「How can you say that to us nonchalantly! After everything you’ve done!」

While Rafinha was right, it was also a fact that Hallim and the other Highlanders seemed to be oddly fond of Tiffany. Therefore, it was probably the truth that she treated her proteges favorably. On the other hand, that also meant that she had no mercy for her enemies and the people of Midland.

「I can make you into a Highlander if that’s what you want. If not, you can also attempt the process of becoming a Hyrule Menace. If you’re willing to throw away your silly sense of duty and obligations, it’s not really a bad method to gain power, you know?」

「Can someone like me become a Hyrule Menace too?」

Tiffany nodded to Inglis’ question.

「It is very possible. No one was born as Hyrule Menace. All of us become the way we are after we received treatment in the Highland. I was just a normal girl before. The same is true for the other Hyrule Menaces. Miss Inglis, I believe you will surpass me if you succeeded in being a Hyrule Menace, you know? After all, you already have enough power to match mine even when you’re a Runeless!」

While indeed they had been chatting for quite some time, the fierce clash at hand had actually been going on for just as long. Tiffany had been pushing Inglis back with inhuman strength. Oh, how pleasant of a bite it was. She couldn’t help but want to enjoy this clash even a tad longer.

「Don’t mess with us! A Hyrule Menace is only a Hyrule Menace because of those duties and obligations you call silly! That is why they are noble! That is why they are our Guardian Deity! You know nothing about them, nothing! You’re indeed a Hyrule Menace, but you’re not the Hyrule Menace! I loathe to follow someone like you! Don’t take me for a fool!」

「……Indeed!」

「That’s right!」

「Yeah!」

Leone, Liselotte, and Lahti all nodded to Rafinha’s powerful statement. As her guardian, Inglis was a bit proud to see her standing her ground. Which is exactly why, there was only a single thought in her mind right now…

「……I’m sorry.」

Inglis apologized under her breath for being intrigued by the idea of becoming a Hyrule Menace. She thought it was quite an interesting method to simply increase her power.

She could give it a try, and if she found anything strange with the process, she could just flick it around and nullify the function like what she did during her baptisation. Which was why she couldn’t help but think that it would be okay to just attempt it. Just her intellectual curiosity at play.

「……Glis? You just thought something stupid, didn’t you?」

「N-no I did not?! I also think that Miss Eris and Miss Ripple are admirable, you know!」

Seeing this, Tiffany began to chuckle.

「Fufufu. I see…You with the black hair, what is your name?」

「It’s Rafinha! Rafinha Wilford!」

「I see, Miss Rafinha… You’re a good girl, are you not? A most fair one, at that. So noble, so just, so beautiful! That is you, is it not? I love good girls myself, you know? Fufu……Especially how they break and how far they fall! I really want to see it!」

「……!」

「Which one do you like more, physical pain, or mental pain? Ah, that’s right, I’ll pull your nails one by one, and everytime you let out a voice, I’ll kill a hostage in front of you! We can play a game like that, don’t we? It’s okay, I will bring you back with me even if I need to use force, look forward to it, okay?」

「Sh-, shut up! You think I’ll apologize to you over a bluff like that?!」

「Fufu…So you said, but your face has paled, you know? And what about you, Miss Inglis? You seemed interested.」

「……No, that was just a misunderstanding. I have no margin to negotiate with you whatsoever.」

「? Oh my, you suddenly turned a cold shoulder.」

「I did! I am Rani’s Squire, you see. I will never forgive anyone who tries to hurt Rani, as I will exterminate them!」

Those who try to hurt Rafinha. Those who try to make Rafinha cry. And those who try to kidnap Rafinha, all those pests… are absolutely unforgivable. Eliminate, exterminate, and obliterate are their only fate.

「Oh my, you already possess so much power, and yet you’re just following behind this child and her superficial justice? Is that what you want? Is it not just a waste of your strength?」

「Power does not determine everything. Love and bonds between one person to another is a good example, no? Rani and I have that, and it’s all I ever ask.」

Inglis answered distinctly.

「……And that comes out from someone who’s always chasing nothing but power!」

「Rani! I’m serious!」

「Fufu. I was just kidding. Thanks…I’m happy to hear that. A bit embarrassing, though.」

Tiffany let out a single sigh.

「Our chat has been a pleasure, but it seems we need to end it here. Now, why don’t we get back to our agenda…and have your ship destroyed? I still need to take Lekrea’s land to the Highland and show the higher ups that I’m not like my predecessor, and I need to be careful not to let any hindrances slip in, you see?」

「Just as I hoped! It’s about time you show us what you’re really made of」

Right now, Tiffany was only using Leone’s Artifact that she took from her. Even in their normal, human girl form, Hyrule Menaces should be able to use their signature weapons.

Ripple summoned and used guns, and she was even a rifle in her weaponized form. Similarly, the Hyrule Menace that belonged to the Ironblood Chain Brigade was a spear.

Inglis hadn’t seen Eris in her weaponized form, but when she fought her, the Hyrule Menace summoned and wielded a pair of twin swords. Perhaps her weaponized form is also a pair of twin swords.

Then, what is Tiffany? As of now, she hadn’t shown it yet. How interesting! Inglis wanted to see it fast. And fight against it even harder.