Leafa dispatched the final Salamander with a swift strike, then bounded toward Hachiman and Kirito, her face alight with excitement. She raised her hand for a high-five, and both Hachiman and Kirito obliged, their palms meeting hers in a triumphant clap.
"Woo-hoo!" Leafa cheered.
"You two were incredible!" she said, grinning.
"Says you, Leafa-san," Kirito replied. "When did you slip behind that guy? I didn't even notice!"
"Just call me Leafa," she said. "You're Hachiman-kun and Kirito-kun, right?"
"Yeah, I'm Hachiman. Nice to meet you, Leafa," Hachiman said.
"I'm Kirito. Likewise," Kirito added.
"Let's save the details for later," Leafa said, her tone shifting to urgency. "On my way here, I spotted several Salamander parties. The guys we just took out might've called for backup. We need to get out of here, fast."
"Got it," Hachiman said.
"This way," Leafa said, taking flight.
Hachiman and Kirito followed close behind. The trio soared through the forest, weaving past trees until Leafa pointed downward and landed. The two followed suit, touching down beside her.
"Phew," Leafa sighed. "We should be safe here for now."
"If any enemies get close, I'll know right away!" Yui chirped, popping out from Hachiman's side.
"What? Wait, no way—a Private Pixie?" Leafa's eyes widened.
"I'm Yui! Nice to meet you, Leafa-san!" Yui said brightly.
"Uh, y-yeah, nice to meet you too," Leafa stammered.
Instinctively, Leafa extended her hand for a handshake, only to realize the size difference. Yui, unfazed, grabbed Leafa's index finger and shook it enthusiastically. Leafa couldn't help but find Yui adorable, staring in awe—until she noticed Hachiman and Kirito watching her with amused, knowing looks. Blushing, she quickly pulled her hand back.
"Private Pixies were part of ALO's pre-launch campaign, right?" Leafa said, trying to recover. "Given out to a few lucky winners? This is my first time seeing one!"
"Uh, yeah, something like that," Hachiman said vaguely, unsure of the details.
"So you two must've been playing since the early days," Leafa mused. "Powered up your characters, took a break, and came back? That would explain your strength."
"Y-yeah, pretty much," Kirito said, going along with it.
"Yukino said you were newbies, so I thought maybe someone else leveled your characters and you just took over," Leafa continued. "But knowing Yukino, she'd hate that kind of thing. So you're just new to Sylph territory, right?"
"Uh, yeah, something like that," Hachiman repeated.
"Dude, Hachiman, you're recycling lines," Kirito whispered, nudging him.
"Sorry," Hachiman muttered back. "Didn't think through the backstory, and I'm kinda panicking here."
"Seems fine for now," Kirito said quietly. "Let's roll with it."
"Got it."
"You two okay?" Leafa asked, tilting her head.
"Nah, it's nothing," Hachiman said quickly.
"By the way, Leafa, you're seriously strong," Kirito said, changing the subject. "That swordplay was unreal."
"You could tell?" Leafa said, surprised. "But I'm the one who's shocked. You crouched, kicked off the ground, and zipped behind them, slicing two at once. I could barely keep up with my eyes!"
"You followed that?" Kirito said, impressed. "It was right in front of you, huh?"
"Yeah, but Hachiman-kun, you were too far for me to see what you did."
"Nothing special," Hachiman said. "Just sneaked up and got the drop on them."
"Really? Still, you both took out enemies in one hit," Leafa said. "That's insane."
"Thanks to you wearing down their HP," Kirito said. "Taking that much damage solo against a whole party? That's what's impressive."
"Haha, I was dead set on dragging a few of them down with me," Leafa said, laughing. "Guess I went all out."
Hachiman and Kirito exchanged a glance, then bowed to Leafa in unison. Yui, mimicking them, bowed too.
"Whoa, what's this all of a sudden?" Leafa asked, flustered.
"Thanks for taking on this sudden request," Hachiman said sincerely. "And we're really sorry for putting you in danger."
"We'd have been totally lost without you," Kirito added. "Thanks, Leafa."
"Don't worry about it," Leafa said, waving them off. "Yukino's helped me out a ton. This is the least I can do to repay her."
"Repay her, huh?" Hachiman said. "Mind if I ask something? You don't have to answer if it's sensitive."
"Sure, what's up?" Leafa asked.
"Why's Yukino called 'Absolute Zero'?" Hachiman said.
"Oh…" Leafa hesitated, then countered with a question. "Why do you want to know?"
"Just worried it might be an insult or something," Hachiman said.
