The old man looked up at the shadow filling the doorway.
Rom:
— Huh? Who are you?
The figure stepped forward. As tall as him, but the weight it carried through the air made it feel much larger.
Guts:
— I feel like talking. Mind if I come in?
His voice was dry and steady, but there was something unmistakable in it. A silent, almost primal authority. Saying no wasn't an option.
Rom:
— A-ah... of course.
Rom's instincts slapped him hard. This wasn't someone you refused. He stepped aside and let Guts enter. The swordsman cast a glance around the room: a grimy table, an old counter, a few barrels.
Guts:
— A pub, huh? Looks old.
Rom:
— What can I get you to drink?
Guts:
— A beer. Just one.
The old man nodded and turned to the barrel, hands moving automatically. He had once been a thief with a sharp nose, a cunning survivor. Even now, he could sense danger before it struck.
But this... this was different. A pure, soundless fear gripped him, twisting his guts and freezing his legs. The man before him reeked of death.
Rom:
— Here you go, sir...
Guts grabbed the glass and emptied it in one go.
Guts:
— Hoooh... Refreshing, for cheap beer.
Rom let out a nervous chuckle.
Rom:
— Haha... May I ask what brings you here?
The air froze instantly. Guts' gaze hardened.
Guts:
— Felt. I want to speak to her.
Rom:
— Ah...
Felt... my girl... What kind of mess have you gotten into now? he thought silently.
Guts:
— She stole something important. Belongs to a girl I know. I'm here to get it back.
Rom:
— Of course, of course... She should be back soon...
Time passed. Slowly. The silence grew heavier. Then, knocks on the door.
Felt:
— Hey, old man Rom! It's me!
The voice rang from outside. Nervous, Rom hurried to open the door. Felt entered casually, then froze.
Felt:
— Eh?
Her eyes met Guts', sitting at the table, arms crossed, as if he'd been waiting forever.
Guts:
— Yo.
Felt:
— You're the guy from earlier, huh?
Guts:
— Seems like it. Listen. Theft's no future, especially at your age. Give back what you stole, and I'll forget about it.
Felt frowned.
Felt:
— Huh? Are you dumb or what? You think I'm just gonna hand it over?
Rom:
— H-h-hey! Don't mess with this guy... He's not like our usual clients.
But Felt shrugged stubbornly.
Felt:
— I was hired to snatch that thing. Until my client shows up, I'm keeping it. But... if you've got something to trade, maybe we can make a deal.
Guts stared at her for a moment. Then, slowly, he raised his left arm and unstrapped the leather plate covering his wrist. With a dry click, he revealed the steel prosthetic. Massive, dark, menacing.
Rom and Felt's eyes widened.
Felt:
— Not bad, she muttered. But I don't care about what it is. I care what it's worth. How much?
Rom squinted, evaluating the alloy and mechanism.
Rom:
— I'd say... fifty... no, a hundred large coins.
Felt:
— A hundred?! ... Ehem. Well... even if it's tempting, I've still gotta wait for my client. It's a matter of reputation.
Guts, silent, observed.
Their currency looks like the one from my world… but value means something else here.
The door burst open.
A woman entered — tall, slender, with a gentle smile and calculated grace. Her dress, slit high up her thigh, flowed like a blade in disguise. Each step a dangerous caress.
Guts (thought):
She... she's strong.
He didn't move. But his gaze lingered a moment longer than necessary.
Elsa:
— A pleasure to meet you. I'm Elsa Granhiert. I've come to retrieve the item we requested.
Felt (arms crossed, annoyed):
— Yeah. I've got it. But you've got competition.
Elsa turned her head. Her eyes met Guts', who didn't even bother to return the gaze.
Elsa:
— Ara... Such a strong man... and handsome too. What brings you here? Why are you so intent on getting that insignia?
Guts:
— Personal reasons.
Elsa (softly):
— So cold...
Guts (dryly):
— Didn't notice.
She let out a soft laugh, silky smooth. But inside, something had snapped tight. It wasn't interest. It was instinct. A primal warning.
This man wasn't normal. Not a mercenary. Not a soldier. Something else. Someone who had survived more than war. He didn't walk like a man. He walked like death.
Felt:
— Alright. Let's start the bidding. This guy offers a hundred large coins. And you?
Elsa (surprised, but feigning poise):
— Oh... I wasn't expecting such a sum.
Felt:
— You don't have it, do you?
