A tin woodman with no oil coating approached Ena, holding a massive two-handed axe.
The 3m-sized tin robot moved with squeaking sounds that felt somehow grotesque.
"Y-you said we'd just talk!"
"Yes. I was going to talk, but you were the one who first refused. So I'm inevitably forced to use force."
It's a specious argument. Otherwise, it's nothing more than saying he came to find Ena to do exactly this.
Ena tried to turn and escape but couldn't.
The alley she had entered was now overgrown with countless straws, which clumped together and soon transformed into scarecrows that looked like demons.
They had mouths torn down to the ears, straw swirling around and in their hands were massive sickles.
"Get her, scarecrow."
There was no way for Ena to escape now. Quickly thinking, Ena immediately changed the subject."B-but what do you mean, witch killer? Did you really kill a witch?"
"Yes, that's right. I actually killed a witch. See my pretty shoes?"
Dorothy showed the shoes she was wearing.
They were beautiful shoes made of sparkling red jewels.
"This is the spoils I took after killing her. I smashed her huge house with a bang!"
Dorothy spoke with a laugh, as if killing someone was no big deal. Ena felt a chill running down her skin.
"Did you kill...the same witch?"
The most shocking fact for Ena was that Dorothy had killed a witch like herself.
"Why? We're supposed to help each other."
Witches are recognized in Tirna but are still subject to oppression and discrimination outside.
Most witches either live in hiding or escape to Tirna. Witches who can't do this become prey to the Holy Kingdom of Petra under the name of heresy as their daily reality.
Abandoned, hunted, forced to flee.
Because of this, Ena held compassion and empathy for other witches.
She could understand because of her experiences of being used or abandoned due to her special powers.
But Dorothy was different. She boasted about killing a witch with her own mouth, without a trace of guilt.
"How can you do that? She was a witch just like you!"
"Why are you asking that? It's natural to kill a witch if she's in the way. Don't people also kill each other? Beastkin, dwarves, elves are the same. Is there a law saying not to kill witches?"
"That's..."
"Stop the preaching. It seems you don't yet know your current situation."
Dorothy's gaze grew colder.
Ena realized she was like a mouse in a trap and her expression stiffened.
"What are you going to do with me?"
"I'm just going to take you with me. Don't worry. We'll be fine soon."
There was something unsettling about the phrase "we'll be fine."
Though she didn't know the intention, she was certain something bad would happen if she was taken away.
"If you touch me, there'll be big trouble. If you back off now, I can let it go."
"What? Hahaha!"
Dorothy burst into laughter, holding her stomach.
"You seem not to know your current situation."
"No. I know. You're trying to kidnap me, and I can't escape."
"And you're telling me to back off?"
"Yes. Where I work, there's a very scary person. Really strong, amazing, and...intolerant of injustice."
Dorothy's eyebrows twitched.
She didn't like the hope that had filled Ena's eyes, which had been trembling like a mouse moments ago.
Dorothy twisted her lips.
"Yes, I've heard about it. Karen came once and then retreated, right?"
"You seem to know well."
"But if you disappear here, how will your colleagues find you?"
"Huh? That's..."
"Even if you disappear, your colleagues won't know where you've gone. Because there will be no trace or evidence. I've been waiting for you to come out for that very reason."
Dorothy also didn't want to create unnecessary conflict.
That's why she was planning to quickly kidnap Ena.
"And it's useless to try to stall for time here. Do you think I don't know that?"
Dorothy snapped her fingers.
"Tin woodman. Catch her."
The tin woodman, who had paused during their conversation, began moving again.
The tin woodman, moving with a squeaking sound, extended his silver-shining hand towards Ena.
Even if she tried to step back, she would be met with a wall of straw behind her.
At the moment Ena was trapped, something pitch black suddenly dropped from the sky.
-Ki-ki-ki-ki.
The tin woodman immediately reacted.
The rusty, squeaking movement vanished, and the tin woodman raised his massive axe to the sky with both hands.
A red flash erupted from the falling black shadow at that moment.
