Ch.10Entrance Test

The next opponent to face Sae-erin was a girl who appeared to be around her age. More precisely, she looked about the same age as Sae-erin’s younger sister.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Pel Flora.”

The girl introduced herself as Pel Flora. From the surname preceding Flora’s name, Sae-erin could guess her status.

She had heard that among the civilized people, there were special individuals with the title of nobility. Those with surnames before their names were nobles. This meant Flora was also a noble.

Indeed, to Sae-erin, Flora looked somewhat different from ordinary civilized people. Her attire, the atmosphere she exuded, and even her scent carried by the wind.

Everything about her was unusual.

“Sae-erin.”

“You said you came from across the snow-covered mountains, right? Does everyone in your tribe have such pretty hair like yours?”

‘She’s quite curious.’

Instead of answering, Sae-erin drew her sword. This place was arranged solely for sword duels. There was no time for idle conversation.

“You’re impatient.”

Every action Flora took exuded composure. The way she looked down on everything, her boldness in not drawing her weapon despite facing an armed opponent, and the spirit that seemed ill-fitting for her small frame.

All of it came naturally to her. As if she had been born with it.

‘Are all nobles like this?’

“Begin!”

While Sae-erin was pondering this small question, the signal to start the match was given. She immediately shook off her thoughts and swung her sword.

Starting lightly. A shallow strike to gauge the opponent’s skill. She put minimal force into it so she could quickly switch to a defensive stance if the attack failed.

Swoosh-!

Sae-erin’s attack missed pathetically. Flora had dodged it by taking a step back without even drawing her sword.

The fact that her opponent hadn’t drawn her sword meant that Sae-erin’s turn wasn’t over yet. She rotated her sword and unleashed a series of strikes.

After consecutive thrusts targeting the upper and middle sections, a blue slash unfolded as if to cut across the chest. The sword, reflecting moonlight and scattering a soft blue glow, stretched out and traced a tail.

It was at that moment that Flora drew her sword. As if it had been waiting for a strong force to be applied, the drawn sword struck Sae-erin’s blade forcefully.

Clang-!

Amidst the small sparks disrupting her vision, Sae-erin felt a stinging pain in her wrist.

It was heavy. Like striking a large boulder.

Flora didn’t pursue Sae-erin as her stance crumbled. She stood still with a smiling face, as if giving her time to recover.

One breath.

That was the time Flora had given her. It was also the time Sae-erin needed to recover her collapsed stance and point her sword again.

Swish-!

The sword began to fly, cutting through the air. Sae-erin hastily retreated, escaping the trajectory of the blade.

She was being overpowered. Rather than confronting directly, it would be better to circle widely and look for an opportunity.

Just as Sae-erin was about to put her plan into action, Flora’s extended sword suddenly changed direction. The moonlight reflected, creating a soft glow that stretched like a tail.

She couldn’t dodge. She had to block it.

Sae-erin immediately swung her sword.

Clang-!

“Ugh!”

A groan escaped through her clenched teeth at the intense impact transmitted once again. Sae-erin continued to defend against the successive strikes while retreating.

Clang-! Clang-!

As time passed and she blocked more strikes, the damage accumulated. Sae-erin grasped her trembling wrist and retreated significantly.

“Huff…”

Despite unleashing such attacks, Flora showed no signs of fatigue. Instead, as if she still had energy to spare, she lightly swung her sword in the air with a smile.

Light, graceful, and dignified.

“Not bad. I thought you’d drop your sword.”

Sae-erin bit her lip at Flora’s words. She had indeed almost dropped it. The moment she relaxed her grip, it felt like it would fall immediately.

“If that’s all you can show, let’s end this now. I have to meet my father for dinner.”

As Flora’s words ended, the atmosphere changed. It felt as if a massive, well-forged sword was pointed right at her.

Sae-erin exhaled calmly.

The faster a sword moves, the more force it carries. Conversely, to swing a sword quickly, one needs strong force.

Muscles are needed to exert force. However, Flora’s arms were slender.

‘That power.’

Sae-erin finally realized the nature of Flora’s immense strength. The mysterious power she had felt in the forest. It was clear that Flora was using that power, which occasionally burst forth to enhance physical abilities.

