Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 101: The Academy seniors

The bandits had started the night as robbers. Now, they had become unwilling spectators.

But strength spoke louder than pride. With opponents like these, they could only wait.

Zora paid no attention to Rudolph’s pleas. The sword tip pressed in deeper.

Gaaah!!!

"Save me!" Rudolph screamed hoarsely, his voice breaking into sobs.

His remaining guards finally noticed the danger. Their expressions changed completely.

Their mission was to protect Rudolph. If he died, they would have no way to survive afterward.

Driven into desperation, the guards erupted in fury. No longer holding back with fists and kicks, they began fighting with their lives on the line.

Clang! Clang!

The sharp sounds of metal colliding rang through the canyon. The sudden ferocity of the guards caught the bandits off guard.

Yet instead of retreating, the bloodshed only ignited the bandits’ savagery.

They had lived by robbery for years. Blood on their hands was nothing new.

Watching this chaotic battle unfold, Zora remained unhurried.

She stood calmly, a faint smile playing on her lips, as though she were merely watching an amusing performance rather than a struggle of life and death.

Rudolph finally let out a shaky breath, yet his eyes never left the sword hovering near him.

That blade swayed ever so slightly, and each minute movement sent a chill straight down his spine.

He knew it clearly.

If Zora’s hand so much as slipped, his life would end on the spot.

Her gaze shifted.

Zora looked past him, toward Raphael and Alaric Von Seraph.

She had already noticed earlier that the bandit leader had chosen to surrender. With the strength those two displayed, such an outcome was hardly surprising.

What was strange was... this.

They had not interfered.

They allowed the remaining bandits to continue slaughtering Rudolph’s men as if watching a play unfold.

Sensing her gaze, Raphael curled his lips into a faint smile and gave her a casual nod.

Zora returned the nod calmly.

Whether they were simply watching for amusement or had other intentions did not matter.

At the very least, they harbored no hostility toward her.

That was enough.

In the blink of an eye, several more bodies collapsed to the ground.

Some belonged to bandits.

Others belonged to Rudolph’s guards.

Seeing their brothers fall one after another, the remaining bandits were inflamed with fury. With bloodshot eyes, they charged forward again.

Rudolph’s men were already at their limits. Faced with this relentless onslaught, they could no longer hold.

Before long, they were cut down one by one.

At last, the bandit leader shouted, "Withdraw!"

Only then did the bandits seem to regain their senses. Though confused and unwilling, they obeyed the order and retreated swiftly into the canyon.

As the clamor faded, Zora’s attention returned to Rudolph.

"It seems your hired muscle was rather useless," she said lightly, her smile thin and cold.

Rudolph’s face turned ashen. Regret flooded his heart.

If he had known things would end like this, he would have rather stayed home, swallowing his anger. Now, he feared he would not even survive the night.

"Mercy, Milady! Mercy!" Rudolph begged desperately.

"I won’t dare again! As long as you spare me, I’ll give you everything I own!"

Zora looked down at him indifferently, her expression unmoved.

She had no interest in his wealth.

Someone like him deserved only one destination.

Yet before she could act—

Whoosh!

A flying blade cut through the air.

It struck with terrifying precision, piercing straight through Rudolph’s heart.

His eyes flew open in disbelief.

He never imagined that after begging so humbly, his life would be taken just like that—and by someone entirely unrelated to him.

"Noisy."

An emotionless voice followed, as though ending a trivial annoyance.

Sadly, Rudolph no longer heard those words.

Had he heard them, he might have spat blood from sheer indignation.

Zora lifted her eyes to the black-clad figure.

The one who had thrown the blade—was Alaric Von Seraph.

"Stupid woman," Alaric Von Seraph said flatly.

Zora frowned. "Are you talking about me?"

In both her past and present life, no one had ever dared to call her stupid.

"Yes."

A single syllable. Nothing more.

"You’re really rude," she said coldly.