-Quagagagagagak!
With an ear-splitting noise and sparks flying, it was a collision of forces. Surprisingly, the loser of this fight was the tin woodman.
"Wh-what?"
Dorothy was startled that the tin woodman had been pushed back.
The tin woodman was one of her summons and possessed the most powerful force for sweeping away enemies.
Despite his rustic appearance, the tin woodman's strength was so great he could tear apart a steam suit with his bare hands.
She couldn't believe that her summon, whom she was confident of never being overpowered by anyone in terms of strength, was pushed back by a sudden attacker.
"Uh?"
Ena was equally surprised.
A pitch-black full plate armor, with a sword burning red in one hand.
It was definitely a familiar figure.
"Lupona!"
Despite Ena's delighted cry, Lupona didn't respond. Instead, there was a growling sound from inside the helmet, and she was just glaring at the tin woodman.
'Just as I expected, she came to rescue me.'
Yes. She was definitely believing this. That if she was in danger, Lupona would definitely come to rescue her.
The tin woodman, unable to withstand the collision, retreated and looked down at his axe with an emotionless face.
Though it looked ordinary, it was an axe made with white craft, so it wouldn't even get scratched by ordinary impacts.
Yet it was melting beyond repair.
"Whoever this interference is, it seems they've lost their courage."
Dorothy frowned and gave an order.
"Don't touch Ena, kill that black guy."
The tin woodman followed the order. Bringing the axe to his chest and taking a stance, the melted axe blade began to squirm and regenerate to its original form.
The tin woodman, having regenerated the axe, rushed towards Lupona and swung the axe fiercely.
The height difference was almost double. The weapon's size was proportional. From an outsider's perspective, it seemed Lupona was at a significant disadvantage.
But that was only from the perspective of those who didn't know.
Lupona was a variant doppelganger.
She wasn't a standard human, and most importantly, the one whose abilities she had copied was Osian.
The dark energy flowing from her sword grew stronger.
Killing Star Sword is a power stronger than the starlight sword that boasts the highest output in close combat.
It not only blocked the incoming axe but also repelled it.
With dark embers scattered in the air, the surrounding stagnant waters were all pushed outward.
The tin woodman didn't retreat this time and immediately took a stance. Gripping the repelled axe, he tried to split Lupona vertically with all his might.
Lupona raised her sword to block the axe.
-Kuung!
The impact of the axe strike cracked the ground around Lupona.
The tin woodman raised the axe again. Just as Lupona tried to swing her sword in that moment, straw flew like tentacles and wrapped around her body.
Dorothy's summons weren't limited to the tin woodman. While the scarecrow bound Lupona with swirling straw, the tin woodman swung his axe again.
An axe swung like splitting firewood.
No matter how strong Lupona was, she couldn't block this attack. The moment Ena was about to cry out in danger—
Lupona, with her sword raised, simply deflected the axe sideways.
The axe, flowing along the sword's surface at an angle, was embedded in the ground.
"Have you let it flow?"
It was a technique that Lupona had instinctively learned while fighting Osian.
Although their natures were contrary, her fundamental identity was ultimately that of a knight, a person who had no equal in the world when it came to wielding a sword.
A master who could cross the ridge of death wearing armor and handle a sword as freely as if it were part of her own body.
Not through reason or intelligence, but a talent etched into the body like an instinct was now shining.
The powerful yet rough sword path was readjusted.
A bit more fluid, soft, and natural.
The dark crimson flash struck off the axe's handle.
Although not easily cut even by the Killing Star Sword with tremendous cutting power, after striking the same spot three times in an instant, the axe head was severed and rolled on the ground.
The rag-like cape draped over her shoulder moved.
The black cape that swept like a storm ground the scarecrow's straw to pieces.
Lupona, who regained her bodily freedom, charged towards the Tin Woodman like a beast.
She had grasped the knack of sword-wielding, but her movements were still guided by instinct.
But that was enough. A knight's physical abilities could turn even a child's tantrum into a murderous act.
