"I-It's no use…s-she's a demon! There's no way an A-ranker human can be this strong!!" exclaimed Ahfa, staggering back a few steps in disbelief.

In front of him, dashing, spinning, jumping around, and cutting heads was Otsuna, seemingly lost in a trance of blade and blood.

The short, red-haired, B-ranker Veshari had done everything in his power, employing opportune timing and sneakiness into his strikes.

But not even Ahfa's innate sword skill could finish off the female human bladeborn.

It was as though she had eyes at the back of her head, suddenly turning to deflect his attack and send him flying.

Even the moments when he thought everything was perfect turned out to be failures.

Now, all eight of the wounded C-rankers had been sent back to the statues at Kahsar, in utter disbelief as they looked at each other.

They now more-than-understood why their boss sent an entire party to go after the damned human A-ranker.

Only, they didn't expect that one full party of their rather renowned novice guild was still not enough.

The four B-rankers of their party were still fighting for their lives out there.

However, at this rate, the reinforcements wouldn't even make it in time.

…At the Somber Swamp…

"Damn it! Akri, don't be too aggressive! We must hold on long enough for the reinforcements to arrive! They've managed to get a hold of Halphar! As long as we keep this A-ranker here, she would be done for!" roared Ahfa, sweating coldly at the sight of another B-ranker, Akri, almost losing her head after attacking.

But to their surprise, the demonic A-ranker of the human race suddenly stopped attacking, turning to look at Ahfa and making the B-ranker shudder for a moment.

Daru was breathing heavily, but the smile on his fake female face held.

He simply locked eyes with the leader of the Veshari party for a while, recovering his breath before speaking:

"More of you are coming?" he asked in a weirdly hopeful tone.

Ahfa couldn't respond, instead turning to his comrades. "She's going to try escaping, hold her in the middle of the formation no matter what!"

The other three B-ranker Vesharis immediately adjusted their position, leaving no opening.

But to their confusion, Otsuna didn't seem to be in a rush, sheathing her tachi instead.

"You don't have to worry about me escaping. Let's have a deal that will benefit both sides."

Ahfa's eyes narrowed, cold sweat trickling down his temples and back in distress.

Humans are known for their treacherous nature.

"I'm listening," the B-ranker party leader responded, doing everything in his power to delay Otsuna.

Talking was certainly a great way to accomplish his task.

Obviously, Ahfa wouldn't trust a human that easily, especially one lost in enemy territory.

Otsuna was probably just as desperate as they are.

"I'll stay here and wait for this Halphar guy, since they sound strong. However, I have two conditions.

First, you have to tell me what rank he is. Second, you should allow me to rest.

I'll sit right here to recover while waiting, and if you attack, I'll leave. If you're still not sure, I can confirm right now that I can kill all of you here easily and disappear. You can also try me if you want."

The way Daru said it in a matter-of-fact, unhurried manner already spoke volumes that he's not one to speak empty words.

Also, since the conditions seemed strangely advantageous to them, Ahfa wouldn't be dumb enough to further try Otsuna's abilities in combat.

Keeping her here was enough.

Still, it would be stupid to trust her wholeheartedly, especially after hearing her first condition.

Ahfa thought that it was highly likely that Otsuna would flee if she knew that Halphar was a rank higher than her.

If there was something the Veshari were unmatched in aside from speed, it was their ability to lie without batting an eyelash and to back their comrades who were doing so almost immediately, both in facial expressions and in appropriate silence, as though they were the ones lying themselves.

They got the humans beat in this aspect.

It was only in terms of unexpected treachery that they were inferior, as humans could even harm one of their own without guilt if it benefited them.

"Fine then, we accept your terms." Ahfa declared with a straight face and upright posture, as if he were the most honorable and trustworthy of individuals. "Halphar is an A-ranker like you."

To the B-ranker's disbelief and confusion, Otsuna seemed a bit disappointed.

"Fine. An A-ranker's good enough, I guess…Go stand a hundred meters away from me. I'll stay here and rest. Five minutes. If they're still not here, I'll leave." Daru declared, proceeding to walk and climb the roots of a Coneleaf Mangrove.

He then sat like he promised, resting while keeping an eye on the four Veshari B-rankers.

"Ahfa," called out Akri in a rather hushed voice, "are you seriously trusting her? That b*tch is faster than even me. If she suddenly decided to run away…"

Ahfa's eyes narrowed at his comrade's words. A dumb Veshari was rare, and the party leader wasn't one.

He knew there was a possibility of Otsuna fleeing instead.

However, there was also something in the way she carried herself and how she spoke that told Ahfa that the human A-ranker was a trustworthy individual.

That or she was a generationally talented liar—one that far surpassed even him.

There were simply not the subtlest of signs that she was lying.

And so, the Veshari party leader could only reply with: "My instinct tells me she won't."

Akri glanced at Daru, sneered, and shook her head.

"Just know that being outsmarted by a human is something that would reach Boss Ae'shkar's ears."

Ahfa nodded.

While Akri was slightly better than him in combat, he was sure that his intellect and observation skills were far superior.

Soon enough, his decision-making skills shone through, as Otsuna merely rested as she promised, waiting for Halphar like either an idiot or a madwoman.

Based on the faint, slightly excited smile on her face, she was a rare case of the latter.

To think they were hunting a nutjob all along…

A few minutes later, however, Daru was starting to lose his patience, as he was one who found it quite difficult to do nothing.

He could be hunting swordspawns…or killing the four B-rankers…

Daru glanced at the Veshari B-rankers.

"How long till your reinforcements arrive?" he asked with a hint of impatience.

But then, before Ahfa could respond, a deep voice sounded from behind him.

"Hah! You're really waiting for me, crazy human b*tch?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.