A Katarina Interlude

People screamed.

Ah, this was bad! This was really bad! Somehow she'd either managed to stumble on some really super bad Urobuchi Gen-type 'everyone dies' ending, or some sudden Urobuchi Gen-type violent plot twist where everyone was now dying! When the fighting and screaming had started—why were people fighting? Why were people screaming? Why was this happening?—Katarina had looked around in confusion, wondering what all the yelling was about.

And then all the burly men that the La Sablcians had brought as their dates had drawn their swords and started hurting people.

There was… so much blood…

If it weren't for the third prince, she'd have been rooted in place by horror and confusion as fighting had broken out around the ballroom. She'd stumbled as her forearm was grabbed and she was pulled along.

It was the sound of ringing metal that drew her back to herself. The sounds of swords of swords, the perfect tone of a shield parrying blades. They were familiar sounds now, sounds she knew, sounds she understood. She blinked and found herself standing surrounded by her friends… who were all yelling.

"—knew this wasa stupid idea!" Alan—where had he come from?—yelled, his sword in his hand. There was a thick fog around it for some reason. "Didn't I say this was a stupid idea?"

"Yes, you said it was a stupid idea, and I said it was a calculated risk!" his twin retorted. The blond's sword was out as well, his back to Katarina, but just the mere sight of the blade her her hand going for the pocket were her snakes were. He was holding a sword… right in front of her, he was holding a sword! oh shit,he was holding a sword in front of her! She—

"Lady Katarina!"

Mary's voice cut through the ascending panic as the mention of her name drew Katarina's attention to the other woman, the previous thought ejected from her head. "Mary!" Katarina exclaimed. "W-what's happening?-!" Mary was holder her right arm, Katarina realized, pulling her along as the group walked.

"Don't worry, Lady Katarina," Mary said, a strange smile on her face. Was it some kind of bug? A glitch? Weird faces were something she ran into a lot in western otome games like something-Effect. "Everything's going to be all right. Just keep your head down and cover your ears, all right Lady Katarina?" The strange smile widened. "Just cover your ears." Why was Mary holding one of her perfume bottles in her other hand like that?

Around Katarina, people screamed in pain, in fear, in anger. It was like… like an angry crowd at a concert, yelling at your group to get off the stage so that someone else they wanted more could be on. Probably Ai's old group from Tokyo, Iron Frill…

For a moment, she felt a strange urge to sing. To sing and drown out the anger, to make them see her and acknowledge her as worthy of being… what?

Katarina shook her head again, resetting her thoughts and getting rid of thoughts of idols and singing as she looked around.

Her friends were crowded around her. Selena was holding her other arm, helping Mary pull her along. The smaller woman looked frightened, reminding Katarina of the morning of their first sleepover together, when the other woman had looked like that for some reason… huh, why had Maria been sleeping in the closet during their sleepover? She couldn't remember, but it was just the sort of thing Maria would do…

Sophia was walking in front of them, looking around nervously although Katarina didn't see what good that was doing. Now, Katarina would never say so to her friend's face, since she didn't want to hurt Sophia's feelings… but Sophia was kind of … really short. Since the boys were in front, there was no way Sophia could possibly see anything but their backs. In front was Alan and the black-hearted prince, while on either side of the group were Prince Ian and Prince Jeffery. For once, Prince Ian wasn't staring at Selena was he walked with his sword drawn. On the other side of the group Prince Jeffery's face was blank, even as his air moved in some strange breeze that seemed to wrap around him.

There was also a presence behind her, and Katarina turned her head to see Susanna Randall. For once, the woman wasn't smiling. Her face had a serious, Maria-like expression on it, and she was holding a strangely shaped dagger. A part of Katarina noted the dagger was being held properly: close to Susanna Randall's body, the grip reversed, blade parallel to her forearm so that the point was less likely to drive into someone by accident. Another part of Katarina was proud to realize she remembered all that and had noticed it. Next to her was Lady Kate, Keith's first dance partner—argh! Her poor dance schedule!—looking frightened, pulled along by Susanna Randall.

Behind the two women, Keith was walking backwards, his sword drawn as he watched their back. And behind them…

People fought, swords and knives and small hammer and maces clashing. She saw a servant holding a tray in their left hand like an arm guard, using it to parry a sword with a resonant tone of impact. The moment the her attacker was staggered, the servant stabbed towards his face with her knife in their other hand (why did a servant have a knife?). Katarina didn't see what happened, but the attacking man staggered back, blood pouring down his face as the servant drew back the knife again…

A sword and blooded erupted from the servant's stomach as another La Sablican backstabbed them, and that was all Katarina saw before she flinched and looked away.

"Don't look, Lady Katarina!" Mary said, her arm reaching over Katarina's shoulders as to keep her from looking back. "Don't look!"

