Chapter 132 : The Two Strongest (Part 4)

7 years ago.

Iris—no, Yomi had begun her training within a white space with nothing in it.

*BOOM*

"Is that all you can do! Yomi!" A lady who looked like an older version of Iris swung her rapier to thrust it at her opponent.

*TING*

A young girl, who looked like a younger version of her with different colored eyes.

The older one's eyes were red, while the younger one was sky blue.

"Ugh—!"

The young girl was Yomi, while blocking the older girl—Iris' attack by using the thin blade of rapier and stopping the tip of her rapier before reaching her.

"Too naive!" Then a surge of dark and light magical energy came out from Iris' rapier.

'[Nemesis]!'

'[Holy Wall]!' Yomi reacted quickly and retracted her light shield on her rapier.

*SHINGGG*

Then the laser of light and dark energy was shot from the tip of Iris rapier and pushed Yomi back despite her blocking it.

"Ugh—?!" Yomi managed to stand on her ground despite receiving such damage.

"You need to know, every time your enemy tries to block, dodge, or attack, it can be an opportunity to use your power." Iris spoke as she stood in front of Yomi.

"Do not care about honor or being shameless. As you bear my name, you will be surrounded by many knives trying to strike your throat."

"Never let your guard down and never be merciful to those who oppose you."

"Or else your loved one will be the one who suffered the most."

"Since you are Iris May Welford now." Iris pointing her blade at her neck.

Yomi, on the other hand, was covered with cut injuries, and her clothes got messed up due to their training.

"Your answer."

"Y-yes ma'am!" Yomi answered.

"Now! Again!" Iris then swung her rapier once more.

******

The next day.

"Do not stop your magic!"

She continued her training with [The Witch, Matilda] in the tower.

The training is...

"Haaah!!"

To maintain her magic by creating [Dark Pulse] around her and maintaining it for more than 5 hours without rest.

While...

*BZZZTT*

"Ugh—!"

Dodging lightning strike from Matilda.

"The most essential part of magic is that you must not lose control and make sure no one interrupts you!"

"Do you think your enemy would wait for you to finish your magic! Do you think your comrade would guard you all the time!"

"Remember! Magic can turn around the situation you are into but also for your situation as well! If you lose your control and get hurt first, your comrade will be the one who suffers the most!"

*BZZZTT*

Yomi dodged another lightning again while her [Dark Pulse] was still flying around her.

"Kugh—!!! Haaah!!" Yomi casted and shot her [Dark Pulse] at Matilda.

Matilda swung her staff and created a barrier.

*BAM* *BAM*

Then, she protected herself within it, as her [Dark Pulse] crashed against her barrier and stuck on it.

"Not bad~ Huh—?"

In that moment, Yomi created a spear made out of light on her left hand.

'[Spear of Light]!'

*SWOOSH*

After her [Dark Pulse] dissipated, she followed with her [Spear of Light] that she threw at her.

"Ohhh~" Matilda couldn't help but smile when Yomi immediately ran at her.

'[Shadow Movement].' Then dove into the shadow and slipped in between the shadow of the spear of light, entering her barrier.

Then she jumped out from the shadow.

'[Shadow Blade]!'

And casted a blade made out of shadow from her both hands.

"Hah!~" Matilda couldn't help but laugh and lifted her staff.

She casted a barrier on the tip of her staff and struck Yomi's [Shadow Blade] to clash with her.

"Amazing~"

Matilda complimented, seeing the combination of her switching elements.

But Yomi couldn't hold it and got pushed back when Matilda increased her magic output.

"Kugh!—"

Yomi quickly recovered her ground and panted heavily while taking out a bottle of mana potion from her [Inventory].

"Get enough rest?~"

*BZZZTT*

Matilda released her magic as her body was surrounded with balls of lightning flying around her.

"I am just started~"

Yomi immediately braced herself and created multiple [Dark Pulse] around her as well.

Then, he dashed at Matilda to continue her training.

******

Onto the next training.

*TING*

Yomi clashed her rapier against an old man who was much bigger than her.

"Not enough strength!"

