6 – Yeongju System

Amel took Makia and moved to a moderately wide, open area.

She called for Polia, Leila, and Molly, who were on guard duty and handling their own business. A jolt of [Electricity] was all it took for them to come running.

She introduced Makia to the summoned trio.

“She’s like a captain to you all. Get along.”

“Our captain?”

“She may be cute, but she’s strong.”

“…”

Based on her appearance, however, Makia looked no different from a middle school girl.

The trio couldn’t hide their expressions, clearly displeased by the fact that they were supposedly weaker than a girl younger than them.

Polia’s face was openly disgruntled, Leila’s was bitter, and while Molly was expressionless as usual, a subtle jealousy was visible.

“But it’s hard to grasp with words alone, so you’re going to face her directly, one against three. We’ll do three rounds. For the first one, try to fight well without my assistance.”

The first round, no assistance.

The second round, assistance for the trio.

The third round, for both sides.

She finished her explanation.

Before stepping to the side, she casually remarked to Makia.

“I think you were right. It seems they can’t understand with just words. So, I’m counting on you. And while we’re at it, look forward to the second round.”

“…”

After Amel stepped away.

She called for the start.

Polia, Leila, and Molly immediately rushed in, unleashing a barrage of attacks.

Sword, axe, and bare hands. Their individual skills had been stimulated with [Electricity] so they could learn on their own, but that was different from tactics.

The three of them failed to cover for each other, the fight continuing as if it were three separate one-on-one battles.

Amel had previously assisted them so they could coordinate, but they had already lost the feel for it. They had forgotten because there was rarely a need for the three of them to work together.

In contrast to the trio, who were on par with experts in terms of skill, Makia had not mastered any technique that could be called as such.

The place where she had grown up and fought was the wild. And she had been a Territory Lord, one who could unilaterally wield violence in that wilderness.

Her physical specs were in a different league.

Even though she was in a Human form.

Even if it was much different from her true form, she was stronger than a Human, and even stronger than a Beast-Human.

What she had ingrained in her body was a tactical eye and a strategic mind. The movements to achieve that were all improvisation.

When Polia swung her sword.

When Leila brought her axe down.

When Molly threw a punch.

Makia reached out with her bare hands, grabbing and twisting to subdue them. In the process, Polia’s elbow joint was bent in the opposite direction.

Amel healed the injured.

[Heal]

“You can use healing arts as well?”

“I’m multi-talented, aren’t I? When I use this on myself, you’ll be in the same boat as them. So make your mark while you still can.”

She gave Makia the Premonition that she would one day face such a powerful adversary.

“…I will keep that in mind.”

In any case, that was that.

“How was it, fighting her?”

“She’s strong.”

“Even though we were both using our bare hands,” Polia and Molly said.

The faces of the two who had been the most discontented were now filled with understanding.

Leila, who had been convinced from the start, seemed to have seen something different in this fight and asked, “Did you two know each other from before?”

“I didn’t. Why do you ask?”

“Because she’s so strong. To bring someone of her caliber here, wouldn’t that be difficult unless you already knew each other?”

“Not really.”

Amel went to Makia’s side and placed a hand on her head.

She stroked it, feeling the Wolf ears.

“She’s a Beast-Human. Beast-Humans only follow the strong. You ask how I brought her here? I beat her up and dragged her along.”

“…”

It wasn’t exactly a lie.

Makia kept her mouth shut.

“She’s a friend with a lot of secrets, one way or another. There’s a reason I made her your captain. And there are still two more rounds left.”

Amel took both of Makia’s arms and shook them as if making an introduction.

“You have to get your revenge, right?”

The light returned to the trio’s eyes.

To state only the result, Makia lost.

“No way.”

Makia glared up at Polia, who was on top of her.

Polia had plunged her sword down, but instead of piercing Makia’s throat, she had deflected it, embedding it deep into the ground next to her neck.

Polia, too, was clearly exhausted. She had squeezed out Strength beyond her limits.

But just a moment ago?

Come to think of it, Amel had said she would provide assistance.

Makia didn’t know what that assistance was.

‘Their coordination suddenly improved.’

It wasn’t just a matter of improving.

They moved as if they were a single living creature.

Even when she attacked a clear blind spot, their coordination covered it.

She had tried to forcefully break through their seamless defense, but it was useless. It was like trying to chew through tough, sturdy leather.

Even their Sword Aura was wielded with a freedom that made them seem like different people from before.

All of their abilities had improved dramatically.

What kind of assistance were they receiving?

Makia lay on the ground in shock. At some point, Polia was no longer on top of her, and Amel was looking down at her instead.

“Would you believe me if I told you that just a few days ago, they were ordinary villagers?”

“What? You expect me to believe that?”

“But it’s the truth. You just lost to kids who haven’t even been warriors for a week. How embarrassing for you.”

“…”

“So I’ll help you. So that even after you get your Territory back, you can become the strongest in the region. Who knows? Maybe you’ll unite a continent and become its queen.”

