Ch.9Entrance Test

The place where Sae-rin was guided to was a small room prepared for the entrance exam. Originally designed as a waiting area for gladiators before entering the Colosseum, it was now fully open for the purpose of the knighthood entrance test.

The entrance test was already in full swing before Sae-rin arrived. She discreetly took her place in the waiting line for the Blue Wing’s entrance test.

The test itself seemed simple. It appeared to consist solely of exchanging a few sword matches with an examiner.

There was no need to win. A passing score was generously given if one could demonstrate a certain level of skill. Sae-rin carefully observed the examiner’s movements.

While Sae-rin was focused on the examiner’s movements, other applicants, especially the men, began to take notice of her.

This was an inevitable flow of nature. Like the instinct of living beings to preserve their species. Many stole glances at Sae-rin while pretending not to.

Some even failed the test because they were too distracted by Sae-rin’s appearance. Of course, they would have failed regardless of her presence. Not many fools would ruin their entrance test just because a beautiful person of the opposite sex appeared before them.

Sae-rin had to wait for quite some time. With applicants from all over the country taking the entrance test at once, the waiting line was considerably long.

“Fail.”

“Fail.”

“Pass!”

As time passed, the successful and unsuccessful candidates were separated. Those who passed wore smiles, while those who failed held back their anger. Some contested the examiner’s judgment.

Of course, they merely tried. Their objections were not accepted. The next moment, they were all beaten by the examiner’s sword and chased out of the testing area.

Whatever happened around her was outside Sae-rin’s concern. The small girl focused solely on observing the examiner’s movements.

‘They’re not just looking at swordsmanship. They’re observing eye movement, breathing, spirit—everything needed for combat.’

This was the conclusion Sae-rin had drawn after examining all the examiners present. Another peculiar point was that all examiners were using identical sword techniques.

Straightforward and upright. Sometimes powerful, sometimes gentle. Slashing, thrusting, blocking, deflecting. The swordsmanship consisting of these four movements was executed organically according to the situation.

She began to imagine. What if she were to face the examiner with a sword?

In the first scenario, Sae-rin would lose her sword. The second Sae-rin would meet a similar fate. The third and fourth Sae-rins would fare no better. Even the fifth and final Sae-rin couldn’t defeat the examiner.

It was an expected result. Sae-rin wasn’t disappointed. She knew that none of her five sword techniques were proper swordsmanship.

So she tried a different approach. There was no need to fully deploy all five techniques. She could change the form of her swordsmanship at crucial moments. Her breathing would change, creating variations in her movements.

Of course, the result remained unchanged. Mixing crude sword techniques only resulted in more crude swordsmanship.

Even the chieftain’s sword technique, which she had been secretly confident in, was the same. Swordsmanship created solely based on instinct couldn’t overcome the thick walls of the Empire.

“Number 1032! Sae-rin!”

The call broke her reverie. Her name had been called. Sae-rin left the waiting line and walked forward slowly.

As Sae-rin stepped forward, the examiner spoke.

“You cannot use your own sword. For safety, use the sword we’ve prepared. If you have any objections, speak now.”

This was something she already knew from watching those who had taken the test before her. Sae-rin unpacked her belongings in a corner and received the sword handed to her by the examiner.

That was the moment.

‘Ah.’

Memories engraved in the sword began to flow into Sae-rin, transcending time.

The sword had not just one user. Not even two. At least ten or more. The sword techniques of all those who had wielded this sword during the five years since its creation began to settle within Sae-rin.

‘The Empire’s Dawn Light.’

That was the name of the sword technique the examiner was using. A basic sword technique that all knights of the Karma Empire could learn upon joining.

A sword technique designed for everyone to learn. That’s what made it remarkable. She could faintly sense the anguish of its creator. This was truly a kind technique, filled with tremendous consideration so that even fools could learn it.

“Tell me when you’re ready. We’ll start immediately.”

Hoo—

Her excitement subsided through a deep breath. Sae-rin pointed her sword at the examiner while reading through the memories beginning to engrave themselves within her.

She couldn’t skillfully execute the technique right away. She needed time to become familiar with the memories, time for her body to catch up with them.

But for now, that was enough. She had learned the essence of the sword technique her opponent was using. How to move, what moves to use in which situations—all those who had wielded this sword were telling her.

She couldn’t win. But she wouldn’t lose either.

“I’m ready.”

As soon as Sae-rin finished speaking, the examiner began to move.

Feet extending in a straight line. As those steps began, the sword in his right hand moved. Sae-rin’s gaze flowed along the examiner’s shoulder and arm.

‘A downward slash starting from the upper right.’

She could see it. Her opponent’s movements. She could envision what would unfold next.