Sensing the sparks about to ignite, Raphael hurriedly stepped in with a smile. "My apologies. I am Raphael, and this is Alaric Von Seraph. May I know the young lady’s name?"

Zora glanced at Alaric Von Seraph.

Tall and straight like jade, his bearing refined and aloof. A pair of peach-blossom eyes lent him an innate charm, the kind that drew attention without effort. A man like this, at first sight, was clearly someone favored by women.

"Zora," she said calmly, giving her name.

Though she felt little goodwill toward the man in black, the white-robed one had helped her indirectly. That, at least, earned him basic courtesy.

"So it’s Miss Zora." Raphael smiled warmly. "It’s an honor to meet you."

"Raphael, let’s go."

Alaric Von Seraph dropped the words flatly and urged his horse forward, not sparing a glance behind him.

"Seraph!" Raphael called after him helplessly, but Alaric Von Seraph did not slow down in the slightest.

Watching his companion ride off, Raphael could only sigh inwardly. Alaric Von Seraph had always been this way. Cold, blunt, and utterly devoid of interest in social niceties.

Turning back, Raphael once again wore his bright, genial smile. "Miss Zora, we still have matters to attend to. We’ll take our leave now. I hope we meet again someday."

Zora nodded lightly. "Farewell."

She understood perfectly well. "Matters to attend to" was nothing more than a polite excuse. And truthfully, she had no desire to have further dealings with Alaric Von Seraph either.

After Raphael and Alaric Von Seraph departed, Zora mounted her horse and continued on her journey. With several days still needed to reach Imperial Academy, arriving earlier was always better.

Raphael soon caught up to Alaric Von Seraph and couldn’t help complaining, "Hey, Seraph, you really don’t give anyone any face at all."

"The academy’s enrollment assessment is about to begin," Alaric Von Seraph replied coolly. "The instructors told us to prepare in advance. Do you want to be late?"

Raphael’s expression stiffened slightly.

That was true. The two of them had been tasked with assisting the instructors during the new students’ assessment. If they arrived late, they would definitely be scolded.

"Alright."

Meanwhile, as Zora rode onward, she noticed that the two men ahead were never too far from her.

With a brief thought, she understood.

Those two were likely students of the Imperial Academy as well.

"Master, those two are very strong," Black said thoughtfully. "They don’t seem like new students."

Zora nodded. "They should be seniors."

From their earlier clash with the bandits, she had already gauged their strength. At such an age, possessing such cultivation could only be described as monstrous talent.

Imperial Academy truly lived up to its reputation. There were undoubtedly many outstanding practitioners within.

Raphael glanced back at Zora, who maintained a steady distance behind them, and a hint of surprise flickered across his handsome face. "She’s heading in the same direction as us."

Alaric Von Seraph’s eyes were indifferent as he looked back briefly. "You think she’s deliberately following us?"

Raphael chuckled and shook his head. "I think it’s just a coincidence."

With Raphael’s looks and temperament, it was common for women to follow him along the road, reluctant to part. Alaric Von Seraph had seen such scenes more times than he cared to count.

Alaric Von Seraph let out a cold snort. Pulling on the reins, he abruptly stopped his horse.

He was waiting.

Zora paused slightly when she saw the two halt, a trace of confusion flickering through her eyes. But seeing that they made no immediate move toward her, she continued forward without hesitation.

Just as she passed by them—

"Stupid woman," Alaric Von Seraph said coldly. "Even if you follow us all the way, it’s useless."

Hearing those words, Zora frowned slightly, then let out a cold laugh.

"Idiot," she said calmly. "I have no interest in following you."

As her words fell, she flicked the reins. The horse continued forward without the slightest pause, her deep phoenix eyes filled with unmistakable disdain.

Clop. Clop.

The white-clad figure passed by, leaving behind only a faint lingering fragrance in the air.

"Idiot?"

Alaric Von Seraph’s facial expression was frozen. Even his movement was paused.