BBYW Vol. 3 Interlude Part 12 (WN)
Interlude – Royal Martial Tournament
Part 12 – A Flower and its Thorns
【 POV: Naam Sphinx】
As soon as I entered the narrow alley, the two men that were following me decided it was time to approach.
“Hehe, wait up, missy.”
The two men, in a well-practiced manner, moved to my front and back, slowly but surely pressuring me against the wall.
“Yes? How can I help you?”
I tilted my head to the side, holding my chin with one hand.
I was pretty sure I already knew how they wanted me to “help” them, but I gave them a chance nonetheless, to avoid any possible misunderstandings.
“Don’t play dumb, you’re the one who walked in this alley…you were inviting us, yeah?”
“C’mon, let’s play a bit. We just finished working, so we’re pretty loaded right now.”
A lecherous grin plastered on their faces, the men came closer and closer.
They looked flushed and emanated a strong smell of alcohol. The sun was still high in the sky, but they were clearly drunk.
“Oh, I’m so sorry…I know I might not look it, but I’m not the type that want to have fun. If you’re in the mood to play, do you mind asking someone else?”
Casually covering my nose and mouth, I refused the men’s advances.
Their faces then became even redder, but not because of the alcohol.
“Whaat!? You invited us all the way here, and you’re turning us down!?”
“Look at how you’re dressed, woman! You can’t tell me you’re not looking for a man!!”
“….guilty.”
I chuckled, as I became convinced that the two men deserved to be punished.
I swiftly raised one of my long legs and struck one of the men’s groin.
“GWUAH!?”
The momentum from the kick made the man float in the air for a few seconds.
After a strange yelp, he crumbled on the ground, clenching his lower body.
“Oh, dear. My apologies, I must have slipped.”
“What the hell are—”
“Oh, my hand slipped this time.”
“Grwah!”
I pulled my right arm back and planted the elbow in the solar plexus of the man behind me.
I then turned around, hitting him in the chin with the back of my hand as I did.
“Gruawh!?”
“Oh my, what’s wrong with me today? I’m really sorry, what a klutz!”
“Gh…damn…you…”
“And not just my hands, even my legs are the same. See?”
“Gwah…”
As the coup de grace, I landed a heel on the man’s back.
The two aggressors collapsed on the ground; one was already knocked out.
“Are all gentlemen in the capital so frail, I wonder? In the west, men are much tougher.”
I looked down at the two men, a bit perplexed, then turned around and headed out.
Before me, however, a new character made his entrance.
“Look at that, I guess I was worried for nothing.”
He was a young man, probably around the same age as my brother. I carefully observed him, from head to toe.
(He’s strong…I definitely can’t let my guard down.)
After my abduction, I started practicing martial arts, and father praised my natural talents. I could easily take down the average ruffian, and I was skilled enough to be able to tell how strong my opponent was.
The young man before me looked rather strong in my eyes. He could have been able to rival even my brother.
I moved one leg backwards, getting ready to close in the distance and strike, if necessary.
“…I’m sorry, were they friends of yours? I’m afraid they’re taking a nap right now.”
“No, I don’t have anything to do with…”
“Hah!”
I leaped forward and aimed a poke to the man’s neck.
“Whoa!? What are you doing, all of a sudden!?”
“So fast…! You really are in another league…!”
The young man moved his neck out of the way without hesitation, dodging my surprise attack. His movements were refined, as smooth as flowing water. I took my stance again, focusing as much as possible.
“Hey, hey, wait a second. I came here because you…”
“No need for words! Take this!”
The last exchange clearly told me how strong my opponent was: he was superior to me. If I gave him a chance to get serious, I would surely lose.
I kicked the ground and leapt in the air, preparing my next strike.