Her opponent was also the one from the Legendary Hero Party's Member, [The Sword Saint, Rowan].

Rowan's great sword clashed against her rapier that was coated with her dark magic.

"As a Swordsman, you need to strive to become stronger than anyone!"

*TANG*

Rowan pushed his giant blade with one hand, causing Yomi to be pushed back.

"Ugh—!"

"Make your sword move swiftly!"

Then Yomi shifted her blade, making his great sword slip through to hit the ground.

"Hah!" Yomi then thrust her rapier towards Rowan's face.

"Took your chance in a great moment!"

Then Rowan lifted her sword using his wide blade to block her rapier's strikes.

"And do not let go of your sword!"

*BAM*

Yomi got hit on the stomach by his kick.

"Agh–!"

Then, he made her fly back and recover herself from mid-air, then landed on the ground.

"Ughh—!" She coughed and applied heal on her stomach. '[Heal].'

"Magic Swordsman is a combination between Magic and Swords. If magic doesn't work, you must rely on your sword."

"Whether you like it or not, this is reality. You told us not to hold back against you."

"If you want to quit, you can quit... because your journey is still far." Rowan spoke while looking at her condition.

The way she looked was totally different, the beautiful young lady who wore beautiful dress and accessories, was reduced into dirty and rough clothes that were covered in dust and mud.

But she didn't care about it at all.

Yomi had decided to train with these monstrous people without holding back.

But why now?

During those 2 years, she never thought she needed strength to survive in this world because her power was already deemed to be stronger than anyone else in the kingdom.

Why? Because she was [The Villainess] in the Otome Game? And her overpowered abilities that could topple many people?

But despite knowing that, the reality itself had proved her wrong.

Her abilities were indeed great, her magic and sword skill is probably the best in her age.

But...what she lacked was experience on the battlefield.

After she lost that day, when she retreated and left that young man alone…

She never knew what it meant to be [weak].

So, she decided to make herself stronger...

[I want you to train me]. Yomi declared in front of Rowan and Matilda.

As she begged and kneeled in front of them.

[I don't care whether you beat me, insult me, and tell me I'm weak...]

[But train me to the point you won't call me weak again.]

And that was her words towards Rowan and Matilda, the two legends, who were known to be the strongest mage and the strongest swordsman.

After hearing her words, Rowan and Matilda didn't like her request.

Even without begging like this, she's still their disciple, but what makes them dislike the request…

Because this was the point of no return. If she trained like that, she wouldn't be able to go back to being a normal noble girl.

She would be treated like no less a soldier that needed to put her life on anytime.

But...

That is what she wanted.

[We were wrong...]

Rowan and Matilda thought while they watched this little girl stand before them.

After her body was beaten up, to the point she needed potions to keep on.

Her eyes.

Still glistening bright, showing her resolve and determination, there's no going back.

[After seeing her eyes, her determination.]

[How can we refuse her?]

They thought the same.

[But...]

[The way she doesn't give up, even facing danger without blinking.]

[Is this really what an 8 year old girl would do?]

The two of them asked and doubted the same thing. There's a hidden secret that they don't know of which made her capable of doing that

And that secret was...

[Notice!]

[Skill "The Villainess" has been activated!]

'Good, treat your sword as an extra limb and magic as your tool to help you reach your goal.'

The soul that came from the future within her, [Iris May Welford] and the name of the body that Yomi used.

*******

Before her training started, Yomi had her training start.

Iris had prepared a stage within this imaginary space, which allowed them to fight and trained within her mind.

Now for the question.

[How does one face death that is in front of them?] Iris asked towards Yomi.

[It is simple.]

And that is...

[To face death again and again until you are sick of it].

The words Iris spoke to Yomi, Iris who had experienced hundreds of deaths, had given her first lesson.

[Now then, try to dodge this].

In that short moment after their conversation.

*STAB*

Yomi.

Got stabbed just right into her heart with Iris' rapier.

[Ah!]

Yomi woke up during her sleep, and immediately checked on her chest whether she really was killed or not.

But there were no injuries, but the pain of dying and the feeling of it...

[It felt real.]