‘It was a controllable power.’

A smile appeared on Sae-erin’s face. The stinging pain in her wrist was no longer felt.

A continuous learning experience. Since crossing the mountains, Sae-erin had always encountered new things. Her narrow world had crumbled, and thick walls were newly built on top of it.

She felt her perspective broadening. Sensing this expanding world, Sae-erin pointed her sword at her opponent.

“Oh…”

Sensing the change in Sae-erin’s aura, a peculiar smile appeared on Flora’s face. That was the signal.

Tap-!

Flora’s figure blurred as she stamped the ground. Her rapid movement resembled sliding across an icy surface.

She regulated her breathing and waited for an opportunity. Like the predators of the snow plains who wait until the very last moment to reveal themselves. Sae-erin held her breath and moved the faint energy within her body.

Flora’s sword, swung half a beat slower, traced a strange trajectory. Unlike before, the blurred sword moved as if to mesmerize the gaze.

Sae-erin fixed her gaze. What she needed was strong force. She didn’t think about anything else. She didn’t need to.

She intended to swing her sword towards wherever the opponent’s blade was aiming and overpower it with force.

Swish-!

Now. The moment she had been waiting for arrived. Sae-erin immediately responded to the faintly heard sound and swung her sword.

The breath she had been holding exploded out, and her small presence expanded instantly.

Flora wasn’t surprised. She already knew that her opponent was hiding a trump card. She was just momentarily distracted.

Flora’s gaze became dazed. The moment Sae-erin’s eyes flashed as they met in mid-air, a massive wolf figure appeared behind her.

Her breath was cut off. Simultaneously, the flow of mana was disrupted, and the power that had been strengthening her entire body disappeared.

Her mind flew away at the momentary hallucination.

Flora belatedly exhaled and moved the disrupted flow of mana.

Flora thought. That her breath was half a beat late. That the force in her sword was insufficient.

Clang-!

As the swords collided, a crisp sound erupted. The two mana-infused blades screamed and spread a strange wave.

Crack-!

Of the two swords, it was Sae-erin’s that began to crack. Flora smiled at the sight. She was confident in her victory.

However, in the next moment, something strange happened. Suddenly, the force pushing against her sword disappeared, and Sae-erin lowered her stance and dove into her embrace.

Flora thought to herself.

She thought that perhaps Sae-erin, acknowledging her defeat, was approaching to embrace her for her impressive skill.

Thwack-!

That is, until a small fist struck her face.

“What…!”

Thwack-!

‘How barbaric…!’

Sae-erin’s fists didn’t stop. With her small fists clenched, she repeatedly struck Flora’s face.

Having allowed two unexpected attacks, Flora staggered and dropped her sword. Immediately after, Sae-erin’s fist crashed into Flora’s face.

Smack-!

A different, crisp sound erupted. Flora’s body trembled for a moment after being hit by the fist, and then she collapsed.

Sae-erin mounted Flora and drove her fist into her face two more times.

Thud-! Thud-!

“S-stop! Halt!”

If someone hadn’t intervened, Sae-erin would have driven her fist into Flora’s face at least five more times.

“Huff…”

Sae-erin obediently backed away. Her opponent had lost consciousness. She had won. Red blood formed on her clenched fist and dripped to the ground.

Sae-erin raised her bloodied fist high. Being highly excited and in high spirits, she displayed the behavior she used to do in her tribe.

This fight was a dedication to the Wolf God and a proof of being an honorable tribal warrior.

However, there were no brothers, tribe members, or siblings left here to celebrate Sae-erin’s victory. She exhaled a long sigh and looked at the judge.

“T-the winner! Sae-erin!”

After the winner was determined, the unconscious Flora was carried out of the arena on a stretcher. Her face was swollen.

Sae-erin stood facing Flora and thumped her chest twice with her right fist. This was the traditional greeting of the White Frost tribe when acknowledging an opponent as strong.

‘Pel Flora. You were a strong opponent.’

If she hadn’t given her all, she would have been the one to lose. Sae-erin retrieved her broken sword and returned to her tent.