The Dread Knight's Rage-Chapter 93: The Vanquisher’s Wrath

A hunting party of orcs travelled through a shallow canyon.

At their head, they were led by a single high orc with bright red skin. His powerful muscles were

In the heat of the realm’s rising suns, the smell emanating from their bodies became even more putrid, rendering the air nearly toxic.

They reached the mouth of a large cavern. The outside was alight with torches and decorated with the skulls of unsuspecting prey. Even giants seemed to have been felled by their hands.

The orcs dropped their day’s spoils in one pile outside of their dwelling, near a pile of dried wood meant for kindling.

Suddenly, a shadow passed over the group, and an unholy, feminine voice rang out into the air.

"PREPARE TO BE VANQUISHED, FOUL SWINE-FACESSS!!"

Two figures dropped out of the air like bombs, bringing immediate devastation with their arrival.

The ground explodes, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The pair of attackers moves swiftly, but only one acts silently. The other is...

"Paltry foe after paltry foe! Are there no enemies worth the time of myself and ThunderSplitter!? Will we ever know true challenge in battle!?"

Nila buries her weapon in the head of a green orc. It’s blood spatters across her face and chest, somehow making her look even more fearsome than normal.

However, she misses the moment a large red fist rushes through the dust cloud and strikes her hard in the side.

Nila takes a tumble, but she recovers rather quickly and prepares to go on the counterattack.

However, before she can reach her foe, a black sword buries itself in the side of the high orc’s neck.

Blood spurts from the wound like a fountain. The high orc immediately freezes in place, his eyes becoming slightly glossy and disoriented. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Suddenly, the sword was wrested from the wound, only to strike home once more, this time with greater force.

The two halves of the high orc’s body slid to the ground, signalling the victory of the unlikely pair.

Though Nila wasn’t exactly thrilled about the climax of their battle.

"That kill was mine, friend Solomon! You have denied me an honorable victory and the chance to extend the legends of my ferocity!"

Solomon’s eyes were locked on his most recent kill, his orange eyes distant and unaware.

Nila puffs out her cheeks and nudges him.

Solomon blinks, snapping out of his trance.

He looks down at the black sword in his hand and the corpse at his feet.

Lastly, he looks at Nila, and he knows exactly what her expression means.

"...Sorry, that was yours, wasn’t it...? My mind was somewhere else."

Nila stares at Solomon for a long time before turning away.

"...Your error will be forgiven just this once. I will not stab you for your infraction."

Solomon exhaled a silent breath of relief.

After putting his sword away, Solomon hears the sound of a belt buckle unfastening.

When he looks back, Nila is already pulling down her pants and squatting over the corpse of her enemies.

Solomon wished he could say that he was surprised, but this truly no longer fazed him. After almost a year in the same group, he had seen Nila’s butt more times than he cared to admit.

"Must you do that every time...?"

"Unremarkable enemies deserve no respect." Nila continues urinating. "I do this to assert my dominance over them, now and forever. Even as the buzzards and worms feast upon their dead flesh, they will know that their meal was vanquished by a superior enemy and seasoned appropriately."

If Solomon didn’t know about their family relations, there was no way in the world that he would believe that Nila was related to Yari.

Shaking his head, he began searching the bodies for something useful—anything to make their journey to the city less excruciating.

As he searches, Nila watches his back with a very thoughtful gaze.

"...Do not regret what you have said to the little princess. Her spoiled nature is most difficult to contend with. You were right to challenge her behavior."

Solomon initially does not respond.

Nila’s stream finally peters out, and she stands up to fasten her pants once again.

"...One moment of rage does not reflect the whole of your character. Should Canari choose not to see that, that is her shortcoming and not yours."

Nila walks over to Solomon and pats him on the head.

"You are a good man, Solomon. In surroundings where it is difficult for good men to thrive, no less. It speaks to your strength of character. Do not lose heart and question yourself so easily."

"....Nila, did you wash your hands before touching me?"

"Think not of sanitation and only concern yourself with the immense wisdom of my words just now."

Solomon didn’t know if he could even say anything. They were technically even now.

