Tilea's Worries

 Edim thought. Tilea-sama’s eyes were wide with astonishment at my return.  

Indeed, considering I had just come back from procuring provisions, it was rather early.  

Is that really what had surprised her?  

The reason I returned so early…  

It was because I had assisted the retainers who disobeyed Tilea-sama’s command.  

I—there’s no way I could possibly admit that.  

If I were to give such an irreverent report before Camilla-sama, I’d be executed on the spot.

“Uh, um, the reason I got back early is… well, how shall I put it… that I managed to procure the ingredients efficiently…”  

“No, none of that matters.”  

While I stammered through my excuses, Tilea-sama replied as if it were of no consequence.  

It seemed then that her surprise wasn’t due to my early return.  

Hmm, then why?  

I still couldn’t fathom Tilea-sama’s way of thinking.  

Forget it.  

If I tried to decipher the meaning of her words, I’d only end up in a dead-end of thought.

While I was lost in my own worries, Tilea-sama dismounted from the black rabbit-horse and steadily approached my side.  

“Edim!”  

“Y-yes?”  

“Are you feeling alright? No fever? You aren’t feeling nauseous or unwell, are you?”  

For some reason, Tilea-sama had taken to inquiring about my health.  

Thanks to Ortidiot, my stress had been mounting daily.  

But I wasn’t in any way unwell. Even if I were, I couldn’t possibly tell the truth—any sign of weakness would have Camilla-sama immediately declaring me unfit for duty.  

So I answered her with a firm “Yes.”  

“Then, have you been sleeping well at night? You aren’t suffering from a lack of sleep, are you?”  

Tilea-sama’s barrage of questions continued…  

After all, vampires don’t require sleep—“not sleeping” is the proper answer.  

But such an answer might not suffice for her.  

I was beginning to understand, somehow.

“Tilea-sama, I am by no means sleep-deprived. My energy and stamina are completely intact.”  

“I see. So this is… Vampire Magical Girl Alhas Edim in peak condition, then?”  

“Indeed.”  

I had expended a bit of magic power serving as Ortidiot’s errand boy, but not enough to jeopardize my mission. Even now, I could unleash my full power.  

Tilea-sama nodded approvingly at my answer and patted my shoulder.  

Then,  

“To battle.”  

That was the command I received.  

“U-um, me?”  

“Yes. It’s your turn, Edim.”  

Tilea-sama had suddenly singled me out.  

Could it be that, over all the high-ranking officers, I was to be honored with a one-on-one duel?  

“Yes, Edim.”  

I was handed the reins of the black rabbit-horse along with the Foten Gaki.  

“Um, are you really sure it should be me?”  

“Yes. They said you’re the only one. Or do you fear you won’t be able to defeat Baccio?”  

“No, absolutely not. I can win. Baccio is, after all, merely human—not my adversary!”  

I responded with a hint of bravado.  

After all, I already bore the disgrace of having been bested by a human in demon slaying.  

I refused to be branded yet again as a weakling who loses to mere humans.  

I boldly declared to Tilea-sama that I could easily dispatch someone like Baccio.  

In truth, if I assessed it dispassionately, my chances were around sixty to seventy percent.  

Baccio is, after all, the strongest woman among humans, possessing combat prowess on par with that fiend. Even the mightiest vampire, if off guard, stands a fair chance of defeat.  

Satisfied with my answer, Tilea-sama declared that the honor of single combat was now entirely entrusted to me.  

Even the dissenting legionnaires had no choice but to nod in agreement at her confident stance.  

Hmm, is it really alright for me to take this on?  

A one-on-one duel is an honor of the martial realm. Even if my opponent were nothing more than a feeble weakling, a victory is an honor in its own right.  

Above all, it’s a chance to showcase my strength before Tilea-sama and Camilla-sama.  

Even if the enemy is a small fry, as long as I can defeat them in an instant, it’s just a matter of how impressively I can win.  

No one among the legionnaires would miss such a golden opportunity.  

I looked around.  

Ugh, as expected, the envious stares of the high-ranking officers were excruciating.  

This made things awkward.  

If I remember correctly from Ortidiot’s account, before Tilea-sama declared a one-on-one duel, everyone had simultaneously volunteered.  

Every legionnaire in the Evil God Army was a formidable fighter—countless warriors had stepped forward, each proclaiming, “It must be me!”  

The glances were filled with pure jealousy.  