“And I’d still be in the palm of your hand, I suppose.”

“You don’t like that?”

Makia pushed herself up.

The Strength those women had shown was real.

Their cooperation was formidable, but if their individual skills hadn’t been sufficient to back it up, Makia would not have fallen, no matter what assistance they received.

If it was true that they were ordinary villagers until a few days ago… no, as far as she knew, there were no warriors of their caliber around here. Unless they had come from somewhere else, it had to be true.

When a new master appeared.

It was common for the old master to die.

This was because the old master could become a candidate and a challenger.

What was there to refuse when she was alive and had even been promised the return of her land?

“Are you asking even though you already know the answer?”

“I like hearing it directly.”

Makia sighed. Her future seemed bleak. To think she had to become this Human’s plaything.

“If you keep your promise, I will follow you.”

“Good. How cute.”

“…”

Amel’s hand stroked Makia’s head.

But ever since Amel had fed her something, the sensation of being petted had become somehow… stranger.

It wasn’t bad.

In fact, it was good.

She tried her best to ignore it.

“Now for the last round. This time, I’ll let you experience how I’m going to make you stronger.”

“I’d like a simple explanation first.”

“It’s faster to experience it directly. Simply put, you’ll receive my assistance. You’ll know when you get it. I really can’t explain it with words.”

She received it.

Zap.

Makia jumped in surprise, as if [Electricity] had just struck the crown of her head.

Makia was originally a colossal wolf.

Right now, she was in a Human body.

A long time had passed since she had transformed into a Human body and not reverted.

Despite that, Makia had never properly handled a Human body. There had been no need to, and if she needed more power, she could just undo her transformation.

As a Human, Makia was a Beast-Human, and nothing more than a Beast-Human with great strength.

However,

“This is…”

Electricity flowed through her.

It coursed through her entire body, a tingling stimulus like a living creature.

An unfamiliar sensation climbed from the tips of her fingers and toes to the top of her head, dominating her with a feeling she had never experienced in her life.

The electricity stimulated her as if it were instructing her how to move.

She picks up a sword.

She swings it.

It was the first time she had ever swung a sword with the thought of learning how. But as she swung it, she felt a familiar sensation.

It was Magical Power.

She swings the sword.

The more she swings,

the more she swings,

the more she could feel the Magical Power coiling around the sword.

Magical Power was innate, the thing she had the most experience with. Even if she didn’t understand the meaning of swinging a sword, she immediately understood what the Magical Power was trying to do.

Sword Aura formed on the Blade.

She creates Sword Aura for the first time.

“…This is a strange feeling.”

“Do you know what that sensation is?” Amel whispered, smiling mischievously.

“The sensation of when I swing a sword.”

Amel had become able to transmit her own senses to others through [Electricity] and [Magical Power].

It was a cram-style learning ability that made the subject mistake themselves for a genius like Amel. Still, it seemed the degree of success varied depending on the subject.

She hadn’t expected Makia to create [Sword Aura] already.

Perhaps her birthright really did make a difference.

“How does it feel to be me, even if only indirectly? If you follow along well, the day may come when you become a swordmaster on the same level as me.”

“…I am a wolf, though.”

“You’re also a Human right now. What does it matter? You’re using human techniques in a human body. You’ll become even stronger than your true form, you know?”

“Isn’t it strange to become stronger than my true form?”

“Either way, it’s good to be stronger. Just make this your main body. It’s nice to look at, cute, and pretty. What’s not to like?”

“I have my pride, you know.”

“You mean that time you revealed your true form after so long, only to get knocked out by me in one hit?”

“…”

Her Wolf ears drooped.

“I wish I could become a wolf, too. Then I could teach you how to get stronger as a wolf. Wouldn’t that have been great?”

But there were things that were impossible even for Amel.

Even if it might be possible someday, that day was not today.

She had seen Makia transform into a wolf, but she didn’t have the slightest clue how such a thing was possible.

In any case,

“You’re going to fight them like this. Do your best.”

“What do I get if I win?”

“Is this something worth a reward? If you lose this time too, what will happen to your pride?”

“…”

She was at a loss for words.

“Look at you, being so sly.”

“…”

“Still, I’d like to hear it. What do you want me to do for you?”

“There’s a guy I want to get rid of before we proceed. I want to take care of him first. Since he’s a Territory Lord, it will also help with the plan to expand your Territory.”

“Okie. Accepted.”

It was something Makia could have asked for without it being a reward, but Amel accepted and moved away.

Makia vs. Polia, Leila, and Molly.

She would assist both sides.

It felt a bit like playing rock-paper-scissors with herself. Since she could see through each side’s moves, how was she supposed to control this?

Still, Makia’s base specs were much higher, so there was more she could do.

‘If she does well, she might even be able to draw out Sword Aura.’

Examining Makia’s amount of Magical Power and her sense for handling it with [Electricity], Amel steadily began to inject swordsmanship into her.