Chapter 352: Sigrid Astria Silvermane
’What the hell is going on?!’
Luca felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.
’This isn’t the welcome I was expecting! Why does it look like they’re about to slaughter me at any second?’
’Is it really a trap, just like Leona said?’
But before he could panic further, the Centaurs in front of him parted, stepping aside to reveal a figure who walked forward with measured grace.
The moment Luca saw her, his breath caught in his throat.
She was stunning. Absolutely breathtaking!
And he realized, with a jolt of recognition, that he had already met her before. But this was the first time he was properly taking in the sight of her.
Her lower horse half was a magnificent silver color, her coat gleaming like polished metal in the sunlight.
Her silky tail was equally silver, so smooth and luminous that it looked like a cascade of liquid mercury.
Her body was powerfully built, a tank of muscle and grace that made the centaurs around her seem almost small in comparison.
But her upper half was even more striking.
She was wearing full silver armor, intricately crafted to be both functional and beautiful.
The chest plate, however, had been modified in a way that made Luca’s mouth go dry.
It had been hollowed out to accommodate her enormous breasts, which swelled against the armor like two mountains straining against a valley.
The armor almost looked like sexy lingerie rather than something meant for war, with how prominently it displayed her curves.
A magnificent sword hung at her waist, its blade gleaming with an almost magical sheen.
Even without pulling it out, Luca could tell it was sharp enough to cut through steel.
And then there was her face.
Despite all the training and battle she must have endured, her skin was flawless—smooth and unblemished like polished porcelain.
Her cheeks were full and rosy, her lips pursed in a stern expression that somehow made them look even softer.
Her silver hair was tied back in a beautiful ponytail that fell all the way to her waist, looking like she had melted down a sword and woven it into her hair.
But it was her eyes that truly took his breath away.
They were a light bluish-silver, like ancient swords that had been thrown into the ocean and left to age for centuries.
They held a sharpness that made him feel like he was being stabbed just by looking at them.
The image she projected was one of unyielding nobility. She was beautiful, yes, like a majestic warrior or a paladin from a grand cathedra.
But more than that, she was stubborn.
Stubborn to the very core of her being. She would not give up, would not surrender, would not bend or break no matter the cost.
And just as Luca was admiring her, she was also eyeing him until finally, she let out a heavy sigh, her expression shifting to something more resolved.
Her eyes blazed with unwavering determination, and a faint grimace crossed her face.
"I wished to settle this matter peacefully." She said, her voice steady despite the emotion beneath it.
"I hoped that we could resolve this without conflict."
Her grip tightened on her sword.
"But after witnessing Lady Poppy’s resolve...I can no longer stand aside."
With a metallic hiss, she slowly drew her blade from its scabbard. The sound was like a whisper of death, and Luca felt his heart skip a beat.
"I am Sigrid Astria Silvermane!" She announced, her voice ringing with authority.
"Grand Commander of the Mighty Galloping Brigade..."
"First Vanguard of the Royal House of Ivoryhorn..."
"And the knight who serves Her Majesty, Queen Poppy Ivoryhorn, above all others."
She raised the gleaming sword before her, its tip settling directly upon Luca.
"For the grievous dishonor you have inflicted upon my lady." She continued, her voice becoming as sharp as the blade in her hands. "For committing one of the greatest sins imaginable against the Queen I have sworn my life to protect..."
Her eyes locked onto his, blazing with righteous fury.
"...I, Sigrid Astria Silvermane, hereby challenge you to an honorable duel!"
Her voice dropped to a whisper, cold and deadly.
"I shall reclaim my lady’s honor with my own hands...even if it costs me my life."
And then, one by one, every single Centaur in the circle drew their swords.
Shing! Shing! Shing!
The sound of steel being pulled from scabbards echoed across the valley like a death knell.
Dozens of blades caught the sunlight, creating a ring of silver points all aimed inward.
...All at Luca.
—
A strong wind blew across the valley, and Luca’s cape was ripped from his neck and carried away into the distance.
And all that was left was Luca, standing alone and unprotected, surrounded by dozens of armed centaurs who looked like they wanted to kill him.
He stared at the scene before him, his mind completely blank.
’I...should have stayed home.’ He thought. ’I should have just stayed in bed with Leona and her perfect breasts.’
But instead, here he was.
About to duel a centaur warrior.
For reasons he still didn’t understand.
—
The wind howled across the valley, and the sun continued its journey across the sky.
Sigrid stood before him, her sword raised, her eyes burning with righteous duty.
"Prepare yourself, Hero."
She said, her voice carrying the weight of a thousand years of tradition.
"Today, you face the consequences of your actions!"
"...Huh?" Luca blinked.
He stared at her in wonder.
"Consequences...of my actions?"
He repeated the words in his head before a frown formed on his face.
"The same actions that saved an entire demi-human continent?"
A vein began to throb on his forehead.
"The same actions that stopped the invasion of humans?"
His expression became increasingly strained with every thought.
"The same actions that saved thousands of lives and prevented the rest from being enslaved?"
"...Those actions?!"
His eye twitched again.
"...Those are the actions you’re talking about?!"
A long silence followed.
Then...
Something inside him finally snapped.
"JUST WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!"
His voice echoed across the valley, startling the Centaurs so badly that several of them nearly dropped their swords.
Even Sigrid, the Grand Commander herself, faltered slightly, her blade wavering for just a moment.
Luca threw his arms out wide, gesturing wildly at the assembled knights.
"I was expecting tea! Tea and biscuits! Maybe some of those little sandwiches with the crusts cut off!"
"A proper welcome from a race of honorable knights who know their etiquette!"
He spun around, addressing the entire circle of Centaurs.
