What a monster
Julius finally finished his warm-up and turned to Suzune, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Shall we begin?" he asked, his voice as polite as ever, though there was an unmistakable edge of superiority in his tone.
Suzune didn't respond with words. Instead, she slid into her fighting stance, her body tense but controlled, her eyes locked on Julius. The entire room seemed to hold its breath as the two of them squared off, the tension so thick it was almost suffocating.
Julius smiled that infuriatingly calm smile of his and drew his rapier, the gleaming silver blade catching the light. "I'll let you have the first move, Suzune," he said, his voice smooth as ever. "It wouldn't be fair otherwise."
Suzune's eyes narrowed, but she didn't rise to the bait. She wasn't here for his condescension. She was here to win.
Without another word, she launched herself forward, her movements swift and calculated, her fist aimed directly at Julius's chest. He moved to parry, but Suzune was faster than he anticipated, her fist narrowly missing his ribs as he sidestepped at the last second.
Julius's smile faltered for the briefest of moments as he realized that Suzune wasn't fighting like a mere servant. Her movements were sharp, disciplined—dangerous.
But Julius was a master swordsman, and he quickly regained his composure, spinning on his heel and bringing his rapier around in a swift, precise arc aimed at Suzune's side. She ducked under the blade, narrowly avoiding the strike, and retaliated with a quick jab toward his shoulder.
The two of them danced across the floor, their movements fluid and deadly, each strike met with an equally precise counter. Julius, despite his calm demeanor, was clearly impressed by Suzune's skill, though he would never admit it. He had underestimated her, and now he was paying the price.
The spar continued, the crowd gathering closer as Suzune and Julius squared off. Julius stood poised, graceful in his stance, his gaze steady and condescending. Suzune, however, simply cracked her knuckles and rolled her neck, exuding a calm yet formidable energy, like a storm waiting to break. She felt that exhilarating rush of power—the Heavenly Restriction pulsing through her veins—and a smirk tugged at her lips.
Julius sneered slightly, as if doubting the skill of the "butler" standing before him. "If this is your idea of intimidation, you'll need to work a little harder."
Suzune's eyes narrowed. "Let's see how much you laugh when you're eating dirt."
And with that, she was on him—fast, deadly, her movements like blurs. Suzune's strikes were calculated, sharp as a blade, yet brutal. She wove her fists through the air with the precision of a martial artist who had mastered techniques unknown to this world. A swift jab to his shoulder sent Julius stumbling back, his eyes widening as he barely managed to block her next blow.
"Wh-what kind of technique is that?" he grunted, bracing himself as Suzune closed in again.
"Something you wouldn't understand," Suzune replied, her voice clipped, a little too pleased with the surprise in his eyes.
Her fist swung toward his face, but he managed to dodge, his footing slipping. His pride kept him from calling upon his spirit's power or drawing his sword, and so he continued, deflecting her blows as best he could.
But Suzune was relentless. With a twist of her hips, she spun low, sweeping his legs out from under him. Julius staggered, caught off-guard as she followed with a powerful knee strike aimed at his chest. He barely blocked it with his arm, his breathing coming quicker now, beads of sweat on his brow.
Around them, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Crusch's eyes were wide, disbelief flickering across her usually stoic face. "She's forcing Julius to stay defensive… without a weapon?"
Anastasia's eyes glittered with fascination. "And not even using magic! Where did she learn to move like that?"
"Pfft! Such brutishness!" Priscilla scoffed, though even her gaze betrayed an interest as she watched Suzune twist and dodge with almost acrobatic grace.
Emilia's mouth was open in horror, her fingers clenched into fists as she watched Suzune strike again, this time landing a punch to Julius' ribs. Rosewall was chuckling, clearly amused by the spectacle, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Julius threw a jab, aiming to catch Suzune off-balance, but she dodged, ducking effortlessly before catching his arm. She twisted it behind his back in a vicious hold, forcing a grunt from him as pain jolted through his shoulder. She leaned in close, her voice a low growl. "Still think I'm just a butler?"
With a snarl, Julius pulled free, spinning around, but Suzune was faster. She delivered a high kick that nearly connected with his jaw, forcing him to drop back, his heart hammering in his chest. He had never faced an opponent who fought like this, who moved with such lethal intent.
The nobles gasped, exchanging stunned glances. The council members leaned forward, some even rising from their seats in awe. Ram watched from the sidelines, her expression unreadable, but a faint spark of interest flickered in her eyes.
"Just what is she?" muttered a knight in the crowd, shaking his head in disbelief.
Finally, Suzune had Julius on the ropes, cornered and breathless. She lunged forward, fist aimed straight at his chest, ready to deliver a blow that would end the match. Her eyes gleamed with victory.
But then, there was a flash—a blur of red and white that intercepted her fist just inches from Julius' chest. Suzune's eyes widened in shock as her punch stopped mid-air, her knuckles colliding with something solid. She looked up, and her breath caught as she found herself staring into Reinhard's calm, piercing blue eyes.
Reinhard held her fist in his hand, his expression composed, but there was something else—a faint strain, a flicker of pain in his gaze. He had felt the impact. Suzune's strength was monstrous, even to him.
"Reinhard…" Julius's voice was filled with a mix of shock and relief, clutching his side as he stared at his friend.