Sae-rin stepped back to the right while retracing the vivid memories, simultaneously retreating greatly.

Swoosh—!

Her snow-white hair fluttered as the sword passed by, barely missing. Having avoided the sword by a paper-thin margin, Sae-rin swung her sword to counterattack.

Just as the slash from her slender arm began to sweep through the air, the examiner who had been following closely suddenly stopped, then kicked the ground hard and retreated.

Thud—!

They stared at each other in silence after retreating. Surprise spread across the face of the examiner, who had shown no change in expression until now.

“Good eyes… and sharp intuition.”

It was praise from the examiner who had only been critical until now. All eyes in the vicinity began to focus on one spot.

Sae-rin opened her eyes wide. The examiner who had been praising her relaxed his stance and retrieved his sword.

He no longer seemed intent on continuing the sword match. Just as she was about to question the situation, the examiner spoke.

“Pass!”

From the entrance test to the announcement of the result, it took less than ten seconds. Sae-rin and the examiner had exchanged just one offensive and defensive move.

An anomaly.

This was an anomaly. The venue began to stir at the unprecedented shortest passing judgment.

—What did she do to pass?

—Did she use her beauty to influence him…?

—You fool. Do you think Imperial knights would fall for mere beauty?

“What are you doing? Move to the next location.”

“Ah. Yes.”

Sae-rin came to her senses at the examiner’s words. The unexpected opportunity and the resulting pass. She was imagining that perhaps the flow of fate had guided her here.

Sae-rin walked slowly toward the next location. Everyone focused on her every movement. It wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

Sae-rin brushed back her hair that had fallen forward.

At that moment, she encountered a boy walking into the test area.

Just as Sae-rin recognized the boy, he recognized her as well.

“Oh…!”

Sae-rin carefully observed Theo’s expression. Surprise, shock, doubt, and then surprise again. The rapidly changing expressions in such a short time were quite amusing.

Theo had also said he would take the entrance exam. Sae-rin flashed a smile at him.

“I’ll go ahead.”

“Huh? Huh? Where are you going? Hey… hey?”

Sae-rin walked past Theo. She didn’t look back even when he called from behind. To Sae-rin, Theo meant only that much.

The place she was guided to was inside the Colosseum. The venue prepared for gladiators to fight was very spacious, with temporary tents set up throughout the peripheral areas, excluding the center.

“Wait here until evening. After the first day’s initial test is completed, there will be a tournament among the successful candidates.”

The staff member who had guided Sae-rin left after saying those words. Left alone, Sae-rin entered the tent and closed her eyes.

It was to recall the memories that had been imprinted through the sword just moments ago.

There was a clear disadvantage to Sae-rin’s talent. If she let go of the sword before the memories engraved in it were completely imprinted in her mind, the memories would become blurry.

This disadvantage hadn’t existed at first. It was a problem that arose after she was revived in her younger sister’s body.

“Hah…”

She delved deep into her mind, trying to grasp the faint memories by recalling the sensations from that time.

***

The sun had set and night had fallen. The braziers set up around the tents blazed, dispelling the darkness.

“Sae-rin from the Frigid Mountains!”

Sae-rin, who had been closing her eyes, left the tent upon hearing her name called. The cool night breeze gently swept through her snow-white hair.

Her opponent was a boy who appeared to be around the same age as Theo. The boy seemed unfamiliar with such places, wearing a tense expression.

Sae-rin caught the scent carried by the wind. People’s body odor changes when they are tense or excited. Sae-rin could tell the boy’s state through his scent.

He wasn’t actually tense. He was just pretending to be. A deception to induce carelessness.

It was almost laughable.

Before the tournament match began, there was a rule that opponents should exchange greetings.

Sae-rin and the boy approached each other and exchanged brief greetings.

“I’m Sae-rin.”

“T-Tommy… sir…!”

After the greetings, the match began. Tommy didn’t give up his act until the end. He moved with awkward movements as if trying to induce his opponent’s carelessness, swinging his sword.

Sae-rin, already aware of her opponent’s intentions, deflected his sword with a swing and simultaneously rotated her wrist strongly to swing her own sword.

Clang—! Thud—!

Defense and attack occurred simultaneously. The crisp sound of metal was followed by a heavy impact.

“Ugh…!”

Tommy, struck by Sae-rin’s sword, collapsed to the ground. The match was decided in a single exchange. If Tommy had fought sincerely, the result might have been slightly different.

“Winner! Sae-rin!”

Sae-rin exhaled a long breath, ruminating on the blurry memories. Swordsmanship is not created solely for attack. Attack and defense must be unified, the transition between them swift, and all movements naturally connected.

In the midst of blurry memories, Sae-rin awakened to the fundamentals of the sword.