Onboard the Leopardess Guild Ship, “White Leopard”
Roel, the sixty-four villagers, and I successfully boarded the Leopardess Guild’s ship. What surprised me the most was how much larger this vessel was compared to the passenger ship we had just come from. The height difference was so significant that we had to use a ladder to climb aboard Amane’s ship. Compared to this ship, the samurai’s vessel would sink with just a bump.
This massive ship, which could easily be called a giant, boasted an impressive level of comfort that Amane proudly bragged about. It had entertainment facilities for gambling, a large bathhouse, and a restaurant. This ship was like a small town all on its own.
The Leopardess Guild had more women without families than combatants. It seemed that these women made up the community aboard this enormous ship. The other two ships, “Leopard Fang” and “Leopard Claw,” were not nearly as large. Each had capable captains, and it was explained that combatants tended to concentrate on those vessels. The names “Fang” and “Claw” certainly emphasized their offensive capabilities.
“I’ve operated a few times in Azuma. In the meantime, those demons have taken notice of us,” Amane said.
It seemed they frequently visited the port for resupply, and there had been various troubles during those times. Still, the fact that the Leopardess Guild had survived multiple encounters with the Demon God Clan was beyond my imagination. Those four demons that attacked us earlier were truly reckless. Despite my warnings, they tried to incinerate us with flames and unleashed a blizzard that was beyond comprehension, which made me furious enough to retaliate without holding back.
To top it off, that Anki’s skill, “Dark Shadow Formation,” plunged a certain area into complete darkness. As a result, the villagers, who had finally felt safe, began to tremble in fear again. Even I, who should be immune to status ailments like darkness, found myself unable to see anything. Normally, one could adjust to darkness, but this was true pitch blackness. Of course, the Anki was fully aware of everything, and while he tried various tactics against me, I managed to grab his right arm from behind and break it.
What surprised me was what happened next. Despite having his arm broken, he immediately launched a counterattack. And then—
“Lua-chan, that’s enough! Stop… If you keep going, you’ll kill him!”
I had no recollection of Roel clinging to me in tears. When I came to, I found myself covered in blood, with the Anki’s limbs twisted and broken. If these people hadn’t been such fierce warriors, he would have surely died. Amane confirmed that without a doubt.
When the Dark Shadow Formation ended, I apparently had been straddling the Anki. His face was so mangled that I couldn’t tell what he had looked like before. One of Amane’s subordinates, a seasoned warrior, whispered that it was like standing over a corpse. Even the members of the Leopardess Guild, who were battle-hardened, seemed hesitant to approach me for a while. In other words, it was only Roel who had stopped me.
“What… what was I doing?”
My fists were bloodied, and the Anki was on the brink of death. My memory had vanished. I felt a sense of déjà vu; this had happened once before, long ago, when I was first attacked by a monster. When I came to, the monster was already down.
Fortunately, the villagers had already evacuated to the ship’s interior, so they hadn’t witnessed the scene. I assumed the Dark Shadow Formation had ended because the Anki had lost consciousness.
Then, the red, blue, and yellow demons had been defeated by the members of the Leopardess Guild. It seemed they had a tough battle, but there were two demons bound tightly with ropes.
“I’ll give you a small boat and some food. If you leave now, you should reach land in no time. Take your friends and get out of here. There won’t be a next time. If you come back, I’ll make sure that Anki looks like a shadow of his former self, so be prepared.”
The boss Anki was completely incapacitated, and the other two were also defeated and restrained. Only the red demon was surrounded by strong women. Thanks to Amane’s intimidation, the demons fled, and at last, we could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“I thought you were just a girl who couldn’t even kill an enemy, but you really can do it when you try.”
Even when praised like that, I truly remembered nothing. In fact, I felt scared, as if I were no longer myself.
“That Anki is rumored to be the reincarnation of the legendary Zangiri,” Amane said. “Oh, Zangiri is…”
“I know. I defeated Zangiri,” I wanted to say, but I lacked the energy. I was overwhelmed with confusion about who I was.
“Hey, hey, listen, Rua! I just made friends with someone… Huh? Is something wrong?”
I felt ashamed of my coldness even towards Konoka, who had come up from below deck.
Leopardess Guild Ship, White Leopard – Captain’s Quarters
Inside the captain’s quarters, a large rug resembling a beast’s hide covered the floor, and various weapons leaned against the walls. A world map hung prominently in front of me. Looking at it, I realized just how far we had come from the Kingdom of Avangarde.
“I heard the situation from Roel. You really went through a lot, huh?”
“I never expected to meet Amane in Azuma…”
“Actually, I was asked by the King of Avangarde to support you. When I arrived, it was just as chaotic as I expected. I was worried about whether I could stay safe in that country steeped in Daigami worship.”
