Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Early on the morning of the third day, Busca had his coachman ready the carriage at first light, and after rolling through two blocks they arrived at Stardust Avenue, the most important street in Stan City.
The City Lord's estate of Stan City stood on Stardust Avenue, and so ordinary carriages were barred from the street; only vehicles belonging to nobles could travel it freely, and the busiest, most thriving stretch of all Stan City was Stardust Avenue. Busca had the coachman stop at one end of the street, then rose on tiptoe and studied the imposing houses and the shops of every description along both sides, his heart full of envy.
"When will I, Busca, ever have a mansion of my own here... Heh. My son Kairui is a guard at the City Lord's estate now, a rank-four swordsman, and with his talent there's no limit to what he'll become. He might even make rank-seven high-rank swordsman, and then, by the laws of Stan City, he'll be granted a noble title, and setting up a household here won't be some impossible dream..."
In the morning breeze, Busca dreamed his lovely dream.
Then he thought of Anthony's Magic Cottage, and snorted coldly.
"What's a little shop like that? My son serves at the City Lord's estate, and today happens to be his day off. I've got that contract of transfer written out in the girl Debbie's own hand—even if I smash his magic shop to splinters, nobody can hold me legally responsible. Let's see what they do today!"
Just then Busca spotted a tall figure coming down Stardust Avenue, clad in black iron armor inscribed with magic patterns. Who else could it be but his son Kairui? This black iron armor was standard issue for the guards on duty at the City Lord's estate, with defensive spells carved into it by a mage. A set like that couldn't be had for less than a few dozen silver coins on the open market—and it was the kind of goods money alone couldn't buy.
"Kairui!" Busca went to meet him, grinning all over.
"Father!"
Kairui was a tall, powerfully built twenty-year-old with a somewhat savage look to him. He walked up to Busca with a puzzled expression. "What are you doing here? Has something happened?"
"Get in the carriage first. We'll talk on the way."
Busca pulled his son into the carriage, told the coachman to turn around, and headed straight for Anthony's Magic Cottage.
In the carriage, Busca recounted the past two days' events, and finally said to Kairui, "Those two idiots Locke and Quinn couldn't even take care of a couple of kids, and in the end that good-for-nothing mage beat them and put them out of action. So this time it's up to you, Kairui. Give them a proper lesson. We've got the contract in hand anyway—smashing up his shop won't matter a bit."
"Dealing with those two brats will be child's play." Kairui gave a cold smile, then frowned in puzzlement. "Still—I remember that little mage is only a rank-two mage, and I've heard he's not much interested in attack spells, that he only knows everyday sorts of spells. How could he have wounded Quinn?"
"Hmph, I only worked it out afterward myself. It must have been pure chance that let the brat get off an attack spell that time. And to think of my Crystal Guard charm, thirty silver coins' worth!" Busca said furiously.
"So that's it. Then this will be easy." Kairui's face turned vicious. "For a rank-four swordsman like me, this is nothing at all. Father, just watch me teach them a lesson!"
At that same moment, in front of Anthony's Magic Cottage, young Debbie sat on the steps with a solemn face.
Her cute little face carried an indescribable air of resolve. She was wearing a simple suit of armor, a birthday gift from Old George on her fourteenth birthday. Its defense was nothing much—to Ye Chui it looked more like a cosplay prop… Debbie was fifteen now, and her body had grown some, so the simple armor no longer fit her well; on her it only made her figure look more slender, while the greatsword standing beside her, larger than she was, made her silhouette seem impossibly tiny by contrast.
To Ye Chui's eyes, the whole picture was wildly incongruous.
And the girl's stance, braced as if for battle, drew startled looks from the many early-morning passersby walking past the shop; one after another they stopped to gather and stare.
Bag in hand, Ye Chui walked over to Debbie's side with a frown. He was uneasy about what was going to happen today, and he asked her in a low voice, "Isn't there some other way to work this out? Couldn't we talk to the City Lord's estate, for instance?"
"We're just a little shop. The City Lord's estate can't be bothered whether a shop like ours lives or dies. And besides..." Debbie bit her lip. "By law, the Magic Cottage already belongs to Busca. Even if the City Lord's estate were willing to step in, they'd side with him—unless we can destroy that contract."
As she said it, Debbie turned to glance at Ye Chui, deep concern in her eyes. "Hammerhead, the wind's strong out here. Go back inside."
Ye Chui: "..."
Sure, I'm no fighter, but my body can't be this pathetic...
He shook his head and stepped out of the shop—and a cold gust hit him, and he couldn't hold back a sneeze. Ah-choo! Ye Chui was left speechless. His body really was pitifully weak…
Looks like I'd better start training properly from now on.
He rubbed his nose, sat down beside the greatsword girl, and said with a smile, "This Magic Cottage belongs to the two of us. If trouble's come, then we both take it on. In a bit, we face them together."
Across Debbie's usually rather cold face, a trace of warmth rose despite herself—then doubt flickered in her eyes. "Hammerhead, why do I feel like you've been different lately? You used to be so timid, hiding behind me whatever happened. How'd you suddenly get some manly spirit?"
Ye Chui felt a bit of sweat break out at that. Sticking close to this greatsword girl, the old Hammerhead must have had a hell of a time finding any manly spirit of his own... He thought it over, then said, "The boss is dead, and before he went he entrusted you to me. I'm a man—I can't have you looking after me. Some things I have to do. You're my bride-to-be, after all. Don't forget what Old George entrusted to me."
"Pfft—who wants to be your wife!" Debbie's face went red and she said it in a hurry. Then she suddenly caught sight of a carriage racing toward them; her brows shot up, she gripped the hilt of the greatsword with one hand, and lifted the hundred-jin blade in a single pull. "They're here. Hammerhead, hide behind me in a bit and be careful. Don't worry—greatswordsmen are the strongest of all swordsmen. Even against a rank-four swordsman, I can put up a fight!"
— Looking at the girl's resolute face, Ye Chui shook his head. The old Hammerhead might really have hidden behind Debbie—but Ye Chui was different. He was a man, and at a time like this a man had to do something.
Busca's carriage had stopped in the street in front of the little shop.
The carriage door opened and Kairui jumped down in his black armor. When he saw Ye Chui and Debbie standing braced and waiting, utter contempt spread across his face, and he looked down at the two of them from his height: "You're in way over your heads!"
"Little sister Debbie, I'll ask you one last time!" Busca said as he jumped down from the carriage—and because he was so fat he stumbled and nearly fell. Steadying himself against the carriage, he straightened up and went on. "Hand the magic shop over nice and obediently, and I might consider letting you off. Otherwise—heh—my son's sword won't be showing any mercy."
Shing—
Debbie's slim arm swung the greatsword up in a flourish, its tip pointed straight at Kairui: "Cut the talk—let's fight first!"