My Mansion of Gorgeous Maids in Another World-Chapter 26: Mia Vs Noctlisa

Noctlisa knew her melee style had a natural counter: fighters like Mia who kept their distance. Anyone able to keep her at arm’s length was her worst enemy. So even she found it odd that she’d drawn her weapon.

Why did I draw my weapon when she counters me? She stole a furtive glance at Jett and caught his smirk. Right—wanted Master to see my battle stance.

Heat rushed to her cheeks, her lids lowering in a brief pout before she shoved the sword back into the shadow cleft at her neck. Black coils seeped from her pores, wrapping her from head to toe. In an instant dark plate formed, its seams glowing with icy blue light that matched her aqua eyes. Her helmet gathered her white hair into a long tail trailing behind her like the shadow‑cape at her shoulders.

BANG!

She exploded off the ground, sprinting toward the moss‑covered wall, then sideways along its face as though gravity meant nothing. To a human eye she was no more than a streak of darkness, yet Mia’s crimson gaze never lost focus.

The elf bent a tree until its crown swept the ground, then swung it like a giant club. Wood and moss cracked, scattering stone and knocking Noctlisa off the wall. Unfazed, the dullahan dissolved into shadow, ricocheting through the debris before springing back onto the vertical surface.

Spears of polished wood whistled in, thudding deep into her plates—only the tips pierced narrow gaps, drawing no blood.

Mmph. I would’ve finished her if she’d fallen into the pond. Mia’s mind raced. I planned to trip her at least three times, but her speed surprised me. A few more strikes and I can breach that Shadow Armor— she’ll blitz straight through this wall.

Knowing Noctlisa had no choice but to charge, Mia unleashed another volley. The knight barreled through, shards of cracked armor dropping behind her and dissolving before they touched the pond.

The moment her boot hit solid ground, roots burst upward. Branches wove into a living birdcage, then morphed into spears that stabbed through the rents in her armor and bit flesh.

"Nnnghhh—!" Noctlisa’s grunt turned into manic laughter. She tipped her neck forward, letting the abyss inside her collar gape, and slid her weapon free. One sweeping spin scattered wooden spikes, and Shadow Weaver’s dark arcs rose into a tornado that blasted the cage apart.

"COME TASTE SOME ADRENALINE‑PUMPING PAIN, HEAD MAID!" she roared. freeweɓnøvel.com

...

"She’s snapped," Jett mumbled around a mouthful of rice. "That’s the berserker side she warned me about."

His four dark ink steeds whinnied. Yesh.

...

Noctlisa leapt from the wreckage, weapon flashing as she carved through every branch and spear that barred her path. With Mia in sight she pressed forward, unstoppable.

"Who said I can’t change location?" Mia answered calmly. A slender branch coiled about her waist and whisked her skyward.

The dullahan vanished.

I can’t sense her—even with the whole grove under my control. The forest itself whispered that they’d lost her. She’s hiding in the shadows again, but I should rule those too... She must have overpowered me there. Which angle—?

Noctlisa erupted from the shadow directly behind her. The upward strike split Mia’s bodice and ripped a deep furrow across her back, warm blood spraying, its metallic tang hanging in the air.

Mia arched, screaming. Seconds later her crimson eyes sharpened into feral slits. "YOU KNOW MASTER LOVES TAKING ME FROM BEHIND, YET YOU ATTACK MY BACK?!" she howled.

...

"Holy shit," Jett coughed, almost spitting his rice. "Mia snapped too!"

The steeds stamped. Evil shit! She snapped!

...

"You flatter me if you think I planned it that way," Noctlisa laughed, tilting her head. "It was the cleanest line to hurt you—but if it fires you up, all the better!"

"Do not project your masochism onto me, Noctlisa!" Mia extended her hand, fingers clawed. "The scar this leaves will cost me an hour of service to Master Jett!"

The very earth quaked with her rage. Roots lashed up, trees toppled, and even the pond heaved, water cascading toward the dullahan.

Mia laughed like a madwoman. "Shadow cannot stand alone! I command this forest—and with it every shadow in this domain—I’ll choke off your angles!"

"Shadow? True! Darkness? Not!" Noctlisa barked.

Five minutes passed.

Thunder cracked overhead, scarlet lightning staining the ruined garden, the air turning ion‑thick with the sharp scent of ozone. Both maids froze at attention the instant their master arrived.

Jett strode into the clearing. "Time’s up—five minutes. Battle’s over. It’s a draw."

Good thing I set a limit, he thought awkwardly. Otherwise they’d keep going until one of them dropped.

"Are you two... okay?" Jett asked, feeling even more awkward. The garden looked like a war‑zone, and Mia and Noctlisa were in an even worse state. They still stood tall, ready to serve, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking.

"Naturally, Master Jett," Mia replied, voice steady.

"Aye," Noctlisa echoed.

"We don’t have healing potions or a proper healer yet. Will those wounds be alright? Should I hunt down a doctor?" Jett rubbed the back of his neck.

Mia shook her head. "We shall be fine, Master Jett. I carry natural remedies for such crises. Pray, do not fret; I shall mend the wound and erase the scar within the hour—indeed, in the blink of an eye."

An hour isn’t exactly a blink, but I know what you mean, Mia, Jett thought. "No worries... I’d cross seven mountains and seven lakes to heal that skin. Keeping you all healthy is in my best interest."

Her face brightened like sunrise. "I’m honored, Master Jett!"

He glanced at Noctlisa. "Pretty sure you’re worse off. You ate way too many hits. I’ll analyze your combat styles later. For now, let’s get you two patched."

At his will Jett activated Call of Clouds. Two milky vapors coalesced, expanding into cushions wide enough for his maids to recline. Softer than his emperor bed, the clouds drank up their pain the instant they settled in. Watching the strain melt from their faces eased the knot twisting in his chest.

"These things guzzle mana, but they’re handy," he muttered, drifting them toward the mansion.

Both maids felt a moment’s disappointment at leaving his side, yet a sweet satisfaction at being pampered.

Jett turned to his steeds. "I’m heading back. Follow the road to the stable, boys."

Yesh, the four dark ink steeds whinnied.