Whoosh-Whoosh-Whoosh-Whoosh-Whoosh!!

ALPHA

It was a rainy night. The moon was doing its best to stay hidden behind the clouds, and all I could hear was the constant drone of the rain hitting the windows.

I was sitting in one of our private rooms at the Mitsugoshi Company, watching Gamma shuffle some papers.

"Alpha-sama, here’s the breakdown on the Great Commerce Alliance Notes currently in circulation. They’ve been flooding the market since day one, and it's already starting to wreck the Royal Capital’s economy," Gamma said, showing me a graph. Her indigo hair caught the light as she leaned forward, her deep blue eyes fixed on the data.

"This looks dangerous..." I muttered.

I could feel the heat from the fireplace reflecting off my own hair. Honestly, the situation was grim.

"I’m predicting they won’t last six months at this rate," Gamma added.

"I figured as much. They’re a real pain. Technically, they're enemies of the Mitsugoshi Company, not Shadow Garden, but the distinction is getting blurry."

"True," Gamma agreed. "We can’t exactly let the world know that Mitsugoshi and Shadow Garden are one and the same."

"Which means we can't do anything too flashy. I can’t just go in and crush them, even if it would be the easiest solution. Not that Delta would ever understand the nuance of economic warfare..."

"That dog? Just keep her occupied with some bandits. That’s about all she’s good for."

"I really wish she’d learn to use her head for something other than biting things."

"Not gonna happen. You’re better off just putting a collar on her and pulling."

I sighed and crossed my legs. "Half a year until the Alliance implodes. They have to know how much trouble they're in, which means they’re going to get desperate. They'll make a move soon."

"Yes. Regarding our response—"

A knock at the door cut her off.

"Enter," I said.

Nu stepped in, her dark brown hair perfectly in place. "Pardon the interruption, but we have company. Intruders."

I leaned back. "Well, that was fast. They’ve made their move."

"A greeting, I assume," Gamma said, standing up with a look of pure confidence. "Please, leave this to me."

"Wait, you? Are you sure?" I asked. I mean, I love Gamma, but combat isn't exactly her... forte.

"Yes. I’ll show them exactly what we’re made of. Nu, let’s go."

"Understood," Nu replied.

They both bowed and left. I watched them go, feeling a pit of anxiety in my stomach. Nu is with her... surely it’ll be fine. Right? I nodded to myself, trying to believe my own lie.

---

FIRST LEAF

I moved through the dark corridor like a ghost. The rain outside was a godsend; it drowned out my footsteps perfectly.

I’m the leader of the Four Leaves—the man they call First Leaf. I’m a Master-class Spellsword, and tonight, I was here to do a job. My partners, Second and Third Leaf, were busy with sabotage and kidnapping, while I was tasked with the solo recovery of confidential documents.

I was heading deeper into the building when I saw a figure walking toward me.

It was the President of the Mitsugoshi Company herself—the indigo-haired elf.

Third Leaf was supposed to handle the kidnappings, but whatever, I thought. I decided to take her out myself.

I was fast. Like, "blink-and-you-miss-it" fast. I closed the gap in total silence and delivered a precise knife-hand strike to the back of her neck.

"Ouch!"

"Wait, what?"

She didn't go down. Instead, she spun around and glared at me.

I scrambled backward, heart racing. I hit her perfectly. That strike should have reaped her consciousness instantly. How is she still standing?

"That actually hurt. You’ve got some nerve catching me off guard like that," she said, rubbing her neck with a fearless smirk. Despite her complaint, she looked like she’d taken zero damage.

"Since you’ve gone through all the trouble of breaking in, I’ll give you the welcome you deserve. I am Gamma. The one who will reap your life!!"

She summoned a Jet-black Blade out of thin air. Then, she flared her Magic Power and used Physical Reinforcement to bridge the gap between us.

She’s fast!!

Seriously, her raw speed was incredible. But as she got closer, I saw the truth.

This woman is a total amateur! She’s just fast!

Her movements were a disaster—clumsy, loud, and completely unrefined.

"Whoosh!"

She let out a weird little shout as she swung her sword. It was a terrible swing, full of wasted energy and telegraphing everything.

But then I felt the pressure. What is this insane amount of Magic Power!?

Even if the swing was sloppy, it was packed with enough energy to vaporize a dozen Spellswords. If that blade so much as grazed me, I was dead. It was the ultimate amateur "swing and pray," but because it was so uncoordinated, it was actually hard to predict.

I dodged with a desperate, exaggerated leap.

"Dodging my blade? Impressive," Gamma said. "That fluid movement... you’re a practitioner of the Western Swordsmanship 'Lichtenlauer Style,' aren't you?"

"Wh-!?"

She saw through my style in one glance? This woman had the observation skills of a god. Was she really an amateur, or was this some kind of high-level act?

"Now that I know your style, this is over. Here I come."

I braced myself, my skin crawling.

"Whoosh!!"