Reinhard's grip on Suzune's fist loosened, and he gave her a respectful nod, his voice soft but firm. "I think that's enough for now. We still have a meeting to attend, after all."
Suzune took a step back, retracting her fist, but not before catching sight of Julius's pale, shaken face. She couldn't resist a smirk, satisfaction lighting her eyes. Finally.
As Reinhard released her, Suzune straightened her posture, meeting Julius's gaze one last time with a hint of challenge. The noblewomen whispered among themselves, amazed at the display they'd witnessed, while the knights exchanged wary glances. They had never seen a fighter like her.
Emilia shot Suzune a fierce glare as she returned to her side, arms crossed, clearly unimpressed. Rosewall, on the other hand, was openly delighted, his chuckling barely subdued.
"Well, that was… quite the spectacle," Crusch murmured, a flicker of respect in her gaze as she looked at Suzune.
Priscilla sniffed, flipping her fan open with a dramatic flourish. "Hmph! All that fuss over some hand-to-hand combat."
Anastasia simply smirked, a glint of intrigue in her eyes as she watched Suzune return to her place beside Emilia.
The Sage Council, who had been rendered speechless, finally recomposed themselves. They called the assembly back to order, though their gazes occasionally flickered towards Suzune, wary of her deadly presence.
And so, as the meeting resumed, the nobles and council members glanced at Suzune with a newfound respect, wary of the formidable "butler" by Emilia's side. The tension simmered, but Suzune merely stood there, arms crossed, a slight smirk on her lips. For now, the rest of the meeting went smoothly, her mind already calculating her next moves.
Nothing was going to go wrong this time. Not if she had anything to say about it.
O—O—O
The Grand Hall doors shut with an ominous finality as the meeting came to an end. Suzune took one last look at the noble faces, still frozen from the quiet terror she'd unleashed. Julius wouldn't dare look her way. It was almost…satisfying. But as they headed for the carriage, Emilia pulled her aside, her face flushed with barely-contained anger.
"Suzune! What were you thinking?" she whispered furiously, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "You humiliated Julius in front of everyone! They're all going to think we're nothing but…nothing but bullies now!"
Suzune crossed her arms, looking unfazed. "Emilia-tan, now people know not to mess with the Emilia Camp." Her tone was calm, her eyes sharp, as if she were simply stating facts.
"That's the problem!" Emilia said, clearly exasperated. "They're going to be afraid of us now! That's the exact opposite of what I wanted, Suzune."
"And that's supposed to be a bad thing?" Suzune raised an eyebrow, arms still folded. "Fear is a tool. Better they be wary of us than walk all over you."
Rosewall, who had been lingering nearby with that ever-present smirk, decided to chime in. "Suuuuch dramatic flair, Suzune-chan. I must say, your performance was most…entertaining."
Suzune barely glanced his way, dismissing him with a flick of her wrist. "Pipe down, Ros-chi. I don't remember asking for your input." She didn't even bother acknowledging the brief look of shock that crossed his face. He may be her employer, but respect didn't come with a paycheck.
The carriage rolled through the streets of the Capital, the tense atmosphere between them nearly suffocating. Emilia had fallen silent, staring out the window with a troubled expression. Ram drove them forward, calm and unfazed as always, her steady hands guiding them toward the city gates.
After a moment, Suzune glanced at Rosewall, her gaze sharp. "So, Ros-chi, how confident are you in handling, say…five people with calamity-level threat around?"
Rosewall's smirk grew wider, leaning in with an almost theatrical air. "Five people in a calaaamity, you say? My dear Suzune, I could protect an entiiiiire army. But pray tell, why the sudden curiosity?"
Suzune gave him a look, her lips curling into a smirk of her own. "Can you heal injuries?"
"Why of cooourse," he drawled, that playful glint in his eye. "Though I must ask, what exactly do you have in mind?"
The smirk on Suzune's face deepened. "Don't you think it's perfect weather for fishing?"
Rosewall's eyes sparkled with a sinister delight, his grin widening. "But, I have a feeeling the weather maaay get…rough."
"Which is why I intend to bring an umbrella," she shot back smoothly, her confidence unwavering.
Emilia, who had been watching the exchange with increasing bewilderment, finally burst out. "What are you two talking about?"
Without missing a beat, Suzune turned to Emilia, placing her hands firmly on her shoulders. "Emilia-tan, you want the Kingdom to see you as strong and kind, right? A true hero?"
Emilia blinked, still a bit lost but nodding earnestly. "Um…yes, that's my dream."
Suzune's eyes gleamed with a feral intensity. "Good." She looked back at Rosewall, who was chuckling to himself. "Ros-chi, you know the drill."
Rosewall only laughed, calling up to Ram. "Ram dear, would you be so kind as to take us on a little detour?"
Ram didn't even glance back, her voice calm and unaffected. "As you wish, Rosewell-sama." She expertly turned the carriage down a different road, the cobblestone streets soon giving way to the wild, uncharted path that led out of the city.
Emilia looked from Suzune to Rosewall, panic edging into her voice. "Where…where are we going, Suzune?"
Suzune didn't even look back. She settled herself in the carriage seat, arms crossed, a grin on her face that was anything but reassuring.
"Fishing," she said, her voice filled with a chilling calm.
Author Note: Want some fresh fish fries? Then stay tuned!
The latest Re:Zero eoisodes are fire. I am loving them!
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Till next time!