Kashiram Royal Palace – Training Grounds in the Courtyard
“We will use mock battle weapons, with no time limit. The match ends when one of us concedes or when a weapon touches any part of the body. Is that acceptable?”
“Sounds good. But isn’t the Centaur Knight supposed to ride a passive? Aren’t you going to ride?”
“Do you think I’m underestimating you? Don’t worry, whether I ride or not, the true value of my skills remains unchanged. Of course, the results will be the same.”
“You’re underestimating me…”
The captain-level individuals around us seemed incredulous, as if they couldn’t believe they were facing an S-Rank. Their dry laughter echoed in the air. Only Kurinka and the King were watching seriously. No one else believed I could win. I wondered what the King thought; his smiling expression gave nothing away.
Since this was a mock battle, Disballade was off the table, and instead, I would wield a wooden sword. My opponent had picked up a wooden spear, a substitute for the Grand Run. The sword was crafted with a rounded tip to ensure safety, yet it weighed the same as a normal sword. I was impressed by how closely it resembled real combat training.
“Are both of you ready in your hearts? I, Deck, captain of the 14th squad, will be the judge. Now, take your stances… now!”
“Me? I’m ready.”
“Is that a stance full of openings? Hold the sword with both hands, positioning it just below your stomach! Lower your hips… why do I have to give such instructions before a duel?!”
“Bwahahaha! This isn’t a match; it’s truly a training session!”
“Hey! Maybe you should reconsider this reckless endeavor and just let Deck teach you first! Hahaha!”
The captains and soldiers around us laughed heartily, clutching their bellies. I felt a pang of guilt for Kurinka, who was sitting there, red-faced as if it were happening to her. But I couldn’t help it; I didn’t know what a proper stance was. It was fine if such things existed, but who decided that I had to fight using them?
In the end, all I needed to do was defeat my opponent, so I didn’t have to worry about the details. Weiss held his spear in one hand, thrusting it forward, and while there might be some meaning behind that stance, it was his choice. I had my own way of doing things.
“To think she’s A-Rank… I feel sorry for the adventurers, but she’s just a stray after all…”
“I won’t lose! Just watch me!”
“Oh dear, how rude… Hahaha!”
“Well, that’s fine. Weiss, don’t hold back. Now then… let the match begin!”
Kashiram Royal Palace – Training Grounds in the Courtyard vs. Lua
I had no intention of letting my guard down or holding back. If His Majesty wished it, I would respond accordingly. After all, it was the King who ultimately bought me after my parents sold me into slavery due to our dire circumstances. I had to repay that debt with my life, serving as His Majesty’s hands and feet.
I had endured unspeakable acts at the hands of various individuals, including the local lord who bought me when I was eight. I felt nauseous just recalling those memories. Eventually, he was executed during a popular uprising, but I felt no special sense of liberation. In fact, it was thanks to that lord that I realized I had a certain charm, and after escaping his mansion, I managed to make a living from it. Perhaps I should even be grateful. The foul breath of that frog-faced lord, who would often murmur about how beautiful my silver hair was, was now just a distant memory.
It wasn’t just my appearance; my pale, delicate frame had allowed me to rise to the highest rank of adventurers, fueled by my will to live and the presence of the King. He never coddled me just because he bought me. Instead, he subjected me to harsh combat training under the blazing sun every day, only to send me out of the palace with a meager amount of money in my hands.
This man was just like my parents, I thought in despair. But when I finally began to find my footing as an adventurer, the King handed me a bag filled with gold coins. “I recognize your worth. Well done.” It was the first time in my life that I felt as if I were soaring to the heavens upon hearing those words. I had finally been acknowledged by someone. I wanted to be recognized by him even more, and with that single-minded determination, I trained tirelessly, never letting go of my spear even during meals.
I was praised as a rising star, and by the age of twelve, I had grown to the point where even much older adventurers were no match for me. Yet, all the accolades rang hollow in my ears. Those women who had used me as an outlet for their desires, I didn’t need their high-pitched praises. I only needed the King’s recognition.
The joy of being acknowledged by someone, that was something the King had first taught me. Therefore, I had a duty to entertain him, a duty to meet his expectations.
“Your Majesty, why did you buy Weiss?”
“He has endured a horrific environment and yet has not succumbed. His eyes were still alive, so I bought him.”
I had once eavesdropped on such a conversation. Others might think him a cruel king. They would criticize him for not helping other slaves or the weak. But I didn’t care about that. At this moment, I wanted to be recognized by the King. Nothing else mattered. The body I had honed through sleepless nights, the spear I had forged with the money I earned—all of it was to produce results before the King.
“You’re quite strong… If I let my guard down, I might get hit.”
Yet, why?
“She’s about as strong as Tiferia, or maybe even stronger…”
Why? I couldn’t land a single blow. Why was this girl? Why was this child? She was reading my thrusts. Was she reading my mind? That was absurd.
“Stop moving around… take this!”
I didn’t want to show any signs of struggle against the girl with silver hair, sweat flying as I fought. The spectators, who initially thought I was holding back, began to realize that the situation was different. I had intended to finish her off with my first strike.
The difference in experience, talent, skills. Even with all the knowledge in my head, I couldn’t find a reason for my inferiority. Even if this girl had started wielding a sword at a young age, the difference in time should not have been that significant. If we were to equate levels, she should be over 400. So why had such a talent remained hidden?
No, she had been recognized. The cheap moniker of Flash Strike Girl came with numerous achievements. It was merely a guess, but it was likely that she hadn’t actively sought out that fame. If she had any desire for recognition, with her skills, she would eventually make her name known across the world. It might be an overestimation, but if not, I wouldn’t be able to maintain my ego.