He got back to his feet and nodded at her, a bit more sureness returning to his posture.

"You’re quite the motivational speaker, Lady Nila."

"It is just another of my many talents. It is a burden to be this talented, graceful, smart, wise, powerful, lady-like-"

Solomon snorts.

"Does something amuse you, overgrown bag of muscle!?" Nila snarls.

"I could describe you in many ways. Ladylike would not be one of them."

"And why not!?"

"You just pissed on a dead body not even five minutes ago!"

"It wasn’t like I deficated! I was considerate of my modesty, and current company! Like a lady!"

Solomon rolled his eyes, no longer even bothering to argue. "You are so very different from your Aunt..."

The words slip past Solomon’s lips before he can take them back.

Realizing his mistake, he quickly turns to the cave, intending to investigate and put distance between them.

Nila walks right beside him, her gaze burrowing into the side of his head.

"...You know my aunt? How?"

"H-Hm..? What are you talking about?"

"Do not play me for the fool, or I will send you to join the rest of your people in the afterlife! You mentioned my aunt! How did you know I had a relative here?!"

Solomon sighs as he trudges into the dark, damp cave. "I take her class... You two look alike."

"So? Many summer elves show similarities with each other. It does not mean we are related!"

Solomon covers his nose from the rancid smell of the cave. "Ugh... summer elves?"

"Elves born from the great tree during the summertime have darker skin and hair. In the wintertime, elves are born paler and blonde."

Solomon was actually a bit intrigued to learn more about elven culture, but he doubted very seriously that Nila was in the mood to chat about such things further after his slip-up.

"If your conclusion was only based on an assumption, then why not assume that she was my mother, or even an older sister?! The only way you would land directly on Aunt is if she told you herself!"

Solomon spies a pile of items at the back of the cave. Ones in good condition too, no less.

He immediately went to them, and along the way, decided to drop his ruse.

"Fine, yes... Your aunt and I speak on occasion after class. I just ask her about magic and how I can become a better mage."

While Solomon begins inspecting the potential spoils, Nila stares at his back hard.

In the back of her mind, she goes over everything that she knows about Solomon, and about her aunt.

She tries to picture the two of them, talking, and what possible instance could have resulted in her Aunt telling their most precious secret.

And then it all clicks.

"You dog!"

"Nila, what are you doing!?"

Nila hops onto Solomon’s back and wraps him in a headlock from behind.

"What is your relationship with my aunt!? You’re courting her, aren’t you, you beast! She is too old for you!"

"N-Nila... Get off of me..!" Solomon struggles to say.

"Never! Not until you confess the true nature of your relationship!"

Solomon rolls his eyes as he pulls Nila’s arm from around his neck forcefully. "Fine, we have feelings for each other, are you happy!?"

"F-Feelings!? These are mutual!?"

"I believe so.. Keep it a secre-"

"NOOOO!!! I don’t want an uncle! My aunt is mine! You can’t have her!"

Nila tackled Solomon to the ground, wrestling him.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"You are unworthy! I have already seen your feelings for Lady Jiaoying! Manwhore! Slut!"

Solomon somehow manages to fling Nila off of him before scrambling to his feet.

"Wait... let’s talk about-"

"The time for talking has passed! Renounce all claim to my Aunt or our friendship is hereforth circumcised!"

"Do you even know what that word means!?"

"I do not have to know what a word means in order to use it, barbarian! Now what say you!?"

Solomon would have given anything for Yari or even Raizel to be present in the moment.

He had no idea what to say in order to calm Nila down. Everything he had said so far had only succeeded in making things worse.

"Speak!" Nila barks.

"Nila, just give me a moment to..."

Slowly, Solomon’s eyes catch sight of something behind Nila that completely changes his demeanor.

Nila follows his gaze behind her, and a soft choking noise escapes her throat.

Leaning against a wall, covered in shadows, Dakota smiles at the two of them through bloodied teeth.

"I am... happy to see you both...in good health..."

She tumbles to the ground shortly after greeting them. She does not respond to their calls, no matter how loudly they yell.