Then she came back to the realm to train with Iris again, she came up with a plan and dodged her first strike.

But then.

*STAB*

She got killed again on a second strike by her heart.

.

.

.

.

.

Onto her next visits.

*STAB*

She got killed again by her fourth strike.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then she visited her again.

*STAB*

She got killed again.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Again.

.

.

.

.

Again.

.

.

.

.

.

And again.

Until she got to learn how weak and different she was compared to Iris. Her combat abilities, her experience and her control over magic.

Everything was perfect.

But she knew, what made her strong was her death that continued on a never ending cycle of suffering and sorrow.

So now, she's determined to train harder with Iris, Rowan and Matilda.

To complete this strength.

Starting from day by day.

.

.

.

.

.

Week by week.

.

.

.

.

Month by month.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then, year by year.

Her training continued endlessly.

And her power, her influence had grown bigger and bigger.

*******

During that time she began her training, Yomi was called to the Royal Castle, to gain her reward from the King himself.

Because she had done something that no one ever could and that was...

By creating an alliance with the Elf Kingdom.

In front of the King, Yomi was rewarded with a noble title, as [Baroness Iris] and becoming the youngest noble in history of the Luxion Kingdom.

During her entitlement, many were dissatisfied with her, and many were also admiring her action.

So, the King of Luxion Kingdom offered her another reward.

[Is there anything you want, Iris May Welford?] The King, Bradley, spoke to her.

[Yes.] Yomi answered her.

[Tell me.]

Iris—no, Yomi created an [Order of Knights].

She wanted to create her own personal armies just for her to command.

The nobles who were dissatisfied with her began to rampage within this meeting and called her out on her outrageous request.

The reason? There's a lot. From being a little girl, a child, and nothing more, just an extremely childish thinking.

But to prove it.

*SWOOSH*

Yomi released her magic aura as her body was clad with purple color, meaning she has [Darkness] affinity attributes.

[Never reveal all your cards in front of everyone, whether they are enemies or allies].

[But of course, make sure you show your power to make them know their place~].

That was the advice given by Iris who's inside of her now.

Her strength was acknowledged by the King himself.

Eventually, she was given the authority to have her own personal army.

And now...

******

7 years later.

Yomi—no, Iris' body had grown older. She is now 15 years old.

She became taller and some parts had matured like a lady.

She's currently on her way to the Royal Castle, where her office was located, after finishing her training yesterday.

Her office was given by the King, and she was given duties and missions after she was appointed as the elite captain of her armies.

*CLACK*

*CLACK*

*CLACK*

Yomi walked through the large hallway within the castle, with her high-heels.

She's wearing a military outfit, with a dark blue color, the color of the night sky that matched her hair. A jacket strapped around her shoulder making her look majestic, and a skirt with her black stocking to make her look more lady-like.

Then she stopped at a certain door next to her and she opened it.

*CREAK*

*SWOOSH*

Suddenly, three people assaulted her just right after she opened the door and swung their swords at her.

Yomi didn't do anything, but just stood there while chanting.

'[Holy Wall].'

*TING*

Just like that, their sword was blocked with a small barrier right on each blade, perfectly blocking it without lifting a finger.

"Tch—that's cheating captain!~" A tanned girl with short brown hair spoke.

"As expected of our captain~" A blonde haired girl with an alluring and mature look spoke.

"Mhm, I thought this could work." Then another girl spoke with a stern and emotionless look.

"You girls, to think you would attack your captain just right after coming into my office." Yomi spoke while they sheathed their swords.

"Maria, Claudia, Ako." Yomi called their name.

The tanned and tomboyish girl–Maria laughed

"Hehehe~ I just wanted to check on our captain if she is still stronger than I am!~" She spoke in such a cheerful tone.

The blonde mature looking girl–Claudia chuckled and spoke in a calm manner,

"She is our captain, remember~?"

Finally the girl with the stern look–Ako nodded in agreement.

"Mhm, Iris captain is the best and the strongest! After all, she is the youngest to have her own title and was called the strongest in our generation." She spoke so fast and monotonously.

