The Player is a Part-Timer

Chapter 9: Unruly Introduction

"Umu..." the small girl nodded, stepping forward and taking a stance. "I will be attentive..."

"Buchou, we should...!"

"Kiba, don't worry, everything will be fine. Instead, watch her moves. We need to be attentive and react in the unlikely chance Koneko gets knocked out." Rias smiled, and Kiba sighed in return. He had an awful feeling about this.

"Haah, you may be right."

"Fufufu... so that's your tactic. In that case, I answer your determination to the fullest. Hahahahaha!" Gillian laughed like a villain, giving chills to most.

"So, that's your choice. So be it. But don't blame me if Koneko-chan gets hurt or traumatized. I am — after all — a tricky foe." the player moved her fingers, akin to weaving a spell, grinning.

"Don't worry, the victor is already decided." even if she defeats Koneko, this would be a good opportunity to inspect her tricks and moves, then swarm her right away. She was too confident for her own good, and that would open the gates of her defeat.

Rias was sure; her team couldn't lose!

"Indeed..." Gillian tilted her head, pushing her palm against her chin, and her neck cracked loud. She repeated the same with her fists, cracking them aloud. "It is decided..."

'Crack! Crack!'

"Aii..." this made Issei and Asia shiver, the angle she pushed her head just looked that unnatural.

"Let's begin then..."

"Sorry, Senpai..." the usually silent girl nodded, taking a stance. "I will try not to hurt you... much."

"You do as you like, Koneko-chan. Hopefully, it plays out well for you." Gillian recovered a pair of diving goggles, equipping them, then pulling up her triangle bandit scarf before her mouth and nose, covering them the fullest.

This made the devils and the nun look confused.

"What's that for?"

"Little preparation, for the show... also, it looks cool. Makes me look like a bandit. Don't you think?" she placed her hands in her pockets, swaying back and forth on her sole, completely relaxed — akin to doing a small dance of preparation. "But before we start, I request you Asia-chan to move a little bit farther."

"Wh-why?" asked the timid nun confused.

"Just a little bit of precaution. You are... after all still a "fragile" human. We don't want you to get hurt if our little battle goes out of control."

"She is right, Asia, please..." Issei nodded, and the girl gulped a little bit scared.

"O-Ok. But please, be careful, Gillian-chan. Koneko-chan, please, don't hurt her."

"That's up to senpai..." stated the Rook with little emotion.

"Umm..." with that, Issei escorted Asia a little bit farther, standing near her to shield her with his body if something unexpected happened.

"Now, then, we can start. Do your best, Koneko-chan. Albeit, I'll repeat! I advise against attacking me head-on; I can be tricky!" Gillian chuckled amused, making Koneko's eyes squint, slightly angry at her opponent for underestimating her.

Nonetheless, once Rias gave her the order she would fulfill it to the best of her ability. She would not be beaten by a human — whoever she is! She would not undermine the trust of her master! She would not be caught off guard!

'Bang!' the ground dented under Koneko as she sped forth, raising her fist to hit Gillian head-on. In under a moment, she was before her fellow white-haired girl, not a single modicum of hesitating in her movement.