「Wh-, what was that blow?! It wasn’t that strong before?!」
「Forget that, stop that girl first! We can’t let her hurt Lady Tiffany any further!」
「Yeah! Wait?! Sh-, she’s not there?! That girl’s gone!」
At that moment, Inglis was already standing at the spot where Tiffany landed. Inglis didn’t really do anything special. She simply moved at such a high speed that the Highlanders couldn’t perceive her movement.
「Lets have you lie down for a while! HYAAAAaaaahhhh!」
Inglis unleashed a barrage of fists before Tiffany could even get up.
「AAAAAaaaaaAAAAaaaaaahhhhhh?!!!」
The fists that rained down rapidly not only hit Tiffany’s body, but also pulverized the ground around her. In no time at all, the ground under Tiffany caved in, creating a large crater.
「Lady Tiffany!! We won’t let you go any further!」
「We will save her even if we lose our lives!!」「UWOOooohh!!」
The Highlanders all came to jump in the fray, desperation on their faces.
「C-, cease! None of you can stop her!」
Despite receiving a barrage of blows, Tiffany produced the words to halt them on their tracks. The fact that she said so under such circumstances made Inglis think that perhaps Tiffany really cherished her men and was concerned for their safety. Not that it bothered Inglis, but…
「…………」
Inglis ceased her barrage and looked at Tiffany. The platinum armor that she wore now dented and distorted on places it shouldn’t be, but it wasn’t exactly destroyed either.
Its durability was tremendous. It far surpassed even High Grade Artifacts.
For example, Leone’s black greatsword Artifact. If Inglis hit it at the same rate she hit Tiffany with her «Ether Armor» active, it would have long been shattered by now, no doubt.
As expected of an armor summoned by a Hyrule Menace. If Tiffany were to fight alongside a Holy Knight with their Special Grade Rune, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her armor protecting the Holy Knight from the attacks of the Prisma. Inglis personally, however, felt a bit frustrated that she couldn’t destroy it after all those attacks.
「Kgh……uugh……」
Being protected by its durability, it seems that Tiffany was still conscious too, although all the beatings really knocked the wind out of her. As expected of a Hyrule Menace. Inglis took a small leap backwards and gained some distance from her.
As though to fill in her place, the Highlanders rushed past Inglis and helped Tiffany to stand on her feet.
「Lady Tiffany!」
「A-, are you alright?!」
「Please retreat and leave the rest to us!」
Regardless, Tiffany shook her head at their words.
「I-, I mustn’t……You are no match for her!」
「H-, however!」
「We will protect you even at the cost of our lives!」
「Please, cherish yourself more!」
Seeing this scene all by itself, they looked like nothing else but a beautiful relationship between a master and her servants. However, it was also a fact that Tiffany and her men had committed all those atrocities throughout Alucard.
Had Rafinha seen this, would she be torn with what to do next? Or maybe she would have no room for mercy and deliver the judgment, after all?
Fundamentally, Rafinha believed that everyone had good in them, and she sought to find the good in everyone she met. Which is why, Inglis guessed, she would be torn inside if she saw this.
Inglis, however, would not. She didn’t really have the same belief as Rafinha. She didn’t mean to be cynical either, there is just something more important than mere good and evil.
「Let us end it here. Please release Pullum and the captured survivors in Lekrea and revert the Levitation Magic Formation. If you retreat to the Highland after that, I promise we will not pursue you further.」
Inglis actually really wanted to take her time and enjoy the fight more, but she had to settle it early to ensure Rafinha’s safety.
「L-, Lady Tiffany?」
「What should we do?」
The Highlanders turned to Tiffany. The fact that they reacted like so meant that getting on board with Inglis’ terms wasn’t that bad an idea. In a way, that should be obvious. Despite her overwhelming advantage, Inglis basically said she would let the incident slide if Tiffany was willing to return everything that needs to be returned. She didn’t ask for any atonement or compensation from Tiffany.
Of course, there are probably some people who would get offended by a deal as sweet as this. Tiffany, however, didn’t readily nod or shake her head to this deal, or rather, helping hand, that Inglis offered.
「……What would be the point of doing that?」
「I believe you will be able to try it again at a later time after you return to the Highland?」
「Fufu……Oh, I’m sure this would be a sound negotiation for those who are in a position where they can fail once and twice and be allowed a next opportunity…」
「……And you are not?」
「Indeed. I am not like Lord Abel who was originally of a ruling class and was favored by the Lord Founder. I am a Hyrule Menace, regardless of how powerful I am, in the eyes of the upper echelons, I am nothing but a tool to sell to the Midland for cheap. ……If I returned to the Highland bringing nothing but a failed mission, I would be treated as nothing more than the tool I am meant to be.」
「As long as you can come back down here and fight me again, I don’t mind with that, you know?」
「And what will be the meaning of it? As long as a Hyrule Menace is a Hyrule Menace, she can never truly save the Midland. Nothing can change, nothing can be changed. I have no intention to fight over such a ridiculous clause.」
It seemed that Tiffany loathed her duty and standing as a Hyrule Menace. Inglis could only guess that there are various reasons behind her hatred…
「A fight does not need a clause or a meaning. You fight because you want to, it’s fun because you are strong, isn’t that enough of a reason? Either way, the next time we meet, please promise me that you will attack me in an earnest attempt to bring me down!」
「And I am asking you what is the meaning of it?! What are you, a beast?!!」
「All I ever want is to be as strong as possible. For that reason, I am trying to ensure that I get as many opportunities to gain actual combat experience as possible.」
「……I cannot stand you! What is wrong with you?! You possess enough strength to single handedly defeat a Hyrule Menace, and yet all you do is joke around!」
「I’m not joking around, though!」
Thinking back on it, Cystia, Black Mask, and Abel, they were all offended when Inglis talked about her belief. She thought Tiffany, at least, would be a bit different, but she got offended too.
She couldn’t quite find an opponent who’s open-minded enough to say, 「Okay, then! As you wish, I’ll beat you to death next time we meet!」 then leave, train hard, and come back for a rematch.
In the end, perhaps she should reconsider her initial plan of searching Abel’s facilities and trying to duplicate herself. After all, she is the only one who understands herself the most. Once this whole debacle is over, she would set out to find it.