She lunged again. It was blindingly fast, yet she was practically tripping over her own feet. The blow she unleashed was heavy enough to crack the world.

Wait...

If I had to describe that attack, I'd say—it’s like she hasn't improved at all! She claimed to have seen through my style, but she was doing the exact same thing!

I let my reflexes take over. My body moved on its own, and I drove my blade straight across her throat.

But.

"Ouch!"

"Are you kidding me!?"

There wasn't even a scratch. I knew for a fact I’d sliced her neck. Is she made of steel? What is wrong with this woman!?

"You... what are you...?" My voice was actually shaking.

"To think you could actually land a hit on me... you really are a master," Gamma said. "Fine. I’ll stop holding back."

She began pouring a ridiculous, wasteful amount of Magic Power into her sword.

"Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!"

She launched into a flurry of attacks. She was moving at light speed, but her swings were so wide you could drive a carriage through them. I stayed back, barely dodging the onslaught.

"Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!!"

She kept coming, stumbling and flailing with terrifying speed.

"What is with that Magic Power!? And that stupid shouting!?" I screamed, losing my cool.

"This is the teaching of my Great Master!! He told me to 'pour in tons of Magic Power and bash them!' Also, he said that saying 'Whoosh!' when I swing makes me look strong!! Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!!"

I’m going to die. I’m actually going to die to a lunatic.

My legs got tangled as I tried to back away from the sheer pressure she was emitting. I tripped. A fatal opening.

I got him! I saw it in her eyes. I'm dead! I knew it in my soul.

But reality had other plans.

"Pegya!?"

Gamma tripped on absolutely nothing. She lost her balance so spectacularly that she went into a full-body tailspin, her momentum carrying her headfirst into the stone wall.

DOGOOO!!

The sound was deafening. Debris flew everywhere.

"Ugh... not bad," Gamma said, emerging from the literal hole in the wall. She brushed off some dust, looking completely uninjured.

I stood there, paralyzed with fear. What the hell is this thing?

"You took advantage of the opening in my swing, used a leg sweep to throw me off, and then utilized the principles of Aiki to redirect my momentum into the wall. Am I right?"

"N-No... you just fell down..."

"I won't be provoked by such cheap taunts."

I can't do this. I can't fight this woman. Is every Mitsugoshi executive this insane? I just needed to hold out until Second and Third Leaf arrived. If we ganged up on her, maybe—

Footsteps. Someone was behind me.

Finally!

"You’re just in time, Second Leaf, Third—Wh-!?"

I froze. It wasn't my men.

It was a girl with a faint, chilling smile and dark brown hair. She walked toward us with a rhythmic clack, clack, clack of her boots. In her hands, she was carrying two... things.

"By 'Second Leaf' and 'Third Leaf'... did you mean these?"

She tossed them toward me. They rolled across the floor and stopped at my feet. They were severed heads. They were still warm.

"No... Second... Third..."

There was no mistake. My elite team had been slaughtered. And the girl who did it looked like a simple office clerk. I felt a cold, existential dread wash over me. This company wasn't just a business; it was something monstrous.

"Oh, Nu, you’re done already?" Gamma asked.

"I suppose so..." Nu replied, her voice trailing off.

"Be careful, though. This man is one of the world's greatest masters."

"Eh... really?"

Nu looked at me. Her eyes were ninety percent skepticism and ten percent "I’m going to murder you." It was the most intimidating stare I’d ever felt. Are you really strong? Huh? her eyes seemed to ask.

My survival instinct screamed at me. I knew, with every fiber of my being, that I couldn't beat this dark-haired girl. I reflexively shook my head 'no.'

"...He’s denying it," Nu noted.

"Don't let him trick you! He’s a master of the Lichtenlauer Style who has reached the pinnacle of Aiki!"

"Is that so? Then by all means, let’s see it..."

Nu drew her sword.

Crap!

I lunged at Gamma. If I had to choose between the confusing klutz and the literal dragon behind me, I was taking my chances with the klutz.

"Let's settle this! Whoosh!!"

Gamma swung her sword. I had it perfectly timed. I stopped just outside her range, preparing to counter-attack the moment her momentum failed.

That was the plan.

"Pegya!?"

...If only she hadn't tripped again.

"Wait, what?"

Gamma faceplanted, but as she fell, she accidentally let go of her sword. The blade began spinning at a ridiculous velocity, turning into a high-speed buzzsaw that sliced right through me.

Vroom-vroom-vroom! The sword flew off into the distance as I collapsed, my body failing me.

"Ugh... I messed up again," Gamma groaned. She looked up and locked eyes with Nu, who was wearing a very complicated expression.

"S-Secret Technique: Desperate Great Cartwheel...!!" Gamma shouted, trying to save face.

"A-As expected of Gamma-sama!!" Nu replied, ever the loyal subordinate.

As I felt my consciousness being severed for good, all I could hear was the sound of Nu’s dry, pitying applause.