Published: January 22, 2026
When Ms. Fuuka sheathed the curved single-edged sword in her left hand, a sharp sound echoed through the silent space.
“Are you, by any chance, an explorer of the Red Copper Twilight?” Philly asked the sudden intruder, Ms. Fuuka.
It seemed Philly didn’t know much about Ms. Fuuka.
Indeed, Philly had come to this town about a month after the joint hunt.
The Red Copper Twilight is a clan that, despite being an s-rank party, rarely appeared in newspapers, creating a gap between the floors reached and public recognition.
It’s no wonder Philly was unaware.
“...Surprising. I thought you’d be aware of us too.”
“Unfortunately, I’m busy. I don’t have time to pay attention to insects like you. Sorry about that.”
For now, am I saved?
No, I must not let my guard down yet.
While the two converse, I need to recover enough stamina to move.
But why did Ms. Fuuka come here?
Titania seemed to imply she had been brought here intentionally.
While pondering this,
“I'm home!”
Sylph suddenly appeared, who hadn’t been here moments before.
“Sylph, thank you for your hard work.”
“…Could it be that Sylph brought Ms. Fuuka here?”
Sylph had disappeared suddenly and reappeared right after Ms. Fuuka arrived.
The only reason I could think of was that Sylph had brought Ms. Fuuka here.
“Yes, that’s right! I can communicate with humans one-sidedly, you know.”
I’ve heard that sound is a vibration of air.
If so, since Sylph is skilled at manipulating wind—air—it must be easy for her to produce sounds.
“—That insect is a pest to you. You should have exterminated it sooner.”
Their conversation continued.
“What are you talking about? It’s still an insect. Even if you realized it was a pest, it’s not too late to exterminate it now.”
“That insect is highly poisonous. So— you will die here.”
“Hohoho, bold words. Don’t think your bluff will work on me.”
“Bluff? No, it’s fact.—Then, as a mental attack, let me introduce myself.”
“Oh, I’d love to hear that. Who are you, the one bearing the deadly poison that could kill me?”
“I’m Fuuka Shinonome, head of the Shinonome Family, an old family from the Far East. Just for a short while, but remember me.”
“—!”
When Ms. Fuuka introduced herself, Philly’s eyes widened.
I understand that the Far East is the name of the island nation in the continent's east, but what does “old family” mean?
“...Impossible. No one remains from the Shinonome Family—”
“Yes. Everyone perished in the civil war. But my bodyguards are excellent, so only I survived.—So I will slice you, Philly Carpenter, with a personal grudge.”
Ms. Fuuka radiated such an intimidating aura that it made the air vibrate.
“...So there’s a survivor. Well then, no problem if we exterminate her here!”
Philly tapped her staff on the ground, and numerous spears of various elements shot out.
Since I was in the spear’s path, I whipped my exhausted body to avoid obstructing Ms. Fuuka and tried to move away when—
“Stay where you are.”
Ms. Fuuka commanded.
She pressed up the sword’s guard with her left thumb, revealing a few centimeters of the blade.
Placing her right hand on the handle, countless thin silver trails circled around her.
The spears that touched these trails dissipated instantly and never reached Ms. Fuuka.
(Too fast...!?)
I understood what Ms. Fuuka did.
She must have slashed at each spear with her sword.
But it was so fast that all I saw were trails of light after her swings.
After cutting them all down, Ms. Fuuka sheathed her sword again.
As I admired her fluid movements, Ms. Fuuka suddenly blurred and vanished the next moment.
“Ugh!”
I heard Philly’s cry of agony and looked over to see Ms. Fuuka standing back-to-back with Philly.
Philly had two intersecting cuts on her body and collapsed.
Ms. Fuuka looked down at her expressionlessly, shook the blood from her blade, and sheathed her sword.
(Defeating Philly, whom even Titania’s cooperation couldn’t reach, in an instant...)
As I was amazed, I noticed mana gathering around Ms. Fuuka.