4. The Flame Spear Maiden

* * *

Why such a fuss over smashing wooden dummies?

“Whatever. The hype will fade. You’ll be more famous as the Divine Sword.”

“Tch. Is this the composure of a winner?”

His dramatic soliloquy makes him look like a clown.

Ten heroines for this idiot? Is the author sane?

Ugh, annoying.

Hunter-related companies somehow found my KakaoTalk, spamming messages. Blocked them all-what a hassle.

Beautiful weather today.

Perfect for a picnic, if only this weren’t a dream.

Original Eun-ha was intensely introverted.

Even at the academy, she’d skip classes using her brother’s fame.

But now…

“Blah blah blah.”

“Yap yap yap.”

Why are the Divine Sword heir and main heroine Reina chattering around me?

So loud. I wish this dream would end already.

The sky’s darkening again.

* * *

“Today, we spar.”

Firebat abruptly declared sparring matches.

Yesterday: ability tests. Today: combat. Probably assessing overall skill levels.

Theoretical classes aren’t this academy’s focus.

Later, they’ll divide us-magic, swordsmanship, spearmanship.

“Sparring?”

“Ability tests yesterday, combat today. First match: Yoo Eun-ha vs. Kim Gitae.”

Firebat Kim Ji-hye keeps pushing me, seeing potential.

But I can’t reveal my limits.

Admitting Acceleration + Parallel Circuit cripples me would tank my reputation.

Need to maintain this balance.

Should I throw the match?

If my ability had clear weaknesses, fine. But surrendering outright would still earn “fought well” praise.

The match began.

Before me stood a messy-haired, fiery boy radiating hostility.

Firebat likely uses him as my damage benchmark.

“Tch. Acting tough before me? Divine Sword’s sister means nothing! That video was obviously faked!”

“Hey, you’ll die like that.”

I’ll die.

Using + against this nobody is overkill. Without them, I’m weaker than him.
No reason to try.
Collapsing post-ability would be agony.
Just need hunter certification. This dream might end after the story concludes-better stay low-key.
Let the protagonist handle everything.

“Mocking me? Draw your weapon!”
“Don’t need one.”

I tossed aside my practice sword. Too heavy-small knives suit me better.
Since I’ll lose anyway, might as well take a hit, scream, and collapse.

“Y-You dare?! Fine! Hit me first! Your weak punches-no, even armed strikes won’t hurt!”
“Really?”

Well now.
He’s stronger than expected. Minor character, but underestimated.
That confidence suggests physical enhancement. One punch won’t kill me. I’ll surrender after.

“Really.”
“Then I’ll oblige.”

Channeling mana, I grabbed a practice bat.
Then-
An uppercut.
THWACK!

I murdered Kim Gitae’s future children.
As he collapsed foaming at the mouth, I wondered if I overdid it.
Seriously? All that talk for this?

“Oof. Can’t use this anymore.”
“Could you even if he was intact?”
“Fair point.”

Peers dragged Gitae to the infirmary.
He said I could hit him, so… no foul?

Post-match reactions varied.
Some boys avoided me; girls cheered me as a “girl crush.”
Then came protagonist Choi Si-woo’s turn.
His opponent: Han Su-ji, the spear-wielder nicknamed “Spear Freak.”
Also his second heroine.
Her orange ponytail flickered like an unextinguishable lighter-likely fire-related awakening.

“Choi Si-woo! I’ve wanted this!”
“Haha. Did I offend you?”
“Don’t flaunt that Divine Sword! I’ll crush you and Yoo Eun-ha!”

Why drag me into this?
Si-woo needs to defeat her. That bitch-spear bitch-whatever. I hate fighting spears.
I’m a fruit knife user; she’s a spear wielder. Weapon mismatch. The author gave her a second phase too.
When enraged, she becomes the Flame Spear Maiden-blazing spear strikes everywhere.

