Ch.7Karma Empire

A gentle breeze softly swept through her hair. Seo-rin didn’t hastily draw her sword. It was because she sensed no hostility from the other person.

It was merely caution.

Seo-rin lowered her hand and stepped aside.

As Seo-rin willingly retreated, the boy also removed his hand from his sword hilt. Then, with an awkward expression, he glanced at Seo-rin once before starting to walk a short distance away.

Seo-rin also began walking. There was no reason to stop since her destination would be reached after going just a bit further.

Step- Step-

Behind the soft footsteps, another set of footsteps overlapped. Seo-rin turned her head to look behind her. The boy she had encountered earlier was following her, maintaining a consistent distance.

This was a place with few people around. Though she didn’t sense hostility, the fact that he was deliberately following her meant he must have some other intention.

Seo-rin stopped in her tracks and called out to the boy.

“You there.”

“…Me?”

The boy stopped at Seo-rin’s question. He even looked flustered, as if he hadn’t expected to be called out.

“Why are you following me?”

“What? You? Why would I follow you?”

“This is a narrow path with few people around. There are many other routes, so the fact that you’re specifically following me suggests you must have some ulterior motive.”

Seo-rin’s suspicion was justified. Having experienced this sort of thing more than once, it seemed this boy too was pursuing her out of romantic interest.

‘How unfortunate.’

She merely felt sorry for the boy. But what could she do? This was the inevitable result. Her sibling, Sei-ran’s body was that beautiful.

“Let me tell you in advance, boy. I cannot engage in a relationship with you. This isn’t the situation for it either.”

The boy, Theo, frowned at Seo-rin’s words and tilted his head in confusion. It was difficult to understand the words coming from the small girl’s mouth.

“What are you saying…”

“Honestly, I’m not pleased. If possible, I’d prefer you not walk the same path as me.”

Theo watched Seo-rin’s retreating figure as she walked away alone. Though she looked like a beggar, her manner of speaking was no different from that of a noble lady. Self-absorbed nobles sometimes misunderstood others’ actions in such a way.

Angered, Theo immediately shouted:

“Hey! What nonsense are you talking about! Who would like someone like you…! And I’m not following you, I’m heading to the Karma Empire!”

Huff huff- After venting the anger he had been holding in, Theo took a deep breath. His shoulders heaved as his chest expanded greatly. It showed just how angry he was.

Seo-rin turned around at Theo’s outburst. Seeing him raging with a flushed face, it seemed her words had hit the mark.

Children sometimes, no, most of the time, would overreact with anger when their true feelings were exposed.

Seo-rin nodded.

“If I misunderstood, I apologize. I’m sorry.”

“What…”

Theo was taken aback by the quicker-than-expected apology. Regardless, Seo-rin turned around again and started walking.

Theo, who had been wearing a blank expression, also resumed walking.

The peculiar companionship between the boy and girl continued for quite some time. This was because they shared the same destination.

Seo-rin paid no attention to Theo. However, Theo was very conscious of Seo-rin.

At first, he had observed her out of curiosity to see just how exceptional her appearance was, given her arrogance. But as he continued to watch over time, he found himself entranced at some point.

Despite her dirty clothes, her hair shone with a glossy luster. Even with sweat streaks and dirt settling on her face, her skin looked fair. And her eyes—whenever their gazes met with her half-open eyes, it sent a strong shock to his heart.

‘Hmm…’

If she looked this good now, what would she look like if she were clean and properly dressed?

Theo shook his head vigorously at the unbidden thought. But once started, the fantasy wouldn’t stop.

Finally, Theo spoke up.

“Hey…!”

No response. Theo tried again.

“Y-you there!”

“Why are you calling me?”

As she turned around lightly, her snow-white hair fluttered gently. Feeling heat rise to his face, Theo said:

“My name is Theo. What’s yours?”

At Theo’s question, Seo-rin’s right eyebrow twitched noticeably. Theo watched anxiously.

Seo-rin gazed steadily at Theo. After claiming he wasn’t interested and getting angry, he had been glancing at her, and now he was even asking for her name.

Contemplating whether to ignore Theo’s question, Seo-rin looked up at the sky where the sun was beginning to set.

At this pace, it would take about another day of walking to reach their destination. Having someone to talk to during that time wouldn’t be too bad.

If he revealed sinister intentions and tried to pounce on her, she could separate his head from his body.

