Chương 343: Chapter : 343

"My twin swords are far superior to your tiny daggers!" Elma boasted loudly. She pointed her finger at Naomi.

"I have a much wider reach! I can intercept magical attacks with better precision! I am the optimal choice for a personal knight!"

"Reach does not matter when you are too slow!" Naomi fired back instantly. She stepped even closer, refusing to give up an inch of ground.

"My wind magic makes me twice as fast as you! I can reposition in a millisecond! I know exactly how Ken moves! I know his terrible habits! I know exactly when he is going to trip over his own shoes!"

"That just proves he needs a more disciplined protector!" Elma argued fiercely. Her blue eyes sparked with intense rivalry.

"If he lived with me, I would train him to walk properly! I would ensure his safety with absolute perfection! He would never trip again!"

"You would just bore him to death!" Naomi shouted. The argument went around in endless circles. They listed their combat achievements. They bragged about their speed, their physical strength, and their specific defensive tactics. They both fiercely claimed the exclusive, undeniable right to guard the goofy boy sitting behind them. Suddenly, the front door of the estate opened. Footsteps clicked softly against the stone path. The footsteps were precise. They were steady. They carried zero hesitation.

Ira walked out into the courtyard. The water magic user wore her neat dark blue uniform. Her silver-white hair rested perfectly on her shoulders. Her pale face was completely flat. She showed absolutely no emotion. She stared blankly ahead. Ira walked straight toward the fountain. She did not stop. She stepped perfectly into the middle of the massive shouting match. She stood directly between Naomi and Elma. She looked at Naomi. She looked at Elma. Her expression did not change a single millimeter.

Naomi stopped yelling. She blinked in surprise. She lowered her wooden spoon.

"Ira? What are you doing out here? We are having a very serious discussion." Elma frowned. She crossed her arms again.

"Yes. We are establishing security protocols for the upcoming battles. Please step aside." Ira did not step aside. She turned her body. She faced both of the angry warriors. She spoke in her robotic, deadpan voice.

"I have monitored this conversation from the living room window," Ira stated flatly.

"I have analyzed your arguments. I have processed the historical combat data for both of your fighting styles." Naomi put her hands on her hips.

"And? What is your conclusion?"

"My conclusion is that both of you are entirely incorrect," Ira replied monotonously. Elma scoffed loudly.

"Incorrect? I am a flawless swordswoman. I have never failed a defensive formation." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Ira stared directly into Elma's eyes.

"Statistically speaking, your sword techniques require large, sweeping motions. You rely on aggressive, forward momentum. When you fight, you charge ahead. You leave wide openings in your rear guard." Ira turned her pale eyes toward Naomi.

"Naomi," Ira continued blankly.

"Your wind magic is incredibly fast. However, your fighting style is highly explosive. You dash wildly across the battlefield. You bounce off walls. You create massive, chaotic gusts of wind." Naomi opened her mouth to defend her combat style. Ira simply raised one pale finger to silence her.

"Because you are both incredibly hot-headed," Ira concluded logically.

"You are highly prone to explosive violence. You lose your temper easily. If you serve as close-quarters bodyguards, your aggressive movements will create dangerous shockwaves in your immediate vicinity." Ira pointed a pale finger directly at Ken. Ken waved back lazily with a potato chip.

"Ken possesses zero physical defensive capabilities," Ira stated. She did not sound insulting. She just stated it as a scientific fact.

"He does not wear armor. He does not cast protective shields. If he stands near either of you during a chaotic battle, he will statistically suffer severe collateral damage from your own attacks. You will accidentally knock him over with your wind. You will accidentally hit him with your elbows while swinging your swords." Naomi's face fell. Her shoulders slumped. She realized Ira made a very logical, undeniable point. She had definitely knocked Ken over by accident in the past.

Elma looked down at her polished boots. She hated admitting it, but her wide sword swings were absolutely dangerous to an unprotected bystander standing too close. Ira lowered her hand. She stood perfectly straight. She placed her hands neatly behind her back.

"Therefore," Ira announced proudly. Her voice remained totally flat, but the words carried intense, unwavering confidence.

"I am the only logical choice." Naomi gasped.

"What?!"

"I use high-pressure water whips," Ira explained calmly.

"My magic is fluid. It is precise. I can bind enemies from a long distance. I do not rely on explosive physical strikes. I remain perfectly stationary during combat. I maintain a constant, secure perimeter without moving frantically." Ira looked past the girls. She looked directly at Ken sitting on the fountain. A tiny, almost invisible glint of warmth appeared in her pale blue eyes. She remembered the quiet evening in the library. She remembered sharing the chocolate cake.

She remembered how he made her feel safe when her cruel brother attacked her.

"I am calm. I am calculated. I am mathematically safe," Ira declared. She turned back to the two shocked girls.

"I am the optimal candidate. I will serve as his eternal bodyguard. I will ensure his survival with one hundred percent efficiency." The courtyard exploded into total, absolute chaos.

"Eternal bodyguard?!" Naomi shrieked. She threw her hands in the air.

"Absolutely not! You are a ranged fighter! You cannot step in front of a swinging sword!"

"I object to this entire conclusion!" Elma yelled fiercely. She pointed an angry finger at Ira.

"My swords are perfectly precise! I do not cause collateral damage! I officially claim the position!"

"My statistics do not lie," Ira countered flatly, not moving an inch.

"You are both far too emotional. I am the superior shield. I claim the duty." The three elite, lethal warriors immediately started arguing again. They talked over each other. They waved their arms. They fiercely debated their combat skills. They aggressively fought over the exclusive, permanent right to protect the goofy boy sitting behind them. Ken Eliot simply leaned back against the stone rim of the fountain. He crossed one leg over his knee. He reached deep into his bag of potato chips.

He pulled out a very large, perfectly shaped chip. He popped the chip into his mouth. Crunch. He chewed happily. He watched the three girls shout at each other. He did not feel annoyed. He felt immensely entertained. He was the Sovereign. He possessed god-like, omnipotent power. He could stop time. He could erase reality. He was secretly the most terrifying entity on the entire planet. He could destroy massive armies with a single whisper.

And right now, three incredible, highly trained warriors were screaming at each other because they honestly thought he was too weak to survive a strong breeze.