NOVEL WEB Chapter 134
134. Seems Like There’s No Contest
“Alright, let’s settle this, Lafiel sisters!”
The elves pointed dramatically at Lilith and Alice.
“But what do you mean by ‘settle this’…?”
“Uh… okay…”
Both Lilith and Alice looked confused.
Well, no wonder.
“Such enthusiasm is admirable! This is how adventurers should be.”
The Count chuckled with a grand demeanor.
But his eyes were cold.
As if he cared nothing for his daughters’ reputation.
Or perhaps—as if he was testing their strength.
There wasn’t a trace of familial warmth in his gaze, and I couldn’t help but feel both unease and revulsion.
“Now that we have the Count’s approval!”
“Let’s do this, Lafiel sisters!”
“We’re making waves right now! Almost ranked S, the talk of the town!”
“Rank A’s finest, the Floral Twins! The elf sisters, Ephyra and Rafira, that’s us!”
The sisters struck a pose with their boastful introduction.
“Rank S adventurers, if you’d like, join us on the next quest!”
“Yes, please!”
Their self-promotion was excessive…
“Let’s fight fair and square!”
One of the elven swordswomen charged forward.
She thrust her rapier straight ahead.
Behind her, the elven mage cast a wind spell.
“[Golden Celestial Shell], [Heaven’s Shield]!”
Alice’s golden defensive barrier deflected both the sword and the spell in one move.
“A top-tier defensive spell!?”
The elf sisters gasped in shock.
“Then how about this—Summon Spirit, [Elga Gate]!”
They summoned spirits—five in total.
The spirits attacked simultaneously, but—
“[Imperial Lightning Strike]!”
Lilith’s thunderous spell obliterated them in an instant.
“A top-tier lightning spell—impossible!?”
The elf sisters stood frozen in disbelief.
Their attacks had been completely nullified, leaving them stunned.
Meanwhile, Lilith and Alice remained calm and composed.
Even though the sisters were Rank A, the difference in power was undeniable.
Far too much of a gap—
“…Gah, seems we’re no match.”
“…Ugh, we surrender.”
Realizing the disparity, the elf sisters bit their lips in frustration.
“This could’ve been our chance to rise…”
“Yeah, but…”
Their earlier bravado gone, they slinked away dejectedly.
“Oh, but if you feel like it, please invite us to join you on quests, Rank S adventurers!”
…Even now, they didn’t forget to promote themselves.
They’re surprisingly resilient.
“W-Wait, you two were that strong!?”
A surprised Arly rushed over to Lilith and Alice.
“I see now, you’re not just Rank A—you’re beyond that.”
“Indeed, incredible! Seems I misjudged you both.”
The swordsman Baluga and the mage Fale bowed their heads sincerely.
“As I said earlier, during major quests, we might fight alongside each other. I hope you’ll work with us.”
They spoke in unison.
“Oh, we’re not that—”
“Yes, really, no need…”
Lilith and Alice seemed flustered by the praise.
“Strong, beautiful, and skilled—perfection! I’m so glad we met; let’s stay friends!”
Arly beamed, clearly excited.
“N-No, really, you’re too kind… Arly, you’re just as lovely!”
“Yes, truly elegant.”
“Really? Fufu, do I have that mature womanly vibe? This makeup is trendy in Alecia’s imperial capital.”
Smiling, Arly’s enthusiasm quickly led to a lively conversation with Lilith and Alice.
Perhaps because they were all women, they seemed to connect effortlessly.
“You fought the Legendary Six Demon Generals, right? Twice, even. What were those battles like?”
“The official records didn’t say much, but rumors claim you played key roles both times. Fascinating—I’d love to hear more!”
On my side, Baluga and Fale bombarded me with questions.
“Hmm, could it be divine blessing at work?”
Let, the cleric, muttered something fitting for his role.
Well, considering everything, maybe that’s true…?
In any case, we all chatted in a friendly, relaxed manner.
“You seem to be having a great time. I’m glad I invited you, Haruto-kun.”
The Count smiled warmly.
“He’s destined to reach Rank S. Alice, Lilith, support him, will you?”
“Yes, Father.”
They nodded, their tone somewhat stiff.
“Now then—if you’ll excuse me, might I borrow Haruto-kun for a moment?”
The Count’s smile deepened.
It seemed friendly enough, but something was off.
There was an unsettling aura that made my spine tingle.
For just a moment, I saw it—
Before his friendly smile, there had been a different expression.
A faint, calculating smirk at the corner of his lips.
And eyes that seemed to gleam with hidden schemes.