So the King had sent help. That meant he must have known this mission was dangerous. To think he had the gall to say it was just a simple herb-picking task.
“So, what do you plan to do with those people now?”
“Konoka and the others want to live in the Kingdom of Avangarde, so I want to make that happen for them.”
The sixty-four villagers were currently sleeping in vacant rooms on the ship. The Leopardess Guild had a strict no-men policy, so they were warned not to wander around too much. Some of the girls had been traumatized by men, and there were those who wouldn’t accept exceptions, so any trouble could lead to serious issues. Although Amane had some influence, their position was still precarious. Yet, Konoka had just popped up out of nowhere, and I hoped nothing would happen before we reached the Kingdom of Avangarde.
In fact, when the villagers boarded the ship, many women had protested. I felt somewhat uncomfortable knowing they were in such a cramped environment.
“Good grief… Just when we thought we were dealing with refugees from distant lands, now we have more coming…”
“More?”
“The Neo Demon Lord Army. They’re rampaging across the world. Most of the Ballad Continent is already under their control. Do you want to know what’s happening on that continent right now?”
The Ballad Continent was where we had stopped at a port town before coming to Azuma. Even after I had defeated so many monsters, their momentum showed no signs of slowing.
“The force invading from the Ballad Continent is led by the Beast Master, Pansard! They are the largest faction among the confirmed forces of the Demon Lord Army. One of the three major commercial cities in that continent, Kuda, was reportedly destroyed overnight. As a result, trade and supply chains have been thrown into chaos…”
Continuing to explain beside Amane was Randa, a muscular woman. She was the No. 2 of the Leopardess Guild, with brownish skin and a physique that seemed nearly double mine. Her pineapple-like hairstyle spread across her head, making her look more like a man. I wanted to ask if she was really a woman, but I decided against it. I could easily imagine her hitting me on the head with a “Don’t underestimate me!”
“Indeed, the world is starting to tilt. At this rate, the world will fall into the hands of the Demon Lord Army.”
“Amane! Let’s charge in and smash them to pieces! If we capture Pansard, the rest of the weaklings will scatter!”
“Your enthusiasm is one of your strengths, Randa, but there are many reasons why he is said to be the strongest among the Twelve Demon Generals. Just piecing together the fragmented information I’ve gathered gives me a headache…”
“People are saying it might be safer to escape to the sea rather than stay on land. Even the Demon Lord Army seems unable to reach the ocean.”
Twelve Demon Generals. I’ve defeated five of them, but there are still seven left. Of course, I don’t want to leave those guys unchecked. I don’t want to, but right now, something is nagging at me. Yes, what I truly want to do. With the incident involving Anki still fresh in my mind, I can’t help but wonder what I really am. That thought occupies my mind.
Especially since I still haven’t found a lead to get to Ikana Village. If I bring back the Millennium Herb, will they allow me to enter?
“By the way, the Leopardess Guild has such a cozy atmosphere, doesn’t it? It feels warm somehow,” I remarked.
“Oh, that’s nice to hear! You must be Roel, right? You’ve got potential,” came the cheerful response.
The mood had been darkening due to the Demon Lord Army, but Roel managed to change that. To be honest, I was also curious about the Leopardess Guild. This massive ship, a gathering of only women. Queed had mentioned that they collect women who have been hurt in the past.
“What kind of organization is the Leopardess Guild?” I asked.
“Haha, it’s not some grand organization. I’m just living freely, leaving the past behind and making sure I have no regrets. The Leopardess Guild is just a group of people like that, nothing more,” she explained.
“Moved by such a big sister, we’ve grown to this number. Ever since I met Amane, every day has been fun!” another voice chimed in.
“What happened to you in the past, Randa?” I inquired.
“Lua-chan!” I was lightly scolded.
I regretted asking as soon as the words left my mouth, feeling an unbearable awkwardness. Communicating with others was still difficult for me. Even when I finally opened my mouth, I might end up saying something hurtful.
“Well, you see, with this appearance and face, I’ve been bullied as a monster by both men and women since I was young. I got fed up and ended up living as a thief until Amane picked me up. At first, I was hostile, but I couldn’t match her strength at all. As I thought about how I’d someday defeat her, I ended up like this,” Randa shared.
“You’ve had a tough time, haven’t you…”
“After Amane, I’m the second strongest here, and Randa is probably next,” she added.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Melissa. Your knives couldn’t even scratch me,” Randa retorted.
Melissa, a girl who had joined our conversation, was dressed in nothing but animal skins wrapped around her chest and waist, leaving her mostly bare. With pink, wavy hair and mischievous red eyes, she had several small knives strapped around her waist.
“With Amane and me at the center, Captain Tushi of Leopard Fang and Captain Fan of Leopard Claw are the main forces of the Leopardess Guild,” she explained.