“Damn. You alone is one thing, but Eun-ha too? Cowardly!”
“Hmph! You’re just obstacles! After you, that white-haired girl’s next!”

Insufferably arrogant. Her mentor is S-rank spear hunter Kim Jae-su. She mastered his techniques.
Later, she loses to the protagonist and falls for him.
A masochist. Gets “reformed” after defeat, becoming even more masochistic.
If Reina’s tsundere, this one’s… let’s not go there.

“Don’t call my friend ‘white-haired’!”

I mean, she’s not wrong.

“Bring it on.”

Si-woo’s ash hair turned silver as his sword gleamed.
Unlike yesterday’s dummy test, he showcased his Divine Sword fully.
The Flame Spear Maiden summoned her weapon too.
Why do you two get cool summons? Me next.

CLANG! BANG! SHING!

Sword and spear clashed violently.
Like mating dragons, entwined in combat.

“Divine Sword vs. Flame Spear-what a spectacle.”
“Indeed.”

Instructors praised the epic duel.
Compared to my fight with Gitae, this is leagues apart.
Si-woo slipped into her blind spot, raising his sword high.

“Tch!”

She backstepped, deflecting with her spear.
Wait, is this allowed?
After exchanges, Si-woo’s male stamina prevailed. Yes! Destroy her! Beat her so badly she can’t challenge me!
Just as I started liking him, he betrays my expectations.

“I yield.”
“What?”

With his blade at her throat, he surrenders instead of claiming victory.
Lady first? After all that chatter, now he plays noble?
Wait. This diverges from the original.

-“You’ll grow stronger if you drop the arrogance. Let’s end this here. I’ll wait.”
-“I… yield.”

That was the script. Now the protagonist surrendered.
What happens to her redemption arc?
Is this my fault?

“Defeating you isn’t just my right-it’s Eun-ha’s too.”

Uh, I’m good.

“Instructor.”
“Hmm. Match goes to Han Su-ji. Next: Yoo Eun-ha vs. Han Su-ji, per Si-woo’s request.”

Hell no. Favoritism for the Divine Sword bastard.
Rage boiled within.
The sky darkened again.
Si-woo’s eyes sparkled.
Not his usual style-if I refuse after that look, it’d be awkward.
Reluctantly, I stepped forward.
Annoying stares everywhere. Should I stab their eyes with Acceleration?

“Lost to him, but not to you!”
“The sky’s so clear.”
“Huh?”
“Can’t let a rabid bitch like you ruin such a nice day.”

Right. For a masochist, this is perfect.
Since the protagonist set this up, time to show her true nature.

“Big talk! Think a tiny knife beats my spear?”
“A mad dog needs discipline.”

I drew my thin, sharp knife-used earlier to peel an apple.

“One knife against me? Arrogant!”

Enraged, she ignited her spear.

“Will you darken my sky? Or brighten it?”

Bad moods darken the weather. A cool line, but it fell flat-I sighed.

“Enough talk. Begin!”

SCREECH!

At the whistle, she charged.
I activated + .
She’s a masochist-needs thorough humbling.
Like a uterus punch.
A guy would get #MeToo’d, but I’m female now.

[Clench your teeth.]

Acceleration carried me into her guard.
Even Si-woo’s Divine Sword couldn’t react to this speed. Her spear was useless.
In frozen time, I drove my fist into her abdomen.

THUD!

“Guh?!”
“Right now, I’m grateful to be Eun-ha.”

Not enough. Again.

THUD!

“Better a girl hitting a girl-”

Once more.

THUD!

“-than a guy doing it, right?”
“Eek!”
“Too slow.”

Her desperate spear swings couldn’t touch me in Acceleration.
Missing wildly, she lost balance and fell.

[Now’s my chance.]

I hauled the dazed Han Su-ji up.
A few gut punches drained her strength.
Time for public humiliation. The ass, perhaps?

“W-Wait! I surren-”

SMACK!