What was most terrifying was that this girl had almost no reaction speed. The reaction speed of living beings is generally limited. For instance, there wouldn’t be anyone who could react to a blade suddenly appearing before their eyes. Yet this girl could do that. In simpler terms, she only needed to respond after her opponent attacked. There was no need to read two or three moves ahead like a master.
It was as if she was born from the very essence of battle. Without asking for anyone’s teachings, she instinctively learned how to fight. The battlefield was her teacher.
“You little…!”
“Weiss, what’s wrong with you…?”
“You’re not your usual calm self.”
“More than that, you’re being toyed with…”
For the first time in my life, I was struggling—no, I was being overwhelmed. Her cool demeanor, not even breaking a sweat, only served to irritate me further. It was clear she was doing it on purpose. I didn’t know her intentions, but this girl was measuring my abilities.
No matter how the situation unfolded, I might have fared differently if I had used my skills. But that was the only remnant of my ego left. More importantly, this girl was in the same position.
And then, as if to admonish me for my uncharacteristic anger, the end arrived.
“…Match over.”
Deck, who had weakly declared the judgment, looked just as perplexed. The wooden sword of the girl, who had gently poked my chest, paused for a moment. I could no longer say anything. There was only one thing I knew: I had been completely defeated by this girl. I wanted to see her Adventurer Card; that was the only thing I could utter after the battle.
“Level… this is…”
When I saw that number, I realized for the first time how small my world truly was. Who in the world could possibly defeat this girl?
Kashiram Royal Palace – Training Grounds in the Courtyard
“That was a magnificent battle.”
The only one who clapped loudly in this quiet space was the King. Just when I thought he would scold the clearly downcast Weiss, he carelessly snatched my Adventurer Card.
“Ha, ha, ha! What is this? Has anyone ever reached such a level in the history of the past? Some take a lifetime to barely reach level 30, while others, with decent experience, easily surpass level 50! This can only be attributed to individual talent! Lua, are you a child of battle? Ha, ha, ha!”
The King displayed my Adventurer Card for everyone to see. It was no surprise that some were counting the digits repeatedly. I could already predict the complaints about it being strange or that the Guild’s system was broken. That’s why I didn’t want to flaunt my Adventurer Card too much. Weiss had fought hard, and I truly wanted to acknowledge his strength. Somehow, I felt that he wouldn’t mock me.
“Is there such a ridiculous story? That device from the Guild is unreliable!”
“Moreover, in that last battle, Lord Weiss couldn’t even showcase his true abilities! The Centaur Knight, that’s during horseback riding…”
“Don’t embarrass me any further!”
With Weiss’s fierce shout, the noisy captains fell silent at once. If Weiss’s true power was activated, he would be even stronger than now. He would surely use his skills, and while I didn’t feel like I would lose, I could sense the determination he had while fighting. It seemed like he was shouldering something, fighting with a single-minded focus.
I had intended to finish the fight in one blow, but the intensity he displayed caught me off guard. His relentless assault was impressive, especially against a human opponent. Excluding Tiferia, who I didn’t quite understand, and Platiu, whose strength felt different from that of a human, Weiss was far stronger than Zangiri, Glaive, and Azuma from the Demon God Clan. I was simply moved by that. I could feel that he had struggled immensely to become this strong, just like I had.
“Your Majesty, I apologize for not achieving victory. I will tighten my resolve and dedicate myself to training from now on.”
“Your spirit is commendable, but if you think I am disappointed in you, that is a mistake. I am grateful to witness such a fierce clash of wills after a long time.”
“Your Majesty…”
Seeing Weiss relieved that he wasn’t disliked by the King made me realize how much he respected him. Fighting for someone else strengthens a person. I was convinced of that by watching Weiss. If I were to think of someone I felt the same way about…
“Lua-chan, you did well. Don’t let those captains bother you; just ignore them.”
Kurinka handed me a fruit juice from her bag. I could fight to protect this smile. I had always done so, but I felt that by wishing for it even more, I could grow even stronger.
“This is an advance payment; take it.”
The bag I received from the King was noticeably heavy. When I counted it, there was a total of 400,000 gold. Did the King make a mistake?
“I saw good fighting spirit from you. This is just a token of my appreciation.”
That amount was far too generous for a quest reward. I could understand why Weiss was so enamored with the King.
“Now, let’s make the final preparations for the operation. We’re heading to the conference room.”
At the mention of the operation, everyone straightened their posture. Yes, I would infiltrate the thieves’ hideout as bait. It sounded strange, but the hideout itself was even stranger. As the day of the operation approached, we decided to take a nap.
◆ Kingdom of Kashiram, Border Village ◆
“Oh my, oh my… What brings you to such a place? It’s already late; please stay the night.”
“Thank you, I’m sorry for the trouble.”
In a village a few days away from the Royal Capital, an old man with a hunched back welcomed us. Traveling on Kurinka would have been quicker, but it would have drawn too much attention, so we had no choice but to run on the ground. Even so, it took several days, so the distance to this village was considerable.
“I apologize for not being able to offer you any hospitality.”
We immediately began moving for the operation.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Lua mocked the silver-haired punk during the trivial matter of dealing with the thieves.
That silver-haired punk seemed to be on the verge of tears; was that just my imagination?
I told her to stop it so many times.
If she got serious, there wouldn’t even be meat left of you.
Amidst all this, Lua boldly flaunted her Adventurer Card, and that was the end of it.
It was too much, and I felt sleepy. Sleepy… Zzz.