Friends (1)
As Kara fell backward, the duel came to an end. The moment she collapsed, the arena reverted to its original state. The medical team rushed in right after to check her condition. Aside from a somewhat swollen face and a broken arm, she was okay.
'Kara held out because it's her.' If it had been Luna, one solid hit and she'd have been out cold. She probably couldn't even use Iron Body Technique right now.
Iron Body Technique was one of the better abilities to pick up, and it was essential for acquiring Indestructible Diamond Body. Pair that with Regeneration, and it evolved into Steel King. I'd gained it naturally from all the fighting in the forest, so I didn't need to learn Iron Body Technique separately. It was tough to master, but easy to use as long as you had mana.
"How's her condition?"
"Facial contusions and a fractured arm."
"Splash some fracture potion on first and splint it. A misaligned bone will be a headache."
The medical team exchanged opinions before dousing Kara's body in potions everywhere. Finally, they splinted her broken arm. Soon after, she was carted off on a stretcher, leaving me alone in the arena.
I glanced around. The overwhelming performance had left the place deathly silent, like a graveyard. Plenty to think about now, no doubt.
'Will Granada take an interest?' Simple-minded as they were, my raw power might catch their eye.
I turned toward the Granada Empire contingent. Sure enough, they were huddled in heated discussion around their representative, clearly very interested in me. It wasn't just them—the Matra Empire group was conferring too.
'I'll find out later.' Whichever side I picked, I'd cherry-pick their tech. That might make Granada more convenient than Matra. But knocking out Kara meant another event was likely incoming.
"I'd heard rumors, but you really are a beast."
Something like this, right away. I turned at the voice behind me. There stood Kara's father, Hector, in all his imposing glory. I'd sensed his approach through my presence detection. He must have something to say.
'He's fucking huge up close.' I'd been sitting last time, so it hadn't hit me, but facing him now, he towered. I was pretty tall myself, but he had a full head on me. I had to tilt my chin up to meet his eyes.
"No idea what that old man dragged in. You even human?"
"Yeah."
"Huh. Fair enough, then. Not the point anyway." Hector grinned as he said it. Everything else aside, his smile was a dead ringer for Kara's.
"We'll meet again later. Chat with the old man too, while we're at it. Stay well till then."
He waved casually and strode off toward where they'd taken Kara on the stretcher. No reason for me to stick around either, so I turned to leave. Right on cue, Lord appeared to greet me. He wore a satisfied smile—god knows why.
"Sivar."
"Yeah."
"Just keep doing that from now on."
"?"
I cocked my head, clueless. What the hell did that mean? Lord chuckled at my confusion and explained.
"That's how you handle these duels. As long as it's not life-or-death."
"Ah."
"Looks like the training paid off. Things'll be easier ahead."
He must've pegged me for a real wild animal pup. Fair enough. Anyone watching my antics so far would think the same. And with more bullshit events lined up, it was too early to celebrate. He'd be sighing nonstop soon enough.
"Lo. rd."
"Hm?"
The thought hit me, so I called out. He turned back with a curious look. Staring at his puzzled face, I spoke from the heart.
"Str. ong. er."
"Stay strong?"
"Yeah."
More headaches ahead than ever—hang in there. That's what I meant. Porori would've gotten it. But Lord had no clue.
"No idea what you meant, but thanks."
Of course not. He just chuckled and thanked me. Plenty of leeway for a guy like him. Sword Saint and all—he'd handle whatever came. But the events on the horizon tied closely to Hector. The man dubbed Destruction King.
'Wonder how he'll react?' That piqued my curiosity. Rage? Or just stunned watching? Hector-related events were highly random—could pop anywhere, anytime. But most hit the dorms.
'And I live with Lord.' Probably there. Plus, he'd mentioned chatting with Lord, so odds were high.
I trailed after him back to the waiting area. This wrapped up the official duel event. A few more days technically, but nothing worth watching. Soul World had breezed past it too. Next up after Hector: fosterer event. Then all sorts of chaos.
"Good work. Candy for you."
"Tha. nks."
"Mastering polite speech already. Excellent."
Half-assed polite talk, but he let it slide. I popped the scorched rice candy in my mouth and crunched away. Planning to visit Kara later too. I'd held back, but might've hit too hard.
'Hope she didn't get pissy over the taunt.' That worried me a bit.
Kara regained consciousness exactly one hour after the duel ended. A normal person would've been out longer, but she was tougher. Not quite Sivar-level, but her body was sturdy. Frequent blackouts had built up a tolerance.
"Nngh..."
Pain, though—that never got easier. She groaned as agony hit the moment she woke. Face throbbing, arm screaming. Sivar's fists in rapid succession, snapping her arm. Lucky it ended right after Iron Body Technique wore off—one more and it'd have been dust. Still hurt like hell. Fractures ranked high on the pain scale for a reason.
'No anesthesia?' First major injury at the academy—she had no clue on their methods. Supposedly a mix of global science, magic, and faith. But no painkillers, apparently. Or maybe they skipped it.
"Awake?"
"..."
As she whimpered in pain, a heavy voice cut into her ear. Familiar to the point of annoyance. Grimacing, she turned. Towering frame, red hair, green eyes, bronze skin. Her birth father, Hector, sat nursing her.
"Fell for his taunt, huh. Told you time and again."
Worry took a backseat to criticism the second she stirred. Strict and solemn, unlike with Lord or Sivar. Zero affection.
