024. Alice's Debt to Zhen

Alice buried her face into the mattress after being greeted by great disappointment, "What kind of savior gambles on human lives?"

As she pondered, she recalled some of Shouji's advice as a hero who upholds justice. 

Alice held her stomach which showed no scars and tried to think positively of the elf who had helped her. 

"He may be a barbarian, but he still helped me. After all, this place wasn't a place for rule-abiding citizen to begin with. I think he's just adapting to the environment, just like ma'am Nala."

The female knight stood up and reassured herself. "That's right, there's nothing wrong with adapting. Even if he is a barbarian, he is still a good person."

She walked quickly to the ground floor so she could apologize immediately.

Alice arrived at the bar and found Zhen talking to Nala. She approached the elf rather awkwardly. 

"Mister elf... Well..."

"Ah, the knight girl, we were just talking about you. When are you going to pay your debt?" Asked Zhen while looking at Alice.

"Excuse me, you mean?" Alice was confused, she didn't understand Zhen's words because she didn't think she ever owed him anything.

"The wound on your stomach. Healing it... is not free. I'm not asking for much, just one silver is enough."

Alice was speechless, all the good impressions she had in her head collapsed instantly.

'He's not a savior!' Alice shouted in her mind.

The blonde-haired woman immediately looked at Nala to confirm. "Ma'am Nala, do you have to pay too?"

Nala smiled faintly, she placed a hand on her cheeks which were slightly flushed from blushing. "Actually he got my body for tonight."

Alice was shocked, her mouth gaped and she immediately looked at Zhen who was eating pumpkin pie. 

"Y... Yo... You're not a savior, you're just a perverted leech." Alice stammered while pointing at the elf. 

Zhen munched on the pumpkin pie while looking at Alice with an innocent gaze without any guilt at all.

Blood boiling to the core, Alice could no longer bear her patience. 

"Enough! I can't take it anymore. Perverted elf! I challenge you to a sword duel!"

All eyes in the bar now focused on Alice and Zhen. Nala looked somewhat worried as she thought Alice might regret her decision. Zaltar looked at Alice while swallowing his saliva because he knew Alice had done a very stupid move. 

Zhen swallowed his pumpkin pie and started talking, "First, my name is Zhen. Second, I don't fight, I kill, so it's not a duel, it's a death match. Third, I don't kill for free. Fourth, you're still anemic, you'll probably pass out before drawing your sword."

Alice's eyebrows went down and her forehead slightly wrinkled. "What do you mean?"

Zhen raised the empty mug and signaled Nala to fill it with beer. "Like I said, if you want me to kill you, you have to pay."

"Huh?! Who would pay to be killed?"

"I'm glad that you understand. Now, please leave me alone. I'm eating."

Alice was shocked and could only remain silent while the whole bar laughed. 

"Ahahaha, the waitress get rejected."

"Ahahaha, the elf just said that Alice is not even worthy."

"Ahahaha."

All the responses and laughter made Alice's face turn red with annoyance and embarrassment.

"Young Alice, you should rethink your actions before you hurt yourself," Nala warned.

"AAAAAAGGGGHHH!!! OK!!!" Alice pointed at Zhen who was eating, "Fine! I accept your terms! If you win, then..." Alice started to stutter, "I... I... I'll... Serve you tonight! How?! Don't tell me you're scared."

The entire bar was silent for a moment and then cheered in unison.

"Ara... Ara... I didn't expect to have a rival," Nala said with a thin smile on her friendly face. 

Zhen chuckled then murmured softly, "Really looks like her."

The elf stopped eating and focused on chatting with Alice instead. "Alright, then, let's draw up the contract. If I win, I want you to do something for me after I finish my business with Nala tonight."

Alice's face turned red but she forced down the embarrassment and acted strong, "Ha... Whatever. It doesn't matter. I'm going to win anyway."

"And if you win, not only will your debt be paid off, but I will also give you power over me for whatever you want..."

"Hah! Of course, I accept! The loser will be the slave of the winner, fair enough."

"...Including... Ordering me to die."

Alice was silent, she saw Zhen's eyes that were filled with confidence and made this woman a little trepidatious.

Zhen stood up from his seat and walked outside the bar, "I await your service tonight, knight girl."

Alice felt a cold sensation in her spine. Scared? Probably. 

"Ara... Ara... I think I should lend you a special dress from the second floor," said Nala which made Alice's spine to chill instantly. 