Kwang!
Lupona's kick landed in the Tin Woodman's abdomen.
The Tin Woodman tried to stay standing by putting strength in his legs, but Lupona's cape moved and strongly struck both of his legs.
The Tin Woodman lost balance and fell. Lupona, mounted on top of him, gripped the Killing Star Sword in reverse and pierced the heart area of the Tin Woodman.
Chiiik!
The Tin Woodman's hard shell seemed to resist the Killing Star Sword at first but couldn't endure long.
The blood-colored sword pierced the silver body, and the area touching the sword melted and dripped like mercury.
The Tin Woodman's movement, struggling and waving both arms, finally stopped.
Lupona, who drew out her sword, glared at Dorothy. A fierce red light flashed from inside the pitch-black helmet.
"Ha. What? Did you actually hide such a familiar spirit?"
Dorothy, whose specialty was summoning, instinctively understood what Lupona was the moment she saw her.
This black knight was Ena Grundt's guardian deity and familiar spirit.
"Truly, I'm coveting it."
Though she didn't know where such a familiar spirit was obtained, Dorothy's intense jealousy towards Ena and desire for Lupona welled up.
But before realizing her desires, Dorothy had to resolve the problem right in front of her.
Lupona's anger at Ena being attacked.
Holding the Killing Star Sword emanating murderous intent, Lupona approached slowly.
The air seemed suffocating, and the surrounding atmosphere became heavy.
Even in this dense murderous aura where escaping, let alone standing properly, was difficult, Dorothy remained unperturbed.
The corner of her mouth slightly lifted.
"Did you think I only had this prepared?"
As soon as Dorothy's words ended, a massive shadow draped over Lupona's head.
Lupona reflexively pulled her body back. Immediately after, something huge fell with a thud. The vibration was enough to shake the surrounding buildings.
What rose was a beast with a human body and a male lion's head.
The outfit was a tuxedo that seemed about to burst at the muscles.
"Say hello. This is a lion. He's a coward, but he'll fight with his life for his friend."
The lion was much larger than the Tin Woodman.
But Lupona didn't get scared either, gripping the Killing Star Sword and glaring at the lion.
Dorothy laughed seeing this.
"Seems like you don't know something. The Woodman hasn't fallen yet. Get up now."
At Dorothy's command, the Woodman, whose movement had stopped, suddenly rose. Despite having a hole punctured in his chest, he looked completely fine.
The body that had flowed and solidified began to squirm like mercury, regenerating all internal wounds.
Naturally, Lupona found herself caught between the Tin Woodman and the lion.
"And haven't you forgotten one thing? My original target was Ena, not you."
"Ah!"
A brief scream escaped Ena. A scarecrow's straw had extended and captured her body.
Lupona tried to save Ena, but the Tin Woodman and the cowardly lion surrounded her, blocking her path.
"Don't worry. I won't kill you. A familiar spirit as excellent as you should be in a witch's hand. Of course, you'll need some training first."
As Lupona tried to charge with murderous intent, Dorothy warned her.
"If you want to fight, go ahead. But I can't guarantee Ena's safety. I won't kill her, but I can do anything else. Right? Scarecrow."
The scarecrow, receiving its master's order, applied force to the straw binding Ena's body.
As the straw, stronger than a thick rope, tightened, Ena had to clench her mouth shut.
"I'll praise you for not screaming. But how long can you really endure?"
Amid the pain constricting her body, Ena swallowed her scream.
If she screams here, everything will flow as Dorothy desires.
'Endure. Just bear it. I've endured well until now.'
Ena closed her eyes tightly and repeatedly resolved to endure in her mind.
Thanks to that, perhaps, the pain constricting her body seemed to have slightly subsided.
"Oh?"
No, it wasn't an illusion.
Ena felt her body regaining freedom and opened her eyes that she had closed.
What reflected in Ena's widely opened eyes was a pile of straw floating in the air.
The scattered and fixed straw was burning in golden flames.
And at its center, a boy stood wearing a gray hood.