Some wore expressions of “Why you?” and clenched their teeth, while others were dejected at having lost the opportunity to make a name for themselves.  

Ah, Ortidiot was biting his handkerchief in frustration.  

Heh—I wanted to taunt him with a “serves him right,” but that would also insult the others.  

No, as long as they don’t notice.  

Such opportunities are rare; I’d use this to blow off some pent-up stress. I flashed a sly smile at Ortidiot from the blind spot of the other legionnaires.  

Ortidiot’s fist trembled as he tried to keep his anger in check.  

It felt wonderfully satisfying. I wanted to push it even further—I even stuck out my tongue and used some pantomime to thoroughly egg him on. I had him mentally tormented.

“Tilea-sama!”  

This isn’t good. Have I gone too far?  

Ortidiot, with a furious burst, rushed straight in front of Tilea-sama.

“Oru, what’s the matter?”  

“Hah! With all due respect, I fear that Edim is unworthy of engaging in single combat. Surely, it should be me!”  

That fool, not even knowing the true meaning of “unworthy,” had the audacity to plead his case.  

This is exactly why idiots are such a pain.  

Tilea-sama had commanded without any discussion, you know.  

Though I had egged him on, I thought, “That Ortidiot—do you still object?!”  

Everyone was resentful that someone as inexperienced as I was chosen, but none actually objected!  

Tilea-sama’s command was as unyielding as an imperial decree.  

It was already decided. Take heed!

“Oru, no objections will be permitted. No matter how much you protest, it’s not happening.”  

“B-but… oh, now that I think of it, Edim seems to harbor hints of treachery. For someone like him to partake in single combat would compromise the honor of the Evil God Army!”  

Y-you! Are you trying to slander me again?!  

I won’t let that slide. What are you going to do?  

Meanwhile, Ortissio’s incessant prattle of lies continued.  

“—Thus, Edim is a great sinner—unworthy of single combat. Leave it to me. Ortissio is stepping in!”  

Ah, at last, he resorted to force.  

Ortidiot leapt out without waiting for Tilea-sama’s approval.  

He intended to cancel out the sin of his underhanded maneuver with a triumph.  

This is bad—he’s going to steal my glory!

“W-wait—”  

“Don’t you dare take charge!”  

“Guhabeee!”  

Tilea-sama’s fierce roundhouse kick struck Ortidiot.  

Ortidiot foamed at the mouth and collapsed onto the ground.  

That guy certainly does foam.  

Th-thank goodness.  

The fact that he was stopped confirmed that Tilea-sama had indeed prohibited any underhanded maneuvers.  

Ortidiot, you idiot—reflect on your actions! And if you persist, you’ll be executed for violating military regulations.

Just as I was relieved that Ortidiot’s rampage had ceased,  

“Edim.”  

“Y-yes?”  

Suddenly, Camilla-sama called out to me.  

“What are you just standing around for?”  

“Huh?!”  

Camilla-sama frowned, clearly in a foul mood.  

“It’s a waste to have been nominated by your elder sister. Get a move on!”  

“Y-yes!”  

That’s right—I had no time to be dithered by Ortidiot.  

I simply couldn’t afford to make another mistake.  

Here, I must defeat Baccio with flair and present my victory to Tilea-sama and Camilla-sama.  

Immediately, I pulled in the reins that had been handed to me and approached the black rabbit-horse to mount it.

Ugh—wh-what an imposing aura…  

Up close, the black rabbit-horse’s sinister aura was unmistakable.  

Damn, it was downright intimidating.  

After all, I, too, am directly under Camilla-sama’s command.  

It’s only a horse—so don’t underestimate it!  

I mustered my resolve to hook my foot into the stirrup, but—  

The black rabbit-horse released its raging magical aura all around, snorting a warning.  

Confronted by that skin-pricking aura, every muscle in my body tensed.  

I—I can’t ride it.  

That’s right—it’s no ordinary horse.  

This is a renowned steed of the realm. Above all, it was magically modified by none other than the great magical genius, Camilla-sama. It certainly isn’t your run-of-the-mill horse.  

W-what should I do?  

I can’t get near it. I just can’t mount it.  

Even if I managed to get on, I have a feeling I’d be thrown off the moment I did—  

I can say that with absolute certainty.

While I hesitated to mount the black rabbit-horse, Tilea-sama reassured me, “It’s surprisingly well-behaved; you’ll be fine, fine,” and gave me a shove on the back.  

