Chapter 35: Too Small, Ivina
Lynn twisted his wrist to fend off Ivina's aggressive strikes, still giving no answer to her questions.
He was already dizzy from the complex relationship between these siblings, something Loth's diary had never mentioned.
Sounds of clashing swords rang out continuously in the silent manor. Normally, this would have drawn the attention of the butler and servants, but now, there was no one in sight.
This was also why Lynn hadn't hurriedly used overload mode or resorted to magic.
"Strange, isn't it? My brother, our father is not in the manor tonight. I sent all the servants away. They will only know that the demon believer the Church is hunting broke into the manor tonight..." Ivina seemed almost insane, her sword flashing like the wind as it struck Lynn's blade, as if trying to vent all her accumulated anger and resentment.
Lynn's expression was peculiar because the demon believer wanted by the Church was, in fact, himself...
Boom~
Just as they clashed again, a sudden explosion echoed from afar. Through the third-floor window, a faint glow of fire could be seen emerging from the western part of the harbor town.
How could it be so soon?!
Lynn's expression changed instantly. It was clearly not the time for this action. Could it be that the people from [The Crew] couldn't hold back and acted first?
"Where are you looking, my brother?"
Taking advantage of Lynn's distraction, Ivina executed a spinning slash, knocking the long sword from his hand. It flew through the air, embedding itself straight into the wall.
Without hesitation, the brown-haired girl raised her sword and slashed down again!
"Die!"
Ivina muttered to herself, her golden eyes fixed on Lynn, but there was no trace of fear on his face...
Why?
Why wasn't he afraid of death?
The brown-haired girl's face showed a hint of hesitation and confusion.
No matter how vile her attitude had been over the years, this man had only ever looked at her with a particularly poignant gaze of pity.
But she never needed charity.
What she wanted, she would take for herself!
A myriad of thoughts flashed through the girl's mind, while on the other side, Lynn, sensing the threat, had already extended his arm.
In that moment, it seemed as if the first battle was being reenacted.
But this time, no one stopped them. With a swift sound, the slender blade was already above Lynn's head!
However, Lynn moved faster, his outstretched right hand reaching first to seize Ivina's sword-wielding wrist from a strange angle!
With a powerful twist, a light sound of bones dislocating echoed in the silent corridor.
Outside, the bright moonlight and the rising flames intertwined, creating a devilish tableau. Seizing the moment, Lynn raised his leg and kicked Ivina hard in the abdomen.
Bang~
With a dull thud, the girl's body lurched backward and crashed heavily against the wall.
How could this be?
Ivina struggled to stand again, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. She completely ignored the pain from her wrist and abdomen, looking at Lynn in disbelief.
She had used all her strength, yet she was so easily knocked to the ground.
Ivina couldn't accept this reality. She grasped her sword with her still-functional left hand and charged again.
"I'm sorry, my time is limited, Ivina..." Lynn dodged Ivina's horizontal slash, swiftly grabbing her slender blade and elbowing her to the ground again, finally slashing toward her pale neck.
Ivina's pupils narrowed. She could only watch as the silver sword got closer and closer, her mind going blank.
Am I about to die?
The girl closed her eyes slowly.
Reflecting on her fate of having to curry favor with a duke's son despite all her efforts, she found it particularly laughable. Perhaps this release would end her suffering?
Ding~
The light sound of the sword tip touching the floor reached her ears, and Ivina opened her eyes in confusion. She saw Lynn bringing out a leather rope from behind, binding her hands and feet.
"You're not going to kill me?" Ivina stared in a daze at her familiar yet unfamiliar brother, questioning in bewilderment.
"No need for that. You will never see me again after today... I think, that should be to your liking." Lynn explained casually, dragging the rope meant for Adrian and tossing Ivina into his room.
He was not truly Loth; he couldn't manage such a complex sibling relationship. But since Loth chose to end it in such a manner, Lynn wasn't going to interfere.
He understood where Ivina's resentment came from, knowing she struggled against a predetermined fate, destined to be a sacrificial pawn for the revival of the Pedro Family from birth.
However, she had clearly targeted the wrong source of her hatred. What truly caused their suffering was the obstinacy of Baron Pedro and the foolish feudal system of the Sekas Empire...
Since she had cleverly sent away all the manor's butlers and servants, she could stay and reflect on her actions here.
After tonight, everything concerning the Pedro Family would no longer relate to him.
Lynn turned to leave, but Ivina's voice rang out again from behind.
"Why, with such power, can't you pass the knight's trial or even spar with me..."
"Are you pitying me?" Ivina questioned, maintaining her last shred of dignity and a sense of shame and anger.
"So small, Ivina..." Lynn turned his head and looked at the woeful girl on the ground, lamenting.
"Your talent in swordsmanship is outstanding, better than anyone I've seen, yet your vision is limited to this small harbor town, a baron's title that's not even inheritable."
"Beyond Harbor Town is the Nordland Territory. Beyond Nordland is the Sekas Empire, and beyond the Empire lies a vast world..."
Lynn murmured softly. This world held magic and divine arts and uncountable secrets waiting to be discovered.
"Forget it, you probably can't understand." Not waiting for Ivina's response, Lynn shook his head.
To most residents of this world, a town, a village, a family was everything. This matter didn't concern him.
Not understanding? Ivina gazed at Lynn's departing figure with complex emotions until the door shut tightly.
She remained silent for a while, then suddenly lowered her head, biting into the leather rope binding her hands, and tearing it with all her might.
But the special material used to make the rope was incredibly tenacious. Her teeth alone were useless. As she struggled, her legs hit the table leg.
The black book on the table fell to the floor and rolled beside her.
The brown-haired girl paused, recognizing the messy handwriting as her brother Loth's.
[Perhaps everything would be better without me...]
(PS: As usual, please recommend, collect, vote, and read! Thank you all for your support these days...)