The three of them are one of the elite soldiers who were picked by Yomi—Iris herself.

"Come on girls, I'm not that strong, cause there is someone stronger than me." Yomi spoke.

Maria sighed, "Geez, you are still talking about him again? Like I told you, boys are weak and spineless!"

Ako nodded, "Mhm mhm."

Claudia giggled, "Well~ from what I know, you have defeated almost all the male swordsman in this Kingdom and even shocked the [Sword Saint] himself~"

"So how can there possibly be someone stronger than you?" Claudia stated in a matter-of-factly.

Yet, Yomi just smiled at them.

"Even if you said that, I bet he is much stronger than you all~ even you three cannot even scratch me, how can you three do that to him?~" Yomi spoke while walking past them and went to her seat.

"Heh!~ Then you better see me beat him up!~"

Yomi just giggled and suddenly showed a sad smile, "Well...if he's still truly alive, that is." Yomi mumbled.

The three of them became quiet after hearing her words, since they knew full well what she meant.

Then Yomi sat down on her seat and faced them with a serious look.

"Now then, jokes aside...report to me now."

They immediately stood straight in front of her and saluted her, "Yes, captain."

They began to report their work and mission, which is...

Surveillance of the upcoming war.

"Maria first."

"Yes! Reporting about the scouting of the area of the human Empire, Axel. Currently we know there is some movement going on and it seems they are preparing for the war." Maria spoke.

"Hmmm, as expected, Ako." Yomi shifted her eyes at her.

"Yes! I shall report about the data that we have collected, from their preparation, we concluded that they are using some sort of device that controls monsters."

"So roughly, they will have 4 times more of their armies than the last war." Ako spoke.

"I see..."

Yomi then had a deep thought, 'Hmmmm....7 years, it took me that much time so I could reach this position and become this strong.'

'After a long journey, mission, and work...I have piled up every bit of knowledge and every experience in battle.'

'The war is nearing just as I thought, although it is much faster but as the story progresses, the academy will be opened after the war is over.' Yomi thought.

"Thank you, Maria, Ako, for reporting."

"No problem...it's just..." Maria then suddenly looked worried.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Is the captain going to go to war?" Maria spoke.

"What makes you say that?" Yomi replied.

"Because! It's just...the captain is younger than us, we just don't want you to see...how horrible war is." Maria spoke.

Yomi looked at her and smiled, "I know Maria....I know full well that you came from Mercenary family, which constantly fights for a living."

"But the Kingdom had me now to become their trump card, so I won't let the kingdom lose." Yomi answered.

"I understand." Maria looked down a bit, her usual cheery mood had gone down with her reply.

Yomi just smiled, 'I know you're worried...but I need to go to this war, because of the changes I made in the past years...there will be new variables such as what happen in the past.'

'So if I didn't join the war...we might lose, but as long as they have me, I will prevent it no matter what.' Yomi thought while Iris within her just smiled.

'Good words.' Iris nodded.

'Thanks.' Yomi replied.

"A-ahem." Until someone coughed to take their attention away.

"Have you forgotten about my report, my dear Captain~" Claudia said with a cold smile.

Yomi was startled back into reality, "A-ah~ sorry about that Claudia."

"Fufufu~ it's okay~"

"M-mhm...now for the report, how is the [search]."

This time, Claudia's report…

Would be different from them.

"Yes captain, according to the search...we found a few information regarding [him], but...we do found a strange rumors going on." Claudia spoke.

"Go on." Yomi nodded.

"The rumors about a certain monster that appeared in [the North]."

"The North? Hmmm...I heard the North is the land where the [Eternal Freeze] curse was casted on which caused a massive blizzard right?"

"Correct." Claudia answered.

"So what is this rumors had to do with the search?" Yomi decided to ask the main point.

Claudia nodded, "Well, you might not believe this...but there are some sightings that this monster defeated wandering monsters around the North."

"Defeated? Not eaten?"

"Unfortunately, there's no bite wound or skeletal remains....the only thing left was their body..."

"...being cleaved into half, or rather mutilated."

"Cleaved? Is that really a monster?"