"But instead, I step through the portal, and what do I find? HUNDREDS OF SWORDS POINTED AT MY FACE!"
The Centaurs exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Luca continued his rant, his voice rising with each word.
"I was invited here! Did everyone forget that? An invitation was sent! A formal request! I didn’t just show up unannounced!"
"And yet the moment I arrive, I’m treated like some kind of criminal! What exactly did I do wrong?! I’ve never even met any of you!"
He pointed accusingly at Sigrid.
"And you! Grand Commander of the Mighty Galloping Brigade! First Vanguard of the Royal House of whatever!"
"You’re supposed to be the leader here! The one who sets the example!"
"And this is what you do? You challenge a guest to a duel without even telling him what he did wrong?"
Sigrid’s expression faltered slightly. Her sword dipped, just a fraction of an inch, but it was enough.
"I—" She began.
But Luca wasn’t finished.
"I mean, what did I even do?!" He demanded. "You keep talking about ’dishonor’ and ’sins’ and ’inflicting something upon your lady’—but I have no idea what you’re talking about! I’ve never even met your Queen!"
"Instead I’ve been living in the elf village the whole time, taking care of my pregnant wives, and suddenly I’m supposed to be some sort of villain who’s done something terrible to your lady?"
He pointed a finger at her accusingly.
"Do you have any idea how confusing this is for me?!"
"Well, my lady—"
"My lady, my ass!"
Luca erupted and went on to shout while rubbing his head in frustration,
"I thought I was coming here for a friendly visit! I thought maybe we could have a nice chat, maybe learn about your culture, maybe eat some apples together—"
At the mention of apples, several of the younger Centaurs perked up, their ears twitching with interest. Luca noticed but pressed on.
"But no! Instead, I get this! An army of knights pointing swords at me like I’m some sort of monster!"
Sigrid’s sword dipped further. Her expression had shifted from righteous fury to something that looked almost like...guilt?
Luca seized the advantage.
"And you call yourselves knights!" He continued, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Knights are supposed to have honor! Knights are supposed to follow a code!"
"Knights don’t surround unarmed guests and threaten them with violence before even explaining what they did wrong!"
The Centaurs exchanged glances, their swords lowering a little more.
"Seriously, what happened to you people?" Luca demanded. "I thought the Centaurs were supposed to be the most honorable race in the entire continent!"
"The paragons of virtue! The shining examples of knighthood that everyone else looks up to!"
He spread his arms wide, inviting them to look at themselves.
"And this is how you act? This is how you treat someone who was invited here? Someone who came in good faith?"
The swords were now pointing at the ground. The Centaurs looked at each other, their expressions a mixture of shame and embarrassment.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves." Luca said, his voice dropping to a disappointed tone. "I mean, really. Ashamed."
One of the younger Centaurs, a chestnut-colored mare with wide, innocent eyes quietly sheathed her sword and looked away, her cheeks flushed with shame.
Another followed suit. Then another.
Soon, the sound of swords being returned to their scabbards filled the valley like a gentle rain.
Sigrid’s expression had also transformed from righteous indignation to complete bewilderment.
She looked around at her soldiers, her brow furrowed, as if she was trying to understand what had just happened.
But Luca wasn’t finished.
"Not to mention." He continued, crossing his arms. "I’m the one who saved the demi-human races from the human continent!"
"If I hadn’t stepped in, you’d have other humans riding on top of you right now!"
He glared at them all.
"The Heroes from the human continent were coming here to slaughter you! To capture you!"
"To put saddles on you and ride you around like common horses!"
Several of the Centaurs flinched at the words. Their tails flattened against their backs, and their hands dropped from their swords entirely.
"And I stopped them!" Luca declared. "I’m the one who killed the royal family! I’m the one who put an end to their plans!"
"I’m the reason you’re still free to gallop around these hills without some human on your back!"
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"So yeah, maybe I did something to your Queen—I don’t know, you still haven’t told me what it is!—but maybe, just maybe, you could cut me a little slack?"
"Maybe give me a chance to explain myself?"
The silence that followed was deafening.
Many of them looked down at their feet, unable to meet Luca’s eyes, their expressions a mixture of guilt and embarrassment.
Even the Grand Commander herself faltered.
Seeing this, Luca let out a long, slow breath, feeling the tension drain from his shoulders.
The rant had been necessary—more than he’d expected, really
For weeks, he had been carrying the weight of rejection, the cold shoulders from the other races who had refused to even hear him out after everything he’d done.
He’d saved their people, destroyed their enemies, and they couldn’t even grant him the courtesy of a proper conversation.
And now, being held at sword point the moment he stepped through the portal?
That had been the final straw.
But as he watched the Centaurs lower their weapons, their heads bowed in shame, he felt a sense of relief wash over him.
Finally, they were listening. Finally, they were treating him like a reasonable person instead of a monster.
Maybe they could actually have a proper conversation now.
He opened his mouth to say something diplomatic—perhaps an offer to start over, or a suggestion that they discuss whatever misunderstanding had occurred like civilized people.
But before he could get a single word out, a childish voice suddenly rang out from somewhere behind the crowd.
"Don’t falter, my brave knights!"
Luca froze.
"Raise your sword high and point it at that human over there!"
The Centaurs around him stiffened, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons.
"Don’t let the man who violated your queen get away so easily!"
Luca’s eye twitched.
"Properly beat him up until he wouldn’t dream of doing such a filthy deed to this queen once again!"
Silence swept across the valley until Luca slowly turned his head toward the source of the voice.
"Now..."
A vein bulged on his forehead as he said in irritation,
"...which little gremlin just hit the restart button on this entire conversation?"
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