"And if it was?" Leafa pressed.
"I'd track down whoever started it and crush them," Hachiman said flatly. "Then I'd follow the trail of everyone who spread it and crush them too."
"What?!" Leafa blinked.
"Yeah, I'd help with that," Kirito added, nodding.
Leafa stared, stunned by their intensity, then burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.
"Hahaha, 'crush them'? All of them?!" she gasped.
"I'm dead serious," Hachiman said.
"I know, I know," Leafa said, catching her breath. "You guys are so intense, it's kind of hilarious. Sorry for laughing."
"Nah, it's cool," Hachiman said, relaxing.
"It's not an insult," Leafa assured them. "It's more like… awe, maybe even fear."
"Really?" Kirito asked.
"Yeah. It started with a conflict between the Sylphs and Cait Siths," Leafa explained.
"A conflict?" Hachiman said. "Weren't they trying to form an alliance?"
"Yup," Leafa said. "Back then, all the races were at odds, and the Sylphs and Cait Siths, being neighbors, were no exception. The Salamanders were expanding fast, and ideally, we should've allied then. But after all the fighting, it wasn't that simple."
"Makes sense," Kirito said. "Going from killing each other to buddies doesn't happen outside of manga."
"Exactly," Leafa said. "So, Lady Sakuya, the Sylph leader, and Lady Alicia, the Cait Sith leader, brought their forces to negotiate. But their lieutenants started squabbling over control, and Sakuya and Alicia got caught up in it. Things escalated into a full-blown battle. I was there, swept up in the chaos, fighting too."
"Got it," Hachiman said.
"Yukino's an Undine, not a Sylph or Cait Sith," Leafa continued. "But Yuiyui's a Sylph, and Iroha and Komachi are Cait Siths. They asked Yukino to mediate. Sakuya and Alicia were too stubborn to back down, though, and they started a one-on-one duel. That's when Yukino… well, she snapped."
"Making Yukino snap?" Kirito said, whistling. "That's bold."
Leafa shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Just thinking about it gives me chills…"
"What happened?" Hachiman asked, leaning in.
"Yukino had Iroha cast a massive, flashy spell in the sky," Leafa said. "It stopped everyone for a second. Then Yukino grabbed Sakuya and Alicia by the heads, forced them to kneel, and lectured them—without a hint of emotion. Her eyes were terrifying. Some people tried to intervene, but one glare from her froze them in place. The battlefield went silent, except for Yukino's voice, ringing out. Sakuya and Alicia tried to argue back, but Yukino shut them down instantly, dismantling every point without changing her expression. They were completely crushed, unable to even look up."
"That's intense," Hachiman said, "but it doesn't quite explain 'Absolute Zero.'"
"Then Yukino shouted," Leafa said. "'If anyone has a problem, try debating me!'"
"Debating Yukino?" Kirito said. "That's a death wish."
"A ton of people challenged her," Leafa said. "All of them got crushed. Yukino didn't flinch once. Then, to end the battle for good, she gathered the wounded in one spot and cast a massive healing spell. But something about her aura—or the spell itself—made it feel like the air itself froze."
"Oh…" Hachiman nodded, the pieces clicking into place.
"And that's how she got the name 'Absolute Zero,'" Leafa finished.
"Wow," Kirito said. "What kind of healing spell was that?"
"Now that I think about it, it was a standard area heal," Leafa said. "But in the moment, with Yukino's presence, it felt like the temperature dropped."
"She overpowered the system itself," Hachiman said, half-joking.
"Something like that," Leafa said with a smile. "That moment stopped the Sylph-Cait Sith war. Sakuya and Alicia bonded over being humbled and became friends. They later formed an equal alliance. So, in Sylph and Cait Sith territories, Yukino's more respected than feared. I started acting as a liaison between Sakuya and Yukino, which is how I got close to her group."
"Yukino's really something," Hachiman said, impressed.
"I'm never getting on her bad side," Kirito said, half-serious.
"Since this is Yukino's request, I'm all in to help you two," Leafa said.
"Thanks, Leafa. We're counting on you," Hachiman said, bowing.
Kirito smiled warmly. "Yeah, thanks."
Leafa caught Kirito's smile, and her heart raced unexpectedly. I love Onii-chan, so why am I feeling like this? Shaking off her confusion, she flashed a bright smile.
"Leave it to me! First, let's head to the Sylph capital, Swilvane!"
----------------------------------
Support me on Patreon - Advanced Chapters There!
patreon.com/Greyhounds