"That was…" Katarina tried to say. "That was…"

"Don't think about it, Lady Katarina! Just close your eyes and cover your—!"

"Nicol!" the black-hearted prince suddenly cried.

Katarina's eyes snapped forward.

Ahead of them, so close but so far, was the little space at the edge of the room where Nicol had taken Hyetta to dance so that she didn't have to worry about bumping into anyone. Now the little space was being invaded.

Lady Zorayas was standing her ground against five La Sablicans, a pair of snake-like fist weapons in her hands. The woman was moving with surprising viciousness, parrying swords and punching at faces. Two of the La Sablicans were holding swords with broken blades, a testament to either Zorayas's skill or the terrible quality of their weapon. Next to her, Nicol had drawn his sword and was doing his best to assist. Despite being gay, the La Sablicans were able to resist Nicol's good looks, fighting on instead or swooning and unconscious. Hyetta stood behind them, head turning confusedly but staying in place, one hand pressed against the wall next to her.

Katarina did not see all this in an instant. No, by the time she'd understood the situation, Sophia and the Third Prince had charged forward, the former yelling ancient hexes—"Griefer! En-Ef-Tee! Hacker! Live Service! Casul!"—the latter two-handing his sword. Sophia's hand went up, holding a strange—wait, that was one of those guns that Maria—

There was an explosion like a firework from way too close, and one of the men at the back of the group threatening Zorayas stumbled, the armor on his arm mangled and dripping blood. The man next to him turned, and met the Third Prince's sword with his own. There was the familiar ring of metal, and the black-hearted prince shoved, letting go of his sword with one hand. The man he was facing screamed as the fire erupted from the blond's palm, recoiling back.

There was a slash.

Even standing so far away, Katarina let out a panicked cry.

Blood flew. A man fell, blood starting to pool beneath him.

Katarina's sword was in her hand, drawn from her sheath, rising up in the scant space between her and Selena. Her body had moved on its own, drawing her sword without conscious thought, raised as if to parry the Third Prince's strike. And yet the rest of her stood frozen in place.

The Third Prince…

His sword…

Blood….

Bad end…

She didn't see the rest of the fight, her gaze locked onto the Third Prince, who'd somehow managed to sidestep the spray of blood from his attack. It was a like a terrible dream, the sort where she found herself running away from strange yeti thinks throwing rocks at her, or that mean spider that kept kicking her off cliffs. With one of the men down, and the prince and Sophia taking them from behind, the La Sablicans found themselves pressed from both sides. Both Zorayas and Nicol were able to face a single foe, while the third prince threatened the other two with his bloody sword and fire magic as Sophia positioned herself to be able to use her gun where she wouldn't accidentally hit her brother and Hyetta's chaperone.

The two men facing the Third Prince grew frantic as they saw Alan and the other princes coming closer, knowing that when the three arrived, they'd be overwhelmed. They tried to disengage, pushing the prince, then quickly drawing back before he could bring sword or magic to bear. One ran to the right, the other ran left. Sophia took aim at the one running to the left, her gun ringing explosively, but her shot missed as the La Sablican rolled. The Third Prince focused on the one on the right, but his swing missed as well as his opponent also rolled. His free hand snapped up, and a stream of fire erupted from it, but it went wild as the La Sablican got to his feet with this right side facing the prince and immediately backstepped, avoiding the stream of flames.

The adroit La Sablican suddenly found himself in a position to a position to threaten Nicol, and he took it, slashing at the pretty man. Nicol, however, managed to step back just in time to avoid the slash. His left hand slashed out, and wind magic hammered at the interloper, knocking him back, even as Nicol managed to bring his sword up defensively just in time to meet his opponent.

And then for the first time in his life, Katarina saw a clear impression on her friend's normally blank face: realization and horror.

For his blast of wind had pushed the La Sablican to the side… and positioned him to have a clear path to Hyetta.

Everyone around Katarina seemed to come to the realization at the same time. The La Sablican smiled in a way Katarina could only call evil as he realized he could reach the unprotected young woman and charged, raising his sword high.

"Hyetta, run!" Sophia cried, even as she tried to do something with her gun, trying to pull something back on it. Prince Jeffery snapped up his hand wind magic gather around it in a rushing gale, but Sophia was in the way. Behind Katarina, Susanna Randall swore, unable to do anything as she had even more people in front of her. Mary let out a cry, and from her purse she drew out a throwing knife, casting it out in a surprisingly skilled throw that passed Sophia's head by a foot. It struck the man, only to bounce off. The armor he was wearing had done its job.

And Katarina…

Her body was moving on its own again, her left hand letting go of her sword, drifting down towards the pocket where she kept her snakes… and stopped just short, coming to rest on a pouch at her side, a gift from Maria.

Still not thinking, her hand flipped up the lid, drawing out one of the three objects inside it.