Even being shoved like that didn’t ease my nerves…  

The horse’s docility was reserved solely for Tilea-sama, after all.  

My gut told me that alarms were blaring non-stop.  

At this rate, I was on the verge of being thrown off.  

I needed to come up with a plan…  

Huh!?  

I suddenly felt an intense chill.  

This is no good.  

Camilla-sama’s gaze was growing ever sterner, her mood plummeting rapidly!  

It was all because I was hesitating.  

I had no choice.

I hooked my foot into the stirrup and mounted in one go.  

In an instant—the black rabbit-horse bucked violently.  

“Whoa!? Am I falling!?”  

Just as I expected—it bucked wildly.  

Even with the mighty power of a vampire, I felt I might be thrown off.  

Th-this is—!  

I frantically tugged at the reins, but they wouldn’t obey.  

Ah, this sensation brought back memories.  

I remembered riding a horse for the first time when I was five.  

Back then, in my overconfidence, I mounted a spirited, ill-tempered horse and ended up falling off. I didn’t so much ride as be thrown along uncontrollably.  

Eventually, I was thrown off and ended up with a fracture—a painful memory indeed.  

I definitely did not want to fall off now.  

Tilea-sama had personally chosen me for this single combat—a tremendous honor. For someone bestowed with such honor to be thrown off without even engaging the enemy would disgrace Tilea-sama’s very face.  

Even if I must die, I won’t let go of the reins!  

I gripped them with all my might, fully prepared for my nails to dig in and bleed.  

Yet the black rabbit-horse continued to buck relentlessly—tossing its head from side to side and rocking its body violently.  

This is bad; my hand was starting to go numb.  

The feeling in my hand holding the reins was alarming; slowly, they began to slip from my grasp.  

Ah, ah… it’s no use now.  

Just as my right hand lost all feeling and I was about to release the reins,  

“Surely you won’t be thrown off, right?”

Camilla‑sama spoke to me with a most displeased expression.  

“C‑Camilla‑sama…” I stammered.  

“Don’t waste the honor of receiving a mission straight from your elder sister by acting like such an imbecile. I’ll cut you to pieces and turn you into horse feed,” she snapped.  

“E‑eek!”  

“It’s not a matter of being squeamish. You can do it, can’t you?”  

“O‑of course I can! I’ll tame this damn horse!” I declared.  

“Spare me the excuses. Get on with it!”  

“Y‑yes,” I replied.  

Those were words coming directly from Camilla‑sama herself. There was no longer any option of being thrown off. Even if I had to slit the throat of this black rabbit‑horse, I would tame it.  

I steeled myself and channeled my magic.  

“Uaaaah! Enough already!” I shouted, smacking the black rabbit‑horse’s hindquarters with all my might—using my own hand in place of a whip. I hit it—no, I punched it—with the full force I pride myself on as the strongest among vampires. For an ordinary horse, that blow could have shattered its body to pieces. Even though this black rabbit‑horse had been magically modified, it still took a good amount of damage.  

“Huff, huff—how’s that? Have you learned a thing or two about my power?” I asked, eyeing the horse.  

The black rabbit‑horse seemed to smirk, then reared its upper body high. It appeared the creature had accepted my challenge.  

“Fine! I’ll see this fight through to the bitter end. Let’s settle this—let’s see which one of us falls first!” I roared.  

“Stop!” Camilla‑sama’s calm, slightly deep voice rang out, leaving no doubt that she was extremely displeased.  

“U‑um, Camilla‑sama?” I ventured.  

“How long do you plan on fooling around?” she demanded.  

“W‑well…” I began.  

“That’s enough.”  

Without further ado, Camilla‑sama strode over to the black rabbit‑horse and nonchalantly grabbed its mane.  

“Horse, listen up. I’ve granted you some of my power and a modicum of intelligence. What is your elder sister’s wish?” she ordered.  

“He‑hihin?” came the timid, almost mosquito‑like whinny in response.  

The black rabbit‑horse, which had been exuding a fearsome aura just moments ago, now looked as feeble as a little bunny.  

“If you understand, then hurry up and carry that vampire already! If you can’t, I’ll slice you up and serve you as horse sashimi right here!” Camilla‑sama roared.  

The black rabbit‑horse bobbed its head vigorously, clearly well‑accustomed to Camilla‑sama’s terrifying presence.  