Elsa:
— Unfortunately... my client only planned for twenty. It's... disappointing.
Felt:
— Then it's settled. The insignia's his.
Guts:
— No hard feelings, Miss Elsa?
Elsa (smiling):
— None. My client was just... stingy.
But Guts didn't smile. His eyes narrowed. A spark had lit in his gaze.
Guts:
— Yet... the way you gave up. It felt like you already knew the insignia would be yours... no matter what.
Elsa (tilting her head, innocently):
— Hmm? What do you mean?
Guts:
— You could've picked another method. Like, say...
He kicked the table.
— ...killing us.
A flash of steel burst forth. The wood exploded under the impact. Elsa's blade had come to a dead stop, lodged in the overturned table. She took a step back, then chuckled.
Elsa :— Oh my… You figured it out so quickly… How did you know?
Guts(dark glare) :— Emotions can be hidden. Bloodlust can't.
He lunged at her without warning. His foot slammed straight into Elsa. The blow sent her flying across the room.
Guts :— Emotions can be hidden.
He frowned, then added coldly:
— Bloodlust never lies.
Without waiting for a response, he leapt forward and delivered a brutal kick. Elsa crashed into the wall with a dull thud.
Felt(panicked) :— What's going on?!
Rom(pale) :— That woman… she was going to kill us. She wanted the insignia…
He trembled.— I… I didn't even sense her intent.
Elsa stood up, her smile still clinging to her face, like a mask refusing to fall. She brushed the dust off her dress with a slow gesture.
Elsa :— You're not even holding back… Not even for a woman?
Guts :— A fight's still a fight.
His voice was dry.— One mistake and you die. Doesn't matter if you're a woman, a child… or a monster.
There was no hatred, no scorn. Just a truth etched in steel.Pity was a weakness.A weakness that killed.
Elsa(darker now, voice tinged with excitement) :— Very well… I'll savor your death.
Guts(gritting his teeth) :— Tch… Psycho.
Elsa darted toward him like lightning. Her dagger sliced through the air.But Guts barely moved. He dodged effortlessly.
Elsa(thought, shaken) :He… he's not even trying to strike back…
Guts(coldly) :— Boring.
At last, he replied with a kick straight to her gut. Elsa doubled over from the impact and staggered back, panting.
Felt(stunned) :— He's so fast!
Rom(amazed) :— He's… an elite warrior.
Elsa looked up at the massive sword resting on Guts' back.She smiled.
Elsa :— Ahahaha… That giant sword of yours… You can't even use it in a cramped room, can you?
Felt :— She's right! It's too big!
Rom(thought) :No… It's not the weapon that matters. It's the man who wields it. And this guy… he's no ordinary man.
Elsa(mocking) :— Your useless sword won't save you!
She vanished—appeared behind him in the blink of an eye.
Elsa :— It was fun… but I've already won.
A thin line of blood trickled down her cheek.She stepped back, eyes wide.
She had struck. And yet…
Guts :— For a woman, you've got stamina.
He slowly grabbed the handle of his sword.
— But you forgot the most important rule of a deathmatch…
A single movement. A single frame.
Narration :The camera pulled back. Guts held the Dragon Slayer in one hand.A blade as tall as a man, swung like a feather.
Elsa(gasping) :— That's… impossible…
Her eyes trembled.— You swung it… so fast I didn't even see it…
Guts :— I can use my sword anywhere.
He raised his gaze.
— You just picked the wrong opponent.
She felt it then.That thing she had never sensed in a man.
No magic. No tricks.Just pure, human strength.Terrifying.
The kind of strength that could crush armies.
Elsa(hysterical laughter) :— Ahahaha~
She licked her lips.
— I love you, Guts.
Guts :— Huh? What the hell is wrong with you?
She lunged again, eyes wild, unleashing a flurry of strikes. Her blades danced. She screamed with joy.
Elsa :— What a man! So strong! I want you! I WANT ALL OF YOU!!
She threw her daggers like arrows, then leapt to slash his face.
Elsa :— MARRY ME!!
Guts(disgusted) :— Agh… Get off me, you lunatic!
He shoved her off violently. Elsa rolled across the floor, then stood again, her eyes gleaming with obsession.
Guts(sighing, weary) :— I'm getting real tired of this…
She launched one last charge, blade raised, ready to slit his throat.But then—
A white flash intervened.A giant frozen lance sliced through the air and crashed down between them.
Emilia(firm voice) :— …That's enough.