Of course, that wouldn’t happen. Boys of this age are mostly prideful. If she nudged that aspect a bit, he wouldn’t try to get unnecessarily close to her.

Seo-rin nodded and spoke:

“You said you weren’t interested, but now you’re asking for my name.”

“This…”

Theo’s face turned bright red at Seo-rin’s teasing remark. Just as his breathing became rough, Seo-rin quickly continued:

“It’s Seo-rin. Theo.”

To be honest, Seo-rin had expected to be hit. Having provoked him like that, she thought a punch would surely come her way.

But it didn’t. The boy named Theo just slightly averted his gaze and nodded.

‘Strange. When I teased my siblings, I’d get hit a few times…’

As time passed, perhaps the awkwardness had faded, because Theo began to ask Seo-rin various questions. How old she was, what her hobbies were, and where she came from.

Of course, Seo-rin didn’t answer readily. She spoke as she felt like it, moment by moment.

After the barrage of questions, Theo introduced himself. Even though Seo-rin hadn’t asked, he stammered through his self-introduction.

Through Theo’s introduction, Seo-rin learned that he too had suffered greatly at the hands of the reincarnators.

“You’ve been through something terrible.”

“Well, it’s common…”

“So you’re going to the Karma Empire to join the Blue Wing?”

“Yes.”

Seo-rin looked at Theo. Though he was trying to appear calm, unmistakable anger blazed in his eyes.

Suddenly, she became curious about this boy’s skills. She wondered how skilled in swordsmanship someone with the same goal as her was, and how strong the group called Blue Wing that this boy wanted to join was.

Seo-rin placed her hand on her sword hilt.

“Are you strong?”

“What…? O-of course! Someone like me should be able to join the Blue Wing right away!”

Seo-rin nodded. Of course, since Theo’s hometown had also been destroyed by the reincarnators, he wouldn’t be stronger than them.

Right now, she was just curious. How strong were the civilized people who specialized in swordsmanship? How effective would her swordsmanship be against this boy who claimed to be strong?

“Then if I can defeat you, it means I too can join the Blue Wing…”

“What…?”

“I’m suggesting we cross swords.”

With those words, Seo-rin drew her sword. It was the third of the five swords she carried on her back.

Shing-

The blade that emerged was thin and short in length. Though the color near the handle had faded, indicating the passage of many years, the edge of the blade remained distinctly sharp.

The sword Seo-rin drew was a rapier. The light sword in her small hand was gently swung. The straight sword traced a beautiful arc in the air, carving an elegant trajectory.

Swoosh-!

There was no depth to it. It was merely a movement for show. A swordsmanship focused solely on outward appearance. That was the memory contained in this rapier.

But for now, that was enough. This was the only swordsmanship well-suited for her current body.

“Are you afraid of me?”

“What…”

After hesitating for a while, Theo reluctantly drew his sword.

Shing-

The sword that emerged with a chilling sound reflected the setting sun’s light, scattering a faint blue glow.

He clearly showed reluctance. It was as if he was complying only because someone he liked had requested it. But it didn’t matter. This appearance would soon disappear and transform into one of genuine engagement.

Seo-rin smiled lightly and untied the luggage she was carrying on her back, tossing it aside. As the heavy weight that had been pressing down on her body disappeared, a sense of lightness returned.

Tap-

Her footsteps were sprightly. Hoo- A softly exhaled breath extended long. Seo-rin combined the memory of an unnamed swordsman with the techniques of the White Frost tribe.

“Let’s begin.”

“If you get hurt, I’m not responsible…!”

The moment his words ended, Seo-rin thrust her right leg forward forcefully. The long, thin breath exploded momentarily, and strong power was channeled into her right leg.

The right leg, extended forward with power, became a strong central axis. Maintaining that state, Seo-rin swung the sword in her right hand.

Swoosh-!

It was a sword coming from outside the field of vision. Among the civilized people she had encountered so far, none had been able to dodge this attack. But this time would be different. It would definitely be blocked. Seo-rin felt Theo’s gaze following her sword.

Clang-!

Sparks, similar to the sunset hue coloring the sky, flew up. Seo-rin gazed steadily at Theo, who had blocked her sword.

He didn’t look surprised at all. His breathing remained steady. If that was the case, she would move a bit faster.

Seo-rin immediately rotated the wrist holding the sword and took a step back.

Ting-ting-!

The thin blade of the rapier tapped Theo’s longsword several times.