"...I know."
"Then why..."
"You know too. Even if I died and came back, I couldn't beat him."
Kara shot back curtly. The vibe screamed wrong answer.
"So I just went all out. What good's skill against overwhelming power?"
"You learned skill to close that power gap, even a little."
"Landed a few hits thanks to it. Useless in the end."
"That's a major achievement."
Kara shot him a surprised look at Hector's words. Expected snide nitpicking, not agreement. When had he last validated her? First real battle survival, maybe. Nothing since.
"But losing your cool and getting hyped? Your fault. Stayed calm, you might've landed more clean hits."
"..."
There it was. Kara snorted at the counter. Utter bullshit. She raised both arms to show him. Wrapped head to toe in bandages.
"Doesn't that mean nothing too? I went full throttle—he didn't even use mana. Just fists, and my arm snaps."
"Hm."
"Iron Body Technique ate chunks of mana blocking. A bit stronger, and it'd have punched right through."
Iron Body Technique burned mana instead of stamina for defense. Downside: heavy consumption per block. Kara had mastered efficiency, but even that failed. Each fist drained her massively. Stronger force? Arm gone early.
"The more I see, the less human he seems. That what forest life does?"
"If you've got beasts like him around, it tracks."
"Monsters or animals like that kid? Scary thought."
One was at the academy. Spoke more fluently than Sivar too. Oblivious, Kara chuckled. Winced soon after from pain.
"..."
Hector stared silently before scanning the room. Empty. Duel days filled beds with injuries, usually bustling. Not Kara's room, though. Partly princess status, but Tatar roots too. Barbarian scorn. Hospital likely stuck her in isolation for it.
"Kara."
"What."
"No friends?"
The blunt question made her blink. Didn't compute at first. Hector added quickly, aware it'd sounded off.
"Asked if you've made bonds since enrolling."
"Why?"
"You'll lead Tatar someday."
She scowled. Same spiel from enrollment force-march. Tatar evolving beyond raids into a real nation. Big expectations. Utterly irresponsible, to her.
She barked a hollow laugh.
"No clue. Only ones talking to me call me barbarian. What friends? One thing I've learned here: tongues need cutting."
"Still..."
"Still what! You smashed everything back then—now clean it up? Know how annoying the stares are?"
Hector's moniker: Destruction King. Fitting—he'd razed cities and villages growing Tatar's foundation on plunder. But post-Kara, shifts: less raids, actual nationhood. Despised as barbarians, sure—but legitimate.
"Do it yourself if it's so urgent. Why me? I just wanna live normal."
"I need ties with neighbors too..."
"Yeah, saw you chatting up Granada from the stands. But know what I do best? Smash like you. Not wag my tongue."
"..."
"Order's wrong. Teach proper, do it after. So if someone insults me, I flatten 'em on the spot. Keeps 'em off me. Only way I know."
Words revealing her deep stress. Like a hedgehog bristling for self-defense. Hector chewed his lip, eyes deep in thought. Green gaze troubled. But he steeled himself, face stern again.
About to speak—
Creak. The door to her supposedly private room swung open. Kara and Hector whipped around. There, improbably, stood...
"...Sivar?"
"..."
Sivar. He looked up, then down, eyes locking with hers.
"He. re."
His signature two syllables as he strode in. Still in duel gear—must've come straight after.
"...What're you doing here?"
Kara's voice pitched with shock. No expectation he'd visit. No real friends, by her reckoning. Luna just discharged, duels blocking her. Ellie? Barely acquaintances via Luna.
'Why's he really here?' They'd hung out, sure—but not visit level. And fresh off beating each other bloody. One-sided on her end.
How'd he even know when she'd wake?
"Ka. ra."
"...Yeah?"
"Hu. rt?"
"..."
So what? He cared—that's enough. Kara blinked, then snorted at his worried tone.
Hit her himself, now sorry. Brutal skills, kind heart. How not to like him? She flashed a lively grin.
"Nah, not bad. Your punches felt like water balloons."
"A kid like that breaks an arm..."
"Shut it."
Hector tried butting in cluelessly; she shut him down. Checked for a chair—him standing made it awkward.
"So why're you here, Kara?"
"Dad!"
Hector's oblivious question landed. Too late to reel it back. Sivar answered deadpan.
"Fri. end."
"Friend?"
"Yeah."
Hector's eyes widened slightly. Short, but clear. He glanced at Kara. Her face blanked in shock too.
"No friends, you said?"
"..."
"He thinks you're one."
Bullseye. Kara froze, cheeks slowly flushing. Bronze skin hid it, but the red deepened.
"No. ne?"
"Uh, uh-uh?"
"Fri. end."
Brain stalled briefly, but his words snapped her back. She stared, flushed, as he spoke softly.
"Me?"
"..."
Sivar's voice tinged sad. Then:
"Sad."
Puppy in the rain—pitiful. Face blank as ever, but to her, obvious. His stoic norm made every shift stand out.
"N-no, wait—that's not... Listen! So, what happened was..."
Panicking he'd taken offense, she babbled. Genuine oh-shit mode. Nothing like her duel fire.
"Ugh, useless. Why say dumb shit...!"
Glared at Hector midstream. Meanwhile, Sivar pressed.
"Hu. rt."
"Sorry for real! What do I do? Candy?"
"..."
Hector watched the pair with a strange look.