom and Felt, just arriving.

Felt: "Guts! You okay?"

She ran toward him, worried.

Guts: "Tch… Brat. You did good."

Felt (blushing again): "I'm not a brat!"

Emilia: "You know Reinhard?"

Guts: "Kind of."

Reinhard: "Anyway, looks like you've had quite the encounter."

He turned to Elsa, who stood silently now, watching him with a thin smile.

Reinhard: "Miss, you're quite infamous. A lot of people have died because of you. I'm placing you under arrest."

Elsa: "Ara~ Is that so? I guess I should run then. Especially since it's you, Reinhard Van Astrea…"

Guts (thinking): She didn't go all out against me… She's dangerous. I respect that.

Elsa smirked, threw her daggers at the floor, and leapt through the window.

Elsa (from a distance): "Guts-chan! I'll come back for you~!"

Guts: "This crazy bitch…"

Reinhard (sighing): "What a mess."

Puck: "Yaaawn Lia… bedtime…"

Emilia: "Ah, sorry Puck. I kept you up."

Reinhard: "Quite the fight, huh Guts?"

Guts: "You didn't do shit."

Reinhard (laughing): "Touché. Anyway, what are you planning to do now?"

Guts: "Haven't thought about it. Guess I'll figure out how to get back to my homeland."

Reinhard: "Your homeland?"

Guts: "Doesn't matter."

Reinhard: "You could join the Royal Knights, you know. With your skills, you could be a general… maybe even a Grand Marshal someday."

Guts: "I refuse."

Reinhard: "Wha—?!"

Guts: "I served royalty once. Never again."

Reinhard caught the bitterness in his voice.

He didn't know the details. He didn't need to.

The pain said enough.

Reinhard: "How old were you back then?"

Guts: "Seventeen or eighteen. I don't remember. Doesn't matter."

Emilia (thinking): He served a king… at that age?

Reinhard: "That's unexpected. A shame, really."

Guts: "Sorry. I'm leaving."

Emilia: "Wait! Guts… Would you come with me? To my place?"

Guts: "Huh?"

Emilia: "I don't want to owe you anything. Let me repay you."

He looked at her. He didn't want to. But… he saw the stubborn fire in her eyes.

Guts (sighing): "Fine."

Emilia (blushing): "Y-yes! I mean… very well!"

Felt walked over and handed the insignia to Emilia.

Felt: "Sorry I took it."

Emilia (surprised): "Thank you…"

Suddenly, the insignia glowed red.

Reinhard: "Wait…!"

He stepped forward and grabbed Felt's wrist.

Reinhard: "I'm sorry… but I have to take her."

Felt: "H-Hey! Let me go!"

Reinhard: "Sorry, Miss Felt."

He touched her forehead. Felt fell unconscious instantly.

Guts: "Tch… That's not very knightly."

He was about to move—but Reinhard raised his hand.

Reinhard: "I know. But this concerns my family."

Guts (sighing): "Nobles… always the same. Just don't hurt her."

Reinhard vanished into the shadows with Felt.

Only Emilia and Guts remained.

She turned to him with a small, warm smile.

Emilia: "Umm… Guts…"

Guts: "Hm?"

Emilia (softly): "Thank you."

⚠️ Author's Note

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