“Ahaha, being centered like that. If you only rely on one side, there are limits to who you can defeat,” Randa teased.
“That’s why you should say those words after you defeat me. By the way, what do you mean by ‘one-sided’?” Melissa asked.
As she tossed several knives into the air and caught them, I recalled someone who had done something similar before. That person had challenged me to a duel, but I had forgotten their name.
“Even with this many people, it’s impressive that you can maintain it. Just looking around, there are so many shops and food stalls. It seems like managing it all would be quite a task…” I remarked.
“We leave the details to each individual. If there’s a dispute, I make the decisions on this ship. If I declare something settled, it’s done, and we won’t dwell on it. If anyone causes too much trouble, they’ll be asked to leave the ship immediately,” Randa explained.
“Hahaha, when she gets angry, she’ll tell you to jump off even if we’re at sea. Usually, that’s enough to settle things,” Melissa added.
“What about money?” I asked.
“With me being A-Rank, it’s not a problem. I occasionally take requests from the king of Avangarde or steal from villains… Oh, and the pirate ships that come our way are also a valuable source of income. They hoard a lot, so for us, they’re like treasure ships,” Randa said.
“To think such a powerful Leopardess Guild would attract trouble…” I mused.
“There are those who come. We’re both undefeated and fearless,” she replied.
“Wow, Roel. You don’t even question the stealing part. Well, if it’s from bad people, maybe it’s okay? But is it really…?”
“Honestly, it feels so free here…” I said.
“How one lives is up to them. I do what I want. If I want to cause a ruckus, I will, and if I want to drink, I’ll drink anytime. The people on this ship are the same; it’s a waste to be bound by the past and not enjoy the future. Are you all having fun?” Randa asked.
“I… I don’t know,” I replied hesitantly.
“I’m having fun, Lua-chan. I can’t believe how different it is from when I was in Queemil. Let’s stay together from now on,” Roel said.
“Ro… Roel…”
“Ahaha, how sweet!” someone teased.
What’s so sweet about it? Amane, Melissa, and Randa were all making strange sounds. What even is that sound? Roel’s face was turning red, and I was completely lost. But I could tell they were teasing us.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s not uncommon for women on this ship to get together. There are people in society who find it taboo or disgusting, but to me, it’s about the freedom of those involved. Those who preach love tend to be narrow-minded,” Randa explained.
“Ah, maybe I’ll aim for Lua too? Roel would be fine as well,” Melissa joked.
“Wha… what?!”
Even Roel was flustered by Melissa’s ambiguous comment. However, seeing Melissa wrap her arms around Roel from behind made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t know why, but I wanted her to let go. Roel seemed stiff and uncomfortable too.
“I’ve heard your story, Flash Strike Girl Lua. You defeated Amane, huh?” Randa said.
“I… I didn’t exactly defeat her, I just won…” I stammered.
“Same thing, right? Lua, you’re interesting!” she laughed.
Now Randa grabbed my arm with her rough hand, looking me over as if she were inspecting me. Just looking at this situation, it felt like if Randa applied a little more pressure, my arm would snap. There was a significant size difference between us.
She was strong; I could tell just from her touch. The power of the No. 2 who had always supported the Leopardess Guild alongside Amane radiated through her skin. After all, she had been fighting almost on par with the Demon God Clan while the other crew members were engaged in battle, so it was only natural that No. 2 would be even stronger.
Living freely, Amane’s words pierced deep within me. If I could get to Ikana Village, what would I do afterward? I have no parents, I’m all alone. But if I could stay with Roel, that would be nice. Watching the Leopardess Guild made me realize that I wanted something fulfilling in my life.
“Roel is Lua-chan’s, you know!” Randa exclaimed.
“Hahaha! I was just joking!” Melissa laughed.
Watching the two of them playfully tease each other, I pondered what my future might hold.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Non-combatants, evacuate to the ship’s interior immediately!” a loud, alarming voice echoed from a trumpet-like tube attached to the wall.
The cheerful expressions of the women around us shifted instantly. The moment they transformed from women into combatants of the Leopardess Guild was almost instantaneous.
At the mention of an enemy attack, Amane, Randa, and Melissa had already begun to move.
“Lua and Roel, you two are guests! Relax in the ship! Understand? Do not interfere!”
With that quick warning, the three of them left us behind in the captain’s room. An enemy attack—whatever it was, I should probably follow Amane’s advice. If we intervened now, Amane would likely get genuinely angry. We were guests, and the enemy was the Leopardess Guild’s foe. I understood, in some way, the importance of boundaries.
“But… I’m curious.”
Yes, I wanted to see how they fought. It wasn’t just about strength; through their battles, I felt I could grasp something deeper about their way of life. It might even provide me with hints about what I truly wanted to do, beyond just being an adventurer.
Let’s go. Without waiting for Roel’s reaction, I stepped out of the room.