Chapter 226: [226] Yrsa

’This should be interesting...’ Ark mused.

Because at first glance, he could tell.

The woman was Sunborn.

Although she looked relatively young, likely in her late 20s, it seemed she had already seen much of the harsh realities of life.

The woman was not overly muscular, but her muscles had form, especially her thighs. It was clear that she had done a lot of training in the past.

’Who is she?’ Ark mused as he watched her storm towards them.

The very atmosphere around the gates seemed to have shifted due to her presence. The soldiers stood straighter, becoming a lot more silent... as though they were afraid of making a mistake.

But it did not seem like fear, more like admiration? Or perhaps they were captivated by her wild beauty?

There was also a chance it was fear and admiration mixed up together...

This strange woman did not so much as glance at them. She had her eyes locked on Harold the entire time as she strode forward.

"Yrsa?" Ark heard Harold squeak.

’So her name is Yrsa...’

Once the woman got to Harold, she stood in front of him, motionless, her face an emotionless mask.

"Yrsa darling, I am back—"

A strike to the face made the old man eat his words. Ark shoved the previous soldier to the side and lifted his sword, about to cut her down, when Harold immediately screamed.

"No! Wait! She’s my niece—!"

Simultaneously, Yrsa pulled him into a big hug, and Ark could see a hint of tears in her eyes.

He paused. "Oh?"

"You promised me you wouldn’t go, uncle. What if you had died? What if you were taken by the pillagers?" Yrsa seemed to sob.

Harold stroked her hair and smiled. "At least it would leave more rations for the others. I’m old and frail now, Yrsa. It was best I risked my life hunting, not the rest of you—kek!"

Yrsa’s eyes burned with rage as she tightened her arms around his neck, choking him.

"Y-Yrsa... Yrsa!! Ark, do something!!"

Ark simply stared at them, his katana lowered as he watched the old man turn blue. When Yrsa finally let go, Harold collapsed to the floor, gasping for air.

The woman turned to him and placed her hand across her chest. Ark assumed it was some sort of greeting in their village.

"I’m guessing you were the one who saved my uncle. You have my thanks."

Ark was silent for a few seconds as he analyzed her.

"That is great and all, but as you can see, we were in the middle of something."

Yrsa had not failed to notice the floating shards of ice that still hovered in the air, or the shattered arrows that lay at their feet...

She let out an annoyed breath and turned to the guards. "What is the meaning of this?! Can’t you tell these people saved my uncle? How dare you attack them?!"

The annoying guard from earlier did not back down. Instead, his face twisted into a snarl as he stood his ground.

"Our laws prohibit anyone, no matter their status, from bringing outsiders into our village! Not only did your uncle go against that law, he also left the village without the chief’s permission. That is against our laws."

"He is deserving of death—"

Thwack!

Before the guard could finish his rant, Yrsa planted a dirty slap right across his face, causing him to stagger back.

"What did you say?"

Yrsa already had a presence about her when she arrived, but right now, it was chilling. All the other guards reflexively stepped back, trying to completely avoid her.

’Ah, so it is fear...’ Ark noted.

"Are you saying you tried to kill my uncle?" Yrsa asked.

The guard should have known it was time to shut up, but instead, he doubled down on his earlier statement.

"And what if I did? I was just following our laws! Will you, our future chief, punish me for upholding the laws of the land?!"

Yrsa’s hands twitched on the shaft of her axe, but after a few seconds, she restrained herself, letting out a breath.

She was meant to be the next village chief, but as a woman, she already had countless opposition, with many vying for her hand in marriage, while others sought technicalities to disqualify her.

As much as Yrsa hated it, if she was to punish a man for upholding their laws, the elders would not have it.

It would be all the ammunition they needed to depose her.

"I’ll deal with you later..." she hissed through her teeth. The guard smiled victoriously, giving her a mock bow.

Yrsa turned back to Ark and bowed again. "I apologize for the rude reception by our guards. I will be sure to discipline them according to the village chief’s commands."

"Please, I beg you to reconsider your plans to destroy them all. Although they are fools, they are still needed in our community..."

Yrsa bowed lower. She did not know what kind of abilities the strange man had, but she knew opposing him would have been a very big mistake. One they would go on to regret.

The best she could do was try her best to pacify him.

"Is there any request you have? Say it and I will do everything in my power to grant it. Consider it a token of goodwill."

Ark felt like pushing the issue further, but he could see Harold pleading with his eyes. He was the one who had been attacked, so if he wanted Ark to drop the issue...

"Jenna..."

Jenna seemed a little disappointed that she would not get to use her magic, which was strange. Did she derive pleasure from killing people?

But nonetheless, the black ice spikes melted away.

"You asked if I have any requests?" Ark walked up to the woman until they were side by side.

"Take me to your chief."

Yrsa nodded. "As you wish—"

"Ah, but first." Ark suddenly interrupted her.

Swish!

No one had expected it, no one had seen the blade coming. All they saw was a flash of light, followed by the guard’s arm dropping to the floor.

The guard stared at his arm, his brain taking a few seconds to process what had happened, just before he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Ark sheathed his blade, adjusted his furry coat and turned back to Yrsa. "Shall we?"

Yrsa stared at him in disbelief, and then a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

’I think... I think I am going to like this one,’ she thought.

"Right this way, sir..."

"You can call me Ark."

"Yrsa." She nodded, her hands clasped behind her back as she smiled lightly. "My name is Yrsa, daughter of Nils."