"Don't joke around ma'am Nala, it's not funny," Alice replied with a slightly awkward laugh. 

"I guess she's right, better prepare for your defeat." Zaltar interrupted the conversation between Nala and Alice. 

"What do you mean to prepare to defeat?" Alice asked.

"Did you see the condition my body is in? Mister Zhen is the one who take my hand and leg."

----------------------------------------------

The streets were emptied once again and the townspeople watched while betting.

Alice stood some distance in front of the bar, with her armor and sword on, this woman was perfectly prepared for the duel.

'He might be able to cut off a bandit's limbs, but that's about it because I still have the ability to see the future. Close combat is still in my control.' Alice thought, tightening her grip on the sword.

Zhen stood on the other side with a small dagger and was only wearing ordinary clothes. 

'Hmn... She can still stand casually after losing blood. Her endurance is really amazing.' Zhen thought as he measured Alice's capacity. 

Alice closed her eyes, letting out a long breath. 

[ Absolute Foresight ]

This female knight lunged forward.

[ Point Shifter, 50% Agility 40% Strength ]

Alice continued to advance towards Zhen. The elf had not reacted yet, was he preparing a trick? Coating the dagger with magic? It didn't matter because victory was already assured when she could see the future.

Zhen began to move and Alice could see the elf's future shadow. Without hesitation, she calculated the distance and time of the movement and slashed out to cut off Zhen's hand. 

*Slash! 

Alice successfully cut....

... The empty air. 

"Judging by the way you slashed me, it looks like you have it," said Zhen who was standing right beside Alice. 

Alice was surprised and jumped up spontaneously. 'What? How come? I'm sure I cut off his hand.'

Zhen shook his head, "Useless, useless, useless. Even if you have the ability to see the future."

A surprise that managed to make Alice tighten her grip on the sword even more. "What? How did you know about that?"

Zhen sighed and sheathed his dagger at his waist. "I don't think I need this."

An insult that made the blood in Alice's head boil instantly. "What do you mean sheathing your weapon?!"

"Take it easy, I probably won't need it anyway."

"What an arrogant ass!" Alice dashing forward once again, she saw the movement of Zhen's future shadow but why? None of the attacks hit. 

"What happened?" asked Alice while breaking out in a cold sweat. 

"Looks like you're not the type to learn quickly. I'll make this easier then."

Alice didn't get the point and just focused on launching an attack. She lunged once more and saw Zhen's future shadow also lunging towards her.

Suddenly Zhen moved faster and was now moving simultaneously with his own future shadow at the same time at the same position. 

*Bhuk! 

A punch caused Alice to be pushed away. The female knight was wearing armor, but Zhen's punch managed to make her fall to her knees and cough. 

Zhen walked past Alice, "Even if you can see the future, you can never catch my future."

An overwhelming piercing aura was suddenly felt by Zhen as he passed Alice.

He glanced back quickly and saw a sword being swung at him. 

*Slash! 

Alice's slash managed to cut off a bit of Zhen's hair.

Alice was breathing heavily while Zhen held the end of his hair that had just been cut.

"Heh. So what if you can move quickly?" asked Alice sarcastically with a grin. 

Zhen smiled. 'She has unreal potential,' Zhen thought as he spread his arms wide.

"I guess words..."

Zhen was suddenly in front of Alice. The two looked into each other's eyes and what she saw was a cold, empty stare from a deep pit of nothingness. 

".... Are not enough."

*Bhuk! Bhuk! Bhuk! Bhuk!

Alice was thrown far away and her armor cracked at various points. When she managed to land on the ground, she was met by Zhen who was preparing to throw another punch.

*BHRAK! 

The blow shattered the armor and sent pieces flying in all directions. Alice was thrown once again but this time, her whole body was shaking from the impact of the blow that flowed through her body. 

Alice was slammed and rolled several times. 

Alice tried to stand up with her shaking body and looked at Zhen's punch which was now aimed at her face.

A fast and powerful punch that emitted an aura of bloodlust and pure malice. 

Zhen's punch suddenly stopped right in front of Alice's face and produced a wave of wind that fluttered her long blonde hair.

Alice's whole body trembled, her face paled and she sat down instantly.

Zhen pulled his hand away and immediately smiled at Alice. "You feel that, knight girl? It's called fear."

"Come on, I'll help you walk," said Zhen who put one of Alice's hands over his shoulder and held her waist so that she could walk straight. 

"Hahaha, you're really good. You have great potential. How about I buy you a plate of pumpkin pie?"