"Currently we have no information yet, but the sighting was that the monster appeared to be humanoid type."

"But there was something very unusual about this monster."

"That this monster have this beast looking head, wearing..."

"A red scarf."

Yomi become silent after hearing this, "A humanoid monster, with a beast looking head and wearing a red scarf."

'Somehow it did match with his appearance...'

"But is it really a monster?" Yomi asked again. "Cause from the way I see it, it like a [Werebeast] having a hunt by himself." Yomi guessed it.

"Yes, that is true...but I don't think a Werebeast is the cause of it."

"Because the witnesses who saw this being, annihilated hundreds of monsters alone." Claudia spoke.

"While its body was drenched with monster blood, then they disappeared without trace within the blizzard." Claudia spoke.

"Uwaahhh...it sounds like a ghost story to me." Maria commented.

"Indeed, but what's even stranger is that...its body flared up with black flame when it was surrounded by monsters."

"The monsters goes down, one by one, burning them down from a single touch of this black flame and not even leaving their ashes remained in the midst of the blizzard."

"How unique." Ako commented this time.

Yomi on the other hand was trying to process her report, '...black flame...'

Yomi then reminded of certain person who had that ability, since a glimpse of a memory within her head appeared.

A single person stands alone in front of danger to protect her.

It can only means...

'...is it possible....'

'Yes.' Iris continued.

'It is him.'

Yomi bit her lips, "I see." Finally they concluded the answer.

Then Claudia continued her report.

"And along with your order, I had sent a quest to the adventurer guild in the North along with the request of the nobles there."

And suddenly, Claudia spoke something else other than the search.

"Good, I guess we still had time for that." Yomi spoke and left Maria who stood there confused.

"Huh?? I thought we were talking about this search and this rumor? What did the adventurers have anything to do with it?" Maria asked.

"Well...I don't know~ since it's a classified request~" Claudia spoke.

"If anyone knows about that...would be the captain herself." Claudia spoke as she shifted their attention to Yomi.

Yomi giggled, "Heh~ well since you all belong to my army, I shall tell you."

"The request and the quest that was given to the nobles and the Adventurer Guild."

"Is about how...to resolve the curse in that land."

"What?!" All of them were shocked to hear it.

"From what I know, the curse is impossible to be lifted from that land." Ako spoke.

"Who said it is impossible?" Yomi raised her brow.

"Well...the book?" Ako replied.

"That's only in the book...since this is the information that I got myself and have been approved by our King, his highness." Yomi spoke.

"Woah!" The three of them surprised.

'Though...this is information from the forum and spoiler in the game~'

"So while sending the request, I ordered Claudia for this search as well."

"It's just like hitting two birds with one stone~" Yomi said while smiling.

"That is true." Claudia nodded whole smiling as well, "But...."

"How can they resolve the curse? And why do the nobles have to get involved in this?" Claudia asked.

"Hmmm, it's because to resolve the curse...they need to defeat something."

"Defeat something?" Maria asked.

"Yeah~" Yomi said while leaning her back to her seat.

"What is it?" They asked.

Yomi then smiled, "Well~"

"Do you know about the [Three Great Evil]?"

*******

In the North, where blizzards and snow is everywhere, there's one city that still standing and operating.

The city fort that had been standing for many years after the curse fell upon this land.

[The Halvenburg City].

Now inside the Adventurer Guild, a certain S-class Adventurers team were having a meeting with the Guild Master.

The Guild Master there had scrawny looks yet he had the body of a veteran soldier and a black curly hair.

"Now, we shall begin...the S-rank quest that was given by the capital."

"I need you to scout and find this...[The Three Great Evil]."

"Then send back the information to me, understood?"

"Yes sir!" The S-class Adventurers team spoke simultaneously, with one blonde haired girl among them.

A familiar girl who had grown up after 7 years as well.

"I wish you good luck, especially you...Alicia."

Yes, the same girl who was saved by a young man who wore black armor in the past.

"Yes, Guild Master."

Alicia Eckhart, 15 years old.

Had gained her title, [The Saintess].

She now began her adventure in this cold land.

To be continued...