“Alright, I should be able to tame you now. We’re in this together—you can’t afford any slip-ups,” I muttered, pulling on the reins once more. This time, the horse was as meek as a borrowed cat.  

“This should work!” I thought.  

Once I managed to mount the horse, Tilea‑sama handed me the Foten Gaki. I accepted it respectfully.  

“O‑ohhhh! What an incredible weapon!” I marveled. Even from afar I knew it was amazing, but handling it revealed that it was in a league of its own.  

Ah, this feeling… It reminded me of the first time I ever handled a sword at the age of six—when I got carried away and accidentally cut my finger, crying from pain and fear. It was a child’s sword, but its sharpness was more than enough. That was my first taste of the terrifying nature of a weapon.  

It’s just like that all over again. Scary… This weapon is terrifying! It feels as though it would slice through anything that comes near it. I desperately wanted to keep it as far away from my body as possible, for fear that any contact would mean being torn apart. Cold sweat poured down my back, soaking my shirt like that of a young soldier wielding a sword for the first time.  

Calm down. It’ll be all right. It’s still nothing compared to the Evil God Sword that Myuhen‑sama wields—I once caught a glimpse of its unsheathed form and nearly fainted just from the sight. Compared to that magical blade, this is nothing.  

Somehow, I managed to talk myself down, taking deep, steady breaths.  

“Edim, then it’s up to you,” Tilea‑sama said.  

“Y‑yes. I will absolutely… B‑B‑Baccio will…” I could barely form the words, overwhelmed by the horse and weapon far above my league. My breathing was labored and my heart pounded wildly.  

“Hah—there, you pathetic wretch!”  

“Ah!”  

Before I could react, Camilla‑sama cast a spell. Tiny particles of light gathered in her hand and cascaded over me, and I could feel my spirit settling almost instantly.  

Ah, amazing. How incredible! It was the very essence of perfect calm—a mind as tranquil as a still lake, yet with an unparalleled concentration.  

“Ah, Tilea‑sama, so this is what being on a high feels like, huh?”  

“I’ve cast a support spell on you, you immature wretch. If you cause any more trouble, understand this: you’re nothing more than an accompaniment to horse sashimi!” Camilla‑sama’s final warning rang out.  

It was fine—I wouldn’t act foolishly again. With the ultimate horse, the ultimate weapon, and my optimal state of mind, there was no way I could lose. I lightly tapped the black rabbit‑horse with my foot hooked in the stirrup. The horse turned its head.  

“Black Rabbit‑Horse, Zessei. Let’s go!” I commanded.  

“Hihiiiin!”  

With a fierce neigh, the black rabbit‑horse bolted from the turret at a speed that defied all logic—its pace as swift as lightning. In an instant, it reached the spot where Baccio’s special forces were stationed.  

Before my eyes, Baccio was waiting atop his horse, arms crossed.  

“Finally, you show up. At first I thought it was just a little girl—what the hell?! Ahhh!” Baccio roared.  

Naturally, he was incensed. This black rabbit‑horse was extraordinarily fast—its speed defying every known law of horses. It was more than three times faster than any prized steed; no matter what fine horse he might have prepared, it would be useless. As expected, Baccio’s own horse couldn’t keep up.  

Still, the strongest among humans is not to be underestimated. Though bewildered by the appearance of a horse that defies all common sense, Baccio immediately assumed a battle-ready stance.  

“Though you’re a bit slow…” I thought as he wasted no time in brandishing his Foten Gaki.  

“W‑w-wait! Hold on! Oh, that’s unbelievable—”  

In his flustered state, the Foten Gaki swung and sliced off Baccio’s head. Even in the ensuing chaos, Baccio had managed to defend his neck by concentrating his fighting spirit there—predicting the trajectory of the Foten Gaki and channeling all his energy into protecting the spot it was about to strike. With an ordinary weapon, that blow would have shattered the blade. Even a masterpiece considered a national treasure would have seen its edge chipped. And even if a blow exceeding that fighting spirit were delivered, Baccio’s extraordinary muscles would have stopped it. Heh, if it had been an ordinary masterpiece…  

The Foten Gaki is renowned as the greatest blade in the realm—and it was magically modified by Camilla‑sama herself with hardening magic. In its presence, no defense is possible. One must never let it hit. Baccio should have evaded it, but—well, I didn’t let him.  

Baccio’s head rolled onto the ground, and his body crumpled in a heap—a rather abrupt end for the so‑called strongest woman in human history.