A lead ball, covered with dimples from the soft metal hitting harder objects.

It weighed exactly the same as one of her snakes.

That's different! I'm a trained swordy person who knows how to handle dangerous swords so that no one gets hurt!

Holding the ball, her left hand drew back… and then snapped forward in a smooth, well-practiced underhand throw.

Well, then you'll just have to train to throw dangerous balls until no one gets hurt.

The lead ball flew in a perfect curving arc, going well over Sophia's head, flying towards a point between Hyetta and the man charging towards her.

Eh… but wouldn't not throwing them be the best way to keep people from being hurt?

Mary had let go of Katarina's arm when her friend had through her knife. Selena had stepped back in surprise when Katarina had drawn her sword. No one was standing in front of her.

I suppose you'll have to use your best judgement, my squire.

Katarina ran forward even as her ball still flew through the air, her sword held defensively in front of her. She passed the Third Prince, who was trying to skirt around Nicol and his opponent. She passed Nicol and his opponent, throwing herself into a roll, her two other lead ball falling from her unsecured pouch, even as she avoided the slash Nicol's opponent swung at her. There was a gurgling sound, but she ignored it. Her stamina…

The La Sablican reached Hyetta, sword held high—and Katarina's lead ball slammed into the side of his unprotected head. His stance faltered, one hand losing its grip on his sword as he stumbled, staggered…

Leaving his back wide open as Katarina reached him.

Her arm drew back.

The tip of her sword slammed hard into the exposed back with all her strength.

In front of her, the man who had been threatening Hyetta fell, and did not rise again.

"Ah!" Hyetta cried. "Who's there? Lord Nicol? Zorayas?" She sounded on the edge of panic.

And for the first time since she'd seen the Third Prince strike someone down, Katarina didn't feel like she was dreaming. She blinked, and felt her sword in her hands, felt the breathlessness at her burst of stamina-consuming action. But none of that mattered. Her friend was in front of her, and she was frightened.

"It's all right, Hyetta-chan. That bad man isn't going to hurt you."

The responsibility of a noble is to protect those under our protection.

"Lady Katarina!"

Hyetta moved towards her despite her blindness, and Katarina met her halfway, not wanting the blind woman to trip over the fallen La Sablican. She caught Hyetta, and Katarina could feel the woman shaking her fear, hear the ragged breaths she made,

"Don't worry, Hyetta," Katarina said, half-turning so that her right was towards her friends and the remaining La Sablicans. She didn't have to worry, however. Alan and Prince Ian had joined the fray, and the other two La Sablicans were down. She saw blood, saw blood on swords, on the floor, on Alan's coat…

Katarina closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. Then she opened them again as Nicol turned towards the two of them, as her friends rushed towards her now that there was no more danger in their paths.

"Everything's going to be all right. Because I'm here."

I want to be a knight.


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Topic: WE'VE TRIGGERED SOME KIND OF UROBUTCHI GEN KILL EVERYONE FLAG!

In: Boards ► Fortune Lover ► Sorcier ► Morfae Londo ► Katarina's Brain

KatarinaClaes (Original Poster) (Verified Reincarnated)

Posted On Dec 6th 2023:

OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT, WE'RE GOING TO DIE!-!-! I DON'T WANT TO DIE AGAIN!

(Showing page 2 of 2)

►ChairwomanKatarina (Verified Braincell) (Verified Mod) (Verified Katarina)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

Holy shit!

►AdventurousKatarina (Verified Braincell) (Verified Katarina)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

Holy shit!

►TimidKatarina (Verified Braincell) (Verified Katarina)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

Holy shit!

►Happy Katarina (Verified Braincell) (Verified Katarina)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

Holy shit!

►StudiousKatarina (Verified Braincell) (Verified Katarina)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

Holy shit! Studying actually paid off!

►StubbornKatarina (Verified Braincell) (Verified Katarina)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

Next, we parry with our greatsword!

►Yamada Tae (Verified Katarina) (Verified Legendary) (Verified Zombie) (Verified Idol) (Number Zero) (Verified Franchouchou)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

Gabbann!

►KnightKatarina (Verified Braincell) (Verified Katarina) (Verified Saber)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

And this, children, is the sorts of things you can do when you git gud like me!

►AdventurousKatarina (Verified Braincell) (Verified Katarina)

Replied On Dec 6th 2023:

Holy shit!


Lead Throwing Shot
Throwing weapon wielded by Lady Katarina Claes.

Despite its shape and composition, it weighs exactly the same as a certain realistic-looking popular toy snake, demanding little dexterity but instead demanding great strength to throw.

Lady Katarina was a gentle soul, slow to anger, and filled with compassion and empathy. And yet, she has walked with death all the days of her life.

Beware when the peaceful woman goes to war.