The Second Warrior

Sitting there in the rather cramped carriage that was meant more for merchandise than for people, I couldn’t help but gasp upon hearing those words.

“You’re… Two?”

The woman in front of us had black and curly wild hair and a smile no less wild. She had this sort of a gothic look to her; she wore black, frilly clothing and had her face heavily made-up in dark colors as well.

And she looked straight at me.

I couldn’t tell what lay behind her gaze—was it scorn? Amusement? A killing intent?

No, more importantly—how had she found us like this and so quickly?

We only just beat One, we definitely weren’t ready to face the second of the Three Warriors so quickly!

“Now, now, hold your horses,” said Two, smiling sweetly with her blackened lips. “Girlie over there, you should sheathe your sword… we don’t want it hurting anybody, right?”

She pulled a figure next to her—an unconscious woman that I recognized as our driver.

“What have you done to her?” Kai called. I saw him hesitate; he wouldn’t be able to even draw his bow in this sort of space.

“Relax, big boy,” she said, still looking straight at me. “If I just killed her I wouldn’t be able to use her as a hostage, right?” She held the woman to her chest, caressing her short hair with her free hand.

“Let her go and we’ll fight,” said Saga, who probably also had issues with her weapon in this space.

Two’s smile widened. “Oh, you misunderstand. I’m not looking to fight you at all right now. Otherwise I would have blown away your little carriage instead of coming for a chat.”

Well, that was probably true.

And come to think of it, One also acted rather strangely as our enemy.

“You can remain seated for now,” continued Two. “Just so you won’t try any funny business. Our fight will come at some point, don’t you worry. But for the time being, I just wanted to congratulate you.”

“Congratulate…?” muttered Kai.

Her dark smile was bewitching. She’d probably look really pretty if not for all the heavy makeup. “You’ve beaten poor One, after all. He was my finest creation.”

“Your… creation?” I said, my mouth hanging open.

“Hah, so you built him?” added Saga.

“For a moment there I wondered if you hadn’t noticed… Yes, dear old One was built by my very own hands.”

“What… but it doesn’t make sense!” I said.

“Yeah,” said Kai. “This place definitely shouldn’t have access to that sort of technology. I mean, even back home we had nothing like that.”

“Not that,” I said, waving a hand. “Your name is Two and you created One? Why is that even a thing?”

“That’s what bothering you!?” asked the shocked Kai.

On her part, Two burst into laughter. She even threw her head back and exposed pearly-white teeth surrounded by the dark outline of her lips.

Confused as I was, I also wondered if there was an opportunity here. A quick, careful spell, perhaps?

But someone else took action as I thought that.

A white flash erupted in the space separating us from the outside of the carriage as Saga half-rose from her seat and thrust right at the woman’s face.

Unfortunately, Saga struck short.

Her smile and eyes widening at once, Two leapt back and dragged the unconscious driver right in front of her as though trying to get her impaled.

My heart skipped a beat, but Saga was skilled enough to withdraw her blade, lightning-quick.

“Damn, who’s this girl, anyway?” Two said, blinking and looking at me as if expecting an answer.

“That’s something I’ve been asking myself quite a lot too, actually,” I admitted. Ever since the day—just a few days ago—where she overheard my conversation with Kai and joined us, she’d been full of surprises beyond my wildest dreams.

The woman’s mascara-heavy eyes moved between us as if surveying us carefully.

“So… who does she belong to?” she asked.

“Huh?” said Kai.

She giggled. “Such a fine girl… both strong and beautiful. Have you not dueled for her yet? Ehehe.”

I felt myself clenching my fist at her words. “Are you trying to make us fight or something?” asked Kai.

“Me? Of course not. Just explaining how the world works now… thanks to Master Three, of course,” she said sweetly.

“…Where can we find Three?” Saga immediately asked.

“Oh? Aren’t you an aggressive one. You still have me to take care of… you can’t skip ahead like that, alright?” said Two, giggling all the while.

“And where’s Mana, while we’re at it?” Kai added.

I had the feeling I knew the answer even before she answered.

“Hmm? Oh, I sent her back to the castle, of course. She’s been naughty, so it’s straight to the dungeon with her!” Two said. “Anyway, it was good seeing you. I think I’ve gotten a good grasp on your personalities now, so it’s been a fruitful meeting indeed. But it’s time to say bye bye.”

“You think we’ll just let you go?” hissed Kai from his seat.

“Can’t see anything you can do about it,” she said cheerfully, carefully backing out. “Now, I want the three of you to remain seated. I’ll walk a little, leave your friend on the ground here, then leave. That way no one gets hurt, you understand?”

The way her tone of voice was so calm in spite—or because—of the situation gave me chills.

Thinking back, One was also like that… then again, he was an actual robot. This woman exhibited human-like emotions, except that she was clearly crazy.

None of us dared to move. However, all of us stared at Two as she backed off, slowly but surely, and I think all of us had the exact same idea.

“Alright, guys, nice to meet you! Goodbye!” she said while putting down the unconscious woman on the ground.

All of us immediately lunged ahead. Due to our different speeds, we didn’t end up impeding one another.

First there was Saga, as quick as a cat, who practically leapt from her seat to the outside. She dashed toward the madwoman, hacking and slashing before she even got in range.

Kai also readied his bow, but my spellslinging was quicker. I shot not one but two light cantrips straight at her.

“Haha! Yes, that’s the way I like it!” she said, leaping back from Saga while also dancing between my attacks.

It was then that I noticed she had something rectangular and metallic attached to her back. Fiddling with something small in her hand, the object on her back suddenly spurt out flames and she rose into the air with a roar.

Was that a freaking jetpack?!

Thrusters lifted her into the air high above our reach.

“Keep that energy for our real fight, boy,” she said with a nasty smile, then spun in air to dodge an arrow. Droplets of blood splattered on the grass so the attack might have grazed her, but no more than that.

Two gave us a flying kiss, turned around and sped away. She was unfortunately too fast for any of us to do anything as we watched her disappear into the horizon.

“What’s up with her?” grumbled Kai.